H--Nixon Dzingai Dates--9/16--10/1 Observer/tracker--Carol We left Grand Rapids on the 16th on our way to Dulles.On the SAA flight to JNB, we met Steve Scott(Africa's Big 5). He was going Buffalo hunting as well. Flight was long, but fine. At the gate we met Aubrey Kent(458AUBS),he had my gun permit taken care of. The usual tips and we were on our way to the Afton House. In the morning ,back to airport and on to Vic Falls. We spent a few days there resting and celebrating. It was our 22cd anniversary. The falls are a must see. Now we were ready to hunt. We were picked up in Harare by Simon, who is Nixon's son. After a long trip to camp, we arrived in time for a late dinner. One drink later and it was time for bed. Day1 Up at 530 for breakfast, off to the range at 6.Guns are fine, LET'S GO HUNTING!!!Take easy the first day, looking for buff spoor. It doesn't take long and we are on our first stalk. Watching the trackers is the best part. After an hour Nixon says to switch guns. We ran into some fresh elephant spoor. We end up tracking this one for awhile. He is not a shooter, but a lot of fun. We leave this one alone , and try to get back on the buffalo. We find them again, but no shots. At the end of the day we find this kudu that had been caught in a snare. What a first day!! Day2 Today we are up at 430 and on the road at 5.The first set of tracks we see turn out to be too old. We continue on, soon we find more. These look good and away we go. It doesn't take long, maybe an hour and we are close. I sure could tell by the excitement in the trackers when it was going to happen. We finally get a look at them, there are 2 of them. After a quick look the left one is better. Sticks go up. Looks like a good hit, but too thick to shoot again. Reload and here we go. It seems to be going along way. Not a lot of blood. The trackers are on the spoor, but hard for me to see. Finally Carol (wife /tracker) yells THERE HE GOES!I spot him running, and take a shot. I hit him in the back leg, not a good shot. But good enough to slow him down for 1 more. He actually needed 2 more. Bullets are cheaper than stitches. I finally have my first buffalo. Here is another look. There is a crazy amount of work to be done now. After all the pictures a few of the guys go at making this beast movable. The rest start cutting a road. They sure don’t leave much behind. We load everything up on the truck and back to camp we go. That was the end of fun for that day. day3 Up at 430 again.Really suprised that wife is still wanting to go. Had so much fun yesterday that i decide to try again. Really had not planned on another,but why not. Almost same scene. Look for tracks, and here we go. This time it was ever quicker. We didn't go far at all before we had them in sight. This one goes down at the shot. I am happy for a second,then he is up and gone. Reload and back on the spoor.After a short walk we see him, still standing. Give him another. This time he stays down. I still gave him 1 more on the ground.This one is not as wide as first, but i am very happy with him. Time to start the process over again,some cut a road some butcher. The end of another great day. Day 4 Did not really plan on hunting anything but buffalo. Thought that anything else would be a bonus.Have been seeing a lot of very nice waterbuck? But on the other hand,had a real good time chasing that elephant. I decide that elephant it is. Maybe only one kid needs to go to college??For the next few days it was always the same. First thing in the morning we would find good tracks,decide how old and make a plan.It seemed like the elephant always new what time it was & where the park boundary was.We did get to see some really big guys on the park side of the road.There were three that were for sure well into the 60's.Most of the time this led to this but then to this Once again,he beat us to the park. After the wife spotted the buffalo before the trackers,they all called her JUNIOR TRACKER. So we told her that all trackers have to check the spoor. Day 8Today after the usual day of tracking elephant back to the park. After lunch Nixon has the cooks bring 1 beer for each of us,including the trackers.He has them offer a drink of the beer to the elephant gods. They drank most of it ,then poured the rest on the ground. He said this would change our luck. Carol & I were starting to think that we would never find one.Either way we were having fun.I still had shot 2 buffalo.Not a bad trip any way you cut it. Day 9Woke up today to a light mist and cold wind. Carol decides to stay in .Have not had a lot of luck on the few cold days.If it's not hot,the elephant didn't need to drink. We try it anyway.Just like most days we find tracks early. After maybe an hour Nixon looks at me and says today is your day. It was hard for me to tell what direction we were going.But i could tell the spoor was getting fresher. I could also tell that the trackers were walking much faster.They didn't even stop to check the temp of the spoor. They new.Only a few hundred yards more,and we saw him for the first time.He was not the monster that i hoped for,but big enough for my first. All at once he heard us and spun around,head up ears out. Pick your spot, and squeeze.I pictured the shot in my head,and let it fly. I could see him drop,just like i've seen in the videos a dozen times. Only it didn't drop,just stood there shaking his head. DAMN!The only thing i did do right was reload quick.As he turned to leave i shot him in the shoulder.This was a good shot. Broke the shoulder and into the heart.Now we are off to the races. Peter the tracker and I are chasing this beast.You must reload on the run. We catch up to 50 yds, he says shoot. This time it's the hip shot. That was also right on the mark. One more step and HE"S DOWN!!! We move in for the finisher,one in the side brain. I had hoped that he would fall face down. Sometimes you get lucky. In the end he wasn't the biggest elephant we saw,but i really enjoyed the hunt. This will not be the last time i do that.

Can someone could help me change the two photos that are duplicated? Sorry first time.

Chris,

What a fantastic hunt. To share it with your lovely bride is so much the better.

Looks like Nixon is the real deal. Hats off to him, and yourself for taking the hunt.

Cheers!

Great hunt and report Chris. I'm off with my son and H Kittle to hunt elephant with Nixon in 16 days! Any tips? Did he say anything about leopard?

Chris, that was an excellent report. I almost felt like I was there again. Excellent buffalo and elephant. Congratulations.

Do I understand that you shot two buffalo and one elephant in 9 days? That's good work when you can find it!

It sounds like the hunt was winding down as you shot the ele. Were you booked for multi-DG animals on a short hunt, or did it just work out that there was quota available once you got there?

Great job there!

Click the "edit" button in the bottom right corner of your post (the pencil and envelope).

You'll see [img} followed by the code, those are the pictures. Delete the second set of identical codes.

Congrats on a great hunt... two buff and an ellie! Well done.

Was in the Save in 7/09 for lion ,buff etal.......then to a concession N. of Gono Re Zhou I came close but didn't score on big Jumbo; that damned park boundary and that great ele brain! Congrats! My wife and too enjoyed 3 days at Vic Falls(Vic Falls Hotel), aggressive and poor souvenier hawkers were the greatest danger we faced in Zim and while annoying ,they were polite . JIM

Very nice! Congratulations!

Congratulations Chris!!!!

Brett

Chris,

Thanks for posting so quickly and taking the time to talk with me a couple of days ago. SBT, his son Chad and I are ready to go. Do not forget to send me the dvd's for Nixon. Also please send me a little of your good luck.

H Kittle

Excellent report!!!!

Thanks,

Grand old ele bull and a brace of fine buff bulls!! Looks like a wonderful trip with the better half..

I took mine there on our honeymoon in '06 and she had a blast!

Nice photos and good report. Lots of action in a short time! It's a good area to hunt. Nixon is top knotch!

Thanks for all the nice comments. Will, you are correct it was about over when i shot the elephant. It was not planned, but was available so i gave it a try. After i shot the second buff we spotted a small group of buffalo, Nixon asked i wanted to give them a go. At that point it had been a long day and wasn't ready.Those boys are sure ready to hunt.They really enjoy doing it also. Here is a picture of the bullet that killed the elephant This is what it did to the shoulder bone and to the heart That was a Barnes banded solid in the 416. These are Barnes TSX out of the 375 that killed the buffalo

Chris,
Great hunt and report! What cartridges were you using? 416 Rigby and 375 Ruger?

Compliments to your photographer as she took some fine action shots. Excellent elephant pose. You are fortunate. Last year had one that had the head proped upright on trunk with side brain shot.

Both buff are nice,especially the first one.I bet those Barnes solids can really penetrate! Congratulations and thanks for the report.

great trip- congrats...thanks for the photos...TH

Very nice! congratulations

Great! A complete safari and afrinca big game experience. Difficult make better.

Awesome Report! Congrats on some fine trophies.

Outstanding! Congratulations on a wonderful trip. I imagine your wife will want to go back just as soon as you will.

Great report. Some good action shots, too. You had good luck and good hunting. What a great experience!

Want to take my wife on my next trip so thanks for giving me some pics and a story to show her for encouragement .

Looks like it was a fantastic adventure with some unexpected trophies!!

Way to go!!

Regards,
Scott

Excellent photo essay. So when you going back? Maybe the kids can get a scholarship or something.

Great report,excellent hunt !!
where abouts in MI are you ? you flew out from Grand Rapids,I am from there.

Vanderhoef I have been home for a month,and she wants to know what is next. Palmer The biggest problem is the boys enjoy going as much as i do. That only took 1 trip to Namibia Shootaway I only found 2 of the solids from the elephant.I could not find 1 from the buffalo. Bill73 I live in Douglas.About 45 minutes south of GR.I spend a lot of time near you shooting geese.

Congratulations on a great trip, and thanks for the report. Two buff and an ele bull in nine days. Wow.

Great Post, excelent pictures, congrat's.
I didn't realize that were as many of us here on AR from Michigan. I guess we are keeping the Grand Rapids airport in business!
My Wife and I went to SA for our 40th anniversary, looks like there may be a trend started for anniversary trips.
I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet, but my post is under "Back from Kubusi".

quote:

Originally posted by Chris Lozano:
Vanderhoef I have been home for a month,and she wants to know what is next. [b]

You're a lucky, lucky man

Very cool hunt! Thanks for sharing the story. I can't wait to go back to Africa and try for a Cape Buff. I took my wife and kids with me to Namibia. It has been the best money I have spent to date!!

Chris,

Well done man, great meeting you and your lovely wife.

Till next year,

Cheers

Chris, congratulations on a great hunt. The picture of your first buff is outstanding.