I'm headed to the Caprivi at the end of this month to hunt with Fulton Classic Safaris and would like to know if anyone knows what the Caprivi looks like this year. I heard a few months ago that a lot of rain was in the area but have no idea what has happened since or what the bush looks like. Anyone know if flooding is a problem?

I drove the full length of the Caprivi twice about a week and a half ago. This was my first trip, so I can't comment on how it might have looked previously. Brush looked pretty thick to me, but I saw no evidence of any standing water or flooding. I also camped on the Kwando and Okavango rivers and water was high, but certainly not flooding. I got the impression that the water has dropped back into normal channels.

Here is a shot of some sable we took in the eastern end of the caprivi. Brush in this shot is pretty typical of what we saw.



This shot was taken in the Mahongo Game Park on the far western end of the Caprivi. Most amazing 12kms I have ever driven. We were racing to the border post as it was closing in 15 minutes. The entire drive looked like this. Sable, giraffe, elephant, kudu, impala, steenbok, cape buffalo. We couldn't even slow down for fear of the gate being locked!

quote:

Originally posted by G L Krause:
I'm headed to the Caprivi at the end of this month to hunt with Fulton Classic Safaris and would like to know if anyone knows what the Caprivi looks like this year. I heard a few months ago that a lot of rain was in the area but have no idea what has happened since or what the bush looks like. Anyone know if flooding is a problem?

I can't answer your question but it reminded me that I heard Vaughan is building a boat for use in the Caprivi. This tickles the crap out of me. It's kind of like me building a snow mobile.

Good luck on your hunt and tell that ole shit-talker I said hello.

George

I think he had the boat built.

It looks good!

Any photos of the new boat? I might be using it next summer.

Actually, there was a photo of the new boat in the News section of his web page. I've been told this is necessary to get around the Kasika area, which is a floodplain. Since I'm supposed to be the first Buff hunter there this year and I'll be hunting the Kasika, I may be on it's maiden voyage.

GLK- When are you going over?

Good luck and take your swim floaties!

EYEDOC, my hunt will start June 30th. And yes, I've already been warned to bring throw away shoes to walk in the water/mud with. I just hope Buffalo float!

Just some info for you hunters hunting in the Caprivi. The best footwear is a pair of the best quality Vietnam jungle boots. I gave a pair to Vaughan when he was in the U.S. Living in Louisiana and being a biologist for the Center of Wetland Resources at L.S.U. in my previous life, I have hundreds and hundreds of hours wading in floodplains.

Mike

Thanks Mike. That's a good option to consider for this hunt. You gave me something to think about.

Mike,

Where do you get a pair of the "best quality" VietNam jungle boots and how do I know they are "best quality"? Also, what do you recommend for socks when wearing these boots?

Thanks,
Scott

Hello SBT,

There are numerous comapanies that make a "Jungle Boot",leather and canvas mix with drain holes scattered around the bottom. I went to several surplus stores and looked at a several brands and could easily tell the better quality. I will check and give you the brand I gave Vaughan.

I wear a pair of poly liner socks and then a synthetic hiking sock so very little water is absorbed.

Mike

A couple years ago I hunted elephant with Vaughan's outfit in the Caprivi. The timing of my visit was not so good. As it happened, the elephant were largely not in the area at the time. I was lucky to find a 40 pounder. I looked for buffalo, but we did not see any in the hunting areas. We did see cattle herders, grazing cattle, and new little native villages springing up all over the concession. In Kasika we used the native dug-out canoes to cross the water. Later on the return, when they were gone we had to walk to a village to find another canoe to get back. I found conditions in September to be quite hot. Have a great hunt. I have heard that there are some elephants with large bodies which come through that area when the timing is right.

Hunted with Vaugh last year. Got my ele. good times. Please call him Big Daddy for me and pray Vaughn is not driving the boat.

GLK should be there now. 16 days till I head that way, not that I am counting or anything of the sort.

Less than thirty days for us and time is starting to draaaaaaaaaaaaaaag!

I just got back from NG14 in Botswana. It in the northern part of the Okavango Delta near the Kwando river. There was still a lot of water in pans from the rains, and the grass was high. The water was going down, but it covered the airstrip near camp so we had to use one farther away. I would assume that the conditions in the Caprivi are similar.

Keep those reports coming in. I'll be there in about 13 months.

I am going in the middle of August to the first part of September next year for elephant and buffalo. What will the temperatures be like and what can I expect in the way of weather and other conditions. Maybe some suggestions on what to take and not.