Thanks in advance for ansewring my questions, I am sure they are old hat for most folks here. I have hunted Namibia for cats twice ad shot ele/buff/croc there. But I am thinking of trying a different country.
So my question is the differences between communal lands and safari concessions. I understand that safari concessions are govt land. My previous expereince in Nambia were on conservancy land, communal I guess. I saw a lot of people and had poaching going on. So you can see my concern about hunting on communal lands in Zim, are they shot out by the local poachers, do I have to deal with people begging for a ride and money?

What is the difference in communal and campfire areas.

i think in general you see more people and lots more livestock in communal lands. so far as begging and asking for rides - well it is africa. I have found that there is not nearly the amount of game in communal lands.

Brent,

If your concerns are poaching and amount of inhabitance in the hunting area perhaps you should consider private land in Zim. These hunts can be a few thousand acres to a million with very succesful anti poaching programs and no inhabitance in the hunting area other than the actual safari crews.

Hunting on these properties can be superb with amazing game densities. The smaller properties will have excellent plains game plus good leopard and the large Conservancies can have all the Big 5 plus white rhino, African wild dogs and hyena.

Mark

Unless you are looking for a cultural experience with less game, more people, more poaching and limited opportunities I would research the different safari concessions. You can have good hunts on communal lands or like me you could have a horrible hunt on communal lands! The Zim safari concessions are well-managed with no villages other than the Parks employees/families and much more game.

Bret, that depends on what area you hunt in, whether in Zim or in Namibia. There is some really good comunal conservancies / Campfire areas in both countries, as there are areas in both that are overrun by people/ overshot/ poached...

As a matter of interest, what area did you hunt in in Namibia?

Karl,
I hunted Ehirovipuka, Entendka and Salambala both with Vaughan. Had a great time with him, and loved the terrain of Ehirovipuka, I could hunt there again and again. Although the people in the villages of all places were very rude, often trying to climb on the truck and throwing things if you did not stop to give thtem a ride. On the other hand having that many folks on lookout for lions and leopards was nice. My concern with Zim was teh rumors of some communal areas being shot out due to locals.