Just back from hunting Royal Kafue which preceded the AR group hunt in the Bangweulu swamps of Northern Zambia.

What a disaster that was. The whole concept was to take a safari and divide the costs between a few of us, each paying a nominal daily rate. I only had one taker being AR's Faisal, and good to my word I completed the safari under the advertised conditions and prices leaving me out seriously of pocket. However for Faisal it was a windfall and he had the most amazing safari in one of the most surreal places on earth.

The group now consisted of Faisal and I, a comical scout named Morgan who could walk on water and Yorum the room attendant we pinched from the established safari camp. It was to be a winning team.

Faisal is an accomplished hunter and basically all I have ever to do was point him in the right direction. He took over from there and produced the most amazing 400 yard shot off the back of rickety sticks high up in the swaying branches of a towering tree. A tree whose blossom attracted a thousand humming birds swarming like colourful bees around us. The previous enchanted evening we had fly camped on an island of palms and discarded snake skins and watched the swamps light up with the dancing glow of fireflies.

We walked on grasses that sank under foot and would swallow up those that hesitated. It was both brutal and beautiful.

The first morning a large sitatunga bull stepped out of the papyrus but Faisal would not shoot. His comment was that he was here to hunt and experience the swamps and this sitatunga would have denied him that chance. Good bloke Faisal.

His report will come later but here are a few pictures.


Faisal


I, Morgan and 'the room attendant'


Large herd of Lechwe bulls.


Record class Black Lechwe.


Hard won trophy Sitatunga taken at 400 yards.


Bangweulu evening.

Shame you only had one member on that hunt. I know many posted their interest and you have had success on other AR adventures. Let us hope this is the exception rather than the rule! Good hunting Andrew and good for Faisal on his trophies and experience. Sorry you took a loss on that, hard to keep a business afloat going backwards! Much success in the future!

Sorry the hunt didn't turn out well, as far as participants go, but it looks like Faisal had a gd one. Some may think he was crazy for passing on a mature Sitatunga though.

Damn Andrew, sorry to hear this! Though the hunt was sucessful for the one client, I think I'd be prone to put the rest who didn't show on my list of people to avoid in future!
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Sorry that AR's name was involved!
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quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
Damn Andrew, sorry to hear this! Though the hunt was sucessful for the one client, I think I'd be prone to put the rest who didn/t show on my list of people to avoid in future!
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Sorry that AR's name was involved!
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No worries Mac and the advertising should pay dividends.

Andrew,

Fantastic! The Bangweulu is a magic place and will always be one of the most memeorable hunitng experiences of my life.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Andrew,

Fantastic! The Bangweulu is a magic place and will always be one of the most memeorable hunitng experiences of my life.

Mark

Mark,

Thanks and note we took a Top 5 Tsessebe which will be confirmed shortly. Faisal will post the other pics.

Well done Andrew! I'm glad to hear that Faisal had a good hunt.
I regret so much that I missed that opportunity.

Dennis

Andrew-

I'm surprised that you only had one taker on the Bangweulu hunt. As Mark says, it's a magical place and unlike any other african hunting I've done. The pic of the Black Lechwe herd on the flats brought back fond memories; the herds of Lechwe and Tsessebe really have to be seen to be believed.

Nothing wrong with that Sitatunga, by the way.

Cheers,

Did you see any Buffalo on that hunt?

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
Did you see any Buffalo on that hunt?

No mate but Faisal took a nice buff in Royal Kafue.

I thought you has going to have a full hunt. Although time and $ kept me from this hunt, I look forward to the opportunities of another AR swamp hunt. Hope this does not void all future AR hunts! I thank you, Andrew, for giving the AR members this type of hunt in Zambia. Wonderful concept! Good hunting to you!

Andrew outstanding. Faisal congratulations and best wishes to a hunter.

Mike

Faisal is a very good friend, and that is a smoking Sitatunga!

He is known to be a fair chase hunter through and through!

Well done to both of you!

Fantastic results and I'm lookng forward to reading the full report. I hate that I couldn't make this one.

George

Well done to both of you!! I lurve that sitatunga!!!

Massive Sitatunga! Next year...

Hopefully, you won't give up and try again. While I already have hunt plans for next year, the following year is open. Wasn't able to hunt this year cause of shoulder problems but..............

I am confused. I thought the hunt was sold out. Crap!

I am sorry that this turned out to be a financial loss, I sure wanted to be there, but couldn't. It would have been great to share camp with two of my favorite people.

It is never a loss sharing camp with Faisal.
Congrats on some great trophies.

Sounds like a great time, but after almost two years in Viet Nam's swamps, I'm a dry land hunter from now on.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Smith:
I am confused. I thought the hunt was sold out. Crap!

Sorry Mike so did I. Let me know if you are interested in another group hunt and I can offer you first refusal.

Apologies.

Andrew

Andrew,

Is it possible to do a group hunt out of main camp?

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
Andrew,

Is it possible to do a group hunt out of main camp?

PM me.

One day I will make it there!

I do not know if I should say “Great Sitatunga” or “Great Buffalo” or ……Tsessebe … It’s just clear you pulled off another GREAT hunt mate, well done!!!
I have a picture of a V-C .500NE I would like to show you.

Andrew the answer is yes. I will be in touch.
Mike