Im considering doing something I always wanted to do and would like some input from you guys..Ive been talking to some of my friends in Tanzania about selling old time foot safaris, I can use Masai and donkeys and hunt a 21 to 30 day hunt including Leopard, and big Mountain buffalo, along with whatever except Lion...Would include all the bells and whistles but no vehicles within a hundred miles...Would have communication for emergency only. A good PH or two and I have a couple in mind. Hunt all day camp and continue the next day..Its still in the talking stage with my Tanzania contacts but their pretty excited about it..I would require one to be in excellent health, and in excellent physical condition especially for the Mountain buffalo..Lets hear what your thoughts are, Ive had such requests over the years from time to time..

My concern is my old clientele is too damn old and out of shape

Not exactly like what you are talking about but I'm hunting this May in the forest of Cameroon in an area that has NO roads to camp or in the area we will be hunting. It takes a 3 hour boat ride to get to camp, once in camp, we will either walk trails from camp or take the boat up river to trails or salt licks. Once we find tracks, we will follow them were ever the may go. My main goal on this hunt is to see gorillas but my primary animal to hunt is elephant and then whatever presents itself.

Sounds like a real hunting safari, but I fear I'm too old for such shenanigans! However it is something I always wanted to experience! Too bad in my case, but I wish you luck with this idea for the young guys!

If they are up to the task. I think that would be something to remember for the rest of the young client hunter to remember for the rest of his/her life!

One modern thing I would suggest is to film those hunts with a quality videographer, and make it available to public consumption!

.................Good luck Ray!

Hi Ray,
I think Natasha Berg that used to work for Robin Hurt did this type of safari at one time. Sounds like a good time.

That would be a fun hunt if it could be properly conducted.

Water is always an issue, enough for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking. Food would not be much of a problem if you can shoot an animal every day or so. Another heavy item is salt to preserve the skins.

As a lot of you know I spent two weeks in the rain forest on this type of hunt. We pirogued in, then were on foot the entire way with porters, moving camp every two to three days depending on the game. It was something special.

If my bank account would allow me this would be exactly the way I would want to go back to Africa.

Plenty of people who would be up for a hunt like this but sad to say most could not afford it.

Agree sounds like a great idea but would people who could afford to hunt in Tanzania:

a. want to spend the money to hunt without the creature comforts
b. would those who want to do such an adventure be able to afford it.

Tanzania is the upper end of pricing when it comes to safari hunting which limits the amount of people who can step foot to hunt.

I did such at hunt in northern Cameroon at age 66. No vehicles, PH, or donkeys. Porters only. Most satisfying hunt/ safari I have ever been on. Age isn’t the limiting factor- determination is.....

As did I a few years back. Something very special about walking back out of the back of beyond with a buffalo ... One of my great memories ...

Amen. I don’t know who was happier- me with the buffalo skull and cape or the porters with the meat. I know their families at the village were well pleased. Frankly, Ray, I think you may find the market for such a hunt limited at best. Without a bath and clean clothes daily, some folks may feel out of sorts.

I know all the hiccups and realize it has a limited clientele, but I have the right people working on it and I'll be coming out of retirement for this only, if it works fine if not so be it...I like retirement..

Im also considering a desingner hunt, part foot with a lodge or permanent camp along the way ever 3 or 4 days, or the option to hunt on foot from one camp to another...but its all up for grabs right now, just interested in suggestions.

As to water, that's where the donkeys come in or water can be placed ahead of time along with a shower under a tree or whatever...Just some ideas that pop up..Ive camped on the elephant tracks more than once but that was a long time ago..

If I were a young man again Id jump on something like this, I got close but never quite got it done..

I wasn't aware that Natasha did such a hunt. I'll be sure and contact her at some point, She is an impressive lady..

Blake Wilhemi and I are doing something similar in October in Michel Mantheakis's Lukwati South concession,just not so long, and with a bit of a compromise. We're still arguing about the river, but the plan is to hunt down the river to Lake Rukwa. Croc, hippo, waterbuck, at the lake. We're planning to sleep out and pack what we need, but will radio for a gari to come pick up animals. The gari will resupply us as well.

I want to walk the Wuku because it's clear as a trout stream and flows all year, solving all the water issues. Blake wants to walk the Yeye, which ups our odds on roan and kudu, but by October, it's quit flowing and I'm not going to bathe in it. It's stinky. And no purifier is going to make it drinkable.

Plus, the tsetses are a lot worse on the Yeye. More buffalo on the Wuku. But I really want a roan, so I'm torn.

Oh, and hunted buffalo in the mountains around Natron last year. It's a real ball buster of a hunt. An absolute must to be in great shape. We managed to take a very nice bull, but doing that with donkeys would be a tough hunt. Might actually help you though because with us, it was a race up the mountain after the buffalo early in the morning. I'd rather hunt top down. It would be easier and probably better chance of success. Donkeys would help that.

I would tend towards the Mountain buffalo as they are mostly better trophy wise and the area is the best for Leopard..I have all the areas lined out for now, but more work to be done, its getting more complicated as we go, but nothing that can't be handled if we decide its a done deal..I have a lot of good experience and good relations in Tanzania in the Selou and the masai, and its reaches..These areas are hard to get to and prime...

Yes, I did it with Nicky Blunt years ago at Lake Rukwa for 16 days. We fly camped the whole time and it was great- radio crapped out early so we were really on our own! Shot buffalo on the Ye Ye river where it hits Lake Rukwa and also a very good bushbuck and we baited for lion to no avail.

The area off the escarpment down to Lake Rukwa is very steep and windy and the view coming down to the lake is fantastic- one can see a large part of Rukwa from the top. Once you are off the escarpment it looks like Masailand with big acacias and more open savannah type country.

There were nice greater kudu on the escarpment proper as well as klipspringer and leopard should be no problem- we saw them during the day.

This was George Anglelides' and Gerard Miller's block at the time- presently held and hunted by Michele Mantheakis- Lukwati South GR I believe. The area was held by Danny McCallum for a long time and managed properly. I'm sure Michele is doing the same.

Very much an adventure and it was my favorite safari!

Don't forget the Doom!

Dahav,

The view from the escarpment is incredible. More cats there than anywhere I've hunted. The first time I hunted there in 2013 had me convinced the leopards there were easy, but 2015 proved me wrong. Sat that cat 13 times before we took him. Michel has really stepped up the anti-poaching from what Danny was doing. There's no poaching now. It's really a great place.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Dahav,

The view from the escarpment is incredible. More cats there than anywhere I've hunted. The first time I hunted there in 2013 had me convinced the leopards there were easy, but 2015 proved me wrong. Sat that cat 13 times before we took him. Michel has really stepped up the anti-poaching from what Danny was doing. There's no poaching now. It's really a great place.

Good to hear about the anti-poaching. No doubt its a special area and we've probably been over the same spots.

Funny about the leopard, when you don't need one they are everywhere, but when you do, they become ghosts...

Did you see kudu and/or klippies on the escarpment?

Hung a lion bait at Gerard Miller's spring. No hits, but it was a fantastic area.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Hung a lion bait at Gerard Miller's spring. No hits, but it was a fantastic area.

Yes, they used to take some wonderful lion from that block, but when I wanted one they become scarce, typical...

There was an earthquake when I was there and we also saw big, tame sable in the miombo above the escarpment. Buffalo were good as well, no problem for 40"+. Mr. Blunt walked my ass off... fun times!

Dahav,

We've definitely walked the same dirt. Wasn't really focused on kudu at the time, as I had a couple of southern kudu. Saw a cow, never a bull. Now I'm interested in an east african kudu. So I'll be looking this year. Saw lots of klippies, missed one with my .416. Shot over him at a 45 degree upward angle. Knew better, but I'm a flatlander.

mountain buffalo a hundred miles from a vehicle??? mabe northern Ugsnda but Tanz....

quote:

This was George Anglelides' and Gerard Miller's block at the time- presently held and hunted by Michele Mantheakis- Lukwati South GR I believe. The area was held by Danny McCallum for a long time and managed properly.

If memory serves me right, when I was hunting Lukwati in the mid-eighties, Danny had Piti GC on the Eastern border of Lukwati and the late George was on the northern side of the river which was the natural boundary (we would often see or hear him running his tractor, clearing hunting tracks).

Lukwati was then registered in the name of Safari Royal (Ettore Mocci).
Poaching in the area was not too dramatic as was the presence of honey poachers who I believe have since been moved out; Lukwati was then a Forest Reserve and later re-classified to Game Reserve.

The area was superb for Tsetse, Buffalo, Cats, Sable and Roan in that order.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
That would be a fun hunt if it could be properly conducted.

Water is always an issue, enough for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and drinking. Food would not be much of a problem if you can shoot an animal every day or so. Another heavy item is salt to preserve the skins.

As a lot of you know I spent two weeks in the rain forest on this type of hunt. We pirogued in, then were on foot the entire way with porters, moving camp every two to three days depending on the game. It was something special.

Hi Mike,

There was a Ph here who used to specialise in hunting old lone buff high up in the Muchinga escarpments. This was a foot safari from camp and the only draw back was that he could not accommodate for salt or indeed a skinner and one had to accept skull and horns only. For every extra member of staff you had to consider the carrying of their kit and food.

Another chap Pete Swanepoel Junior also advertises rough hunts where you fly camp for your game in remote places but does have a car based in camp for animal recovery and the odd supply run.

I find the best way to conduct these safaris is 2 to 3 day forays from the main camp and yes good water is fairly critical.

whilst not Africa, Australia's remote Arnhemland has great scope for a multi buffalo "foot Safari".
The only drawback for some is you need to carry your own kit.
bloody wild country though if you can handle nights under the stars in realy remote buffalo infested country.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

This was George Anglelides' and Gerard Miller's block at the time- presently held and hunted by Michele Mantheakis- Lukwati South GR I believe. The area was held by Danny McCallum for a long time and managed properly.

If memory serves me right, when I was hunting Lukwati in the mid-eighties, Danny had Piti GC on the Eastern border of Lukwati and the late George was on the northern side of the river which was the natural boundary (we would often see or hear him running his tractor, clearing hunting tracks).

Lukwati was then registered in the name of Safari Royal (Ettore Mocci).
Poaching in the area was not too dramatic as was the presence of honey poachers who I believe have since been moved out; Lukwati was then a Forest Reserve and later re-classified to Game Reserve.

The area was superb for Tsetse, Buffalo, Cats, Sable and Roan in that order.

You are 100% correct on the Tsetses! George came to DSC one year and was giving away some bumper stickers he had printed- which stated: "If you ain't been bit by a Tsetse - you ain't shit!" I wish I had one.

Also, coming to mind is a huge mbuga in his old Rungwa River GCA which ran miles along the Ye Ye River they called it Mbuga ya Simba for obvious reasons. This area was great too, full of buffalo and lion. Dougie Stephenson used to hunt that part of the block from a pretty camp perched on the high bank of the Ye Ye if I remember correctly and Nicky and I shot a buffalo there once.

I'm in. I've spent a week on foot drifting around Yellowstone thinking the only thing better would be a rifle on my shoulder. This type of hunt would get a new set of U.S. hunters in the Africa market.

It would be the ultimate for me. It’s why I like backpack hunting here.

I tried to market them in Namibia a few years ago. I even had an awesome brochure printed. We worked out all of the details as well. Everyone who was interested ended up booking a normal safari, so I dropped the idea for lack of interest. I do think there are people who are interested, it just isn't that many.

As somebody who has spent a lot of time in small tents with no shower or real sit down meals this does not appeal to me. The African safari experience for me involves getting taken care of a bit and I don't want to "Rough it". I do understand the lore of touching the old time safari and obviously there is some interest. Ray, Good luck with this.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
I did such at hunt in northern Cameroon at age 66. No vehicles, PH, or donkeys. Porters only. Most satisfying hunt/ safari I have ever been on. Age isn’t the limiting factor- determination is.....

66? add about 15 years to that and see if you still have that same opinion!

.....................................................................

J.Riley and Mark,
These are my main concerns right now, Im not sure there are enough folks left in the this world to do such a hunt..All my old clients want is a good day of hunting followed by a kings meal and a couple of high balls..

I did get a couple of emails from old friends in Africa suggesting they would be glad to hop on the band wagon..

An area that interested me was the Gelai Lodge and the Lake Natron Game Control area, neither of which Im very familiar with or rather have not been there..but I do know they have killed some very large buffalo in that area and it is a remote area.

I would also like to keep the price down and there are ways of doing that. I also find out that only one lion per concession for the year is a problem, Leopard are a cinch and big buffalo are expected..So perhaps by having a no lion, no elephant, but a Leopard/Buff 16 day hunt is the way to go, ain't cheap, but Ive sold many 16 day hunts..?????s Mostly Im interested inclient interest for such a hunt, I can't be spending a bundle and have something that doesn't fly, but a few such hunts a year should produce an income on my part at least, and the PHs Im talking to are upbeat..