Congratulations Jim & Joyce... good stuff!!!

... have a great second half!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
Congratulations Jim!! Now it's Joyce's turn...

Joyce was in on every moment of the Ele hunt except two afternoons. She picked the right ones to take off. One was the hottest sunny afternoon and the other was in the very thick Jesse behind the villages that made me think Buzz had us after Bongo in the Congo. Major thick stuff.

When the Elephant got shot on day 11 a young Bull with the one I shot passed Joyce at about ten feet and she didn't move.

Buzz was telling her later that was a bit too close.

Joyce responded, "Earlier you told me that motion attracted them so I just stood still".

Nerves of STEEL!!!!! Great job to you both!!!

Excellent! Waiting for more pics and the complete report.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Teaser!!

Happy for ya guys!!!!

Just beautiful!! Congratulations!!

On my way to Mozambique for a few days but had to say what a PLEASURE it was to hunt with Jim and Joyce!!! Wishing them continued success for thier leopards !

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
On my way to Mozambique for a few days but had to say what a PLEASURE it was to hunt with Jim and Joyce!!! Wishing them continued success for thier leopards !

Buzz,

You run a great outfit, have outstanding dedicated staff, a large wild area to hunt, and appear to really enjoy hunting and sharing your time with others who enjoy the outdoors and hunting.

Have a great few days with Steph and the girls in Mozambique and don't eat too many Prawns.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Nice bull! Congrats!

quote:

Originally posted by airgun1:


Nerves of STEEL!!!!!

Beating cancer probably makes charging elephant seem like no big deal. Good for her!

Fantastic!! So glad it worked out, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd of told you it would.......all the best in Moz

quote:

Originally posted by Thierry Labat:
Fantastic!! So glad it worked out, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd of told you it would.......all the best in Moz

Thanks Thierry! Sorry we didn't have time to get together while in Harare. Heading to Vic Falls in the morning for a few days then on to Moz.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Thierry Labat:
Fantastic!! So glad it worked out, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd of told you it would.......all the best in Moz

Heading to Vic Falls in the morning for a few days then on to Moz.

Say Hi to Belinda for us. We are following your lead there.

Great bull too. Congrats all around.

Simply awesome.

You two kids mustn't have too much fun now
Enjoy every minute, looking forward to hearing it all soon

Sitting on the Stanley Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel sipping a Cognac and smoking a Montecristo.

The place was built in 1904 and like my double from 1902....I wish it could tell me of the tales it has seen.

Cheers
Jim

Jim,

Give a fellow cancer survivor a big kiss for me and tell her that I am very proud of her.

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
Jim,

Give a fellow cancer survivor a big kiss for me and tell her that I am very proud of her.

465H&H

Will do!! Thank you.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Sitting on the Stanley Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel sipping a Cognac and smoking a Montecristo. ...

"... Life Be Good ..."

We are right there with you! Have fun!

Went on an Elephant back ride this morning. The Elephants, when we first greeted them with "pets" kept sniffing Joyce's Elephant Hair Bracelet.

The ride was actually interesting but I keep dreaming of hunting Tigers from one.

There was one fairly large Bull in the group as well. I asked what they do when he goes into Musth and they said separate him because "he becomes quite naughty".

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Sitting on the Stanley Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel sipping a Cognac and smoking a Montecristo.

The place was built in 1904 and like my double from 1902....I wish it could tell me of the tales it has seen.

Cheers
Jim

I fly into Vic Falls on May the 8th...leave some fun for me!

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Sitting on the Stanley Terrace at the Victoria Falls Hotel sipping a Cognac and smoking a Montecristo.

The place was built in 1904 and like my double from 1902....I wish it could tell me of the tales it has seen.

Cheers
Jim

I fly into Vic Falls on May the 8th...leave some fun for me!

Just got back from walking to the falls. The relentless hawkers were a PIA but hey, they had to try and sell their stuff.

You will get soaked at the falls. The water volume is beyond imagination this time of year. Also saw a toad of a Bushbuck in the Jesse on the way to the falls.

Heading to high tea in an hour and then dinner on the cliff at the Gorges Restaurant.

Cheers
J&J

We closed out our activities last night with a private dinner cruise on the Mighty Zambezi enjoying another unparalleled African sunset.







Now at African Sky in Jo-Berg. SAA lost two pieces of luggage but the tuffpak and checked bag with ammo is with us.

Off to Pemba in the morning. Hopefully SAA will get the two bags to Pemba before we head for the bush.

Cheers
Jim

Awesome trip and loving the pics and updates! Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

.............

When the Elephant got shot on day 11 a young Bull with the one I shot passed Joyce at about ten feet and she didn't move.

Buzz was telling her later that was a bit too close.

Joyce responded, "Earlier you told me that motion attracted them so I just stood still".

She was well prepared with a lion sniffing a blind. Great job Joyce.

Congratulations Jim.

my fiancee and i will spend 4 days in VF after my elephant hunt in the Caprivi next month. when i showed her the pictures above she made me promise we would do the cruise, elephant-back trek and helicopter ride. i tried to talk her into the bungi jump with me but no go. i am REALLY GLAD you guys are having a great time- you deserve it!!

What a great hunt and adventure so far for a couple of great people...
Many of us are jealous people right now !
You will no doubt carry this success with you to your double leopard hunt!

quote:

originally posted by jdollar:
my fiancee

wtf?

I received a text from Jim this AM:

"In Pemba with rifles and one bag no ammo. Heading into Niassa at 4am. Hopefully two missing bags arrive in Pemba Wednesday and will be driven to camp otherwise we use a camp gun."

Brett

At the ridiculously plush Lugenda Photo Safari Camp right now with wifi. There's a scoped .375 H&H available if need be. Lucinda hunting camp is two hours away. They had a kitchen fire recently and are quickly rebuilding so we may hunt out of here for a bit.

Plan is to wait for the ammo and in the mean time look for bait (Zebra or Wildebeest) and not waste .375 ammo on Baboons. If we stumble on an Eland for the pot it's going down this early in the hunt.

Really enjoying Derek & Paula's company. This will be a great time for sure. Bull elephant 15 yards from the campfire last night. He snuck in to eat the figs the monkeys are knocking out of the trees all day.

I was smoking a cigar earlier and a fig at terminal velocity, dropped from the tree by a monkey, hit the dang cigar and broke it while it was in my mouth.

Great aim!!
Cheers
Jim

Glad for you both. My prayer are still with you. Hope you both get your leopards. Great elephant.

Yes the Victoria hotel is a classic. Reminded me so much of the old clubs in the Tea Planting districts of India where I worked in the 80s.

Look forward to reading the hunt report.

Say hello to Derek and Paula for me. Joyce should love the bathtub. Don't let that camp spoil you.

Jim & Joyce;

Make the best if it at Lugenda!

Can't wait for the report on the rest of your adventure! If no ammo arrives I believe you two could get your leopards with spears! Go get 'em!

Regards, Darin

No word on the luggage yet but we didn't expect any information until later today or tomorrow. Took the loaner rifle out for a test drive. Actually turned out to be a CZ in .416 Rigby.

A new scope was put on it and we had to zero it. I own one but hadn't fired it for a while and forget the feel of the recoil. Took about five shots to get the scope doped.

Joyce then told Derek she wanted to shoot it off sticks. He looked surprised when her reason was she hadn't shot one before.

She handled it well hitting the center of the bull. She decided she could handle the recoil but admitted she wouldn't want to shoot it all day.

Derek had a message in camp when we returned that some 7 x 57 ammo was found with a local so we will pick that up and see how Joyce's Ruger likes it.

Sounds like we will have some options.

John, You are correct about this camp. We did wade across the Lucinda River and went to the camp there. It is also very nice. We will likely move in the next two days or so.

Our 14 day hunt actually has close to 20 days if you add it all up so we are not in a fevered pace and are taking the time to enjoy the surroundings.

This is one beautiful and totally wild part of Africa.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by TNJohn:
Say hello to Derek and Paula for me. Joyce should love the bathtub. Don't let that camp spoil you.

John,

I read your post to Joyce and she said, "Tell John that Joyce enjoys being spoiled".

I guess I need to put up my hunt report from last fall and pictures of the camp and the hills. Garth had sent some pictures of the bush recently and it is quite different from the dead of winter.

Derek has taken cats as close as 8 yards so a spear might not be out of the question.

So glad that wonderful people like yourselves have been able to enjoy the company of other wonderful people and places along the way. Next time you go I want to tag along!

quote:

Originally posted by TNJohn:
I guess I need to put up my hunt report from last fall and pictures of the camp and the hills. Garth had sent some pictures of the bush recently and it is quite different from the dead of winter.

Derek has taken cats as close as 8 yards so a spear might not be out of the question.

So glad that wonderful people like yourselves have been able to enjoy the company of other wonderful people and places along the way. Next time you go I want to tag along!

John,

This is a special place as you know. You are here in spirit!! I still feel bad about Derek missing Dave's wedding because of us. Please let Chooks know we are well and send our kindest regards to her and David for their special day.

Cheers
Jim

Used the camp .416 Rigby to take two Impala for bait today. Moving to camp across the river tomorrow and hanging baits. Lost luggage with ammo came to Pemba on Wednesday and will be delivered to camp tomorrow night. Also had someone contribute a box of 7 x 57 ammo in case the luggage didn't make it.

This area is as wild as it gets. We love it!!

Won't have internet after the move tomorrow.

Good luck!