The Accurate Reloading Forums
Any good hunting in the Nyakasanga area?

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/3501090822

11 January 2017, 03:03
shootaway
Any good hunting in the Nyakasanga area?
This area has come up in a discussion.
11 January 2017, 05:04
470Evans
I originally planned to hunt Nyakasanga in May of 2009.

I don't know if it is still an auction only area on the other side of Mana Pools from Sapi but it was when I went in May of 2010.

After preparing to bid on the auction Barry Duckworth of Mokore Safaris advised I go after Sapi instead.

Below is my hunt report from Sapi in May of 2010.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/5921027231


2010 Sapi Elephant Hunt
11 January 2017, 06:18
ledvm
Things are much different there today than they were in 2010.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM

A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House

No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.
11 January 2017, 09:19
Rookhawk
Nyakasanga, Sapi, Chewore:

All great locations in the Valley. None are on auction any longer. They are locked up concessions and are now very expensive. Example: Sapi last year $25,000, this year $60,000-$80,000z

Chifuti has some interest in these areas.
11 January 2017, 10:51
fairgame
quote:
Originally posted by 470Evans:
I originally planned to hunt Nyakasanga in May of 2009.

I don't know if it is still an auction only area on the other side of Mana Pools from Sapi but it was when I went in May of 2010.

After preparing to bid on the auction Barry Duckworth of Mokore Safaris advised I go after Sapi instead.

Below is my hunt report from Sapi in May of 2010.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/5921027231


Very nice trophy elephant you took there.


ROYAL KAFUE LTD
Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com
Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144
Instagram - kafueroyal
11 January 2017, 18:10
safari-lawyer
I believe Pete Wood still hunts there some.


Will J. Parks, III
11 January 2017, 21:11
Safari2
https://www.facebook.com/Buffa...sts/1387964507880393

Buffalo Trails Safaris
12 January 2017, 04:30
Buzz Charlton
We did two hunts there this year in December- beautiful area but no camps within Nyakasanga itself. We put up a stunning fly camp on the banks of the Zambezi.

Good buffalo plains game and cats. I was shocked at how the elephant numbers have dwindled in the last 4 years and would not do an elephant hunt there. One of the biggest issues is the continued "ration" hunting- during our hunt there were 3 parties ration hunting which as you can imagine not only interfere with the hunt but leaves a bad taste in the mouth of a paying client!

All in all if there was a good operator they could turn it around very quickly.
13 January 2017, 22:24
cow-trader
Parks has been using this fine area as a golden goose. The ele and the lion have been hammered there. The Zambezi Valley buff herds have all been hammered as well. Tough to fine good old hard bossed buff in any of them any more.

And people wonder why the USF&WS gives us hell.

The Nyakasanga used to be the crown jewel. But like Buzz says, it would recover in short order if allowed - except for ele.
13 January 2017, 22:28
shootaway
it's amazing how much I can learn on AR.
13 January 2017, 23:46
ozhunter
The hills up the back of Sapi would make for a classic Safari destination for Buff and Tuskless.
14 January 2017, 04:31
shootaway
quote:
Originally posted by ozhunter:
The hills up the back of Sapi would make for a classic Safari destination for Buff and Tuskless.

I need to check that out.
14 January 2017, 04:53
ozhunter
Buzz offered me an Ele hunt in Sapi once, sadly I could not "make a plan".
I did chase a wounded Buff up there once though.
Nice wild area. Conducive to classic Safari and Camp.
14 January 2017, 08:20
Buzz Charlton
Cow trader- some valid points but have to say lions and buff are still in very good numbers there! If I was clever enough I would post a video of two lions that literally walked up to our cruiser and we saw lions 5 out of 7 days and some good males. The buff are still excellent. We shot a great hard bossed bull on day one and saw about 1000 buff in the 7 days.

The eles are a different story and Parks really need to lay off Nyakasanga for a while!! They also issued a SA guy Called Martinus Grobblear a huge concession with in Nyakasanga as a Photo area but he abuses the ration hunting also.

Sapi is gone unfortunately to the Jouberts who were instrumentally in closing down hunting in Botswana. They plan to turn it into a photo safari area. The few flood plains are beautiful but 90% of the SAPI is jesse blocks which are great for hunting but useless for photo safaris!!!

Here are some interesting thoughts on the future of hunting and buff hunting in particular in the Zambezi valley

1/RIFA- has a very conservative quota and Louis Muller has done a great job with anti poaching so game number and buff in particular are increasing-he does not allow ration hunting. Future of Rifa is very good!.

2/Nyakasanga-good but getting abused. Future looking bleak unless change of operator and Parks policies

3/Chewore North owned by Billy Rautenbch is closed to hunting for 2 years. Future of CN is good as there are no communities in the area and buff etc will bounce back nicely

4/Chewore South shot a very small percentage of their quota last year. I expect that that will be the same this year and as a result in the long run it will look good except for ele as the poaching is bad.

5/SAPI- CLOSED -So good for all game. ( my thoughts though is that with a responsible operator-it could have remained open for hunting with respectable quotas and we will still have seen the benefits in time)

6/DANDE SOUTH- shot a tiny percentage of their quota this year. If there is a concerted effort at anti poaching then Dande South will hold its own.

Dande North- we shot 30 of our 50 buffalo only. We have a very effective anti poaching team DAPU ( www.dapuzim.com) who have really made a big difference. Our hunting and buff hunting in particular is going from strength to strength.

In conclusion- I do believe that the Valley will make a great resurgence in the next few years!! There are a number of areas coming up for auction in the next year or two and I think that PARKS need to insist that in the budget there needs to be an anti poaching team run and owned by the operators as in reality Parks are unable to do this themselves ! This needs to be compulsory and Ration hunting needs to stop! All in all I believe its looking great for the Zambezi Valley!!
14 January 2017, 19:57
cow-trader
quote:
Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
Cow trader- some valid points but have to say lions and buff are still in very good numbers there! If I was clever enough I would post a video of two lions that literally walked up to our cruiser and we saw lions 5 out of 7 days and some good males.

Yes, Nyakasanga has always sported brilliant males. Does not negate the fact that Parks has used these lion as Credit Cards since about 2009. Lion fortunately bounce back quickly - not the case for ele as you know my friend.

The buff are still excellent. We shot a great hard bossed bull on day one and saw about 1000 buff in the 7 days.

Numbers are still there for sure and Nyakasanga has not yet experienced the pressure the rest of the valley has over the last decade - absolutely. But make no mistake, the lower Zambezi buff as a whole have been over pressured and I am sure you would agree. Mature bulls with trophy quality horns are not easy to come by there today.

The eles are a different story and Parks really need to lay off Nyakasanga for a while!! They also issued a SA guy Called Martinus Grobblear a huge concession with in Nyakasanga as a Photo area but he abuses the ration hunting also.

Exactly my friend.

Sapi is gone unfortunately to the Jouberts who were instrumentally in closing down hunting in Botswana. They plan to turn it into a photo safari area. The few flood plains are beautiful but 90% of the SAPI is jesse blocks which are great for hunting but useless for photo safaris!!!

With the Jouberts lurking about - all the more reason for Parks to get its act together and all the more incentive for ethical companies such as yourself to pressure them to do so.

Here are some interesting thoughts on the future of hunting and buff hunting in particular in the Zambezi valley

1/RIFA- has a very conservative quota and Louis Muller has done a great job with anti poaching so game number and buff in particular are increasing-he does not allow ration hunting. Future of Rifa is very good!.

Excellent!

2/Nyakasanga-good but getting abused. Future looking bleak unless change of operator and Parks policies

Spot on

3/Chewore North owned by Billy Rautenbch is closed to hunting for 2 years. Future of CN is good as there are no communities in the area and buff etc will bounce back nicely

Agreed

4/Chewore South shot a very small percentage of their quota last year. I expect that that will be the same this year and as a result in the long run it will look good except for ele as the poaching is bad.

Execellent and agreed. Chewore was abused too long.

5/SAPI- CLOSED -So good for all game. ( my thoughts though is that with a responsible operator-it could have remained open for hunting with respectable quotas and we will still have seen the benefits in time)

We must realy keep a keen eye on the politics here between the government and the Jouberts.

6/DANDE SOUTH- shot a tiny percentage of their quota this year. If there is a concerted effort at anti poaching then Dande South will hold its own.

Brilliant

Dande North- we shot 30 of our 50 buffalo only. We have a very effective anti poaching team DAPU ( www.dapuzim.com) who have really made a big difference. Our hunting and buff hunting in particular is going from strength to strength.

Well done mate!

In conclusion- I do believe that the Valley will make a great resurgence in the next few years!! There are a number of areas coming up for auction in the next year or two and I think that PARKS need to insist that in the budget there needs to be an anti poaching team run and owned by the operators as in reality Parks are unable to do this themselves ! This needs to be compulsory and Ration hunting needs to stop! All in all I believe its looking great for the Zambezi Valley!!

Brilliant - And I too see maybe the tide starting to turn for this Treasure piece of geography. Lets hope Parks listens to your grand advice.

16 January 2017, 17:40
Rastaman
I hunted Nyakasanga in 2009 and took a 45lb elephant. Game was plentiful. There was the typical quota craziness with special guests and rangers shooting extra but the division with photo camps seemed to give animals a rest area.

I think I might be the last person to hunt Sapi this year and felt like the area could use a rest. It's hard to account for the drought conditions but the game was very spooky and scarce. As a hunter I was actually glad to hear about the photo deal. Unfortunately it probably means we will never hunt it again.

Both areas a wild true Africa in my opinion, even with the issues.
16 January 2017, 17:43
Rastaman
I wanted to add that I have driven through dande north and makouti on two different hunts to get to where and the areas just look and feel like they are being managed well. There is a notable difference in these valley areas when a conscientious concession holder is in place.
16 January 2017, 18:18
shootaway
quote:
Originally posted by Rastaman:
I wanted to add that I have driven through dande north and makouti on two different hunts to get to where and the areas just look and feel like they are being managed well. There is a notable difference in these valley areas when a conscientious concession holder is in place.

Did you drive through Makuti lately? If so who operating there?