Anybody been to Chewore South since Chifuti has taken it over? Have heard it is not the same since Barry, Roger, & John don't have it any more.

I hunted elephants there in November. Roger Wittall's camp was much improved, though the bar is gone, which was a mistake. They were improving the staff and tracker quarters, long overdue. There is now an icemaker that actually makes ice and the beer is cold!

Makore's camp was closed and being rebuilt.

Western's camp was main headquarters and was as nice as ever.

The Appy running Roger's old camp was a quality fellow and a hard worker, as most all Appies are. I am annoyed that his nake has slipped my mind.

The roads had been graded and were in good shape, though a couple of the more remote roads were never opened, including Pete Ficks road along the Chewore River and the Mana Pools border. As well, Parks Gamescouts and Chifuti staff, including an Appy or two were running anti-poaching patrols, and running them far beyond the roads toward the escarpment.

Nothing there not to like, eh?

JPK

A friend who hunts CS every season has heard some negative things as far as Buff hunting goes and says he might look for greener pastures if this coming Safari confirms the rumors.

Wonder which Block for Buffalo hunting is better Chewore South or North in September/ October

Seloushunter

A good friend left for a buff hunt in CS last night. I'll let you know how he does when he returns.

I was in CN last May and the buff hunting was tough. Partly because there was water around still but also because the lion population was quite high and they were chasing the buff around at night. Anohter issue was that the buff were going into the "closesd area" near the main fishing camp during the day, smart critters...

Brett

I was there a few weeks ago (see report this page First Bull Ele with CM Safaris).
We stayed at Chenjie main camp and also visited the Kachowe camp. Whilst Kachowe is smaller I preferred its setting. Both camps are managed by husband and wife team Colin and Dyllas Taylor and they were excellent. Overall standards and food were good and my wife and I had no complaints ( except that we both put on weight)
There was still quite a bit of water about for the time of year and the bush was thick. It was obvious that a lot of effort was being put in to maintain the roads and we didnt find a single evidence of poaching during our fourteen day hunt. We looked at twenty eight bull elephants before choosing the one we shot and because we were selective we ran out of time to hunt our buff. We only bumped buff on three occasions, but a hunter out of the Kachowe camp shot three in the seven days before our arrival. The amount of buff spoor that I saw would suggest that there would be sufficient opportunity if we had had the time. We saw very little in the way of plains game except for impala, but we saw lions twice and there was plenty sign of them most places.
This was our first visit to this area, so I cant give a past comparison, but I would happily revisit next year for ele or buff.

The lion population in Cewore South is high, and the buff are getting a working over. The quota is high also, and the math says Chifuti needs to sell it and hunt it to make the #'s work.

But there are so many buff there it would be hard not to find a good one given a decent couple of days, especially if your PH knows the area. As far as finding a +/-40"er, they are slways hard to find.

JPK

What can we expect in terms of weather and landscape conditions in the first two weeks of Sept there?

Hi Guys,

As the exclusive booking agent for Chifuti, allow me to provide an update on Chewore South.

CAMPS
Mana Angwa (Roger's old camp) was demolished and a new tented camp is now in place. The tents are the Botswana style tents with on suite bathrooms and showers.

Kachowe (Barrie's old camp) has been completely redone with the new Botswana style tents

Chenje (John's old camp)is currently under construction and will be ready by the start of next season

I do not believe there are many camps in Zim that can rival the quality and accomodations in these camps.

All the roads in Chewore south have been worked on this year and are in great shape.

As far as the hunting, Chewore South is still as great as ever. Chewore South, along with Dande North still has the highest concentration of buffalo in southern Africa.

We started the season the first of March and every client hunting buffalo, leopard, lion has been successful. We has one client not take his elephant bull as he had a minimum trophy expectation. The best elephant thus far this season was 55 lbs.

If anyone is interested in a hunt with Chifuti in Chewore South can e-mail me at davefulson@mac.com. I would be happy to provide a long list of client references who have hunted Chewore South this season and they will be happy to visit with you.

Dave Fulson

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
What can we expect in terms of weather and landscape conditions in the first two weeks of Sept there?

An almost perfect time IMO,
The ground water will be minimal by then (concentrating game) , the leaf cover on the trees will be minimal (providing better visibility), temperatures during the night should be pleasant and day time temps SHOULD be not to hot yet).

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
What can we expect in terms of weather and landscape conditions in the first two weeks of Sept there?

Oday,

Great time of year, and my favorite place to hunt! (AND DAVE FULSON IS THE AGENT, I'M ONLY A LUCKY FELLOW WHO HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AND WHO LOVES CHEWORE SOUTH!!)

Days will be warm to on the hot side on the Valley floor, cooler in the am and at night, nice by the fire eary and late, fleece or sweater early am in the truck. Visibility will be good there as well. If you get high in the mountains - and they are mountains by Eastern US standards - it will be cooler, even cold in the mornings.

If your hunting buff, you will probably spend most of your time either on the floor or in the very low rolling hills. But there are springs throughout Chewore South and you may be seeking these out higher up, but not so high that temp differential will be an issue, I think.

The Angwe and Chewore River and the smaller rivers will be dry, but the eles will be digging holes in the sand for water for themselves and all of the other game.

Some of the rivers have year round springs here and there, I'm sure you will be checking those as well.

Make sure your PH takes you to look at the fossil dinosuar tracks - pretty cool.

The Angwe camp has a large permanent pool near by and that will keep buff within several miles of it as well.

I could post more but need to run. I'd be happy to answer any Q's you may have.

JPK

Thanks for the feedback guys. JPK, I've sent a PM.

I was there for the first 15 days of my last Safari.
I went there for a tuskless and a bull elephant.

Ended up taking a lion, a bull elephant and a buff.

Could not find a tuskless, but did have fun and excitement looking.

Could have shot a leopard one morning off a lion bait, but the bait was lion active so we did not shoot.

Ended up spotting the lion and taking him in a dry river bed.

Our tent was about10 yards from the river ahd there was a croc and a hippo in it most nights.

Saw lots of buff.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I was there for the first 15 days of my last Safari.
I went there for a tuskless and a bull elephant.

Ended up taking a lion, a bull elephant and a buff.

Could not find a tuskless, but did have fun and excitement looking.

Could have shot a leopard one morning off a lion bait, but the bait was lion active so we did not shoot.

Ended up spotting the lion and taking him in a dry river bed.

Our tent was about10 yards from the river ahd there was a croc and a hippo in it most nights.

Saw lots of buff.

That sounds like a hunting trip !

My wife and I just got back from two weeks at Mana Angwa in CS. It was our first safari and I took two buffalo within the first week of the safari. We thought the camp was great, the food was good and I saw plenty of buffalo. Lots of lion as well. We couldn't have been happier.

kl4j,
Thanks for the comments - how about a hunt report? We would all love to hear about your trip.

Welcome to AR.

quote:

As far as the hunting, Chewore South is still as great as ever. Chewore South, along with Dande North still has the highest concentration of buffalo in southern Africa.

Unbiased old-hand boots on the ground in Zim have told me that this is not exactly as they see it.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

As far as the hunting, Chewore South is still as great as ever. Chewore South, along with Dande North still has the highest concentration of buffalo in southern Africa.

Unbiased old-hand boots on the ground in Zim have told me that this is not exactly as they see it.

Please tell us more. What do the "boots on the ground" have to say?

quote:

Please tell us more. What do the "boots on the ground" have to say?

Buffalo numbers severely reduced! Almost NO mature male lions.

I have heard of and seen the reduction of the buff heards. It is the result of too many lions. Tough to find a young buff. But there are still more buff there in CS than anywhere else I've been, and the "boots on the ground" PH who knows CS thought so too.

As far as the lions, they ought to open lioness and close lions for a while.

JPK

quote:

It is the result of too many lions.

Maybe other reasons too. Like over shooting ration animals.

Over shooting rations or quota does not result in buff herds without calves, that is only the work of lions.

While I was elephant hunting in CS in November, we saw several herds, they are hard not to see in CS, but none of the herds had any calves.

Too many lions and there have been too many for quite some time. Not to say that there are an abundance of mature lions, just an overabundance of lioness. BTW, some fantastic lions come out of CS.

JPK

quote:

Over shooting rations or quota does not result in buff herds without calves

Agreed, but I just happen to know for a fact that a tremendous amount of ration animals were taken from Chewore.

Most of the lions I have seen from Chewore were very sparsely maned. The PH's I know call them typical "Chewore Lions".

http://forums.accuratereloadin...1043/m/223108158/p/1

Take a look at the lion in the photo in this link, it is a Chewore South lion killed last year. Many others with similar manes have been taken from Chewore South. The Duckworth's photo album, kept in their camp, had many photos of such lions. Lions like the one shown in the photo and those shown in the scrap book aren't common anywhere, but they are there.

Its the lions knocking down buff numbers. No surviving calves = herd gets smaller (older buff killed off as well) and doesn't replenish.

JPK

quote:

Agreed, but I just happen to know for a fact that a tremendous amount of ration animals were taken from Chewore.

A quote from a person in the "know" in Zim.

"Lastly, parks have no consideration for the area. They have sub let the ration hunting to a south African company who are now running arround the Zambezi valley shooting more than the safari operators - and odd things like lion are on the ration quota!

Chewore will survive this year, several other parks areas will be history by the end of the season- Charara used to have an offtake of 60 buff a year. Last year 680 buff were taken - 50 by the operator and the rest by parks and 'ration hunts'. Poaching has also increased 10 fold. Buffalo populations have havled in the last two years. Another season like last year and Charara will be marginal!

Doma is already history- over 20% of clients who hunted there last year never even saw a buff let alone shot one!"

Ledvm,

We are discussing Chewore South, not Charara, not Doma, not the entire Zambezi Valley, not Zimbabwe as a whole, just Chewore South.

Poaching is down in Chewore, the result of increased patrols involving both Parks and Chifuti personnel. The buff quota is, imo, optimistic, but optimistic given the lion pressure. There are too many lion in Chewore South, particularly lioness. Buff numbers are down, mostly young buff recruitment is down, again due to the lions.

Its clear you have an ax to grind. Fine, don't hunt Chewore South. But don't invent stories, imply that what is wrong with other areas is applicable, imply that things have deteriorated under Chifuti.

BTW, the issue with "ration hunts" that I saw last year, first hand and not heresay, was with Barry Von Heerden not a SA firm. That was in Nyakasanga, where I was buff and elephant hunting. Barry was selling the hunts as well.

JPK

quote:

But don't invent stories,

JPK, I resent that statement. It implies I am a liar. I have not invented any story. My sources (reliable in my opinion) tell me a different story than yours. My above post was a direct quote from a fellow whom you know. Not grinding any axe! Looking out for one of the great hunting areas of the world which is dear to my heart!!!

quote:

We are discussing Chewore South, not Charara, not Doma, not the entire Zambezi Valley, not Zimbabwe as a whole, just Chewore South.

The implication above, was that Chewore was following suit.

quote:

Buff numbers are down, mostly young buff recruitment is down, again due to the lions.

And probably from over hunting mainly ration hunting.

Maybe Ganyana will opine???

You are making up stories, from your first post alleging that things in Chewore South had declined since Chifuti took over through the nonsense about the maneless lions.

Ration hunting has always happenned, and it may be getting worse and out of hand, but I have not heard of significant complaint re Chewore South.

Whoever your so called reliable source, he is also wrong, from the lions on... And he must have a hell of an ax to grind to be feeding your this misinformation.

JPK

quote:

Charara used to have an offtake of 60 buff a year. Last year 680 buff were taken - 50 by the operator and the rest by parks and 'ration hunts'

Can anybody confirm this!

Seloushunter

quote:

You are making up stories, from your first post alleging that things in Chewore South had declined since Chifuti took over through the nonsense about the maneless lions.

Ration hunting has always happenned, and it may be getting worse and out of hand, but I have not heard of significant complaint re Chewore South.

Whoever your so called reliable source, he is also wrong, from the lions on... And he must have a hell of an ax to grind to be feeding your this misinformation.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. But if you ask the right folk, you will confirm my information.

As I said before, I wish Ganyana would opine.

JPK,

I know you try to give accurate information. I shoot your load in my .458 WM (72 gr AA 2230, 450 gr flat nose N F solid,& Fed 215M primer; 2250 fps MV). Thank you for that. But in this instance, I truly believe you are incorrect.

Ledvm
How about me for a guy "in the know" It is very apparent that you have zero on the ground in Chewore South . I do, months of it , as does my partner Tim Danklef. We are responsible for booking the majority of clients who hunt CS. Along with Dande North, CS has the highest concentration of buff in southern Africa. The ration animals ,due to an agreement between Chifuti Safaris and Nat'l Parks was taken by safari clients under the supervision and control of Chifuti PH's and Nat'l Parks -not by South Africans . The number of animals is small and tightly controlled. Regardless if Parks or clients did the shooting, the point is the small quota remained the same.
The lion population in CS is very strong,and lion do eat buff,big and small, but the numbers of buffalo is large enough to handle the pressure. Andrew Dawson is requesting some lioness quota, but that is up to Parks. We are awaiting their response. We have seen more calves this year than last. The bush is extremly thick this year making good cover, graze, and difficulty for lions compared to late in the season. And your "report" of poor quality of male lion is also incorrect, there are some beautiful males in there and we have taken several this season and last.
I do not know if your source has a rub somewhere with something, but I can assure you that CS is alive and well. We spend huge chunks of the season filming in there and the proof can be seen by watching Tracks Across Africa Tv .
JPK is someone who has been there, there are a lot more like him. It might be wise to listen to them instead of "your source who is busy grinding his axe"

quote:

It is very apparent that you have zero on the ground in Chewore South

I have been to Chewore South. Posted a report on it on this Web-Site. You can pull it up yourself. John and James Rosenfel are friends of my family. Have kept close tabs on Zim for years. One of my best friends in the world is a veterinarian who practices in Harare. I go to visit him as often as possible.

quote:

Andrew Dawson is requesting some lioness quota

Andrew Dawson was a tobacco farmer while the guys I hunt with and talk to were old experienced hands.

quote:

It is very apparent that you have zero on the ground in Chewore South

You might want to check sources before making a statement like this as this is definitely un-true.

quote:

The ration animals ,due to an agreement between Chifuti Safaris and Nat'l Parks was taken by safari clients under the supervision and control of Chifuti PH's and Nat'l Parks -not by South Africans .

I guess the law changed since 2006, or maybe this was an ele-only rule.

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Right on Bill C- but alot of "ration Hunt permits" being issued this year as well. My understanding that it is legal for a visiting hunter to take these (non exportable) provided that the approved "non trophy" fees are paid to the council.

Ration Hunts in the parks estate (ie parks and safari areas) may ONLY be hunted by parks staff or learner professional Hunters or Guides.

quote:

JPK is someone who has been there, there are a lot more like him. It might be wise to listen to them instead of "your source who is busy grinding his axe"

See hunt report posted by me here on this site Mr. Fulson: Chewore South in May/June 2006

Oh, so you are good friends with john Rosenfel, the "former" operator who lost the area to Chifuti Safaris...NOW it all makes more sense.

Dave,

How did he "lose" the area? I thought it was by bid or auction? You imply maybe something else by being unclear. Was this intentional?

SG

people , i cant help but add some pictures to this post ...

please remember that chewore is a wild place and there is no fence and so one guy may have an excellent hunt , the next guy not so much ...

last year i took over 15 buffalo bulls with different clients , none were soft bossed all were old bulls .

my first hunt last season was with my good friend jim hall , we took a lion , leopard , elephant bull and 6 buffalo bulls in 12 days (he was using bulls for bait)

his lion was full maned and all his buffalo were old , the largest was 39 inches , the smallest was 34 , the 34 incher had a 10 inch boss .

at the end of the season with jeff wemmer where we shot 6 buffalo and three tuskless in 14 days ...he was after "dagga boys only" and so all were very old , two were ( much to his delight) broken horned . his largest was 39 and the next best was 38.

this year started well for me with joshua spies , the well known wildlife artist , we had 7 days to hunt and took a nice elephant bull , a tuskless cow and two buffalo bulls .

here are several photos of "chewore lions"

this one was taken last week .. by mr frank imperial




here are two others from earlier on ...






anyway , just thought i would share ...when all is said and done , hunting is hunting we dont get lucky all the time but it sure is sweet when we do ...this i believe gents is proof that the bigs ones are still out there ...

Not trying to imply anything at all, just stating a fact. Chewore South was up for bid at an open auction and Chifuti tendered the highest figure and was thus rewarded with the area and it's big game quota. I am not taking shots at anyone,and my axe gets all it's grinding done at Home Depot. I have high regard for many of the guys that had the area, those hunting, and those retired. It does seem that our man did one safari in '06. Noted. I have also done "one off safaris"over many areas in Africa, but do not let those 10 or 14 days turn my opinion into the final word on the area. I have a heck of a lot of ground time in this area, RECENTLY, and my opinions vastly differ on the hunting situations as his do. Personalities and situations do create some jealousy in any business, and the safari business is no different. This seems to be that kind of situation in my opinion. That is all.

Dave and Ivan,
Thanks for the facts versus "I heard it through the grapevine".