Lion Hunting in Fimbiri

Hunter : Ali Hakim
Area : Bubye Valley Conservancy
Camp : Fimbiri
Outfitter: Brent Hein Safaris
Date: June 2013
PH: Brent Hein
Rifles: 375 H&H mag, 300 Win mag
Animals: Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo , Waterbuck, Lion, Kudu, Nyala , Klipspringer, Impala

My 5th Safari in Africa turned out to be yet another wonderful adventure. I was accompanied by a friend / observer, Naveed, who has been a long time hunting buddy. We arrived in Harare on an Emirates flight, which actually worked out very well. Our overnight stay was at a place called the York Lodge, which I highly recommend to any one travelling to Harare. The following day at around mid day we chartered into the Bubye valley conservancy. On arrival at the Towla airstrip, we were received by Brent and his crew.

Our camp was situated literally on top of a hill. The lovely lawn made all the difference. My friend and myself shared a Chalet, which had an in-suite bathroom facility.

The weather during the course of the hunt was subject to the effects of global warming, which we all experience worldwide. It was not really predictable or consistent with what it should have been this time of the year. On a good day we’d have a clear sky and comfortable temperatures, on another gloomy and cold with traces of drizzle, and yet on another we’d start off with near zero visibility in the mornings. The stunning landscape and vistas always managed to lighten up our spirits, despite the vicissitudes of the climate.

This was my second safari at the Bubye Valley, and I can safely say that both times I actually saw the big 5, besides other fantastic animals. From herds of buffalos, to ambling elephants, to a rare sighting of the elusive leopard, to an insidious cheetah by a water hole, were just a few of the delightful moments we experienced. Prides of lions, besides lionesses on the prowl, were also sighted a few times. As for antelopes, one was spoilt for choice when it came to Blue Wildebeest, Kudus, Water buck, Livingston Eland, Steen buck, Impalas and, Sable. Droves of Zebras and Giraffes were also not uncommon. Since there is a very liberal quota on Zebras and Giraffes, for Cat hunters there is always bait on demand.

Lion being my mainstay, we got busy from the outset putting up baits. Two giraffes and 2 Zebras were taken and a total of 10 baits were put up. The Zebras were being used mainly for replenishing baits, which were being consumed quickly. Trail cameras at our baits were picking up all sort of activity; leopards, hyenas, lionesses and lions, were all feeding at different baits. I got my opportunity late evening on the 4th day, when this nice old Lion was spotted near one of my baits. The big guy was not taken sitting in a blind, but actually when it was meandering through a Mopani thicket about 100 meters from where the blind was. Having a few cats under my belt, I thought I had seen it all. This was about to become yet another spine chilling experience. The light condition was so un-permitting that I could not make out the reticle in my scope. Luckily I had an illuminated dot in my scope which came in handy. The Lion was around 80 meters from where we were and slightly quatering away when I took the shot. The 375H&H Barnes TSX made the big guy buck and jump, and almost knocked it over. However it quickly regained its composure and scampered off into the thick Mopani. I tried to put another one into it but bad light conditions made it impossible to connect. It was a night mare trying to follow up the cat in the dark, and after a couple of hours of searching, we decided to follow it up the next morning. My main concern was that if the cat passed away in the dead of the night, there was no telling what we would find of it in the morning, with hyenas on the prowl. The morning after was quite rewarding. After following the tracks and blood trail for an hour, our tracker literally walked into the bush where the cat was hiding. With a broken shoulder and a punctured lung it probably did not have the required gas to charge; it simply started scampering away. The tracker, who was carrying a 375 shot it in the hip bone which made the cat loose its balance and go down. A few shots were promptly fired at it to ensure it would stay down.

I have to add here, Brent was a great host and PH. Despite being intermittently temperamental, I was time and over surprised by Brent’s uncanny acumen of picking out and immediately identifying top class trophy animals; whether they were stagnant, moving around, or hauling some serious ass! His perseverance in following up the quarry we sought, or even a wounded animal, which was the case with my water buck, made me realize I was being led by a truly consummate hunter. I have been extremely fortunate to have had great PHs in my previous safaris, and this experience was equally splendid.

It was a struggle for me to find a Nyala, but in the end got a truly nice trophy

We did struggle trying to locate a Limpopo bushbuck, but could not find one. My 18 day hunt ended on the 1st of July. I would like to come back some day to this conservancy for a Leopard. For hunters yearning for a great Cat, either Lion or Leopard, this is a great area. Being here twice, I truly believe it is some of the finest free range cat and antelope hunting in Africa today.

Ali Hakim

Posts: 58 | Location: a luangwa hunt by ali hakim | Registered: 19 July 2011

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