Gentlemen:

I need your help!

I am 60 years old and I want to make it to Africa just once. I am not really interested in hunting plains game. I only want one thing... to kill a buffalo. I fear that I have waited too long. You know how it goes. While you were putting the kids through college and trying to put together your retirement the years slipped by and health problems began to crop up. I am in pretty good shape but I have a problem with my legs and feet. I just can't walk all that far. Two, three miles, no problem but I am afraid my time of walking fifteen miles in a day is over. Physically, the best choice for me would be South Africa. However, a buff in SA is so expensive. I am looking for a short, quality, affordable buff hunt that I can handle physically. What are your suggestions.

Dave

Dave,

You've got plenty of choice out there. Tanzania, Mozambique, Zim, etc etc. A large part of the trick will be choosing when to go. As a rule of thumb, no matter where you go, it's a good idea not to book early in the season and to book with a good quality reputable outfit.

You might like to go to www.shakariconnection.com as part of your research.

dave,

I have a friend who can hardly walk, and he still manages to shoot whatever animal he wishes.

Have a word with whoever you are planning to bok with - Iam sure several outfitters on thsi forum would be more than happy to help you.

What we do is find the tracks of the buffalo, then send the trackers to follow them. When they find them, they radio back and we drive closer, and Walter the walks the rest of the distance to hunt his buffalo.

Last year he walked less than a mile for his buffalo.

Dave,

I am in the same shape as you and have shot 4 buff. Saeed is correct, they send the trackers to find the buff and then radio to bring in the truck. After a short walk (maybe a mile or so) you are on the buff. You may need to do this a few times as a stalk can go bad or you may not find the buff you want.

I have hunted with Russ Broom in Zim, I know he offers a 7 day buff hunt for a good price.

BigB

i kill a couple of them not having to walk over 400 yards, just depends on where you find them

Dave,

i can do a South Africa buff at $12,500 US. That's seven days hunting and the trophyy fee.

In Tanzania, the Selous specifically, we could do it at 1X1 10 days at 22,500 including the charter flight and buff trophy fee from/to Dar es Salaam. I would recommend, if doing TZN, you look at Oct as the grass will have burned off and the walking is generally easier. Rolling hills, shorter grass obviously after the burn, and the like.

If we can help let me know-- and good luck.

Dave,

My wife suffers from rheumatoid arthritis which struck at an early age; she has some major problems with her feet, legs, and back. We made Charlton McCallum aware of this prior to our hunt and they were very accomidating. She got her buffalo in Makuti, where, to paraphrase Ganyana, most of the hunting is done at a 45 degree angle due to the mountains. Our PH, Alan Shearing just made sure to move at her pace and never pushed her too much. I think we tracked he buff about 5km before the shot.

Hello Dave,

Your request for an affordable South African buffalo hunt might be a tall order since South Africa is often times (not always) more expensive for buffalo hunting than most, if not all the other countries where cape buffalo are hunted these days.

I have become good friends with an R.S.A. (Republic of South Africa) big game guide AKA "PH" that is a very striaght forward honest man and he often guides people with physical limitations, including for all 5 of the so called "Big 5" (Leopard are really not very "big" but are included in the vernacular.)

His name is Hannes Swanepoel and he can be reached at www.hannesswanepoelsafaris.co.za (web site) or big5game@worldonline.co.za. (E-mail.) His web site is under construction and so one has to excuse the grainy photos for a little while longer.

I have hunted with Hannes, as well as his two main other PHs, John and Roelof. All of them are A+ and then some. You wil not be disappointed. They have rifles if you do not have a suitable one for buffalo (or rifles for any lesser game for that matter).

They also guide young and old, physically fit and otherwise. Their most recent hunt with a not so fit client was for a man who was dying of cancer and they had to actually carry him at times, due to his dizzy spells, but he took the Big-5, as well as some lesser species. The grin on his face in his photos tells it all.

Best of luck.

PS: Always call a PH's references and speak with them at great length before booking. It will pay off every time.

Cheers.
Ard

South Africa more expensive than the "other" Southern Africa countries?

Well, lets take the following as a general set of prices in Moz and Zim the "cheaper" alternative, as they are advertised by most outfitters:

7 Day Buffalo hunt, all inclusive- $11000.00 (if it is a cheapie)
Air charter - $2000.00 OR connecting commercial flight plus road transfer or short flight - $1000.00
Firearms import permit- $150.00
Tribal levy- $150.00
Dip&Pack - $500.00
Tips - $1000.00 (they expect about 10% of your hunt, although it is open to your discretion as how much to give)
Misc. expenses expenses- $500.00

So, on the “cheapest” option out of the above, your very affordable/cheap buff is going to cost you roughly $14000.00, and you might not get your trophies back (various posts in the hunting reports section on AR refers) unless you hunt with Johan at Bahati adventures in Moz. Who also posts here.

It is a much better hunting experience to hunt these countries, and that is why we still offer these hunts, BUT South Africa is not that expensive to hunt Buffalo in.

I can do you a Cape Buffalo hunt in South Africa for $13500.00, NO extra cost, if you book this hunt for 2009 and if you book now before we leave for marketing to Europe in February.

You are not “too old Sir”, and your physical disabilities will be taken into consideration (most of my return customers are 60+). You will have a great hunt, and if you pay the taxidermy up front, your trophy will be ready for shipment in three months. Due to the nature of these animals they need big pieces of land to roam, so unless it is “cooked canned hunt” by a dodgy outfitter, your hunt will be done on a fairly large chunk of earth.

I hope this helps, and would be more than appreciative to quote you on this hunt.

Which ever way you swing it….GO!

Mark Young can help you out with just about anything you put in front of him. Give him a call and just talk it over with him. See what he has to offer. Just a suggestion, but worth a try.

You know, this got me thinking.

I have shot a lot of buffalo, walked miles and miles on end, and the biggest trophy buffalo I have ever shot did not require any walking at all.

In fact, I doubt that I walked more than 5 yards from the truck before shooting him.

You can make buff hunting as demanding or as simple as you wish. My last buff hunt in Tanzania, I did both.

Spent two afternoons following a herd after they had their afternoon siesta. That was a simple matter of positioning yourself where the herd could be observed as they moved toward the evening water.

Since I didn't find a head I wanted, I spent two days busting the bush tracking the old bachelor bulls, the Dagga Boys. That was hours of stalking and very exciting at times.

I couldn't get the shot I wanted in the thick stuff. Heading back to camp we found tracks of three bachelor bulls. We followed those up for less than two miles of , and bingo!

That shows that you don't need to be a marathoner to hunt buffalo. Talk to a few PH's and let them know what your limits are. you can do it.

Steve here is a good contact. I have hunted twice with John DuPlooy in Zambia http://www.muchingaadventures.com/
I hunted Tanzania with Florent Mattieu and Pen de Vries of Foa Safaris http://www.capehornafricanadventures.com/tanzania.php

Both outfits are top notch. Please book a buffalo safari. You will enrich your life beyond measure!

Glad to see this thread. I'll soon be 58, and I have plantar facsitis[sp], which I am working on, but I also have arthritis and bone spurs in both my feet. I am riding an exercise bike, and doing crunches, etc. but 2-3 mile walks at any one time are about my limit. When it comes time to book a cape buff hunt, this discussion will be at the fore front.

Mad Dog

To date I've shot two buffalo. The first we drove close to the herd, skirted around them to get in front, and waited for them to pass. I don't think I walked more than 1/3 of a mile. The second we found tracks crossing the road and walked for about an hour, probably 2 - 3 miles. The point is, you do not necessarily have to walk endlessly to get a good Buffalo.

Hello Infinito,

I did not intend to ruffle your feathers (or anyone else's) with my comments about RSA buffalo hunting prices. Perhaps I should have underlined: "often times" as well as: "not always". I thought those terms were face value and chrystal clear without underlining them. Often but not always higher has been my observation with RSA buffalo hunting prices. I am saving toward a buffalo hunt/4th trip to Africa myself.

It will be at least two years until I can afford it (just returned from a month long trip in Africa this last Sept.- 2008.) But when I can afford it again, perhaps I will call you with my "20 question rap" before deciding who to book with.

I like my tried a true favorite PH and I have hunted other game on one of his huge buffalo concessions that does not even border Kruger Park.

He tells me that he has one concession bordering Kruger Park that is "even better" for buffalo, whatever that means. I sure saw large numbers of fine heavy bossed/battle scarred old bulls in the former. Have not set foot in the latter yet.

Thank you for your information. Information is why many of us joined this forum.

Keep Well.
Ard.

Dave,

As mentioned above, Muchinga Adventures in Zambia might be of interest to you. They take pride in catering to the client. They once put a shooting rest on a wheel barrow for a hunter who needed a wheel chair. He got his buff too. Having said that, your concerns are fairly common and most good operators will be able to come up with a plan that works for you.

Good luck,
Dean

Often times it is not how far you can walk but how fast. I have had multiple knee surgeries and can not go very fast but ay my pace I can keep going for a long time as long as you take some Alleve in the morning. Talk to Roger whitall safaris at rwsafaris.com and I'm sure they will be able to take care of you. They sure did for this 60 yr. old cripple.

Myles McCallum of Charlton/McCallem Safaris Zimbabwe is a professional hunter worth considering in a place like Charisa or Chewore South Safari areas.
Each year he successfully guides my mate Joe for an old Buff and keeps the tracking at a comfortable enjoyable level.

Dave: I was 76 when I went to Africa for the first, (and so far only time)in June/July 2006. Went to Dande North in Zim with Kevin Robertson and Dean Kendall via Chifuti Safaris. We walked quite a bit but fortunately on day 7 of a 10dayhunt the first rate trackers located a nice bull that we had followed the day before that I could get to since I had torn a muscle in my right calf that morning and could get around only by using a walking stick. We approached to about 28 paces and I made the shot with a .375 using 380 grain Rhino bullets that Kevin recommended. It was a great experience. I hope to go back (before it's too late!)

Guys, thanks for all your suggestions as well as a number of PMs that I got too. I have begun my "quest".

Dave

I may have my Harley sold. If so, this is a done deal for 2010.

Dave

Dave, Buff hunting can be short or long walks. dependent on where they are. I know you know this. I offer SA Buffalo in the Timbavati for $16K, all in from point of pick up and Zambia Buffalo for $17,250. These are for 2009 and will be repriced for 2010. PM me with your address and I will post you my cataloge.