What I consider a good season is based on a number of factors and first and foremost would be the quality of hunting that my accompanying hunters have experienced, which is closely followed by the quality of game pursued. Trophy hunting is just that and it is about taking the beasts of your desire and seeking them where they occur in good numbers. To shoot an animal can be remarkably easy but to hunt one than is of specific age and maturity, to seek length of mane or horn often requires effort, time and a degree of skill. For me this style of hunting evokes a sea of fluctuating emotions that are not experienced elsewhere and this is one of the reasons why I do it.

Us hunters are very good at is advertising the good but will now and again obscure the bad and the ugly for it can do us harm or subject us to ridicule. AR does just that and you really have to be honest and on top of your game for this site. I would further go to state that the operators and PHs that are frequent posters on AR represent some of the very best of hunting in Africa today. That the AR members I have hunted with have been the very best of characters. That is AR for you. It is a tough site, it does not cater for greasy kids and its people are a colorful mix of individuals. And if you want to hunt proper then the AR hunting report forums are currently the best reference there is.

My forte has been to explore and secure the best possible free range hunting in Zambia today for my hunters. Whilst most of my hunting is conducted in the Kafue I did quite a bit in the Luangwa valley - a special place that I hold close to my heart. My very good friends Richard Bell Cross (Lunga Luswishi) and Thor Kirchner (Munyamadzi) are amongst a small band of hunters that I could recommend and it was a pleasure to able to spend some time with them in the field. They are both classy operators and scared of bugger all. Coincidentally we all carry the VC 500 NE and it was to be this gun that saved my and my life on the first hunt of the season. It was to be a reoccurring nightmare in my quiet moments. Walking through tall grass early season a screaming elephant violently collided into our party with its head low to the ground. To sort that out and then to get my team safely away and downwind from the agitated herd was a bad dream in itself. It was the first time in my career that I have had to split seconds.

My Royal Kafue project provides a partnered community 25% of gross income, employment and other social spinoffs. To work with a rural community can be very trying at the best of times and recently my successes have been counteracted by threats of an aggressive takeover and the greed of others. Poaching has escalated throughout Africa and this scourge is becoming increasing expensive to combat. My sleep is often anxious but in the end my woes bear little semblance to the stresses and upheavals that occur daily in Zimbabwe and beyond so I can count myself lucky.

We in Africa have bear the brunt of international bans and idiotic policy making from abroad. However the recent turmoil has bought to attention of the media that the vast hunting grounds are indeed the last secure bastions for the game and that those on the ground do conserve and enhance what remains. Not just wildlife but the land, water and associated habitats. Without all our participation these sanctuaries would implode and the domino effect would be catastrophic for tourism in Africa.

AR has done me very well and I want to take this opportunity to thank our host Saeed for his generosity and for the opportunity for me to market and advertise hunting at his expense. There is another Zaeed I would like to thank if he reads these pages.

A bonus this last year was to have my son Tom in the mix and his hard work and enthusiasm paid dividends. I would like to keep him on but he has that dreamy far away look in his eyes.

The following pictures are a compilation of some of the good trophies I have sought from both the Kafue and the Luangwa valley – the concessions of Nyakolwe, Nyamvu and Munyamadzi. I have also attached some pretty pictures and a couple that are personal to me. The Waterbuck shown here are the Crawshay’s Defassa and they are the biggest trophies that I have come across. Royal produced another giant Sable over 48 inches and a host of spectacular plains game. My buffalo tend to lack width but they are hard. It was good to hunt Lion again and I had almost forgotten how scary these beasts can be. The quality of Lion to come out of Zambia has been astonishing and due mainly to the newly imposed restrictions. AR’s Faisal eventually found his big Leopard and good on him for he hunted hard across Africa and set the bar very high. A number of my clients are in their latter years and what they lacked in physical fitness they made up in enthusiasm and passion. I remember one fine old man proudly announcing his recent heart surgery as he stepped off the plane. Another politely informed me that he could no longer straighten his knees and other bits. However it makes for exciting hunting as these mature specimens cannot run from danger. Best quote of the season – ‘I am simply a hunting whore’ one fine lady remarked.

Part 1

Congratulations Andrew
You truly are in the Jewel of Africa.
Spectacular season. Well done!!!

Part 2

That lower jaw is a trophy itself! Fine photos. Salt of the earth. Truly Africa. I always enjoy your posts.

Nice job! Makes me want to book another buff hunt.

BH63

Some Sable that I have met.

Those cats and sable are incredible.
Congratulations to you and your clients.

Very nice

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Some Sable that I have met.

Memories!! Thanks for sharing Andrew.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Nice as always Andrew!

Super stuff Andrew! Thanks for posting.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Some Sable that I have met.

Memories!! Thanks for sharing Andrew.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Your safari was extraordinary but then again we sort of knew it would be?

Andrew;

Thank you so much for a wonderful adventure!!! Looking at those lions we turned down...what were we thinking? This year we will find the one I was looking for!

Can't wait for another great adventure (from a hunting whore)!

Best regards, Darin

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Andrew;

Thank you so much for a wonderful adventure!!! Looking at those lions we turned down...what were we thinking? This year we will find the one I was looking for!

Can't wait for another great adventure (from a hunting whore)!

Best regards, Darin

My lady we had a glimpse of an awesome Lion and on reflection we should have shot him then and there. I was so convinced that we had him. But it was not to be and that is why we continue to hunt this precious specie in a wild land where there are no confines.

It is our privilege and one that we will take to the grave.

You could have gone to the Boobye or whatever it is called or that Sango place and shot your Lion from the comfort of the dining room. But it is just not cricket as us Brits say.

Love Andrew.

Andrew;

I'd rather wait for that lion of my dreams, and I'm sure you will find him for me!

Again, thanks for a wonderful hunt and great memories. Certainly no regrets on my part and that's cricket!

Darin

I also enjoy your posts!!! Thanks for taking the time!!!

Great cats and sable but what's the story on the bushbuck in the first photo in part 2?

I'm green with envy!

Well said and done mate

Andrew:

Headed to Masailand this year, but Zambia is on the short list. Love the cats, but then I saw the sable. The buffalo are most impressive.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Great cats and sable but what's the story on the bushbuck in the first photo in part 2?

I'm green with envy!

The bushbuck was taken in Munyamadzi by one of my hunters. The midday photos were crap and I quite like this one. The best Chobe bushbuck in Africa are found here and some years back I used to have a 21 inch pickup.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Andrew:

Headed to Masailand this year, but Zambia is on the short list. Love the cats, but then I saw the sable. The buffalo are most impressive.

And I can introduce you to some big Roan. The bigger buff are taken in the Luangwa valley. If you play your cards right then your wife gets to see two of the very best areas in Zambia.

Two AR members meet in the middle of nowhere. There were 6 AR members around the camp fire that night. I remember pouring gin from a jug.

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Andrew;

I'd rather wait for that lion of my dreams, and I'm sure you will find him for me!

Again, thanks for a wonderful hunt and great memories. Certainly no regrets on my part and that's cricket!

Darin

Tom sends his love.

You are on my "list"

Good Hunting
Carl Frederik

Well done looks like you had a fantastic season.

Andrew, will you be at DSC?

Awesome photos. Thanks for sharing.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanajay:
Andrew, will you be at DSC?

No mate.

Mr Baldry,

You know that you and Zambia have a special place in my heart.... and my god have we taken the very best out of Africa together.
I have had the rare pleasure of hunting and sharing camp with some of the best PH's in this industry.
The memories that we have created are something that I will cherish , pass on to my children, and try to relive again at the earliest opportunity.
You are in the finest of company in your chosen profession.

Congrats on a great year mate. Bring on 2017!
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Our great Luangwa Lion from this year.

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Thanks for sharing your wonderful pics from a great year of hunting. I'm getting that feeling again to be in the bush

Andrew i have always enjoyed reading your posts as they are always very informative.Congratulations on a great season and wish you all the best for 2017.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve416:
Mr Baldry,

You know that you and Zambia have a special place in my heart.... and my god have we taken the very best out of Africa together.
I have had the rare pleasure of hunting and sharing camp with some of the best PH's in this industry.
The memories that we have created are something that I will cherish , pass on to my children, and try to relive again at the earliest opportunity.
You are in the finest of company in your chosen profession.

Congrats on a great year mate. Bring on 2017!

Well said!!!!

Proper Andrew, proper! Well done!

quote:

Originally posted by COYOTE HUNTER:
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Is that the latest version of the Idi Amin safari rifle?[/QUOTE]

Thanks for sharing all the pics.

Isn't it a blaser?

Good going!
Andrew - seems to me the majority of the Buffalo is shot in savannah like terrain - what are the usual shooting distances on Buffalo?

.

Not bad Mr Baldry, not bad at all.

Now what are you going to do in 2017 ?



Charlie

.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Two AR members meet in the middle of nowhere. There were 6 AR members around the camp fire that night. I remember pouring gin from a jug.

From what I saw the pouring of gin from a jug is commonplace at Munyamadzi, but I'm struggling with idea that you'd remember pouring it

Some bloody nice animals this year Andrew, keep up the good work!!!

quote:

Originally posted by mouse93:
Good going!
Andrew - seems to me the majority of the Buffalo is shot in savannah like terrain - what are the usual shooting distances on Buffalo?

My last hunter Faisal shot two at about 30 paces. Trick is to see where they are going/grazing and loop around in front of them using anthills and other obstacles.