Area hunted: Chirisa Safari area and surrounding communal land, west central Zimbabwe.
Outfit: Ben Kotze Safaris
Professional Hunter: Ben Kotze
Dates: Feb. 19th through Feb. 28th
Firearm Used: Rem. 700 .375H&H
Animals hunted Management bull elephant, PAC bull elephant, Cape Buffalo.
Animals seen but not taken/hunted: Grey Duiker, Chobe bushbuck, Livingston Eland, zebra, impala, baboon, African Wildcat, spitting cobra, puff adder, moniter lizard
Travel Arangements: Cape to Cairo African travel

Well guys, I made it back in one piece from the hunt.. And it was a ride for sure!! This hunt was a short notice, "had to do now" hunt that came up last minute.

Made the LONG flight once again across the big drink.. We arrived into Harare without too much of an issue, other than my bag had got broken into in the Jo'burg airport (go figure, huh?). Luckily, all that was taken was a Northface pack and a nice Petzel headlamp.. all replacable without too much issue. Ben was there and we got through Zim customs without any issue at all and were quickly out of the airport and onto Ben's place in Harare to catch a few zzz's before heading out EARLY the next day. It was a 7 hour drive from Harare and we wanted to get there ASAP. The drive was nice and we got to see the beautiful Zim countryside.

Got to camp and settled in. This camp wasn't the luxury camp of most plainsgame hunts in southern Africa. This one had all that was needed, but was bare-boned to the max. No electricity(everything was candlelight once the sun went down), no hot water (not that it was needed, it was HOT!), and just your basic tent set up. But we weren't there to camp, and the amenities were to do just fine: we were there to hunt, and that was the one commodity that wasn't in any short order! We were there for elephant and cape buff, and they were EVERYWHERE, as were the bugs this time of year over there!!

We were greeted at the safari area entrace by this beautiful site.


"Our home sweet home for the next 10 days!"



The entrance to our hunting area. We were to hunt management ele bulls and cape buff in the Safari hunting area (Chirisa) and then hunt PAC ele in the communal lands that butt up against the safari lands.



..and the communal lands..




"showing us where the crop raiding, problem causing elephants were coming in every afternoon.."


"one side of the road, safari park area... the other communal lands. The elephant could care less. The "other side" was loaded with sweet corn, sugar cane, melons, and loads of other crops meant for village consumptsion, not ele bulls!"


We had our introductions to our hard working staff..

This is Ben's "right hand" man, Hardlife. One of the hardest working, friendliest guys you could ever ask to be around. ALWAYS with a super smile on his face.


Hardlife's younger brother, Justice. Just as a good guy as his brother.


Our tracker in training (who, by the way was SUPERB), Munuratzi. One of the hardest working, eager to please guys I've seen.


Our camp cook, Lodus.


And our safari area's issued Game Scout, Kuda. He was a tracker EXTRAORDIARE!! And the man just plain loved to hunt.



So as to not bore you guys to death with the minute details of normal details of safari life, the next 5 days were spent busting out butts off hunting from daybreak to dark most days.
The couple of days we did take a break because of the midday heat were spent like this.. then it was back to hitting it hard again in the cooling evening.


"Elephant aren't too secretive in their movements.."



We would follow sign and ended up in the midst of huge buff herds or sizable groups of ele, but the FICKLE winds were playing devil's addvocate everytime it seemed. We just could not get in with them close enough to sort out a good bull without getting busted. And as thick as the bush was, 30 yards might was well have been 300 in most areas. It was insanely green and dense. Tough hunting conditions to say the least..
After the 1st five days, still no luck with getting the gun into the sticks.. But were were getting closer everyday..


On the 5th day, my birthday wish came true.. We cut a good track crossing the road at around 8AM.. The guys decided it was worth following. We got out onto the track and worked the bull. We were on the sign for 2 hours before we were easing along when Kuda froze in his tracks. Just 25 yards ahead was the bull, leisurely feeding his way towards his midday haunts deep into the jess. We looked him over and Ben gave the thumbs up!! He would fit the bill perfect for a management bull. Sticks came up and he spotted us. He swung around and flaired his ears out, telling us were were in his comfort zone. Safety off, and I slammed him head on between the front legs with the 1st shot. This hurt him hard and it almost set him down on his butt. Second shot was immediately coming. High lung. Third was onto the hip as he made his final turn. He was done and hadn't traveled 5 yards!! I was beside myself with emotion and excitement! I had hunted elephant! I had fullfilled a dream of mine.



You'd be amazed at the numbers of folks who show up once word gets out that an elephant has hit the dirt!! This was about 1/4 of the guys who were there!


They turned the largest land animal into nothing more than a moist spot in the soil in a few hours. EVERY bit of an elephant is used. And because of the economic cesspool Zimbabwe is currently in, dried meat is used alot in the rural areas as currency.
Here is some "money" drying in the midday sun. Drying the meat allows it to stay usable for long periods of time. With no means to cool or freeze the meat, it is the only way to preserve it.


After being on cloud nine, I was reminded that we still had cape buffalo on the menu!! Long story short, I hunted hard as ever for a bull, but it just didn't fall into place for buffalo on this trip. I saw some absolute bruiser bulls, but I just couldn't seal the deal on them in the end. Huge super spooky herds, fickle winds, insanely thick bush and 6-7ft. grass, etc.. Was my first buffalo hunt, but not my last. I can see how those black monsters could become an addiction! They posess all the qualities that make them one of the greatest game animals on earth! I'll be back to give them another go as soon as I can.

But the hunt wasn't over just yet! We were still being asked daily by the communal lands council to PLEASE come and try for an elephant of two in the fields. They were raiding every evening and causing a TON of destruction to the farmer's small plots. And on top of the crop depredation, several of the bulls had become rather testy and were now prone to chasing the farmers when pressured to leave the fields.. Sounds like a hunt to me! We made our plans and were at the farmer's house late that afternoon and were treated to fresh picked watermelon while we waited for the bulls to make their way to the fields.. which we were assured by the farmers that they would. Sure enough, at last light, we could hear them moving into the corn. We gave them about 20 minutes to settle in and get comfortable. Once they were, we made our move. Now, if you can imagine, sneaking to within 20 yards of a bull elephant in the pitch dark was an adrenilne rush like no other. Things could get hairy in a hurry if everything didn't go exactly as planned! Luckily, our's was textbook. Light comes on and in the one second it takes to determine if the elephant is a taker, you pick your spot and wait for the green light from your PH. Three shots into the boiler room, a 50 yard death run, and I had elephant bull #2!!!!



To cut a tail off an elephant hunted is to show ownership of that elephant. I gave the honors to Justice, and he relished in the task!!



Atfer a short celebration, the radio cracked. It was another farmer who had just seen a BIG bull ease into his field about 6 miles from where we were at with this one we had just taken. It's time to get our act together and get going!! There was another elephant to hunt!
We made our way to the farm and found the famer there in the road waiting for us. He knew exactly where the bull would be.. And he was right. Same story, different farm.. Light came on and there he was, and he DID NOT like us being there. He turned to face us and let us know the the field was HIS!! He swung around and I slapped him with an attempted brain shot, but it went high. This hurt him bad though.. Second and third shots did the trick though and he hadn't gone anywhere. We had done it!! Two problem elephant bulls is less than one hour! And this one was an absolute brute! Huge body on this bull. One tusk was busted at the lip and the other was prett nice for sure! Once the farmer got a look at him, he got even happier. It was the bull who was becoming testy with the famers. He was public enemy numero uno in their books and they were ectatic to see him get taken!! I was high on elephant hunting!



All in all, it ended up in the end to be a great hunt that I doubt I will ever be able to surpass. As I said before, I had fullfilled a dream hunt, now threefold!!
Zimbabwe is a wonderful country that I hadn't been to since 2000, and had never been to that part of the country. Beautiful as always, the friendliest people, and great hunting. I caanot wait to go back. And who knew that on this trip that not only would I get to hunt three elephant bulls, but just by going it made me the world's newest GO-ZILLIONAIRE!!! With unlimitled cash now at my disposal, look out hunting world!!


Thanks for sharin' in the hunt with me, guys!

Here's couple of more pics I'd like to share with you guys... hope you enjoy them..

The biggest kudu bull I've ever laid my hands on.. and it was snared by poachers in the area.. the head was just laying behind the warden's office.. I 'bout had a heart attack when I saw it!


this poster has new meaning to ya when your in the jess after 'em!


"that looks like good country over there, boss..."

Congratulations on a great hunt bud! Shout at me soon and lets plan a Mexico hunt with Kevin

Drummond

Congratulations!

That looks like it was one hell of a ride!

Now that looks like a GREAT hunt!

Congratulations.

Thanks for the great report.

Did Russ go with you?

So the 375 took down three bulls pretty cleanly? Interesting......

Great report, thanks for sharing. Congrats on making your dream come true - threefold!

Better luck next time on buffalo!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

You had Diana and all her girlfriends smiling on you congrats and i dont think there is words to discribe your emotions its was a great opportunity

what bullets did you use in the 375

Excellent, thanks for the report. Looks like you had a great deal of fun and that is what it is all about.

Dave

Good going - congrats

quote:

Originally posted by 375 fanatic:
what bullets did you use in the 375

Would like to know about the bullets as well.

If that is a management bull, I would love to get in on that!!! Great hunt and great report!!!

Jeff

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Excellent report and photos. I love seeing pictures of Chirisa, it brings back great memories.

Scottyboy,
Wow! What a hunt... three elephant bulls in one trip and two in less than an hour! A true adrenaline rush. Congrats on an extraordinary adventure, great report and pics!
Cheers,
Russell

Congratulations on a great hunt.

Scottyboy

Lovely! Great safari and beautiful pics. Our clients say those night hunts really let you know you are alive.

Mark

Thanks guys!! I am still high off the hunt!

The gun was a basic Rem. 375H&H. The ammo was the South African PMP in 300 grain solids. I was to originally use a Styer rifle in .375, with 300 grain Sledgehammer solids, but I just COULD not get that gun to shoot straight for me!! I would hit left with every shot. No matter what I did, it seemed. All's well in the end, though.
404, I had backup shots with the PAC hunt from Ben's .458 with 500 grain solids. We didnt want those bulls going anywhere.

My hunt next year will be with my own rifle, though. I hate borrowing guns. That is my 1st task this year is to buy a .375 and shoot the hell out of it. The PAC bull and hippo bull next year will be taken with it(that's right, I'm going back in 2010!! Was too fun!)...

Again, thanks guys!! I really appreciate it!

Oh yes, sorry about the incorrect placing of this thread, Saeed! I just now realized that I had'nt put it under the Reports thread!! Feel free to move 'er over there!

Awesome! Anyone else catch the writing scrawled on the stock of the scout's AK? It reads:


LOOSE SAFETY CATCH


I love it! LOL!

quote:

Originally posted by Kamo Gari:
Awesome! Anyone else catch the writing scrawled on the stock of the scout's AK? It reads:
LOOSE SAFETY CATCH
I love it! LOL!

This is no different than most game scouts, except, he wrote on the stock that his gun is unsafe!

Scottyboy, what a great hunt. Good Job.

Three eles and two in the same night ??
All that with a push feed rifle and PMP ammo ???


Great report and great pictures, what a way of starting your elephant hunter career !!

Thanks for sharing

L

Awesome, way to go!

Love the pictures of early season bush and crops.

Lorenzo, that cracks me up!! I love when I read all those heated debates about what is the best of the various actions to hunt with, all the fluff arguments about "this bullet is better than that bullet because..."

Give me rifle with a Rem action any day.. And ammo is a moot point to me in most cases.. Ive shot all the high dollar stuff and Ive shot the basic stuff. As long as the job is done, I'm happy. I'm not one of those guys who has to use the absolute best there is out there just because Craig Boddington or Steve Hornady says so!!! I use what works and at the end of the day, in most cases, I come home from a hunt a happy camper!!!

ScottyB,

Well done and the photos were a treat.

Regards, Tim

Great report and pictures! Yes, the .375 does the job if the bullet is in the right place.

Fantastic report and pictures! Thanks for sharing.

Wow 3 elephants!!!!

Congratulations. Sounds like you had a super time.

Sounds like you had a great time on your hunt. I can understand your excitment and your plans to go back. Congrats.

JPK

Well done! Looks like you had a lot of fun. Ich would love to see more pictures.
Did you book the hunt over Russ or direct with Ben Kotze.

Excuse me for my bad english.

kindest reagards

caracal

Great hunt!
Thanks for sharing wonderful photos and stories with us. I enjoyed it a lot!
Looks like something I have to do sometime..

Looks like a fun trip. I really like the kudu horns. You hardly see them with such nice color.

Scott booked the hunt with me based on an offer I made on this forum. I accompanied on this hunt. I am Ben's sole agent in the USA.

The original plan was that we would both hunt. However, I was too busy taking video of Scott's hunts, and operating the flashlight on the PAC hunts, to do any hunting. Ben and I worked hard to give Scott a good hunt, and it came down to the wire.

Looks like you had a really nice hunt,Scott.Congrats!

Wow!---- awsome to say the least
G

Excellent report of a terrific hunt! Congratulations! You enjoyed a hunt most of us can only dream of!

WTG, Scotty!

Great photos, great shooting and great results - and I love your attitude!

Go Scott
well done

Scott-

Great pictures. Is the Remington push-feed 375 you used the same rifle as in the photos with you? The rifle in the pictures looks like it has a 3 position safety, nice rear sight, barrel swivel, etc. Almost looks like a post 64 Winchester 458. Not your typical Remington product so I'm guessing a custom build. I'm curious if you can tell us anymore about it.

Scottyboy, big congratulations to you for fullfilling your goal. Be aware of the fact you just started a lifelong addiction. all the best for your next shot.

Like your fat smile after the kill and I´m betting you still have it.

Prewar, now thats impressive!! You must make sweet love to those guns of your's to know them that well!! The gun in the pics is Ben's Win .458!! When I was getting ready to take the pics on the first bull, I asked the tracker for my gun, and he handed Ben's gun to me..It then kinda became a running joke with him when I took the next two bulls..

Good eye!! BTW, that gun of his has some stories to tell for sure!