Outfitter: SSG Safaris, Charidzi Zim
Booking: Tim Herald, Magnum Hunt Club
Travel: Steve Turner, Travel with Guns
PHs: Nixon D, Simon D, Ishmael
Hunters: Me (Biebs), Mark (from Long Island), Gustav (Dallas)
Rifles: Mauser M04 416 Rem, Blaser R8 375 H&H, CZ550 in 404 Jeffery
Game Seen: Buffalo, Giraffe, Impala, Waterbuck, Zebra, Bushbuck, Bush Pig, Crocodile, baboon, Vervet Monkey, Warthog, Cory Bustard.
Animals Taken: Cape Buffalo, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Impala

I had a couple of first-time African hunters wanting me to arrange a Cape Buffalo hunt for 2103, and Tim Herald had a spot open with Nixon in the Malapati area in Zim. I had spoken with BEGNO (Butch), who had hunted with Nixon several times, so I knew it would work out well. Nixon recently picked up the The Sengwe 1 and 2 Communal areas left vacant when Aubrey Kent vanished, and had gained an unexpected 60 additional Buffalo tags with those areas.

Arrangements were made with Steve Turner at Travel With Guns, with all of us meeting in NY and flying to Jo’Berg together. The arrival at 8:05 AM allows one to catch the 11:05 AM to Harare, thus avoiding the SAPS fiasco and the cost of an overnight in Jo’Berg.
Malapati borders the Gonarazhou National Park, and game frequently crosses the river from the park into the area. Although Plains Game is not the usual quarry in Nixon’s area, there were great Waterbuck in the area (28” to 34”), and enough other animals to make baiting for Leopard easy. At this time of year, the jess was in full leaf, so visibility was short, and game was located by tracking. I was walking 3-4 miles a night in preparation before we left for the hunt, so the occasional 6-10 mile tracking of single “Dugga Boys” was easy.
As you can see from the photos, we had a great hunt. One of the hunters had a stalk end in a busted Buff, but when they stepped around some brush to continue the hunt, there stood a 49” bull just staring at them. You just never know!
The camp was comfortable, with masonry chalets with en suite baths/showers. The staff was well-trained, and everything was handled well, from wake-ups to meals to a Mopane fire so we could sit around in the evening and watch “Bushman’s TV” and review the day’s hunt.

An old Dugga Boy






Another happy Buff hunter



The 49" Monster, likely the best Buff out of Africa this year




Mark makes a new friend

Beautiful Bulls!

Great bulls, Jon...congratulations!!
That 49" will always be a special memory.
Did you rebook already?

Beautiful trophies. The first one is a real old warrior!

Bob, I'm juggling desires for Zambia (Andrew's Royal Kafue), Burkina Faso (Red and Black Buff), a return trip to Mozambique, another management Ele with Karl Stumpfe in the Caprivi, and a need to get back with Nixon. Decisions, decisions!!! :-)

Fantastic! I heard about the 49 incher on the local grapevine a couple of days ago....Incredible. The 'old warrior' (as Naki describes it) is my idea of the ideal buffalo. Well done gentlemen and well done Nixon and crew! Outstanding.

David

Jon...it's only five hunts, and only money.
Time is the enemy.

Great buffalo. Sounds like Nixon is still going strong.

quote:

The 'old warrior' (as Naki describes it) is my idea of the ideal buffalo.

David, that's why I only like to hunt single tracks, not herds. If an old bull is now off on his own, you don't need to judge trophy quality....if he's lived that long, he IS A TROPHY :-)

That 49 incher is incredible.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:

quote:

The 'old warrior' (as Naki describes it) is my idea of the ideal buffalo.

David, that's why I only like to hunt single tracks, not herds. If an old bull is now off on his own, you don't need to judge trophy quality....if he's lived that long, he IS A TROPHY :-)

Good job Biebs
Wish I could have made that trip.
But New Zealand was first
Next time
Larry

Great hunt Jon,you guys had a great time

Impressive buffalo!

Nixon is sure producing some excellent animals!

Great Bulls!!

Outstanding!

Good to see two of my friends, Biebs and Nixon, together with an awesome old dugga boy.
That 49" bull is magnificent. Congrats to all on a great safari. Thanks for sharing.

Congratulations on great buffalo.

Congrats to all...... must be a treat for you to experience Africa again through the eyes of first timers

quote:

must be a treat for you to experience Africa again through the eyes of first timers

Yes, it is....to see the awe in their eyes! It was fun to field their questions around the fire at night..."Do Buffalo ever charge? Will the Leopard come into a blind if he smells you? Will the Lion over there stick to the Buffalo and leave us alone?"

I'm already working on another "Newby" hunt for 2014.

Nice bulls! Nixon's the best and I really enjoyed Simon. Hardest hunting SOB's I've ever been around.

DO BUFFALO EVER CHARGE? I can guess that my name came up over that campfire.

Congratulations to you all for a great hunt!

I should have been the fourth member of Bieb's party but as I type this, the Zimbabwean visa that I applied for last April 24 has seen no approval up to now. I sent my passport all the way to Washington, DC where my visa application was submitted because I tried to touch base with the Zimbabwe consulates in China, Japan and Malaysia to no avail. Citizens of the United States are blessed in that they are not required to have a visa to enter Zimbabwe. Being a national of the Philippines, I not only need a Zimbabwean visa, I also need a transit visa for South Africa even if I will only stay in Joberg for a few hours to catch the connecting flight to Harare. I was disappointed when I ran out of time and just could not make it - there were just too many hoops to hurdle. I'm disappointed more after seeing the magnificent trophies you gentlemen took.

Jon, I read that plans are already in the making for a return trip to Africa. Here's hoping I'll be able to go with you on that next trip.
In fact, I have not sent in my plane ticket for a refund....

Nice photos and report, thanks for sharing.

Best,

Jess
Cebu, Republic of the Philippines

quote:

DO BUFFALO EVER CHARGE? I can guess that my name came up over that campfire.

Butch, your name is among the legends of Malapati. I think I saw your image on a totem in the Sengwe Communal area :-)

Jess, you were missed for sure.

Well done Jon. Glad you had a successful and safe trip.

Great Job Jon!
Nice old dugga boy and the 49"'r is tremendous.
Was wondering how your trip went.

Proper buffalo those.

Simply a perfect buffalo bull! Congratulations!!

Great hunt Biebs, I loved your old warrior of a buffalo but man that 49" is incredible!!!

Thanks guys. Nixon put on a great hunt.

Jon,

A wonderful report and superb example of an ancient dagga boy. Yea, where the heck is the double rifle? Woould have been great practice for the Vintagers.


Mike

Biebs
Congratulation on a great hunt did you see any Elephants? I am heading over in September can't wait
Chris

Chris, we didn't go into the areas where the Ele were this time of year, but Bobby (Duxdog) took a 91-92 pounder the week before we arrived; likely the best Elephant to be taken this year. Good luck!

Jon

congrats!

That 49"er looks like the bull my buddy Mark shot with Nixon in 2011. HUGE

Well played sir!

Hey Jon. You guys got some dandy's. It was my pleasure spending time with you before your trip to Nixon's camp. Congratulations!

Bobby, it was a pleasure meeting up with you as well.

Just lovely stuff, serious buffs. Now if Biebs wore a set of horns, would one not think.......

Yes, I'm getting on in Cape Buffalo years. My "herd" at home has already turned me out to pasture, but that just means I get more time to hunt :-)