Good day all. This is my first post on AR, but I think I have the correct section. I am researching a hunt for Buff and Sable (primary animals). I am fortunate that my dad will be coming with me. He wants to be primarily an observer with camera in hand. As well as the hunt, we would both be interested in visiting Victoria Falls as a quick day trip. Can anyone recommend an Outfit that is relatively close to the falls. We are a little cramped for time/days on the ground. We are planning on going Sept/2014 and will have only 12 days on the ground hunting. Zimbabwe was our original planned destination, but now that Zambia might be up and running by that time it would be an equal option.
I look forward to hearing others suggestions.

Thanks in advance, Cory

Cory ,I would look at Buffalo Range safaris as well as HHK if you want to hunt in Matetsi. I would also consider outfitters in the northern part of the country that have sable in their areas (CM safaris or Chifuti) and book your flight home so that you fly from Harare to Vic Falls then on to JHB from there .

Buffalo Range Safaris - contact Rob & Barry Styles at buffalorange@googlemail.com

They good guys that will organize a good hunt/trip!

Good luck.

I've got an video of a hunt with my daughter and me at Matetsi 3 (HHK) with a visit to Victoria Falls. If you'd like to have a copy, I'd be glad to send it to you. I think it would help you make your decisions.

Just p.m. me with your mailing address and I'll send it to you a.s.a.p.

Theo Bronkhorst at bushmann.zim@yahoo.com
We hunted with Theo last July and he had a brand new super camp 45 mins. out of Vic Falls.
Good hunt and super camp. Visiting Vic Falls super easy.
Better tomorrows!

Some here have had great hunts with HHK. I was not so fortunate. I will never use them again.


.

Zambia mate. Sable are bigger and the Falls much more impressive from our side.

Had a Great Safari in the Matetsi with HHK in 2009. Wife and I took our son for his graduation from High School, ( yes, he also has the "African Bug", now). Saw lots of game, only the buffalo were spotty, due to traveling in and out of the park. Shot my buf and never got it home, due to it entering the park. Reason to return! Wife shot a 39 3/4 Sable, Son got Kudu, Impala, Zebra, Warty and Waterbuck. I also downed a Stink Bull!
Camp at that time was a park concession, now, HHK has there own, from what I understand. Spent the nite prior to the hunt in Vic Falls.
Jennifer @ HHK was very helpful in arrangements.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Good hunting.............

Please go to the Victoria Falls Hotel. Walk through the grand old girl, and have a drink on the Terrace. The uniformed waiter, the ladies taking tea, and the green lawn stretching to the gorge are worth the trip, even without the hunt. Of course you should walk through the park too!

Let your PH know you want to make the trip, and budget in the time. Dean Kendall was kind enough to take me. Now if I can just talk Momma into seeing the falls.

Most outfitters want more than 12 days for both Buff and Sable.

interesting that 2 Zim posters recommended Buffalo Range Safaris - who are partners with a Zim general( Constantine Chiwenge and his lovely wife, Jocelyn) on the US banned list in Matetsi 6. I guess since you are Canadien you won't end up in jail for doing business with the Styles likes us poor Americans would......

+ 1

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Zambia mate. Sable are bigger and the Falls much more impressive from our side.

I would give Fairgame a call asap. He is known for his quality Sable and from the look of his group hunt offer he seems to have all the species you are looking for.

Let Lusaka be your focal point, Kafue is not far and Livingstone where the Vic Falls is is a one hour commercial flight away.

Zambia makes the most sense, logistically and hunting sense as well.

Barry or Rob from "Buffalo Range"on the river at Matetsi in Zim (as you are not from USA) or "Fairgame" Andrew on the north side in Zambia - Kafui River would be my pick.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Zambia mate........the Falls much more impressive from our side.

We are on the same page for most things, mate, but I must disagree here!

Just to set the record straight, Matetsi Unit 6 is legally leased to Kazungula Wildlife Safaris which is not in any way owned by the Style brothers.

Perhaps Matin Pieters can shed more light on this ownership question?

Having tried to book a hunt in Unit 6 myself, I have been told repeatedly that as an American citizen I may not book a hunt in Unit 6. There has not been a legal hunt there by a US citizen since 2005.

All reports indicate it to be a super hunting block and those non-US citizens are very lucky indeed to be able to hunt there! I wish I could,... maybe one day.

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Zambia mate........the Falls much more impressive from our side.

We are on the same page for most things, mate, but I must disagree here!

OK so we agree our Sable are bigger. You must pop over and see the falls from our side mate. Beer is cheaper and the food a lot better.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Some here have had great hunts with HHK. I was not so fortunate. I will never use them again.


.

I understand. I went on two safaris with them and booked a third hunt that I had to wait three years to get the area I wanted for lion. The second trip I saw warning signs that made be be cautious but I went ahead with the third booking. Each year at DSC I would check in with Graham and confirm everything was still a go. The year the trip was to be I got the feeling I was being dodged which I was. I had heard of others getting the same treatment with clients booking sable hunts that get cancelled. I had intended to take my family so I would have spent a good chunk of change with them. I was not happy but after I finally got a face to face talk with Graham his excuses were pathetic and I could obviously tell he could care less about maintaining client relationships long term. I spent my money elsewhere with my family. The next year at DSC I was in the men's room and one of the principles of HHK was complaining to someone that booking were slow. I just smiled and could understand why. It's a shame it ended this way as HHK has some very good PH's but not the only ones

Rob has clients that book hunts with Kazangula wildlife safaris who are the leasees of unit 6. Barry books hunts as Buffalo range safaris with forestry in Pandamasui .Unit 6 Americans can not legally hunt on ,Forestry they can If you want a sable over 45" hunt Zambia with Andrew. The falls are far more impressive from the Zim side.

I hope I get to visit the falls sometime.I enjoyed my visit to lake Kariba after my wonderful and most memorable Makuti hunt.I would especially like to visit Mana Pools Park.Any of these places would be great especially among friends or great company.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to post here. I am sitting back and soaking the ideas in and researching from there. I have to admit, there is a lot of info to look into, but I do have a little bit of time. Thanks again and keep it coming. I am looking.
PS. Maybe I should visit both sides of Vic Falls. Then my dad and I will give u guys a final verdict which side is nicer!! I would imagine that both sides have something to offer. Lol.

Cory

that's what i did. stayed in Vic Falls but crossed the bridge and took a microlight flight over the Falls/Gorge out of Livingston- after doing the bungee jump twice. i still get a kick out of watching the video of the jump- and the photos/scenery of the Falls from the air are unreal....motorized hang glider pilot kills the engine and you just soar on the updrafts for about 20 minutes in dead silence over the entire area.

Cory ,Belinda Cooke runs a meet and great service in Vic Falls and can book any accomadation or trips that you may require in the area .Her husband Richard Cooke also books hunts in Matetsi with forestry .

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Zambia mate........the Falls much more impressive from our side.

We are on the same page for most things, mate, but I must disagree here!

OK so we agree our Sable are bigger. You must pop over and see the falls from our side mate. Beer is cheaper and the food a lot better.

No question Zambia has some outstanding quality - the best I ever guided a client to, was a 46 1/2" sable in Matetsi Unit 6 - that grand bull will forever be etched in my memory.

Andrew, your beer may be cheaper but ours is colder!

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MANDLAZIM:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Zambia mate........the Falls much more impressive from our side.

We are on the same page for most things, mate, but I must disagree here!

OK so we agree our Sable are bigger. You must pop over and see the falls from our side mate. Beer is cheaper and the food a lot better.

No question Zambia has some outstanding quality - the best I ever guided a client to, was a 46 1/2" sable in Matetsi Unit 6 - that grand bull will forever be etched in my memory.

Andrew, your beer may be cheaper but ours is colder!

Not bad. My average is 45 inch and AR's Faisal and I saw one last year that would be either side of 50.

Your beer maybe colder but at least we have more than one brand.

Cheers

Well Andrew, I hope that guy is still around and growing when we go on the search for him next year...

quote:

Originally posted by txsouthpaw:
Well Andrew, I hope that guy is still around and growing when we go on the search for him next year...

There are plenty mate.