Well, I just got home from the airport this afternoon and thought that I would post a few thoughts on my recently concluded hunt. I did not get a lion, but had a great hunt and met some very nice people. I was hunting with ZimAfrica (PH Tim Schultz), and my friend Geffert Pretorious, who recommended this hunt, was also in camp. With my past trouble getting a lion everyone was anxious to help me break my jinx, but it was not to be once again. I have never hunted with two harder working guys than Tim and Geffert, and we hunted as hard as was humanly possible for 14 days, but the freak late rains this year had caused the lions to move out of the area (last year was 100% on lion here, and I checked references both directly and indirectly, so I fully believe that the weather was the culprit).



I have to say that ZimAfrica has been extremely accomodating, and I will be returning later in the year to finish my hunt.



We did have one male lion hit a bait late in the hunt, but two mornings in a row we heard him at the bait, only to have him wind, hear, or sense us as we tried stalking into position for a shot. I believe that we would have had him the first morning had it not been for the government game scout insisting that we take a direct approach toward the bait rather than circling to come in from downwind as everyone else wanted to do. Needless to say, he will not be with us when I return!!!!!



The hunt was filled with enough "adventures" for several hunts, including killing a 9 foot black mamba and two cobras in camp (plus seeing another cobra and a boomslang while hunting).



I want to give a few bits of information about Zimbabwe, and about travel through South Africa, but I NEED to get a little sleep first. Through the wonders of digital cameras I will post a few pictures tonight.



First pic is of a giraffe that was tearing down fences at Sondelani, where I stayed for a couple of days waiting for my rifles to finally catch up with me before beginning my lion hunt. I borrowed a rifle, and found that a single 300 grain Northfork in 375 H&H when placed in the lungs will indeed work for giraffe. This was a big old black male, and as you can see in the pic. I had my Accurate Reloading cap on just for you guys .













Next is a hyena that made the mistake of showing himself before dark while we were heading out of the bush. It would easily make the top 20 in SCI(pushing top 10) if I choose to enter it. Sorry about the poor picture quality, but I was trying to use the nightshot flash mode to get the sunset in the background.











Here is a nice impala that led us on an interesting stalk.









This is the headless black mamba that was in camp (funny how a 12 gauge works that way ).







When it wasn't raining the sunrises and sunsets were spectacular as always.















This picture is especially for OldSarge and Nickudu (guess Clark Gable and Stewart Grainger have nothing to fear ). When I saw this pith helmet and lion's tooth necklace in Vic Falls I had to get a photo!!!!









But, I did have a bit of time for relaxing now and then .











Well, this post is running way too long and my bed is calling. It's good to be home!!!





Jim

Can't wait to hear more. Schd to hunt there this July. Esp interested in your story of getting there with your guns and any problems encountered.

Great pics. I see excellent shot placement on the impala!

Looks like you are wearing one of those Outdoor Life shirts from Cabelas with the big boobs.

Welcome home.

Nice pics! I look forard to hearing more.

Erik D.

Glad you made it back safely. Hope to hear more about the hunt.

Well done there, Jim, that's a beautiful giraffe. Looking forward to more stories after you rest up!

That big lion is gonna happen Jim. Hang tough.

Super trophies ... Great hat!

Why did you have to wait for your rifles to catch up with you?

What went wrong?

Enjoying your report! What areas of Zimbabwe did you hunt?

oh, i'll bite...

did you eat the mamba's? taste like chicken?

Great pics, thanks for sharing!!

jeffe

Mbogo,
I hunted with Zim Africa last May for plains game. We hunted on Sondelani and some surrounding properties.
I had a great hunt with them. I met your PH (Tim) and was told that he was one of the best they had. I didn't get to hunt with him but was paired with a young guy named Marvin and he was fantastic. I hope you get your lion when you go back. Good Luck

Great Hunt, great photos, great story. Hope you get your lion on the next hunt.

Now, tell us about your lost guns. My last trip to Zim, we stayed in Victoria Falls for the first two days and then started our hunt. It was a good thing, because my guns arrived in Vic Falls one day behind us. Didn't matter since our first 2 days were not hunting days, but I was worried until I finally saw my gun case.

This August I am headed back for buffalo/plainsgame with Big 5 Safaris in Chewore North. We are planning to fly into Harare and immediately get in the Cesna to head to camp. If our guns are late in this scenario, we are screwed.

Love to hear the story about your guns arriving late and how you resolved it.

Thanks.

Tim

Very nice photography...Glad you had a good hunt and sorry you didn't get a Lion..

Jim,

Well done!

Great pics and story. Keep them coming.

Regards,
Dave

Thanks for the nice replies. Sorry for not getting back sooner with a response, but I was at the hospital all day with my mother. She has been in very poor health for a long time and was hospitalized again while I was in Africa (the reason that I had to get home), and today she was placed in hospice care. Please keep her in your prayers.

I want to take a little time to inform forum members of a few experiences that might affect your travel as they did mine. First, do not attempt to make the one hour fifteen minute connection from Atlanta to Joburg to Bulawayo. I did try, but the flight from Atlanta was over 30 minutes late, and even though I got to the gate 10 minutes before the Bulawayo flight they said that the gate was closed 15 minutes before the flight and they would not let me board. I was told that my rifles did make the flight, but my checked bag did not. The rifles (which had been checked straight through to Bulawayo along with my checked bag) were supposed to be waiting in Bulawayo at customs the next day. I stayed with Louis at Afton Guest House that night (after picking up my checked bag). The next day I arrived in Bulawayo, only to find out that my rifles were not there. Calls to Joburg revealed that they could not find the rifles there either. I then asked the ZimAfrica representative to call Louis, and I assume that he worked his usual magic to help the rifles to be "found", but it was still two days before I got them.

On the way back through Joburg I had about four hours to catch the connecting flight, but my rifles and bag were checked straight through at the suggestion of the airline representatives in Bulawayo. On clearing customs at Joburg I was recognized by the crooks, err "representatives", at the rifle claim area and they asked where my rifles were. I told them that they were checked through, and walked away. Almost immediately a South African policeman walked up and asked where my firearms were (obviously the other guys had told him what I had said). I told him that they were checked through, but he said that they could not be checked through without being claimed in Joburg and that I should have a temporary permit from my previous entry. I explained that they had been checked through on the prior trip as well, but he said that that was illegal. I told him that the airlines as well as customs and another policeman had agreed that it was OK on the way through before. He then turned to walk away as he said "Chill out, don't worry about it". I don't think that anyone knows exactly what is allowed and what is not in this area.

Zimbabwe had more than the usual number of road blocks (and at one they even searched our bags). The few stations that had gas had no lines waiting to buy it. The bank exchange rate was 4419 to 1 in Vic Falls. There were very few tourists in Vic Falls. Otherwise, things were pretty much the same as a couple of years ago. I have no qualms about going back later to finish my hunt.

If you have other specific questions, or if I think of other items of interest, I will post as time allows with my mother's situation.

JIm

Thanks for the ground report. Apparently going thru Joberg this year is going to be interesting.

375,

Thanks for the update. Glad that you are back safe and sound. Sounds like you had a wonderful hunt. So much for those who want to say that hunting in Africa is just "shooting."

Do you know if Tim has a brother, Andrew? If so, I had the pleasure of hunting and staying on the old Schultz place in '98 and meeting his brother and sister in law. (Had a wonderful dinner with them in 2000 in Vic Falls through his brother, who I met in Orlando in 1999 or 2000, who got us back in contact.

Africa is sure a small place. Everyone knows someone, who knows someone.

I'd sure like to know how his family is doing. I have worried during these troubled times about them. Really wonderful people.

Again, a hearty "Weidmansheil" to you, my friend. I look forward to your full report as much as you look forward to a good nights sleep. Ku-dude

Sorry to hear you didn't get a lion. That's why we call it hunting, not shooting. That has got to be the most beautiful giraffe I have ever seen. Are you going to have him mounted. He is absolutely stunning.
Sevens

I'm not much of a judge of hyenas, but that looks like a monster. Good shot.

Mbogo,

Enjoyed hearing of your experiences. My wife and I are going to Zim in August, and I read with interest your account of "more than the usual number of roadblocks". Since I will be traveling w/ my wife, I wondered if you could tell me what the general feeling "on the ground" was. Were the "police" at the roadblocks looking for trouble? aggressive,pushy? Did you or would you feel unsafe traveling with your family? Was there ample fuel available? Please give your impression, we are trying to decide whether to drive from Harare or take a bush charter to camp. Obviously, the charter would be easier, but we would both like to go overland and see the country if we think it's stable.

Mbogo,
Great giraffe and hyena, sorry about the lion but sounds like you had an excellent PH & outfitter and they will set up a return trip. Interesting details and timely advice on flying through to Zim. Would you advise to stop in Jo'burg and spend the nite at Afton House, gathering gear and rifles before flying on to Zim the next day? Read that into your report but would like it confirmed before I make travel arrangements to Zim for July. Thanks and welcome back.

Jim,

Congratulations on the nice trophies. You'll get Simba, just keep it up. Sorry to hear about your mother, we will keep her in our prayers.

BOWHUNR

Jim:

Thanks for the heads up. That settles it. Me and mine are going to spend some time with Louie before we head to Zimbabwe, just in case. Kathi recommended against our party trying the same connection that you had trouble with. Your story confirms her concern. Avoiding a "lagging firearm", spending time with folks from all over the world, either coming or going on safari and a good nights sleep.. is what the Afton House is all about! The breakfast is good, the company is great, Louie will "fix" anything.. and there is a peace of mind when you know someone has a handle on everything.

Our departure is May 26th and we're getting all packed and ready to go. It is nice to hear that Vic Falls is calm and fuel was available. I'm sure the grass will be still long in late May with rains lasting so long! But that adds adventure to the buffalo hunting according to Capstick...

I'll come to see you one day next week and buy you a lunch and give you a break from bedside duty. Keep me informed... and if we get a chance, I'll do my last shooting with the doubles.. just to show off the final loads for the .475.. 2100 fps and 3" at 50 yards.. should thump an elephant at 20??? You also need to see my new 9.3x62.

I hunted with ZimAfrica Safaris last July and had a great time also. Those photos of Sondelani make me want to go back. I did not shoot a giraffe, but seeing them every day, made me want to. Next time! I hunted with Ben Coulson as my PH, but met Tim in camp with another hunter and he struck me as a fine PH. He hunted hard for the other hunter for Leopard and they finally got one the second to the last evening. Ask Tim to tell you the joke about the Englishman and the Redneck and "TIMbuktu".
Doug

Jim,

Thanks for the report. Lions can be difficult at times. I dont think there is as many as there were a few years ago. You look great looks like you lost some weight.

Jim- Sorry to hear about your Mom. Extra tough when you are so far away...

Hi JudgeG:

Are you Hunting with ZimAfrica? If so how long is your hunt? I am leaving May 29th for Zim with ZimAfrica... Leopard and plains game... 12 days.

Regards... Jim P.