With the recent concession shake-up, who would you book a hunt with if you were looking for a big buff. Say, 42 or wider.

Rungwa or Luke Samaras Safaris in Masailand or SSG Safaris at Malapati in Zimbabwe.

Rungwa Safaris has Lokisale and Lobo I believe. That might not be bad as would perhaps one of the Maswa blocks. Perhaps fuji, Mich, or one of the other TZ people will chime in.

Brett

Samaras has lost his SGC area which has been sub-leased by Adam Clemence.
So where South and East of Tarangire are concerned, chances of 42+ are quite realistic and if you are lucky, 45+ is not uncommon either.

Out of my price range but you might also want to look at the Timbavati, or Klaserie in South Africa...they pull some monsters out of there too...

Ed

Very impressed with Adam Clements. Would arrange through him in a heart beat.

Provided, however, that the closure of hunting in January, February, and March takes away some of the best time to hunt these buffalo. We were to hunt Lokisale with Harpreet next Feb/March but cancelled due our chosen time slot not being available.

One of my hunting buddies shot a 45 and a true 50 in Lokisale some years back. He was there in December and the rains arrived. One day no buffalo, the next day, thousands of buffalo.

My consolation hunt will be in Malapati and I believe I have a chance at two comparable buff there for one half of the cost.

Rungwa/Harpreet Brar has Lokisale and Loibor Serrit now. Harpreet does a good job.

I shot a 45,and a pair of 44's out of there in 2011. At the time, Harpreet was running the concession, but I had booked with Adam Clements and hunted with his people. As Will says, the timing of the rains makes a big difference in these areas. I had booked before they allowed January- March hunting in Masailand, so I was there in December, and just missed the Wildebeest migration.

I was told by the PH's that Lobo is probably better for buffalo during the early part of the season, but that it is much harder to hunt and the plains game is not quite as good as Lokisale. Lion were better at Lokisale historically.

There are quite a few local hunters on the adjoining Masai Open Area, but that should not affect you - you do get to hunt there, and that provides some quota availability though.

Adam has the old Samaras block just south (I think) of Lokisale, which would be pretty much the same as Lokisale as far as what is there.

I have also been told that the Maswa block off the Serengeti that Adam has rights to now is excellent as well. I hope to get there as well one of these days.

I have my old hunt report on here somewhere from then, if you want to look at it.

Simon Rodger..Safaris De Mozambique takes some dandies every year..look on his facebook page under the same name that is maintained by Simon's son..they just posted some buff pics from the 2012 season.

I'll second on Simon Rodgers. Harpreet must be very busy because he didn't even bother to answer my emails asking about a buffalo hunt booking.

Who would answer an email from someone named Pagosawingnut??? :-)

I have hunted with Harpreet twice. No doubt he has great areas in both Lokislale and Lobo.
For a really big buffalo you may also consider Johan Herman Safaris.
He hunts the Letaba Ranch and Mithimkulu that borders Kruger.
I took a 47" and 48.5" with Johan and can highly recommend his outfit.
Www.johanhermansafaris.com. Check out the bulls that he takes.
Best
Steve

Sorry : misspelt
Www.johanhermannsafaris.com

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Who would answer an email from someone named Pagosawingnut??? :-)

Only another nutsawingpagos

quote:

For a really big buffalo you may also consider Johan Herman Safaris.
He hunts the Letaba Ranch and Mithimkulu that borders Kruger.
I took a 47" and 48.5" with Johan and can highly recommend his outfit.
Www.johanhermannsafaris.com. Check out the bulls that he takes.

I'll sceond this one totally! I am headed baack next month for another of those monsters and an Elephant.

My Buff last year was 43.5 inches and an old boy.

Johan is a great guy to hunt with.


.

Thanks guys. Really looking at just Masialand at this point as I want to include the northern Tanz. plainsgame to the shopping list.

If Luke still had Simanjiro I wouldn't be looking.

Simanjiro; probably the best place I've ever hunted; and while hopefully not, maybe the best place I ever will.

I was refrenced to use Johan Herman at DSC by Johnny Viefer. I met with him and one of his return clients and wife that are going back some time soon. He showed pics of the buff he has already taken and I was very impressed to say the least. Im still looking at either going with him before my may leopard hunt or after my September ele hunt. Im not sure yet but I do feel confident he can hook me up with a big buffalo. I have yet to take a buffalo. Ive tried on a few safaris to take a buffalo but I have yet to find one I am impressed with. Hopefully Johan can show me my buff. He is also have the price of those timbivati buff so I think I will give him a shot before I go to the timbivati.

It's too bad that Luke is out of Simanjiro after 30 years or so. Hadn't heard that.

Hunted with Luke's outfit there in both 2007 & 2009 with great results. Interesting to hear that Adam is now sub-leasing there because he and his photo guide (who I was with before I hunted with Luke in '07) couldn't say enough bad things about the Samaras' concession back then.

I have the same opinion as lavaca.

Johan Hermann would be a great option for a huge buff. I killed a 45" and a 44" with him a couple of years ago. I have hunted with him three times and have seen a ton of buff over 40" every time I was there. He's also a great guy. No one should worry about trophy quality of his buffalo.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

For a really big buffalo you may also consider Johan Herman Safaris.
He hunts the Letaba Ranch and Mithimkulu that borders Kruger.
I took a 47" and 48.5" with Johan and can highly recommend his outfit.
Www.johanhermannsafaris.com. Check out the bulls that he takes.

I'll sceond this one totally! I am headed baack next month for another of those monsters and an Elephant.

My Buff last year was 43.5 inches and an old boy.

Johan is a great guy to hunt with.


.

Could you give us a report when you get back?

Good Luck!

I have taken big buff at Lobo, Lokisale, and Lukes area hunting with Gerard Miller. Sometimes wet, sometimes dry. As always your PH is going to be a huge factor in your success even in a Buff rich area like masailand in the wet season.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Provided, however, that the closure of hunting in January, February, and March takes away some of the best time to hunt these buffalo. We were to hunt Lokisale with Harpreet next Feb/March but cancelled due our chosen time slot not being available.

One of my hunting buddies shot a 45 and a true 50 in Lokisale some years back. He was there in December and the rains arrived. One day no buffalo, the next day, thousands of buffalo.

My consolation hunt will be in Malapati and I believe I have a chance at two comparable buff there for one half of the cost.

Will when you going to Malapati? I am going next year

quote:

Originally posted by jeff h:

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Provided, however, that the closure of hunting in January, February, and March takes away some of the best time to hunt these buffalo. We were to hunt Lokisale with Harpreet next Feb/March but cancelled due our chosen time slot not being available.

One of my hunting buddies shot a 45 and a true 50 in Lokisale some years back. He was there in December and the rains arrived. One day no buffalo, the next day, thousands of buffalo.

My consolation hunt will be in Malapati and I believe I have a chance at two comparable buff there for one half of the cost.

Will when you going to Malapati? I am going next year

End of October.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Who would answer an email from someone named Pagosawingnut??? :-)

Probably anybody that would answer an email from somebody named "biebs". Would you prefer I change my name to Big, Mean, Ugly Mutha?

quote:

Would you prefer I change my name to Big, Mean, Ugly Mutha?

Actually that would be a pretty cool NIC---

quote:

Originally posted by REMN JR:
It's too bad that Luke is out of Simanjiro after 30 years or so. Hadn't heard that.

Hunted with Luke's outfit there in both 2007 & 2009 with great results. Interesting to hear that Adam is now sub-leasing there because he and his photo guide (who I was with before I hunted with Luke in '07) couldn't say enough bad things about the Samaras' concession back then.

Funny how those thing work, my advice is not to hunt with anyone who has bad things to say about his competitors. PH's used to be gentlemen. not a guy out to make a buck

quote:

Originally posted by REMN JR:
It's too bad that Luke is out of Simanjiro after 30 years or so. Hadn't heard that.

Hunted with Luke's outfit there in both 2007 & 2009 with great results. Interesting to hear that Adam is now sub-leasing there because he and his photo guide (who I was with before I hunted with Luke in '07) couldn't say enough bad things about the Samaras' concession back then.

I did a lot of business with Luke in Masailand. It's truly a shame how this all turned out. These Jan-March hunts are the last hunts they will do there. I have the last hunter of the season booked there. He hunted a 21-day 2 years ago and took a 72lb Elephant and a huge Leopard not to mention huge buff and all th e plainsgame.

Yep, those blocks really suck don't they? Maybe they made a drastic change just recently?

Mike:

That's better - you had me wondering

Professional Hunter
GM Danny McCallum Safaris
Executive Officer APHA

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:

quote:

Originally posted by REMN JR:
It's too bad that Luke is out of Simanjiro after 30 years or so. Hadn't heard that.

Hunted with Luke's outfit there in both 2007 & 2009 with great results. Interesting to hear that Adam is now sub-leasing there because he and his photo guide (who I was with before I hunted with Luke in '07) couldn't say enough bad things about the Samaras' concession back then.

I did a lot of business with Luke in Masailand. It's truly a shame how this all turned out. These Jan-March hunts are the last hunts they will do there. I have the last hunter of the season booked there. He hunted a 21-day 2 years ago and took a 72lb Elephant and a huge Leopard not to mention huge buff and all th e plainsgame.

Yep, those blocks really suck don't they? Maybe they made a drastic change just recently?

I'm sure months of good management is responsible for the drastic improvement.