Gentlemen of AR:

I have sent out requests for information for my 2020 or 2021 hunt in Zimbabwe: buffalo, leopard, hippo, croc, and perhaps some plains game. Prices and information came in from the following areas:

West Nicholson and Gwanda
Matetsi Unit 5
Omay, Ume camp
Binga
Chizarira
Matetsi Unit 1
Mucheni Conservancy and Jujure (Binga)

The highest priced hunt is over 2x the cost of the lowest price hunt. Trophy fees are somewhat consistent (except leopard) but daily rate varies tremendously. Usually one gets what one pays for as for low priced hunts. However, higher priced hunts have had some problems I have read about in various hunt reports. I want good representative animals. I am not looking for an award, circle, or slam, for the biggest. That said, I would rather not shoot than shoot a sub standard animal (yes, I have had PHs encourage me to shoot smaller trophies—even females—for the trophy fee).

So, fellas, my question: for the animals I seek what is your recommendation(s) for the above seven areas? Matetsi has an outstanding reputation. I have read Mucheni has had some high hunting pressure.

My thanks in advance for your replies. I know you will give good advice due to your having “been there, done that” rather than offer unsubstantiated opinions.
Cal

I hunted in Gwanda a bit for plains game late in the season last year.

We saw a lot of leopard sign and my PH said he pulls a lot of big leopard out when he can get quota there.

That being said, at least where I was, no buffalo (not even on quota.) No hippo or croc. The plains game was quite good,- good eland, wildebeest, lots of klipspringer and if you are there the right time of year, the Kudu are spectacular.

That's my only experience with what you listed. Since it was combined with another area, you may be shooting the absent ones there...

Omay's maybe not so great for plains game (it is there) but for everything else that would be my recommendation.

Chizarira is a National Park.....do you mean Chirisa?

Why not Nyakasanga ?


Morten

Does anyone hunt Binga any more? It was finished 10 years ago.

Binga area is still exceptional for hippo and croc.

quote:

Originally posted by ilitshe_zim:
Chizarira is a National Park.....do you mean Chirisa?

adjacent to Chizarira is Muchene Conservancy.

Cal, my advice is to refine your list to one or two key species and work from there to identify an area. As it stands now, you'll have to hunt near the lake or the Zambezi to accomplish your goals, or you could opt to split the hunt between two areas. Buffalo and leopard would be a perfect combo and lots of good areas to choose from. My first choice would be somewhere in the lowveld with a top notch outfitter. If you're set on targeting hippo and croc, then the areas mentioned above along the water are where you'll need to be.

I am doing hippo and croc and double buffalo in the Luwanga this july thru Mark Young, of course the area is well known for daylight leopard. Know not in Zim, and for sure more expensive.

Cal, did you check with Buzz at all?

Like Todd said, the 4 main species you want can all be had with Buzz. That would be my choice. Plainsgame can be spotty if that really matters.

Ume Camp in the Omay is one of my favorite places in the world - where I took my first elephant, love being on the lake and vundu fishing, the hippos are plentiful and the crocs are too plentiful. I've been to Omay twice and Dande twice. While both places have all 4 that's on your list, my experience has been that Omay - due largely to Lake Kariba - is better for hippo and croc. Dande gets the nod for buffalo and leopard.

What's more important, however, is the team you're hunting with. As a collective group, it would be very hard to beat Buzz and Myles and the professionals they've surrounded themselves with. My youngest son took all 4 on your list in Dande. Yes, the croc and hippo are more challenging on the river, but he took hippo, croc and leopard in one safari, along with a sable and kudu. We weren't chasing buff that trip, but on the prior trip he took 2 buff, one being 45" in Dande East, along with a 45lb ele.

I'm convinced you can't go wrong with any PH at CMS. Unless things have changed, however, I'm also convinced you can go wrong in the Omay. On my first safari there, my hunting partner was after tuskless, leopard and buff. He ended the safari with 2 hippo - one cow and one bull (I suspect the cow was a mistake on the PH's part), a cow buff for bait, and some impala. No leopard, no bull buff and no tuskless. Probably pretty hard to pull this off when your PH is an alcoholic.

Finally, CMS has remained on the path of continuous improvement. The staff are professional, the camps continually improve, and their reputation keeps getting better. I can't say the same for the Omay. Between the safaris the same stuff that was broken the first safari was still broken 2 years later, plus more, along with an almost arrogant "I don't give a shit" attitude by the general staff. We stopped there after the first Dande safari for a bull hippo (CMS quota was filled), which we got in short order, but unless I hear of meaningful changes, I won't be back. This is a shame because there are not many camp settings that can compete with Ume Camp ....

Thank you all. The input is priceless and please continue.
Cal

I mirror what Tim and Nhoro say in the comments above.
If you go to Dande with CM at the right time of year, you can get all that your after.
On top of that you will be looked after by one of the best safari outfitters in the business,and will have a top level PH attending to you, and if your are keen on an up close hunt to use your double, the boys love it too!!!
I’ve hunted with the guys many times, have hunted all there concessions in Dande, Dande east, ward 11 etc.
Good wilderness hunting where you earn your trophies.

CM aren’t the cheapest, but you will get a hunt to remember for all the good reasons.

18 days in Sept. would be my pick in Dande with CM for what you want.

Hi

What about Save lots of good solid operators and all species you looking for?

Good luck

The best advice I've heard on choosing where to go is to go where YOU want to go.As far as choosing with whom to go, choose someone who hunts the way you want to and that you get along with.If for whatever reason you are not happy you leave.I might do Chewore next time around or Makuti again.Chewore I am told could involve a lot of walking.That is something I would like.Spending all day in the bush, having lunch there and returning to camp only at night or for at least for some of the days is what I want.Contact Michelle Buchanan or Richard Tabor or Lin Stanton.

Cal, another vote for CMS and their Dande concession. Buzz is a straight shooter and easy to work with.

Last I heard/read, that vocal guy who now "owns" Chete was discounting hunts and his area was positively crawling with buffalo and elephant, hippo and croc. We would all love to see a hunt report from that area.

And speaking of Chete, isn't Omay operated by the infamous Martin Pieters?

Louis Muller,Pro Safaris in Bulawayo. past president of the professional hunters assn. He'll have just what your looking for.

quote:

Pro Safaris

It is run by Norman Crooks Sons(The Cat Man) Norman still Ph's and If I was going after a Cat he is the Man!!! My next hunt will probably be with Norman for Elephant in The Save. I have Norman on WhatsApp if you would like to Contact him.

I would avoid Omay unless you speak with someone who hunted there last year. Omay has suffered from very liberal quotas and I do not know if Buffalo populations have recovered. For everything except plains game I highly recommend Corris Ferreira of Track-A-Hunt Safaris in Gache Gache campfire area tahsafaris@zol.co.zw

Hunted with Myles at CMS last year. Leopard in daylight, Buffalo any day we wanted to see them, a 16 foot plus Croc as well as some nice Hippo. Concur with the others on plains game though we ate impala, and Warthog.

Cal

In My experience you wont go wrong with booking that kind of hunt in chete safari area. I hunted there a lot last year shot our leopard on day 2 after 5 days pre baiting. We got some really good dugga boys too. from what ive seen this year, the area adjacent Chete, Is Sijarira, there's very good cat sign there too.

Regards

Gentlemen:
Thank you again for you valuable information. I have qoutes and prices coming in from several PHs and outfitters/agents. Looks like 2020 will be a wonderful year of hunting.
Cal

Nuanetsi has big leopards

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
Gentlemen:
Thank you again for you valuable information. I have qoutes and prices coming in from several PHs and outfitters/agents. Looks like 2020 will be a wonderful year of hunting.
Cal

Quote sent.

Kind regards
Mike
Mike Taylor Sporting
mtaylorsporting@gmail.com
+44 (0) 7930524097

Received, Mike, and thanks.
Cal

Just back from Matetsi Unit 1 with Gary - great hunt.

I noticed Nuanetsi wasn't on your list. They seem to have a ton of buffalo and lots of plain game. Might have to relocate for the leopard though.

Their price list is a little spendy IMO. I would recommend you contact Lindon Stanton at Mbalabala Safaris or INTOTHEJESSE website to see what he can do for you.

You might wind up saving a ton of money. JMO

BH63

Nuanetsi has big leopards and lots of buffalo and lots plains game. I hunted there with Rex Hoets in 2017 and had a great time.

The problem with picking one over the other is how it was hunted in the last two years..the time of year you hunt, the number of trophies and quality of trophys, the reputation of the PH, its just more than picking one of the concessions because at one time or the other most of the ones you listed have been good or better, but some years better than others...I have determined for the most part that if one can find a concession that's rested for several years, you have struck gold, but that's hard to do these days.