We have been all around southern Africa, but I've never been to Tanzania, and don't know much about it.

I'm looking to hunt buffalo primarily, or maybe a buff/leopard combo hunt. A little plainsgame would be fun.

I chatted with a few of the Tanzania outfits in Atlanta. I wanted advice or ideas from anyone that has hunted with Michel Mantheakis in their Western Tanzania areas, Lukwati South or Muhesi Game Reserve.


Any advice would be appreciated.

I hunted Lukwati South (Wuku), Piti and Chunya with Gerard Millier and Mike Fell when Danny Mccallum had control of it. Wuku was a beautiful and very wild area without villagers or cattle when I was there. Alot of buffalo and some of the biggest buff herds I've ever seen. A pretty good Lion, leopard and big sable area as well. I would defiantly hunt that area again. I believe Lavaca hunted Wuku recently with Mantheakis.

Yes, I hunted Lukwati with Michel as my PH starting in 2013, the first year he got the concession. Since then, I've hunted Michel's Lukwati concession in 2015 and 2021 with other PH's in his stable and in 2023 with Michel again. All told, I've hunted around 70 days on that concession between 2013 and 2023.

It's an amazing concession with extremely varied habitat. I've hunted in various months, between July and October. July is very cold, October is very hot and it varies between those dates. Regardless of the time of year, there is a tremendous amount of water there. The Wuku flows all year round and is clear and clean.
It looks like a trout stream and I've seen river otters in it. The Ye Ye flows most of the year, but will stop flowing late in the year, although there are pools. There are also a number of seeps and springs, such as the Gerard Miller spring mentioned above. The majority of the concession is miombo woodland and it's very hilly, almost mountainous in places. Then there is the area down by the Lake Rukwa. Crocs and hippos in and around the lake, as well as waterbuck, bushbuck, impala, grysbok, some kudu and eland, etc. The lake level has been going up over the years and has eaten up some of the surrounding woodland. Down close to the lake, it's a little more arid and you'll find some roan down there.
I'm jinxed on roan.

Up top, there is a plateau, which is amazing. There is a very dense forest up there, as well as some open and very green areas. There is a small creek up there surrounded by forest and ferns. It's amazing.

Lots of cats. It's about the only place I've hunted where we bumped into lions on every hunt whether hunting them or not. Lots of buffalo. Good numbers of sable. I shot an elephant in 2013. I've shot leopard there every year I hunted them (didn't in 2021). I hunted lion in 2015, 2021 and 2023. Was up close and personal with lion each year, but was only successful in 2023. Got a real nice lion. But in 2021, the client that came in after me shot a really nice lion on one of my baits on his first day in Africa!

I like hunting buffalo and like having multiple on license, so really like this option.

I'm going back to Tanzania this year, but decided to try someplace new, so I'm going to Ugalla. But I love Lukwati and will be back.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like to talk about it.

Texas Blue Devil, Did I talk to you at Michel's booth at HSC on Saturday?

Another thing I would point out about Michel's camps. They are all classic East African tent camps, but the tents are furnished with Zanzibar furniture, carved teak and mahogany. A queen sized bed, Zanzibar chest at the foot, desk, side tables, etc. Ensuite bathroom with shower, flush toilet and a footed bathtub. But there is also solar lighting and in-camp wifi. One thing that is consistent between camps that I always thought was a special touch is every morning, someone brings a tray with your morning coffee or tea. They announce themselves with Hodi, proper response is Karibu and then they bring it in. By that point I'm usually putting on my boots. They leave the tray and take your rifles and backpack to the gari. When you are ready you go to the mess for breakfast.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Texas Blue Devil, Did I talk to you at Michel's booth at HSC on Saturday?

Another thing I would point out about Michel's camps. They are all classic East African tent camps, but the tents are furnished with Zanzibar furniture, carved teak and mahogany. A queen sized bed, Zanzibar chest at the foot, desk, side tables, etc. Ensuite bathroom with shower, flush toilet and a footed bathtub. But there is also solar lighting and in-camp wifi. One thing that is consistent between camps that I always thought was a special touch is every morning, someone brings a tray with your morning coffee or tea. They announce themselves with Hodi, proper response is Karibu and then they bring it in. By that point I'm usually putting on my boots. They leave the tray and take your rifles and backpack to the gari. When you are ready you go to the mess for breakfast.

We were there about 3 hours on Friday and briefly Sunday. We had a good chat with Michel, and we are working on putting something together.

Their operation and hunting area both look great. The only thing that I’m worried about is the damn tsetse flies.

I hear that Western Tanzania is the tsetse fly capital of the world. I’ve had 11 trips to Africa, but managed to hunt areas without Tsetse Flies.

I've known Michel for about 20 years, haven't had the pleasure of hunting with him but would in a heartbeat. Straight up guy.

TBD,

You'll get used to the tsetses. I've approached them different ways that have evolved over the years. Some folks swear by Avon skin so soft, but that stuff stinks to high heaven and makes my head hurt. I've tried deet, like Saeed recommends, but it takes the paint off stuff, like synthetic rifle stocks and stinks to high heaven, I used to use a repellant that my travel doc sells and to me it works better than any other repellant and is essentially scentless. I'll look up the brand and get it to you.

But essentially, nothing works. I had a palmful of that repellant I was talking about that was most effective and got distracted before I could slather it on. A tsetse landed next to the puddle and bit me on the palm of my hand. My last trip was in 2023 and it was my wife's first trip to fly country. I took the usual contingent of repellant, but didn't use a drop. The only thing I used was burning elephant dung. It works as good as anything. Like I say, you'll get used to them.

But just in case you are allergic, which is not likely, I'd take some Benydryl (sp.). Fortunately, I'm not. Take the repellant, but an empty paint can full of smoldering ele dung is most effective.