I have found a Zimbabwe PAC elephant hunt that sounds to be an extremely good deal. The hunt is for 7 days and includes one PAC elephant for $7,500 with additional PAC elephant costing $2,000 each. My family and I are going to Namibia next year for a 21 day plains game hunt, but we are thinking of doing this hunt a year or two after. The PH is also running hunts in all the major concessions in Zimbabwe (Dande, Doma, Gache Gache etc... were mentioned). My question is: out of all the major concessions in Zimbabwe, which would lend itself to the best combination 10-14 day Buff/Hippo/Plainsgame hunt? I would want to focus mainly on Buff and Hippo, but also hunt a few of the more sought after plainsgame like Sable, Kudu, Eland, Bushbuck, and Tsessebe. I would prefer that the place have a large population of buff of good size (38"-42"). Also, are there any of the major concessions in Zimbabwe that have Nyala? I'd really appreciate any info y'all can provide. Thanks ahead of time.

Interesting. Since I believe I know who the PH is, let me add some clarifications:

Nyala are available in Dande N. Hippo are not offered there. He offers Hippo in Gache Gache (lake Kariba) and Rutenga (private ranch), but no Nyala in either place.

The PAC price you have been quoted is $2500 more than the current price (well whoever quoted it to you threw in 2 extra days). If you are going two years out, there is no price set yet.

For Buff/Hippo/PG the only concessions he operates that offer this combo is Gache Gache. This borders Kariba to the N and lies between the Gache Gache and Sanyati rivers.

To see the current price lists, go to http://bigfivehq.com/ben.htm

Russ

The PH I am referring to is Dirk Rohrmann and he is also the PH we are hunting with in Namibia next year. I know there are no set prices for that far ahead of time, but I don't think they would change too drastically. So, there's only one major concession in ALL of Zimbabwe that offers Buff/Hippo/Plainsgame? That just doesn't sound right. I don't know much about Zimbabwe, so please correct me if I am wrong. What is the Buffalo quality like in Gache Gache?

When did Dirk Rohrmann take the Zim PH exam?

Not insinuating anything here, just have not seen a more current list than the one Terry Carr has here.

Charles

To be honest, I have no idea. I do know, however, that he has just begun booking hunts there. So, perhaps he just took it.

Russ,
What else can you tell me about this operator? I am very interested in the PAC elephant hunt and maybe adding a few plains animals as this would be my third trip to Zim. Would any of the elephants be tusked (I know they are property of Parks) or must you shoot the first animal you come across? Anyone in this site hunted with them?

Dirk does not hold a zim license, so he is obviously booking through various operators who hire local PH's - perhaps that is why his price is a little above Russ's???

NB- The Chace Libre Hunts in Sapi and Nyakasanga come up for auction on Friday. Will be interesting to see prices.

Is it true that Rhormann likes to shot clients game animals with his 416, even if it is a lethal shot?

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Dirk does not hold a zim license, so he is obviously booking through various operators who hire local PH's - perhaps that is why his price is a little above Russ's???

NB- The Chace Libre Hunts in Sapi and Nyakasanga come up for auction on Friday. Will be interesting to see prices.

As always, thanks for the information.

The mystery is not very mysterious. I recently booked a PAC ele hunt with the Zim PH I represent, Ben Kotze, for Dirk Rohrmann (i.e. Dirk was the client...see this thread....https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1411043/m/230102326?r=410108926#410108926 ). The hunt was successful, Dirk took a young bull on the 4th evening.

Dirk is a licenced PH in Namibia, not Zimbabwe. So Dirk is now referring his clients to my PH for elephant and maybe buffalo. Nothing wrong with that, in fact he told me upfront at SCI that he was looking for a place to send his clients for elephant in Zim. I suppose he can resell the hunts for any price he likes. Happens all the time in this business.

Regarding my prior posting, I understood the question about areas to be in the context of Ben Kotze's areas. And the answer is Gache Gache. There are surely other areas where you can hunt Buff and Hippo in the same place. Most places where PAC hunts take place are agricultural areas, so that's usually the only thing hunted there. In our case, we can also do a leopard hunt in Vuti and we can do PG from the Vuti camp, but the PG is hunted on private ranches nearby and there's a short drive to access them. If you want to hunt buff, lion, or trophy ele, we relocate the client to another camp after the PAC is done.

quote:

What else can you tell me about this operator? I am very interested in the PAC elephant hunt and maybe adding a few plains animals as this would be my third trip to Zim. Would any of the elephants be tusked (I know they are property of Parks) or must you shoot the first animal you come across? Anyone in this site hunted with them?

Ben is a very experienced Zim PH who works in conjunction with (but is not employed by) Chifuti.

The PAC hunts are for any elephant. A lot of the hunting is done at night. Ben does try to get clients onto a bull and generally is able to in 5 days. You don't get the trophy of course but a bull makes a nicer picture.

We still have openings in April, the best month. March is booked solid. The PAC hunting tapers off in mid June and then picks up again when everything dries out, last few weeks before the rains. There is permanent water in the area (Vuti) where the hunts are conducted.

We recommend extending the hunt to make the trip worthwhile. We extend for plains game at the same daily rate $400 x 14 days total, or for DG at $750 x 14 days total. The higher rate for DG is because these hunts are conducted in Chifuti concessions (Dande N, Chewore N) and there is a pretty hefty lease payment to amortize. Ben also does some DG in Doma, which he controls, and Gache Gache which is new this year (up against Kariba) and I don't know whether he controls this directly or through Chifuti or someone else.

TNJohn,
There is no truth to that. If you do a search on either his name or Okanduka here, you will find many favorable reports. I hunted plains game at Okanduka with Dirk and will be hunting Leopard with him in '08. He is a class act and runs a great operation with his wife Rita.

Dirk told me the other day he is booking the PAC Ele with a friend who is a PH in Zim. He also stated that he is now operating another concession in Namibia near Waterberg NP and will be hunting a concession in Mozambique in 2008 focusing on Buff, hippo and Croc. Currently, Dirk is a PH in Namibia and Mozambique.

I'm looking forward to hunting with Dirk and Rita again.

Atticus

Have heard this from two seperate groups. Was just curious if he was practicing for his elephant hunt or it was a habit.

I have not hunted elephants with Dirk, but I heartily agree with Atticus. I hunted leopard and plains game in Namibia last year with Dirk, and will hunt again with him next year. Everything was A#1. His rapid bookings for this year bespeak of widespread customer satisfaction- hard to reconcile that with "premature PH shooting".

TNJohn,
I can not speak to the reports you have received. I do know that I have never heard anything like that nor, have I ever seen a negative report on Dirk or his operation. Again, I will be returning to hunt with Dirk in '08 (a return booking is something I look for when checking references on a PH) and would gladly hunt dangerous game with him at any time. He is a PH whom I have complete confidence in.

Like ICUdoc stated, I think Okanduka's rapid booking and bevy of positive reports here on AR, provide ample evidence of positive hunting experiences.

Have heard some good things so am trying to sort out why this happened. Some won't post for fear of trophies being lost.

TNJohn

Dirk usually takes all trophies to the taxidermist on the last day of the clients hunt. Hunting season has been over for months, Your friend (s) trophies are not in Dirks care. Why not have your friends tell their story? Are they ashamed what might come out? Are you positing for your friend (s)? If not why would you take a chance at loosing their trophies, if they were truly worried?

I am good friends with Drik and Rita and I can assure you nobody trophies will ever be harmed! Like him or not Dirk is a very ethical person!
I would also like to point out he is booked solid for the next 2 1/2 years with many repeat clients. How many outfitters can say that?

I have also rebooked all of September

This information did not come from friends. Considered a hunt with him and found some that were not listed as references, not AR members and have been to africa before.

No one has given me a straight answer. So I will ask it another way.

Has he ever shot one of your animals?

Does he shoot the bait animals or do you?

Not trying to tear this guy down, just trying to have answered if this is his habit, were these guys terrible shots or was he preparing himself for an elephant hunt?

Poor shooting and bruised egos are always the real problem when you hear about a PH finishing off an animal. For some reason you never hear about the poor shooting and all the missed and wounded animals.

This was not finishing off. This was very quick on the trigger and on every animal. Client was'nt given a choice from day one on even shooting bait.

These guys admitted they made some poor shots and their game didnt drop in its tracks. Other PH never fired his gun.

Except for dangerous game areas, never seen a PH carry a 416. Most dont even want to waste a shot.

Since this is not routine I would suspect it was a combination of practicing for an elephant hunt and opportunity based on poor shooting.

Time to move on

John

John
Lets clear up a few things, You say you know two different groups that had bad hunts. The truth is you are talking about one family of four hunters. I guess you call that artistic license? You know ---------------stretching the truth for a greater impact!. You go on and make totally unfounded actuation's like, "Some won't post for fear of trophies being lost. " You know that is a out right lie! Your only intention here is to cause harm to a honest and ethical outfitter. Only you know why? Your friends problems rest solely on their shoulders! Your friends admit to being poor shots ( their words ). They missed or wounded every animal they shot at and were not at all bothered by an animals suffering caused by their poor shooting ?

Tell me do you know any PH that wants this type of client ?

In the last three years Dirk has hunted over 40 groups of clients on his ranch. I only know of two groups that were unhappy.. In each case the problems center solely on poor shooting and a total lack of respect towards animals. I Guaranty you Dirk will never allow a wounded animal to suffer, just to satisfy someone sick ego. If that's what you want book with a different PH . You will both be happier!

This is my last commit, I see no reason to feed trolls !

Cheers

Well said Robert. I would also really appreciate it if we can get back to my original subject.

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
Well said Robert. I would also really appreciate it if we can get back to my original subject.

Did you ask Mr.Rohrmann for his recommendation? What concession did he suggest?

I am curious if he will be in Zim when you hunt there or is just acting as booking agent.

I hope both your Namibia and Zimbabwe hunts go well.

I too count Dirk & Rita as friends. My wife and I spent 21 days with them in 2006 and have rebooked for 2008. Dirk fired one shot at a wounded kudu bait cow that did not stay down at my shot. She jumped up and was headed over the hill when he stopped her. Besides when we went dove shooting this was the only shot he fired in two weeks of hunting. Hardley trigger happy, maybe one should learn from their own experiences instead of listening to a lot of stories. enuf said.

Dirk is A#1 and a true professional!