How was the terrain, camp, and game population?

I was in Chirisa this past September of 2005. The terrain is very rough, which in my opinion, makes it very beautiful and a part of true africa. Expect at least one tire change a day due to the tremendous beating the vehicles must endure while travelling this 300,000 acre concession. There are three camps run by HHK and all have nice views of the Sengwa river bed and beyond. With regards to the Game population, I guess it would depend upon what you were hunting. There were plenty of Elephant and Buffalo, and by asking HHK directly, they could give you a better idea of available animals and the chances of securing your desired Trophy. The area is very remote, and I am sure you will have more than one run-in with poachers due to the lack of proper patrol's. The Game Scout ended up shooting all of the poachers dogs that we came in contact with. They use the dogs to corner the Game. Very unfortunate business.

Bwanahile:

I hunted Chirisa in 1993 (for buff). Mau Mau has exactly described the terrain and the animals. (It has country that in some places makes you think you're looking at a New England meadow and that also has rock formations that will remind you of the US Southwest. It has some plains areas too. It has areas of heavy brush, light tree cover and for me had everything. There were lion, leopard,Cape buffalo and elephant, all kinds of plains game as impala, kudu, zebra and, of course, warthogs. Above all it had elephant. Without hunting them, I was constantly near elephant. The Sengwa river was about 300 yards from our camp and we had a large fixed telescope to watch game crossings. I was there in May and temps were mild.( I slept under a light blanket at night) Mosquitoes I just don't even remember. I also (happily) saw no snakes. Mau Mau is right about changing tires! Happily I was not with a "one truck" outfitter but I recall several tire changes in about 3 weeks or so. hOpe you enjoy Chirisa half as much as I did!

I hunted in Chirisa in September of 2003. It is indeed loaded with game though fighting the poaching efforts of the locals in an issue. We came across quite a few snares and even found a poacher's camp where they had been killing buffalo, cooking the meat, and then hauling it off to sell. The poaching situation, while a problem, did not take away from the spot as being one Zim's best for hunting.
Below are a few pics that should give you a bit of insight into the place.

Here's where we ate at night:



Buffalo watering in the early morning near one of the vital flowing water sources:


Getting ready to track some buffalo after finding spoor crossing the road:



Our hunting vehicle:


Looking out from camp over the dry river. We could see lots of elephants and other creatures crossing here. You could also hear lions there at night.

I stayed at the same camp Spring did in '04. Rough, beautiful country. Lots of elephant, buffalo,really enjoyed it. If I had to return for buff or ele I would do it without a moment's hesitation, good place to hunt.

I hunted there out of this same camp in 2000 and at that time there were quite a few buffalo and elephants. I can't speak to how it is now but it was a great place and while some poaching was present it wasn't out of hand at that time.

I had the good fortune to hunt for Tuskless cow Elephant for three days at Chirisa in oct 04 (after some Buffalo hunting in the Valley) but unfortunatly had no luck there.
We did see many tusked Elephant, Kudu, Eland, Bush Buck, Buffalo etc.
I thought the terrain was quite flat compared with the Zambezi areas, with alot of sand on the east side of the Sengwa river and Black soil on the western side where the tracks are quite bumpy with all the Elephant foot prints.
Also there are no Tsetse flys in this area (fortunately or unfortunately).

I have hunted Charisa twice, once in 02 and again in 03 for tuskless elephants for a total of 30 days. One hunt was in April the second in late November. As said by others lots of eles and buff. Some good bulls taken there in the high 60s. Huntable populations of zebra, bushbuck, kudu, eland, wart hog, hyena, impala and grysbuck. Lord what did I forget? Also a few sable but not the place to go for them. Good area for big lion and leopard. Excellent camp, staff and food. What more could one ask for? Poaching and illegal livestock grazing is a real problem there.

465H&H

Gents,

Thanks for all of the feedback (and the pictures!). Why do you think this area has so much poaching? I will be hunting buff and tuskless in Chirisa this November.

Charisa is completely surrounded by communal lands except for a short stretch that borders Chizarira Park. In the rains much of it west of the Sengwa has unpassable roads. That makes it difficult for the game rangers and PHs to keep an eye on things. In my opinion there is also a lack of equipment and fuel for the rangers and I'm sorry to say maybe a lack of will on their part to agressively enforce the law. Using dogs and hunting buff with a spear is very common by Charisa's neighbors.

465H&H

Bwanahile,
Although Chirisa is a great Safari area, one only needs to find it on "Google earth" to see it is almost surrounded by farmland and as with most of Africas Game areas which have human presence poaching is inevitable.