I saw this hunt advertised here last spring as a 2x1. Checked with a friend that had mentioned he wanted to do something like this, but after some time he declined. At this point I was committed in my head, so I booked it for myself and added a second buffalo.

I'd like to start with a thumbs up to Gracy Travel for all they do to take the stress out of organizing these kinds of trips. Also, while we often hear of the hassles some go through with CBP,TSA and incompetence behind the counter, my journey was exactly the opposite. From CBP in Boise to clearing customs at Atlanta and all in between I was greeted with smiling faces and helpful attitudes.

After clearing customs at Bulawayo, I met Gary outside, we shook hands loaded my gear and were on our way. After 2 hours of dodging trucks and the occasional cow we arrived at Sondelani. By this time, I had a pretty good feeling that we were going to work well together, and this proved to be true.

As we discussed the upcoming hunt along the way, I made a point to let Gary know that I don't carry a tape measure. I like to hunt and as long as we were doing that and everyone was doing their job, I would be happy. No pressure even if it comes down to the last day. Let's relax, go hunting and have fun! Also, knowing that we would most likely be in thick cover and up close I assured him that I had no problems with back up shot if he had any doubts. For me once I pull the trigger all that matters from that moment on is everyone's safety and a recovered animal.

We arrived at the lodge, met the crew and I got settled in. Then off we went to check the rifles. I took a B Searcy 375 flanged magnum as well as my CZ 550 416 Rigby. I checked the double off the sticks at 50 yards and was glad to see that my 3 to 5 days a week for two and a half months practice with the 7.5 and 7lbs triggers paid off, two rounds right where they needed to be. The bolt rifle was good at 100 off the hood of the truck just to check the zero and I'm quite confident with it out to 100 off the sticks. Back to camp to make a plan.

By morning there had been several plans, in the end we got in the truck, found some tracks and headed after them. The weather was cool and overcast with a lite breeze that was often changing directions. We were in varying cover and an array of gullies and small hills. After a short 20-minute track we were on a rise and saw what looked like 3 bulls a couple hundred yards away. We worked our way around and managed to get inside 50 yards of what was now 5 bulls. At first, they were unaware of us, but we had to crawl around a bit to get in a position that might provide a clear shot through the trees and bushes. I took a sitting position as we worked out which bull that we would try to shoot. With that worked out we waited for a shot, but before either of the two we wanted cleared the brush a younger one wandered our way and spotted us and away they went. We decided not to follow up at that time and headed back to the truck with Gary assuring that there were plenty more to be found.



Next stop, we picked up tracks of two at a water. there had also been a small herd at the water, so it took the trackers a bit to figure it out but soon we were on the track. The cover was much thicker here and the tracks led us in a circle putting us up wind from where they led. We backed out and took a hike to come in from the direction the had been traveling. After about an hour or more, we found ourselves within a short distance from where we had originally left the tracks facing a very thick patch of cover. Gary sent a tracker each way around the area to see if any tracks had left while we quietly waited. We hadn't waited long before we heard the sound of buffalo crashing through the brush, then quiet. they had sensed us somehow and vacated the area. We followed up a bit to see where they had gone and decided to go have lunch then come back a pickup the tracks that afternoon.

Upon returning we picked up the tracks and proceeded into some very thick cover. After a short distance but a long time, the tracks slowed down and not long after that a third track joined the group. At this point we were stopped and looking more than walking when we noticed a bull walking fast off to our right. Gary wanted to just hold tight for a bit, so we sat down for a few minutes. Not long till some oxpeckers flew over us from the left and Gary said he hear something. We slowly got up and eased around to look across a little gully. One bull was looking right at us, and another was behind a bush maybe 40 yards max. We could not find the third bull. I slowly sat down but could not find a clear shot through the brush before the bulls just walked off. Once again, we just sat and waited about 20 minutes before resuming out stalk.

When we started up again on the tracks they were headed directly into the wind and within 20 to 30 minutes we had two spotted again in an area with a fair amount of clearing. One directly behind a tree and the other with his rear end towards us, still no third bull. I took up a sitting position and was ready for a shot when the third bull came in from our right kind of fast and the group left going straight away from us.

As it was starting to get late, we headed back to the truck, bumping into a small herd on the way out. What a great first day.

That night the wind blew hard, and in the morning it was cooler than the day before along with a few drops of rain. We drove out looking for tracks and checking at water. There had not been much movement but near midday we found some tracks at a pond and followed up. Again, they mixed with a herd for a bit, but the trackers sorted it out and we carried on. After a short track, the tracks crossed a road and Gary said we would go back to camp then revisit this area after lunch.

I took a short nap and when I woke up, I had the dreaded scratchy throat telling me that I most likely picked up a bug on the flights over. thankful it wasn't hot I filled my pocket with cough drops and we headed out.

Once at the spot where we had left the tracks Gary dumped two trackers out to check the road to see if the bulls had left the area. Meanwhile we drove around the other side of the block to do the same. We hadn't gone far down our side when Gary spotted a bull from the truck laying down not too far off. It took me a bit, but I eventually saw him as well. From what we could see he looked to be grey in the face and on the back. There were a lot of gaps in the cover, and it looked like it might be hard to get real close do I grabbed the 416 and had the tracker bring the double as well. We got to about 65 yards and were out of stalking cover. Gary set up the sticks to the side of a bush, I stepped around, got on the sticks the bull got up and I took a slightly quirting frontal shot. By the reaction I was sure it was a good shot. As I slammed my second round in to my surprise the bolt would not close. fortunately, the bull just turned around and disappeared into the brush. Somehow, I had chambered a round without the extractor over the rim. At this point we walked the short distance back to the truck and I left the rifle there, then we carried on with the follow up with my double.

We picked up the tracks where I shot the bull and cautiously mad out way over a small rise. As we eased over the hill, we spotted him laying down facing us. by the time I had my rifle to my shoulder he stood up and Gary and I fired at the same time, he then turned to run away and we each shot one more time. I reloaded, and at that point he was standing broad side, so I put one more in him and he went down. We walked up for a finishing shot through the back. As we walked down to him, we went past where he had been laying and there was a big area of frothy blood. Later the autopsy would reveal that my first bullet had broken the shoulder, passed through a lung at an angle and ended up in his grass filled stomach.



As we looked the bull over, we became aware that he probably wasn't that old but just not well. His feet showed signs of fever rings, very thin and small in the body compared to what I had seen the previous day. Later when the skinners cut the bone out of his heart, it was half the size of a normal bull. In the end I think we did him a favor and I had a bull down.


It was dark when we got back to camp. I took a rod and a patch and tapped the round out of the chamber. Kept it separate to see if I could figure out the issue in the in the morning.

When I woke the next morning, my throat was worse, and my nose stuffed up. I made Gary aware I was a bit off but would be ok if we didn't have to go all day in the heat. As it were I had my lite coat on all day.

Then to check out the rifle. I went to a safe spot and loaded the magazine with the round in the same position as the day before. worked the action and there was no issue. I tried multiple ways with different speed and positions with the rifle, and I could not repeat the issue. I did get it to not feed correctly with the rifle pointed straight up while chambering the round very slow. I didn't like that but didn't see it as a likely scenario. None the less I was a bit worried.

We had breakfast and off we went looking for tracks. The wind was strong and steady as well as it was another day that I wore my lite jacket all day. Just as the day before we eventually found the tracks of two bulls at a pond that mingled up with a herd for a bit. It took the trackers a bit longer this time but eventually they got it figured out, and we followed up till a little after noon. They had been traveling pretty straight for a while, so Gary had the truck come get us. We then drove around the block and checked for sign but didn't see any. At that point we decided to go have lunch and return that afternoon.

Upon returning we picked up the tracks where we had left them. the area had more open spaces with patches of thick cover. In a short time, the tracks began to meander. After a short distance but a lot of time, we rounded a patch of cover, and the bulls were off to out left. One laying down and one behind some brush. Maybe 60 yards away. I got on the sticks with the 416, but the instant the bull stood he turned and they were off. We waited a bit debating to follow up or not. Finaly Gary suggested we go back to the truck and drive to the other side of the block to see if they left the area.

When we turned the corner in the truck to be where we should be in front of them if still in the area, Gary put a tracker on the front to look for tracks while we drove slowly scanning the brush ahead of us. We hadn't gone far when we spotted them ahead of us a ways, not far off the road just walking. We got out and after a bit managed to get parallel of them without being noticed. I set up on the sticks but couldn't get a clear or standing shot. So, we followed along for a bit till we had a decent size clearing they might come through, and I got on the sticks. As good luck would have it the first one stopped broadside for a perfect shot. I didn't waste time and put a bullet through his heart. both bulls took off with mine going down in less than 50 yards behind some cover. We worked our way around to go in from behind the direction they went and when we got to where we could see better, the second bull was there attacking the down bull. At this point Gary asked me if I wanted a third bull. I said it wasn't in the budget, but it wouldn't be the first time I had to have the wife wire some more money. So, we backed out and went back to the truck. With everyone on the truck we drove to where we were as close to the bulls as we could get on the road. We shouted a bit, drove the rig back and forth for a while but he wouldn't leave A couple times he faced up and gave a few grunts but returned to his buddy. Gary said he thought if we got much closer, he may charge and we would have to shoot him. After a bit more discussion we decided to leave them and revisit in the morning. It was getting late any way so not a good time for a quick risky shot just before dark.


After an early breakfast the next morning we headed back to the dead bull quite sure the other one would be gone. But not to be, he was still standing over his buddy. We drove back and forth a few times with no effect. Then we pulled in towards him a bit and mad a lot of noise, still no effect. Gary then asked me to fire a couple shots in the air which I did and we got the slightest flinch but that was all. There was too much brush between us to shoot from the truck, and it was not a good approach form the ground for a variety of reasons. So, we pulled the truck back and away parking out of sight a little way down the road. We got out with one tracker with the sticks and made our way back up to a good shooting where we ran out of cover without gaining his attention. I got on the sticks and waited for him to move forward just a bit to give me a good shot. The moment I got settled in he just turned and trotted off away from us. We gave it a few minutes the worked our way in and there was no sign of him. Gary called the truck with the rest of the crew. When they got there, we took a couple quick photos, and they went to work cutting him up. We kept a look out but as time went on everyone began to relax and before long, he was in the truck, and we were on our way home. In some way I had hoped for a more dramatic ending but on the other hand I was happy the way it went.



We spent the rest of the week checking leopard bates and sitting near the lake waiting for a bush buck ram in the evening.

There was a small group of hippos in the lake, as well as some bush buck females and small rams. I also saw impala, kudu, giraffe, warthogs, a couple of the smaller antelope that I can never keep their names straight, one jackal along with hyena and leopard tracks.

We had buffalo on the table the rest of the week with the oxtail being the winner. I really enjoyed hunting with Gary and his crew.

If there was one regret, it would be the usual, "next time take more money"



Spell checked best I could, feel free to check my work

any,

Thanks for the great buffalo hunting report with wonderful pictures. I sure enjoyed your hunting and stalking details. I was right with you all way.
It sounds like you had an excellent experience in good country and you were with good PH.

I have a question, and I don't want to get all technical about the hunt, but I am a bullet nerd and would like to know what make of bullet you were using and what the weight was, If you don't mind telling me.

Thanks again for the great story. I read it twice and felt like I had been on a high adventure. Brian

Great hunt and report. Thanks!

Folks,

Gary does a great job and buffalo hunting on Sondeani is excellent with plenty buffalo.

I have a client going in there in couple of days.

Mark

Superb write up! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!

Great report!

Your write-up really provides a true picture of the ups and downs of hunting buffalo, and hunting in general.

Sometimes you win, but most times you lose!

Just makes winning sweeter when it happens.

And I hear you about taking more money.

I finally decided to expand the 2.5x rule.

Originally, I thought it was only about how long it will take to do something difficult.

I was taught that you should come up with your best estimate of the length of time you will need and then multiply it by 2.5!

Only after coming up short on funds more times than I would have liked did I come to realize it also had equal application to how much something you really want is actually going to cost you!

Congratulations on a terrific safari!

Thanks for the great report and congratulations!

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Canada:
any,

Thanks for the great buffalo hunting report with wonderful pictures. I sure enjoyed your hunting and stalking details. I was right with you all way.
It sounds like you had an excellent experience in good country and you were with good PH.

I have a question, and I don't want to get all technical about the hunt, but I am a bullet nerd and would like to know what make of bullet you were using and what the weight was, If you don't mind telling me.

Thanks again for the great story. I read it twice and felt like I had been on a high adventure. Brian

350 Barnes tsx in the 416, and 270 tsx for the 375. we did recover bullets, and they looked as they were supposed to and were found in areas of the body proving penetration.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Great report!

Your write-up really provides a true picture of the ups and downs of hunting buffalo, and hunting in general.

Sometimes you win, but most times you lose!

Just makes winning sweeter when it happens.

And I hear you about taking more money.

I finally decided to expand the 2.5x rule.

Originally, I thought it was only about how long it will take to do something difficult.

I was taught that you should come up with your best estimate of the length of time you will need and then multiply it by 2.5!

Only after coming up short on funds more times than I would have liked did I come to realize it also had equal application to how much something you really want is actually going to cost you!

Congratulations on a terrific safari!

Copy that on the 2.5

any,
Thanks for the information. Good to know.
Brian

.

Congratulations on a successful double buff hunt and thanks for sharing !

.

Congratulations on a fun hunt!

The money issue is real. I think I’ve only not gone over on one hunt, and that one was Ethiopia where you have to book everything in advance.

I've spent a couple of months hunting various concessions in Zimbabwe with Gary, he never disappoints.