Tanzania Hunt 2007
Hunt Day 1 July 30 th.

I went to airport on the hope that my missing luggage would arrive as the emirates staff had no idea if it was on the flight. Either way I was going to fly to camp and get the hunt going. Waited in baggage carrousel area and my bags were last off plane. Cleared customs and check serial numbers, and paid the "ammunition import tax". No problems. Drove to charter office. The baggage handler put my luggage on ground beside the building. He went to get luggage trolley as there were several items being flown to camp. While we were waiting a pickup came along and promptly drove onto my tuff pack. Luckily, he drove onto the opposite end of where rifles were and they were undamaged. Flew out from Dar and arrived at airstrip and drove to camp. We arrived at camp just as night came so I had no time to sight in rifles.

July 31 MK1
Started out from camp early and as soon as light was good we found a suitable tree. Set up a target and while waiting I told Pierre to let the guys know that I would give them $1 for each 375 brass and $5 for each 505 Gibbs brass as I did not want to loss any 505 Gibbs brass. This little incentive would soon lead to more fun and games than the cost and I highly suggest it. Went for a drive and saw a nice herd of impalas and a decent bull but could not get a shot at him. Continued on and ran into a herd of about 20-25 impala rams who were sparring and rutting. Pierre and I stalked to the edge of a burnt area about 200 yds from bucks. Glassed several nice bulls and finally found one. I waited on the sticks for about 10 mins trying to get a clear shot. I was finally able to take the buck at @ 175 yds face on. We took the impala back to camp.


Saw several wildebeest cows, a herd of 3 eland cows with a young bull. Mongoose rabbits and squirrels. In the afternoon we went to a new area and came across a nice blue wildebeest. The first shot was again face on and the bull dropped. When I ejected the shell Twiga had ran around truck and caught shell as it hit the ground. Pierre and I burst out laughing at Twiga as he was now presenting the shell for us to see that he had caught it. I pointed at the wildebeest as it was now up and running away into the brush. We tracked him about 50 yards and he was stopped in a small scrub brush. I shot again and he was down. We had a laugh as Twiga now had 2 shells and was so proud showing everyone of his prowess at retrieving spent brass.


Aug 1st
We left camp early and drove to Gonabesi. We saw where a German had shot an elephant a couple of days before. Went to the Gonzales camp and decided that we would try for a nice zebra since they had a few crocs coming to baits upstream from camp. This began what I shall forever call the “Great circle hunt†ïŠ
We saw some zebra females and a couple of nice stallion about a ½ hr from camp, and started off on foot in the tall grass. After about an hour we had gotten around the herd and down wind of them. I went on the sticks and just as the stallion started to run off, I shot and hit him in the front leg. This began the running and shooting and Pierre laughing as I managed to shoot a total of six times and finally put him down. Pierre in his ever dry humor stated that “it was a very nice zebra until I managed to put so bloody many holes in him.†We then sent the tracker for the truck and found out that we were on 50 yds from the trail and the truck was only another couple hundred yards away. We had managed to walk for a couple of hours in the tall grass in a great big circle. Went back to the Gonabesi camp and they thought we may have shot an elephant as there were so many shots but alas only a lonely zebra.


Aug 2nd
Left camp early and just as we were getting close to the “train station†I managed to shoot a nice warthog.

We took him back to camp and headed out again. We met up with Willy de Bloom (sp) who was also hunting in MKI with a client. A real character if I have ever met one. He only hunts in shorts and running shoes and carries a “well used†577 NE.
We managed to see some huge herds of giraffe and zebra and late in the morning came across 3 eland bulls. After a short walk I was up on the sticks and just before Pierre had given me the go ahead on which one to shoot, a giraffe in the bush spotted us and took off running, along with ever thing else around. Clinton’s tracker Mohammed let out an “f%$#* giraffe†in pure clean English and we all broke out laughing.
We headed over to Gonabesi and saw a nice cow elephant with a young calf and teen cow but no bulls.
Aug 3rd
Returned to Gonabesi and saw the same three elephant. We set the front half of the zebra for croc bait and went looking for elephant for 3 hrs. Returned to the croc blind and several crocs were working the bait. We were in the blind for about 2 hrs but the croc we wanted was hanging back and there was no shot. Finally he ate some of the bait and then crawled up on the bank to have a little nap in the afternoon sun. Pierre and I had to seek downriver and crawl on our stomachs to the edge of the bank to get a shot. Pierre had me use a shoe as a front rest and then laid across my legs to steady me for the shot. I was amazed at how much this really worked. 1 shot and the croc didn’t even flinch.


Aug 4th
Started out in morning and came across buffalo tracks and went on a 3 hr walk/stalk. Just after we left the truck we came across an elephant that had died from a poacher’s snare.



Managed to get among the buffalo herd 3 different times but there were no big bulls in the herd. Ended the chase and retried the tusks for the game department.
In the afternoon I managed to shoot a nice impala bull.

Aug 5th

MKI. Came across some Eland and off we went. After ½ hr we saw that it was a herd of cows with a small bull. Came across a herd of buffalo and continued on for 3 hrs. Got up close to a cow where I could have slapped her arse but unable to see any decent bulls. We took lunch in the Photographic area and decided to try Gonebesi in the late afternoon.
Crossed the river to Gonabesi and saw a very promising elephant track on the riverbank. Went another 50 yds into the jungle and came head to head with a very aggravated cow elephant with 2 teenage calves. She mock charged 2 times and then held her ground for @ 30 mins. Finally she and her caves moved off. Drove about another 100 yds and found 3 bulls. Walked in on them and checked them out and they were small bulls. Walked some more and Twiga all of a sudden jumped back about 5 ft. He had almost stepped on a small 5 ft croc in the underbrush. Pierre and Clinton caught it and we checked it out of a few minutes before letting it go. We headed back to the truck and when we got to the truck we spotted some more elephant. Off we went again and within 30 seconds. Pierre turned to me with a big smile and thumbs up. This was the bull elephant we were looking for. He was in the middle of a herd of about 20 cows and calves and had 4 satellite bulls. We worked our way ahead of him and got into position. He was feeding towards us. Just before he had come to the point where I was going to shoot him, one of the satellite bulls had winded us and he turned to run. I shot him on a quartering away heart shot and he stumbled and the bush was alive with the whole herd running and trumpeting. I had a strange thought that I had just taken the single most expensive shot in my life. He was hit well and we all started shooting to break the leg or pelvis. He went down and then got up and went through a small stream. Pierre and Clinton went to the left of a palm tree to cut him off and I and the trackers went right of the palm. Pierre shot him in the neck and he went down again and as he was getting up I fired another shot into his pelvis. He went another 20 yds and around a corner. As we came around the corner there he was turned around. Pierre fired from the hip and dropped him and I fired the final shot that finished the saga. In total we had fired 13 shots and I had my elephant. Pierre then commented that that was his 16th elephant and the first with his son Clinton. We didn’t have long since it was about 15 mins to sunset, so we took some pictures and removed the head.



We removed the head and loaded it in the land cruiser and headed back to camp and had a great Kabubi.

Aug 6th
We left camp a little later in the morning and headed back to the elephant. Just after we crossed the river we came upon 2 dugga boys but were not able to get a shot at them and continued on to the elephant. There were elephant tracks all around the elephant. The herd had come in the night to say goodbye. I was a little sad but as Pierre said. It is better that I have his tusks and memories of the hunt rather than some poacher. We headed into the village to get some supplies and a chicken who I named Moses in honor of Pierre’s chef. We let the villagers know the location of the elephant so they could get the meat and a small party was organized for the task. On our way back it was decided that the tusks would have to be cut from the skull as we were due to leave in another week and they would not rot out in time.

Aug 7 th
Pierre stayed in camp to organize the removal of the tusks from the skull. Clinton I and I went hunting. We crossed some fresh buffalo tracks and the chase was on. After an hour or so we came across the herd and there was not a suitable bull to be had so back to the truck. The night before I had taken a sleeping pill as I was feeling very wound up. At about 11:30 am it took effect and I fell asleep while standing in the truck as it was driving. I will never again take a sleeping pill as it lingers too long in my system. After I woke up, which was a couple of hours, we again continued hunting. We came upon a very nice Kudu bull that I shot. When we were loading him, I came up with a plan to have a little fun with Pierre.

We went to the skinning shed directly on arrival to camp and had the game scout tell him that I had shot a Kudu cow and she was going to have to report us and all our hunting was finished. We even got the trackers to come over and apologize to Pierre and act sad about the mistake. When Clinton and I came over to the dining hall Pierre was in a rather foul mood. He said “he couldn’t trust us little buggers to do anything right. Well we might as well have a beer before we tried to sort this mess out.â€

While we were having our beer, Pierre asked us to tell the story of how it happened.
I began that we saw a bull Kudu with 4 cows in the bush. I was on the sticks and Clinton was trying to direct me to which one was the bull. I asked him if it was the one on the left and he responded “don’t shoot the one on the left†but I heard “shoot the one on the left†and so I did. Pierre then asked if the bull was at least a good one. We both started smiling and said†yes would you like to see it?â€
To which Pierre jumped up and said something about our collective heritage and how he couldn’t let us out of his sight for even a minute. ïŠ


Aug 8th
We left camp in the morning and drove a little ways when a few bushpig came running up to the truck. I shot the boar and now have 2 bushpigs to my credit.

In the afternoon we again went out hunting. About 3 miles from camp we came across a really nice warthog. Clinton and I went off after him but after a few minutes he took off. We went back to the truck and drove a little farther when he reappeared.

Aug 9th

Drove with the tusk to the Matambwe Game station and registered the tusks and deposited the tusks we had found also. For those of you that haven’t seen it done, they use metal stamps and hammer in a serial number on the side of the tusks.

At the game reserve they have a tame mother warthog with piglets.


Aug 10th
Left camp in the morning and finally got a shot at the waterbuck that had been evading us for several days. I had to put the butt of my rifle against my collarbone to take the shot and the pain from that was absolutely excruciating. I will never ever again try that little stunt.

Drove back to camp and started to pack for the drive to Dar es Salaam in the morning.

Aug 11th

Left camp early and made our way to Dar. Saw the country side and I would recommend this to anyone as an option as you can really see a lot of different country and landscapes.

Aug 12th
Drove to Arusha




Aug 13 th
Drove to Mto Wa Mbu camp in the hills.


Left camp in the afternoon and saw lots of Zebra, Giraffe and Grant’s gazelles and even a herd of Fringe eared Oryx but no shooters yet.

Aug 14th
Drove to the plains beside lake Mayanara and found a big herd of White bearded wildebeest. Managed to shoot this old bull that Pierre figured would have died of old age in a couple of hours.


Went into the village for lunch and on our way back to camp. Came across this nice Grant’s. Had quit a bit of trouble getting a shot as a giraffe decided to stay between us and the grant for ½ a mile. Finally got a shot in the clear.


Aug 15th
Drove out to the east and saw many zebra, Oryx and Wildebeest. Found where gerenuk was and cruised around but only found females and calves. Saw many dik-dik and springbok but none of acceptable size. On the way back came across very big Fringe eared Oryx and took a lousy shot that hit him high. We tracked for about an hour and finally I managed to get a good shot on him.


Aug 16th
Drove to lesser kudu area. Only saw cows and small bulls. Went out on the flats by the lake and Pierre bet me a beer that I couldn’t shoot this one that was about 450 yds away. I lined up and shot him behind the ear. The trackers said that I hit him in the head. Pierre turned to me and said â€I can’t believe you hit it. If I tell people they will tell me to F%# off and quit telling S$^&!â€.


Aug 17th
Left camp early and saw a nice herd of Kudu cows and a decent bull. Also managed to see and small herd of 3 Eland cows just before they crested the mountain. Drove along the bottom and saw a nice herd of grant’s with a decent bull but not as big as the first one I had shot. We drove a little further and saw a really big Grant’s. I shot and we heard the bullet ricochet of some rocks. We all thought that I had missed, as there was no reaction form the bull, but then he lay down and was dead.


Aug 18th
Went in the am to where the Lesser Kudu were and saw several cows and caves but no bulls. Drove into Mto Wa Mbu for lunch and found this interesting fruit called Topi-topi. Pierre asked the guy what it tasted like and I replied Topi-topi of course what do you think it would taste like Oranges. ïŠ After having some, I still am not sure what it tastes like.

In the Afternoon we went east of camp into the flats and came across a herd of Zebra. I wanted to get a nice stallion with good ears that were not all chewed up. We decided to play Zebra bingo and Pierre chose black. I aimed as best I could for white but when we went up to him, wouldn’t you know it, the bullet was exactly ½ white and ½ black.


Aug 19th

Morning was cold and misting. We drove to the Lesser Kudu area and saw 3 cows and a small bull. Continued on and had a running shot at decent bull but he stopped just as I shot and the bullet went in front of him. I was a little dejected as I thought I had missed my opportunity at a nice Lesser Kudu. We started driving back and in front of us stepped out 2 more bulls. Pierre got quite excited and told me to hurry up and shoot the one on the right before he f%$#@ off. I shot 1 once as he was facing us and missed due to a branch. As he turned I shot him and he was down for the count. I decided also to do a life size mount on him and my Taxidermist is overjoyed at the new work I’ve lined up for him.




Aug 20th
Packed up and headed for Arusha

Dam fine huntin'. A few of those are truely world class trophies. Congrats.

A fabulous hunt, but I wouldn't expect anything less. All the trophies look great but that lesser kudu is an absolute monster...... how big was he?

Incredible hunt, report, and pics! Thanks!

Looks like a great hunt! Your Lesser Kudu will be a one of a kind full mount!

All I can say is "WOW"

I second shakari on that lesser, a real beaut!

How much did the ivory weigh?

A really successful trip, you have an excuse to return for a couple buffalo now.

Shakari,

The Lesser Kudu should rank well in Roland Ward: Left horn 31 1/8 x 7 1/4 base, Right 30 1/2 x 7 3/8 base.
The elephant was 70 lbs right tusk and 66 left tusk

Well done Lonny,

But I wouldn't expect anything less from the BIG MAN.

Graylake

quote:

Originally posted by Canuck32:
Shakari,

The Lesser Kudu should rank well in Roland Ward: Left horn 31 1/8 x 7 1/4 base, Right 30 1/2 x 7 3/8 base.

According to my slightly out of date Rowland Ward record book, its a new World Record then. The previous record in my book is 30 1/2.

Even if it's been overtaken since my book was published, and that's not impossible, it's still an excellent trophy..........

Congratulations Lonnie!

Great Hunt Lonny!! Your second Wartie is huge! Loved the joke you played on Pierre, wish I could have been in on it with you!!

Thanks for sharing the story and pics with us!

John

What else can be said????? Fantastic hunt and great report, thanks.

Terrific animals, great shooting, and super company!

You'ss have to tell us a little more about the "brass trackers" when you get a chance. You may have started a new trend.

Lonny, you must have been reading my mind... I was wondering when I was going to see a pic of an elephant that beat mine in weight and length... What a fabulous safari you had and I am thrilled that you were fortunate to get such a lifetime trophy bull elephant...

Are you coming to Dallas???

Mike

Jim,
The brass trackers were extremly fun and handy. I took 5 shots with my 505 and all brass was recovered. The trackers were also following/tripping over me to ensure they could collect on the bounty. Pierre and Clinton however never found a single brass in that long grass.

Mike,
I don't think I'll be able to make it. I leave on the 29th to set up my rig camp. Unfortunatly my work busy season is between Jan and April.

Lonny!!





Words cannot describe how pumped this report got me! What a great hunt. You've been holding out. The ele and Lesser are both gaggers, but you really got some great stuff besides. Wow.

Did you ever confirm the potential ranking of your lesser. I recall checking online and finding one or two that were possibly bigger, but that thing has to be top 5 or better!

Cheers,
Chris

Incredible hunt Lonny. Evidently you did your homework very well and shot well also.

Sorry I missed you at the Sea Cliff. I think I had passed out somehow.

At any rate you have set a new standard for a safari.

Excellent trophies Lonnie and great pictures. You really did get some awesome animals. Thanks for posting them up.
Take good care,
Dave

Bully good show, Big Guy! Bull elephant, bull kudu, bull impala, etc., ... no cows!
The CZ .505 Gibbs with a 10" twist McGowen barrel works O.K., eh?
Could you tell us what loads you used in the .505 and the .375?
Oops there I go again ... no matter how wonderful the hunting story and pics, I'm looking for that gun and ammo detail.

RIP,
GSC FN 540 gr and 132 gr H4831 in the 505 and 270 gr TSX's and 270 gr banded solids. My last 6 animals were all taken with solids as my 375 shoots them more accuratly and to prove a point to myself, that Accuracy is as important as a bullet expanding properly.

The 375 is the same gun that I had on my last safari but with a new stock and a Ron Smith gain twist 20" barrel made in Canada.

If you look real close at the 2nd elephant picture, you can see the bump from the bullet under the skin from my first shot below the ear flap (shot at right side quarting away).

Wow, that is the safari of a lifetime.

Congratulations on the great trophies and terrific memories.

Kyler

Lonny,
I do believe I see the bullet bump under the offside hide of the elephant.
You were a wise man to load as you did, armed well.
Gain twist, very interesting ... and it starts off at what rate at breech and ends at what rate of twist at the muzzle? The 20" barrel would look like a toy in your hands.

BTW, the pic of your boot beside the elephant foot pad: It does not diminish the apparent size of the monster elephant foot, for those who know your boot size. You finally killed something with bigger feet than you, but just barely.

Barrel starts at approx 1:30 and ends at 1:12. When you look down the bore it is a quite weird looking spiral. I also have a 375 RUM with a 22" gain twist and its a real tack driver

Congrats on a woderful hunt, you must be very proud of that elephant and lesser kudu, welldone . Excellent report and pics, thanks for sharing

Wow what a fantastic trophy list you completed. Congratulations for the ultimate hunt.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Congratulations on a wonderful hunt. I relly enjoyed the photos and the story.
Well Done!
Bill

Amazing hunt - congrat's to you and your PH's! It is great to see some nice ele coming out of Tanz, and Pierre seems to be doing quite well with them. Even nailed a bushpig. Your EA animals are excellent, with the Tommy and L Kudu being my favorite. I skinned both for full mounts but only did the Tommy, the L Kudu will be a pedestal and should be done shortly (I will post picts). But yours is truly amazing and indeed worthy of a full body mount if you have the room.

I am sorry if I missed it, but do you have any weights/lengths for the tusks? Did you see many Gerenuk?

Again, well done to all!

Bill,
Sorry about the delay in answering, The internet out in the bush is slow. The elephant tusks weight/length was 70.1" and 70lbs Right, and 68.9", 66lbs Left. Both tusks had a circumfrince of 21.25".

We only hunted Gerunk 1 morning as I was concentrating more on Lesser Kudu and they we at opposite ends of the concession. The day we did hunt the gerunuk area we saw @ 20 in the morning and went hunt elesewhere in the afternoon. There were also many dik-dik everywhere. I also was limiting myself due to not knowing what the trophy fees were going to be(I arrived in Dar 1 week after the fiasco started).

Outstanding trophies and report. Congrats, some of your trophies are super! Pierre is a blast to be around
Good hunting,
David