14 September 2016, 03:53
DrScottMokore 2016
Dates: August 28th to September 9thArea: Mokore
PH: Clive Hallamore
Also in camp: Debbie Tobermann, Karl and Rebecca Evans, Barrie and Bertie Duckworth, Neil Duckworth, Lou Hallamore
Rifle: 416 Rem Mag
This was my first trip to the Save Valley. We flew Emirates Business Class and overnighted in Dubai. We were fortunate enough to meet Saeed and share a wonderful meal.
The next day we flew to Harare. Guns were checked all the way through so no issues at all at the Dubai airport. We had no issues clearing the guns in Harare other than how slow the process was. Other than the porters no one asked for a tip and no one seemed to care how much cash we had on us. Donovan (the Mokore manager) was waiting as we came out of the airport and drove us to their B&B in Harare for a meal and overnight accommodations. The next morning we left on the 5.5 hours drive to the Save Valley Conservancy. We passed 10 or so road blocks but never got stopped. It was really nice to see the towns and the rural houses.
We got to camp for lunch and checked the rifles. There were kudu and bushpigs visible in the river bed from the deck when we pulled back in to camp. That night we heard lions grunting and roaring all around camp. The Hallamores and Duckworths were excellent hosts. It was a great privilege to listen to Barrie Duckworth and Lou Hallamore talk around the camp fire - their stories are classic Africa.
The first few days we tracked and stalked many buffalo and finally connected on day 3. The first shot was in thick brush at 25 yards. It broke the left front leg and got the lungs but missed the heart. A 6 shot running gunbattle ensued but he finally went down.
After that we spent a lot of time in blinds at waterholes. The amount of game we saw was incredible. We saw a kudu with one haunch totally gone from a suspected lion bite and a big male eland with a hole in the belly and scratches on the chest and face probably also from lions. Both were walking and drinking at the waterhole. It is amazing how tenaciously everything in Africa clings to life.
We saw all of the big five but couldn't get pictures of the leopard or rhino.
I shot a couple of impala so we could have impala liver - one of my favorite things to eat in Africa. We then spent a lot of time looking for the magical 60 inch Kudu. The one I ended up shooting one that was only 53 but a very classic looking head.
At 4:30 PM on the last hunting day we happened to jump a couple of bushpigs and after a short stalk in the fading light I was able to get shot.
This was my third trip to Zimbabwe and by far the best camp and best game viewing opportunity. The lions vocalizing most nights just made the whole trip that much more special. You can't go wrong with Mokore or Hallamore Hunt.
Scott Tobermann, DVM
DSC Board Member
DSC Convention Co-Chair 2017
