I am doing my research for a possible leopard hunt in Mozambique and could use some help. I would like to know who the licensed Mozambique safari operators are, what areas they hunt, any experiences AR members have had with them, which areas are best for leopard and if any are known as leopard specialists.

I am already in touch with Bahati and am favoritely impressed.

I don't know if he pushes his leopard hunts but you may try Walter Enslin @ Kwan Safaris. I hunted croc/hippo in 09 and saw lots of leopard sign, also saw a big male on the road one evening, stood there and looked at us for better than a minute, I should have shot but was so shocked and amazed watching him walk back and forth across the road 25 yds in front of the truck. Plus I couldn't find my soft tape so I could measure his noggin to see if he was big enough.

i have hunted with both Kwan Safaris(Walter Enslin) and Johann Strasheim(Bahati Adventures). neither hunt was for leopard although there was leopard sign in both areas. i can say,however, that both gentlemen run a first rate operation in prime game country that is as close to "old" Africa as you could get. the main difference between the 2 is simply the geography/terrain. if you want more info, PM me and i would be happy to send you my phone number to discuss them both. Jerry

The outfitter/PH for my two hunts in Zambia in 1992 and 1994 now has concessions in South Africa and Mozambique and has sent me photos of some very large tom leopards his clients have taken in both countries recently. His website address is www.trophytrackersafrica.com If you contact him, please say how you found him. I can recommend Henri with no reservations.

Bill Quimby

www.kambakosafaris.com
A great company and area that I have enjoyed three safaris and over one hundred days in the bush with.
Like any cat hunt, I would recommend fourteen days and ideally July/August.

I highly recommend Zambeze Delta Safaris (yes, that is how he spells it). Mark Haldane now has both Coutada 11 & 12. While I've hunted with them twice, 2003 & 2005, I did not personally hunt Leopard, although one of my partners on the 2005 safari took a very good one.

The current issue of Petersen's HUNTING has an article written by Craig Boddington regarding his buff and Nyala hunts with them. Don't fail to hunt the little Suni and Red Duiker and Blue Duiker as they have world class specimens in Coutada 11.

I hunted Coutada 10 with Bahati. Johan Strasheim frequently posts on here. I don't know if he hunts Leopard, but if he does you must not miss the opportunity to hunt Buffalo in the swamp and croc. in the tidal river. I spent 3 days hunting the croc. and although the rain and Mosquitoes were damn near unbearable it was one of my most memorable hunts.

In addition the concession has some great Nyala, Bushbuck and Suni which should not be passed over.

http://www.johancalitzsafaris.co.za/mozambique.htm

Johan Calitz Safaris Mozambique link.

The latest issue of African Sporting Gazette had a long discussion on the various operators.

I hunted the Johan Calitz concession (L-2, Sable Camp) two years ago and took a very nice Leopard and lots of other great trophies. I won't say that the concession was overrun with Leopards, but there were lots of them, including the biggest one I've ever seen -- but we were never able to get the bruiser to a bait. He was big enough not to like to climb trees, I think, and big enough not to have to very often.

A hunt that offers 1.5M acres of pristine African bush for the exclusive use of one hunter for a month is pretty hard to beat.

It's VERY big country there and a lot like the East African hunting as I imagine it was prior to WWII. From my perspective, it would have been worth the trip just to experience it all for the month that I was there -- the abundant game was gravy.

Zambezi Delta, with Mark Haledane's outfit. Fantastic area and hunt.

I have also hunted with Zambeze Delta and recommend them highly. Last year while hunting with them, my hunting buddy took a real nice leopard. The leopards in the area have very stocky massive bodies but they aren't real long. Possibly due to the very thick dense cover they live in. They hunt with dogs as the leopards don't respond to bait at all. Haldane suspects it is because there is so much food available to them they don't need to eat rotting meat.

quote:

Zambezi Delta, with Mark Haledane's outfit. Fantastic area and hunt.

Dave, I was there a week or 2 after you and Craig had left. Great camp and area. Moz is what I imagine hunting was like in old Africa. It was one of my best safaris, for sure.

Scott,

I have worked with Safaris de Mocambique since 2001. That is a great area. You need to visit it! God cats, Sable there too. Their Buffalo are good too.

You know how to contact me!

Try Jumbo Moore or Jamie Wilson - both great outfitters in Niassa , Mark Haldane in coutada 11 and 12 great as well , Tony Tomkinson is in Moz as well now and allways worth checking in with. Johan Calitz also has good area in Niassa
Graeme Pollock

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

Zambezi Delta, with Mark Haledane's outfit. Fantastic area and hunt.

Dave, I was there a week or 2 after you and Craig had left. Great camp and area. Moz is what I imagine hunting was like in old Africa. It was one of my best safaris, for sure.

We were there just ahead of Boddington and crew. I've hunted with Mark twice now (2006 & 2009)in Moz and have anotehr trip planned for 2012. It is a really special place.

Like mentioned above, make sure you take some time to hunt the small critters as they are fun and in Coutada 11 they are very big.

It is also a prime place for Nyala.

Hope Mark does not see this, it'll go to his head.

The rat still won't leave me the keys to the helicopter when I'm in camp!

Stay away from anything named MOZAMBIQUE UNLIMITED SAFARIS and their "booking" agent in the USA going by the name HUNT IT ALL !!!!!!!!!!!

funny you mentioned them, as they have a LARGE donation in Moz. at the upcoming SCI Convention. what is the problem?
http://www.showsci.com/static/...fm?Item=3&With_Img=1

Looks like they are offering a 18-day Lion hunt in Moz. Retail value shown as $60,000.00. Since it is indeed a large donation there "must certainly be something wrong with the Company and it's Rep" Give it up SCI bashers unless you have some proof that there is something amiss here. Facts please, only facts.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Facts please, only facts.

I think that is what Jerry was asking for.

that is exactly what i was asking. if Larry had bothered to read the post above mine, he might have figured it out- or chosen to ignore it. when a PH says avoid someone, i want to know his reason(s).and who were you quoting Larry, since part of your post is in quotation marks? sure as hell isn't me or Neil.

JD - Guess that must be MY quote, dah!!
Your post wasn't up yet when I typed mine. Touchy, touchy.


Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
that is exactly what i was asking. if Larry had bothered to read the post above mine, he might have figured it out- or chosen to ignore it. when a PH says avoid someone, i want to know his reason(s).and who were you quoting Larry, since part of your post is in quotation marks? sure as hell isn't me or Neil.

that's funny-since my post was timed 15 minutes before yours and referenced the same hunt you mentioned. i guess you are just clarvoiyant( but a REALLY slow typist) and put your own posts in quotes. interesting writing style.

quote:

Stay away from anything named MOZAMBIQUE UNLIMITED SAFARIS and their "booking" agent in the USA going by the name HUNT IT ALL !!!!!!!!!!!

Funny thing happened Neil, when I checked them out on the web, I found one of my own buffalo clients staring back at me...!

(I hope shakari don't see this, or he will say I told you so!!!) Anyways, how would you respond?

Then that will be two notable and reputable PH's who express their concerns?

I did post a notification on here about 2 months ago, but cannot find it.

After receiving some PM's and a phone call on this matter. I realized that I should put some sort of statement out.

Inifinito Safaris was represented by Hunt It All Inc. in 2010. I attended their booths at SCI and DSC where many AR members met me and chatted with me.

We also agreed with them to operate their Mozambqiue Hunting area for them, and recruit proper staff to man these camps, P.H. and operate the area.

After it became clear that the quota, hunting area boundaries, remuneration, and a LOT of other things were not right, and AFTER a lot of heated debates, Infinito Safaris pulled out of our deal with Moz. Unlimited Safaris.

To make marketing easier, in the beginning of 2010, we helped Mark from Hunt It ALL (the US booking agency) to download photo's from out web-site to use on their own. A Grave mistake it turned out to be.

We have been trying to get our photo's off their web-site, and have them stop using our marketing material, but to no avail.

We have informed SCI about the ILLEGAL donation (Mr. Cundiff who actually is the man behind the donation, knows they do not have one on quota for 2011) decided, out of the blue, resign as the CEO of Moz. Unlimited Safaris in early November 2011.

I have now heard that there are at least two mayor civil actions being prepared against them, as well as some Lacey Act violations that are being reported.

So yes, run is an understatement. Me and a couple of other outfitters are making it our mission to stop them from ever selling hunts in Africa, or anywhere for that matter, again. You can make your own logical deductions on what type of people these are.

As far as the hunting area goes, the area is void of game apart for some very good Elies, Leopard, Sable and Bushpig. How they managed to DONATE a Lion, sell 6 Buffalo, 4 Hippo and 2 Crocs, with the firm knowledge (we and the PH’s on the ground told them so) that there are NONE…..should give you an idea of what kind of operation this is.

Take note that other outfitters might be slurred into the affair of Moz. Unlimited Safaris, and I would caution anyone to deal with this company, even if these two Americans are no longer involved.

We do not have any more contact or relationship with these people/companies anymore. All communication broke down.

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Looks like they are offering a 18-day Lion hunt in Moz. Retail value shown as $60,000.00. Since it is indeed a large donation there "must certainly be something wrong with the Company and it's Rep" Give it up SCI bashers unless you have some proof that there is something amiss here. Facts please, only facts.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry,

I am a member of SCI.

I have reported these two companies to SCI and warned them that the donation is NOT a legal exportable one.

The guy that sit behinds all of this, Terry Cundiff RESIGNED as CEO of Moz. Unlimited Safaris. The only people that now runs this company is three Mozambiquans as far as I know, and I promise you they will not be "chuffed" at all to know about this whole donation for "mahalla" (free).

Since a confirmation, by telephone, of the complaint, nothing has come of it?????

After this fiasco I question in a BIG way the way SCI accept outfitters to advertise at the shows. You do not have to PROOF anything about the quota you offer for sale or for auction....how dangerous is that?

I wonder how the lacey act works? If an organisation gives up for auction, or offer for sale an illegal hunt, KNOWINGLY (we did warn /inform them)....can that organisation be prosecuted by the Lacey act?? Just a thought.

Thanks Carl - This is exactly what I was suggesting in my "facts just the facts" statement. So many threads get all jumbled up with rhumors and those who have there own personal agendas to push, thus my statement to the SCI bashers. Maybe a little over the top, but it gets real tiring with their rants.

It indeed does look like these guys are someone to avoid and thanks again for your efforts to set things straight and give SCI the heads up. See you in Reno.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Looks like they are offering a 18-day Lion hunt in Moz. Retail value shown as $60,000.00. Since it is indeed a large donation there "must certainly be something wrong with the Company and it's Rep" Give it up SCI bashers unless you have some proof that there is something amiss here. Facts please, only facts.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry,

I am a member of SCI.

I have reported these two companies to SCI and warned them that the donation is NOT a legal exportable one.

The guy that sit behinds all of this, Terry Cundiff RESIGNED as CEO of Moz. Unlimited Safaris. The only people that now runs this company is three Mozambiquans as far as I know, and I promise you they will not be "chuffed" at all to know about this whole donation for "mahalla" (free).

Since a confirmation, by telephone, of the complaint, nothing has come of it?????

After this fiasco I question in a BIG way the way SCI accept outfitters to advertise at the shows. You do not have to PROOF anything about the quota you offer for sale or for auction....how dangerous is that?

I wonder how the lacey act works? If an organisation gives up for auction, or offer for sale an illegal hunt, KNOWINGLY (we did warn /inform them)....can that organisation be prosecuted by the Lacey act?? Just a thought.

Larry,

We now have the facts.

What has SCI done about it?

quote:

It indeed does look like these guys are someone to avoid and thanks again for your efforts to set things straight and give SCI the heads up. See you in Reno.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Larry, do you operate in any official capacity at SCI?

Saeed - Why would you ask me what SCI has done about anything? I no longer have an official capacity with SCI, been six or seven years now. I would suggest if you are really interested in knowing what SCI has done or not done about this current situation you call Headquarters in Tucson, AZ, USA. If this is just another jab, save your breath my friend.

505- As to the mention above my only official capacity in SCI is being a Life Member of the organization at this time. Just a real concerned one at that I suppose?

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Larry,

We now have the facts.

What has SCI done about it?

Charl,
How do I find out or confirm what specific outfitters in Mozambique have on legal quota? I cannot get a response back from the newly formed association.

I will not comment on this newly formed orrganisation as there seems to be too many outfitters and PH's that did not know about this, or were not invited. Surely just growing pains.

There are a couple of people in Moz. that have been there a long time. Look at operators that have COUTADAS (government hunting blocks).

I would suggest Bahati Adventures, Toni Wicker (also here on AR), Kwan Safaris and of course, Mark Haldane.

Also good bet would be Jumbo Moore (ask Tim Herald here on AR)The Cabo del Gabo where he operates is as wild as you can get. I drove through 400km's of it in April. All these folks have been there for 10 years or longer. They know what they do.

We are still working in our own area, and it will not be commercialy hunted in 2011. Buffalo, Hippo and Croc will be what we work on, in the Zambesi Delta.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Larry,

We now have the facts.

What has SCI done about it?

Nothing so far. Nothing.

well, i guess my original question of Neil was certainly appropriate and NOT A BASHING OF SCI,Larry. they don't need me to bash them- they seem to manage shooting their own foot off quite well without anyone else's help.

Gentlemen and Ladies

One HUGE problem with Quotas , is that what the government gives on Quota and what is really there is Light years apart

I know of areas that have Lion and Buffalo on quota, there are NONE

This thread made me smile …

Mozambique is a wild country ... and that is not confined to the habitat. What Infinito (Charl) and Kwan (Walter) said is unfortunately true and more than ever it is a case of caveat emptor - i.e. “buyer beware”. Mozambique has been growing in popularity over the last few years and every second outfitter wants to be involved, offering big game safaris in Mozambique. There are quite a few "fly by nights" operators with no real concessions and no formal quota. There are also lots of sub-contractors, i.e. booking outfitters (especially from SA) where they have a working arrangement with one of the bona fide Moz operators - this is quite normal and common and there is nothing wrong with that. The dead giveaways are PAC hunts and protected species being offered and very vague area descriptions. Operators in Moz have very specific areas and these are firm, fixed and not vague at all. Ask for the name and a description of the area.

Make sure who you deal with in Mozambique and try and verify the operators area and concession or game farm rights, the hunting area and double check this with other folks. Some are easy – such as the Coutadas and the well-known hunting blocks, some a little more tricky. Bahati is a founder member of the Moz operators association. We have in fact been a founder member a few times as it is only very slowly getting off the ground so do not expect too much lightning there.

We have had it all and seen it all ... an operator buying hunting licenses for hunters on our area without our knowledge; safaris being sold in our area by another operator not authorized to do so (I have the actual contract and supporting e-mails in my possession!); hunts being offered in areas that simply do not exist (also here on AR); one operator giving GPS coordinates to his prospective client of where the camp is - right in the middle of one of our camps (yes!); a hunter spending days is a Beira hotel thinking that he’ll be hunting in our area. (Surprise!); other operators quoting against us for safaris in our own area, hunters booking big safaris ending up with a sable and a bush pig after 14 days as that was the only game he saw - no lion/buffalo/eland/etc, operators actually hunting in our area (poaching!) and so it carries on …

Be very careful out there – and do your homework – or a potentially fine and memorable experience may become an embarrassing nightmare.

SBT,

Has to be Bahati in Moz.

You should check this website for a wealth of info - video, pics maps and published articles:

www.zambezedeltasafaris.com

As many have said, this is a first class hunting operation. Also see Craig Boddingtons recent article in HUNTING magazine.

Very informative thread! Thanks all!