How do hunts in Masailand compare to those in the Selous? Curious about things like animal variety,
numbers, tsetse flies, lions in camp, accommidation, etc. I assume all the concessions
or "blocks" are government owned and in part
operated, with ph's moving in and out. Thanks

Tanzania blocks (hunting rights) are actually owned by individuals. The government sets the trophy fees, and concession fees, conservation fees, observer royalties etc.

Some companies lease their hunting rights out to other safari companies, some just operate the areas themselves.

I am lucky to work with an organization who owns their blocks. Their prices are about as reasonable as you can find in Tanzania and they have some of the biggest Masailand Buffalo, period.

Selous has Tsetse flies in droves in certain areas and not so bad in others.

Tanzania has some interesting variety of animals not available elsewhere in Africa.

Masailand has Grants and Thompson's gazelles Cokes Hartebeest, White bearded Gnu. Selous has Nyassaland Wildebeest and Liechtenstein's Hartebeest.

Buffalo in Selous are fair. 36-38 is a pretty reasonable expectation, with very few approaching or going over 40". Lions are good, bush Lions with some having a decent mane.

Masailand Buffalo are known for their horns. A 40+ Buffalo is not only common, it is an expectation here. Lions here can have super black manes, (as with any Lion hunting, luck plays a big part in this).

Masailand hunts you will encounter the local people in the hunting area. In the Selous, you might bump into a poaching control party, but probably not any people as they can not inhabit this area.

Tanzania is a great country. Expensive but can be affordable to the 7-10 Buffalo hunter.

577,
Probably more Buff in the Selous most of the year unless one wishes to live with the hardships of a December hunt in Masiland, then the Buff are in herds and game is more than abundant...it is a real experience to hunt Masiland in late Nov. and Dec. and it may be very rainy...

Tetsi are bad in the Selous prior to burning, after burning they are not so bad...this year was green in some parts and it was bad....

I like to hunt both, it would be hard to determine which I like the best, but the NW has the best Lion and the largest Bulls, but big bulls are like gold and the biggest bull I have ever seen was in the Selous this year, about 48 plus and the biggest bosses I have ever seen...

the Selous has the Nyasaland Wildebeest and that is the only place he exist...Lots of Lions in the Selous this year and they were working the Buffalo over...Lions in camp? that can happen anywhere, but is the exception rather than the rule. Some of the largest Impala in the world are in parts of the Selous. The Zebra are pure black and pure white without a shadow line.

Just adding a little to Buffalobwanas information and I won't be repetitious to his post, which is quite accurate.

Ray,
Other than the rain, what are the hardships of a late season Masailand hunt?
Thanks.
Worth

Ray Atkinson, I'm curious as well, what are the specific problems of hunting in Masailand in November/December ? Rainfall, how often how much, visibility problems due to vegetation, insects ( particulary those black scorpions ) abundance ( or lack of) game? I was pitched an attractive deal to hunt there at that time of year and am wondering is it worth it ? Thanks Bob

It is just hotter hell, and it rains a lot at that time of year, but that is why it abounds with game at that time....During the nicer months the game tends to stay in the Serengetti Park on most allotments....As far as bugs, snakes and such minor problems, well thats just Africa...A lot depends on how good the allotment burned that year...If I wanted to hunt really huge Buffalo then that is the hunt I would take on our allotment, I don't know about others...

Thanks Ray.
Worth