Gentleman,
I try to be simple person with simple tastes, simple goals, simple life, simple dog, etc. I am not a big picture type of person but a linear thinker, straight to the point, straight to the destination, straight through a good book (I try not to read the ending first), straight to work with no stops at Starbucks...

Now, where would you go for the most challenging, biggest horns, most fun place to hunt the ordinary, simple impala???

Please assume that the impala is one of several animals on a buff/leopard, plains game hunt but that the impala is near the top of the list, just below baboon, warthog and steenbok.

I have heard that the biggest trophies come from Northern Tanzania. South Africa impala trophies (I do have one of those)generally run smaller.

I don't know where the biggest ones are but big ones are all over the place. It is almost too bad there are so many of them. If they were a little scarcer they would be a coveted trophy.

The biggest horned impalas are the East African variety found in Northern tanzania. the best trophies I know of in Tanzania generally come out of
1- Maswa & Makao
2- Loliondo
3- Grumeti/ikorongo/Fort Ikoma

As you can see, these all border the Serengeti. Loliondo and Grumeti/ikorongo/Fort Ikoma are just about out of bounds for the ordinary hunter which leaves Maswa & Makao which belongs to Robin Hurt, TGT and TBGS. Excellent impala are also found around Tarangire concessions and Natron/Longido on the Kenyan border. incidentally mopst of these areas are good for the other species you mentioned

Regardless of where you find your trophy impala, be sure to try some of the liver broiled. I have eaten it several times now, and it is the perfect appetizer with a few sundowners while reflecting on the events of the days hunt.

Here's a nice one I took in Masailand.



Regards,

Terry

Masailand, Tanzania would be my choice. While I took an average East African specimen there in 2003(a bit over 24"), my good friend took a monster of 30" there the following year. Those horns were something to behold. He is having it full-body mounted and it will occupy a prominent place in his trophy room.

For a southern impala, 24" is an excellent trophy and the biggest impala I found of the southern species was in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

If you`re looking for a big southern impala I think you can find one many places in the southern Africa. I was lucky and collected a pretty big one this march in the Eastern Cape. It stretched the tape to 25 1/4".. My PH said it was very big, but that they got some in this size every now and then.. I wasn`t hunting them on purpose since I had shot southern impala on a previous hunt. But I couldn`t avoid trying a stalk when we saw this one..

quote:

Originally posted by Anders:
If you`re looking for a big southern impala I think you can find one many places in the southern Africa. I was lucky and collected a pretty big one this march in the Eastern Cape. It stretched the tape to 25 1/4".. My PH said it was very big, but that they got some in this size every now and then.. I wasn`t hunting them on purpose since I had shot southern impala on a previous hunt. But I couldn`t avoid trying a stalk when we saw this one..

Is it common for the southern impala to show this black stain on its forehead, or is it there some “black face impala†blood on this particular one?


B.Martins

I frickin' love impala!

Sorry to not have anything more important to add than that...

They really are great animals!!!

No, the black stain does not mean black faced impala, which is a subspecies with a very limited range in Namibia/Angola. The black blaze on them is VERY dark and their horns generally run smaller (I believe a 22" would be considered very good, perhaps Karl S or other Namibia PH's could chime in?).

E Africans are the longest in horn by far but in RSA, some good trophies come from Northern and Northwestern provinces.

My boss shot a 25" is Pilanesberg and I took one that ran 23 7/8" there too - unfortunately off the truck as lion bait for research purposes!!

That´s a real beauty Anders. My 23,5" from Limpopo looks like a teenager compared to that one

I love hunting impalas in Zimbabwe. One has to usually "thread the needle" through the bush in order to shoot them. This one went 24" in Malangani in Sept 01 and the one on the bottom from the same area this pst June that was actually 1/2" longer but narrower. jorge

quote:

Originally posted by Arild Iversen:
That´s a real beauty Anders. My 23,5" from Limpopo looks like a teenager compared to that one

Thank you Arild!
But it was just a matter of great luck! The herd passed the road in front of the car, and even I could see it was a big ram in it. We stopped, stalked for 10 min and suddenly he appeared out of the bush at 70 yards..

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jorge:




Is that John Sharpe or Berry Bonds?

I thought perhaps Hulk Hogan and MR.Whiffle

My favorite impala hunting area is Humani in the Save River Valley conservancy.The shear number of specimens avalable gaurantees some will live to become monsters.My son and I , bowhunting there in 2002 , would each shoot an impala or warthog from the same blind before calling for a tracker.(Two in the morning and two more each evening)Incredibly good numbers of both species.

I believe the best Impala in SA are found in the North-West Province and Western parts of Limpopo. This 26" Impala was hunted with me near Zeerust in January this year by a fellow AR member.

Mr. Whiffle? Man, I must look into ophthalmology, it sounds exciting! jorge

quote:

Originally posted by ROSCOE:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by jorge:




Is that John Sharpe or Berry Bonds?

I can't tell, but he looks more like the Hulkster - Hulk Hogan!!

I won't be bringing my daughter on this hunt....

That's me with the impala 2 posts up.

I saw the SCI #1 impala at Dries Visser's lodge, taken by Dries Jr. in Limpopo province, RSA.

quote:

Originally posted by 404WJJeffery:
I saw the SCI #1 impala at Dries Visser's lodge, taken by Dries Jr. in Limpopo province, RSA.

Southern impala that is.

For east african impala, one would normally hold until a 26" or more is spotted. and they are a dime a dozen

Dear dogcat,

The best place to get a really big impala at a low price today is Lake Mburo in Uganda. We have been sending many people there for years now and if a new world record impala is to be taken it will come from there. Same species as the Serengetti impala.

We have a client who just returned and who says he missed chance at a 32 incher if you want to talk to him. Speaks English.


VBR,


Ted Gorsline

Hi Ted,
Uganda? I heard a while back that there was movement to re-opne limited hunting but then read it was squashed.

From this I gather it is happening? Since when?
Could you tell us more about areas, etc.

Uganda is an amazing place...if only Museveni would stop hanging about now with his personal vendetta with Koni! [Don't get me wrong, Museveni has been a good force and Koni is a(another religion fueled) butcher who must be sorted out, however, Ugandan mates of mine all believe that Museveni could get him but won't as its an excuse for him to add another term so that he can keep up the hunt for Koni, but enough poltics now! Its almost like east africas version of Bush vs. Hussein in the 1990's!]

Dear Eric,

My wife Astrid was the first to open hunting in Uganda in 2000 or 2001, and was also the first in Burkina Faso about 1988, and will likely be the first in the Congo.

We have been sending safaris to Uganda regulary ever since and have a long list of references.

A company from Austria tried to run some illegal safaris and this created a big stink in the German newspapers and that is likely what you heard but that was not us.

We hunt at Lake Mburo in the south just above the Tanzania border. The reason it is legal is because its all on private land. An Association of 54 ranches around Lake Mburo National Park banded together and comprise the hunting block.

The trophy quality is excellent. The best buffalo so far was 48 inches, we have got potential number 3 and number 6 Uganda Defassa waterbuck and most impala are more than 26 inches.

We have a long list of English speaking references if you want. The skinners are from the old Jonas bros operation based in Kampala 30 years ago and we have had no problems bringing trophies into Europe.

If you want more detailös send me a private e-mail.


VBR,


Ted Gorsline

Ted,

Has this been in connection with Kaka Matama?

Dear ErikD,

Yes.

Ted

Althought this is not statistically any medal size animal {IT IS WELL WORTH NOTING} that ....

Impala species found in ZAMBIA are on average smaller than those found in South Africa


My nephew (AJ) Alan Jnr. - Impala have very nice coloured coats and make VERY beautiful tanned skins

AJ is our (assistant guide / field officer) on the ranches in SA & Zambia along with his brother Shawn.

Cheers

quote:

Originally posted by Balla Balla:
Althought this is not statistically any medal size animal ....

Peter {Worldwide Safari & Investment consultant}

Balla-Balla Safaris - Hunting & Safaris [ South Africa & Zambia ]
Sable-Sands {Leisure} Investments [ South Africa - Zambia - Zimbabwe

Peter

Are you and your family selling up the "shop"?

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Peter
Are you and your family selling up the "shop"?

Hi John

Nice to hear from you again, hope all is going spot on for yourself & family in the Barossa Valley wine country

NO we are (not selling up) the FULL operation ....

BUT YES we are (diversifying the existing portfolio somewhat) to free up some capital and meet the new challenges and investment opportunities that Africa presents for entreprenuers for 2006 and beyond.

To summarise .....

a) WE are talking to the government about selling one of the ranches in SA to BEE for land re-distribution and to meet land claim considerations

b) WE will consider the second ranch in SA for joint venture or special project Managed Shareblock Scheme which is BIG BUSINESS in South africa in particulaer

c) WE are also considering the Zambia Property for (Managed Shareblock) consideration and would consider outright or joint venture sale BUT being the most productive and with largest privately owned herds of cape buff in the world possibly on this ranch it is VERY EXPENSIVE for the average punter, unless they consider Shareblocking.

We are also operating another private wildlife game ranch in Zambia

SO essentially we are (expanding the full operation) to cover not only hunting ranches BUT Wildlife Conservancies and resort property investments as well, hence you notice the NEW Sable-Sands (Leisure) Investments business enterprise

Cheers

OK Peter. Thanks for the reply. So all three properties are being advertised for any of the following: outright sale; JV; shareblocking etc.

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
OK Peter. Thanks for the reply. So all three properties are being advertised for any of the following: outright sale; JV; shareblocking etc.

Hi John

That is ESSENTIALLY correct, we will consider all options ...

WE are looking more towards (Managed Shareblock) BUT we are not looking for bargain hunters/tyre kickers

WE are only considering (serious entreprenuers) with a genuine (Africa Interest) and then only if the price is right would we consider an outright sale.

WE are not interested in those chaps whom have nothing good to say about Africa, as if they want to rather stay home and enjoy their (so called) first world existance we respect that and leave them to their points of view ..

IF all goes to plan, we should be close to having a professional DVD of the DENDR0 PARK ZAMBIA ranch (Shareblock OPTION) available in PAL format towards end of June !! The chaps are scheduled to do the filming around MID JUNE

Regards, Peter

My Apology

I don't know about the impala, but if I ever hunt with John Sharp, I'm never going to pose in the same picture with him unless I hit the weight room and tanning booth before my safari!
He has the physique of a linebacker!

Was the John Sharpe the PH on the hunt where the female hunter flashed and was shown topless on a few hunting websites?
Just curious.

dogcat,

If I remember correctly that was on the Charleton McCallum website.

Jorge-Although I meant no offense,I apologize if offense was taken.I only observed that you bear a resemblance to the actor who played the part of Mr.Whiffle in the Charmin TV commercials.In my part of the country this series of commercials was ongoing for a number of years.The name and face of the actor are burned into my memory from repeated exposure.You bear a physical resemblance and that is all I meant to imply.

Dogcat, Lhook7 is correct. I know the lady. She was out of her mind with embarrassment when Buzz and his staff posted the pics, and she had them immediately removed. Poor taste on both parts: one, in posting them on a professional hunting website, and two, in allowing them to be taken.

Use Enough Gun,
I would have been embarrassed as well if I were her. John Sharp looked like the Hulkster, what a picture!!! My wife would kick my butt if I did that. (not that I would look as muscled up as Sharp).
I hope the lady has recovered herself in all of that. What a mess it was.

+

eyedoc: Offense taken, but then again you have to realize how frail old-aviators-past-their-prime egos' are. And I DO NOT look like that guy! jorge