I have never considered myself the "lucky type", but there is one area where more that a couple of men are fairly jealous of me - my wife just loves Africa! We have been on Safari twice now, Zim. in 1998 and recently returned from Namibia. My wife and I would like to give Africa one last hoorah before we settle into retirement. Our thoughts are for a trip in 2003. My number one goal would be to bag a lion. I have shot a buffalo, but would like to hunt them again, as the first was so exciting, but the lion would be number one. I would be looking at a 1X1 hunt with my wife as an observer. She is NOT a "sit in camp" observer. I will be 56 and she 55. We have been doing the Alaska big game scene for decades, so both of us are use to roughing it. Where would you go to bag a nice representative lion? How many days should we count on -(Legally and realistically)? Since we've already been to Zim and Namibia, we would like to look at another country.

South Africa lions are basically "canned" hunts.....Botswana is closed to lion....Zimbabwe is in the "crapper" so where can you go.....(1) Zambia if it re-opens might be your best bet unless you want to (2)spend 21 days in Tanzania and (3) I don't know much about Mozambique except it has a lot of land mines and floods every year but they do have buff and lion.

Juneau, I believe Zambia will be open again next year, and the Luangwa has a lot of lion, and Leopard, especially in the UPPER LUPANDE, along the LUANGWA RIVER. There are also very large herds of Buffalo, and as of now you only have to book 14 days to take lion, or leopard! Though I would book 21 to give myself a chance at a GOOD lion. There are two or three species there that are not available any place else. The Cookson's Wildebeast, and Puku are two. There is a prity good population of Eland as well. Lots of Hippo, and they make very good lion bait, as do the other plains game, and Buffalo!

Most of the camps I've hunted out of have thatched huts, with toilet, and shower in them. Weather in last week of June, and all of July is mild in the day time, and even cold at night. This concession is bordered by the South Luangwa Natl Park, just a few miles out of the little village of Mfuwe! Mfuwe is where you will fly into for pick up for this consession! The name of that village is pronounced:

The letter "M"- FOO- wee

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

I've heard that Botswana will re-open lion next year, but who knows! If they do I would book there immediately and do a tracking hunt. Much more exciting and Botswana has absolutely the best lions, plus they have lots of buffalo.
If Zambia re-opens it would be a good place as well.
Tanzania is the best overall, IMO. Do 21 days and you get three buffalo, lion and leopard, plus a huge assortment of plains game.
None of these hunts are cheap, but the experience is unmatched anywhere else these days.

And just because some area has lion doesn't mean much. You need to go where there are lots of lions, which equates to lots of money. Big surprise.

At this moment in time, Tanzania would be the top choice.
George

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MacD37: There are two or three species there that are not available any place else. The Cookson's Wildebeast, and Puku are two.
Hi MacD37,
When I was in Tanzania in the Kilombero area there was a good population of Puku but they were only available on a 21 day hunt. I didn't realize this until my friend Rodger, that used to lived Zambia, was so surprised to see them on my video. The PH said they were trying to get the local district to make them available on 14 day hunts. Just a point of interest. 470 Mbogo

Don't overlook the Nyasaland Wildebeest of Tanzania, beautiful and nearly purple..Another point of interest is the Zebra have no shadow line and are pure black and pure white...

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies. One thing that interests me, is that Mozambique is seldom mentioned on this forum (or any other forum for that matter). Why is that? I was looking around the web the other day and found a couple of sites for big game hunting in that country (much fewer outfitters than the other countries we talk about). The one site had some pictures of some pretty nice lion (of course what outfitter isn't going to show pictures of the best?!). A couple of things were interesting. The daily rates seem to be a little lower than say Tanzania and certainly Botswana, and the minimum days for lion is 16 rather than the 21 which seems to be prevalant in other good lion countries. The question being, is Mozambique a GOOD place for a lion? My other question for those of you who have gone and done, is how many days would you book for lion to help assure a modicum of success? Keep in mind that I'm only interested in lion (a buffalo if the opportunity presents itself). I won't be spending any time pursing all the different types of plains game. I would appreciate your thoughts on these subjects.

Most of what I hear about Mozambique is centered around their buffalo hunting, which is supposedly quite good. What they have in the way of lions I don't know. I do know that logistics there aren't great, and much of the once good road system is completely gone. Outfitters there really earn their money!
If I were after a big lion and nothing else, i would either wait until Botswana opens again or just go to tanzania now. They have more lion there than anywhere else, but I'd want 21 days regardless of the regulations. A good lion usually takes time, and lots of bait so plan on shooting some buffalo.