hi,im planning my lion safari in march 2006,plz any tell me which is the best place to go and with which out fitter,thankx

ibexx,

The only place I know of that you can hunt a good lion free range at that time of year is in the areas bordering Kruger park in South Africa. The rest of Africa is just too wet for a viable safari or in the case of Tanzania the season is not even open.

If you don't mind hot and humid a March safari in the Timbavati bordering Kruger park could be very good. This is a tracking hunt exclusively with no baits. No males are taken with prides and only older age class animals are shot. The hunting is so selective and the lions plentiful enough that your chance for a magnificent lion are excellent.

If you would like further details send me a regular e-mail at the address below.

Regards,

Mark

Mark,
If the season on lion is closed right now in Tanzania, I just violated the heck out of it. I do believe the season opened on July 1. Whether there are any hunts available is another question! At the very end of the season there may be some unused quota, but I'd really doubt it. Kudude

quote:

Originally posted by ibexx:
hi,im planning my lion safari in march 2006,plz any tell me which is the best place to go and with which out fitter,thankx

Kudude, I think the question is specific to "March", when countries like Zambia and Tanzania I think are not hunting yet.

In March, perhaps the West Caprivi Strip in Namibia, separating Botswana from Angola (providing the concession is awarded for next year). A German PH by the name of Fritz Reinhard had the concession previously(Kuzikus@iafrica.com.na). I hunted there in April-03, and saw/heard/spoored male lion, and felt at the time that Feb/March would be good. I tried tracking one in October and it was not so good... The odds are likely quite a bit better for a great lion in SA (Timbavati) per Mark's post though.

Maybe too the other areas in East Caprivi (?), check with Keith Atcheson (keith@atcheson.com) or Wendell Reich who both post here and may have some suggestions in regards to Namibia.

Not sure about Botswana?

Not too long ago you used to be able to lion hunt in TZ through the end of February. Not sure about March. For some reason it was not a particularly popular time to hunt for most safari guys, but to hear the tales from the PH's that did hunt then, it sounded incredible. In Feb the zebras, wildebeest, ect are migrating in what seems like the millions. The lions would follow the huge herds and just pick one off as needed. They say it was a truly incredible time to hunt and the magnificent old lions that could be found was astounding. Ahh, for the good ole days!

Spring,
Dec, Jan. and Feb. are extremely hot and you may sit in camp the whole hunt while it rains cats and dogs and the mud and running draws (Korongos) are running and you can't get around very well if at all...but your right the migagration is awesome to behold..We don't hunt beyond Nov. 15 for that reason, with a few exceptions..

thankx for good info regards

Steve,

Easy! The gentleman was asking specifically about March.

Bill

I'm famiiiar with the gentleman that thinks he will pick up the Western Caprivi. It must takes years to get to know an area like that at 5,000,000 acres. Who knows what little pockets of what might be in there.

Regards,

Mark

If you are set on a black mane and nose I suggest you book about 5 hunts starting in about 2 years. Lion hunts are expensive and usually booked well in advance. Black manes and noses are rare. Unless you're extremely lucky I think you're going to be out about 250,000 by the time you find one. every guy who goes to africa wants to bag the MGM lion, but so far he's still at the studio. Yes it happens, but rarely.

Funny how every one talks about the MGM lion. Last evening I pulled down a DVD with the original Mag 7 with Yule Brenner produced by MGM and the lion doesn't have a hugh mane.

You could try Brad Rolston, another AR member of ours. He too hunts free ranging lion bordering the Kruger. His e-mail is rolston585ae@iafrica.com . I took a very nice Lion with him about 7 weeks ago. Good luck and happy hunting.

A good Taxidermist can get you both with an air brush.

LOL