I would like to try for leopard, baited, in Namibia next year. Any recommendations? Do's and dont's? thanks

Talk to Vaughan Fulton. www.fultonclassicsafaris.com

I suspect they are booked for next year, but you never know.

Go to Zim!

Indlovu

I completely agree with Die Ou Jagter. Baited leopard hunts maybe cheaper but the overall success on leopards in Namibia can be very low. You may hang a lot of expensive baits and never get a hit. Hound hunts there are I think a better hunt.

Areas in Zim, Luangwa Valley in Zambia, Selous and Masailand can all have 90% plus success. Just pick the one that fits your budget.

Mark

If interested in a hound hunt Pro Safaris Africa (Norman Crooks) I think are doing both in Zim and Nam.

I agree, if you really want a cat BAD, go to Zimbabwe....I hunted there 18 days without a decent hit on 10 baits!!

PM me if you like for further info.

By the way, if you want to see a real cluster-f**k dog hunt, take a look at chubby Roy Sparks on the DVD titled, "Leopard Charge" by Sportsman on Film. I'm no expert on Leopard hunting, having killed exactly one Leopard, but I think the DVD is a how not to...anyone else see it??

Hunt Zimbabwe if you want a big tom and an honest chance at getting one. My southern area is 5 out of 7 hunters so far. Of the two that didn't score, one was a bow hunt and a missed shot. The other didn't find "The" Tom he wanted. We usually run 100% but that's hunting.

Peter Harris

Thanks guys! I think the mesage is loud and clear; namibia is not infested with leopards!
Think I will try Zim; i remember there was quite a number in Chete in 92. will check your web site, L david .

quote:

Originally posted by Indlovu:
Thanks guys! I think the mesage is loud and clear; namibia is not infested with leopards!
Think I will try Zim; i remember there was quite a number in Chete in 92. will check your web site, L david .

I think is is a bit more complicated. There are places in Namibia with a lot of leopard, but they have been hunted/trapped/poisoned pretty hard in many areas due to livestock depredation and tend to be pretty cautious.

Caveat: Just my opinon, based on two weeks hunting leopard in Namibia. I will say that Classic Safaris has managed to take a number of leopard, I was just unlucky I suppose.

From what I understand, the success rate is higher in Zim, and that is consistent with what has been produced so far this year on the concession I hunted in Zimbabwe.

As posted before, I hunted Namibia (near Outjo) for 18 days with 10 baits out at all times. One was "hit" but after hunting Zim, I wonder if it was a Leopard or Honey Badger.

In '06 I hunted Zim in West Nick area with John Hunt Georgia Safaris where I killed my cat on the 5th evening. We had 14 baits out, for me and another guy, and he got his too, the day after mine. All 14 baits were shredded at one time or another during my stay there. Also tracks EVERYWHERE!

To me it was a drastic diffrence, and I would never hunt Namibia again if I really wanted a Leopard.

No knock to Namibia, I loved it and saw much more and better quality P-game, but for Leopard it was a big disappointment. My Namibia PH was supposedly a great cat hunter too, and assured me that I would get one on my hunt.

To

If you want to stick to Namibia, Karl Stumpf of Ndumo Safaris in Namibia has been quite succesfull this year so far on hounds and bait.

One of the toms bagged went over 160 pounds as far as I can recall.

Wolgar, most of Zim is undoubtly a better place to hunt leopard than most of Namibia's "farmland." However, if hunting Namibia's wilderness areas (parks, some communal lands, some real big farms) it is also good, and remember, some people just do not want to go to Zim. On the honey badger comment, first off, look at tracks, 2nd, look at possible pics with trail camera. (I have attached a few pics to illustrate.)



As can be seen, they might strike the same bait the same night. On a recent hunt, I had 7 baits out, all 7 striked by 5 different leopard (measured track sizes, 3 shootable), before we shot a tom whose tracks did not measure the above 5. On my last leopard hunt, had a guy missing a nice tom of about 140lbs on our 13th night of a 14 day hunt. Safari-hunt, btw the cat above weighed 81kg, about 180 lbs. Indluvo, all said, hunting leopard with bait in Namibia's farmlands is great fun, and very affordable, though if a very high success rate is what you want, try dogs, or go to Zim. Stick to reputable outfitters in Zim though, as you might get your leopard, but never see the trophy again. (I will gladly reccomend a few guys in Zim if that is what you would like to do, and I am sure a few others on this board will too.)

quote:

Thanks guys! I think the mesage is loud and clear; namibia is not infested with leopards!

I beg to differ. I can guarentee a photo like above, tracks, and baits being hit, but as stated by Charles_H, our cats are generally more cautious, so getting a shot is not easy (and it should not be!). I normally tell prospective leopard hunters they have a 50/50 chance, either they get a cat, or they don't....!

IMO, the best place in all Africa to find lots of Leopard is the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. I've never been there that I didn't see leopard in daylight, while just driving around.
Unless things have changed since I was last there, they are everywhere in the valley. The draw back to Zambia is, it is an expensive place to hunt!

One of the best leopard men in Africa, is in Zimbabwe, however, Andrew Dawson, of CHIFUTI SAFARIS!

If you want a leopard in Namibia and not go bankrupt doing it, I would suggest Christie de Sousa up near Kamanjab. I believe that you can see his website at Christiesadventures.com. If not, e mail me and I can look it up. He took 7 cats last year .. and the first three clients this year all had their shot ... I just got back from there about 18 hours ago and saw him in action .. He does a few things a bit different from other outfitters that I have watched in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and elsewhere in Namibia. For sure these are tough leopards to bait at times .. but then again I was skunked on the Humani years ago with Lou Hallamore's son Clive guiding me. (I don't think that he had read his dad's book, 'Chui' at that time. ) Also, there is lots of country in Namibia where I doubt the leopards have much contact with men... Go get one. amigo !!! You will never regret it !!! (If you win!)

Scruffy, Could you tell us a bit more about Christie and how he does things differently?
Also, 7 scored, but how many didn't get their chance. Just wondering. When you have time, please tell us more.

PS. Does he post here?

Couldn't get through on the site that you referenced. Please post the correct site here on this thread.

UEG - try this URL:

http://www.christiesadv.com.na/frame.html

Thanks for the correct website .. I always forget to abbreviate 'adventures' ... Christie loves to hunt leopards ... a real passion. One area that he had a bait was about 12 miles away from our camp according to my GPS. It took 1 1/2 hours to get there. That might give you some idea of how rough the country is in that area. When he puts out his baits he waits a few days before checking them ... It doesn't hurt that there are lots of leopards around, it seems. He tries only to shoot the big males and it seems when one is killed ... another one will move into the area. I really don't know his success rate ... however 7 leopards is a decent amount in that country IMO. I doubt if he would want any more than that taken, normally. There are one or two other things, I reckon .. new to me but for all I know common knowledge to guys like Hallamore and other experienced PH dudes... Lou wrote the book - Christie hasn't ... at least yet ...

I thank all the old hands for their invaluable suggestions. Thats what makes AR so great! Thank you, Saeed and Don!