Hello Friends;

Just a short note to let y'all know that I have returned safely with all extremities attached...another charmed and exciting safari to the wildest black Africa yet!! Mozambique.

It is a gruelling trip just to get there. BA did a fine job with all luggage accounted for at arrival...Seattle- London, 6 hours layover and 9:45hrs to Lusaka, Zambia...driver was waiting at my 7am exit from customs for a 4>>>actual 6 hour drive east across Zambia, down into the Luangwa Valley, 87km on the dirt roads through the Luangwa National Park to the landing (two flats and 2 hours delay enroute!!) where Carel Maartens, Chawalo Safaris, Mozambique, outfitter picked me up for the one hour trip to camp by boat, down the Luangwa to where it meets the Zambezi River at the apex of Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique to his beautiful camp right on the Zambezi river under one of the biggest Baobab trees I have ever seen!!

I had an outstanding hunt taking a huge Hippo 24-25" tusks yet to be measured, two crocs one 13' that looked like ALF with a top jaw laying completely off the bottom jaw...and a second 13.5' with about 1-11/2 feet of the tail chomped off that we couldn't see the way he was positioned!!...his bottom jaw was lopped off about half way too...two weird crocs on one hunt...strange!! To put cream on the cake on the 7th day I finally connected with the Bushbuck that had alluded me for all of these years...I passed one up about 14" that day and the one I took- 16 1/4" with 6" bases!! FINALLY!!

Part of my Hippo was taken to two different locations for Lion/Leopard baits for the next clients arriving at the end of my hunt. We had two lions and a leopard feeding at two sites and a third lion had attacked the neighboring village goats the day I left...so lots of excitement...as well as hearing lions from camp several nights out on the near islands across the Zambezi!! Lots of Buff tracks and spoor where we were hunting Bushbuck in the evenings...kept me thinking about Bob Fontana...being weary of a surprise from the next bush!!

Great hunt, great outfitter and young PH assistant Eino, great camp and food, traditional South African fare with lots of game meats-steaks, minces and stews...and of course a taste of Hippo and some great cuts off my Bushbuck. This was really an interesting and enjoyable hunt mostly on the river and really didn't use a vehicle to speak of for hunting...just setting baits, miles away. Very hot & dry weather...can't say enough about how the hunt went, the people (really no sign of hunger or AIDS) and the country...WOW...another charmed safari...#13...a lucky number for me!!

This is an excellent hunt for big Hippo and Croc as well as Bushbuck. They took a big lion earlier this season, a good record on Leopard and have a good population of Buff across the river on another concession, Elephant available but US clients cannot import them yet. More soon when I have pix and hunting reports to follow!!

This is one I will repeat with other partners...

Welcome back -- now hurry up with those pictures!

Just kidding -- congratulations on a great hunt.

Welcome back and glad to hear you had a great hunt. Now let's see some pictures.

I'm interested to hear more about your journey to the camp...especially since it didn't require a charter flight. It sounds like a nice option on getting there. Where your transfers expensive?

Looking forward to your pics.

Sounds like a great hunt. I would pay to go on that safari just to get the boat ride down the Luangwa to where it meets the Zambezi! What a trip! I, too, look forward to pictures...

Damn, I can't read the words without pics!

Hello Guys;
Thanks for all of your comments and feedback...I am just swamped with business and father's estate issues since I have returned...two big business deals I am trying to keep all the balls in the air!! Getting the pix finished by tomorrow so hopefully will get them posted over the weekend....I will answer specific inquiries by Pvt.Posts...by the way Tiger fihsing was spectacular as well!!
Cheers...