Dates: April 1 - 10, 2011
Outfitter: Bulembi Safaris
PH: Martin Pieters
Asst. PH: Guy Ferrari 
Head Tracker: Steve
Area: Omay North, Ume River Camp
Rifle/ammo combination: Custom Brno .375 H&H shooting factory 300 grain Swift A-Frames
Travel Agent: Steve Turner/Travel with Guns



Most of you will remember an ad Martin ran a couple of months ago here on AR regarding a group of male lions that had moved in from Matsudonna National Park and taken up residence in his concession, Omay North. Unfortunately I did not have 18 days open in my vacation schedule so I watched and waited to see if anyone would jump on it. A couple of weeks later I received an e-mail from Mart asking if I wanted to give it a "go". I explained my dilemma and that I had only two weeks in my schedule plus the fact that I needed to move the hunt up to the beginning of April to make it work for me. Mart was a champ and after a few e-mails and a call to Steve Turner at Travel with Guns we had a plan!

I flew SAA this trip through JFK in NY, a route I have not traveled since 1994. I flew Jet Blue from Houston Hobby to JFK, overnighted at the Comfort Inn near the airport and caught the 10:45 nonstop to Johannesburg. The nice thing about this flight is that it arrives at 8:35 a.m. and one can transit through O. Tembo and catch the 11:15 Bulawayo flight without the hassle of SAPS in the RSA. It actually worked well for me...

At the airport in Bulawayo I was pleased to be greeted by the whole Pieter's clan! Candy, Cameron, Jason and Mart were all there to gather me up, wish me luck and then Mart and I were off on a charter for the Omay communal lands! Flying in, as we approached the landing strip, Martin noticed vultures gathered in a tree and made a mental note to check it the next day in hopes it was a lion kill. Ten minutes later we were down and Guy, Steve and the gang were loading our gear into the cruiser for the drive to camp. It was good to be in wild Africa and among friends!

I have reported on Ume Camp before so I won't go into much detail other than it was comfortable and the staff attentive. I was pleased to see Scott Bailey and his hunter, Jeff from Indiana at the skinning shed with a very big croc! Jeff had been having the time of his life the last week and had taken a huge hippo bull, PAC elephant and the aforementioned crocodile. It was hard to tell who had the larger grin on their face, Jeff or Scott!

The next morning we were up early and after bait, crucial to any cat hunting. Driving through the bush, I was amazed at how green and thick everything was. A stark contrast to my November hunts in this and the Omay South concessions. Our first stop was a hill overlooking a huge valley where we hoped to get our first bait hung. Temperatures were pleasant as we hopped off the cruiser and tried to glass a herd of buff below us.

After twenty minutes with no luck we headed back to the truck. On the way back, the ever sharp-eyed Steve picked up zebra on an opposite hilltop 600 yards away. After glassing them and picking out a route that would give us favorable wind and cover, we were on our way. The thick grass made stalking quiet and with good cover you can move in quite close before reacquiring game. However, with more zebra eyes than human, a mare spotted us first and led the herd away. As we closed on the group again, Mart saw a satellite stallion circling the herd toward us. A fifty yard frontal chest shot and I had another nice zebra rug, but more importantly, bait for our lion!




With the zebra loaded it was back to camp to have the skinner work his magic, a quick lunch and then back to the field to get our first bait up.

Martin had a spot in the valley where the lion had been spotted in the last few weeks. This was also a "funnel" created by the mountain and lake that we hoped would bring the lions close to our bait site. Martin had a "bait tree" in this area he had used before so he knew exactly where we would set up.






Those of you who have hunted cats, lions or leopards, will recognize the sequence of events... find a suitable spot, arrange the bait to be accessible but not too much so, throw disgusting amounts of blood soaked intestinal matter and stomach contents about and drag in multiple directions so the cats can find the scent trail and follow it back to your perfectly arranged bait site! Works like a charm!

The next morning we discovered that we had lions on the bait the previous evening.



Even though the tracks showed a lioness and a three-quarter grown youngster, spirits were high with the thoughts of success at attracting cats so quickly. Perhaps she would bring a male or males back with her when she returned to the carcass. Even the boss was excited as everyone began to prep the bait site for the return of the king!




With the area around the bait denuded of any vegetation allowing for a clear shot around the base of the tree, we headed back out in search of more bait and in high spirits! An excellent start to day two of the safari.

Around nine-thirty, we ran into one of Martin's road clearing work details who informed us that a group of buffalo had passed by their camp site in the early morning hours to water. Martin thought the herd would probably not move too far from the river, since graze and cover were prevalent there. We made our way to the riverside camp and the trackers spread out to find tracks. Ten minutes later, a low whistle to catch our attention, and we were on buff tracks.

What we thought would be a quick follow-up on a sleepy herd was anything but. Two hours later we saw where we bumped the herd again and they had run from us... the second time so far. The cool of the morning was giving way to the heat of mid-day and the almost daily rain showers had the humidity at levels more commonly found in tropical climes than the dry bush conditions I am used to. We took five, caught our breath, removed excess clothing, and continued on.

Since Guy was on the stalk, Martin decided at this point to let him lead us in to get valuable experience handling clients and getting them positioned for a shot. Thirty minutes later we were on the tail end of the herd. The buffalo were spread out in the thick riverine bush and difficult to spot in the dappled shadows and tangled limbs. Martin hung back and Steve, Guy and I began to snake in to look for a suitable bait animal or a hard-bossed bull. As we moved in we began to pick out pieces of buffalo and soon found a young bull with a limp in an opening between trees. We scooted forward on our butts, my rifle in my lap, until we were within thirty yards. Guy eased the sticks up, I stood, aimed at the buff and fired and a couple of dozen buffalo stampeded through the jess. As Martin strode up and asked me the "where do you think you hit him" question, we heard the death bellow from the bull. Slaps on the back and we advanced. One more insurance shot and we had another bait!


We had chosen the perfect buffalo for bait... seemed the lions had taken a liking to him within the past week. He was a bit luckier than they were and escaped but not without some serious claw marks across his leg and thigh.



Well I guess he was lucky at the time, but his luck had run out. We had caught up with him and were hoping to make him lion scat once again! And Guy had done a fine job of leading us in for the shot.



After several hours of cutting a road into the buff, we loaded the him and carried the bull to a spot on the Ume River that had been a lucky location for lion and leopard for Martin in the past. And by the evening of the second day we had two baits up and working for us!

More I say, MORE!

Curious, on the bait buffalo, you didn't keep the horns for a euro mount?

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story, I'll be hunting with Martin in less than a month.

I'm also anxious for the rest of the story...I will be with Martin and the gang in late august for 14 days.

Talk about leaving a guy hanging!!!

The next morning we were up early and headed for the first bait to see if the lion activity included males this time. On the way we happened upon fresh lion tracks in the road ten miles from the first bait...



This brought our grand procession to the bait to a screeching halt as everyone bailed out to check tracks and try to decipher the lion movement. Obviously the lions had traveled through the area sometime late the previous evening or early that morning. Steve and Martin took to the tracks and followed them for thirty or so yards when they both stopped, turned their heads and started for the cruiser. As Martin walked up he told me to grab my rifle and follow him... he and Steve had heard buffalo a few meters off the road. The bush is so thick this time of year that a big herd of buffalo was paralleling us in the bush and had not heard us pull up. We walked a few hundred yards around the herd trying to get the wind in our favor and walked up on a grand old bull crossing a dry donga. About the time we began to set up for a shot, the bush swallowed him up. Our approach was swift but he had the advantage and the wind and buggered off.

We continued toward the main part of the herd and less than 100 yards later eased up on a pair of cows. Once again we went into stealth mode and began an stalk... and with a couple of steps, the cows disappeared as well. The thick bush allowed us to work the herd but limited visibility and shooting opportunities looked to be at pieces of buffalo through thick cover. Not 25 yards from the cows Steve froze and pointed with his chin, Mart lifted his binos and dropped them just as quickly while positioning the sticks. As I stepped up and placed my rifle on the rest he whispered "hard bossed bull, shoot him when he steps in the opening"! With my scope turned to 3x I could see movement 40 yards away, then a head and shoulder appeared. At the shot the bull stopped, bellowed and then dropped, shot through the point of the shoulder with the 300 grain A-Frame. We quickly moved up and I shot him again between the withers. He was a heavy, wide bull with long tips and a unique split in his boss on the right side. We admired him in the early morning light.
 



This morning the lions would have to wait. We loaded the bull quickly, well as quickly as one can load a buffalo... and headed to a spot not far from the tracks we had spotted earlier in the morning. We had our third bait up by noon as we hung the bulls hindquarters in a tree no more then 100 yards from the road.

Back to camp for a bite and to drop the front half of the bull off with the skinner. As we dropped him off Martin asked me what I wanted skull or skull and cape. "Just the skull, Mart" was met with a raised eyebrow by my PH. Later as I sat on the patio enjoying a raspberry Masol and water, Mart walked up and asked "Whaddya think your bull scores?" "No idea, 104, 105?" "How about 114!" "You are kidding me right?" "Nope, I thought between the tips and the boss he would score well." "Uhhhhh, you save the cape?" "Yes I did, changing our mind are we?" "Well of course, hunter's perogative you know!"

I waited all day for the next "chapter", Bwana. I am not disappointed.

Thanks! and I look forward to the remainder.

Classic buff. Harley tips. Keep it coming.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
Harley tips.

I like that!

AWESOME!!!! Great bull. How wide was he? I love the boss on that bull!! Can't wait for more of the story! Let us know what other critters were around that you saw as well.

Beautiful bull bwanamrm, and I'm looking forward to the rest of this safari story.

For the wishful one day buffalo hunter like myself, could you explain to me what you meant by shot through the point of the shoulder with the 300 grain A-Frame? I'm trying to understand that shot placement better. Good to see the 300gr A-Frames performed well, that round shoots extremely accurate in my rifle. Also, is 3x the minimum setting on your scope. I have a 3-9x on my .375 and keep reading I need to have lower power when hunting buff.

quote:

shot through the point of the shoulder with the 300 grain A-Frame? I'm trying to understand that shot placement better. Good to see the 300gr A-Frames performed well

Sure 7MM, and I apologize for a piecemeal report but between H.S. baseball and a college graduation, I find myself with precious free time right now. So thanks to all who have posted for the kind comments and I promise to finish this soon!

As the buff began to emerge from the brush I saw his head first, then neck and then the point where neck and shoulder meet, this is what I meant by "point of shoulder".

The 300 grain A-Frames have worked superbly for me on buffalo, and everything else I have shot with the bullet. I have killed four buffalo with this load in the .375 H&H and highly recommend it. BTW, it shoots very well in both of my .375's also.

And yes, 3x was the minimum magnification on my scope. This rifle has a Zeiss Diavari 3x9 mounted on it. Frankly, I feel 2.5x8 and 3x9 scopes really allow for the full potential of this fine cartridge. Years ago I put a 1.5x5 on my first .375 on "expert" advice and absolutely hated the combo, small objective gathered little light, low magnification, etc. Some years later I saw the experts gun and he had a 2.5x8 mounted on it. When I enquired why, he said he missed an opportunity at a buff of a lifetime because he could not pick it up in the dusk... moral of the story, shoot what YOU are comfortable with!

Hey Russ! You really like dangling the carrot!!! Congratulations so far on a nice Buff! Why did you shelve your .416 for this hunt? She shoots so well...

Love that 2nd buff! Great report so far, looking for to culmination of the story!

Beautiful pictures!

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:

quote:

shot through the point of the shoulder with the 300 grain A-Frame? I'm trying to understand that shot placement better. Good to see the 300gr A-Frames performed well

Sure 7MM, and I apologize for a piecemeal report but between H.S. baseball and a college graduation, I find myself with precious free time right now. So thanks to all who have posted for the kind comments and I promise to finish this soon!

As the buff began to emerge from the brush I saw his head first, then neck and then the point where neck and shoulder meet, this is what I meant by "point of shoulder".

The 300 grain A-Frames have worked superbly for me on buffalo, and everything else I have shot with the bullet. I have killed four buffalo with this load in the .375 H&H and highly recommend it. BTW, it shoots very well in both of my .375's as well.

And yes, 3x was the minimum magnification on my scope. This rifle has a Zeiss Davari 3x9 mounted on it. Frankly, I feel 2.5x8 and 3x9 scopes really allow for the full potential of this fine cartridge. Years ago I put a 1.5x5 on my first .375 on "expert" advice and absolutely hated the combo, small objective gathered little light, low magnification, etc. Some years later I saw the experts gun and he had a 2.5x8 mounted on it. When I enquired why, he said he missed an opportunity at a buff of a lifetime because he could not pick it up in the dusk... moral of the story, shoot what YOU are comfortable with!

Thanks for the shot placement explanation and no apologies needed.

Interesting comments on the scope. I've been unsuccessfully trying to convince myself that the 3x will be too much magnification and that I'll miss out if I don't have the 1.5x. But I'm just not getting it. By the point I get to a target close enough for it to be an issue I can't help but think it's now time to be shooting open sights, which is one reason why I have the quick detach rings. However this may be the rantings of someone with no experience.

Again thanks for the education! I sincerely hope this story will culminate in the taking of a great lion.

Nice hooks on that Buffalo
Congratulations again Russ

Russell I found that "expert advise" years ago on your choice of scopes very humorous. As you well know since you were there, the same "expert" had a bearing on my choice of optics on that trip as well. And like you I noticed shortly thereafter that masiland hunt he had disposed of the 1.5 x 5 as did you and I.

Our expert just finished building a 6.5 x 47 lapua.

That afternoon we began the hour and a half trek back to the zebra bait to hopefully find well-fed and contented lions guarding the bait. As we turned off the road onto the faint two track that led to the bait everyone was focused on the task at hand. I pulled my rifle from the Red Oxx slip and chambered a round at Martin's direction. He and Guy had noticed vultures ahead in the trees, a good sign.

Three-quarters of a mile later, not so good sign. It seemed the lions when feeding in the early morning hours exposed the bait to the sharp eyed scavengers from above. After the lions had their fill and moved off, the vultures demolished our zebra carcass. Both Martin, Mike, the camp manager, and Guy felt that the only thing to do was to drop the baits, head back to camp and come back tomorrow with a hippo quarter in hopes the lions would find it and feed again.

The next morning we were back, the lions didn't return to the zebra scraps. In fact, they didn't return to the hippo either. So close, but as they say, no cigar.

With three baits hung, we spent the next few days in the mornings and evenings driving and checking them for activity. Unfortunately, nothing was hitting our baits but hyenas. Even though every village we visited had JUST seen or heard a dozen plus lions, we couldn't locate a fresh track.

That did not mean we did not have fun... hell, Africa is a Disneyland for the sportsman! We fished every day. Mike, our camp manager was on the fishing circuit in Zimbabwe and we used his guide services on the lake to catch several different species. Most I have never caught before so it was enjoyable for me.

One evening we fished for bottlenose cornish jack, a strange looking but great eating fish we caught off the bottom with nightcrawlers.


Another afternoon we fished for big Vundu catfish...

A trophy cat... not exactly the type of cat I was looking for

A nice 12 pounder

Fish on...

And one afternoon, Mart and I fished for nilotic bream, voracious little eaters, there were tons of them around the little islands in the lake. In a two hour stretch we managed to catch 82 of them!


That evening as we were headed back to camp we came across a beautiful elephant bull drinking on the edge of the lake. We pulled up and I got some great photos of him. When we reached camp we let Scott and Jeff know where we had seen him and Jeff was able to take the bull the next afternoon. He measured 43 lbs. on the longer tusk and due to some calcification in the smaller tusk it went in the mid-thirties!


On day 6, our baits had still not been hit by lions and worse, because of the heat and humidity caused by daily rainshowers, our baits were rotting and becoming unattractive. Even to lions.


Time to make a plan. Martin gave me two options ... the first, we could begin the task of shooting more bait and replacing the existing offerings. This would take a couple of days and only allow me one or two days to hunt them. Or, we could pull up stakes in the morning and drive to Peter Johnstone's Cawston property to hunt sable, tsessebe, eland, bushbuck and kudu for two and a half days.

It was a tough call... I really wanted a lion but the opportunity to take one was looking bleak. I opted to pull out with Martin the next morning, save half of the charter fee and see some new country. I had heard of Cawston before and Martin's mother, Lynn had implored me to come hunt with she and Peter when I met them at the Dallas show. Currently, they were between hunts and both she and Peter were on the property. I am glad I made the decision to go....

I like the installment version Russ. Sort of like reading a book. Waiting now for the next chapter! (It rained today, not much but still water from the sky. It was a beautiful thing.)

quote:

Why did you shelve your .416 for this hunt? She shoots so well...

Mandlazim, I finally ran out of boxes of my pet load for the .416 Rigby. And I don't handload so when Federal stopped rolling the 410 Woodlweigh softs I have been casting about for another load that would shoot as well... I thought I had one in Winchester's new load with the 400 grain Partition but kept getting flyers that made me uncomfortable. I am going to try the Hornady DGX load next to see how it shoots!

Mike, thanks! And we had a nice rain today, hope it is not too little, too late for our farmers... could be a million dollar rain!

quote:

shortly thereafter that masiland hunt he had disposed of the 1.5 x 5 as did you and I.

LOL... so Jay, you noticed that too? You know what they say about "experts"!

quote:

Curious, on the bait buffalo, you didn't keep the horns for a euro mount?

Sevens, because then the price isn't for a bait buffalo but converts to a trophy buffalo. Big difference!

Looks like you got some nice consolation prizes. That buffalo is a dandy.

Bwana - Thanks for the great report! Lion hunting is not, and never will be, 100% successful. But, you obviously had a great trip, shot a fabulous buffalo, and received an experience that cannot be taken away.

Next time, hopefully Simba is in your sights. Good luck!

Thanks Aaron!

We rolled into Bulawayo in time to clean up at Martin's house, put on some clean duds and we grabbed Candy and headed over to Buster's to grab a few beers with Cliff Walker and his new bride. After rubbing elbows with Plumtree's finest, we walked across the rugby field to have dinner at the Krall. Excellent food and a great atmosphere. To top it off I ran into one of the PH's on my first safari back in 1994! It was amazing to see Barry again and we both shared a laugh at how well we had held up over the years, or not.

The next morning we were off to Cawston. Cawston is on the highway between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and is about an hour out of Bully...

It was a beautiful property and chock full of game. The tented camp, lodge and grounds were very well done. I met Peter Johnstone and Lynn, Martin's mom and they went out of the way to make us feel welcome. Peter is a very interesting gentleman to talk to... his PH license is #1! His tales of hunting the Matetsi in the good old days were entertaining and I also enjoyed his views on game management and the current situation in Zimbabwe.





Some of Peter's trophies from his days in the Matetsi...



We had breakfast with Peter, Lynn and their other guests and we grabbed our gear and headed out to hunt. The Cawston property is a plainsgame hunter's dream... we saw bushbuck right out of camp, then zebra, tons of wildebeest. Probably an hour into the drive the trackers tapped on the roof and indicated they had spotted a mature sable bull. We eased out of the car and didn't have to stalk far before we spotted him. He had thick, heavy horns one of which would go 40" and the other broken off at about 36". About the time we decided we could do better he discovered us and charged off into the bush. We spotted several more sable including a promising "up-and-comer" but could not find a bull bigger than the one I already have. However there are tons of good sable on Cawston!



 


We hunted hard for tsessebe and made several stalks... being hartebeest they are damn spooky and are considered one of the fastest antelope in Africa. With the high grass it was tough getting a good shot opportunity as it is very difficult without seeing the male's sheath to tell cows from bulls. It wasn't until the last morning that we finally got a shot at what Martin finally decided was a bull... and he ended up being a very nice bull! I had an antelope that I have wanted for a long time but never had the chance for until this safari.



We stalked sable, warthog (really tough in long grass) and eland (nice bull just too young). And I ended up with just a tsessebe. Poor Peter. He pleaded with me to shoot a wildebeest or zebra! I had already taken a zebra on this trip in the Omay and just didn't need another blue brindled gnu.

But in the end the trip to Cawston was one of the highlights of the trip! A beautiful camp spent with wonderful people!

And then, too soon, it was time to pack and head back for the flight home. In Bulawayo, Martin ran me by a duka to pick up a new pair of Courtney's. We whipped by his offices and had a cup of coffee and visited with Hayley and an old friend, Blanton's former PH, Pierre...




and Martin showed me the different awards Zim PH's can win, from the best elephant, lion, leopard, etc. to the infamous Skippy, an award for the PH making the biggest blunder! Great fun.





The trip back to the good ol' U.S. was really nothing but long and uneventful, customs in JFK was extremely easy and the agents courteous. The only hassle was the fact that Jet Blue does not allow you to recheck your bags without going back out and rechecking at the counters and going back through security. A hassle, but it added only thirty minutes to the check-in procedure.

So no lion, but no problem. A reason to go back, like I need one! And, heck I may have a new holy grail... but first I have a date with a buffalo in Mozambique in September of 2012!

Russ,
Fantastic report as usual!
That's a toad of a catfish....did ya'll hang one for bait? My kitty cat loves fish!

Well done Russell.

Peter Johnstone is a legend. My grandfather hunted with him in 1972(?), not on Cawston, but on the other farm that was ultimately lost. Those were good times.

Congrats on your Tsessebe. Their color in the sunlight is hard to believe. Enjoyed your pics and especially the fish. Few times we get to see fishing photo's of anything but Tiger's.

Wonderful report, Russell. I enjoyed reading it on the installment plan!

I once hunted buffalo in Omay in February. Your description of seeing bits and pieces at 25 yards and the bush swallowing them up took me back to that hunt. Fun, ain't it?

Russell,

A great and very detailed report. Lion to me is the most difficult of African hunts. You'll get him next time.

Mark

Thanks for the interesting report. Those fish were whoppers - big enough to use for lion bait if you could keep the camp staff from eating them first.

Thanks for the full rundown of the hunt. It looked and sounded like it was well worth the trip

Nice report! Congrats on a fine hunt. Those fish are real beauts, too.

Fine hunt Russel, loved the report.

I was interested to hear your take on the Cawston Ranch as I poopooed it due to being high fenced. I may have to reconsider.

thanks for the report and all the great pictures

Russell,
Great report on your hunt - thanks for sharing it! My partner and I will be there in early August in Martin's camp and we both look forward to the first time experience.
Thanks again!
Brittman

quote:

I was interested to hear your take on the Cawston Ranch as I poopooed it due to being high fenced. I may have to reconsider.

Scott,
Please do... this is really one of those situations where the fence has been built to keep out rather than keep in. You will see shambas right against the border of Cawston... most animals like kudu and eland can jump the fence. Problem is they don't last long when they do! And it seems they are aware of it! Cawston really is a nice property for PG hunting and at 40,000 acres there is plenty of room to roam.

A number of you have contacted me about your upcoming hunts with Bulembi... good luck guys, you should have a blast! 2 million acres of communal lands with the big 4 roaming wild and free. All I can say is I wish I were headed back over with you!

This report reminds me of a float trip I took for moose in my early 20s in Alaska. Didn't get a moose, but that trip ranks right up there with my finest memories.

It is amazing how high a fence kudu can jump.

Looks like a fantastic safari, Russ! You'll get shumba next go round.
Thanks for sharing all the great pics.

Great consolation prize buff too!

Russell,

A fine report as always. I missed Lake Kariba while hunting down south this trip.

Great buffalo also.

Russell: Great report and pics! You had a very successful safaris in anyone's book!