In addition to Safaris Botswana Bound, who hunts leopard by tracking with Bushmen trackers? Anybody on the Namibia side of the Kalahari?

I am not sure who does but there ought to be an outfitter who does. I do have one who uses hounds though.

Mark Kyriacou in Botswana does Kalahari Lepoard hunts by tracking. His email is MK.BIRDSAF@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
I haven't hunted Leopard with Mark's outfit, but my brother did and i've used him twice in the Okavango. Both of us were very happy with our hunts. Good accmodations, great food, good PHs ( Clive Eaton and Glen Munger) and good trophys.

SBT,

Swanepoel & Scandrol has, just last season, started offering the Kalahari leopard hunts. I think this is a result of the fact that PH Luke Blackbeard went to work for S&S. Luke is from Botswana and his family is well known in Botswana. In fact, last season in Tanzania, I talked with Luke about the Kalahari leopard hunts and he said they are a fun and exciting hunt.

Regards,

Terry

Call me skeptical but this seems like a long odds way to go on a low percentage animal to hunt. Take plenty of time and keep your expectations low.

Oh, but it is fun....so much better than sitting in a blind

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
www.slatesafaris.com

7mm Rem Mag Page www.slatesafaris.com/7mm.htm

I had a video awhile back showing this type of hunt. The bushmen followed the leopard on foot while the PH and client rode in the back of the vehicle...it was amazing watching them follow the leopard sign. The funny thing was there must of have been about 7 or 8 of them but when they knew they were getting close to the leopard they "just seemed to vanish". As I recall the client made a poor shot with his rifle and the leopard went into some low growth...the client switched to a shotgun and they all stayed in the back of the truck as it drove up toward where the leopard was hiding. The leopard came out like a cannonball and the client missed it twice....the cat hit the front of the truck and started chewing up the grill...when it ran off someone shot and killed it.....and the bushmen appeared as if by magic.

Didn't seem real sporting but sure was exciting to everyone except the leopard. I would prefer to be on the ground with dogs...sitting in a blind is the pits....been there and done that.

That is about what one can expect on a tracking hunt, a full blown charge...The cats will only be push so far then they turn and fight being the noble creature they are...

IMHO if someone ain't tuff enough to do it right then stay the hell out of the game, don't commit to the enevitable, then run backwards...

Using a vehicle as a sheild is an unsportsmanlike approach to this type of hunting, and is disgusting to the very core of all sportsmen who hunt dangerous game....

I have no problem with anyone that does not want to hunt dangerous game by tracking because it is a very dangerous sport, but I do have a problem with the geek that starts something he can't finish and then hops in the old dunebuggy to finish it the easy safe way, because he let his battleship mouth overload his motor boat a$$, and his sporting blood turned to horse piss, so a noble fighting animal dies without the chance he deserves....Bravery and brave deeds are about the only thing that will bring tears to my eyes, cowardice just makes me puke....Now if you really want to know how I feel about this then bla bla bla. Now I will ajourn from my soap box.

Ray,

I'm on your Team. This makes me puke as well. I wouldn't want any part of it!

Bob

I think Volkler Grellman in Namibia is working with Bushman and is probably involved with such tracking hunts. He's based in Windhoek.

Ray,
I agree completely, if the client hasn't got the balls to do it right, he shouldn't do it at all. That's no way to hunt a leopard........ having said that, I hate sitting on my ass in a blind as well.

So let's go hunt a Buff instead!!!

Gentlemen:
If you have not tried, then do not knock it. I hunted the Kalahari for leopard many times. There is no white man, nor our trackers from the north of botswana that can keep up with the bushman on the ground. It is much safer for the trackers to keep the vehicle on their rearends, as some times
they get charged. What would you do if a tracker or client got mangeled miles from the vehicle?
I have known of several leopards that have come into the rear of the vehicle and chewed on a few before he was dispached. I would say, this type of hunting will result in a charge over 90% of the time. I have to use my old shotgun on several occosions under these circumstances. There has been other methods tried, but the bushman followed by the vehicle is still the best method. Morals not withstanding.
George

Garry Kelly Safaries.
Twice I've hunted his outfit.
You can find him on the web.
Long time in the business.
LOL

Also of course Johan Calitz
based in Bostwana. Ask for his
DVD of last years hunts.

Thanks for your perspective George.

Bob

George,
I have no problem with the vehicle being there, I just don't like the idea of shooting from it..when you get close then get out of the truck is my take on this or any other hunting...