The lions eventually left the bait area about an hour before sunset. I watched them walk slowly off in the direction of the river. We stayed to last light just in case another Lion was with them and had not shown yet.

In camp that night at dinner the plan was agreed upon to continue to feed these two in the hopes they may draw in some older opportunistic lions. The duo had not been calling at night so they were certainly trying to stay below the radar with their new found feed station.

In the morning I learned a lesson on how well a lion can hide in the most minimal of cover.

The morning brought our standard ritual of coffee, tea and toast, porridge, or “eggy bread” the camp version of French toast. The plan was to check the bait and see how much meat was left and then decide which bait to move into the location.

We loaded up the truck and headed out. After bumping along on our way into the blind site we stopped the truck just behind the blind. No lions were visible. Andrew and Joyce glassed from the cab, while I glassed from the high seat for a full five minutes. Since the lions were obviously elsewhere we drove slowly towards the bait. About 20 feet shy of the bait, a pair of golden aberrations appeared magically out of six inches of grass and slinked past the bait into the tall grass beyond.

Andrew abruptly halted the Cruiser.

“Didn’t you see anything”? he called up to me.

“I glassed for five minutes including the spot they popped out of and I saw nothing”, I replied. Joyce said the same.

I flashed back to the tracking we did following Green a couple days earlier. Lions could have laid up in ambush in any of those little islands of grass we walked through. The more this hunt progressed the more respect I had for the African Lion.

The bait did not need refreshing so we rearranged the skirt and drove off.

A report from Green told of Lions calling the previous evening on the south side where we had two baits neither of which were hit. The chess game continued by moving the Waterbuck/Impala bait to the south side between the two existing baits already there. The spoor showed the two lions there to be moving back and forth from a water source just off the property. Hopefully with the third bait in place and new drags the cats would discover a free meal. The chess game continues.

The next day Joyce and I awoke before the sun. We heard no noise outside the Chalet. The campfire was already going as it had been our entire visit. Iran does a great job tending to guests.

I made coffee, Joyce made tea and we awaited Andrew & Ben. As the sky began to lighten but before the fireball rose Andrew joined us. The three of us sat and discussed the day’s plan and what chess pieces would be moved.

“OAruuff, OAruuff, OAruuff, ouf”

Was my malarone mind playing tricks or did a really hear that from the south. Neither Joyce nor Andrew reacted.


“OAruuff, OAruuff, OAruuff, ouf” came again only a bit louder.

Andrew looked south then at me, “Did you hear that”?

“That’s the second call I heard and it sounds like two different males but the same area” I replied.

“OAruuff, OAruuff, OAruuff, ouf” The third call was much louder and obviously much closer.

Green ran up from the other side of camp addressing Andrew, “Bwana get your guns Lions coming”.

I had already loaded my .375 & Double on the Cruiser parked in front of our Chalet so I headed that direction. I clicked the ammo belt on and slipped the Hoffman from the soft case.

Andrew climbed up and unzipped the Cabela duffle cable tied to the cab roof to get his rifle. The look on his face was difficult to read but his words explained the look. “My rifle is in the other truck.”

“Here take my double” I said while unzipping the other soft case.

His look changed to Christmas night and a child peaking at his gifts.

Truth be told I figured the odds of us even seeing these Lions was zero let alone one of them being a shooter and presenting an opportunity. Andrew grabbed the 450 NE ammo belt from the cab and slid two softs into the tubes. Something beautiful about the thunk, thunk sound of a double being loaded. He closed the action and checked the safety.

Madam had already grabbed her 7 x 57. She learned from the blind incident that even though you may not be hunting Lion yourself the lion may not realize that. Knowing how calm she always is and how well she shoots I was happy she had her Ruger.

Green had the sticks, Andrew held my double, me with the .375, Madam with her 7 x 57, and Ben with nothing as we all marched down the road from camp. No further lion calls were heard.

On the walk out from camp tall grass lines the left side and on the right once you leave the camp clearing there’s thick brush for 30 meters then an open area 50 meters square.

We walked briskly past the cover on the right and made it 40 yards further with the clearing now on our right when a noise behind us got our attention. I turned in time to witness an image that has played back in slow motion many times in my memory.

Two large heavily maned muscular lions strolled from that cover and across the road with a lioness on their tail. You could see each muscle ripple and their mane hair undulate as they effortlessly disappeared into the tall grass ignoring us as something insignificant.

Green threw the sticks up. “Why bother” I thought. They were gone as fast as I realized what I saw.

“There’s another coming”. Those words frantically called by Ben changed the game. I put the Hoffman on the sticks just as the bushes parted revealing another big male Lion. This just couldn’t be happening. He cleared cover and was ten feet short of the road and the tall grass when Andrew challenged with a very loud “OOuummff!!”

As my cheek welded to the stock and my world changed to the view in my scope I saw a magnificent absolutely fearless cat spin towards us and stop 40 yards away. Joyce swears he was looking straight at her but I think every human standing there felt he was looking at them.

It is written that a Cape Buffalo looks at you like you owe them money. If this is true then a Lion looks at you like you are a piece of prime rib.

Andrew took less than a second to decide he was a shooter. I had the cross hairs on his nose originally because I was thinking self defense. When I heard “shoot” I dropped the point of aim just below the chin and squeezed.

The scene replays in slow motion as the cat seems to draw in on itself as if he’s an accordion looked at from the end. His right front leg gives way but he doesn’t go down. He’s already spinning right to sprint back for cover. I cycle my bolt and hear a bang. It’s Andrew unleashing the right barrel of my double but hitting nothing. I lead the lion as it disappeared into the brush and I shot into the moving brush. A continuous crashing sound followed for seconds and then silence.

I recalled at campfire talks that Andrew advised in a blind scenario not to take an immediate follow up shot because you did not want to reveal your location and Andrew wanted to listen as the cat ran for cover. “Mortally wounded cats crash through the bush making a lot of noise”. I’d hoped I just heard a mortally wounded cat.


“We’ll wait an hour and follow up” I’ve heard that before as has Joyce. She timed him. Nine minutes and a cigarette later Andrew looked at me. “Let’s go Mate. I want you and the .375 with me.”

I looked at Joyce and she smiled. She stayed back with Ben 7 x 57 in her hand.

Green led out, eyes on the ground. Andrew and I walked side by side with me on the left. He had already reloaded the right barrel and I had already refilled my magazine and chamber. Victor the Game Scout had his AK 47 and walked behind us.

As usual with the TSX there was no blood at the scene of the initial impact. Green picked up the trail and very slowly followed it. Andrew and I scanned into the brush. It’s difficult to see into shady cover especially at a standing height. I crouched down.

In another five feet we found blood and then a pool of blood all bright red.

We went on for ten long minutes and I leaned over to Andrew and whispered, “I’d feel better if I had the double”. He suddenly went deaf. We continued.

Another tense ten minutes and Victor whispered to me, “Lion” while looking left. I swung my barrel left and dropped to my knees to see under the pucker brush. Nothing!!

I looked ahead and Green and Andrew had moved two steps off creating a gap. I moved forward. Victor grabbed my shirt, “Lion!! There’s a Lion in there”.

Andrew heard that and swung the double to his left as well. We continued looking and saw nothing. Green leaned into the brush, pulled back out and smiled. Andrew looked again and his face looked even happier than when I showed him a dead Sitatunga. He finally released his grip on my double and shook my hand.

“Congratulations Bwana that’s a big assed Lion”. I finally could make out the motionless hind leg.

I crawled into the thick cover, which was not easy, and crouched over a dead African Lion. He looked huge. “Must be the darkness of the cover”, I thought.

I gave a Navajo yell, a high pitched scream Joyce and I learned while living on the Rez at Fort Defiance, Arizona in the 80’s. I knew she would appreciate relief at my vocal announcement of success.

The guys from camp arrived and after hacking at the brush for five minutes 10 men carefully carried the Lion out into the open. It wasn’t the dark cover that made it look big. This Lion was huge.

Andrew took some extra time prepping the photo scene and people lined up for their picture session with the cat.

Timing could not have been better for Royal Kafue. Board members of the Community Trust had stopped by today to visit camp I suspect to see how the first Safari was going. They joined in the celebration song. Two members approached me alone later and thanked me for helping prove Royal Kafue was a good idea.

Hell, it looked like a good idea to me.

One of the best Father & Son pictures of all time. They worked hard for this moment.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Excellent report. Congratulations to everyone!

George

Click here to watch the Lion celebration song


Someone joked elsewhere that this went on so long they thought everyone would break out into the extended version of Layla.

There's two parts with the second being the familiar to most Chipolopolo. The first half is a local Kaindu song.

I was (and still am) reserving my comments until the entire report is complete, but I am overwhelmed by the kabubi celebration on this Saturday morning.

Damn, but that's music.

JIM:
The only way your dance could have been better was a Michael Jackson moonwalk. Unbelievable lion. You're my hero.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:



Click here to watch the Lion celebration song


Someone joked elsewhere that this went on so long they thought everyone would break out into the extended version of Layla.

There's two parts with the second being the familiar to most Chipolopolo. The first half is a local Kaindu song.

quote:

Originally posted by safari-lawyer:
I was (and still am) reserving my comments until the entire report is complete, but I am overwhelmed by the kabubi celebration on this Saturday morning.

Damn, but that's music.

Will, you might as well comment. My hunting pretty much ended with the Lion. We still baited for Leopard but without luck. A man can't be too greedy and it gives me a reason (like I really need one) for the next return trip.

I saw a lot of Elephants including some very close but nothing with ivory large enough for me to want to pay for them.

Joyce kept hunting for Leopard bait and that will all be in her somewhat different report.

I just read her last post in it now. She doesn't show the installments to me before posting so I never know what's coming next either.

I really have liked her report because of the different point of reference, the newness to hunting four legged critters, and of course her sometimes direct sense of humor.

I'll pop up some more pictures on this thread and may even tell a little side joke or two, lord knows there was enough material for comedy during this trip. But in essence the "hunt" report is completed.

Congrats again on your success on Lion and your wonderful report. I enjoyed it immensely.

Cheers

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
JIM:
The only way your dance could have been better was a Michael Jackson moonwalk. Unbelievable lion. You're my hero.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:



Click here to watch the Lion celebration song


Someone joked elsewhere that this went on so long they thought everyone would break out into the extended version of Layla.

There's two parts with the second being the familiar to most Chipolopolo. The first half is a local Kaindu song.

Thanks Bud,

What is it, 3 days to wheels up for you? Enjoy every minute and let Africa flow around you and carry you along. Never fight the current.

Cheers
Jim

Bwanna Effin lucky might be an understatment !!

Congrats Jim i enjoyed the report very much.

12 days and counting

Simply stunning! Every bit of it! The pictures, the story, the history, the trophies, every aspect of it is stunning! Congratulations again and thank you so much for sharing it with us

Oh Wow, what an excellent lion, congratulation. Great report too, thanks for sharing it.

Helluva lion and one to be proud of... well done.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

Too cool! Having been there before I can smell the smells and feel the coolness of the morning. You can't put a dollar value on those experiences.

Mark

What Mark said and the sounds too. WAY COOL!!!

WOW JUST WOW!!!
Just finishe your report. Not only did you get some hard to get animals but all are TOADS!!! I may not have seen another report that was quite this successful. Sure looks like you have fun as well.CONGRATS YOU WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO EVER TOP THIS ONE
Thanks for posting!!!

I would like to thank everyone for their kind words regarding this hunt report and the events described within.

I agree it’s a good story. Not in its telling, the size of the animals, the success on specialty species many times sought by collectors fulfilling their lists, but for the advancement of a worthy cause. Namely wildlife conservation in Africa.

Accurate Reloading can be a place to find information and this website is responsible for a large part in the success of this safari.

Could the stars have aligned and brought Andrew, Joyce, and I together via conventional means? Perhaps! But not likely.

Mark Young was involved in this from the beginning but Mark is a cautious man and did his job as he see’s it. He wanted to protect his client. The area was unknown, the business a start up, and these factors made this a risky situation with a large sum of money involved. Mark voiced caution especially when I announced I was not sending any further monies to Adam Clements Safari Trackers but rather wiring all funds directly to Andrew and Royal Kafue and would pay commissions due directly. Folks, that was a risk and Mark did his job well to try and protect his client from that risk, but without the risk there may not have been a Safari at all. At least not this year.

Mark is a knowledgable agent and I would not hesitate recommending the seeking of his counsel.

The direct conversations we had with Andrew for over a year before the hunt date, getting a feel for his personality and character based on posts on this forum, and the references I checked gave me confidence that the risk would be worth it.

There have been arguments on threads in this forum about whether a PH really becomes your friend, after all, they are business men and this is a business transaction, a purchase of services if you will.

Joyce and I don’t buy our friends. We’ve been blessed to have been together for 38 years and cherish a list of true friends that differing geography and cultures have not limited.

Andrew Baldry is our friend.


Cheers!!
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Probably going to be tough to top this hunt, but please keep trying because your report is fantastic. Looks and sounds like you all had a great African experience. Congratulations!!

Jim, Joyce & Andrew;

Again, congratulations on a fantastic safari and great re-telling!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed every photo/video and written word. You guys really know "how to hunt" and "how to make it fun"......

I'm a shallow person...I'm totally jealous!

Best regards, D. Nelson

quote:

Originally posted by D. Nelson:
Jim, Joyce & Andrew;

Again, congratulations on a fantastic safari and great re-telling!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed every photo/video and written word. You guys really know "how to hunt" and "how to make it fun"......

I'm a shallow person...I'm totally jealous!

Best regards, D. Nelson

You and Bob were there with us Darin in spirit and with every Sat call.

Simply awesome! Congratulations to you and the Madam and offcourse Andrew!

Andrew you just got a million dollars worth of advertizing for free

great report great hunt great trophie and it looks like great friends now.

Congratulations to both you and Mr. Baldry. Absolutely wonderful experience!

Regards

quote:

Originally posted by jeff h:
Andrew you just got a million dollars worth of advertizing for free

I wouldn't say completely free. We did our best to ruin his reputation with a few Youtube videos.

An auspicious start Andrew.
Congratulations.

Jim and Joyce, thank you for sharing your experience with humour and sincerity.

There is such a shortage of superlatives for a safari like this. Truly the safari of a lifetime.

I was very fortunate on a 21 day safari in 2011 and Andrew kindly said:

"The best collection of trophies from one hunt I have seen posted on AR or indeed elsewhere. Would seem Labat is on top of his game. Superb report and very well done bwana."

I appreciated the comment then, remember it fondly, and quote it here to convey that the very same must be said of this safari. This is a superb collection of some of the best that Zambia has to offer, particularly the sable, roan, sitatunga, and lion. Likely the most impressive bag of game that I have seen in some time. Clearly the clients and PH were on top of their game in this 21 day hunt.

Seems that the future is bright for Mr. Baldry and his new venture. I hope to see it in person sooner rather than later.

Congratulations to all three of you on a proper safari.

Thank you for all the time you invested in writing this report and thank you to your wife for all her knowledge and skills in creating and editing the videos

Tim

Thank you gentlemen for the kind words. We enjoyed reliving the memories by putting them in stories and videos and word is that Joyce will still have some installments coming on her thread when time allows.

Cheers

Jim

Great report and fantastic safari. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure with us.

Great report and a good reason to come back to the AR forum sooner than later to catch up on the events of that hunting day. Great pictures, well written. Congrats.

Postscript

I kept notes by using a Dictaphone since my handwriting is illegible even to me. I just finished listening to the tapes and I realize I forgot to mention some other events that occurred after the Lion was killed.

The coalition of three remaining adult lions from which my male was taken apparently found one of our eastern baits after heading through the tall grass past camp.

The groggy morning after we went out and checked baits and found a large maned lion dropping down off the bait as the cruiser approached. We did not have time to thoroughly glass and evaluate him but he also looked like a mature brute.

As we checked our other baits we discovered the “sacred cow” was no more. The group of four adults had decimated the bait leaving only the chain sometime before visiting camp the morning of our success. I had told Andrew we should have kept the cow’s head and made a shrine at the camp in her honor.

I had visions of Andrew and future hunters touching her skull before heading out for the day. Hey, I’m Polish and superstitious. What can I say?

Joyce has many other stories to relate on her thread so I don’t want to reveal any hints but she can tell you of the actual comical ending for the cow head. Small hint – it has to do with Barbel fishing.

Now that's a safari! Congrats

quote:

Originally posted by L. David Keith:
Now that's a safari! Congrats

Thank you Sir!!

Cheers
Jim

Great safari and wonderful video clips. Thank you for sharing all that with us.

Finally got a chance to read this thing all the way through.

You had a great hunt, an excellent bag of trophies, and were able to spend time with friends and your wife out there.

Congratulations, and well done!

Excellent read Jim, memories that will last a lifetime.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Huffaker:
Excellent read Jim, memories that will last a lifetime.

Yup!! Memories and pictures. Might keep my taxidermy quota down a bit.

Thanks for sharing. An exciting and excellent read! Truely a safari dreams are made of, AND WHAT A TOAD OF A LION!!!!
Well done Jim, well done!

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Finally got a chance to read this thing all the way through.

You had a great hunt, an excellent bag of trophies, and were able to spend time with friends and your wife out there.

Congratulations, and well done!

I'm glad you enjoyed it.