29 September 2022, 23:23
Brain12022 Zambia with Thor Wildlife Safaris
July-August 2022 Zambia buffalo, hippo hunt with Thor Wildlife SafarisI booked this hunt through Wendell Reich last year, for my eleventh trip over. The flights were long and uneventful, and yes they suck. Once in camp I was made to feel like it was home away from home.
First day buffalo hunting
After a quick check of my rifles zero we were off to look for a bull with a bad limp that had been hanging around a swamp area. The camp loiterer, we will call him John L. from New Zealand, had seen him 2 days prior to my arrival. To my surprise, he was there. We were able to get within 15-20 yards of him, but no shot opportunity. His front end was stuck in the bushes with his ass sticking out. After a few seconds he sensed us and took off. At around 100 yards he turned to face us with that famous buffalo stare, daring us to come get him. It didn’t take long for him to say “screw this” and run into the high grass. After a few hours of trying to figure out exactly where he was, Thor decided we were flirting with disaster. The new plan was to come back that afternoon and see if we can find him.
After lunch and a short rest we were back in the same area of the mornings hunt. This time he was lying in the mud, in the open, ASLEEP. In case you are wondering, yes, cape buffalo do snore. We approached to about 30 yards. Near to the closest tree to the buffalo that both of us could climb, just in case. I stood there at the ready for what seemed like a long time but was probably less than 10 seconds. Thor said when he sees us he is going to come for us, be ready. I watched him open his eyes and a look of surprise as I’m sure he was thinking, where did you come from. He struggled to get up, obviously he was badly injured. Once on his feet he looked at me with a sad look in his eyes. I will never forget that look. I could tell he was hurting pretty bad. Boom, boom, boom and he was down for good. He had 2 pretty large festering holes on top of his back and a big gash on his left shoulder. Maybe he had been in a fight with a younger more fit bull. As there are several lions in this area it would not have taken long for them to get him. I shook hands with the team and took the customary trophy pictures. We loaded him up and headed back to camp. He is a great bull and it was not proper to let him suffer. Thus ended the first days hunting.
This is not how my hunting trips usually go. Normally it takes several days for me to pull the trigger. I love the hunt, and the shot usually ends the hunt. The rest of my stay at Munyamadzi accounted for a massive bull hippo, a very nice impala, bushbuck, and an old puku. We hunted roan for several days but the old bulls out witted us. That is fine by me. It leaves me with a desire to return and a target animal for the next hunt.
A big thanks to PH Thor Kirchner, appy PH Josh Stephenson, camp loiterer John L. from New Zealand. Also a big thumbs up to the hunting team. Mr. White, Besamu, Cobra, Shibo, and game scout Lady Meriam.
Sorry these pictures are so big, I am technologically challenged.
