It's been over 12 years since I killed a Cape Buff and I am trying to get something setup for this year (2016).

I want to stay away from RSA game farms. I have previously hunted in Zim for ellie and buff, but I understand poaching has taken a terrible toil on buff since I was last there.

I would like to kill something between 36-40 in with a decent boss.


Any suggestions?

Thanks,

BH63

PS I will be at the Denver International Sportsman's Expo next week, if anyone has a booth there.

Thanks.

BH63

I Recomand the Selous... South of the Rufiji are the best Hunting Blocks...

Lots of places are good for what you are after... Kind of depends on your budget.

Tanzania in the Selous would work well, but is on the higher expense end.

Zimbabwe has lots of good spots.

Zambia just reopened its GMA's and there are lots of good buffalo there.

The Caprivi areas in Namibia have some good reports as does Mozambique.

Budget constraints would probably put you looking at Zimbabwe or Mozambique.

If the money end is less of an issue, any of the above work well.

If budget is no issue, try a 14 day buff hunt on a 21 day license in northern or western Tanzania (masailand plains game)

The Selous in Tanzania is a virtual guarantee if you want a decent trophy and if lucky, one scoring in the low 40s.

However, if you fancy one between 40 - 45 you want to be looking at the northern concessions (Masailand) or West Tanzania (Rungwa/Moyowosi).

Zimbabwe has LOTS of good buffalo hunts. Save, Bubye, Sengwa with Mokore, Dandy with CM. I don't think the poaching has hurt buf to any extent.

I will be in Denver booth number 814.zim still has great buffalo at reasonable prices.

I am on the same mission and let me give you a summary:

1. Botswana is total buff-less
2. RSA is breaking out in buffalo all over but of course all on private land with lower daily rates but higher trophy fees than the traditional destinations so it all comes out about the same if not a bit more than Zim.
3. Zim prices have doubled on a buff hunt over the last 3-5 years and the lions have hammered the buffalo populations. In addition in some areas a lot of soft-bossed bulls have been shot leaving trophy quality a bit lacking. I believe some of the conservancies have excellent buff hunting but they know it and price it accordingly.
4. Zambia has re-opened with plenty of buff in various areas and probably the best trophy quality, but more pricey than Zim
5. Tanzania I have no meaningful insight other than it's possible to do a double buff hunt in Tanzania on a fairly short duration hunt (I believe even on 7 days). Know your area.
6. Namibia has good quality but very limited buff quota and prices are way up there as a result.
7. Mozambique has some very large herds with good trophies BUT you may not want to hunt in a swamp. The wooded areas in the North are perhaps a better bet but the quota is tightly controlled.

My limited take. I love hunting buffalo. Tanzania allows 3 on a 21 day license. Nuf said, but, as Fujo said, in either Masailand or Western Tanzania, you could get a mid-40's bull. Enough reason to go there.

People say Tanzania is expensive, but where else can you hunt three buffalo? Three trips anywhere else would exceed the cost of one Tanzania safari.

Each country has its own attractions and some can offer unique species to hunt along side your buffalo.

In Zambia you can take a second buffalo but the second trophy fee becomes expensive.

The best buffalo are coming out of the Luangwa and a couple of the Kafue concessions. The private unfenced concessions have produced excellent buffalo last year.

Personally I would hunt buffalo where big game is common and this adds to the experience. Secondly chose a good PH/Outfitter.

I disagree that Zim has been shot out and you only have to look at the hunt reports here to prove otherwise.

AR's hunt reports would probably be more productive than the shows. Here you have contemporary references and up to date assessments.

I think that one should do his homework and have an idea of which area is good.Seeing pictures of a couple of nice buff is not enough.Some outfitters will show you only pics of the nice ones and not the others.If for every nice one there are 50 that are near soft that is not good especially if they charge high.I was interested in one place as there were some really nice buff taken there.The outfitters sight had some nice pics of a few outstanding buff taken and charged high for a hunt there.Then I saw a pic of the seasons trophy take and there was dozens of skulls in the pic and not one was really good.

Thanks for all the great info.

Originally I thought about killing one in Tanzania or Zambia, but I understand that you are looking at about $25K if you figure in the cost of a charter flight.

I understand I could get a 10-day buff hunt in Zim for about $15K and all I would have to do is fly in to Bulawayo (plus shipping and dipping and tips, of course).

I have heard a lot of bad things about Moz - to include sloshing through swamps and areas without any buff.

So I will probably wind up going to Zim.

Has anyone hunted the South Gowke region lately? I keep getting mixed reports about the buff in that region.

Again thanks for all the information. I am 63 and this will probably be my last buff hunt and I really don't won't it to be a disappointment.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:
Thanks for all the great info.

Originally I thought about killing one in Tanzania or Zambia, but I understand that you are looking at about $25K if you figure in the cost of a charter flight.

I understand I could get a 10-day buff hunt in Zim for about $15K and all I would have to do is fly in to Bulawayo (plus shipping and dipping and tips, of course).

I have heard a lot of bad things about Moz - to include sloshing through swamps and areas without any buff.

So I will probably wind up going to Zim.

Has anyone hunted the South Gowke region lately? I keep getting mixed reports about the buff in that region.

Again thanks for all the information. I am 63 and this will probably be my last buff hunt and I really don't won't it to be a disappointment.

BH63

BH63: I live in Denver, if next week you want to me - please let me know? I book hunts in every southern/eastern African country, and I have been to them all for DG. I could certainly go over options with you? My contact info is listed below.

quote:

Hunting buff is better than sex!

At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought.

I have heard a lot of bad things about Moz - to include sloshing through swamps and areas without any buff.

Dear friend , in the swamps , grasslands and thick forests of the Marromeu complex which only comprises coutada 10,11,12 and 14 , you will find the biggest density of buffalo in all Africa per square mile ( exceeding 20.000 ) , so i honestly cannot understand your oppinion here and how you could have heard such a nonsense.
You might not like hunting in the swamps but i know that coutada 10, 11 and 12 they also hunt in forest so you can share both experiences.
There are absolutely fantastic operators and areas in Moz but as anywhere else , you just need not to make a mistake when you choose the one to hunt.
Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:

quote:

Hunting buff is better than sex!

At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought.

It all depends on your partner!

BH63,

You ruled out RSA game farms but I will just say that I was there last August and took a 38" buffalo with huge bosses that was after I missed a MUCH bigger one the day before. Yes it is high fence hunting but in three days of hunting we never saw anywhere near all of the 13,000 acres and we covered a lot of ground each day.

The wife and I hope to go back in 2017 and I'll be looking for the one or one like him I missed, he was well over 40" inches.

quote:

quote:
Hunting buff is better than sex!


At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought.

At my age, both can be equally exciting and equally dangerous!

At least with buff, if I fail to perform adequately, I don't have to worry about repeat performances.

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:

quote:

quote:
Hunting buff is better than sex!


At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought.

At my age, both can be equally exciting and equally dangerous!

At least with buff, if I fail to perform adequately, I don't have to worry about repeat performances.

Plus afterwards you don't have to cuddle it for half an hour.

Andrew, I just pictured the ticks crawling off in droves ...

If your interested in discussing Tanzania, Hillary Daffi Safaris will be at SCI, Booth 5611. We have concessions in Simanjiro, and Rungwa West, both have lots of Cape Buff in the size range your seeking.

Thanks to everyone for their good advice.

This is to let you know that I have finally booked a hunt. I will be hunting in Nuanetsi in Zim with Mbalalbala Safaris.

I chose this area primarily because I believe, all things considered (including price), my chances of getting a big buff are better here than any of the other places I have investigated.

I do thank you for your efforts in trying to provide me with a good buffalo hunt.

Cheers,

BH63

You will enjoy your hunt with Mbalabala.
I hunted with Lindon at Nuanetsi about fifteen years ago.

I would recommend you go to the Bubye Valley Conservancy and hunt with Shaun Buffee or Brent Hein. Lots of big game, well protected from poaching, and either PH will get you on good buffalo and be great to spend time with.

I'd go back in a second, but am just thinking I want to see another part of Africa - thinking about Tanzania.

quote:

Plus afterwards you don't have to cuddle it for half an hour.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:

quote:

quote:
Hunting buff is better than sex!


At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought.

At my age, both can be equally exciting and equally dangerous!

At least with buff, if I fail to perform adequately, I don't have to worry about repeat performances.

Plus afterwards you don't have to cuddle it for half an hour.

Why do you have to come and let my secret out Andrew??

I have no idea how many buffalo I have shot, and my only reason for doing so is to find one that I can actually cuddle!

Trouble is, non has been very cooperative so far.

But, I will keep on trying, and when I do finally find one I can cuddle, I will certainly let you all know.

Congrats BuffHunter- you will have fun with Lindon and will have a great hunt in Nuanetsi - looking forward to the hunt report!!!

Have a great hunt , you will enjoy it !!!

quote:

Hunting buff is better than sex!

At 63 I would give that statement some serious thought. [/QUOTE]
Of course buff hunting is better than sex! I know a lot of hunters that payed 10000USD and more, but I never heard that somebody pay that much for sex.
BH-looking forward for your report!

^
You make a good point! For 15K USD I would imagine you could find quite a few willing "girls who like everbody" (if you get my jest).

I do know that my .416 Rem Mag has never let me down...enough said!

Cheers,

BH63

Check with Louis Muller of Pro Safaris Africa,They have the Rifa concession in Zim and have great hunts and good Buffalo. First class outfit that have been around for many years

^
Thanks for the info. but I have already booked a hunt in the Nuanetsi.

BH63