Given the latest news regarding Mr. Fontana, I hesitated to post on this subject, but on second thought realized there would not be a better time to get some heartfelt thoughts from those of you who "...have been there, done that...".



My respects to Mr. Fontana and his family. His passion for hunting DG is both inspiring and respected by many. I am sure he will be sadly missed by family, friends and former clients, as are all those who act on their desires and become, through their experiences, the best examples to us all.



Now to my post: I have been back from my second plains game hunt for about a month. While in the North Province near the Limpopo River in June, I had an opportunity to sit by the fire one night with several veteran buff hunters. The head PH asked what would be my next hunt. When I mentioned a great desire for an old Cape Buff bull, many offered their advice as to how, when and where. The head PH, who knows me well, suggested a 458 Win. Mag handloaded with quality 500 grain SP's @ 1,900 fps. Preferably a control-feed bolt-action with a low power DG scope or high quality open sights. Stated the load would exhaust its energy just under the skin on the opposite side on a broadside shoulder shot. He also mentioned a herd of about 100 that were placed on a 87,000 acre concession near Kimberley about 10 years ago that had quite a few hard-bossed bachelor bulls to offer. I could include the buff on my next PG hunt and just pay the trophy fee...but the hunt would have to be a minimum of 10 days. Talked alot about the dynamics of buff herds and how the older bulls are driven out to solitary lives and how they present the greatest challenge and sense of accomplishment after the hunt.



Any thoughts on his suggestions? It will be at least 2 years before I can put everything together. Would appreciate any suggestions.



Thanks.

Buff hunting can be quite an experience, but generally it is a "normal" hunt with a little extra adrenaline. Choose your PH or Outfitter wisely, it does help if you have experience with them and have developed a fair amount of trust. South Africa can be insanely expensive for trophy fees, Tanz or Mozambique may be better suited for cost if you find the right day fees, but imho, some of the big bosses on South African buff can be quite a bit more impressive than their more northerly counterparts. That's just in general, as there are some monsters in Zim and Zambia as well as Moz on the border with those 2 countries.
Good luck, wherever you choose!

RHS,

I usually recommend hunters stay away from Cape buff hunts in RSA because of the high cost. You might as well take the same amount of money and go to Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe...

My point is you can find more of an Old Africa experience for buff. Also it will give you experience in an additional country.

I would eventually hunt buff in all the countries that have good populations.

As far as rifles go, forty is enough gun. I am working on a .400 H&H project, so that answer pops out of my mouth today.

jim dodd

I would say that it's not a good idea at all to hunt Buff in RSA as wherever you hunt them in this country you will be hunting behind wire cost is also a big issue in RSA. The best way to hunt DG (except Rhino) is in a true wilderness area such as Tanzania, Botswana or Mozambique etc.

......... I'd also say that the story of old Buff being driven out of the herd should be viewed with a fair degree of scepticism. Latest research at Manyara (Tanzania) has proven pretty conclusively that the breeding Bulls take turns at visiting the herds for breeding. They'll spend a period of time serving as many cows as they can and then when they get tired, they return to the "gentlemens club in the mud" and let another bull or two replace them.

Pick a reputable outfitter who controls one or more good hunting areas that contain huntable numbers of buffalo. Beware of "deals". If it seems too good to be true...watch out. Check references. Consider other species that you may want to hunt. Avoid RSA - you mention that your PH said you can hunt buffalo near Kimberly for "just the trophy fee". That will run you $10-15,000 in RSA. You can do a lot of hunting in a wilderness area elsewhere in Africa for that. I would advise against involving your RSA outfitter in setting up a buff hunt in another country. I would focus on Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

I pretty well agree with David about South Africa. I've hunted buffalo in Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. I've seen them on ranches in RSA. With that experience, I've made up my mind as to where I want to hunt. While I love hunting plains game in South Africa, it is hardly a primitive country and I believe that some of the African experience suffers thereby. And outside of Kruger, I doubt that you'll hunt a buffalo that doesn't have pretty regular human contact. RSA buffalo aren't lion prey either. While I can't say for sure that not being hunted by lions make a difference, I'll still bet stalking a potential "Meow Mix" buffalo is therefore a wee bit harder and more exciting.



All that said, I've booked for the Selous in Tanzania for 2005 at a cost somewhat in excess of Zimbabwe prices because there, I believe, is the most authentic "old Africa" experience. In the Selous, buffalo herds are many, the government stable, poaching is pretty well controlled and you are miles and miles from anyone else. PH's there have historically given there all to make their camps fit for royalty. Botswana ain't a bad choice either.



Balla Balla, who posts here has a place in Zambia with lots of buffalo. While it is fenced, it is huge and it would be a good compromise between old Africa and RSA.... probably a good first buff hunt choice. Having met them, I can tell you that your hosts are great folks.



My favorite P.H. (our host, Saeed, is hunting with him in a week) is Pierr'e van Tonder who can be booked through Ray at www.atkinsonhunting.com Ray can hook you up with Balla, too, I believe). I'm sure that Shakari and others who post here can also give you a first class Tanzanian experience that J.A. Hunter would recognize. Dang.. just do it!



As to rifle choice, I think the Nitro Express folks got it right with a 500 grain bullet, about .45 caliber and traveling 2150 f.p.s. or so. Without super compression, etc., and the attendent problems, a .458 Winchester can easily be loaded to within 100 fps of that velocity with a 24" barrel. If the .458 Win Mag was my choice, I'd just get me a Winchester Classic or a CZ and use X bullets or A-Frames.



Under the skin on the far side???? My personal opinion is that you're taking a real chance in betting that ANY bullet won't penetrate through both sides of a buffalo, even at 1900 f.p.s. Two trophy fees can bankrupt a trip. Ergo, wait until the buff is clear of traffic and give 'em a full dose with your choice of the best "soft" of the premium brands.



That pontificated, I just bought a new .405 Winchester because I've found a published load by Hodgon that proports to send a 400 grain Woodleigh solid at 2000 fps and only 44,000 p.s.i. (the .450/400 tropical velocity duplicate). And, as you know, Saeed kills the snot out of buffalo with a rifle in a souped up .375 caliber. I've killed two with no trouble with the standard H&H version. Go figure?

"After 200 to 300 rounds of live fire practice, you will be good to go."

200 - 300 rounds of practice would knock the sh** out of me!
Cheers
Ed

When I hunt buffalo again it will no doubt be in Tanzania or Zimbabwe with the preference going to Tanz. I loved plains game hunting in RSA but have no interest in hunting buffalo there. I loved hunting the buffalo(s) I shot in the Selous and if everything holds up, I will hunt there again. I favor the 416 Rem over the 458 though. Great buffalo caliber. I like Barnes in the "X" and solids but have seen good work done with the North Forks as well.I hunted with Ray Atkinson there and know he can put you with a good outfit.If you can go....go!You'll have the hunting experience of your life.

I've only killed 2 Buff, but I used 416 Rem.; they both went down without incident with a well placed 350 X bullet. Since then I've put together a 458 Lott, but I've had a hell wringing it out, maybe try it on Bison this fall.

I book in all the countries, but my preference is Tanzania as that is the very last of the old Africa, or as close as your going to get...My last choice would be RSA and fenced hunting, although I have nothing against it on big ranches. but I still like the tented safaris of yesteryear that still exist in Tanzania...

The 458 with a 500 gr. bullet at 2100 plus is a much better Buffalo gun than at 1900 FPS...If you are purchasing a rifle then I would suggest a 416 Remington or Rigby as the best choice or a 375 H&H if you are sensitive to recoil...take 10 solids and the rest should be Woodleigh, Northfork or my favorite the 400 gr. Nosler in the 416 at about 2400 FPS...

Cost for a Buffalo hunt is about the same everywhere when it all comes out in the wash, and be sure to know what is encluded in the price. Don't let a $1000 ruin a hunt that you travel half way around the world on is always good advise....

Fate has been cruel to me and I have had to book the good judge, Saeed (he brings Walter, so!!) Allen J., and Robgunbuilder, Fred, and a few others, but please don't hold that against me as my kids are naked, barefooted and hungry, mother is out doing washing for the neighbors, sister takes in ironing, and I have to pay Judge G for the recommendations so I need all the business I can get!!

If you have hunted down south then its time to move north my friend. The big boys dont live behind fences.

.

Kimberly is not big game country. It's recycled sheep/cow pasture. OK for Springbok and not much else. So your hunt would not be "authentic", in that sense. You need some head high thatch grass and some acacias as a backdrop for such a hunt!

I would agree with the above regarding places to go. Dangerous game hunting is not for real unless carried out in a place that is a bit dangerous besides the quarry of choice. Behind fence you won't find much of that. In the wild country you need to keep your eyes open. That alone makes it a much more exciting and memorable experience. Tanzania is where I went and will indeed go back. I would agree on the caliber rec of 416. It is plenty of gun for buffalo. Pick your shot well and you shouldn't need more gun. In fact more buffalo are likely killed with the 375 H&H than any other single cartridge. I love my 375 but when I hunt buffalo it will be 416. Something about wading into the long grass that makes that heavy rifle feel kind of comfortable to carry. Good hunting. "D"

Gents,

Very much appreciate your thoughts and insight as to what constitutes a worthwhile Cape Buffalo hunt.

I discovered there are a lot of places in Africa to hunt buffalo, that became apparent early on in the game (no pun intended), but few areas really fit my vision of what this needs to be...typical wild buffalo habitat with at least a decent chance at a trophy bull in the 40" range, no fences of any kind.

As a few of you have pointed out, I plan to spend $12,000 to $15,000 before it is all said and done. I am also leaning heavy toward the 416 in a decent factory reworked bolt-action with handloads. Bullet selection seems to hover around the high quality stuff: Woodleigh, Barnes, Nosler, etc., soft points followed up by solids.

Avoiding RSA for buff was a thought I had on this last PG trip. I really enjoyed the North Province/Limpopo River area for bushbuck, kudu and zebra, but not much talk about buff, unless you cross the river.

My bushbuck hunt there was the peak of my plains game experiences (Gemsbok, Impala, Blesbok, Warthog, Common Springbok, Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Baboon). Enjoyed knowing I was hunting an antelope with a reputation and an attitude to back it up. I am not a "book" hunter and don't know what my bushbuck measured, but his "daggers" were impressive. Beautiful creature, that will be getting a full mount and a choice place in my home (already have the wife's blessing).

I'll be in touch with one or more of the outfitters here within the next few months...thanks again!