HUNT SUMMARY

Date of Hunt: May 2006

Locations: KweKwe (Piscottie Ranch) & Hurungwe Campfire Area (Sanyati), Zimbabwe

Animals Successfully Taken: (2) Non-Trophy (PAC) Elephant Bulls, Zebra Stallion

Animals Hunted But Not Shot: Impala

PH/Outfitter: Alan Shearing of Charlton & McCallum Safaris
Email: hunting@cmsafaris.com
Landline Phone (from US): 011 263 4 870149
Website: CM Safaris Website


TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY

The cool breeze was still blowing through the Valley from the South, while the morning sun was working overtime to remove the dew from the thick vegetation. As I stood there, observing the scene before me, I momentarily wondered whether I was still in New Hampshire dreaming of Africa, or whether in fact, what lay before me was real. As one hand felt the smooth texture of the Ivory and the other the warmth still emanating from the large gray mass, I quickly realized that I was no longer in North America. But how had this happened? Three years ago I had never hunted an animal in my life, and now I was hunting the largest land mammal on earth. I guess like most things in life, it is best to start at the beginning.

In 2004, after watching a History Channel program about the infamous Kenya Safari Club, I decided that at 44, I would now become a hunter. With no previous experience, I started slowly with a Spring Canadian Black Bear hunt followed by a September hunt in Limpopo Province, RSA. At this point, like most of us, I was irreversibly addicted. 2005 brought forth another Spring Bear and in the Fall, I was hunting the rugged and beautiful Chirisa Concession in North Central Zimbabwe. As 2006 came over the horizon, I was blessed to have a hunt booked in Chewore North for September which I was very much looking forward to. The old adage that “Tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring†is very true for the following story.

While surfing the Internet and visiting the various African hunting website’s, I noticed a post on AR regarding the availability of an non-trophy (Problem Animal, also generically referred to as “PACâ€) Elephant hunt in Zimbabwe. This hunt was being offered by the well known outfit of Charlton McCallum Safaris, and would need to take place within the next month. At this point, my small cranium was in overdrive trying to figure out how I could coordinate this opportunity into my schedule. After a few emails with fellow AR members and a phone call to Buzz Charlton, co-owner of Charlton McCallum Safaris, a contract was signed, and the hunt was mine. The plan was to spend a few days in KweKwe hunting plains game, and then head to the Sanyati hunting concession on Lake Kariba for the PAC Elephant hunt.

Wanting to make this hunt as pleasurable as possible, I decided two things. First , in order to avoid the hassle of bringing my own rifle, I would use one provided by CMS. And second, after two rather negative experiences on South African Airways, even in Business Class, I would find an alternative route to Harare. I flew from Boston to London on British Airways and arrived at 8:30 in the morning. As the flight to Harare did not leave until 7:20 that night, I made a reservation at the Heathrow Hilton, which is a mere five minute walk from the terminal. After a nice shower, a little nap, and dinner, I was back at the terminal awaiting my flight to Harare, again on BA.

I arrived in Harare at 6:25 in the morning and was greeted by Myles McCallum, co-owner of CMS. It was a pleasure to see Myles again, as I had briefly met him at Reno the year before, and was looking forward to getting to know him better. After a brief stop at CMS headquarters, which is located in a separate building on Buzz’s property, we were on our way for the four hour ride to Piscottie.

CM Safaris Land Cruisers at Buzz’s House in Harare


Piscottie Ranch (KweKwe)

The ride went quickly and the scenery was beautiful. Myles is a wealth of knowledge, and was able to answer the many questions I had about the two locations I would be hunting this trip. We arrived at Piscottie Ranch which is part of the Sebakwe Black Rhino Conservancy just before noon, and after being shown to my room, we had a wonderful lunch overlooking the Munyati River. The Ranch is totally run by CMS, with a full compliment of workers, which include cooks, gardeners, general maintenance and anti-poaching patrols. Piscottie Ranch consists of 14,000 fenceless acres, and with the other property’s that make up the Conservancy, the total is over 100,000 acres.

By early afternoon on Day 1, my Professional Hunter Alan Shearing had arrived and the hunt began. Alan is a 33 year old Zimbabwe native who is a true gentleman and a gifted hunter with an established and growing reputation. After discussing with Alan that I would like to secure a mature Impala and a Zebra stallion without any shadow stripes, we set out to the gun range to see if I could actually operate a firearm. As mentioned earlier, I did not bring my own rifle, and would be using two guns owned by Alan. For this portion of the hunt, I would be using a .270 equipped with a fixed 4X scope, which is perfectly adequate for most plainsgame. The .270 had a very long trigger pull which was a little odd, but after three shots, and the bullet’s ending up in the general direction of the target, we were on our way.

As we walked through the long grass, it was hard not to compare my past African hunts where everything was brown and dry after a long winter. Here everything was incredibly green and moist, which made our moving through the terrain almost silent. With Taka, Alan’s #2 tracker in the lead, we meandered by streams and ponds, over dam’s and hills, all of which were truly beautiful. I was brought out of my trance by a strong odor which could only have been a dead animal. As we honed in on this scent, we discovered a 15' Python that had recently died. According to Alan, it had been dead no longer than a day, and most likely died from something it ate. If it smelled this bad after a day, I certainly would not want to smell it after a week! That night we sat around the fire enjoying the stars above and solved the worlds problems. It was a great feeling to be back in Africa.

15-Foot Python Found Dead


Day 2 started by me herding a pack of wild gecko’s out of the bathtub so I could quickly wash. Alan, Taka, Bashop and myself were on our way by 6:00am and watched as the rising sun moved over the horizon. The sun felt warm, my body felt rested, and I was more than exited about my first full day of hunting. We saw Impala, Kudu, Wildebeest, Zebra, Honey Eaters and Sparrow Weavers. We also saw a beautiful herd of around thirty Sable, including babies with their coco brown fur.

While moving to another area in the Land Cruiser, Alan noticed a mature male Impala, and we quickly dismounted. Alan handed me his .270 and off we went in pursuit of this potential trophy. As we moved away from the vehicle and into the brush, I noticed that the safety on the .270 was off. As I was about to place the safety back on, Alan whispered that the Impala was a mere 15 yards away displaying a perfect sideways profile. The gun was raised, the shoulder found, and the trigger was on its way back to release the sear. Back and back it came, and then the trigger pull increased. Five pounds, ten pounds, fifteen pounds, and then the small bulb illuminated in my brain. I looked at Alan, and Alan looked at me. We both started laughing as we realized the gun was not loaded. Meanwhile, the Impala patiently stood sideways fifteen yards away, but as our laughter increased, he trotted away.

Not to be deterred, and with a loaded rifle this time, we followed the Impala to see if we could get another chance. That partial chance came a few minutes later when the upper neck and head of the animal came in sight. The rest of the body was obscured from what I wrongly guessed to be “just a few leavesâ€. As the Impala started to look nervous, I followed the neckline down, and estimated where the shoulder would be through the leaves and shot. The Impala bolted at the sound of the rifle and went on its merry way without a scratch. My thin patch of leaves turned out to be a tree stump, and I was thankful that I did not wound the animal. I guess in my excitement I broke a cardinal rule and learned from the experience. Do not shoot unless you have a clear shot. In the past when I brought my own rifle, I was the only one to handle it. I loaded it, unloaded it, cleaned it, and knew its characteristic’s well. My failure here was not spending more time shooting the .270 and becoming more familiar with its operation.

After a lunch consisting of Wildebeest meat balls and spaghetti, we were out again putting many miles on our feet. Again, as we walked, we noticed the smell of death. This time unfortunately it was not so difficult to locate. Before us lay a beautiful, but dead Giraffe, that had died in the last day, and it was a sad sight to see this mature bull bloated in the mid day sun. Earlier, we had seen another Giraffe nearby, and now knew that she was looking for her dead partner. Alan indicated that the giraffe was most likely a poaching victim from the surrounding area, and with its incredibly thick skin, and high mounted heart, it can be a difficult animal to kill in the best of times. Place poachers into the equation with limited anatomical knowledge and underpowered firearms, and you end up with this. Alan entered the exact location of the Giraffe into his G.P.S., and the authorities were notified.

Giraffe Suspected to Have Been a Victim of a Poacher


We spent the rest of the afternoon walking and enjoying the peaceful setting, while looking for another Impala or Zebra. As the sun began to lower in the sky, we headed back to the ranch for another evening of fine dining and a blazing fire.

Piscottie Camp




Munyati River in Front of Camp


Day 3 at Piscottie started with a hearty breakfast and another stellar day. It was interesting to note that on my past Safaris, both of which took place in September, there were no clouds in the sky. In May however, the sky was dotted by a variety of clouds ranging from alto stratus to cumulus nimbus, which made the setting more interesting and colorful.

Through the long grass we went in search our quarry and it was Alan’s sharp eyes that spotted a herd of about eight Zebra. After a quick look through his binoculars, I was informed that this was the stallion I was hoping for. Almost pure black and white with very limited shadow stripes on the hind quarters. Following Alan forward, we meandered through the thick grass in order to get into the best position . When it was not possible to get any closer, I raised the rifle, found the shoulder, and started to squeeze the trigger on the .270. When the rifle finally fired, the stallion had quartered away, but I felt confident that the bullet would still find the heart.

As the herd galloped away from us, Taka and Bashop moved forward to start their expert skill of tracking and looking for any possible sign of a positive hit. It was not long before they called Alan and showed him a small piece of grass with a minuscule spec of blood. The next word’s out of Alan’s mouth were something I had never heard before, and never want to hear again. “Rob, I think you may have hit him in the gutâ€. To say that my heart sank and that I felt sick to my stomach would have been a gross understatement. Running through my mind were the many stories of African animals living for days on end in this condition and in intense pain. How could I have done this to such a beautiful animal? As I played the scene back in my mind, I know that I did in fact shoot slightly aft as he was quartering away, but still angling towards his heart. At this point, as the trackers moved slowly forward, I was praying to God that I did not cause him undue pain, and that he would soon expire. A few minutes later my prayers were answered as we found him on his side with no sign of life. As I placed my hands upon him, I was almost overcome with emotion.

As we examined the Stallion, it was obvious that the bullet did hit almost mid body, and was why there was so little blood to follow. Later at camp when we had more time to examine what happened, the bullet did in fact enter mid section, but was angled forward to take out the entire left lung and go directly through the heart. At this point, with this much catastrophic damage, we started to wonder how he could have run as far as he did. I will always treasure this trophy and remember that my prayers were answered that day.

Zebra Taken in Piscottie (KweKwe)



Professional Hunter Alan Shearing & Tracker Taka


Alan & Taka Through the Long Grass


Pond Located in Piscottie


On the way back to camp, we noticed a long black stick laying in the road. Alan immediately stopped the cruiser and told me it was a Black Mamba about 12' long. I was quickly handed the .270 and took a shot at this deadly creature from about 30 yards. Unfortunately, I just nicked it, and off it went into the thick bush where it disappeared. Needless to say, we did not go in looking for it.

That night we sat by the mopane fire and enjoyed each others company. The last three days at Piscottie were wonderful, and tomorrow we would set out on a nine hour drive to Sanyati on Lake Kariba in Northern Zimbabwe. As I sat there and listened to the Munyati river flow over the rocks, I knew that life does not get much better than this.


Sanyati (Hurungwe Campfire) Near Omay

Day 4 began with Alan and his crew preparing his Land Cruiser for the long journey ahead. All fluids were changed, the vehicle washed, and fuel carefully siphoned into the Cruiser’s two large tanks. Fuel in Zimbabwe is gold, and each drop is carefully administered and accounted for.

Fueling Alan’s Land Cruiser for the Ride to Kariba


With anticipation, we finally left Piscottie, and were on our way to finally hunt Elephant. We passed through Kadoma, Chegutu, Chinhoyi and Makuti on our way to Sanyati. The drive was very interesting, and with Alan’s superb driving skills, it was actually a pleasure. However, once we left the paved roads, this is where the ride became real interesting and entertaining. The area we would be hunting is called Sanyati, which is part of the Hurungwe Campfire area, located on the eastern end of Lake Kariba, between the Sanyati river and the Gache Gache river. I was to be the first CMS client to hunt this area, and the directions given to Alan were rather vague and there were no sign’s. “Take a right at big rock that look like Lion, then take a left at the big Lion that look like rock.†After nine hours we finally passed the high Gache Gache bridge and were on the final stretch of our trek to Sanyati camp.

Gache Gache Bridge


Sanyati is located on the upper right side of the map:


After a much needed shower, we sat around the roaring fire with our new hosts, and learned more about this beautiful area. Sanyati Camp is a family run business which caters mostly to German, Portuguese, and Brazilian hunters, and according to the owners, only two Americans have ever hunted there. They are usually the only ones who take hunters into their concession, and I think it was quite a honor that they have welcomed CMS to hunt there. They indicated that the radio had been active all day long with reports from Communal headquarters of marauding Elephants that were destroying crops, so my chances were quite good that I may secure my first Elephant the next day. As I laid there in bed that night, encased in my mosquito net and watching the bats fly about, I fell asleep dreaming of jumbo’s.


The Hunt is On!

We were up by 5:00am on Day 5 and gone by 5:30am, as it was a two hour drive to the Communal areas where the Elephants were causing severe damage to already limited crops. As we wound up the mountain road and climbed in elevation, we had a breathtaking view of Lake Kariba and beyond. In the distance we could see the mountains of Zambia as the morning sun shimmered off the water. Finally arriving in the Communal areas, we attempted to gather the latest information from the villagers as to where the Elephants were that had been raiding their crops. This can be a time consuming task where new and reliable information has to be separated from outright misinformation. This is where an experienced PH, such as Alan, quickly filters the wide spectrum of “storiesâ€, and decides on a plan of action.

Village Where Reports of Problem Elephants Were Gathered



After a short drive in the direction of the most reliable reports, we loaded our rifles and headed into the bush. As we reached a peak, the trackers yelled across the valley to the nearest hut, and were told that the Elephants had just left and were slowly walking toward the river. Within a few minutes, we reached the top of the hill which gave us an incredible vantage point to search for them, and as a smile came upon Bashop’s face, I knew that they had been sighted.

View from Hill Looking for Elephants Below


As Alan motioned me forward and pointed below, I caught sight of this massive gray body meandering through the thick vegetation. After a quick evaluation to make sure the tusks were below the 30lb mark, Alan nodded and the pursuit was on. We had to actually head away from the Elephant along a ridge line in order to descend into the valley and keep the wind to our advantage. This was quickly accomplished and after climbing another very steep hill we were within 200 yards of the Elephant. Initially we thought that this was a lone Bull, which would have made the approach relatively easy. However, out of the corner of our eyes, we noticed two more bulls in the tall grass below and took a quick break to evaluate the new situation.

As the morning sun began to heat the valley, the winds started to become less predictable as we watched Taka’s mopane ash bag do its thing. Before long, the two bulls closest to us had their trunks in the air and were soon on their way to better smelling pastures. Fortunately, the initial bull that Alan had chosen could still be seen in the distance, and as Alan said “Lets go get your Elephantâ€, we were on our way.

We worked our way through the 12' high grass as I carefully and quietly followed Alan. Meanwhile, I was reviewing everything I had learned from CMS’s outstanding elephant hunting DVD through my mind, as I wanted to accomplish a clean brain shot and end this warriors life as quickly as possible. Looking in front of Alan, I noticed that the long grass ended and that our Elephant was 20 yards away. As previously discussed with Alan, I asked him to please back me up with a heart/lung shot after I fired. Although I had confidence that I could successfully accomplish a brain shot, I did not want to take any chances of wounding this magnificent animal. This was about the Elephant, not about me.

From our vantage point, the Elephant was facing away from us, and we were about 15' below him in a small ravine. I waited until he swung his head slightly to the right and lined the .458's open sights up on where I determined the bullet would quarter diagonally through his brain. As the shot rang out, I was amazed at the speed in which the Elephant crashed to the ground and we quickly moved forward.

Before us lay animal of my dreams, and as I fired one last round through the shoulder blades, it was over. Again, one has truly mixed emotions when taking the life of such a beautiful animal, and mine ran the gamut from high elation to deep sadness.

My First Elephant!


Elephant with Exit Hole; Tracker Bashop in Background


As I walked around the Elephant and took in his textures and smells, all the while thanking God for this incredible experience, Alan caught my attention and called me forward. Apparently when the Bull dropped, the force was so great that the right tusk shattered upon impact. I picked up a few pieces of Ivory and felt them with my fingertips. I could see the grain in every piece and carefully replaced them where I had found them.

Before long, throngs of villagers arrived and the process of recovering the Elephant began. Our responsibility was to recover the tusks and skin which would be delivered to the Communal headquarters. These would then be auctioned off, and the proceeds (in theory), given to the respective village where the Elephant was shot.

Villagers Dividing Up the Meat [Protein]


Broken Tusk & Tail


We arrived back in camp by early afternoon, and after a cool shower and light meal, I closed my eyes and slept. I was looking forward to dinner that night as I knew Buzz and Myles were driving up from Harare to check out Sanyati, and it would be fun to have the entire Charlton McCallum team in Camp.

After their arrival, we all boarded the owners Land Cruiser and went for a whirlwind tour of the area. As the sun began to set, and we watched a small herd of Impala cross the airstrip, we enjoyed a few cold Castle beers. Again, does it get any better than this?

Buzz Charlton, Alan Shearing & Myles McCallum - Three of Zim's Finest PH's!


At dinner that night we had a great time with superb food and I really enjoyed being in the company of three well known and experienced hunters. Then the question came. “So Rob, now that you got your Elephant on the first day here, what do you want to do for the next four days?†I started to mutter something about Hippo or Bushbuck, then I realized where this was headed. Another Elephant? Of course I want another Elephant! I was told that reports were still pouring in from other villages about crop damage, and that we could drive to the Parks Department in the morning of Day 6 for “negotiationsâ€.

After a rather animated presentation by the concession owner to the Parks official, my offer was excepted, and a second PAC permit was issued. We spent the next few hours cruising the flood planes and talking to the fisherman on the shore of Lake Kariba. These waters are teeming with Hippo and Crocodile, and I find it absolutely amazing that these men and women cheat death on a daily basis. Their boats consist of tin sheeting hammered to a rotting wooden frame that require non stop bailing. In their minds, when its time to go, its time to go. The week I was there, two people were killed, one by a Crocodile and the other by a Hippo. The boat below shows what happens when you get too close to an angry Hippo.

Villager’s Boat Crushed by Hippo



By early afternoon, we decided to go for a boat ride to see some Hippos and Crocodiles close up. The owners launched their Bass style boat and we were on our way to the mouth of the Gache Gache river right next to Camp. This small inlet where the river flows into Lake Kariba is about a mile long, and anywhere from 60 to 120 feet wide. As we slowly edged the boat into the bay, the entire shoreline started to move on both sides and for the entire length. What I had mistakenly thought of as just lumps of dried dirt were in fact Crocodiles. They estimated that there were over 1000 crocodiles in this small inlet and the water was teeming with them. Amazingly, the 300 or so Hippos and the Crocodiles seemed to get along just fine and stayed out of each others way. As we motored along slowly, we heard the constant “THUD†of Crocodiles running into the prop, as a few female Hippo’s mock charged us. I am glad that I experienced this, but once is enough. It still gives me the willies!

Heading Into Croc & Hippo Invested Water!


PAC Elephant #2

The following day – Day 7 - we again drove the two hours to the communal areas and searched high and low for the elusive crop raiding Elephants. While we followed recent tracks and sign, we were unable to locate these gray hulks. Interestingly enough, although we had to drive over 85km to get to these areas, by G.P.S., we were only 10 miles away from camp as the Crow flies.

Up again at 4:00am on Day 8and back to the Villages. Today the information from the locals seemed a little more decisive and we become slightly more optimistic. Soon the Trackers found fresh spoor leading away from the damaged fields and we proceeded to walk and walk and walk. By mid morning the spoor was literally steaming and we sensed we were very close when Alan raised his hand to stop the procession. Ahead, and through a few branches, we sighted the 13 Elephants that have been reported. Unfortunately, the wind which had been against us all morning, carried our scent to the herd. A few loud toots and off they went at high speed towards safer grounds. We followed in the cloud of dust left behind, and at a very fast clip, pursued them. After what seems like hour’s, Alan’s hand again goes up, and I was motioned forward.

About 50 yards ahead we see all (13) Elephants with their hind quarters against a large tree in a defensive position. Slowly we move forward to 30 yards and dare not try to get any closer. As Alan quickly identified the bull I should take, we eye the ash bag Taka is shaking. The ash is floating directly towards the already nervous herd and it is now or never. I shoulder the .458 Winchester, quickly calculate where the brain is on this quartering frontal shot and fire. Again, the Elephant crashes to the ground and all hell breaks loose with the remaining dozen Elephants. While my Elephant was down, it was difficult to determine his status through the dust and screaming herd, and while his tail was swirling indicating a good brain shot, I shot him one more time in the head to make sure.

When the herd vacated and we moved forward, it was again an emotional time. This Elephant was beautiful. A huge full body and fat thick tusks. Again I thanked God for this animal’s sacrifice and his quick journey to Animal Heaven. As I stood there with my emotions, Taka came up to me and took my hand, and very gently wrapped a hair from the Elephants tail around my wrist. I will never forget that moment.

My Second Elephant Bull


Hut Where Villagers Watch Over the Fields


It was early afternoon at this point, and an attempt to recover the Elephant now would mean we would be back in camp by midnight at the earliest. The decision was made to leave the bull where he lay and return in the morning to start the process. As we drove through the villages on our way home, the ever alert locals, who had heard the shot’s, asked where the Elephant was. They were told that I missed, and we would try again in the morning. Needless to say they believed none of this and smiled regardless.

The general consensus on the way back to camp was that there would be nothing left of the Elephant by the time we came back in the morning. This had often happened in the past when the villagers became impatient and worked throughout the night getting their fair share.

Assuming the worst, we got up at 6:00am (Day 9), and after a quick breakfast, set out to see what was left of the Elephant. As we neared the site and attempting to make a small road for the Land Cruiser, we were met by one of the village heads. He was quick to inform us that a road has already been made and that everyone was patiently waiting at the Elephant.

Alan and myself decided to follow the head man on foot to the site, while the land cruiser was directed towards the new road. It was quite a sight to see the Bull untouched, men sitting in one area, and the women in another. Small carts with donkeys attached awaiting their cargo and dogs milling about looking for any possible handouts completed the scene. With Alan directing the masses, the process began, and the elephant was meticulously dismantled.

Alan Overseeing the Recovery Process


Local Boy on Wagon


By all accounts, this was the most organized and well controlled recovery to date in this area. In the past, when things did in fact get out of control, the Zimbabwe National Parks Department would refuse to assist any unruly villages with future Elephant problems. Word spread quickly and the mayhem ceased. We recovered the tusks and skin and were on our way back to Sanyati, with one small detour.

Part of the agreement the concession holder has with the communal heads is that the meat from the Elephant trunk must be delivered to the local Witch Doctor. After driving past many dilapidated huts, it was easy to find the good Doctor’s home with his fine structures and abundant food stores. Obviously, business has been good this year.

Village Witch Doctor’s Home


The Adventure Ends

We had another fine dinner that night, and as we sat by the fire listening to the noisy Hippo’s splash about, I was looking forward to heading to Harare in the morning and eventually home. The trip back to Harare was a mere 6 hours and painless. We arrived at Buzz’s home, and with Myles, Alan, and Buzz present, we recapped the highlights of this outstanding hunt.

My last night in Harare was spent at Myles McCallum’s beautiful home where his lovely wife prepared a great dinner for all of us and we toasted to a successful safari, and Lord willing, many more in the future.

Carla, CMS’s Terrific Office Assistant


I personally can not say enough positive things about this fantastic safari. Alan, Myles, Buzz and Carla went above and beyond the call of duty to get this hunt organized, and I truly appreciate it. Drop them a line and let them turn your dreams into reality. Thank you.

That was an outstanding report with excellent pictures -- thank you. It is clear that you had a great time.

Fine report...excellent photos and good shooting...
You have been bitten by that same bug that got us also...AFRICA and when are you returning???

Mike

42 days till the Selous

great post!!!!

Great report. It gives a real feel to the area

Excellent report!!!!

That's the way to write it up!!!

The photo's are super!!

Mau Mau,
Congratulations on a great hunt and excellent shooting. Elephant hunting is the pinnacle of hunting experiences. If it gets better I have not discovered it yet! Buzz and Myles are great guys and it sounds like Allen is a great addition to the crew. Congrats again!

What an excellent report and it sound like you had a great safari.
Cheworie will be great also.
ozhunter

Fantastic report! Very well written and great photo's.

Thanks

Man oh man this makes me want to go.

Great Report!

Excellent report. Thanks for sharing.

outstanding report

thanks for sharing it with us

Great Hunt

MAU MAU

Remembering our previous conversation I'm glad this all worked out for you. Heck of an adaventure for a relatively short safari. Two perfect brain shots on a first elephant safari with a borrowed gun. Excellent!

Mark

Mau Mau

I enjoyed your report and pics!

465h&H

Very well done sir.

Good job! Great report and I must say, you do look worn out/tired in that first elephant picture.

MauMau,
Thanks for sharing a great hunt and all the details! Great pictures too and good shooting. Two successful brain shots--not that easy with an unfamiliar rifle. Especially interesting for me as I am hunting with Buzz in one month and this gives me a heads-up on their operation.

Dak

Very well played, Mau Mau. Your account of the hunt was very well written and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Nice photos too. Congratulations on your harvests and good times.

Excellent report. I just spent a week in New Hampshire at Lake Winipesaukee (sp?). I particularly enjoyed your background info.

It seems like each report on Buzz, Myles and Alan adds up to a better overall description of their excellent reputation. I look forward to hunting with Buzz next year. In fact, this time next year, I will be wrapping up 2 weeks with him.

So, what's next?

Congratulations on a great hunt! I really enjoyed seeing KweKwe; I am hunting there next year for sable with Myles and Buzz.

Thank you all for your kind words. Dakota, Yukon, and Lhook, needless to say, you will all have an Outstanding time with CMS and I wish you the best of Luck on your Safaris. I am looking forward to returning in a few months, and am rather exited that my wife will be joining me in Chewore North.

Sounds like a great hunt! Great photos and story. Congrats.

JPK

Very, very cool. Thank you and congratulations!

Mau Mau,

Thanks for the great pictures and very detailed report. I'm also glad to read that you enjoyed your time with the CM gang, and even met Myles wife; Olivia. They are all very nice people.

A friend and I will be spending Sept1-13 with Alan Shearing doing a cow elephant and plains game hunt.Your most excellent report makes me all the more impatient to get there.

EricD......I agree. I was actually very fortunate to be able to spend quality time with Buzz, Myles and Alan. The fact that they welcomed me into their homes and made me feel a part of the family was very special.

Mau Mau thanks for a great report. Its always tough when were in snow down here and you get to read a report about hunting in Zim.
Seems way longer than the 12mths that have past since I was hunting in the Limpopo myself last season.
Great to have the memories refreshed

MAU MAU

Congratulations on a great hunt and excellent report and photos.




Hamdeni