Dates: August 20-26, 2010
Location: Deka Safari Area, Zimbabwe
Outfitter: Kudzimba Safaris (Chris Moore)
PH: Stuart Magor
Trackers: Tauri, Silas, Abel
Firearms: Whitworth .458 WM, 1.5x5 Leupold, Whitworth .375 H&H, 2.5x8 Leupold
Ammunition: Norma 458WM 500 gr. Barnes Solids, Norma 375 H&H 300 gr. Swift A-Frames
Game Taken: Cape Buffalo, Kudu

This hunt started with a post from Christopher Moore offering a discounted Cape Buffalo hunt in Deka Safari Area. I checked references enough to be interested. After several emails to Chris I decided to take a chance on this new poster. Several things lined up for me, the fact that August dates were available, the jumping off point being Victoria Falls, which I wanted to see, the price was excellent, and I had never taken a Cape Buffalo.

General:

Flight from LFT to ATL to JNB was smooth and without a hitch. Met by Bruce from Gracy Travel and walked through SAPS. Afton Guest House was there waiting and was good as usual. Next day to VFA. Decided to stay overnight in Vic Falls at the Victoria Falls Hotel and do the tourist thing. High Tea at the Hotel, Dinner at the BOMA, ate the Mopani Worm, Helicopter Ride over the falls. I had a great time. From there to DEKA (tail), only 1.5 hrs away. The camp was in excellent shape. The tents were new and all furniture was new. The hunting vehicle was in very good condition. The camp cook and food was excellent. The PH, Stuart Magor, was great company and very hard working and very competent. The entire camp and tracking staff were very good and friendly. Saw lots of cow & calf elephants but no big bulls (except in Hwange Park), kudu, impala, 4 lionesses, giraffe, duiker, warthogs, a few bushbuck, hyenas, black tailed mongoose, no cow buffalo, only small batchelor herds of Bulls with several shooters in the herd.





THE HUNTING:

Lots of driving the trails and checking waterholes looking for fresh sign. On the second day we tracked a herd of 7 Dugga Boys for 3 hours and managed to get a look at them and determine that there were several shooters in the bunch. The wind didn't cooperate and they left the country. We found the track of that same herd again on the fourth day. We left the truck at 7:30AM and caught up to them a little after 12 noon (10 KM later). There were 2 bigger than the one I shot, 3 about the size of mine, and 2 smaller. We couldn't close on the 2 bigger ones because 1 bull was watching us trying to figure out what we were and had us pinned down about 50 yards from the herd. We had bumped this herd an hour earlier and they were very suspicious. Eventually a nice shooter bull fed out from the herd broadside to me and I elected to take the shot. A 500 grain Barnes solid in the shoulder and down he went. In the commotion that ensued, the herd started running in our direction, I lost sight of my Buff. My PH said he was up and running on the outside of the herd and I should shoot again. I found him running towards us at about 25 yards and planted another 500 grain Barnes solid in the point of his shoulder and this time he was down for good. Death bellow and the celebration started. Stuart said he was dead from the first shot, only he didn't know it yet. At any rate it was pretty fast action and very exciting. What great fun and very pleased with my first Cape Buffalo. Stuart aged him at 12 to 13 years old. We were so far from the truck that it took the trackers over 3 hours to get it up to us so we could load out all the meat.
The next several days we traveled throughout the concession and from waterhole to waterhole trying to find a good Kudu for me to take. We saw several nice ones but could not get a shot until the 7th and last day. On that day we spotted a big mature Kudu sneaking along in the bush about 100 yds away from the truck. We hurriedly got out of the truck, walking along parallel to him trying to determine if I should shoot. We were finally able to get a good look at him, up went the sticks and I put a 300 grain Swift A Frame in his shoulder at about 115 yards and down he went. Another celebration. My first Kudu. Again, I am very pleased. I sure am glad I took a chance on Chris Moore and DEKA.

Man was that fun. Can't wait to do it again.

Third trip to Africa. First hunting report. I used photobucket and read posting instructions but can't seem to post pictures instead of link.

??????

Nice looking buff, congratulations on your hunt.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...22101325/m/951100671



Go to 'Share' / 'Get link code' / use the IMG box (usually already checked).

Try that.

BNagel

Thanks. That was easy.

BEGNO,

Great safari and a big congrats on a great attitude. Fun is what it is all supposed to be about.

Mark

BEGNO, nice pics and congrats on your hunt. Your right, FUN is what it's all about!



Mad Dog

Some fine trophies there BEGNO, congrats!

Very nice!!!

Brett

Good job Butch. Nice Buff and Kudu.

I would be absolutely thrilled with a safari like that. Thanks for sharing the great pictures & story.

Butch

Very nice report!

I just returned from Deka with Chris Moore on Monday. Your trophies were still in the salt and the lions were still around camp. What a great area! Most fun I've ever had with my clothes on .

When I get caught up a bit I will post a report as well.

Keep in touch.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
BNagel

Thanks. That was easy.

LOVE the kudu. Great pix!

Great to hear you had fun with Chris. hard working young man determined to make a success of his area.
Nice trophies .

Great to hear you had such a fantastic hunt.

I have only hunted Deka twice, and had great fun both times.

First time was in 1982, when the camp was tented.

We arrived there about midday, had something to eat, and went out looking for buffalo. The camp was at a waterhole, and we could see the animals coming to water about 100 yards away.

We found the buffalo, and we followed them.

They led us back to the water by the camp.

Rene, Roy's wife, Alan and Diana, their kids, were watching the buffalo drink.

Suddenly, all hell broke loose, as the shot was fired.

The bull ran a few yards into the bush and stopped. Another bullet put him down.

I will try to find the photos and post them.

quote:

Fun is what it is all supposed to be about.

exactly

quote:

Fun is what it is all supposed to be about.

Yep, four days and miles of tracking. I am so looking forward to that!

Very nice looking kudu and buffalo!

Great post thank you for sharing
dave

Great report and pics! Congratulations!

Very nice Butch, I will stop and visit next time I am in Lafayette.

Congratulations on your Buffalo,and thanks for the report.