Congrats on that leopard. I was in there in September last year with Shaun Buffee and a cat like that eluded me!

Jorge,
The camp you stayed in was Mahleka Camp. That was Johns old camp. There are now two camps at Malangani, Mahleka and the "Fish Camp". We stayed at the fish camp. Both are on lakes but fish camp is being used more.

Bwanna,
I met Shaun a while back and he seems like a good guy with several big cats under his belt. Even though the place has lots of big leopards, I hear a lot of stories with guys coming up short or having to add extra days to the hunt. I was fortunate to get mine. Early in the season and a dark moon helped a bunch.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
Will,
When we walked up on the cat in the dark with the flashlights on him, my first thought was, "My son just shot a jaguar". I have never seen a leopard with the spots and dark color of this one, very simply a once in a lifetime leopard.

Thanks for the hunting report. Beautiful leopard with massive rosettes. It does look a lot like a jaguar. A very unique and special trophy.

quote:

Originally posted by Imbada92:
Jorge,
The camp you stayed in was Mahleka Camp. That was Johns old camp. There are now two camps at Malangani, Mahleka and the "Fish Camp". We stayed at the fish camp. Both are on lakes but fish camp is being used more.

Thanks, when I was there the Fish Camp was just starting to be used but nowhere near as nice as what you showed us. Near there is where I shot my Bushbuck right on the edge of that beautiful lake.

Jorge,
Heck of a nice buck there!!
There was another bushbuck of about the same size just to the right of the one in the posted photo. They were right across the lake around noon on the days we were in camp for lunch. Official "camp bushbucks" and off limits. Carson shot a 16" bushbuck on the east end of Malangani in 2010. Not many there but very good quality.
It's a shame to see John's old camp fallen into neglect, clearly it was a small piece of heaven in it's prime. You were lucky!
My hunting buddy has some trail camera photos of "your" cat, I'll see if he will send them to me and I'll forward to you for your inspection and approval of course.

When we were there in 05 there was a kudu in the "neutral zone" across the lake that John said was every bit of 60". My Bushbuck was 15.5". I was not aware John's old camp has been abandoned or hardly used? I wonder if anybody has a current pictures? That would be neat o see the trail cam pics!

I passed on a 55" kudu because Brent had seen one that would go 60". As it turns out, we never saw him but had fun hunting.
I didn't take photos of John's camp but I'm not sure you would like seeing the condition it's in. A far cry from your photos. Come to think of it, I saw many beautiful farms and homes that had been stripped of any value and left for dead, truly heartbreaking. I feel for those Zimbos that had to walk away from their lifelong homes knowing what was going to happen to them. I can only hope they get them back, someday!

That is indeed sad to hear. I'll have to drop John a note and ask him why it was abandoned. We loved that place. On the kudus, man I never saw so many shootable (to me) kudus! John kept saying "not good enough" and he finally spotted one whilst we were driving on a river bed, we got out walked to the bank and whacked him at 125 yards. He went 58 3/4" and is my best trophy:

quote:

Originally posted by McKay:
That broken buffalo is my dream.... Awesome....

+1
Congrats on your hunt. Beautiful Leopard.

Great report and congrats. What scope did you use for leopard?

Huge leopard. Nicely done!
lb

Great hunt report.

Brent - if you know the whereabouts of this old boy, stop by to see me at DSC!

Has there every been a better leopard posted?

I've got photos of 3 bulls all about the same, one side broken or broomed back and smooth as glass. That particular old bull is no longer available, he has my name tag in his ear, I put it there!!

Scope used was 2.5 x 8 Leupold

quote:

Originally posted by sevenmagltd.:
...That particular old bull is no longer available, he has my name tag in his ear, I put it there!!

Those tattered ears don't have a piece big enough to hold a tag!

nice report, looks like you all had a great time.

Very well done... Awesome Cat and that old Dugga boy. I really like that pic of you guys fishing, that can be a welcomed change on Safari.

Bwanajay,
Imbada92 is now working down in your part of the world working out of an office in Corpus. Trying to rat hole enough money to go back!!! If you see one of those Koch trucks stop and ask for Imbada, he'd love to talk!!

What a nice cat. Hunted with Brent this year at Fimbiri myself. He is a great PH, congrats to you both,

Ali

Jason P: Thanks! that is quite a compliment..
Ali: I believe you were the hunt right after us. Thanks, we had a good time.