Buffalo Hunt Recommendations

[Catahoula]

I had myself convinced that I would stick to plains game going forward. However, I now have a 458 Lott on the way, and I may as well put it to good use. I'm looking for recommendations from those that have done recent buffalo hunts. (My only experience is a cow hunt in South Africa) I'm open to location. My wish list is as follows.

1) True walk and stalk hunt. I know that locating herds is often done from the truck, but I want to spend the bulk of my time with boots on the ground.
2) A remote feeling to the accommodations. A lodge located in a bush setting is great, a tent camp might be better.
3) Minimal to no other hunters in camp. I know that asking for a camp too yourself as a solo hunter is sometimes a tall order, but I prefer not sharing my camp with large groups. I enjoy quiet conversation around the fire at days end. Too many hunters in camp can get a little loud and boisterous for my taste.
4) A representative, hard bossed bull. I don't need a monster, but do want a mature bull that I can be proud to display.
5) A PH that enjoys the hunt as much as I do and is willing to adapt to my needs. I know the PH's first priority is safety, but I want to hunt and shoot my buff, including any needed follow up shots, unless safety is a concern.
6) The ability to add some plains game without a lot of additional travel.
7) A large property. I don't mind high fences as much as some, but want the property to be large enough that it feels like hunting and not shooting.

I'd be possibly looking at late 2019, but more realistically would be in 2020 due to some other travel already booked. This would be my 4th safari, and I want to do it right. I'd love to hear what some of you liked about your hunt, along with things you would change or do differently. Feel free to PM if you prefer. Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[BRICKBURN]

You should be able to find exactly what you are after as there is certainly nothing too onerous about your needs and desires.

Good luck on your Buffalo hunt.

 

[CAustin]

You wish list is not a tall order at all. Everything on it is more than possible. Stick to your guns as to what you want.
By the way that 458 Lott your getting......what is it?

 

[Catahoula]

You wish list is not a tall order at all. Everything on it is more than possible. Stick to your guns as to what you want.
By the way that 458 Lott your getting......what is it?

It's a Ruger RSM. I'm buying it from one of the members here.

 

[CAustin]

It's a Ruger RSM. I'm buying it from one of the members here.

That is a thumper and it will take on any DG!

 

[Custom]

I have done two buffalo hunts, one in RSA and one in Zim. My hunt in RSA was great, and on a large property (60,000 acres +), but I have to say that my hunt in Zim felt a little more wild. I will warn you, though, once you have hunted DG, there may be no going back! It can get in your blood.

 

[Rock375]

I have the same want list as as you do Catahoula. I only have 2 Safaris under my belt and no Dangerous game experience. I plan on hunting Buff in 2019. I’m looking to book soon.

 

[Custom]

Rock, sent you a PM.

 

[Red Leg]

The Zambezi Delta of Mozambique is a fabulous place to see a remaining bit of Hemingway and Ruark's Africa. I have hunted buffalo twice with Grant Taylor's Mashambanzou Safaris https://www.mashambanzousafaris.com/and could not recommend them more highly. The most recent hunt was in October of last year. https://www.africahunting.com/threa...o-mozambique-with-mashambanzou-safaris.40618/ The other took place four years ago. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/coutada-14-zambezi-delta-mozambique.16773/ which was turned into an article for African Hunting Gazette. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/mozambique-buffalo-hunt.42271/ It is a land of free range Sable, Nyala, Livingstone Eland, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Suni, Duiker, and thousands of buffalo. And not a fence within five-hundred miles.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

John Sharp (http://www.john-sharp-safaris.com/) in the 800,000+ acre Bubye Valley Conservancy in Zimbabwe. I hunted with John in 2015 and a good friend hunted with him in 2017. You'll have the camp to yourself, if that's what you want. @tarbe is hunting with John next year.

While not direct, first hand experience with them (yet), @Ndumo Safaris http://huntingsafaris.net/ (a AH sponsor) has a very interesting looking buff hunt in the Caprivi in Namibia.

 

[cls]

Went on my first Cape Buffalo safari last year in Zambia with @Mbizi Safaris, first class operation. My wife and I were the only ones in camp for the hunt. They also have Chobe bushbuck, Roan, Sable, Waterbuck, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Puku etc. You can find my hunt report here, https://www.africahunting.com/threads/zambia-amazing-cape-buffalo-hunt-at-mbizi-safaris.40041/. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck in your search for your ideal cape buffalo safari.

 

[Dinsdale]

I was very happy with Charlton McCallum and PH Len Taylor. They are very organized and have several choices for camps including fly-tented.

Len doesn't even like to hunt herds and will do so only at last resort by request. It was one of the reasons I picked the hunt based on his reputation.

Also had PH Allen Shearing in camp and I'd hunt with him too. Like you I'd prefer a "quieter camp" and just me and a guy from Nosler were there, I inquired about that before booking. Everyone was serious about getting hunting in and mornings started at 3 am or 4 am and ended at around 8 or 9.

Serious about gun handling skills and shooting ability too. Thankfully I passed at both. LOL
You'll shoot your buff, Len didn't even take gun off his shoulder after I put tuskless down.

Both true professionals. Plenty of options to keep costs under control,like shortening length of trip(but you actually only pay for real hunting days in camp), late season, and I choose a low cost drive into camp and used the time to get to know Len a little bit and see some countryside. Crew was terrific at tracking and had a great time. After 4 trips for plains game in SA and Namibia, I found the experience in Dande to be what I was after for first DG hunt. (Started with tuskless and added the buff after ele was down) No fences, drive out in the morning, walk to you find tracks, and follow them up if good potential.

I'm still interested in SA and Namibia PG hunts.....but I'd hunt another buff or elephant with them no hesitation. pictures from trip are on here in a post from last Oct. in reports section.

Len will love that Lott too!

 

[RBurg44]

Pawprints safaris has a tent camp set up just a few mins from a huge buff property that i hunted my giraffe on! You can drive all morning and no take same path, Check them out. They just took a huge buff today off it saw it on their facebook page!

 

[Catahoula]

The Zambezi Delta of Mozambique is a fabulous place to see a remaining bit of Hemingway and Ruark's Africa. I have hunted buffalo twice with Grant Taylor's Mashambanzou Safaris https://www.mashambanzousafaris.com/and could not recommend them more highly. The most recent hunt was in October of last year. https://www.africahunting.com/threa...o-mozambique-with-mashambanzou-safaris.40618/ The other took place four years ago. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/coutada-14-zambezi-delta-mozambique.16773/ which was turned into an article for African Hunting Gazette. https://www.africahunting.com/threads/mozambique-buffalo-hunt.42271/ It is a land of free range Sable, Nyala, Livingstone Eland, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Suni, Duiker, and thousands of buffalo. And not a fence within five-hundred miles.

Thanks for the info. I will contact them and see what they can put together. I'm not ruling out South Africa, but I'm leaning towards another country as I will already have hunted South Africa three times by the time I take this trip.

 

[Catahoula]

Pawprints safaris has a tent camp set up just a few mins from a huge buff property that i hunted my giraffe on! You can drive all morning and no take same path, Check them out. They just took a huge buff today off it saw it on their facebook page!

Thanks! I'm hunting with Pieter again in a couple of months. I plan on discussing options with him then. I hunted out of Balule Bush Lodge last year with Pawprint and had a great plains game hunt.

 

[tarbe]

Your requirements sound and awful lot like mine!

As Dave mentioned above, I ended up booking with John Sharp in the BVC.

I had certainly heard about John and the BVC, but the final straws for me:

1. Meeting John at DSC in 2016. He is very serious about his job! He is also very serious about the hunt being about the client.

2. Watching a video of John conducting an Elephant hunt. The client shot the bull, it dropped...got back up and started moving off, the client is shooting several more times. The entire time John is coaching, but his rifle never left his shoulder. This in stark contrast to those who sometimes seem more concerned about saving some follow-up vs letting the client do the job.

3. 18 months or so of further correspondence where I learned what really makes John tick...and liking what I found.

4. The BVC, by all accounts, is an amazing place to hunt. To hear a fellow who has been on over 5 dozen safaris all over the continent say that the BVC is tops...who am I to argue (understanding of course that this is a subjective thing).

It is expensive to hunt the BVC - no doubt about it. But I have never heard anyone who has hunted there say that it was not worth the price of admission.

Martin Nel and Peter Fick also run hunts in the BVC on a regular basis. Their websites are probably more user friendly than John's!

Good luck with your quest!!

 

[lil 2 sleepy]

I haven’t hunted with them, but the Game Trackers Africa Tanzania hunt on here has got me going crazy. I can’t imagine a more old Africa feel for the cost of a RSA hunt.

 

[khharris]

Budget will be a big determining factor but you can for sure find what you are looking for. Marromeu is great in Moz as is Zambezi Delta Safaris, McDonald Safaris and Mashambanzou’s new area Mahimba has a lot of buffalo/game; Tanzania has tons of prospects (McCallum, Bushman, Robin Hurt, Rungwa, Clements, etc.) that fit your description and I know there are plenty of options in Zambia that I’ve spoke with just haven’t hunted there yet. Zim has plenty of good areas as well with BVC being a great option. Do your research but what you are looking for is what has hooked me on Africa. Waking up to a lion roaring or ele walking through camp is the stuff you read about. I am so looking forward to my TZ hunt in 2019. Good luck on the preparations/research.

 

[K-man]

Yoa have some great recommendations here already, and i would just add the Save conservancy in Zim. I have been there three times and have taken great plains game but the buffalo herds there are fantastic. Leon and Mike both love hunting buff and almost a million acres to roam around in. Lots of ele and lions, etc. Permanent tent camps, shared or not. Wherever you go, enjoy and get old hard bossed bulls.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

We have just what you are looking for. Fully booked for 2018. Possible openings for 2019. 2020 open.

E mail lekkerkry@hotmail.com