wesheltonj
AH legend
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2015
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- Benefactor-Life NRA, Life SCI, Life DSC
- Hunted
- USA, RSA, Zambia, Tanzania, Croatia, Slovenia
I was at DSC in 2024 to meet Tanzanian outfitters and obtain prices and locations of their Concessions. With my Michelin map of Tanzania in hand, I had each outfitter mark their concession on my map. I was looking for Maasailand only. I made a spreadsheet for each outfitter, listing the prices of the daily fee and animals that I was interested in hunting – Lesser Kudu, Gerenuk, Thomson’s, Grant’s, Zebra & Buffalo. I next matched outfitters against each other for comparisons. I settled on African Buffalo Safari Trackers (ABUSAT). Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either. After I returned from my Croatia/Slovenia hunt, I called Nicole at Gracy Travel to book my flights which included a two-week sightseeing trip before the hunt. Of course, after I booked my flight, that fare dropped more than 2K. I rebooked the lower fare, and even with the $1000 change fee and another agent fee, I ended up saving $1600. The family trip included: Rwanda - for the Gorillas in Volcanos NP, Zanzibar - for some beach & snorkel time, Nairobi – Amboseli to see big tuskers. My wife and I went on to Tanzania - to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, while my daughter traveled to Victoria Falls for business.
I made a separate air reservation from SAT to HOU on Southwest and took an Uber to IAH to prevent any problems with Qatar and walked over to Terminal D and checked in for my Qatar flight to Kilimanjaro. And of course, a problem. I had my email from Gracy showing my Qatar flight was approved, but the station manager said the system showed I needed an Import Permit too. I did not need it, but after some calls to Gracy, and with IAH airport communicating with DRO Airport, the gun issue was sorted out. I am surprised as my import permit was issued in Dar and not Arusha. At Kilimanjaro, I was met at the airport by the nephew of the PH who took my gun to storage and then drove me to Arusha Airport for me to get my flight to Zanzibar. (At the JRO airport, there was no one running around wanting to carry your bags like at JNB). My family vacation started in Zanzibar, where my wife and daughter would meet me the next day. I normally would not write about the vacation part, but here goes. Before my trip started, my flight from Zanzibar to Nairobi on Precision Air was cancelled and I was rebooked 5 days later by Precision Air (Strike 1). That obviously would not work and Nicole at Gracy rebooked my family on Kenya Air, but that flight was much earlier in the day and so much for the plan of sightseeing around Stone Town in Zanzibar. Next, my flight on Precision Air to Zanzibar had a time change from 1PM to 3 PM that was a lot of sitting around at the Arusha Airport with nothing to do but sit. But wait, there’s more: the Precision Air flight was now delayed an hour (Strike 2). Precision Air is not very precise. A local gentleman in the seat next to me said they fly at whatever time they feel like it. The flight could leave early, on time or late or not at all. On Zanzibar Island, we stayed at Kendwa Rocks on the north end of the Island. It’s a two-hour drive from the Airport. It's a well landscaped resort with a nice beach and would be a great place to finish out a safari. At full moon time, there are all night beach parties. I am told every hotel there is packed from folks all over the world. From there, we were flying to Kigali and now had a long layover in Nairobi thanks to Precision Air. So instead of sitting in the Airport for hours, we were able to take a sight-seeing trip to Nairobi NP. Then it was off to Kigali. This is the cleanest city that I’ve seen in Africa. The road to Volcanos NP has streetlights the entire way and no potholes anywhere. Seeing the Mountain Gorillas where Diane Fossie worked was a once in a lifetime trip. It’s a muddy mess getting to the park boundary, in the park, and a good climb uphill in the mud. We were able to spend an hour with the Gorillas. They would walk right by you and sometimes even touching you as they walked by. Next Stop, Nairobi. We made the required trip to the Karen Blixen house and did the tourist trap Giraffe Center to feed the Giraffes. The next day, it was off to Amboseli NP to see the large and super tuskers. The drive on the Mombasa Highway is a terror, but once there it’s all worth it. I’ve never seen so many and so large of elephants anywhere. Many of the tusks were 100+ pounders. The next day, it’s off to JRO. We arrive at the airport Terminal A1 to check in for our Precision Air flight, and of course, a problem. They cannot find our reservation in their system. We gave them the locator number and the ticket numbers, and they just could not find the reservation and they were not going to let us on the flight. I made a call to Gracy on their emergency number, and they could see the reservation. I gave my phone to the counter agent, and she still could not find the reservation. The way to get on the flight was to make a new reservation and new tickets and then it still was not a guarantee that we would get on the flights as the gate was closing. After spending an hour and a half at the ticket counter, (Strike 3) we ran through the Airport to Terminal 3 from 1A. The gate agent walked us across the tarmac and onto the plane. Then it was off to Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater NP. The Great Migration was just starting. After the parks, it was back to Arusha. Lesson learned from this trip NEVER fly Precision Air.
After my vacation trip ended, my wife flew back home, and it was off hunting for me or so I thought. My Invitation Letter from my outfitter says May 28 as the start of the hunt and when I asked him what time he was going to pick me up the next day, he said that he does not have me down until the 29th so I had to get another day in Arusha to spend the day doing nothing.
My PH (Gamshad Gamdust) picked me up in Arusha and we drove to camp. The camp was on a foothill at the base of Mt. Losimingori with always a cool breeze and sometimes a big wind. It was a tented camp with each tent having a shower, tub, and flush toilet. The camp staff was great. After a long day in the field, I was greeted at the truck with a hot towel and fresh cold juice or ice water. Each evening meal was soup, salad, main course of game meat and dessert. Lunch was always in the field. The first afternoon, I had to shoot the gun for “making sure the scope was still on.” And it was very low. Shot again, still low. Turned up the dial and finally was it close enough. If I had just looked at my Norma Ammo App first, I would have seen the correction for the elevation. The general elevation of the open plains was 4k feet. The area I am hunting is the Mtu wa Mbu Game Controlled Area (English translation - Mosquito River). It’s 18k Square Kilometers - 60 x 30 Kilometers. My equipment list: SAKO 85 Classic in .375 H&H, topped with a Leica ER 2.4-10x42 scope, Norma Oryx 300g, Norma Woodleigh 350g, Leica HD-B binoculars, ASC Carbon Fiber sticks and 4 Stable Sticks. I used the Stable Sticks 90% of the time. We started hunting that afternoon in an area between the mountain and the camp. Saw one Cheetah, several Thomson’s and Grant’s, Giraffe (which are not huntable in Tanzania) and Zebra. No shots today other than the range.
Day 2 - We saw Thomson’s Grant’s, Lesser Kudu, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Jackal, and Zebra. While driving to the area we will be hunting today, PH Gamshed (he was always looking for a Rowland Ward size animal and did not want me to shoot anything that would not make the book) says “that’s a nice Thomson’s,” (RW score 13.5, I hope it does not shrink more than ½ inch) and out of the truck, we go on a stalk. It’s not so much a stalk when you are out in the open with zero cover, it’s just getting into range. The range is 157 yards and with one shot it was down. 375 Oryx is too much for a Thomson’s as it blew a hole the size of my fist on the other side. Then it’s on our way to the Lesser Kudu area where they have very heavy cover. Kudu was spotted and the stalk was on. We could never get in range to get a shot and my arms and legs were bloodied from all the brush scrapes. It’s about lunchtime and we find a nice tree to sit under and dine. While under the tree, two Maasai girls walk by, and the trackers start talking to them and are told there is a large Grant’s laying down just over the ridge. So, it’s off with the Stable Sticks and the gun to check it out. Turns out, it’s a very nice Grant’s just lying there away from the rest of the pack. We set up and the Grant’s just will not get up. The PH is yelling but nothing happens, throws rocks towards the Grants’ and still nothing. Finally, he stands up and one shot and he stumbles about five feet and is down. (Range is 150, RW score 25.5).
Day 3 – Today, we head back to the Lesser Kudu area, and we see Thomson’s, Grant’s, Gerenuk, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Baboon and Zebra. Another stalk on the Kudu, and nothing and more scrapes and now getting a bad sunburn. We move on to the Gerenuk area. We have a couple of stalks but nothing and no shots today.
Day 4 – It’s back to the Kudu area and see nothing. We move to the Gerenuk area - one stalk but lost the track. Next, we drive towards the lake and see several large herds of White Bearded Wildebeest. We watched the Wildebeest for a while. The PH says it’s a good one and we hop out of the truck and get set up. 85 yards one shot and he bucks like a bull in a rodeo, spinning and then takes off maybe 25 yards and drops.
Day 5 – I should have stayed in bed today because I can’t hit shit today. It’s back to the Kudu area and make a stalk but no shot. Then it’s off to the Gerenuk area. Gerenuk is spotted and we set up, I fire, and PH says miss. Reload and fire again, PH says miss again. (One of the two brass ejected received the infamous scope ding leading me to believe that this “defect” may be short cycling as it’s the only brass on the whole trip that was dinged). We follow him and he presents another shot. Unfortunately, it’s a front on shot. I fire and it’s a hit, just not where I wanted, and we start tracking the blood trail and spent most of the afternoon tracking him. He would lay down and when we would close he would get up and take off. Finally, he laid down and stayed down. The Ph said shoot into the body, and another miss, shot again and another miss. He said shoot into the neck, and unfortunately the neck shot turned into a head shot. The taxidermist is going to have to do some work on this one. RW score 15 ¾.
Day 6 – We head back to the Kudu area. Kudu spotted but no shot opportunities.
Day 7 – Maasai tracker says that intel from another Maasai has spotted a very large Lesser Kudu in another area. We make the hike into the area. It’s near the base of Ngoromgoro Crater mountains. I am glad that I took my trekking boots that I used for the Gorilla trek. It’s very hilly and rocky. We walked through one rockslide. I was tired after hiking in and exhausted hiking out. No zero kudu spotted.
Day 8. Headed back to the main kudu area and spotted three Kudu and but none “big enough.” Before lunch, I suggest that we find a nice Zebra and shoot it. We go through several herds and find one we want. But he never gives us a shot opportunity, so we settle on a different one. He makes a mistake and is away from the pack. One shot 95 yards and goes maybe 10 to 15 feet at most and is down. The trackers skin him right there as not to damage the skin. Then it’s to a tree for lunch while they skin the Zebra. That afternoon, it’s back to the Kudu area and two males are spotted. The PH says it’s the two small ones from this morning, but one looks good to me. I really wanted to shoot him, as I don’t have many days left and the premium license is very expensive. It’s time to leave the area and just as we are driving out, we see a fox and he jumps into his hole and we drive maybe two more minutes and a Kudu is spotted in the brush walking and does not see us, the PH confirms he’s big. It’s a quick trip to find an opening where he will be walking towards, we set up and out he steps, I fire, and he drops on the spot. (RW 30 ¼ ) Everyone in the truck is happy, including me. Today, we also saw several Eland too.
Day 9 – Time to head for Buffalo, or so I thought. We drive to the parking area and start walking. We had three trackers clearing brush in front of us for about ½ mile, and we still have a ½ mile to go and its now noon. They are making so much noise clearing brush clearing the trail nothing will be around. I said back to the camp. Earlier we set some bait for a Hyena that came into the camp the night before but he never showed up during hunting hours. Just as well and save some money.
Day 10 – We head out for one last hunt in the area behind the camp and see lots of animals, but no shots fired. It’s back to camp to pack up and head to the hotel to spend the night at JRO.
Trip home. As no one shook me down for a tip arriving, I was not so lucky leaving. While sitting in the lounge, a baggage handler approaches me and says “I made sure your gun is loaded onto the plane”. Of course, I knew what he wanted, I gave him $20, left the lounge and then I boarded the plane to Doha. I thought it was smooth sailing from here. I was wrong. Waiting for me in Qatar was a Qatar Air employee with a sign and she said they did not have any paperwork for my firearm. IAH had copies, Doha had copies going, JRO had copies but returning no copies in Doha. So, I handed them photocopies of everything, and my passport and she left with them and returned about 5 minutes later and said everything was ok. As I had a 14-hour layover, Qatar Air gave me a hotel and food voucher. I stayed at the Garden Hotel. It was close to the E gates where my IAH flight would leave. I purchased a business lite fare going and a regular business fare returning, as I did not need the lounge access going as I was taking the Visit Qatar layover tour and would use my Priority Pass lounge access after the tour was over. Leaving Qatar, I went to the Business lounge for breakfast and they said I did not have access - that the system showed that I had purchased a business lite fare. I showed them I have a regular business fare returning, but that did not matter - no entry as one ticket was a lite fare. I don’t know if that is correct or not, but next time I will not purchase a lite and regular fare ticket. So once again, I used my Priority Pass card lounge and was upgraded to the Gold and Palatium lounge.
Maasailand is a once in a lifetime trip for most people including me if you are wanting the Premium licenses for the three Maasai-only animals. If you purchase a 7-day regular license, it’s not that unreasonable for a “wild” hunt. I say its “wild”, however, there are Maasai everywhere. Maasailand will not be huntable maybe 10-15 years from now unless the government steps in and limits where the Maasai can live. Each Maasai has several wives and several children with each wife. Like all of Africa, a population explosion is taking place. They all have a made in China motorcycle and lots of livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and a pack of dogs that over graze the land and keep encroaching into the hunting areas. If you are going to Maasailand, go as soon as you can, don’t wait.
I was hoping that this would be my last trip to Africa, however, I still don’t have the one animal I want - a Rowland Ward size Cape Buffalo. I will say that all the animals that I took this trip should all make Rowland Ward which I am extremely pleased. My PH Gamshad was very experienced and knowledgeable, and I would without reservation recommend him. There are still a couple of animals that I would like to hunt besides the RW buffalo and that’s a Topi and Nyala. However, I will not be going back next year as I am headed to Spain for a hunt.
Three lessons here. NEVER use Precision Air. Never split business fare types on Qatar. And always expect some problem traveling with a gun on Qatar.
I made a separate air reservation from SAT to HOU on Southwest and took an Uber to IAH to prevent any problems with Qatar and walked over to Terminal D and checked in for my Qatar flight to Kilimanjaro. And of course, a problem. I had my email from Gracy showing my Qatar flight was approved, but the station manager said the system showed I needed an Import Permit too. I did not need it, but after some calls to Gracy, and with IAH airport communicating with DRO Airport, the gun issue was sorted out. I am surprised as my import permit was issued in Dar and not Arusha. At Kilimanjaro, I was met at the airport by the nephew of the PH who took my gun to storage and then drove me to Arusha Airport for me to get my flight to Zanzibar. (At the JRO airport, there was no one running around wanting to carry your bags like at JNB). My family vacation started in Zanzibar, where my wife and daughter would meet me the next day. I normally would not write about the vacation part, but here goes. Before my trip started, my flight from Zanzibar to Nairobi on Precision Air was cancelled and I was rebooked 5 days later by Precision Air (Strike 1). That obviously would not work and Nicole at Gracy rebooked my family on Kenya Air, but that flight was much earlier in the day and so much for the plan of sightseeing around Stone Town in Zanzibar. Next, my flight on Precision Air to Zanzibar had a time change from 1PM to 3 PM that was a lot of sitting around at the Arusha Airport with nothing to do but sit. But wait, there’s more: the Precision Air flight was now delayed an hour (Strike 2). Precision Air is not very precise. A local gentleman in the seat next to me said they fly at whatever time they feel like it. The flight could leave early, on time or late or not at all. On Zanzibar Island, we stayed at Kendwa Rocks on the north end of the Island. It’s a two-hour drive from the Airport. It's a well landscaped resort with a nice beach and would be a great place to finish out a safari. At full moon time, there are all night beach parties. I am told every hotel there is packed from folks all over the world. From there, we were flying to Kigali and now had a long layover in Nairobi thanks to Precision Air. So instead of sitting in the Airport for hours, we were able to take a sight-seeing trip to Nairobi NP. Then it was off to Kigali. This is the cleanest city that I’ve seen in Africa. The road to Volcanos NP has streetlights the entire way and no potholes anywhere. Seeing the Mountain Gorillas where Diane Fossie worked was a once in a lifetime trip. It’s a muddy mess getting to the park boundary, in the park, and a good climb uphill in the mud. We were able to spend an hour with the Gorillas. They would walk right by you and sometimes even touching you as they walked by. Next Stop, Nairobi. We made the required trip to the Karen Blixen house and did the tourist trap Giraffe Center to feed the Giraffes. The next day, it was off to Amboseli NP to see the large and super tuskers. The drive on the Mombasa Highway is a terror, but once there it’s all worth it. I’ve never seen so many and so large of elephants anywhere. Many of the tusks were 100+ pounders. The next day, it’s off to JRO. We arrive at the airport Terminal A1 to check in for our Precision Air flight, and of course, a problem. They cannot find our reservation in their system. We gave them the locator number and the ticket numbers, and they just could not find the reservation and they were not going to let us on the flight. I made a call to Gracy on their emergency number, and they could see the reservation. I gave my phone to the counter agent, and she still could not find the reservation. The way to get on the flight was to make a new reservation and new tickets and then it still was not a guarantee that we would get on the flights as the gate was closing. After spending an hour and a half at the ticket counter, (Strike 3) we ran through the Airport to Terminal 3 from 1A. The gate agent walked us across the tarmac and onto the plane. Then it was off to Serengeti NP and Ngorongoro Crater NP. The Great Migration was just starting. After the parks, it was back to Arusha. Lesson learned from this trip NEVER fly Precision Air.
After my vacation trip ended, my wife flew back home, and it was off hunting for me or so I thought. My Invitation Letter from my outfitter says May 28 as the start of the hunt and when I asked him what time he was going to pick me up the next day, he said that he does not have me down until the 29th so I had to get another day in Arusha to spend the day doing nothing.
My PH (Gamshad Gamdust) picked me up in Arusha and we drove to camp. The camp was on a foothill at the base of Mt. Losimingori with always a cool breeze and sometimes a big wind. It was a tented camp with each tent having a shower, tub, and flush toilet. The camp staff was great. After a long day in the field, I was greeted at the truck with a hot towel and fresh cold juice or ice water. Each evening meal was soup, salad, main course of game meat and dessert. Lunch was always in the field. The first afternoon, I had to shoot the gun for “making sure the scope was still on.” And it was very low. Shot again, still low. Turned up the dial and finally was it close enough. If I had just looked at my Norma Ammo App first, I would have seen the correction for the elevation. The general elevation of the open plains was 4k feet. The area I am hunting is the Mtu wa Mbu Game Controlled Area (English translation - Mosquito River). It’s 18k Square Kilometers - 60 x 30 Kilometers. My equipment list: SAKO 85 Classic in .375 H&H, topped with a Leica ER 2.4-10x42 scope, Norma Oryx 300g, Norma Woodleigh 350g, Leica HD-B binoculars, ASC Carbon Fiber sticks and 4 Stable Sticks. I used the Stable Sticks 90% of the time. We started hunting that afternoon in an area between the mountain and the camp. Saw one Cheetah, several Thomson’s and Grant’s, Giraffe (which are not huntable in Tanzania) and Zebra. No shots today other than the range.
Day 2 - We saw Thomson’s Grant’s, Lesser Kudu, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Jackal, and Zebra. While driving to the area we will be hunting today, PH Gamshed (he was always looking for a Rowland Ward size animal and did not want me to shoot anything that would not make the book) says “that’s a nice Thomson’s,” (RW score 13.5, I hope it does not shrink more than ½ inch) and out of the truck, we go on a stalk. It’s not so much a stalk when you are out in the open with zero cover, it’s just getting into range. The range is 157 yards and with one shot it was down. 375 Oryx is too much for a Thomson’s as it blew a hole the size of my fist on the other side. Then it’s on our way to the Lesser Kudu area where they have very heavy cover. Kudu was spotted and the stalk was on. We could never get in range to get a shot and my arms and legs were bloodied from all the brush scrapes. It’s about lunchtime and we find a nice tree to sit under and dine. While under the tree, two Maasai girls walk by, and the trackers start talking to them and are told there is a large Grant’s laying down just over the ridge. So, it’s off with the Stable Sticks and the gun to check it out. Turns out, it’s a very nice Grant’s just lying there away from the rest of the pack. We set up and the Grant’s just will not get up. The PH is yelling but nothing happens, throws rocks towards the Grants’ and still nothing. Finally, he stands up and one shot and he stumbles about five feet and is down. (Range is 150, RW score 25.5).
Day 3 – Today, we head back to the Lesser Kudu area, and we see Thomson’s, Grant’s, Gerenuk, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Baboon and Zebra. Another stalk on the Kudu, and nothing and more scrapes and now getting a bad sunburn. We move on to the Gerenuk area. We have a couple of stalks but nothing and no shots today.
Day 4 – It’s back to the Kudu area and see nothing. We move to the Gerenuk area - one stalk but lost the track. Next, we drive towards the lake and see several large herds of White Bearded Wildebeest. We watched the Wildebeest for a while. The PH says it’s a good one and we hop out of the truck and get set up. 85 yards one shot and he bucks like a bull in a rodeo, spinning and then takes off maybe 25 yards and drops.
Day 5 – I should have stayed in bed today because I can’t hit shit today. It’s back to the Kudu area and make a stalk but no shot. Then it’s off to the Gerenuk area. Gerenuk is spotted and we set up, I fire, and PH says miss. Reload and fire again, PH says miss again. (One of the two brass ejected received the infamous scope ding leading me to believe that this “defect” may be short cycling as it’s the only brass on the whole trip that was dinged). We follow him and he presents another shot. Unfortunately, it’s a front on shot. I fire and it’s a hit, just not where I wanted, and we start tracking the blood trail and spent most of the afternoon tracking him. He would lay down and when we would close he would get up and take off. Finally, he laid down and stayed down. The Ph said shoot into the body, and another miss, shot again and another miss. He said shoot into the neck, and unfortunately the neck shot turned into a head shot. The taxidermist is going to have to do some work on this one. RW score 15 ¾.
Day 6 – We head back to the Kudu area. Kudu spotted but no shot opportunities.
Day 7 – Maasai tracker says that intel from another Maasai has spotted a very large Lesser Kudu in another area. We make the hike into the area. It’s near the base of Ngoromgoro Crater mountains. I am glad that I took my trekking boots that I used for the Gorilla trek. It’s very hilly and rocky. We walked through one rockslide. I was tired after hiking in and exhausted hiking out. No zero kudu spotted.
Day 8. Headed back to the main kudu area and spotted three Kudu and but none “big enough.” Before lunch, I suggest that we find a nice Zebra and shoot it. We go through several herds and find one we want. But he never gives us a shot opportunity, so we settle on a different one. He makes a mistake and is away from the pack. One shot 95 yards and goes maybe 10 to 15 feet at most and is down. The trackers skin him right there as not to damage the skin. Then it’s to a tree for lunch while they skin the Zebra. That afternoon, it’s back to the Kudu area and two males are spotted. The PH says it’s the two small ones from this morning, but one looks good to me. I really wanted to shoot him, as I don’t have many days left and the premium license is very expensive. It’s time to leave the area and just as we are driving out, we see a fox and he jumps into his hole and we drive maybe two more minutes and a Kudu is spotted in the brush walking and does not see us, the PH confirms he’s big. It’s a quick trip to find an opening where he will be walking towards, we set up and out he steps, I fire, and he drops on the spot. (RW 30 ¼ ) Everyone in the truck is happy, including me. Today, we also saw several Eland too.
Day 9 – Time to head for Buffalo, or so I thought. We drive to the parking area and start walking. We had three trackers clearing brush in front of us for about ½ mile, and we still have a ½ mile to go and its now noon. They are making so much noise clearing brush clearing the trail nothing will be around. I said back to the camp. Earlier we set some bait for a Hyena that came into the camp the night before but he never showed up during hunting hours. Just as well and save some money.
Day 10 – We head out for one last hunt in the area behind the camp and see lots of animals, but no shots fired. It’s back to camp to pack up and head to the hotel to spend the night at JRO.
Trip home. As no one shook me down for a tip arriving, I was not so lucky leaving. While sitting in the lounge, a baggage handler approaches me and says “I made sure your gun is loaded onto the plane”. Of course, I knew what he wanted, I gave him $20, left the lounge and then I boarded the plane to Doha. I thought it was smooth sailing from here. I was wrong. Waiting for me in Qatar was a Qatar Air employee with a sign and she said they did not have any paperwork for my firearm. IAH had copies, Doha had copies going, JRO had copies but returning no copies in Doha. So, I handed them photocopies of everything, and my passport and she left with them and returned about 5 minutes later and said everything was ok. As I had a 14-hour layover, Qatar Air gave me a hotel and food voucher. I stayed at the Garden Hotel. It was close to the E gates where my IAH flight would leave. I purchased a business lite fare going and a regular business fare returning, as I did not need the lounge access going as I was taking the Visit Qatar layover tour and would use my Priority Pass lounge access after the tour was over. Leaving Qatar, I went to the Business lounge for breakfast and they said I did not have access - that the system showed that I had purchased a business lite fare. I showed them I have a regular business fare returning, but that did not matter - no entry as one ticket was a lite fare. I don’t know if that is correct or not, but next time I will not purchase a lite and regular fare ticket. So once again, I used my Priority Pass card lounge and was upgraded to the Gold and Palatium lounge.
Maasailand is a once in a lifetime trip for most people including me if you are wanting the Premium licenses for the three Maasai-only animals. If you purchase a 7-day regular license, it’s not that unreasonable for a “wild” hunt. I say its “wild”, however, there are Maasai everywhere. Maasailand will not be huntable maybe 10-15 years from now unless the government steps in and limits where the Maasai can live. Each Maasai has several wives and several children with each wife. Like all of Africa, a population explosion is taking place. They all have a made in China motorcycle and lots of livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and a pack of dogs that over graze the land and keep encroaching into the hunting areas. If you are going to Maasailand, go as soon as you can, don’t wait.
I was hoping that this would be my last trip to Africa, however, I still don’t have the one animal I want - a Rowland Ward size Cape Buffalo. I will say that all the animals that I took this trip should all make Rowland Ward which I am extremely pleased. My PH Gamshad was very experienced and knowledgeable, and I would without reservation recommend him. There are still a couple of animals that I would like to hunt besides the RW buffalo and that’s a Topi and Nyala. However, I will not be going back next year as I am headed to Spain for a hunt.
Three lessons here. NEVER use Precision Air. Never split business fare types on Qatar. And always expect some problem traveling with a gun on Qatar.
