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.

Some of the most inspiring photographs I have seen! Thank you, and congratulations!

quote:

Originally posted by BenKK:
Some of the most inspiring photographs I have seen!

+1

Congrats on some fantastic trophies!


Torbjorn

Ali,
wonderful pictures. You took some excellent trophies and that lion is just superb. Thanks for sharing!

Huge Congrats !

Brent resembles Doctari (Robertson)! You had a whale of a trip!

Great pics, great lion. Congrats.

Wow! What a super trip. Great trophies, and wonderful photos! Love the pic of the first buff!

Outstanding Trophies!
Congratulations Ali

Sir, that is just tremendous!! Some of the photos are great, and a huge congrats to you on a fine safari!!

Brent is fine PH, and an even better guy - congrats to him too!!!

Cracking Lion and the photographs are quite superb. Well done.

Beautiful lion! Congratulations!

Brett

Great Pics, great trophies. Well Done

Ali,

Great report, and wonderful cat, congratulations to you, and Brent.

Butch

Great report. Great trophies, thanks for sharing.


.

Ali,

Fantastic! Beautiful big lion and good trophies all around.

Congrats!

Mark

Ali

Thanks for posting. Great trophies and very good photos. The pic. over the valley with fog is ++++


Good Hunting
CF

Great hunt report and great trophies. The Bubye looks like a hell of a place to go!

Global warming? seriously?

My first night in Zim was spent in Fimbiri. Your post brings back good memories. Congrats on a successful hunt!

Ali,
Congratulation!!!! Amazing hunt, very nice pics and above all good write-up. Wish you all the best in all coming safaries, I personally herd stories from you at my home, but writing gave me insight of your days in jungle.

Congratulation to Naveed as well for taking best photos for you.

Cheers! Brothers!

IH

Great photos; great animals. Congrats!

Good report and the photos are outstanding.

Most importantly, congrats on a great lion!

Secondly, outstanding photography and a very enjoyable report.

The Bubye is definitely on my list of places to hunt.

OUTSTANDING safari!!!
Wonderful report and your photographs SPECTACULAR!!!

Enjoyed every minute of it!

Thank you!

Roland

Very nice, thanks.

Hi Roland, thanks for you kind comments. I was using a Nikon D-90 (150 & 300mm lenses). The D-90 has been replaced by newer versions from Nikon. It is always wise to have 2 pairs of lenses, gives you a lot of options. Keep us posted on your hunt as well, cheers, Ali

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
OUTSTANDING safari!!!
Wonderful report and your photographs SPECTACULAR!!!

Enjoyed every minute of it!

Thank you!

Roland

Great photos and a fantastic lion, congratulation Hakim Sb.

Awesome safari - congratulations!

Some outstanding trophies. Well done.

The pic of the 2 giraffe on the road and also the Buffalo bull in the soft light are brilliant!

Great lion and trophies. Photography was outstanding as well. A memorable hunt for sure.

Dutch

Outstanding photos, and a beautiful Lion trophy!!

I also love that photo of the two Giraffes on the road.

I have been fortunate to have hunted with Brent on several elephant hunts. Brent has a well deserved reputation of always producing game for his clients. Nice trophies by the way!

465H&H

Great trip, outstanding report and photos. Congratulations to you, and thanks for posting.

Some breath taking photos there and what a wonderful safari and I'm sure the pucker factor was quite tight going after your lion like that, great job by all.

Great report. Thanks for sharing all those awesome photos.

Superb pictures for certain, great trophies and very well written report. Thanks so much for bringing back my 14 days in the Fimbiri camp with John Sharp a short four years ago. Looks like you got my nyala which we hunted hard for but no cigar. He is a beauty as well. Oh, nice lion!!! Thanks for sharing.

Looks like an amazing hunt. Great trophies and really amazing pictures!

What happened to the pics?????

I can't see the photos either, just a photo bucket box.

Sorry Robert for the inconvinience,am working on it, should have the photographs up and about shortly, Ali

quote:

Originally posted by SBT:
I can't see the photos either, just a photo bucket box.