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Cape Buffalo in Malapati with SSG-Nixon Dzingai

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15 June 2013, 03:51
Biebs
Cape Buffalo in Malapati with SSG-Nixon Dzingai
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


15 June 2013, 04:20
Fjold
Beautiful Bulls!


Frank



"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite

15 June 2013, 04:38
bobgrow
Great bulls, Jon...congratulations!!
That 49" will always be a special memory.
Did you rebook already?


Bob

DRSS
DSC
SCI
NRA & ISRA
15 June 2013, 04:46
Nakihunter
Beautiful trophies. The first one is a real old warrior!


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."
15 June 2013, 04:47
Biebs
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!!! :-)
15 June 2013, 05:14
David Hulme
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


www.rogerwhittallsafaris.com
15 June 2013, 05:18
bobgrow
Jon...it's only five hunts, and only money.
Time is the enemy.


Bob

DRSS
DSC
SCI
NRA & ISRA
15 June 2013, 05:26
SBT
Great buffalo. Sounds like Nixon is still going strong.


"There are worse memorials to a life well-lived than a pair of elephant tusks." Robert Ruark
15 June 2013, 05:47
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 :-)
15 June 2013, 05:51
AnotherAZWriter
That 49 incher is incredible.


Don't Ever Book a Hunt with Jeff Blair
http://forums.accuratereloadin...821061151#2821061151

15 June 2013, 06:16
David Hulme
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 :-)


tu2


www.rogerwhittallsafaris.com
15 June 2013, 07:46
elk88101
Good job Biebs
Wish I could have made that trip.
But New Zealand was first
Next time
Larry
15 June 2013, 08:59
Bill73
Great hunt Jon,you guys had a great time tu2


DRSS
15 June 2013, 09:24
crbutler
Impressive buffalo!

Nixon is sure producing some excellent animals!
15 June 2013, 09:24
Texas Blue Devil
Great Bulls!!


Go Duke!!
15 June 2013, 09:40
cjfoster
Outstanding! tu2
15 June 2013, 16:28
BEGNO
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.


BUTCH

C'est Tout Bon
(It is all good)
15 June 2013, 16:33
Wink
Congratulations on great buffalo.


_________________________________

AR, where the hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history become the nattering nabobs of negativisim.
15 June 2013, 16:53
Zephyr
Congrats to all...... must be a treat for you to experience Africa again through the eyes of first timers
15 June 2013, 17:14
Biebs
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.
15 June 2013, 18:02
DoubleDon
Nice bulls! Nixon's the best and I really enjoyed Simon. Hardest hunting SOB's I've ever been around. tu2


Deo Vindice,

Don

Sons of Confederate Veterans Black Horse Camp #780
15 June 2013, 18:16
BEGNO
DO BUFFALO EVER CHARGE? I can guess that my name came up over that campfire.


BUTCH

C'est Tout Bon
(It is all good)
15 June 2013, 18:38
Monkeyhunter
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
15 June 2013, 18:49
Biebs
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 :-)
15 June 2013, 18:53
Biebs
Jess, you were missed for sure.
15 June 2013, 20:33
MJines
Well done Jon. Glad you had a successful and safe trip.


Mike
15 June 2013, 20:55
pagosawingnut
Great Job Jon!
Nice old dugga boy and the 49"'r is tremendous.
Was wondering how your trip went.
15 June 2013, 21:09
gunny
Proper buffalo those.
15 June 2013, 22:11
ManuelM
Simply a perfect buffalo bull! Congratulations!!


Manuel Maldonado
MM Sonoran Desert Hunters
https://www.facebook.com/huntingMM
15 June 2013, 23:00
jorge
Great hunt Biebs, I loved your old warrior of a buffalo but man that 49" is incredible!!!


USN (ret)
DRSS Verney-Carron 450NE
Cogswell & Harrison 375 Fl NE
Sabatti Big Five 375 FL Magnum NE
DSC Life Member
NRA Life Member

16 June 2013, 02:50
Biebs
Thanks guys. Nixon put on a great hunt.
16 June 2013, 04:35
retreever
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 tu2


Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
16 June 2013, 05:49
cnm123
Biebs
Congratulation on a great hunt did you see any Elephants? I am heading over in September can't wait
Chris
16 June 2013, 06:54
Biebs
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!
16 June 2013, 07:13
Equinsu Ocha
Jon

congrats!

That 49"er looks like the bull my buddy Mark shot with Nixon in 2011. HUGE
16 June 2013, 08:01
PSmith
Well played sir!


Paul Smith
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
DSC Member
Life Member of the "I Can't Wait to Get Back to Africa" Club
DRSS
I had the privilege to fire E. Hemingway's WR .577NE, E. Keith's WR .470NE, & F. Jamieson's WJJ .500 Jeffery
I strongly recommend avoidance of "The Zambezi Safari & Travel Co., Ltd." and "Pisces Sportfishing-Cabo San Lucas"

"A failed policy of national defense is its own punishment" Otto von Bismarck
16 June 2013, 09:42
dukxdog
Hey Jon. You guys got some dandy's. It was my pleasure spending time with you before your trip to Nixon's camp. Congratulations!


GOA Life Member
NRA Benefactor Member
Life Member Dallas Safari Club
Westley Richards 450 NE 3 1/4"
16 June 2013, 17:23
Biebs
Bobby, it was a pleasure meeting up with you as well.
16 June 2013, 18:37
Scriptus
Just lovely stuff, serious buffs. tu2 Now if Biebs wore a set of horns, would one not think....... Roll Eyes
16 June 2013, 19:16
Biebs
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 :-)