24 December 2015, 03:01
DtiborThank you Ray for posting the video!
@ this highlights as "Christmas gift" you have prepared for me.
Have to admit, that I was a lazy all this months since this Zim hunt ...
Surely, was planning to post a hunt report, but always had a " good reason to postpone it ". Now I try to describe shortly my 10 day buffalo hunt. ..
First. Have to say that was just a lucky coincidence that I get my hunt filmed! On the morning of departure to Zim I have received an E-mail (yes, email and not at least a phone call! !) that the guy with whom I planned to go together to this safari has canceled his trip !
He had also a booking for a cameraman, of course, all arranged by me via email with Buzz. What else to do, I said without hesitation that if we booked, than we will take it, and will use the booked filming for my hunt!
This turn out to be pure good luck!
I realised fully only when I was back home - what a difference it makes to have a video footage and some professional photos, all helping to tell the story of what you have seen and experienced for 10 days in Africa.
Ray was more than a cameraman during the hunt. He was a great companion and I believe we have said good bye at the end in Harare, already like friends!
Hope I will have opportunity to hunt again Zimbabwe sometime, definitely Ray would be part of the safari! Tatenda Ray!!
I am owing a short description of the hunt also to the AR community, because at the planning stage of the safari this forum was the main source of information and reference checking.
The hunt have taken place between 6th and 16th July, 2015.
ZAMBEZI VALLEY, Dande Safari Area - Pedza Pasi camp, but hunting also Dande North campfire area.
After reading an article of Kevin Robertson in Sports Afield, about CMS idea of "ugliest buffalo" contest, I have decided to check on CMS . Few days reading on AR, a few email exchange with Buzz, and I was already booking the buffalo hunt...
Charlton McCallum Safaris was delivering all what was promising and much more than expectation ! It is a greatly managed operation, run by some great people .
Already after the greeting at airport by Buzz and the next morning coffee together, one feels that have made a good choice and confidently anticipating the hunt itself.
Buzz & Myles! I appreciate a lot the way how you have put together all details of my hunt. One just couldn't not hope for more....Thank you!
My main objective for the hunt was a buffalo bull.
I have been previously 2 times in Africa, but only for hunts in Namibia (Agarob Hunting Safaris - also a highly recommended place to go : free range hunting from horse back and great-great people as hosts Johnny and Marianna ), but this was the first dangerous game hunt for me.
My PH was Blake Wilhelmi.
A great PH and a great hunter! From first discussions while driving to Pedza Pasi camp, I realised that he is a true hunter, "a hunter who understands the whispering of the wind in the grass, and the smell of the coming rains".
Was a real pleasure being with Blake, a very knowledgeable and persistent PH, who gives also for the first-time-dangerous-game hunter the confidence needed to enjoy truly every minute of a 10 day hunt.
Have to express my appreciation for his patience on handling the hunt and friendly companion during the ten days.
Was no issue with my fixed idea on going for a lonely dagga boy, point have been quickly taken by Blake.
Blake marvelously maneuvered all the hunt to fulfill my whish.
First day he stalked with me close-up within some 15-20 meters with at least 3-4 buffalo herd, out of it on two bulls. A good and much appreciated warm up for a first timer with buffalo's!
Second day we get the dagga boy : picking up the track in the morning at around 7.30am and shooting the buffalo just before the last shooting light was gone.
What a hunt! Close-up, shooting off-hand, exciting follow up to the buffalo, although he did not went further than 50-60 meters from the shooting place, but in that thick stuff you feel each meter covered like long miles. ..
Buffalo was taken in Dande North, up near Kanyemba.
The rest of the hunt was equally exciting and enjoyable.
We was lucky to bag also a kudu, hiena, duiker and klipspringer.
We stalked close to elephants, we have found leopard on hiena bait, enjoyed a day on Zimbabwe river, catched a tiger fish. And miss of all WE HAVE HUNTED!
Thank you Blake! You are a great companion, hope to hunt together sometime again!
The job done by trackers, Bonani and Sumani could not be described. One have to see, to realise what these guys are doing in that thick stuff to follow a bull from morning till 5 pm! Amazing!
The daily stalking was pleasant, and not excessively demanding, but need a good average fitness .
Have covered on average some 15-16 km walking daily, with a peak of 20 km on the day of tracking my buffalo bull. Only learned this later from my smartphone, where I found a track by an app, of the daily covered distances by walking!
On the hunt I used my rifle in caliber 9.3x62, a custom Mauser made in Ferlach, Austria by Peter Hambrusch.
Ammo : Barnes TSX 18.5 grams and Norma Solids for back-up.
Flight from Europe on route Vienna-Dubai-Harare was absolutely hassle free, using Emirates.
Hopefully, my non-native English did not make not enjoyable this short report
Regards
Tibor D.
A Hungarian hunter, living in Romania, Europe.
