Can anyone recommend one of these three outfits?

[codofish]

There's a recent report by a member here...

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: 45 Days Trip To Africa Part One: Bubye Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe'

Sep 9, 2024

I'll be honest, I don't like writing hunting reports, I guess I'm too lazy.
But after being a member here for a while and reading so many, I felt like I should contribute and along the way hopefully help members who are planning similar hunts or trips.
This will be part about hunting and part about travel and because it will be long, I'll tell it in parts.
Some pics will be posted but it will not be pic heavy and mostly about story telling.
I'm no expert by any means but I made multiple trips to Africa since 1992 and I might also include some opinions on top of facts and some insights and...

• Doubleplay
• Replies: 36
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 
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Thanks for sending this report Dinsdale, I will read it now

 

[WyoBull]

I can’t help you with Leopard and AMS as nobody at the lodge while we were there were hunting leopard. Four of us were hunting Cape Buffalo and everyone else was hunting PG.

 

[fourfive8]

Pete Fick on BVC- well respected and experienced PH and BVC is a great area. Good choice. Others mentioned I’m not familiar with.

 

[Andrew62]

IMO you are doing the wrong research or beginning the planning from the wrong starting point.
You are hiring a SA guy that already has its SA operation to hunt in an alternative country?
For me makes absolutely no sense.
There are several outfitters and operator on the forum from countries that already have the operation.
The SA guy will sell you what ever is more convenient for him, no necessarily for you.
Decide first the country you want to go and the do a research on the outfitters and operators from that country.

In 2009 I took a plains game hunt in South Africa, all went well, so I booked a dangerous game hunt with the same outfit up in Zimbabwe for 2010, in the Nyakasanga area. Because I had such a good experience with this outfit, I did not ask enough questions about the hunt in Zimbabwe. When I got to camp, I learned they had never been on this property, and neither of them brought a rifle for backup as they said they were not licensed Zim PH's, and therefore could not have a gun with them (not sure that was true, but that was the story). So here I was hunting 3 cape buffalo and a tuskless cow elephant, and my 2 guides did not have a backup gun. By all means, everyone should hunt where they want to hunt, and with whomever they wish to hunt with, as it is their money and their hunt. But I'll never make the mistake of taking a dangerous game hunt with someone who is not familiar with the property again. Yes, all went well, I had no complaints, but some thought should be given and questions asked about whether a particular freelancer has knowledge of the area he is taking you hunting. The characters involved in this story have left the hunting industry so no need in sharing names.

 

[Bandera]

@Bandera, do you remember the names of the PH’s you talked with from AMS?

I believe his name was Christian big tall guy. The other his name escapes me.
But I might be getting his name mixed up with the guys from Namibia Safari corporation.

 

[IvW]

Pete is a great PH...BVC is a great area to hunt.....not cheap....and you wont be staying in a tent and eating off the braai grid.....

 

[WyoBull]

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I believe his name was Christian big tall guy. The other his name escapes me.
But I might be getting his name mixed up with the guys from Namibia Safari corporation.

My PH was Lezander. Great guy, about [emoji6]’” and [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] lbs and carried a [emoji6][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] NE double rifle. I really enjoyed him throughout the [emoji[emoji6][emoji6]] days we were at Africa Maximum Safaris. My buddy’s PH was awesome as well but I can’t remember his name. They both loved hunting Buffalo.

 

[DLSJR]

You need to do more research since you want to focus on leopards.

Way too many hunters go on 3-6 safaris before ever shooting a leopard. Often they never see a cat. Many hunters have sat dozens of nights before ever getting a shot. That’s because lots of leopard hunts are sold for 2nd rate areas with low success. Too many hunters put down deposits on shitty leopard hunts and have no idea till after they go home without ever seeing a cat in the tree.

BUT, in the right area, at the right time of year, with the right PH who knows how to hunt leopards, success is very high. There are tons of PH’s who offer leopard hunts, but not a lot who have truly great success. Low cost leopard hunts are low cost for a reason. I’m one who believes it’s less expensive to pay more for a quality leopard hunt in a great area with a good CAT PH and kill a cat on your first leopard hunt; than it is to go on 3, 4, 5 or more frustrating hunts before you eventually kill a cat. I’ve hunted leopards on 4 different safaris, shot 3 Tom’s, all were killed on the first day. One tracked in the Kalahari Desert and the other two shot on first sit over bait. No matter who you hunt with or where/when; the longer you sit the tougher it is to kill a leopard. The first time you sit is usually going to be your best chance to kill the Tom. I shot my last one at 8:00 AM after sitting 2 1/2 hours on the very first sit. None of my 4 hunts were specifically dedicated leopard hunts, but rather were full bag safaris, so lots of time spent hunting other stuff, yet we still shot Tom’s pretty easily.

The best areas, places like the Selous, Luangwa Valley & Niassa have very high success rates on daytime leopards. Many other areas have success too, but hunting can often be tougher.

Pete Fick has an excellent reputation, as does the BVC. One PH you didn’t mention, Thierry Labat, is an excellent cat man who has a cancellation hunt available that I think is on Nuanetsi. And I know Alan Vincent has a prime dates cancellation available in the Selous but it’s a 16-day hunt with lots of other game (3 buffalo!) and expensive since it’s Tanzania. Johnny DuPlooy is one of the best leopard hunters on the continent and hunts Upper Lupande in the Luangwa Valley, but I dont know if he has any openings this year. He also has a new concession on the Kafue Plateau that should be excellent for big leopards (Kafue is another great area for leopards & lions).

Do your homework and get it right the first time. If you pick the right area at the right time of year (early season is often easier, it’s almost impossible after animals have given birth) with a good leopard PH, you’ll probably kill a Tom on your first safari and probably in 3 sits or less.

 

[Brian]

I just got back from the SCI conventions where I was looking for a leopard hunt. I met many and was most impressed with African Maximum Safaris (Jacq Senekal), Trophy Game Safaris (Tino Erasmus), and Pete Frick Safaris. Any feedback, positive or negative is appreciated.

I have booked with African Maximum Safaris, for a buffalo hunt in April 2025 and am looking forward to it. It will be my first time with them. They are well recommended. Brian

 

[WyoBull]

I have booked with African Maximum Safaris, for a buffalo hunt in April 2025 and am looking forward to it. It will be my first time with them. They are well recommended. Brian

Look forward to hearing how your hunt goes at Africa Maximum Safaris. My buddy and I (along with our wives) hunted with them in August 2023. We hunted Buffalo and Crocodile. My buddy also took some other PG but I just wanted the Buff and Croc. The Buffalo in my avatar is the one I killed with them.

 

[codofish]

You need to do more research since you want to focus on leopards.

Way too many hunters go on 3-6 safaris before ever shooting a leopard. Often they never see a cat. Many hunters have sat dozens of nights before ever getting a shot. That’s because lots of leopard hunts are sold for 2nd rate areas with low success. Too many hunters put down deposits on shitty leopard hunts and have no idea till after they go home without ever seeing a cat in the tree.

BUT, in the right area, at the right time of year, with the right PH who knows how to hunt leopards, success is very high. There are tons of PH’s who offer leopard hunts, but not a lot who have truly great success. Low cost leopard hunts are low cost for a reason. I’m one who believes it’s less expensive to pay more for a quality leopard hunt in a great area with a good CAT PH and kill a cat on your first leopard hunt; than it is to go on 3, 4, 5 or more frustrating hunts before you eventually kill a cat. I’ve hunted leopards on 4 different safaris, shot 3 Tom’s, all were killed on the first day. One tracked in the Kalahari Desert and the other two shot on first sit over bait. No matter who you hunt with or where/when; the longer you sit the tougher it is to kill a leopard. The first time you sit is usually going to be your best chance to kill the Tom. I shot my last one at 8:00 AM after sitting 2 1/2 hours on the very first sit. None of my 4 hunts were specifically dedicated leopard hunts, but rather were full bag safaris, so lots of time spent hunting other stuff, yet we still shot Tom’s pretty easily.

The best areas, places like the Selous, Luangwa Valley & Niassa have very high success rates on daytime leopards. Many other areas have success too, but hunting can often be tougher.

Pete Fick has an excellent reputation, as does the BVC. One PH you didn’t mention, Thierry Labat, is an excellent cat man who has a cancellation hunt available that I think is on Nuanetsi. And I know Alan Vincent has a prime dates cancellation available in the Selous but it’s a 16-day hunt with lots of other game (3 buffalo!) and expensive since it’s Tanzania. Johnny DuPlooy is one of the best leopard hunters on the continent and hunts Upper Lupande in the Luangwa Valley, but I dont know if he has any openings this year. He also has a new concession on the Kafue Plateau that should be excellent for big leopards (Kafue is another great area for leopards & lions).

Do your homework and get it right the first time. If you pick the right area at the right time of year (early season is often easier, it’s almost impossible after animals have given birth) with a good leopard PH, you’ll probably kill a Tom on your first safari and probably in 3 sits or less.

DLSJR, I totally agree with you, buy once, cry once. I am willing to spend what it takes to have a quality hunt.

Do you (or anyone) know anything about the Bishopstone Area in Zimbabwe? It is a four hour drive from the Bulawayo Airport and next to the Tuli area.

 

[Brian]

Look forward to hearing how your hunt goes at Africa Maximum Safaris. My buddy and I (along with our wives) hunted with them in August 2023. We hunted Buffalo and Crocodile. My buddy also took some other PG but I just wanted the Buff and Croc. The Buffalo in my avatar is the one I killed with them.

Nice buffalo ! Congratulations.

Could you tell me how your buffalo hunt was. Lots of buffalo? How challenging was the stalk? That sort of thing. How close were you for your first shot? Thanks Brian.

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

What was it about them you were most impressed with? When hunting a concession area the concession and success rates need to be the top priority over the outfitter/PH. I generally would not hunt with a South African outside South Africa unless they made that the focus of their business. A South African PH primarily doing ranch hunts then doing 2 or 3 hunts a year in Zimbabwe or Mozambique is just a visitor to that area. Given your choices I’d definitely hunt through Pete Fick simply because he’s a Zimbabwe outfitter operating in Zimbabwe. If you chose to hunt with the other two I’d ask a lot of questions about the areas they hunt, who they hunt through, and how many clients they take there each year and for how many years. There are some South Africans offering good hunts through legitimate operators on quality areas but there are also many marketing marginal hunts on areas difficult to sell. Make the concessions they hunt and success rates your top priority choosing an outfitter on a concession area.

Some solid advice. Ask the right questions and the answer of who to hunt with will come to you. All the best in your planning, and I look forward to reading about your leopard hunt after you make it happen.