TANZANIA: Rungwa Game Reserve

[eyedok]

My leopard, buffalo…… from Zambia June 22 just got to Houston last week, my Cameroon trophies from Jan 23 are just now being shipped, it just takes a while

 

[eyedok]

June 2022
Jan 2023

 

[Rafiki]

My leopard, buffalo…… from Zambia June 22 just got to Houston last week, my Cameroon trophies from Jan 23 are just now being shipped, it just takes a while

I got'ta say that improved my evening, Thanks.

 

[Luminous Ham]

Thanks for the great report, sounds like a perfect hunt, fingers crossed you will get your trophies. I am looking for a trip where some will hunt PG only, I might want a buffalo, and that the same want there to be plenty of DG around just for the experience. Seems DG is there, in Rungwa, and some PG too, but I am bit unsure if there is enough PG, whatever enough means, for PG hunters only, perhaps visibility is too poor, or there are too few? Any take on this?

 

[Drisabraham]

Thanks for the great report, sounds like a perfect hunt, fingers crossed you will get your trophies. I am looking for a trip where some will hunt PG only, I might want a buffalo, and that the same want there to be plenty of DG around just for the experience. Seems DG is there, in Rungwa, and some PG too, but I am bit unsure if there is enough PG, whatever enough means, for PG hunters only, perhaps visibility is too poor, or there are too few? Any take on this?

Great report, great detail. Would you hunt there again? Is there a contact for this outfitter? Thanks in advance.

 

[Luminous Ham]

Great report, great detail. Would you hunt there again? Is there a contact for this outfitter? Thanks in advance.

Are u asking me? I have not been on it, I'm asking questions... your other questions can be seen in the OP's report.

 

[Drisabraham]

Are u asking me? I have not been on it, I'm asking questions... your other questions can be seen in the OP's report.

Sorry, I was asking OP

 

[Rafiki]

Thanks for the great report, sounds like a perfect hunt, fingers crossed you will get your trophies. I am looking for a trip where some will hunt PG only, I might want a buffalo, and that the same want there to be plenty of DG around just for the experience. Seems DG is there, in Rungwa, and some PG too, but I am bit unsure if there is enough PG, whatever enough means, for PG hunters only, perhaps visibility is too poor, or there are too few? Any take on this?

I can only speak from my actual experience. Since you've read my report you probably understand that it has just about everything in terms of species, that's not the issue. Although Rungwa has a wide variety of game for people who are looking for a plains game hunt in fairly open country this is probably not the place. For the most part Rungwa is covered with forest. The animals are there but you will not see large herds from which to choose a trophy. There are a few open areas such as where we got our Hartebeest and Warthog but other than that the Kudu, giraffe, elephant, etc., were in the forest. One day we came across what looked like a lone buffalo but when we came up on it there was a heard of about 50 that we did not see. Anyway, I love hunting were I did. Being forested added another element to the experience.

 

[Luminous Ham]

Asante sana Rafiki, really good and detailed information. I will discuss it with my friend, perhaps I can convince him, would really like to hunt in Tanzania! And I think he would also value the overall experience, and difficult humts, more than huge herds, we will see.

 

[Drisabraham]

I can only speak from my actual experience. Since you've read my report you probably understand that it has just about everything in terms of species, that's not the issue. Although Rungwa has a wide variety of game for people who are looking for a plains game hunt in fairly open country this is probably not the place. For the most part Rungwa is covered with forest. The animals are there but you will not see large herds from which to choose a trophy. There are a few open areas such as where we got our Hartebeest and Warthog but other than that the Kudu, giraffe, elephant, etc., were in the forest. One day we came across what looked like a lone buffalo but when we came up on it there was a heard of about 50 that we did not see. Anyway, I love hunting were I did. Being forested added another element to the experience.

Thanks, that's the type of hunt I want.

 

[Safari1]

I can only speak from my actual experience. Since you've read my report you probably understand that it has just about everything in terms of species, that's not the issue. Although Rungwa has a wide variety of game for people who are looking for a plains game hunt in fairly open country this is probably not the place. For the most part Rungwa is covered with forest. The animals are there but you will not see large herds from which to choose a trophy. There are a few open areas such as where we got our Hartebeest and Warthog but other than that the Kudu, giraffe, elephant, etc., were in the forest. One day we came across what looked like a lone buffalo but when we came up on it there was a heard of about 50 that we did not see. Anyway, I love hunting were I did. Being forested added another element to the experience.

Did you see many elephants?

 

[Rafiki]

Did you see many elephants?

Actually quite a few and there was sign of their presence everywhere; poop and mangled trees. A few days we had to remove trees and brush blocking the path of the truck, and one day we just followed their route heading back to camp.

 

[McKenzie Sims]

Great report, Like the detail. Congrats on two great bulls. Tanzania is a special place to hunt.

 

[Rare Breed]

Actually quite a few and there was sign of their presence everywhere; poop and mangled trees. A few days we had to remove trees and brush blocking the path of the truck, and one day we just followed their route heading back to camp.

How bad were the Tsetse Flies?

 

[Rafiki]

How bad were the Tsetse Flies?

There were swarms confined to some areas but in others nothing nothing. I really have no idea why there would be on one place vs another. Where we had encounters with them I was sure happy to have repellent that worked, those suckers can bite.

 

[saltlick]

Good to hear from you Lance.

I have not and it's got me a bit irritated. Licky and I have always had a good relationship, or at least I think we have, but this is straining that relationship. I talk & text with him regularly and he knows I'm getting antsy about it. I also talk with other family members, just a few minutes ago actually.

Tim, at WTA wanted me and I guess some others to put together some detail, send it to him a he would try and sort it out. I have not done that because I think I will have better luck by continuing our relationship. I assume that you are going the WTA route. Please keep me informed of your progress.

I also talk with Don Hutson, the other hunter in our merry camp. He got his trophy months ago.

Good to hear from you, hope you and Jill are well.

Yes, we are working with Tim at WTA but have made zero progress on getting our buffalo trophy back in the US after 18 months. He stopped responding to our email requests for status updates. Beyond irritated at this point! Any luck with your trophies from Licky?

 

[Rafiki]

Yes, we are working with Tim at WTA but have made zero progress on getting our buffalo trophy back in the US after 18 months. He stopped responding to our email requests for status updates. Beyond irritated at this point! Any luck with your trophies from Licky?

Not yet, I'll let you know if I find out anything.

 

[saltlick]

Hi John, any progress on your buff trophies being shipped back from Tanzania? We are working with Tim Herald of WTA. He told us WTA is paying a different outfitter in Tanzania to go get the buffs released. That's all we know at this time.
BTW, we are going to Botswana in mid-June to shoot an elephant bull. Wanna join? We're wondering if you had ever signed contracts with expediters/importers to get any of your trophies back from Africa? We are considering it because of the CITES process. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Rafiki]

Hi John, any progress on your buff trophies being shipped back from Tanzania? We are working with Tim Herald of WTA. He told us WTA is paying a different outfitter in Tanzania to go get the buffs released. That's all we know at this time.

I'm afraid I haven't been able to get mine back either. All I've been able to secure are promises, broken ones. I am curious about what you said of some WTA scheme; how would that work? Any specifics on that?

BTW, we are going to Botswana in mid-June to shoot an elephant bull. Wanna join?

That's exciting news. What outfit are you going with? I presume you're taking your own rifle this time; what is it?

I'm sure you've seen my new 375 H&H. Just installed the scope today any will be shooting it this weekend. Also supposed to be taking delivery of Peregrine bullets Friday.

We're wondering if you had ever signed contracts with expediters/importers to get any of your trophies back from Africa? We are considering it because of the CITES process. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Can't help you there. My taxidermist was/is going to do all that if those critters ever get released.

Good luck and good hunting

 

[Scott CWO]

I'm afraid I haven't been able to get mine back either. All I've been able to secure are promises, broken ones. I am curious about what you said of some WTA scheme; how would that work? Any specifics on that?


That's exciting news. What outfit are you going with? I presume you're taking your own rifle this time; what is it?

I'm sure you've seen my new 375 H&H. Just installed the scope today any will be shooting it this weekend. Also supposed to be taking delivery of Peregrine bullets Friday.


Can't help you there. My taxidermist was/is going to do all that if those critters ever get released.

Good luck and good hunting

If y’all just hunted a year ago in Tanzania, your trophies are not really late yet. It can take up to two years and 1 to 1.5 years is normal. The only free-range country that got my trophies to me quickly was Zambia. That’s probably because my outfitter did his own dip/pack and paperwork with the government but most outfitters do not.

WTA is a good organization and if they are now working a different angle on it, then it should be successful. If not, let me know. I helped a guy from MT get his buffalo out of Mozambique a few years ago after he got the run-around. I took my friend, Barbara Crown, (previously of The Hunting Report and now with SCI) to the outfitter’ booth at SCI and lit a fire under the outfitter. Buffalo got shipped a couple weeks later.