Tanz is on my bucket list to hunt as soon as possible. My buddy and me have hunted with Jumbo in Moz twice and Namibia once on our first Africa hunt. All hunts have been truly exceptional with buffs, leopards and great plains game taken. The prices in Tanz have held me back but I am ready to get serious about it for '18 or '19. I know the big areas are the Selous, Lake Natron and Masai region. The Selous seems very similar to the Niassa in Moz which we have hunted so I think the other 2 would be our first choice. We love to buff hunt and for horned game the last 2 big ones we are really interested in are Nyala and Roan. Neither of us have one.

Before I start the exhaustive research can anyone recommend first class outfits that have exceptional buff and maybe roan? I don't think nyala are an option there and maybe not roan either. Also, I like to throw in some wing shooting to break things up and I do prefer using a double rifle so long range(150 yds+) shooting is not my preference for Africa. Thanks for any advice.

For what you will pay to hunt Buff and roan in Tanzania, you could do multiple trips in other countries hunting some exceptional areas with bird shooting and nyala.

Don't know how adventurous you are, but I would do Roan/western buff hunt in Benin/Burkina. 10-12k

Book a Durban/Natal hunt for Nyala, and look for some birds there. 7-8k

Tanz is great, but if you're not looking to hunt the very specialized plains game, I would look elsewhere.

I have hunted a few times with Adam Clements's outfit in Tanzania and have been very happy. I have put my hunts up here before.

From what you are saying, you probably need to look closer at what you want.

Masailand areas...near Tarangire or the Serengeti will have numbers of big buffalo and the unique plains game species. In some areas there might be Roan, but the numbers are not huge.

Lake Natron is the area for the Masai plains game species, but buffalo are not as common or numerous.

Western Tanzania has the better roan numbers and good buffalo, but doesn't have the iconic plains game species.

As you said, the Selous is rather similar in species to northern Mozambique, and while there are quite abut of sable, I don't know if there are any roan, or if there are, they are very localized.

If did shoot an excellent buffalo and a roan at Maswa (borders the Serengeti in the north), but roan numbers aren't huge there.

As you said, there is no Nyala in Tanzania so that is not an option.

You need to decide what your priority is, or else admit that you are going to pay even more and do multiple camps or areas. Honestly, Tanzania is a country you need to hunt 4-5 times to get the full experience, but it is kind of cost prohibitive to do that.

There are lots of outfits and individual PH's booking there so you should be able to find someone you like, but on a cautionary note, Tanzania is not a place to book only on price...

Harpreet Brar, Rungwa Game safaris, hunts some of the areas I've hunted in Tanzania and if you go late you might stumble on to one of those big old dugga boys his area is famous for. I would look up Mike Fell as well. He apprenticed under Danny Mccallum and Gerard Miler... He's is a damn good PH.

Thanks for the great replies. I think in all honesty I am hung up on TZ for sentimental reasons and wanting to see the country I have read about. Maybe the best bet would be a tourist type safari to TZ and hunt in Zambia, Uganda, Moz for game. Only problem with that idea is I would have enormous issues with any antis that would probably be on a non hunting safari. I am not one to keep my mouth shut to get along.

Is it simply the TZ govt that makes it so much expensive than neighboring countries? The consensus seems to be that the cost is not worth it if you are just looking for the game so the big decision naturally is does the scenery, camps and nostalgia make it worth the cost? Definitely more of an individual decision.

Don't discount Zambia...if Roan is important..then you go to Areas like mentioned above in Ruangwa (just East of where....Zambia)

I would hunt Zambia unless you really want the specialized plains game of North Tanzania..
Just saying...because I went to Zambia over Tanz for those reasons and took a beautiful Roan. (I see I posted after your reply said much the same)

Tanzania is expensive, but to me, it's worth the price. Headed back again next month to Natron and Longido. This is my wife's first trip and so focus is on Masailand plainsgame species, with only one buffalo on ticket, no cats. Cool time of year where there are no tsetses. No roan there; need to hunt western Tanzania for that. I've tried twice without success on roan. You likely will be in for a long tracking job to catch up with one. Been on a few, but either lost it or had to break off to check lion baits.

What makes it worth it? To me, it's the varied terrain and scenery. The plains in Masailand are incredible, as are the miombo woodlands of the Selous and western Tanzania. Always something new and different. And, if you hunt with a quality outfit, you can still have the nostalgia of a traditional East African safari, a luxury tent camp, fantastic meals, and one of my favorites, a young man who brings a tray with your coffee or tea each morning -- stopping outside your tent and saying "Hodi".
At that point, you are only one "Karibu" away from a hot cup of tea while you finish putting on your boots. It is a step back in time, at least for me.

I'd highly recommend Michel Mantheakis Safaris. Michel has areas in Masailand and western Tanzania. I've hunted with Michel and a few of his other PH's as well. Never had a bad experience. Good luck choosing.

Blackdogsrule,

We did a long safari in Tanzania with a week of touring on the end. We arranged the tour through our safari operator and had a private car, driver and a PH as the guide. We had very little contact with the photo tourists so I don't think you'd necessarily have any run ins with antis. I will tell you though that the "Old Africa" feel is not present in photo camps. There is nothing like being the only ones in camp in the wilderness but having all the comforts Lavaca described. The level of "Safari" in Tanzania is unmatched.

Mark

We went on a photo safari in South Africa once.

We were the only ones actually actively put all day.

We had a Russian couple who never left camp all the time they were there??!

We met other people from other camps who were actually asleep in their truck while two lions were mating 20 yards away??!!

So many were taking photos with their iPhones and iPads??!!

It made us all wonder why they even bothered to go there!

Email sent.

Great advice and thanks for the PM's as well. I will answer them. I had looked at Rungwa and Mantheakis before and the cost of TZ pushed me to Moz which has been fantastic. Need to figure it out soon for 18 or 19.

Wherever you decide to go, choose wisely.

Not necessarily on price alone.

And if your not sure ask your fellow members here, they will not be shy to tell you the truth.

Best of luck.

Thank you Saeed and everyone else. So many choices and so little time-not to mention $$$$$

Tanzania is a beautiful country. I'll hunt there as long as I can, although I've considered some non-hunting trips, which would be significantly less expensive.

Some good advice handed out above....I can second the nominations of Mike Fell, Michel Mantheakis and can also advise Mike Angelides of Old Nyika Safaris or Safari Royal.

Buff and roan can be done on one safari through the above stated who will ensure you are well looked after and experience some of the best that Tanzania can offer. Do consider adding 2-3 days at the start or end to visit the northern parks; there are numerous options to stay at where you will avoid the "crowds" and retain the feel of Africa of bygone eras!

A lot of the species in the Selous also exist in northern Mozambique.

A lot of the species in Rungwa and the Masailands also exist in Uganda and Ethiopia.

Of course roan exist in a lot of places.

Legendary Adventures (the Friedkin Family American Company) would be a great choice of outfitters to book with...hunting with Tanzania Game Tracker Safaris.

You will love Tanzania.

Many great outfitters to hunt with, and a few to avoid at any cost.

When you make your short list, post it here, you will get straight recommendations of who you should hunt with.

Pierre Van Tonder is a terrific choice. We have been to Tanzania with him 3 times (SA once)

Brad

Bwanamich:

I heard that Mike Angelides bought Danny McCollum's Lukwati concession. This is adjacent to Michel's. I've never met Mike personally, but his pedigree is beyond refute. And that area is incredible for cats and buffalo.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Bwanamich:

I heard that Mike Angelides bought Danny McCollum's Lukwati concession. This is adjacent to Michel's. I've never met Mike personally, but his pedigree is beyond refute. And that area is incredible for cats and buffalo.

He actually bought Danny out. Lukwati is a great area indeed with possibly some of the best sable trophies one can expect anywhere in Tanzania!

quote:

Lukwati is a great area indeed with possibly some of the best sable trophies one can expect anywhere in Tanzania!

quote:

He actually bought Danny out. Lukwati is a great area indeed with possibly some of the best sable trophies one can expect anywhere in Tanzania!

When I was in there way back when Mike & Michel were still grinding their way through their apprenticeship, it was known for some spectacular Sable and glad to know they are still there.
There was no shortage of excellent trophy Buffalo and Lion, Leopard were literally crawling out of the woodwork and while not in the same numbers as Sable, there were some pretty decent skittish (aren't they all) Roan about.

Last but not least, Lukwati must surely take the laurels for its colonies of ruthless tsetse flies.

I daresay I have yet to find an area that beats it - Mbiki Open (long since closed) would in my book be second placed.

Fulvio is right about the tsetses. Nice sable and leopard as well. I've chased roan, but never connected.

I hunted the Selous in '06, before the Government raised fees dramatically. Probably my best trip. Massive wilderness, zero permanent residents (this is getting harder & harder to come by!) and huge freedom of movement when tracking buffalo...

If the prices had not doubled, I would have been back several times. I probably need to be looking for a late season quota cleanup with a few buff available!!

We leave in 41 days for Tanzania. We'll give a full report upon return.

A very Good option for you may be Burkina Faso, western savanna Buffalo though.The Roan there is very similar to the Southern version. Spear Safaris operate there and can offer pretty good hunting. info@spearsafaris.com

Lwafi Game reserve in Western Tanzania is also a good option for both, it will be expensive as you need a 21 day License in order to hunt the Roan. Once again try spear safaris, info@spearsafaris.com

quote:

Originally posted by blackdogsrule:

I am not one to keep my mouth shut to get along.

Truer words have never been spoken

Another vote for Mike Fell. He just produces because he is an excellent hunter trained by the best. Also the areas he's hunting are very good.

Brett

quote:

Originally posted by BrettAKSCI:
Another vote for Mike Fell. He just produces because he is an excellent hunter trained by the best. Also the areas he's hunting are very good.

Brett

Mike just contacted me in the last few days with a deal on a hunt in Masailand. A big buff area. I, unfortunately, cannot go this year. He is worth contacting.