This report is a little late, but better late than never I guess.

Last year my plan was to hunt buffalo in the Congo rainforest with Cam Grieg, but due to personal issues Cam asked if we could wait a year.

For several years I had an interest in hunting Zambia, but never booked a hunt there. I read one of Fairgame’s threads about a new hunting area in Zambia. When I read the thread I contacted Leon Kachelhoffer about going to Kanzutu. My primary interests were buffalo, roan, and puku. We would have to hunt a different area for puku but that was ok. I thought it would be a fun to be the first hunter in a new area. http://forums.accuratereloadin...891026802#3891026802

Leon met me in Lusaka and brought me to the hotel. I allowed a couple of extra days in country in case of any problems. Without going through all of the details Leon was unable to obtain the permits for us to hunt Kanzutu. After Leon and his partner spent a large sum of money on anti-poaching, infrastructure, etc. a government bureaucrat decided he and the government were not getting their fair share.

In steps Andrew Baldry with Royal Kafue. This would be a good time to thank Andrew, Mr. and Mrs. 218Bee, and Mr. and Mrs. Surefire7. Andrew allowed us to setup a fly camp and the other hunters had no issues with us being there even though the concession was supposed to be exclusive for them. We met the 218Bees at the end of their hunt and the Surefire7s at the beginning of theirs. Both couples are class acts and a credit to the hunting community.

Leon with help from Andrew and his staff, setup the fly camp. It was one of my favorite camps ever. We had an outdoor shower, cooked over an open fire, and no generator. It was great. Leon is a very competent PH and I enjoyed hunting with him.

We ended up taking a buffalo, roan, and puku. The buffalo was hunted in the tall grass. It was the first time I shot a buffalo that was not recovered either immediately or within a couple of hours. After shooting it at extremely close range we tracked it for at least eight hours until dark. The next morning we picked up the tracks quickly and saw it was stumbling. We caught up to it shortly in 10 foot tall grass. I told Leon earlier if he had a better shot to take it, it was not worth risking anybody’s life. It ran to our left somewhat in our direction. We both got shots in it and it was over. My guess is I single lunged it the day before. They can go a long ways like that.


For those who are not familiar with Royal Kafue it is a great area that Andrew and the local community have built together. It could be considered a model for conservation and community involvement. Six years ago the Royal Kafue area had no game. It was all poached for bush meat. Since then the local community has worked with an experienced operator ( Andrew Baldry) to provide anti-poaching for the area. After several years conducting anti-poaching game was back in the area in sufficient numbers to hunt. Since then, the wildlife in the area has thrived and the local community has benefited, all paid by hunters dollars.

I went to Zambia right after the Zimbabwe lion story became viral, so I had time to ponder the consequences of the event and the reactions of the anti-hunters and governments. One morning we were on buffalo tracks and had to wait for a herd of sable to pass on our right. Immediately in front of us was a small herd of hartebeest and before we could move over 20 eland past 100 yards in front of us. I lamented the thought that the "do-gooders" who have never been to Africa, have not contributed one dollar to the preservation of any species, and have no idea about conservation in Africa would have their way the wonderful sight in front of me would be gone forever.

There was so much more like the day we watched 41 roan in one herd, the evening I should have shot the blue duiker but pushed the safety forward on Andrew’s little CZ (which put it back on safe), I was there when a poached lion was found, We saw a huge gnarly civet cat, I drove the boat down the Kafue River, and I had the pleasure to celebrate with the Surefires the night they took the leopard. I also found out it can get cold in Africa. My last several trips were in April, May, October, November, and December in the Zambezi Valley. I was ill prepared for the Kafue cold nights and mornings.

At the end of the day I had a great hunt, met some great people, and enjoyed the great Royal Kafue.

Wow! I like the camp and the idea of hunting a brand new area. What an adventure and memories. Worth waiting for.
Thanks for posting

Great report Mike. Well done.

I absolutely love spending time in those light camps. So much "at one with the surrounds"

Looks like you had a wonderful time. Congratulations and thank you for sharing with us.

Hey brother!

Glad to read your report...late IS certainly better than never!

It was a blast having you and Leon in camp while your fly camp was being set up (and finding out just how small the world...especially the oilfield...really is!).

Thanks for the flowers, but Jane and I didn't do anything that any other decent soul wouldn't have done for a fellow hunter in a tight spot on the far side of the world. As you so rightly observed, Royal Kafue is a success story of game management resurrection and redemption...it would be crass beyond belief for any client to not share access to such an area with a fellow "true believer".

Thanks for the awesome pics as well...including the old Medalla. Heaven only knows how many years he's been tending a cook fire; Jane shot some wonderful video of him singing and dancing!

Glad to hear that your trip turned out well despite the rocky start...but sometimes that's just part of the experience, right?

Mark & Jane

Way to go, Mike! I'll be heading over to Zambia in July myself.

Way to turn lemons into lemonade Mike! And hats off to Mr. Baldry and his group of hunters for being so accommodating! Well done all around.

MikeBurke

It was indeed a trip of a lifetime from start to finish! We had an absolutely super time all made possible by the understanding and help of really good people!

THE BUFFALO HUNT

Andrew had told Mike and I of a small group of old bulls that feed out in the open at night then retire to the long grass and thickets during the day.

First morning we picked up tracks of the group right near camp which headed south to the thickets about 1km away. As the tracks were very fresh and knowing that the buff hadn't been disturbed yet I knew they won't be too far off.

As we entered the long grass I took the lead staying on the down-wind side of the tracks and going 10 paces at a time, stop, listen for a few minutes then move again. It was long till we heard definate sign that they were lying up about 30-40 yards up wind of us.
So begun the exciting and nerving stalk. We tiptoed forward when the breeze blew and froze when it stopped, all the while waiting to literally step on one of the brutes! Being guided by ears that don't work so well makes me extra careful so I had Michael, Andrew's star young tracker, just behind me to help pinpoint the different buff.
It was really intense, in there, finally we could just just make out two in front, about 10-15 yards and a third position off to the right a bit. Ditto for trophy assessment that at this stage. Only thing left to do was wait till one got up and moved. One did but we didn't get a good look at him.
I managed to get into a position where I could make out that the buff had a solid boss. Mike and had discussed this earlier and he'd agreed that he was there for the hunting experience, mature solid boss buff and I'd prepped him on how it would more than likely play out if given an opportunity...
Once I'd given Mike the thumbs up things happened quite quickly as the window is fleet and narrow. The buff promptly got up walked slowly to our left, quartering slightly away, about to be swallowed up again by the grass and brush.

Mike didn't waste time getting his well used Krieghoff 470 into battery and bang!! Remember this happens in mere seconds at ten yards in long grass so it's very exciting and intense!!
We waited a good few minutes letting everything settle down, including our nerves.. Then took up the tracks very slowly and after 100 yards or so Mike's buff had peeled off from the rest of the group. This normally a good sign, shortly after this I picked up the first spots of blood. Not great but we'd tagged him and had to finish what we'd started.
We stopped, dicussed the situation and how to go about it. Suffice to say that this buff hardly stopped the entire time! At around 2pm we took a breather and a nap and I started to feel the onset of malaria and/or flu. We pushed on and nearing 4:30 we found the first place were he'd laid up. There was plenty blood and felt we were getting really close after a little while we found another spot but after that NOTHING! Really unusual behavior from a buff, I'd expected a show down around every turn in the trail with abundant grass and thicket for an ambush or lay up.
Anyhow how we continued on till late and headed back to camp.

Early next morning we were on the track again little. The buff had joined up with two buddies and spent the night together. It was wasn't long till we jumped them on the edge of a thicket and plains. A little ways in they split up, two went east and we determined that our fellow had indeed peeled off, heading west and down-wind.

Now Feeling positive about him going off alone we pressed on cautiously.
A few hundred yards into the long grass things escalated in a heartbeat. One moment we were carefully tracking next the two trackers in front scattered. The buff was barreling straight back towards us, at top speed! I could just make out his form and the trail of rapidly flattening grass surging towards us. I'm sure that with all the commotion caused by his imminent arrival he suddenly veered off to the left at the very last moment, giving both Mike and I snap shot. It was at this point that I had to grab Mike by the binostrap and hold on for life as he tried to take off after the buff just like a Jack Russel Terrior would! I do it when conditions and circumstance call for it but I've NEVER had to restrain a hunter before! We had a damn good chuckle afterwards!

The buff disappeared from view but like a flash, we then heard a crash, moved up quickly and Mike emptied his two-pipe and finally ended the affair.


Mike and I had great hunt. The area is diverse, wild and most enjoyable to hunt.
Buff in the long grass or thickets is certainly one of my absolute favorite ways of hunting buff. It's not for everyone and is generally the reserved for the more daring and experienced hunter. Mike fits the bill on both scores.

A sincere thanks to Andrew Baldry, Royal Kafue, his crew, Mark & Jane and the surefires for making it happen.

Here's to Mike for being a great sport! Looking forward to another great adventure in the near future!

Leon



Royal Kafue is a great area and excellent example of can be done when people with the right intention are in the driving seat.

Well done Mike. Thanks for sharing the report. I bet that is the first time someone 6'6" has been described as a Jack Russell versus a Great Dane.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for posting your report.

You're surely welcome, and thank you for the kind words. We enjoyed having you in camp a lot. It was great seeing all of your trophies as you took them and sharing in your success. And you were there to share our success on the Leopard.

Royal Kafue and Andrew are both treasures. What a great place to hunt. We also enjoyed talking to Leon, your PH. What a great guy also.

Thanks for posting the photos. Brought back some good memories!

Hope to share another camp with you some day Mike.


Surefire7

What a refreshing report. Its good to see outfitters looking out for each other.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Kudos to all involved.

It was a pleasure to host you both at Royal. You chaps have balls to take on those communal buff in the long grass and I avoid that place if I can.

And thanks again Leon for the back up shot on the Leopard.

Wow! my kind of hunting! I wish I could go ......

Looking at your camp picture and I think we hung a Leopard bait in that tree when we were "first in" in 2012.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

I bet that is the first time someone 6'6" has been described as a Jack Russell versus a Great Dane.

Mike is 6'6" only when wearing his high-heels :-)

I prefer to call them cowboy boots. And it is my imposing personality that makes me appear a couple of inches taller.

Thanks for all of the comments.

It was interesting waiting in the hotel for Leon to sort out the permit issue. Had it been my first safari or even my third or fourth I would have not been so calm. I guess I have learned to remain patient and things tend to work out.

218Bee, the old chef was an interesting man, he even traveled to other countries with a dance troupe.

Surefire7, next time you and Mrs. Surefire have to come boat riding with me in the river, the hippos were very well behaved. It was fun helping with the leopard blind and being there during the follow up at a safe distance of course.

Leon, it was a fun hunt. I remember coming out of that long grass in the evening and having a feeling of relief by being in the open again. That stuff was thick and tall. Don't worry I could see the buffalo and had reloaded as you grabbed me. I was just trying to get really really close. And Michael is a very good tracker. I appreciated you and him showing me a little about tacking buffalo in the tall grass.

Shooting buff in thick grass at close range is about as good as it gets. Returning to camp to a bottle of whiskey on ice does not really get any better.

Well done Mike, sounds like a great experience

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Shooting buff in thick grass at close range is about as good as it gets. Returning to camp to a bottle of whiskey on ice does not really get any better.

Mike et al,

Congratulations! Sounds like a great team effort made for a very successful safari.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Congrats Mike! I never saw this post.

I shared a camp with Leon in Tanzania one year. A first class PH no doubt.

Wow talk about saving the day, Royal Kafue, Andrew and accompanying hunters!I can't image the feeling of being told you have no where to hunt after arriving, so what if anything is happening to Kanzutu???


Thanks for report

Great Hunt!!!

You mentioned it was a bit chilly. What month were you there??

What a great trip!!

Thanks for the report.

Excellent Mike, looks like fun times. Now to do a similar experience chasing elephant in Mozambique??

quote:

Originally posted by TwicePipes:
Great Hunt!!!

You mentioned it was a bit chilly. What month were you there??

It is positively frigid from May to July. We burn a lot of firewood during those months.

quote:

Originally posted by TwicePipes:
Great Hunt!!!

You mentioned it was a bit chilly. What month were you there??

End of July to beginning of August.

quote:

Shooting buff in thick grass at close range is about as good as it gets.

Leon did his " close-quarters apprenticeship" in the thickets of Kitiangare; if you survive several seasons of that kind of shit you are in a different class of PHs.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Shooting buff in thick grass at close range is about as good as it gets.

Leon did his " close-quarters apprenticeship" in the thickets of Kitiangare; if you survive several seasons of that kind of shit you are in a different class of PHs.

I think every hunt Leon has helped me on there has been a charge of some sorts. He now carries a .577

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by TwicePipes:
Great Hunt!!!

You mentioned it was a bit chilly. What month were you there??

It is positively frigid from May to July. We burn a lot of firewood during those months.

I love cold mornings in Africa.