Niassa, Mozambique- Caprivi, Namibia Hunt Report

Dates: Aug 4-30, 2015(incl travel)
Outfitters: Kambako Safaris- Moz. Chapungu Safaris- Caprivi
PH’s- Moz- Paul Wellock – Caprivi - Pieter DeLange
Agent- Worldwide Trophy Adventures- myself
Game hunted: Moz: buff, leopard, croc Caprivi: non-export ele, non-export hippo

Rifles: .470 NE Verney-Carron w/ 460gr CEB Raptors and 500 gr CEB solids
.300 Win – TC w/180 gr Winchester Accubonds and 200 gr Swift A-frames

I am going to try to do an updated report as this trip progresses. I will not have internet in the Caprivi for the last 7 days of the trip. I have 13 days in Mozambique in the Niassa Reserve and tags for leopard, buff, croc and PG. I also have 2 groups of clients in while I am there. As of starting this report, one client has already killed a nice old lion and a buffalo, and I haven’t even left the US!

This is my 5th year going to Kambako’s Niassa camp, and me along with all the friends/clients who have joined me, have taken some great animals over the years. It has become my favorite place on earth that I have hunted, and I cannot wait to get back.

This will be my first DG hunt with my double rifle, so killing a dagga boy and elephant with the double is really my top priority, although I obviously want to take a nice leopard as well if possible. This is my 3rd year in a row to hunt with Paul Wellock, and I very much enjoy being able to hunt with him. He is hard working, very capable, funny and a great guy to spend a couple of weeks with. Paul and I have become close friends and often talk multiple times per week throughout the year.


This will also be the first hunt I have done since I quit working with Magnum Global Media and Magnum TV. We are filming this trip to be in 4-5 episodes of a new show that is coming out in 2016. For all of the Africa guys here, we will be having quite a bit of Africa included. As stated this trip will be in 4-5 episodes depending on how the hunting goes, and then we will have Burkina Faso buff/roan/PG in 2-3 episodes as well. The first year it will be 13 new episodes in Q 3-4, so Africa in about ½ our episodes. The next season it will be even more.

After all the travel and, of course a great stay at Africa Sky Guesthouse, I finally got to camp in the Niassa Reserve. I had found out on the way that one of my clients in camp had already killed a great dagga boy and a 7 year-old lion on the first 2 days of his trip. After we jumped off the charter and checked my .300, we ran out quickly and I shot an impala for bait before dinner.

On day 1 our goal was bait. In the first couple of hours, I shot 3 impala rams, and then we went to work hanging baits. We had traveled NE to Kambako’s other concession (Block A or L-9 of the Niassa Reserve) because I had a client hunting leopard down in Block B. I wanted to see and hunt Block A anyway, so it worked out well.

Around 1PM we were going from bait to bait, and we literally dove 20 yards past a small group of buffalo bulls. They were calm, we didn’t even slow down, and they stayed put. We went a few hundred yards past them, pulled over and got out to make a plan.

The wind was strong but wrong, so we made a big loop around, and within 10 minutes, we found them in some thick stuff, and we could only see bits and pieces. We glassed and stalked, and glassed more. The trackers said there were 8-9 bulls, but we could only see 2-3 at any given time.

We were within 50 yards for 10 more minutes as we slipped around looking, and we could only see younger bulls. Paul did say there was a bull lying down looking away that had thicker horns in the curve, so we kept moving to our left trying to look at his boss.

We could see 4 bulls at about 40 yards when I felt the wind on the back of my neck, and I know the game was done. Buff crashed away, and as I stood fuming, Paul motioned me ahead a few steps. He told me there was a hard topped bull standing in the shade but he was not wide. I told him I could care less, to set up the sticks and move over. The bull was facing to the left broadside, I got on the sticks and he turned to look right at me. He was 40ish yards away, I aimed at where his neck met his shoulder as he was turned, and I let the .470 go. He wheeled into the thick stuff, and then he and 3 other bulls crashed out almost around behind us.

Paul told me not to shoot at first and then said to let go on the lead bull. He was running full tilt through the brush and I pulled out in front and promptly shot right over him. We waited a few minutes, found good blood, and the old bull was piled up 80-100 yards away.

Obviously this was not a classic tracking hunt, but it was very intense being close to 9 bulls for so long and never being able to see all of them at once. He is not a "pretty" buff, but he was old and provided a great hunt for me with my double.





When we got back to camp we learned that one client had killed a great red duiker by calling, and one of my other guys had seen 7 different leopards on 2 baits morning and evening, but not the shooters he was after. 7 leopards in daylight in 1 day!!!

Other highlights for me were a lioness at close range and a young bull elephant taking a dust bath.

Day 2 we will continue baiting and checking baits, and I think we are going to take a change of clothes and stay up at the tented camp in Block A this evening.

Great start Tim , Thanks for taking us along on your trip.
The lion, Happen to be taken by a hunter with the initials FJ ?
If so..Fantastic! Congrats to him if it is!
Will be watching this thread daily...
Thanks

thanks Dennis- nope on the lion. He is the one who saw 7 leopards.

Amazing ...what an area...

Keep on Tim. Looking forward to the continued report...

Morten

That's great news Tim! Keep us posted.

Glad you are back in Niassa. Amazing place indeed. Don't let the Tsetse suck you dry.

Cheers
Jim & Joyce

Thanks for letting us tag along.

Thanks for the update. Does your new show have a name yet?

Great report, thus far, Tim! Looking forward to the remainder.

Keep us posted Tim. Congratulations on the buff!

Well done, Tim. Can't wait for more.

So day 2 we hung lots of baits, checked cameras, had a medium male in daylight, a big male at night and lost one male that was feeding mornings. I shot a old 1 horned waterbuck for bait, and we stayed at the tented camp in Block A. I did not take computer.

On day 3- today- we checked baits and all cats were off! What a downer. We did see a nice bushbuck in an open swampy area where Paul had been seeing him occasionally.

There was also a small male and 2 females. We got the wind right and started a stalk around the opening that was about 200x250 yards. When we got half way, I spotted a female on our side, and as soon as I showed Paul, he glassed her and told me there was a good male with her as well. These were not our original bushbuck. They were still 200 yards away.

We slipped up to maybe 60 yards carefully, and he was just feeding casually. This was in the wide open at 10:45AM. I let him get in the clear and hit him just behind the shoulder.

He went maybe 80 yards or so and piled up. I absolutely love bushbuck and would rather shoot them than 90% of other plainsgame, so this was a great hunt for me. I also love bushbuck meat. He is a very nice ram, and I love the way he flairs out. He is not a monster, but he is my best to date.

After that we hung two more baits, and we returned to main camp. I actually prefer the tent camp in block A. It is much ore rustic. Hoping we go back over there tomorrow and stay until we get a cat or get busted! It has been a long day so only one pic. I will try to do more when I can. If we do go to block A, not sure that I will be able to post, but I will do what I can.

Nice bushbuck! Keep it coming............

Tim, thats a lovely bushbuck.

Tim, Beautiful bushbuck. Sent you a PM.

Thanks,
Mark Hampton

Lving the updates Tim. Keep them coming.

Fabulous ram.
I'm with you on Bushbuck as a great game species.
Good luck with Mr Spots.

Always great to see a fine ram, nice Bushbuck Tim, one of my favorites as well.

Tim,

Congrats on your successful trip so far and hope it continues!

Tim fine shooting and looking for the rest of the report.


Mike

I think your Buff is awesome! He is a rugged old dude. Congratulations.

One horned waterbuck from day before for bait...



Back to tented camp next morning, checking and hanging baits. We had 0 leopards hit! Very disappointed.

Two views from camp...



In late afternoon we saw some bull kudu in semi open. I jumped out of truck and sat down, and the guys all drove off. After a few minutes and a bit of repositioning, I could see the old worn male that Paul had pointed out. He was about 150 yards, and using my knee as a not so great rest, I let fly. He bucked and jumped and took off.

We got on the blood trail and jumped him a few times before it got dark and we lost him. If this had been in US we would have left him earlier and come back in next morning, but in Niassa with leopards, lions and hyenas, we went until dark.

First thing on day 4 we were back on his trail and found him an hour later in some thick jesse.

As he fell...



We was old and worn, and his swelled neck was green from rubbing. I had hit him low in armpit. I hate terribly that I did not kill him cleanly. I love how old and scarred he was. There was no neck mane, and his worn ivory tips went swirling down into the horns. I had never seen that before.



Photo of me disgusted with my poor shooting.


We had a male and female hit again, but our 2nd trail camera failed. We replaced bait and camera, and I am hoping they are back tomorrow. It is a beautiful spot on a riverine area where I hope they feel confident enough to feed in daylight.

The Thutuli camp... It is beautiful, calm and quiet here. I love it. Checking more baits this morning and hoping for good news and hopefully a sit in a blind.

Congrats on a great old Kudu bull and broken horn Waterbuck! Thank you for the continuing reports!

Thanks for the reports Tim...Keep them coming.

Today was slow. Only 2 females on bait. Had a big male on a bait we checked for one of my clients that we checked.

I was able to shoot a really nice warthog this afternoon. Paul guesses him over 13", but as usual, I could care less. He is the best I have ever shot. Checking more baits tomorrow. I am starting to think my leopard curse is back, but I am loving every minute of being here in wild Niassa.



camp...

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
Today was slow. Only 2 females on bait. Had a big male on a bait we checked for one of my clients that we checked.

I was able to shoot a really nice warthog this afternoon. Paul guesses him over 13", but as usual, I could care less. He is the best I have ever shot. Checking more baits tomorrow. I am starting to think my leopard curse is back, but I am loving every minute of being here in wild Niassa.



camp...

Thanks for the reports Tim. What are your impressions of Block A as far as quantity and quality of game overall? Have you seen any more buffalo?

Great photos

Super pig. In my dreams......

Safari2- I love block A. I like the camp better because it is a tented camp and a bit more basic, and there is lots of game here. Everything I have shot has been up here. There are plenty of buff and leopards, and PG. Trying to upload some new photos now.

Looks like some good hunting Tim... congratulations on finding the Kudu. Love the Bushbuck & Warthog.

Thanks for sharing the updates.

Looking great, Tim.

better photo of hog from yesterday...



Day 7- We went out to walk for zebra, sable, etc., and on the way, we spotted a bushpig boar in a rocky forested area that had been burned. He trotted over a hill into a gully, and we stalked after him.

It didn’t take long and he came walking up the far side of a rocky draw, Paul threw up the sticks, and I shot him with the .300. We went about 100 yards with a double lung shot. He was a nice old boar, and I generally will take any bushpig at any time.



We checked baits the rest of the morning after our walk, and we had a young make hit one in the night and stayed an hour into daylight this morning, and we had a big cat come in 30 minutes after dark yesterday. He stayed in the tree for over an hour trying to feed, but the position of the bait just didn’t allow it. We repositioned bait, and I hope he comes back and gives it another shot.

We are on hump day of this trip today, and the leopards are giving us fits. We have had multiple hits every day but one, but they are being very sporadic, feeding a day or two and vanishing. Then a day or three and they are back or on a different bait. I know it is part of this whole cat game, but it is still driving me nuts. It is hot here (low-mid 90’s) and I think that has the cats laid up during the day. The moon is dark, and all should be good.

This afternoon got on a big old sable bull and couldn't shoot him because it wasn't right for camera. That one hurt!

Some super stuff there Tim! Congrats.

Holy balls Tim
Having ball, don't ya?
Some cool old trophies.
All the luck on that old Chui

Great stuff Tim. Thanks for posting. Please tell all the staff there that Sam from Virginia said hello. I'll be there again next September and can hardly wait. Nothing else like that place.

Good luck on the leopard. Remember my buddy and I both pulled the trigger on our cats in the last minutes of the last day of our hunt. Loved every minute of it. Sam

Great pigs, Tim. Two words of advice: SUN SCREEN. In a couple of those pictures, you look like you had been bobbing for french fries!

No good news. No consistency on leopards. My client came in first day and killed a leopard. Still got baits out with 3 days and we will keep trying. Lots of cats every where but just jerking us around. Check in when I can.

Wishing you luck with Spots!

Keep calm and bear down!