Here is a hunt report from Tanzania with PVT. I booked the hunt myself with Pierre to hunt with his son Clinton and Wikus. The was a 2X1 hunt with 4 hunters. We booked this hunt for my good friend Tait for his 40 birthday. His wife deserves the credit for that. Tait, Jerry(his father in law), Jim and myself. It was a 7 day hunt on a shared license. We all wanted buff and each were going to split the Impala, Wildebeest, Warthog, Zebra, and Hartebeest. After going through AMS we had a great experience getting through customs and a great breakfast with Annelli(Pierres Wife) we headed into camp via charter. I was pleansantly surprised to meet Wikus and Clinton, young , energetic, but very aware of what it takes to be a professional PH. Right away I let them both know off our expectations. They were both relieved to fins out that we were there for the experience and not worried about taking home huge trophies. We wanted to have fun!
Since I was the booking agent for the guys, it was my policy on host trips that i would take shots last after each one had an oppurtunity. We have hunted before and enjoyed the times together so we were ready. This was the first dangerous game hunt for the 3 of them. Jerry is also in his 70's. But an excellent shot and outdoorsman.
The first morning of the hunt we were already on buffalo. I hunted with Jim and Wikus and Jerry and Tait hunted with Clinton for the 7 days. First day was great in that we saw nice heard of buff and tait and Jerry did the same.
The impala were everywhere. you couldnt throw a stick without hitting an impala. We probably saw over 400 Zebra the first day and Wildebeest as well. No hartebeest though. Warthog was plentiful.
The second day, Tait scoered on a nice buff, about 35", not a huge one by an means but hard boss and very mature. Jim and I had several nice stalks on buff but was windy and it circled constantly. Saw lots of olive baboons, several diukers, and i really nice waterbuck(not on license)
The third day, Jim and I stalked up on a nice heard with several nice buff. After several hours of crawling and spotting and mor crawling. Jim had his oppurtuntiy. He pulled the shot a little and hit it in the hind leg. We were on pursuit for the rest of the day to find the bull but never got back on him. Jim was disappointed but never balmed anyone except himself for the shot. Wikus and the trackers are excellent trackers but we just couldnt find him that day. Jerry took a nice warthog that day and tait a nice impala.
The fourth day, Jim and I looked again for the buff for the first morning. No luck. Jim didnt want to waste anymore time on him and excepted the loss. He made up for it with a nice warthog later in the afternoon. jerry and Tait had some good stalks on buff but did not get a shot off that day.
The fifth day, Jim took a nice Zebra and I took and nice impala. Jerry and Tait once again stalked on buff and Jerry missed his shot. The herd started away but turned towards Tait and one of the trackers who were behind a tree about 30 yards away. That had a nice little scare as the herd went by all around them.
The sixth day, Jim and I once agian were on buff. we had a nice herd and some good bulls. we stalked all morning and got up to them. Saw the bulls and readied for a shot then the wind got us again. Not to worry, Wikus said. We let them settled down and we headed to truck for lunch. On the way back I took a nice wildebeest. That afternon we were back on the herd but no mature bulls. I had cross hairs on one bull but Wikus said to wait. I agreed that he wanst a mature bull and he walked. I have learned ove rht eyears to trust my PH no matter what. Im glad I did. Jerry and Tait took a nice Zebra that day as well. And were right on top of buff most of the day.
The last day- all had a chance on buff and a shot so I was pleased and so was everyone else. We started out early and picked up the same herd Jim and I was on before. The bulls were back in the herd so I felt good. We got up to them about 9:30 and spotted the bulls and once again the wind was not in our favor. we stayed on the herd and got back to them about 10:15. No mature bulls though. They had split off. We hurried through the brush becasue Wikus had noticed movement about 150 yards away. Wikus said to get ready. 3 nice bulls bolted out of the brush thorugh a clearing and we had to sprint about 20 yards to get a good shot. I did not see the buff but Wikus and the trackers did I just did waht I was told. In the opening running broadside were the bulls and we were about 60 yards. Wikus yeled shot the last one. without hestitation I fired and he dropped after about 20 yards. I love my .416. Jim and I were yelling and very excited. What a great end to a hunt.
Jerry had another chance at a bull right before dark but it just didnt happen for him.

We all had oppurtunity on buff, harvested 2 impala, 2 wildebeest, 2 warthog, 2 zebra, 2 buffalo.

Best of all we had a great time with Wikus and Clinton in camp. First rate all the way around. trackers were very pleasant to be around and everyone was said to go home. One bad thing was my film was all gone except for 2 pictures of the buff. We took alot in the 7 days

We will be back again!












This buff was right at 37" with a nice hard boss.

Nice pics - that's a beautiful zebra. Enjoyed the story as well.

Kudubull,

I might be able to help you out with those pics and have sent you an e-mail.

I really love the zebra, there are no "shadows" on the white stripes like you see in Zimbabwe. Is that common for Tanzania zebra to be so distinctive in the striping?

Very nice photos and report-CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Ray,

Good job making the shot.. Can't wait till August 09 and back into the Selous...

Kathi, the Selous zebra are all like that... Or I should say mine was and all the others glassed...

Mike

Kudubull, Congratulation on an excellent hunt. Which area in Tanzania were you hunting? And which verity of wildebeest is that in your picture.

Kathi,

Yes, the EA zebra is a slightly different sub-species and they have no shadow stripe. They look sooooo much better huh?

quote:

Originally posted by Ahmed Sultan:
Kudubull, Congratulation on an excellent hunt. Which area in Tanzania were you hunting? And which verity of wildebeest is that in your picture.

Ahmed
That is the Nyassaland Wildebeest. It does not have the white strip across the nose. They were very plentiful in Sept. Lots of Zebra as well!

quote:

That is the Nyassaland Wildebeest. It does not have the white strip across the nose.

Is that common? Which area in Tanzania were you hunting?

I believe that that is a white bearded wildebeest because the Nyasa wildebeest does have the white band on its nose

This Nyasa wildebeest was shot in the Selous.

Ahmed

There are 5 sub species of blue wildebeest.

Blue Wildebeest
Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest
Cookson's Wildebeest
Western White-bearded Wildebeest
Nyassaland Wildebeest

The nyassaland does have the white bearded as well and I beleive they are refered to as the Eastern White Beared Wildebeest. We did not see any white beared wildebeest but 2 weeks later I had another client in same area and he saw several herds. From what I gather, they tend to move along with the hartebeest in the Selous. I myself am trying to collect all the species of wildebeest. I have the cookson and white beared left to complete it.

Thanks