15 October 2013, 01:07
Dr balderBuffalo hunt Zimbabwe 2013
Here is an small report from my hunt in Zimbabwe this year. Outfitter:Martin Pieters safaris
PH: Pierre Hundermark
Area : Omay North
Hunting dates : 10-11 sept 2013.
Rifle: Brno 602 with Leupold vx 6 1-6.
Ps:sorry fore my bad writing, had to use Google translate a lot of this story, but hope you understand what I'm writing.
Finally, after long waiting, the day finally arrived, Sept. 3. I sit on the bus direction
Gardermoen.
Was there in plenty of time for check in of my rifle and luggage, was then time for a
snack before my flight to Frankfurt , the plane was of the Airbus A319.
The advancement in Frankfurt I had only 1hr and 10 minutes before departure to Johannesburg, a short time
maybe but it went very smoothly, and I boarded one of Lufthansa's Airbus A380-800
for a long flight south (about 11.5 h).
Due to short time between landing and take-off in Johannesburg to Bulawayo, I decided to stay the night
there.
Had arranged accommodation at the Afton Guest House, did send the info about weapons and ammo in advance, so when I arrived
securities were completed and waiting for me, the driver of Afton Guest House guided me into the SAPS office
for a quick check of the weapon Number. and 2min later we were on the way to today's destination.
There lived several American hunters and there was a lot of hunting storytelling around Braai Chat `n the evening.
Can recommend Afton Guest House on the warmest, relatively inexpensive and very tidy.
5 Sept. I set course for the airport, again in good time so there is time for some shopping before
I enter Sa Airlink Avro RJ 85's and headed towards Bulawayo.
Arrival / departure hall which has been under renovation "few" years, has reportedly been finished for a while,
but waiting for some minister who would conduct the official opening ........."In 1 or 2 Weeks .... maybe."
Was therefore taken to a hangar that was converted to the arrival hall, for completing the visa and
clearance of weapons and ammo, no bullshit there either, so soon after I meet the driver Sunday,
and he drives me to the Southern Comfort Lodge, where I will stay a few days.
Have stayed there 2 times before (1997 and 2000), was now upgraded significantly, owners Lesly and Craigh
Hunt has done an excellent job with this place.
Monday 9 Sept. driver Sunday again pick me up for transportation to "the end of the road"
The tour goes through Gweru, Kwekwe and Gokwe and five hours later we meet Chris who is under
training to become PH.
Then it's about 4 hours drive to Omay North and Ume River Camp, on relatively poor road ....
There were only Landcruicer apply.
Meet my PH Pierre Hundermark, Camp Manager Chris and the rest of the people working there.
Being shown the way to the cabin I will stay and unpack the rifle and ammo,
still some daylight left, so we just got time to check that gun hit where it should ..... and it did
.... "just the way of shooting i like to see" commented Pierre, and then we were ready for hunting.
Did a boat ride on the Ume River and one (or was it two) sundowner before dinner and we went to bed
early.
Photo from the dining room:
From my cottage:
Camp seen from the water:
Next morning went reveille at 0430, breakfast and off on the hunt.
Not so many roads in the area, but we took a short round until we found tracks of buffalo, but it
was no adult bulls in that they meant.
Tracking Day 1:
A short time later we found tracs of 2 Daggaboys who had crossed the road, and we sat for.
Scattered about 2 hours and we came to a place they had settled down for a short time and then gone
on .... "we are just behind them" said Pierre, and we soon after to an area with thick "jess".Just after we hear them a short distance ahead, and down low creeping we continue.
But those guys have been out on a spring day before, and they discover us when we are at about 40m, and off they go.
We decide to go back to the car and take lunch and let the animals get some rest before we try again.
Here we eat lunch:
Pierre had checked it on gps, then after lunch we found the tracks pretty quickly, but soon found out
that they did not intend to stop any time soon, so we finished for the day and returned to camp
"Just in time fore an sundowner" and a good dinner.
Early evening and again at 0430 wake up call.
This day we should split up and look for tracks on foot, just as we parked the car
we saw a buffalo herd, about 40 animals but no big bulls.
Two trackers are assigned a route to go, another tracker to go a different route, while Pierre and I
along with a game ranger will go along Ume river is almost dry from where we are and upward.
We have radio contact with the other guys as we walked up the river and there we find tracks of buffalo , but no big one.
Elephant, hippopotamus, lion, leopard and various antelope tracks are plentiful.
When we arrive at the meeting point we hear on the radio from the tracker that walked alone: tracks of 5 daggaboys found.
We jump in the car and set off, once we have arrived, we take an early lunch and relax a bit in the heat.
Lunch:
Find the tracks of the animals, they have gone up a mountainside, and we appreciate by at a leisurely pace.
we find several resting places as they have been, they have apparently moved into more suited place
as the sun has begun to warm, and hot was it as we walked up and down, back and forth
This mountain side with the company of hordes of Mopani flies.
After about 2 hours we see some trees with leaves on, the only one we seen so far, there is a nice shade to
rest in said Pierre, would not surprise me if they are under there.
Down in low creeping over and we creep closer .... suddenly the tracker whispers, Nyati Nyati ....!
Then Pierre and I are taking over, and gently creeps forward at all "5" Pierre gently sticking his head
over the edge, and turned immediately toward me as he waved me forward.
Will never forget the expression on his face .... it was no doubt, this was serious stuff.
Coming my way to him and peering over the edge, there is a Daggaboy about 30 feet away and looking in our direction approximately 1 second, before he turns
his ass towards us ..... That's it, I thought .....
Just then he turned around and I see clearly his right shoulder where it stands behind something thin vegetation,
Do not have time to think, but put the crosshair in the middle of the shoulder and fired a shot from 375 `n which is loaded with 1 300 grs Barnes TSX in
chamber and 4 Hornady Dgs Solids in the magazine.
We threw ourselves up and ran away on the edge, where we see 6 buffalo that flies off at high speed .... What now?
Suddenly we see some movement on the slope below us ...... there is it, behind some rocks and dry grass.
"Give him another shot, just in case" says Pierre .... and I'm not late to ask, firing 2 solid `s
where it is down after running about 40 meters.
Then it was quiet, but Pierre told me to be ready if to wake again, "remember it's the
dead one that `s kills you" he says as we approach cautiously.
Pierre poked it in the eye ... He is gone .... Congratulations with your first buffalo,
It's a really good one!
It turned out that the first shot set perfectly, took the top of the heart and stopped in the middle of
shoulder on the opposite side.
My buffalo :: D
And where we find ourselves up in a mountain side with x number of kg buffalo that have to be sorted out before it gets dark.
No car can come up here, so what do we do now?
Pierre and Mike head off to get the car to run it as close as possible, while I and the rest
of guys waiting there is buffalo.
When Pierre and Mike arrive at the car as there are 5 women who sit waiting, they heard shots
and set off as fast as they could, hoping to get some meat.
Ok, if you help us carry the buffalo, so should there be "nyama", and we had welcome help.
Did saved the buffalo just in time before it was dark and we arrived at camp quite late after
Having been slightly delayed due to a bush fire.
Then it was time for dinner, followed by "the biggest buffalo party ever."
It was about 0300 before we went to bed.
I'm wery happy with my hunt in Omay, and would love to hunt there again.
End of story, and I'm sorry fore my bad writing, had to use Google translate a lot, but did my best ;-)
