Dates: Sept. 27 -Oct. 06

Area: Malipati / Sengwe I & II

Operator: SSG Safaris

Professional Hunter: Nixon Dzingai

Booking Agent: Arron Neilson

Species Hunted: Buffalo, Nyala, Waterbuck, Sharpe’s Grysbuck.

Species Taken: Buffalo, Nyala, Sharpe’s Grysbuck.

Species Seen: Buffalo, Zebra, Common Duiker, Lion, Waterbuck, Elephant, Nyala, Giraffe, Impala, Python, Crocodile, Bushbuck, Sharpe’s Grysbuck Warthog, Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Bushbaby, Gennet cat.

Rifles: .375 H&H Magnum / .470NE Double


I have Just returned from a successful buffalo hunt with Nixon. We concentrated on tracking up Dagga Boys rather than following the herd. The temperature was over 40’C when we arrived, so we hunted early mornings and late afternoon.

We found the tracks of two bulls early one morning in Sengwe II, one of the tracks was huge, Nixon claimed it was probably the biggest track he had seen. The photo bellow gives you some idea of the size of it (the cartridge for comparison is a .375H&H).

We tracked them for some time over a couple of days but they always eluded us, crossing back into the national park as we closed in on them.

The hot weather was preceded by two days of rainstorms; the temperature fell by 25’C it made picking up fresh tracks easy.

We tracked a group of four bulls up into the hills above the Mwenezi River. After a short time we caught up with them and I was able to get a frontal shot in at 40 yards. As the bull split from the group I put in another shot as he was running and followed up with a couple more just to be sure. He went less than 50 yards. On butchering we found the first shot had gone through the heart.

I wanted to hunt Nyala so Nixon spent some time whilst looking for buffalo spoor checking out known hotspots along the river. We saw many Nyala but not the big mature male we were looking for. Eventually I took this nice bull in thick cover.

The weather warmed up again and with it came those ever changing winds. After a few failed stalks we located a group of three bulls grazing in the riverbed at midday. We stalked in as close as we could get and two shots later I had another fine old dagga boy.

Nixon reckoned that this old warrior was 12-13 years old his scarred grey face suggested quite some age, body wise he hadn’t lost condition and was massive compared to the other two bulls that accompanied him. The picture bellow shows how much larger his skull was compared to the first bull I took.

Having now accomplished our primary objective our attention focused on waterbuck. Earlier in the hunt I missed a fine bull that was well over 30” due to a deflection from an unseen branch.
Well we saw a tone of waterbuck but none over 30” that presented a shot. The hot weather and recent rains kept them hauled up deep in the thick stuff.

We called it a day on the Waterbuck after running into a Sharpe’s Grysbuck at midday on the last day of the hunt.

To sum up, the safari was a great success. Nixon and his team of trackers all went the extra mile to make sure I had an enjoyable and productive hunt.

Congrats Faisal,

Fine old Dagga boy. I love the look of that old warrior. Glad to see two of my friends hunting together.

Thanks Butch
Nixon has a great area, hunting with him and his team is a pleasure. I now know why you keep going back.
All the best
Faisal

Congratulations. I need to go hunt with Nixon some time soon! Love those rounded tips on your buff. Awesome bull. See any good waterbuck?

Well done, two fine old dugga boys!!

Two very nice Dugga boys and a good looking Nyala....Well done!.Congratulations

A couple of nice old dugga boys... well done.

Well done faisal. Those are some great buff's.

Flipper Dude
saw a lot of waterbuck but was holding out for a monster and missed another. Nixon reckons April/May is a better time for them and Nyala as its their breeding season.

Thanks Thor
Hope all is well with you.
Cheers
Faisal

Well done. Makes me wish that June '14 was here sooner. Congrats

Rick, we're waiting for your check to clear :-)

Two beautiful old warriors , congratulations to you and Nixon.

Oops, posted too soon.

Congrats again, that second old man is fantastic.

Faisal,

Glad your Sept was productive even if we could not put anything together. A couple of great old Dugga Boys. Big congrats.

Mark

biebs
Yeah, right. Please let me know when it does. I didn't know I had enough money to hang with you rich guys or to afford a buffalo hunt.

Those are some fine Buffalo Bulls!!

Well done.

Congratulations Faisal, Nixon and crew, splendid bulls.

Nice buff!

Congrats on an outstanding safari. Beautiful trophies!!! Thanks for sharing with us.

Fine old bulls. Congrats to all.

Excellent trophies.
The old buffzilla is amazing
Congrats Faisal

Great bulls & antelopes!

I wish I get a bull like that next year.

Congratulations!

Magnificent old, grey faced and worn down buffalo bulls. Perfect trophies.

Congratulations!

What is the make of your double? The .470 is such a great caliber.

Again, congrats!

Faisal - Thanks buddy, it was a pleasure working with you. Glad you all 3 had a good time, and congrats on a couple of excellent buffalo - wow!

Don't forget to send me those pics too?

Congrats on a couple of great bulls. I really like the Grysbok as well. Well done.

Both mature old bulls with broomed tips...

Mike

Now they are two great trophies, really like the old scruffy bull look.
How and who gets the skulls cleaned so quickly while obviously still out on safari and is that all you take back or do you get head/shoulder mounts done later?

Proper buff those mate.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Proper buff those mate.

You can say that again!

Zimbabwe is the only country in which I have seen "herds" of old dugga boys!

We used to pick and choose amongst them, picking an old bull with worn out horns!

Great trophies Faisal.

Well done ,nice bulls ,congratulations .

Faisal,
Congratulations...as usual I always look forward to your reports and photos. And I'll be working on the photos you sent me for prints today

Roland

Faisal,
Nice buff! congrats to you and the Nixon team.

Miko

Well done! Those are awesome buffalo.