I am thinking about going on another lion hunt . I have been to tanzania,and zim before and now I am thinking of going to zambia. I got a good one in tanzania and saw several. I want to know peoples past expreiences in zambia and for anyone who has been to both please compare. Thanks.

Zambia - Kafue Lion

Never been to Tanzania.

Been to both. Tanzania.

Jeff

Tom,

I've hunted both countries for lion. Given the current situation with the strict 6 year old rule in Tanzania making PHs paranoid about shooting a lion even if they think it is mature I'd pick Zambia becuase if you see a big full maned lion the PH thinks is mature you can shoot it with no reservations.

Mark

I've hunted both. Struck out on 21 days in the Selous 2001. Took the huge Lion in my avatar on day 11 in the Luangwa Valley (Mwanya) of Zambia 2004. I would go back to Zambia if I wanted another Lion.

I've never hunted in Tanzania and am therefore hesitant to state opinions about the quality of its lion hunting. However, I have spent the last two seasons working as an apprentice in Zambia's Kafue region (in the Lunga Luswishi, Nkala, and Namwala GMAs), so I do feel I have a decent basis for recommending it as a lion hunting destination. The manes are great, the success rates are high, and the cost is generally lower than Tanzania. The best areas are, in no particular order, the Kasonso Busanga, Lunga Busanga, Lunga Luswishi, and Mumbwa West GMAs and the Mushingashi and Royal Kafue private preserves. We took a nice lion in Nkala this year, and there has been some great success in Mulobezi this year, but those areas don't have the same kind of recent track record as the others I mentioned.

People also shoot nice lions in Zambia's Luangwa Valley (in particular, Chifunda has produced some real beauties, and it is not alone in doing so), but the Kafue is significantly more reliable for black, full manes. Interestingly, lion researcher Dr. Paula White has confirmed that Kafue lions are genetically different from the Luangwa population, which is more closely associated with the lions of Tanzania.

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Given the current situation with the strict 6 year old rule in Tanzania making PHs paranoid about shooting a lion even if they think it is mature I'd pick Zambia becuase if you see a big full maned lion the PH thinks is mature you can shoot it with no reservations

Yes there are more and more PH conservationists in Tanzania now good so....for the future lion Hunters.

I have to say Tanzania.

Mike

Shouldnt you be comparing concessions and outfitters rather than countries? Is simply booking a lion hunt (any lion hunt) in Tanz a better option than one in Zambia?? I have zero experience in this but it seems to me there are good and bad in both countries.

I will get to that part but I thought it was kinda like north america moose . Eastern canadian are smaller than alaska and there are more moose in newfoundland than wyoming.

I've hunted Tanzania, but not for lion. The feeling of a Tanzania hunt with the country and the Masai is hard to beat. But, I don't see anybody coming close to the consistency of taking mature lions as Muchinga Adventures and a few others in Zambia.

I chose Zambia after the same agonizing decision process and was well pleased.

Raul Ramoni has been consistently taking 8 - 14 great lion a season from Tanzania. Recently Adam Clements has done the same.

Both countries have a great reputation as a lion hunting destination but more importantly is the areas and outfitterts/phs in both countries that count.

Good luck wherever you end up going!

quote:

Originally posted by sandyhunter:
Interestingly, lion researcher Dr. Paula White has confirmed that Kafue lions are genetically different from the Luangwa population, which is more closely associated with the lions of Tanzania.

Curiously, is this something she told you, or has she published this in a scientific journal?

Just wondering.
thanks

quote:

quote:




Curiously, is this something she told you, or has she published this in a scientific journal?

Just wondering.
thanks

Oryxhunter, she told me this in person, in Zambia.

Check with Mike Heath, Wildcat Safaris, northern Luangwa area in Zambia.

SandyHunter,
Thanks for the information, I was just curious.

Tom - I have hunted lion in both countries, in numerous locations within each country, numerous times! Both offer great lion hunting, in the RIGHT PLACE. Location is the key!

So Matt's question was really the best point to be made. What are you looking for in your particular hunt? Trophy quality (mane quality), experience, other specific species, etc? All factors, or maybe no factor at all.

Zambia's Kafue region offers the country's best lion hunting - without question, IMO.

Tanzania has numerous places to consider, including the west/southwest, and the north.

IMO, pick the general location that fits your needs first, then secondly - pick the outfitter/PH you think is best.

Good luck!!!