21 September 2014, 13:33
Lin StantonLeopard safari with Mbalabala Safaris
Hunt: 10 day Leopard HuntDates: 7th-18th of September
Client: Bob and Todd from USA (Father and Son)
Outfitter: Mbalabala Safaris/ Lin Stanton
PH: Lin Stanton and James Rosenfels
Area: West Nicholson/Marula
Weapon used: .375 and .378 Weatherby
Bob and Todd booked this safari following an advert I placed on here (Discounted Leopard Hunt Zimbabwe).
Having hunted in South Africa and Zimbabwe previously, both Bob and Todd were anxious to get a leopard this time around. After picking them up at the airport, we had to quickly set off as both - James and I had leopard feeding in Marula and West Nicholson respectively. it was decided that Bob would hunt with James in Marula and Todd would hunt with myself in West Nicholson. We hoped to meet up after both the leopard had been taken.
Excited and hopeful we all spent the first two nights sitting for leopard. Unfortunately they never came - even though they had both feed the nights prior to Bob and Todd arriving. James and I could only assume that this had something to do with the full moon.
The next two - three days were spent checking the baits, shooting more baits, rehanging baits with little success. Bob and Todd both, in the mean time had taken a zebra each and Todd also shot a good giraffe and waterbuck.
Half way through the safari, Todd and I traveled to Marula. We decided that we would leave our baits to set for a few days and would instead help James and Bob check their baits. Whilst there Todd managed to shoot a reedbuck.
Day 5 and finally the moon darkened and we started to see a lot more leopard activity. We finally got leopard feeding at both Marula and two males feeding at West Nicholson.
Bob got the opportunity to shoot a massive male in Marula. The cat was 7'4" weighing about 180lbs. he then went on to shoot a good size sable.
Unfortunately for Todd and I, we sat for three nights in the blind with leopard coming in and out but not staying long enough to give us the time to shoot them.
James and I worked it out that during course of the safari, we had seven different males feeding in both our areas as well as several females.
It was unfortunate that Todd never got his leopard, but hunting is hunting....
