HUNT SUMMARY

Date of Hunt: April/May 2009

Locations: Doma, Zimbabwe

PH/Outfitter: Gordon Duncan
Email: gordo@thedomaproject.com
Website: http://www.domasafaris.com/doma_safaris.htm

Getting there

Flight went well – baggage showed up. Weather was clear. Gordon picked me up at the airport and we drove to his house, picked up trackers and went shopping for stocks and fuel for our hunt.

As we were pumping up at the station – all the te hell brake loose – police on motor bikes stopping the traffic – bakkie loaded with armed guys passed first, than a Mercedes with plates signed “ZIM 1”…I was about to take some pics but at the end decided not to – it was quite a sight tho.

Well, next was driving up to Doma via Kariba road: Harare – Chinhoyi – turn right at Lions Den – Mhangura - Doma. Drive was pleasant with ever changing countryside passing beside. We finally reached the camp in the dark.

Camp



Sunrise from the camp

Camp (Doma Safari Lodge) is situated on shores of a beautiful lake – one of many lakes/dams in the area, right in the wilds of the African bush with all the comforts of home. Each private, brick-under-thatch lodge has its own spectacular view, with en-suite bathroom and living area. All lodges have generated electricity and back-up lighting, drinking water and hot shower ready at any time – luxury that is fully appreciated after a long, hard hunt day. Lodges are named by bird species – mine was a “Fish Eagle”.



View from the lodge



Dinner table



Area

Basically one can divide area into two – lower and upper – they are divided by picturesque Tchechenini ridge that rides above and is a distinctive landmark to get basic orientation in this spacious place.

Lower (southern) area

It is an area of almost 200 sq. km around the camp that lays in the north/western part of it.



Upper (northern) area

True wilderness that expands toward north, overlooking the strip of National Parks Doma Safari Area and Chewore before it disappears from horizon into Zambezi Escarpment. This area has been lately attached to the project (it was previously managed by Chifuti’s).



Game seen, tracked or heard:

elephant, buffalo, leopard, hyena, crocodile, sable, kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, zebra, impala, giraffe, warthog, bushpig, baboon…

Buffalo Hunt

Sighting in the rifle - if that would be the word (I brought a Merkel double in 9.3 rimmed) – was a sign of the things to come - offhand at 20 paces or so. Loads were GSFN 265gr solids, going 2350 fps.

We had great fun – I let the guys to try out.



In the first place I was exclusively after buffalo all the rest would come as a targets of opportunity.

First stage of the hunting was to present ourselves with a picture of ongoing buffalo situation.

Early cold dewy mornings would find us driving north through the seas of soaked tall grass, passing the Communal lands and Tchecenini ridge to get in the Upper area where the recent buff activities are expected (later in the season buffalo are to be seen in the lower part with regularity as well).





So we were out on tracking the roads, watering holes, dams and streams – checking the night goings.

Here comes the trick number 1 of this place. Terrain of eternally long grassy ridges, dotted with beautiful trees is intermitted by valleys that contain crystal clear cold water streams and there is numberless of them – all providing perfect buffalos needs with anything they think of – good graze everywhere, water, shelter and shade in form of Jesse patches and tall grass meadows. So no regulars – buffalo that would spent their day in this valley could be there the day after or not – the next valley is just as perfect as the next and so on and so on. And those buffalo are space save – keeping themselves in quite small area so finding them is as said – trick No 1.



One of the many secret streams

We were playing with couple of herds and dugga boy parties.

Once a fresh track was found, the chase was on – if we found the track early in the morning it was a good chance we would catch up with them before they were bedded down – usually it took us between 10 minutes to 3 hours every time.



Very fresh track





Easy going

Now come the tricks No 2 and No 3.Terrain is very agitated so comes the wind very unstable swirling all the time – once we got a perfect picture of buffalo coming on a path from our right to left, passing a ditch would brought them right in front of us, giant bull in mid 40’s among them, when a tiny swirl of a wind made them make a 180 turn and all bunched up (with big bull in the middle of course) send them over the ridge, there was a cow lagging behind a bit – but hey - not my cup of tea. Constantly swirling wind - that’s trick No2.

Grass on ridges is pretty short (waist high) but the buffalo would spend their time there only during the night. Once it dawns they would tend to move toward valleys, where grass gets taller and thicker on to jesse patches near the water. So you end up in a quite difficult to scan terrain – once we managed to catch up seeing them across a small river 40 yards in front – crawled behind a granite rocks – found a steady rest – they were munching around some bushes and high grass – now you see them, now you don’t – here goes one there is another, then there are none – here is hump – is it a bull? – turning slowly – no a cow! – look at the swaying bush – here comes the thick horn – obviously a bull – but hairy boss – sh..! It was THICK - that’s trick No3 – and it lasts until trick No2 applies.



They were there just moments ago

When we bumped them before they were bedded down – they took a hasty retreat into one of the mentioned jesse patches and waited to check their trails. Usually we gave them some time so they got impression that first interruption was a false one and they usually bed down right there. No way around but through it – crawl in and bump them again – some very tight situations developed there, ending in buffalo leaving the jesse out in a tall grass meadows, turning downwind and wait to see if we are following – tricks No2 and No3 apply again and the most tight situations imaginable as well – they would let you come close – really close – meaning 10 foot or something, before all hell breaks out – deep “MOO” (sometimes not) followed by a roll of the buff start off – forward tracker diving into grass, the second tracker making a swift retreat low above the ground (keeping him out of sight) while you and a PH are scanning a moving of the grass in front, over the sights – pushing the safety on your rifle can cause blisters – hehe.





Into grass



Edge of jesse



Into jesse



Out to tall grass again

That game of seek and hide would continue until:

1. You run out of time – with no radio connection and a driver to pick you up, that means once you stop it is a loooong way back to the truck (usually uphill) – tracking pace is a nice one (like a walk) – but oh dear – wait to see the change in a pace on return – those trackers speed it up and without a buffalo quarry that kept you up so far, there is only a cooler box hallucination that represent a valuable thing to follow.
2. Buffalo here are educated – they know around – an escape into park is an appropriate thing to end the day.
3. Bumped out of the jesse, returning into same patch means you are running their patience thin – it would be stupid to thin it out even further.

All this spiced with usual ingredients - flat tires (terrain is unforgiving on those), cold, dew, heat, thorns, spiders, tse-tse, hornets, snakes, buffalo beans and that bright green muffles that burn for couple of mins - river crossings John Sharp style (once it happened 4 times in a row over a distance of 500m or so)...makes one of the hardest, demanding, pretentious, exciting – in short – IMO the best buffalo hunting I know of.



No comment...



Tse-tse bugger



Buffalo beans anybody?



20 kliks later – beaten, screeched, tired - happy

I am sorry no buffalo pictures this time – there were half opportunities, but I was trying to be reasonable – making a sub 100% shot under those circumstances would be asking for some – then some more…no life buffalo pictures neither – I was fully occupied with the safety on my rifle whenever I got a glimpse of them.

Hell for shooters but heaven for hunters and buffalos!

Plains game Hunting

There is a myriad of species around tho hunting at this time of the year is a tough one – grass is thick and high – tho you will see them.









OK for those that kept up with me to this stage there is a candy:

One morning found us with 3 flat tires on “Cherrie” – so while guys were working out on those – Gordon picked Kasirai to escort us. Rifles on shoulders and we strolled out of the camp on foot. Easy, slow walking brought us over a shallow valley about 30 minutes out of the camp, when suddenly at our left in a small crossroad a bunch of baboons took a refuge in all directions – leaving a bushbuck that was in the middle of them a bit confused. He managed to jump into nearest thicket and waited patiently. I was already on my knee – safety off – seeing Gordon corked his right ear – still I asked if it is OK. He confirmed so I took a firm aim – bushbuck was quartering with his hind part toward us – nut much more there was to be seen. So I used my imagination – put my bed where I thought it was suppose to be and let one off. High jump and a kickoff a behind legs made us all (except the bushbuck) quite happy – bushbuck dashed into a dead semicircular run in high grass. Still the follow up was quite exciting – yet we found it not 30m from where it was shot at.



Line of fire – light patch in the middle is where bushbuck was standing







GSFN solid through the heart

Conclusion

Doma – as said on the site – real Africa, pure Zimbabwe - it is a magic place of thousand faces and mirrors – wild, unspoiled - it keeps its secrets very well. If you expect to sit on the heights looking down and expect to see it all - you won’t. You will have to get on your feet and sink down into it. It is strong like a finest single malt – it will grab you, twist you, fold you and left you just enough to come back for more.







I have learned a lot about the place but I have learned even more about myself. Deposit is paid already and I am on my way to get back there asap.

Mouse,
That's an outstanding bushbuck!!
Sorry about the buff, I bet the 9.3x74 would have performed just right with those GSFPS's, and I know you were really hoping to try it out on them-- just too early in the year for good visablity. Scary stuff in the long grass--you could accidently bump into something big real easy. Wonderful pictures. thanks

Mouse,

Beautiful pix. I've never hunted that early. Sounds very exciting but frustrating also. Bush certainly is thick but much more pleasant to look at than late when all is dead and dry.

Mark

Very nice bushbuck ! And very high quality pics..
Ihope it will start to roll in more reports like this one..

Great report. Looks like beautiful terrain. And that is one good-looking bushbuck.

I love the picture of the bush buck with the double draped over its neck!

Brett

Hats off to a great report, and even better attitude. You are a true hunter.

John

Great Pictures. Congratulations. I've hunted in april/may a couple of times in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The scenery was very interesting, the vegetation was lush. All very impressive, but the search of animals was very difficult.
In my opinion in this period you can see the 20% of the game you see in late season.

Congratulations, makes me wish I were there.
Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by John Luyt:
Hats off to a great report, and even better attitude. You are a true hunter.

John

+1

+2 Great Bushbuck! Congratulations.

Great report and pictures!

Thanks guys - I appreciate it - taking pictures at Doma is not tough - place is just natural talent for posing - Mark the only frustrating thing in all equation was the part when you are looking for their tracks but can't find them - once you get them it's all right - chase is on. I have my buffalo on my wall already so adding another one would be just adding a number so I can bear with that. After the above experience buffalo has grown in my eyes big time and I will bow even lower to the fallen quarry when the next one will be down.

Some additional observing

Lots of snakes - saw those two:





and once we were driving back to camp there was a mamba with a fresh kill in a form of 15" lizzard on the road - we barely managed to drowe beside and stop - mamba was wraped around its quarry like python but once it got our presence noted, swiftly unwraped and dissappeared into grass.

Tho camp looks great and tame there are a couple of visitors that put additional exotics taste to - this 5 foot guy was a "regular around the house":



And this app 11 foot along with smaller ones lives in a remote corner of the camp dam:

What a beautiful Bushbuck and Photos.
Did you get bit by those Hornets. They seem to be bad in the Jesse during early season.

Thanks - no I didn't get bit (fortunately) but trackers did - seems like it is a part of their jobs to be a magnet for all the nasties - it helps quite if a person infront of you points out spiders, buffalo beans, thorns...and have it done with hornets

Mouse:
Don't you just love that place!

Ya - makes wonders - wouldnt expect to be feeling happy with dung on my boots



Oh btw - Bryan - guys are ready and are expecting you :

quote:

Oh btw - Bryan - guys are ready and are expecting you

All of them:



And one for your lady:

Yes, she is looking forward to seeing her"adopted son"

Excellent Report.
NICE Bushbuck.
Hope you get your Dagga Boy next time.

Seloushunter

Thank you – it is also worth mentioning how the place is run with long term in mind. Gordon has its own small army of scouts that are either located in small posts in the bush or are resting in the camp – rotating in time shifts.



One of the scouts post

He also manages a place in a pocket campfire style. When a trophy animal is shot, a part of trophy fee goes to the local community. However – scouts keep their logs and every offence is noted and brought up when the money is to be handed to the locals – if a member of community is caught poaching, fish poaching…it costs and the sum is subtracted…it works.

Further on – last autumn (northern hemisphere) was a bottom for Zim – locals were really desperate – no crops, no seeds for crops…Gordon got a certain amount of sunflower seeds and divide it among folks – crops were good – oil was made and money used for new seeds – it is looking much better ATM.

quote:

Originally posted by SGraves155:
...I bet the 9.3x74 would have performed just right with those GSFPS's, and I know you were really hoping to try it out on them...

after I saw what a FN solid did to a busbuck's heart - I am pretty sure my selection on using FN solids on anything under those conditions was OK (bit scared on overpenetration on buff in herd situation tho). Here is a heart from the other side - .800" cal hole from a .366 solid - I am sold:



Entry:



Exit:

Great report, great place and great guys.

I've hunted will Joshua 3x, Katchana and Kasirai 2x, but I don't know the guy on the left.



Gordon runs is a first-class guy with a great operation. Glad you had a great hunt.

PS - the guy with the bucket hat on... the head skinner. Canan, right?

Thanks - guy on the left is a local scout that knows the territory we were in like a back of his hand - he is the one that spoiled the hunt one day (hot on the trails) reminded us that we are crossing into National Park - what I didn't know about myself is that I might be prone to do some poaching

Yes the bucket hat man is a skinner Canan, frist row from left - cook's apprentice, cook and the guy on the far right (sandy shoes) is a manager of the place - Gordon's right hand (camp, scouts superior...) that took over the late Charles. He is polite, quiet, reliable, trusty guy - you will like him. The rest are camp staff and some scouts.

P.S. That photo was taken right from the spot you got your kudu after following the warthog...

quote:

Originally posted by mouse93:
P.S. That photo was taken right from the spot you got your kudu after following the warthog...

Yes, this one.



It's much greener in your photo, but I can see it now that you point it out. The dam just in the background.

That was a great moment in hunting for me. I'm glad to hear that Gordon is keeping the memory alive by taking clients there. Or maybe he is hoping there will be another Kudu that's taken his spot!

Thanks for posting the photo.

Just a note on an echelon and arms - although PH and I carried our rifles, the leading tracker was armed as well (Lott) – in the moment of fray he would either defend himself or make a low profile retreat behind me and then join if needed. On rifle - easy going over the ridges would actually be the only time you would rest it on shoulder - most of the time (in the tall grass and in jesse) it will be in your hands – low weight helps - reliable & pointable - are the first to come in mind - in tall grass and jesse sights seemed superfluous.

Doma is a great area with fairly rugged terrain. There used to be some decent elephant and really good sable in the area. How were the game populations you saw while there? Fine bushbuck you took BTW. Any leftovers from when the "warvets" invaded the area a couple years back? Didnt figure they would stay long. The area is too tough to hunt for poachers looking for a quick kill. The same ruggedness somewhat gave the animals isolation and protecton from the causual brigands. Still lodges were pilfered from and animals were shot or snarred. It looks like most of that reversed very quickly. Glad to see things returning to some sense of normalacy. I know the ele can make for the hills and be out of reach. I am more curious to find out how the sable faired. With the current management things should just get better. Gordon Duncan runs a tight ship and has done well with his endevaours in the Save. He also has strong ties to the land and communities through campfire. We as hunters couldnt as for a better caretaker for that area.

On sable – it is a flag ship specie of the area– hard to tell considering that I saw maybe ¼ of the area – there is a big herd near the camp with big bull that Gordon keeps off the shooting list. There are more around. Up in northern part while tracking buffalo, I have seen very fresh tracks (sub 1hour old) of solitary bulls a couple of times, that I could follow if I would be after one - considering that place is not conservancy or farm situation is quite good – yes there is a very good chance to get one –and if I ever consider getting sable, Doma would be my pick.

On elephant – Doma used to be known as a bull’s territory, lately even a couple of herds moved into area. A lot of sign everywhere – got a healthy dosage of their smell almost every hour. Elephants are everywhere. Bryan Chick has hunted them many times here – perhaps he will add more.

British client in his mid 50's, that was there before me on 21 day hunt got old bull elephant, big leopard near the camp, buffalo and 40”+ (my guess) sable.

Here is where elephant rolled down after shot:



Remaining bones were moved by elephants after the kill (picture 2 weeks after the kill):

Hi Mouse93, great story and picks. Excellent bushbuck and shot, welldone. Sorry I didnt see you this time around, was chasing buffalo myself. Will definatly make a plan later in the year to come up and see you. Keep well.

Hey - manguanani/lishile - ya you are right we had another meeting to decide which of the following is better - however without you around it was a kind one sided stuff counting on later

mouse:
We have been hunting Doma since Gordon reopened the area after the "Great Land Grab" and have seen a steady increase of game. Yes, Gordon does have a Family sable which he protects vigorously; we tease him about it all the time. Elephant are abundant in the area, however, hunting them can be tough: the proximity to NP means that while tracking most of the time they will have escaped into the Parks; the tall grass and terrain make for a challenge, last year we booked our first 21 day hunt for elephant and we now refer to it as our 21day baboon hunt-man, was that grass tall. Later in the year we returned and shot an elephant. we enjoy that area and the camp staff. am planning to return later this year when Gordons schedule and ours meshes-originally was going in May-June, but Government delays has caused us to miss that date. Still waiting for the amount Gordie is going to charge us for the cancellation fee.

Great report and a real hunt for buffalo! Sounded like tough going in early season conditions... but always a reason to return.

Great report and photos - thanks.

What animal is this? It is not an Okapi is it?

Thanks guys – mrm exactly – keeping you on your toes till the fat lady sings and beyond – no bloody rest – creepy thing is that you are chasing those brutes through the tall grass –snap - lights out - and you are sitting at the desk 2 days later – wandering what the f… was that – lost, stranded…you begin to build a raft that will get you back home (in Slovenian language DOMA means “AT HOME”)

SBT – not an okapi but a bushbuck at its finest – extended front/far leg showing white/black inner side (sadly it was a foggy morning dusk so pic is a bit blurry) – but what a marvelous animals those are – if you ever get a chance too stumble upon one – take your time and look it through – it is worthy.

Wow! amazing hunt and photo's
A beutiful piece of country.

Mouse,

Many thanks for sharing your hunt! I enjoyed the story and pics!

Wow! That's tough but beautiful country indeed!

Thanks – yes very beautiful – and very fragile – some say that those hills suppose to be mineral rich. Last year there were some people visiting the camp searching for an old mine to put a claim on – it turned out that the mine is somewhere in the Parks area – so Gordon gave them a couple of scouts to escort those guys to the place – they got up to ¼ of the route and come back giving up their plan – too far, too nasty to even get there.
This year, just as I was there a couple of narks – hired by Korean company – were looking to make some research drilling in the area. I hope they didn’t find anything – otherwise they don’t need any approval from a licensee other to inform him that they will set up a mine …farewell the game and hunting.

Continues - Part 2