I just returned from a great safari in Tanzania with some great clients! This was a hunt with 3 vehicles for 3 couples and booked as 21-day hunt, but we only hunted 13 days in Lolkisale and Lobo.

Outfitter: Tanzania Bundu Safaris
Agent: Adam Clements Safari Trackers
Hunt Dates: July 4-16, 2012
PH's: Brian van Blerk, Wayne Clark begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting and myself

This safari consisted of Mark and M"lissa, there daughter Kelsea and new son in law Mike as well as Ike and his partner Nancy. This was Mike and Kelsea's honeymoon present as they were newly married and what a great honeymoon gift. Everything was on the list to be hunted for everyone and the hunting God was good to us. We have hunted with this group before and I must admit that this was one of my favorite safaris I have ever done not just because of our great success, but simply because everyone was there to have a great time no matter what, and boy did we have a great time! We had several parties during the course of the safari which delayed the hunting on some mornings with a few headaches, but one of the funnest safaris that I have had, which really what a safari is about and enjoying the whole experience no matter what.

The time went so fast and the days so blurred there is no way I can remember any exact days, so this will have to me more of a general report and I will post a lot of pictures below. Impossible to post all of the pictures, and just post a few of what I think are the better ones.

I flew to Orlando where I met everyone on the 1st of July. July 2nd we all left on Mark's private plane and spent the night in Casablanca in Morocco and had dinner at the famous Rick's cafe. July 3rd headed to Kilimanjaro where we arrived at 7pm and decided to drive straight into camp to get an early start on the 4th.

During the 13 actual hunting days Mark and M'Lissa on my car managed to get 21 trophies. Ike and Nancy on Brian's car ended up taking 25 trophies. Mike and Kelsea on Wayne's car took 17 trophies for a total of 63 great trophies. This included 3 Lions, 3 Leopard, 1 Elephant, 10 Buffalo (Ike paid for a an additional 10-day permit giving him a total of 5 Buffalo).

Even with the great success that we had it was not what I would call easy hunting and we had to work pretty much for everything, but everything did fall into place. With hunting sometimes things fall into place and makes things appear easy and sometimes things do not fall into place, and that is just the way hunting goes.

We took some great Buffalo, but the best one was on the first day that Mark took which was 47.5" with extremely tight boss. Ike took a dandy of one as well with great drop with Brian and with Brian's .500. We had some fun with the doubles on this safari and everyone fell in love with hunting the Buffalo with our doubles. I think we converted 3 more hunters to buying doubles!

We took 3 leopards pretty quick in the safari and had 4 Kabubi's under our belt by the 4th day!

Kelsea and Mike took a nice Elephant as well on day 3 of the hunt.

The Lions were not cooperating as we wanted and played hide and seek. Brian and Wayne managed to get their Lions on the same day which was day 11 I think. I decide that I wanted to change things up for my car and decided to at least enjoy an adventure so headed South to the Lobo block and fly camped there for 5 days. I love to fly camp more than anything as it really brings you closer to nature the true experience. This move proved to be a great decision as we took a great Lion, 32" Lesser Kudu, Eland, 3rd Buffalo and Grants while fly camping.

Drove down to Lobo and with an extra bait truck to carry the fly camp. Sent that car ahead to set up camp while we hunted our way there. About 2 hours before arriving at the fly camp spot we broke a U bolt and the spares were in the other truck. So instead of just sitting there waiting on the spare I decided to limp along regardless which was a great decision as well. Not even 30 minutes further while limping along we jumped a Lesser Kudu which was one of those times I did not need my Bino's for as he was that big! He ran into some thick bush and I grabbed M'Lissa and her gun and got to the thicket and could not see anything.. A little pssttt from Doto my tracker and the Lesser Kudu was walking away from behind this big thicket into the wind. I grabbed M'Lissa and pulled her along a quick trot to gain some ground between the bushes to get her a closer shot. The Kudu stopped to look back in our direction not knowing that we had followed him. I put the sticks up and M'Lissa was shacking like she was cold, but managed to make a perfect shot and the Kudu dropped in its tracks. There was NO ground shrinkage on this guy and the best lesser Kudu I have taken with a client to date at 32". Doto and I were more happy than M'Lissa and she did not realize how big this trophy was except from our own excitement..

I really wanted to get a Zebra or Buffalo up for bait that first night, but just did not work out that way which worried me as time was running short on me with no Lion action. 2nd day at fly camp went out looking for Eland and of course where I thought for sure I would get an Eland we did not! That afternoon could not even find a Zebra as they all new I was desperate for some bait.. Luck would have it though at last night ran into a herd of Buffalo and I picked out an old solid boss bull in the herd and Mark dropped him. We cut the Buff in half and hung a bait right around that area as it was now getting dark and I just wanted to get some meat in the trees. Drove another 2 hours towards camp and hung the last bait at a spot I had in mind already and got into camp very late. Herd some Lions that night in the same direction we hung the last bait. #rd morning in fly camp I wanted to get to the Eland place early so sent the bait car to check the two baits we had hung. Not even 30 minutes after heading out the bait car called me on the radio and said there was a very nice male Lion at our second bait and he was just laying there. So, I turned the car around and raced to the bait site hoping for this lion to still be there. Drove up to the bait site and stopped about 200 yards and got a good although quick glimpse of a good male lion sneaking off into the thick bush. I could tell this was a good lion and we would get this guy. We built the blind and left the area for the rest of the day. Our hopes were soaring and I knew this cat would be in the salt very soon as he had hardly touched the bait and would be back early to feed. Headed back to get into the blind by 4:30 and told M'Lissa that Mark would shoot his LIon at 5:35! started getting closer to the bait and saw smoke everywhere!!! yes, you guessed it the bloody Masai had started fires in that area during the day and everything was now black ash and the flames were still going. drove to the blind which was still standing but flames headed towards it and we spent 30 minutes putting out fires to save the blind.. Now I was devastated and pissed off, and could tell Mark was even more devastated at this, so I could not let on on how bad I thought this was and showed my positive side. I did still think we would be okay and that the Lion was still around as these animals are used to fires every year and know how to survive around them, BUT I was very nervous that the big fire had run the Lion off!! Anyway sent the car off with a smile and told Mark the Lion would still come in early. 5:30 I looked at my watch and kinda smiled to myself and said to myself this will be a miracle if this Lion comes out this early with the sun still full in the sky and after a big fire!! While I was thinking and praying to myself all of a sudden I saw what looked like the biggest gold color Lion come walking into the sun light that I had ever seen!!! This lion looked like a GOD and for sure the King of beast standing there in the sun with his head held high looking over the area. The blackened earth made him stand out even more. I touched Mark and told him to get ready! He could not believe what he was seeing either and had to blink a couple of times before it registered that everything was still going down as planned.. The Lion walked towards the bait and stood broadside to us at 83 yards. I told mark if he was comfortable to take him, even though down deep inside I really did not want to shoot this beautiful creature just due to the most respect I have for them and felt sorry that I had won this time. Mark made a perfect shot and Lion spun around and made death run towards the blind and collapsed around 20 yards in front of us. It was an unbelievable sight and a hunt that I will NEVER forget and a trophy that I will always remember and respect. The mixed emotions that both Mark and I had with this Lion was intense and I left mark to sit with his Lion and appreciate the great experience that he just had and the Lion for its greatness in life and in death.. The car arrived and everyone was celebrating and could not believe the outcome of this hunt.

We ended up getting a nice Eland as well the next day. Mark and M'Lissa enjoyed fly camping so much they had me call Wayne and tell him to also join us so that Mike and Kelsea could experience the fly camp and enjoy a different experience. We enjoyed the the final days just appreciating the hunt and the great success that we all had and knew that this safari was one of a kind in memories with great trophies and great friends who appreciate the whole experience and adventure...

Wayne and Brian also have their own great Lion stories and other stories from their perspective and their hunt from the other two cars, and sorry that I can not portray their stories to you and can only pass on the great success they had. Brian and Wayne had hunted for me over 10 years and are more like brothers to me and I do not know of many PH's who I would put in the same category as these two guys, and for those of you who have hunted with Brian or Wayne know what quality I am talking about..

That's all folks and hope you enjoy these pictures. Now back to catching up. E-mail me with any questions or interest in booking a future hunt with us. I have hundreds of pictures and have just selected some of the best for here..

Lester one of the Pilots getting plane ready.


47.5" Buff on first day

Adam;

Great story and photos.... What a fabulous safari these folks had!!!! The fly camping is the ultimate!!!!

Well done, D. Nelson

Thanks for the hunt report.Great lesser kudu.

Looks like a great time was had by all. Thanks for sharing.

Hard to beat that!!!!

Very nice Adam!

Brett

nice pictures, What an Adventure!

WOW! Stuff dreams are made of! Well done

Wow is an undderstatement! You guys are killing me, I've still got a year to wait for my Buff hunt.

Great report Adam. Looks like these folks had the hunt of a lifetime. Good work.

Several great looking buffalo and a beautiful Grants too.....

Where do you sign up to be adopted by these nice folks?

Will,

You don't need to be adopted just decide you want the best. You and your wife will love it. Masailand is so romantic.

Mark

Wow.

Thanks for the report Adam
63 trophies WOW

If I ever win the lottery...

Dream hunt with some super trophies. The Lesser Kudu is a beast and three lion! Crap does it get any better?

Absolutely Amazing!!! Some truely great trophies. Thank you for your report and photos.

What a great set of trophies, welldone and thanks for sharing.

The photos are absolutely outstanding!

Mad Dog

Thanks everyone for the comments. A few more pictures you might enjoy as well.

We sent the two pilots and their wives out on a photo safari with us while we hunted and here are a few great pictures they took from the safari. This is always a great option to do as wel either before or after your hunt in Tanzania.

Goodness! I think you made up the story. They actually stayed for 2 months to get all of that shooting in.
Wow!!

Thanks Adam and all your clients, a big S. Texas yeeeeeeeeeeeeeha and well done.

Thanks for sharing the experience.

Some of those photos are incredible. Well done Adam. Some day..................

WOW, wow, wow, wow, WOW!!!

Awesome!!

And I thought my PSD was bad before...