It's been 10 years since I have been to Africa, and I am hoping to go back in the next year or two. I would most likely go toward the end of the season such as mid-October.

I will be travelling from the US and will be bringing my own rifle. I would like to hunt Cape Buffalo unfenced.

What would be a good outfitter to consider that can offer a free-range cape buffalo hunt that is easiest to get to with my own rifle at the tail end of the hunting season?

Mokore Safaris. Mark Young books for them.

CMS. Just got back. Shot 4 bulls in a week. Totally wild area.

As Larry said, CMS. I’ve done several late season hunts with them. All have been great.

I leave to hunt with them again in 26 days … but who’s counting!

It’s not enough to pick an outfitter.

You must also book the outfitter’s best hunting area for your purposes.

Sadly, you cannot trust every outfitter to even rank them for you.

Some do, but some don’t, so be sure to do your homework.

Best of luck.

CMS, honest and reputable outfitters who are good stewards of their hunting areas.

Just be aware that October is called suicide month in Southern Africa, especially in the Zambezi valley. Hotter than Hell!

Get in touch with a good booking agent, they will have several outfitters they work with and can give you advice on where to go, when to go, what else you can hunt. Then they can help you with all the other things you will need, visa, permits, etc. I've used Mark Young for several hunts, he and Sadie can help you with everything from planning the hunt until when you get back and pay trophy fees.

Zimbabwe is a very good destination for Buff. PH's certified to high standards, free range Buff hunting, reasonably priced. Taking your own rifle to Zim is straightforward.
Zim has a variety of reputable outfitters to choose from. As others have posted here CMS ( Charlton McCallum Safaris ) is a solid outfit offering great hunts. I have done three hunts with CMS, all excellent. Be sure to include them in your short list.

quote:

Originally posted by Bama15:
Get in touch with a good booking agent, they will have several outfitters they work with and can give you advice on where to go, when to go, what else you can hunt. Then they can help you with all the other things you will need, visa, permits, etc. I've used Mark Young for several hunts, he and Sadie can help you with everything from planning the hunt until when you get back and pay trophy fees.

Excellent advice, both for first-timers and veterans who are thinking of trying out a new outfitter for the first time.

As stockbrokers and investment bankers like to say:

"Past performance is not indicative of future results."

In other words, proper treatment by some less trustworthy outfitters tends to favor return customers over first-timers.

And with some outfitters, anti-poaching efforts can vary widely from concession to concession and from year to year.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
It’s not enough to pick an outfitter.

You must also book the outfitter’s best hunting area for your purposes.

Sadly, you cannot trust every outfitter to even rank them for you.

Some do, but some don’t, so be sure to do your homework.

Best of luck.

Very true statement.

October November are perfect for hunting in Africa!

I love it then.

Lovely and warm, and less green so one can actually see for distances.

Four buffalo on a 21 day license in Tanzania.

Read the hunt reports

I just took a 46” Buffalo with ‘Fairgame’ (Andrew Baldry) who just posted above my post, in Zambia. I’ve hunted with Andrew (6) times now, and highly recommend him. Good luck on your Buffalo hunt!

Money no object? Want to shoot multiple bulls? Go to Tanzania.
Cost effective hunt in wild country, try Fairgame, ( Andrew Baldry) in Zambia, or any reputable PH in Zimbabwe, try Richie Scultz or CMS.
Many outfits will have shot all their buffalo quota by October.

.

Bit like how long is a piece of string .... whats the budget ? What country ?

Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Tanzi

Do you want to hunt herds or old lone dagga boys (groups of 2 and 3), just one buff or other plains game wishes?

There are a lot of good booking agents on here and there are a lot of great outfitters on here. Read the reports and send PMs asking your questions.

AR has to be one of the best sources of info for DG hunting - read the reports, ask the questions and enjoy your first buff hunt!


.

quote:

Originally posted by the Pom:
Money no object? Want to shoot multiple bulls? Go to Tanzania.
Cost effective hunt in wild country, try Fairgame, ( Andrew Baldry) in Zambia, or any reputable PH in Zimbabwe, try Richie Scultz or CMS.
Many outfits will have shot all their buffalo quota by October.

Your above statement regarding Tanzania is true.

Except lack of quota in October.

We always in October, and we always get everything on our license.

It all depends on who you deal with.

Honest outfits would never sell hunts they have no quota for.

quote:

Your above statement regarding Tanzania is true.

Except lack of quota in October.

We always in October, and we always get everything on our license.

October being the driest month in most parts of Tanzania, makes it prime time for most species.

The area has been burned, lush fresh grass has in the meantime sprouted from humidity and the occasional shower, water is mostly scarce but keeps the game concentrated wherever there is a source.

Its a hunter's paradise despite the heat.

Second the calls for a booking agent. Call Mark Young. He's sent me on some fabulous trips.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Your above statement regarding Tanzania is true.

Except lack of quota in October.

We always in October, and we always get everything on our license.

October being the driest month in most parts of Tanzania, makes it prime time for most species.

The area has been burned, lush fresh grass has in the meantime sprouted from humidity and the occasional shower, water is mostly scarce but keeps the game concentrated wherever there is a source.

Its a hunter's paradise despite the heat.

This. October is awesome hunting in Africa. Heat is easy to deal with. A little fan at night to sleep, gatoraid packets to mix with water during the day, etc, good to go!!!

Folks,

I've had many clients hunt Oct/Nov and nobody has mentioned that the heat was a major negative to their safari. I will say there often is little game movement midday in the heat but early AM and late PM are excellent hunting.

Mark

I don’t know that I would necessarily call mid October “end of the season”- but I get what you are trying to say.

If you book in advance, and make the deal for whatever quota you desire, reputable operators will have what you agreed to.

Budget changes some things. If you are in a lower price point, some options are out.

I’ve had good success on buffalo in your time frame in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

Namibia and South Africa are also options (but you need to be careful with who/where to ensure free range.) I think there might be some in Botswana, but that’s really limited now. Uganda might be an option. I don’t know if the northern areas are still hunting in late October, but don’t neglect places like Cameroon or Congo or Ethiopia. Not “cape” buffalo, but are buffalo hunting. They are also more expensive and a bit more logistical hassle.

If you are talking bargain quota cleanup, Zimbabwe and maybe Namibia. I’d include Zambia except they have had some issues with concessions lately, and I’m not sure if there really are hunts floating around late there. However, you really need to do due diligence for late pick up hunts.

Tanzania is just really getting going at that time- so it’s not late season there. If you are after prime hunting time, large numbers available, and you have the bank account to do it, Tanzania is a great choice.

Just remember to find the best location you can, and the best PH that fits you, and you will have a great experience. It’s kind of impossible for any client hunter to have experience enough to tell you “this is the best place” or “this guy is “the” PH to hunt with.” Places change, and everyone has personalities.

I have hunted with my own rifles only. Some places are easier to do than others, and advance time is often needed to do so.

Time of year does matter.

More in some areas than others.

I have hunted the Selous every month from July to November.

As long as the burning had started, even if we were the ones starting it in early July, all was well.

Same great hunting in July in Zambia along the Kafue River and in northern Botswana near the Chobe. Amazingly good.

On the other hand, July was poison in the Zambezi Valley, despite the outfitter's insistence that all would be well. It was green, impenetrably thorny and hellish all around.

So, as part of your homework, pay attention to timing, as well as the other matters mentioned above that only direct experience can illuminate.

In Zambia November might be a better option after the first light rains

Whatever you do, avoid the rainy season.

I will take the heat any day.

A rainy day in Africa can mean ruined hunting days, in some areas.

Places get bogged down with mud, where not much movement is possible.

And pick the right people to hunt with.

Plenty of first class individuals on here that would provide you with a great hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by carlsyoung:
It's been 10 years since I have been to Africa, and I am hoping to go back in the next year or two. I would most likely go toward the end of the season such as mid-October.

I will be travelling from the US and will be bringing my own rifle. I would like to hunt Cape Buffalo unfenced.

What would be a good outfitter to consider that can offer a free-range cape buffalo hunt that is easiest to get to with my own rifle at the tail end of the hunting season?

Talk to me about Tanzania. Youn are welcome to eamil me at charl@infinito-safaris.com or just PM me? Thanks

quote:

Whatever you do, avoid the rainy season.

The first rains in Zambia is a wonderful time to hunt and it settles the dust and heat and promotes the rich and green regrowth

I agree with Andrew. I hunted Simanjiro in Tanzania in March at the beginning of the rains. It was magical. Not only were we inundated with huge herds of buffalo coming out of Tarangiri, but we had a light show and a concert every night. Lightning and thunder, starting out a few miles out, but getting closer every night, lions answering, and more buffalo than you could shake a stick at. Now there were downsides, such as getting stuck on a regular basis and a hailstorm/windstorm that ripped up camp a bit, but it was worth it.

Got a delivery from my taxidermist today. He commented that I had four buffalo. My wife's comment was that I needed to join Buffalo Anonymous. I'm glad there's no such thing.
I have three more in Africa.

The Simanjiro trip was a decade ago, not this year.

Got back from Nueinese Conservacy in Zimbabwe, had a great hunt with Adam from G&C Safaris. We were there the first 10 days of September. Hunted Dugga boys and plains game. Excellent hunt and PH. Highly recommend

I would take up Thor Kirchner's offer in South Luangwa and the first rains have cooled everything down and the game is moving again

From personal experience, I don’t like rain during my hunt.

Rain will affect your hunt negatively!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
From personal experience, I don’t like rain during my hunt.

Rain will affect your hunt negatively!

Saeed our first rains are light and December is a different story

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
From personal experience, I don’t like rain during my hunt.

Rain will affect your hunt negatively!

I think you just made it as the short rains are upon us.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
From personal experience, I don’t like rain during my hunt.

Rain will affect your hunt negatively!

I think you just made it as the short rains are upon us.

Glad it started after we left.

Missed an afternoon of hunting because of the rain.

I don't mind the heat, but getting wet is one of my undesirable things to happen on a hunt.

Headed to Kilombero on Friday and yes, the rains have started and probably messed up any chance I had to hook a big tiger.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanajay:
Headed to Kilombero on Friday and yes, the rains have started and probably messed up any chance I had to hook a big tiger.

The first showers will not overly impact water conditions and the fishing is still pretty hot on the Mnyera especially if you opt for live bait.
I bet you will score 12-15lbs min.

Tanzania before the rains always suited me for a sure bet and we had Walter for entertainment! he would be missed..

Im not crazy about humidity or rain during the early hunt, but Im mostly talking Nov and Dec when roads are slushy and spend too much time stuck trying to finish up and go home. but I will hunt or rope anywhere any time.

I hunted the the Luangwa Valley with John DuPlooy by way of Mark Young in July of '21. It was a thick and green and not ideal, but I wouldn't trade those cool mornings and evening for anything. Fabulous hunt, just needed to work a bit more. If I wanted heat, I'd stay my ass in Louisiana!