I just received a phone call from Tim Schultz in Zimbabwe advising me that it is raining. It could be that it will stop in a day or two but it is likely that the rainy season has, in fact, begun. I have called my hunters who still had trips coming up and offered to reschedule for next year at the same price as the hunt they had coming up and reccomended that they take me up on this offer as rain makes hunting in most of Zim difficult at best and impossible in many area's such as the Tuli region where two of them were scheduled to go next week. If any of you have last of the year hunts scheduled it may be a good idea to contact your booking agent and or PH and discuss a reschedule. Good luck and good hunting....

MARK

Is this early for the rainy season to start? Or is it right on schedule?

Does that weather apply to Dande, too?
Dave

This is a bit early. In all actuality a very good thing for the region and its animals. I cannot speak to all areas. Tim lives in Bolawayu and said that the rains are hitting there and parts north, thought they were pretty much Zim wide, but understand that this was a quick emergency notification call as he knew that we had fellows headed that way in a few days. The possibility remains that this is an early abberation and that the sky's will clear back up and the hunts can continue but it is my practice to keep my guys informed and make every effort to make sure that their hunt is a good one. I will report again when I know more.

I have been checking all of the weather services and SURPRISE many show no report form Zimbabwe. The ones that have a report are predicting overcast and showers through Thurs. No one that I can find on the 'net has a longer forecast. I will be hearing from my sources throughout Zim as the weekend and week progresses. I will forward the info. here if any of you care for me to.

Did a search on weather.com for Zim and showers for next couple of days and back to 90degree temps.

Mike

Who is Tim hunting for now? I met him in 2003 at Sondelani. He got a client a leopard there.

Magnumhunter:

Sorry about the delay in replying. I needed to make sure that Tim wanted word to get out before I posted this now new information. Tim has left the employ of Zimafrica and has started his own company. I am booking for him. Weather allowing I will have Tims first clients on his own in Zimbabwe one week from today. Both clients are very aware that this is Tims first time out as a PH and a safari operator together. We gave them a terrific deal on the hunts. I will report back. Tim seems to have several of my favorite area's in Zimbabwe now in his control and has several good 'known quantity' PH's in his camp as well.

For what its worth, Weather Underground has an extended forecast option. As with weather in the States, I'm guessing this is pretty much guesswork as well.
http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/67964.html?extendedsun=sunon

I've used Weatherundergound a number of times to track the weather when my brother takes treks ( Patagonia, Nepal, Pakistan ). Comparing it's forecast with his log of the trip shows it to be as reliable as any domestic forecast.

Just a brief update //

The GODS are listining !!!

We are having some nice soaking rains in Limpopo Province on both our private ranches near Banderlierkop and also in the Western Soutpansberg Mountains //

Also good rains coming down at the Dendro Park Ranch in Zambia as well, so it looks like Zambia Zimbabwe Mozambique and Northern parts of SA are getting the goods ...

Take care and keep well