Bubye Conservancy
Shaun Buffee Safaris
September 1-14, 2012
Ngali Camp

This was purchased from the discounted hunt forum from Shaun in June as a leopard and plains game hunt. Use Enough Gun was on the same hunt for his buffalo and plains game (see his report on this forum) and hunted with Martin Nel out of the same camp.

More details to follow; but suffice it to say that the leopard was hunted hard, but gave us the slip. For some reason, only one cat that fed returned to the bait a second time. That cat was a nice male, but not the kind of leopard I'd gone to the lowveld for. I have trail cam pictures of him that I'll post. Other than him, in the 14 days of serious baiting, we had two separate cats with monster tracks feed once and then not come back the second night. We had several younger males and females feed and then not come back. It was inexplicable. I don't know if it had something to do with the unseasonably cool temperatures and rain, or the moon phase or what. I don't believe the cats got wise to the baits, because they weren't even coming back to the vicinity of the bait tree and then rejecting it.

Despite the zero on leopard, it was an incredible hunt. As most of you know, the time spent in the field baiting usually yields other opportunities and this hunt was no exception. Here's some pictures - more details to follow.




I had air mailed a shot at a nice eland early in the hunt. As disappointing as that was, I was later happy when we got on this guy. Longest horn was right at 40"











The lion wasn't planned and is a story to be told when I get a few more minutes. What a target of opportunity!





No...didn't shoot the cheetah. We found her dead - killed the day before by lions. I thought it was a good opportunity for a trophy photo that most US citizens will not be getting.

Awesome hunt! Super lion and exceptional eland, well done and tank you for sharing!

Oh wow, what a great hunt, exceptional lion and eland, congratulations. Will love to hear the lion story when you have time.

what a trip!!! super trophies - especially lion and eland.

Wow Bwanna! I'll trade a leopard for a lion like that any time! Superb trophies. Well done. I would love to visit the BVC someday... I began my African experiences there when it was the Lemco Ranch in 1994. Looks like it has continued to be a great hunting destination. Look forward to Vaughan's report as well!

Ditto to what others have said regarding eland and lion. This place must be a lion paradise from the reports I have read.

Did you see many elephant & buffalo?

Anxiously awaiting you to get more time and post more pics and more report..............

Great looking safari. Too bad about the leopard, however what a nice lion. Great eland also.

Shaun is a good guy to hunt with, he was probably as disappointed in the leopard as you.

Nice bag of animals
Congratultions

That is a dream Eland. Well done on a great hunt!

The civet is gorgeous!!!

All great trophies, but I especially like the hyena. Hunted for them one night in Namibia this August, but no takers on our funky baboon carcass bait. Next time!

Frickin Chikara Lion!

Massive Eland bull....and beautiful Lion.

Brute of a Lion and superb Eland. Very well done.

JAWS shumba. Congrats to the whole team. It seems like its been a great year for lion hunters. That eland is a super trophy too, as are the small critters. Well done!

Pretty sure I'd trade that lion for any leopard!

Holy schnikes, that is one hell of a target of opportunity!

That lion is one heck of a consolation prize for leopard! And finding the cheetah. Looks like you had one very successful and lucky hunt!

Ryan, What can one say but well done.


Mike

The BVC is a special place indeed! Shaun is a great guy as well, sounds like an excellent hunt (especially with the lion bonus!!).

Truly Awesome Bwanna....

Bwanna,

Congrats on all the usual trophies and a great lion but a honey badger, civet and porcupine on one safari? I hate you.

Mark

Wow! What a wide range of critters! Congrats on a very successful safari!

Wow, what a bag.

I think I may be a bit like Mark. I hate you too! (not really, just greened eyed envy coming out)

Mark, I hear you and Sadie were down at the Muzunga main house while Vaughn and I were in camp. Sorry we missed you. You should have come up and had dinner with us.

Bwanna

Blondie didn't even want us to look at the accommodations. He said all were full. I guess he thought it would be some sort of invasion of privacy if we looked around. Terry has 4 buffalo for '13 on the Bubye and I kind of wanted to let prospective client know what the camps were like. I didn't feel extremely welcome there.

Mark

Well done Bwanna.
Incredible Lion and a very nice Eland. We all like to know the Lion Story