From the observations of a casual observer, tourist hunter, it seems as though Chifuti Safaris is collecting one hell of a lot of the hunting territory in the Zambezi of Zim.

No doubt they will be able to command a higher price as they seem to own a larger than average chunk of the game areas in the Zambezi valley.

Are there no stop measures to keep one company from ruling the majority of game concessions in any one area of Zimbabwe?

I would suspect that he who has the most gold rules and that he who has the best political connections and pays the largest "political" dowry also gets preferential treatment on these concession bids. But it does seem a rather poor idea to have any one entity owning too much of any one area.

Of course this is all very good for Chifuti and of course this is very bad for the consumer.

Comments from Zimbabweans in the know are most sought after. Am I on to something or am I just being an alarmist who should mind my own business and be happy to pay sky rocketing daily fees to hunt areas that offer less than primo trophys?

Zim will very soon be the matching Tanzania when it comes to costs and in some cases already exceeds areas Tanzania.

While I have no problem paying primo prices for primo areas. My personal opinion of the Dande North when I hunted it was that I saw lots and lots of buff. But no trophy heads. Bloody average at best. No big tuskers and very few sable nothing decent at all. A few nice kudu. but overall the trophy quality was average at best.

While it is an outstandingly beautiful area I don't feel that it should command top dollar from a game quality stand point. I don't know about the rest of the Zambezi valley as I've only hunted the Dande North in Zim.

This thread is not mean to trash, belittle, chastize or cast dispersions on anybody. It is simply my observation and your opinions on the matter are most welcome.

Thoughts, comments?

Surestrike - You missed it

Chifuti have one small area of the Zambezi Valley (dande North) to market and hunt. They had an option for the majoritory of the quota in chewore north if Billy Rautenbach had managed to retain his concession (he didn't but...see my post on Chewore North), and If they have clients who are prepared to pay OTT rates they can buy individual camps in Sapi. - In sapi and Nyakasanga, individual bags are auctioned off each year by parks. The way the pricing works, locals have a 200% advantage over local operators (who in turn have a 700% advantage over a visting client who tries to buy a bag at the auction himself).

That leaves Dande South, Chewore South and Rifa out of their hands even if everything had gone their way.

The biggest operator in Zim is HHK with 4 prime concessions. Back in the early '90's it was my friend bill Beford and Ingwe Safaris. Chifuti are trying to grow, but that isn't a bad thing.

Oh And yes, Trophy quality is not what it was ten years ago.

Does this mean that the local guy's check was good (didn't bounce) and Billy is out for sure?

My observation mirrors surestrikes in that Chifuti's prices seem to be pushing the envelope.

Will, this is Africa. A cheque takes five full working days to clear and you are not allowed to write a cheque for more than the Local Equivalent of US$400- an inter bank transfer (RTGS) should be instantanious but can take a week or two- In brief, We will only know if there is a sniff of a problem on monday.

My understanding is that Chifuti and HHK are one and the same or at least owned by the same individuals/company. If that is the case, then Surestrikes comments do have some merit.

John

Ganyana,

Thank you for the information. Apparently I had a misunderstanding of the situation.

Is Chifuti not associated with HHK? I was under the impression that they were. And that is where my reference to a major chunk of the pie was coming from.

While the only true indicator of price is the market itself, I was totally unimpressed with the trophy quality in the Dande North.

I've heard murmurings from various Zim operators that within several years they will be charging Ta prices. I am not at all certain that they have the goods to back up those prices. Not in my opinion anyway.

Once again please do not think that I am trashing on your beautiful country. I very much enjoy hunting the Zambezi Valley. It is a lovely experience overall. If you don't mind shooting average heads. But for the serious trophy seeker (which I am not.) it is defiantly not the prime destination.

Thanks again for your reply.

Shurestrike et al

Chifuti is owned by Andrew Dawson and Paul Smith

HHK is owned by Graham Hingestone and Anthoney Crick

Mazungu Safari's is owned by Charlie and Vincent Davey.

Charley Davey used to be a partner in HHK but is no longer - HHK still market alot of the hunting he has though.

Charlie Davey also Aledgedley bankrolled Chifuti for one year, but isn't a partner, and never was.

Mazungu is a small concern.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Mazungu Safari's is owned by Charlie and Vincent Davey.

Charley Davey used to be a partner in HHK but is no longer - HHK still market alot of the hunting he has though.

Charlie Davey also Aledgedley bankrolled Chifuti for one year, but isn't a partner, and never was.

Mazungu is a small concern.

Isn't Davey setting up a sizable concession in Mozambique?

How many folks, who stumbled upon AR, who at the time couldn't spell Africa, have subsequently hunted there or have booked a hunt?

More competition, higher prices! You only have yourself, and Saeed, to blame.

Nitro- Him among others from Zim. There is so much going on right now with the Moz concessions! Terry Carr was doing a report on his trip but has not posted it yet. It would make a great separate thread if there are any readers here who have direct knowledge of the big move into Moz. I have heard that a poster here, Ken Moody, now either has quota or has possesion of Coutada 10.

quote:

While I have no problem paying primo prices for primo areas. My personal opinion of the Dande North when I hunted it was that I saw lots and lots of buff. But no trophy heads. Bloody average at best. No big tuskers and very few sable nothing decent at all. A few nice kudu. but overall the trophy quality was average at best.

Spot on observation. I've spoken to a few PHs regarding the direction Zim is taking wrt hunting & trophy fees and the concensus was that Zim is going the way of Botswana (read: prohibitely expensive)because the market can bear it. I think Mozambique will become what Zim was in a few years time if the idiots running the country don't dick it up. Pretty soon all that us "regular guys" will be able to hunt in RSA, Namibia and Moz in southern/east africa . Hopefully someday Angola will also open up. jorge