Operator: SSG Safaris
PH: Ishmael Tshabalala
Simon D’zingai
Area: Malapati Communal, Malapati Safari Area and Gonakudzingwa Ranch
Dates: May 14-27, 2012 14 day Safari
Booking Agent: Tracking Africa – George Gehrman
http://www.trackingaa.com
Logistics: Steve Turner – Travel with Guns - Delta from SLC/ATL/JHB, SAA from JHB to Harare
Rifle Transit Permit: www.riflepermits.com
Lodging: African Sky Guest House, Johannesburg, South Africa
Sunbird Guest House (Sally Bowen), Harare, Zimbabwe
Rifles/Ammo: Win. Model 70 Safari Express 375 H&H W/300 Gr Nosler Partition, Rem 9 ½ M Primers, 78 Grs RL 19
Remington 700 Mtn Rifle 30-06 W/ Federal Premium Factory, 180 Gr Barnes TSX
Scopes: Leupold VX-R 3-9x40 CDS Illuminated Reticle on the 375 H&H
Leupold VX3 1.5-5x20 Heavy Duplex Reticle on the 30-06
Binos: Swarovski 8X30 SLC

Animals Hunted and Taken: Leopard, Nyala, Warthog

Animals Hunted and Lost: Cape Buffalo

Animals Hunted and Not Taken: Sable, Bush Pig, Blue Wildebeest

Animals seen But Not Hunted: Impala, Bushbuck, Kudu, Waterbuck, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steen Buck, Grysbok, Giraffe, Dassies, Mongoose, Jackal, Crocodile, Hyena, Baboon, White Faced Monkey, Zebra, Lion, Civet Cat, Monitor Lizard, Turtle.

Birds Seen: Fish Eagle, Black Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Hornbill (Yellow & Trumpeter), Vultures, Crested Barbet, Meyers Parrot, Several Billed Stork, Kingfisher (Giant & Wooded), Grey Lorrie, Egyptian Geese, Fork Tailed Drongo, Long Tailed Glossy Starling, Franklins, Sand Grouse, Emerald Dove, Ring Neck Dove, Guinea Fowl (Crested & Helmeted), Black Breasted Korhaan, Helmeted Schriles, Lilac Breasted Roller, Green Pigeons, Stork, Dark Chanting Goshawk.

Overview: I began shopping for this safari two years ago. I was looking for a safari where I could take a leopard, my wife a sable and my oldest son could come a long as an observer and shoot the baits. I handicapped myself as I had a maximum budget of $20,000. After much shopping and attending both the Dallas Safari Club Convention and the SCI Convention I realized I couldn’t fulfill my goals in an area that had a reputation for high success on both primary animals.

I then began looking for a good leopard area/operator within budget that at least offered a chance at a sable. That led me to SSG Safaris with Nixon making me an offer that was far below anyone else in price. He only has one sable on quota and made it clear that the hunt was primarily for leopard, but offered the possibility for a sable. The sable occasionally cross into his area from the park, but are not residential. Taking a sable would be a big bonus. I booked the hunt.

This was my second Safari with SSG. On my previous trip, Oct/Nov 2009, I took two great bull elephants and was very pleased with their operation.

At the last minute, my son had to cancel, so it was just Pam and me.

The African Sky Guest House was outstanding. Great rooms, service and food. Would definitely stay their again.








Sun Bird Guest House was fine. Clean and comfortable. Downsides are you eat whatever they decide to prepare that night and there is no bar. Sally however went out of her way to take me to a liquor store. She is great. I should also note that the staff failed to wake us at the requested time.



Accommodations: The accommodations at Malapati consist of brick roundavals with composite roofs. The windows are open, but screened. Each bed has a good mosquito net and each room has its own bathroom consisting of a shower, sink and toilet. The rooms are clean and comfortable with daily laundry as long as it doesn’t rain. I’d say the accommodations at are adequate, not fancy by any means, but they suit me just fine.

The camp also has a nice lounge/dining area with a bar and a riverside (Mwenzi River) fire pit, seating area for sundowners and appetizers.

The staff consists of one or two PH’s, two trackers, two game scouts (one for parks and the other for the communal area), a driver, skinner, yard boy, a cook and assistant cook. Both the cooks are women. They prepare all meals, clean the rooms, do the laundry, act as hostess and conduct the wake up call. They are the hardest workers in the camp. The yard boy maintains the landscaping, keeps the fire going for hot water, operates the generator, gathers firewood and makes sure there is always a fire in the fire pit both mornings and evenings.

Nixon’s wife, Mercy, was also on hand and acted as camp manager. Pam had many interesting conversations with Mercy and was fascinated by the differences in culture, especially as it related to the role of women.

Nixon was in and out as he had other hunts going on in Sengwe II.

The food was good, but not fancy. There was a variety including fresh game, chicken, beef T-bones, spaghetti, lasagna (at least that is what they called it), and chicken dishes. Several of the meals were good enough that my wife copied down the recipe, especially the desserts. There was a plethora of bottled sauces on the table with my all-time favorite being “Cheeky” Chili Sauce.

Breakfast was cooked to order and included eggs any style, sausages, bacon, hot or cold cereal, toast, juice, and instant coffee or tea.

Lunches were served at camp and were usually hot, but also included sandwiches.














The Hunt: Most days began with a 5 AM wake-up, breakfast at 5:30 and leaving camp at 6. I requested pre-baiting, so after checking the rifles, we began our first day by checking/refreshing 8 baits. Four in the communal area and four in the safari area. One of the baits had been hit by lions as evidenced by their tracks, scratches in the tree where they tried to get at the meat, and mane hair on the bark. None of the baits had been hit by leopard.

In the afternoon Pam shot a Kudu cow and we continued checking/refreshing baits. As we traveled through Gonerezhou National Park we saw a leopard during the daylight on the side of the road. A good omen for sure.

Lion sign was everywhere and several had been sighted over the first few days. Roaring was common at night and in the mornings. At least three big males had been seen. One had a black mane and was running with a female and two sub-adults; there was a lone mature black maned lion; and, a mature ginger maned lion.

Upon checking the baits on the second day we found a communal area bait had been hit. The bait had been demolished with the leopard eating an entire kudu hind quarter. Tracks around the tree measured 3 ½ x 4”.



We refreshed the bait and the existing blind and planned to return in the evening. I killed an impala for rations at the request of the game scout and another for bait.

Thanks to Butch, “Begno” here on AR, Nixon has a brand new Caldwell field pod to hold the rifle while in the blind. It is awesome. Very steady and gives great confidence. Thanks Butch!

In the blind we had heavy metal chairs with foam padding. They are comfortable and make no noise. There is also a “Q” beam spotlight hooked up to a car battery.







We went back to the blind around 4PM. There was fresh lion sign in the area and we heard a lion roar close by.

While in the blind I checked my illuminated scope, but it didn’t work. I turned the battery around thinking maybe it was in backwards, but it still didn’t work. The scope was brand new and purchased expressly for this hunt. I had had it less that two months and had only activated the battery twice. I’m now thinking Trijicon may well be the way to go. (Note – after returning home I turned the battery around again and it works fine. Murphy is an international traveler)

Ishmael and I sat in the blind, but all we heard was lion activity. At around 7:45 we heard something walking less than 10 feet from the blind entrance. It left as we heard the approaching land cruiser coming in to pick us up.

Turns out it was one of the sub adult lions according to the tracks. The boys came to get us as they saw the male and female heading our way. That was a bit close.

We went back to camp for drinks and dinner. While we were gone Pam saw a monster kudu and a big nyala across the river (in the park) while she enjoyed floured and fried kudu liver appetizers.

The next morning we returned to the blind and found the leopard had came back and had eaten another whole hind quarter. We refreshed it again and made plans to return in the afternoon, hoping the lions had wondered off. We checked the rest of the baits, and this was still the only one that was active. We did however see large Tom tracks in the road at other locations.

Ishmael and I settled in the blind at 5PM and began the wait. About an hour after dark Ishmael heard something at the bait and gave me the get ready signal – two fingers pressed into my thigh. I snuggled into my rifle and flipped off my safety. The sound of the safety was audible. As I waited for the light I worried that the safety may have been too loud and scared off the leopard. The light went on. I had trouble seeing through the scope. I began to panic as I adjusted my face on the rifle trying to get a good field of view. Before I could see clearly, the light went out. I’m fearful that I scared the leopard off with the sound of the safety coming off. As I fret over the incident, Ishmael whispered that it was only a civet cat. I left the safety off after that.

After another two hours I feel the two fingers press into my thigh. I had heard nothing, but my hearing isn’t very good. I move into the rifle and wait, hoping that this time I’ll be able to see properly. As the light came on, I again had trouble seeing clearly, but adjusted and finally made out two civets fighting in the fork of the tree. The light went out. I could tell Ishmael was a bit embarrassed, but it was really good practice and helped me tremendously. For anyone that hasn’t looked through their scope while using a spot light, I highly recommend some practice before going leopard hunting.

At 9:45 I feel the two fingers again. I still hadn’t heard anything and I’m sure I would have heard a leopard breaking the rib bones of the impala we had hung. I snuggle into the rifle again and feel comfortable that this time I will be able to see without any problems. The light goes on and I’m prepared to see a leopard standing broadside on the horizontal branch with his tail to the left and his head to the right, but there is nothing. I feel the panic beginning to swell as I frantically search through my scope for a leopard. As I begin to think Ishmael is hearing things I see something out of place behind the bait. As I focus, I make out a leopard head over the bait, but his body is completely blocked by the bait. The panic feeling grows, but I settle the cross hairs on the head, follow it down and can make out the neck and the upper half of the leopards chest. He is feeding and not looking up. All I have is a frontal shot or I should say half a frontal shot. There is not much margin for error and the distance is a ranged 84 yards. The shot has to be perfect. If I hold too high I hit him in the head, too low and I hit the bait. If I’m off at all to either side I miss completely.

I take the shot.

Nothing happens. The leopard is still there. I reload immediately without taking my eye from the scope. I can’t believe what is happening. I’m going to have to shoot him a second time. What is going on? Suddenly, the leopard drops straight down hitting the ground with a thud. Then all is silent.

When the land cruiser arrives, we get in and drive to the bait tree with rifles ready. We can’t see him from the truck as there is a bit of a hill between where he fell and the cruiser. The trackers, Ishmael and I get out and walk slowly to where the leopard should be. Guns are at the ready with my Surefire flashlight held in a combat position. The tension is high but feels good. After a few more steps, there he lay – dead.





I go over everything in my mind. I must have hit the leopard just right, killing him instantly. I figured his claws must have been stuck into the bait, thus allowing for the full three second hang time. It was amazing.

Words can’t describe how beautiful a leopard is with its golden spotted coat. This leopard is a pretty big Tom in his prime. His feet are huge, his neck and shoulders are thick with muscle.

The entrance wound is centered and in the upper half of his chest. There is no exit wound.

My only regret is we didn’t take the classic leopard photos that night. When I went to get my camera, Ishmael said not to bother, that we would take better photos in the morning. At least I took the two photos of where he lay. The photos taken the next morning just don’t show his size and mass. I should have been more assertive.





Upon closer examination we find that the leopard has broken off his left side canine. The break appears old. The only thing we could figure is that he must have been kicked in the face by a zebra.



The next few days are spent trying to find some sable spoor. Simon has now joined us after finishing another hunt with Nixon at Sengwe II. Having two PH’s is great, but complicates matters when it comes to gratuity time.

One of the communal game scouts told Nixon he had seen three sable bulls a few days earlier. We check the area but can’t find any tracks. We search the communal area, the safari area and a private ranch called Gonakudzingwa. No sable sign anywhere. We are also looking for a blue wildebeest, but we have only seen one immature bull running with the impala.

Other game is plentiful, especially impala and waterbuck. The area has some huge waterbuck and the impala are in the rut. It is amazing the noise a rutting ram makes. They are very verbal as they chase and herd their ewes. The activity is very similar to a rutting pronghorn antelope.

As we are driving along one morning, we spot a pair of bush pigs scurrying through the bush. We go after them but they give us the slip.

Later we see a warthog boar. I already have a warthog, so I’m not interested. Ishmael is beside himself that I don’t want the boar. He said he is the biggest warthog he has ever seen. That pushes me over the top, and we make a play for him. After a bit of cat and mouse, I get a shot and he is mine. He’s a brute.



It is becoming more and more apparent that the sable is not going to happen, so I’m able to talk Pam into hunting a cape buffalo. We go to an area where the buffalo usually cross into the safari area from the park and begin walking. We take off with have two PH’s, two trackers and two game scouts. That is a bunch when hunting buffalo. Pam and I have asked both Simon and Ishmael to back up her shot if the opportunity arises. It isn’t but about ten minutes before we walk up on a group of four dugga boys. They are all good bulls with the largest estimated at 43-44”. Pam gets on the sticks and is waiting for one of the bulls to present her with a broadside shot. They are about 60 yards away and one a hillside feeding. They realize something is up, but don’t know what it is. As they mill around, one gives her a broadside. He is a heavy, hard bossed bull of 41-42”. He has worn down tips, but not a lot of drop.

I am videoing as she takes a shot. The bulls explode across the hill without giving either PH the opportunity for a back up shot. Everybody feels Pam’s was a good shot. We walk to the place last seen and begin to look for sign. It isn’t long before we find a bit of blood and begin to follow. The amount of blood increases and you can tell its lung blood by the color and froth. We continue to track expecting a death bellow at any moment. All of a sudden an entire hillside comes alive with running buffalo. There must be hundreds. We catch glimpses as they run through the Mopani and the sound of running buffaloes goes on and on.

I’m fearful that our bull has joined the heard and will be lost for ever. The herd is headed back towards the park boundary which is less than half a mile away.

Turns out the wounded bull could not keep up with the herd and headed in the opposite direction – away from the park. We are all encouraged. We continue to track. And track. And track. We bump him twice. After the second time, we decide to quit pushing so hard and to let him lay up. We give it about an hour and pick up the track again. We bump him out of his bed and Simon gets a quick shot, but hits a tree. It is very thick Mopani forest.

We track a bit more and the blood spots are small and far between. We then decide we need to give him a long rest, hoping he lay down again and either die or get stove up. We went back to camp and ate lunch returning to pick up the track around 3 PM.

As we begin, Simon says the bull will charge this time.

After tracking for a while we loose the track amongst those of another herd. It takes about an hour to sort it out, but the trackers are on him again. As we follow, it is apparent that he is circling around trying to lay an ambush. The trackers find where he stood waiting for sometime. They conclude that he figured we gave up and he went on. The problem now is that he is headed back towards the park.

At dusk he crosses a road that runs parallel to the park boundary and about ½ mile from the park. The decision is made not to push him into the park, but to come back in the morning.

The following morning we are on his track again. Hyenas have picked up the track and stay with him. Turns out he never laid down over night but went straight towards the park crossing the river and into the park. Good- bye buffalo. Pam is devastated. At least he won’t suffer long as there is a lot of lion sign and the lions are even more plentiful in the park. Nothing goes to waste in Africa - except trophy fees..

The focus of the hunt now shifts to a Nyala for Pam. As we drive through some riverine by “the old camp” we spot some nyala from the cruiser. Turns out there is a good bull with his cows. A stalk is put together, but the Nyala give them the slip.

We return to the same spot that evening and find the bull again. Again he gives them the slip.

The next morning, it’s back to the same spot. After locating the bull, they stalk again, but the crafty old boy circles around behind them and crosses to the other side of the road without being seen by the hunters.

Now it is personal. No other Nyala will do. This is the bull. I tell Ishmael and Simon that we need to quit doing the same approach. It is not working. Instead of driving into the area in the morning, we decide to leave the Land Cruiser at the top of the hill and walk the length of the road into the area the bull hangs out.

I stay behind as Pam, Ishmael, one tracker and one game scout slip in. As they progress they run into some warthogs, then a young kudu, some impala, some water buck and then a huge kudu bull. The PH’s agree that the bull is at least 57 inches. The kudu begins to bark. Pam thought he was barking at them, but Ishmael said there are some Nyala mixed in with him and his cows and he wants them out. Ishmael then spots the bull Nyala. He moves behind some brush, hiding his head, neck and shoulder. The sticks go up and Ishmael talks Pam through the shot. She takes the shot and hits the bull a bit too far behind the shoulder and off he goes. After a short tracking job, the animal is seen about 35 yards from where he was hit and one more shot finishes the job and Pam has a beautiful Nyala.



We have three days left to find a sable and continue looking, but no sign. We do run into a group of 7 bull Nyala. It appears they just crossed over from the park as they had no fear of the vehicle. Two were in the 29-30” class.

We decide to take the pressure off the crew and suggest we spend the last day on the river fishing and drinking beer. Everyone seems pleased by this.

One of the game scouts has a couple of rods and reels as well as some poles with line. The equipment is pretty poor, but it works. We pack a lunch, take plenty of beer and scotch and head to a section of the river where the tiger fish are. It’s a grand day. We even manage to catch a couple of fish. Pam catches her first tiger fish and I get my first African catfish. The boys catch a few and really enjoy the day off.

Congratulations, well done on a fine leopard.

Scott,

Great cat!!!

The nyala is beautiful!!!


Keith

Congrats on a fine leopard and Pam's nyala is a gorgeous bull. Too bad about the buff. Nice report.

Great Leopard and Nyala, congrats to both of you. Great report, thanks. Man, things change quick in Africa, when I was there in March I saw Wildebeast almost every day. I have a big grin looking at that Caldwell field pod, glad it worked well. When I gave it to Nixon in March he was so pleased that you would have thought I gave him $10K.

Huge COngrats Scott! So glad you got your cat!!!

Congratulations on a fine trip, and a magnificent leopard!

Orvar

Great report. Sounds like a marvelous safari. You did good. Pam did good. The Leopard is in the salt. The Buffalo did what Buffalo do.
Congratulations to all.

Congrats on a great Leopard, love the Nyala.

Congrats to you on your fine leopard and to Pam on the fine Nyala. Both really nice trophies.

Congrats. Makes me want to leave tomorrow!

Scott,

What a wonderful hunt. To share it with your bride, that's really special.

A hearty cheers to you and yours for that fine leopard. It's a brute.

Very nice nyala as well. Looks like an A+ trip. Thank you for the report.

Superb cat... well done Scott!

Very nice!

So when a wounded animal crosses into the park they are off limits 100%? I have no experience in that regard.

How is the buff hunting there? Would you recommend? I have had a few friends recommend Nixon for a buff hunt but there concern was that I have zero experience judging Buff and they were concerned about possibly shooting a green buff. Thoughts?

Scott way to go. When you look at the second pic with you, you can see how big the head in comparison to yours. A great cat and a great shot.
Pam, we all get humbled in our hunting careers. That is a super nyala. They are my nemisis.

Mike

Thanks everyone. It certainly was a great trip.

LittleJoe - My experience has been that Parks will left you attempt a follow-up on an elephant, but that is it.

In the past, I have seen some photos of buffalo taken while hunting with SSG that were soft. I haven't seen that happen in several years. All the buffalo I have seen come out of their have been toads. Yes, I would reccommend buffalo hunting with them. Just make sure you are clear in your expectations.

Great Laopard and Nayala, congratulations.

SBT, congrats. excellant leopard and Nyala, looking forward to hunting with nixon next week. well done.

Scott,

Congrats on a beautiful leopard. A big tom is a very special trophy. The nyala deserves a lifesize if you can afford it. They are perhaps the most gorgeous of all the antelope. I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's buffalo. I've been there and it is just gut wrenching to loose an animals. Tell her to just put it behind her.

Mark

Congratulations on your leopard and your wife's nyala. Sorry about the buffalo.

Great cat and beautiful Nyala - well done to both of you.

Congratulations on your Leopard,and that stud Warthog!!

Congratulations to you both. There's nothing better than hunting with your spouse!!!

Beautiful leopard!!! Glad to see your wife was able to take such a wonderfl nyala, she certainly didn't let the buffalo get her down. That is the sign a a true hunter/huntress!!!

Well done. D. Nelson

Well done Scott and Pam.

Great hunt... Congrats..

How come, whenever I see pictures of Nixons camp, it just feels like I'm looking at pictures of home..