ZIMBABWE: 12 Days In Zimbabwe With Shangani Safaris

[sestoppelman]

Reminds me of my last hunt in Zim, over 10 years ago.

 

[rookhawk]

@Ridge Runner I'm truly sorry you didn't have a good hunt. I hear your side of the story and I get it, but not positive of the difference between your perceptions and reality. We all have "our side" of the truth.

I'm much more willing to concede/believe there is a bad PH in a story than a bad tracker. If a tracker decides to sprint, yell, and launch flares in the air they suddenly know when to belly crawl and get inside 5 yards. The average African Shona or Matebele tracker has skills and judgment that they know how to get in on game. I have watched them walking (what I call running) for literally 9ks after buffalo tracks until they decide that it is now time to walk because they are getting that close.

Had you been successful, you would have wrote that these guys are mystics, sorcerers, and wizards at knowing when to do what. You had a bad-beat, were unsuccessful, and as we all would be on the way home from a bad-beat hunt, extra critical. This isn't to say your critique isn't on to something or that you're wrong, just acknowledge that you're in pessimism mode just as we all have been in this moment.

The extra problem with humans, ourselves included, especially westerners, especially when dealing with Zimbabweans is the Confirmation Bias. Once we start to see a couple things we "think" are dead wrong (and maybe 50/50 of them truly are dead wrong) we start to build a constellation of facts in our mind. A was wrong, B was wrong, C was wrong, therefore everything that comes out of their mouths next is going to be wrong. Our bias is confirmed that since we think they were wrong on A-C that everything coming after is confirmed evidence they suck at every detail and they were complete imbeciles.

I had this happen to me a couple times in Zim, especially on my 2nd and 3rd safaris. Too much bad judgment for things I knew they sucked at (Pre-prep, logistics, mechanical skills, firearm judgment, maintenance) that made me think they sucked at everything. That means you need a new PH. Because you've lost faith and when they need to save your life, you're not going to react, you're going to contemplate...that'll get ya killed.

The amount of jumping off the vehicle and chasing buffalo spoor fast doesn't give me pause. The number of bungled final approach stalks doesn't give me pause either. (My kid had 40 blown stalks on his safari 2 months ago trying to get an arrow off on a clean shot inside 20 yards...it's hunting)

I think also your experiences in SA definitely give you a misconception of Zim because they are as foreign to one another as an Argentina Duck Hunt and an Alaska Sheep hunt. Don't mistake proximity to similarity. Wild Zimbabwe stalks on wild persecuted game in areas with dangerous game are not going to be as amenable to being stalked and shot as SA game that lives in sanctuaries without predation.

I don't know your PH or trackers at all and I'm not dismissing your frustrating, unfortunate story at all. But, I do think you're hot as a hornets nest right now and half of your experiences were pretty normal. Had you killed a buffalo on your first day you would have overlooked, rather than compounded the nonsense you endured.

If you go back to Zim and hunt with the top-rated PH and operator, be prepared that half the things you hated are going to happen to you again. You may also get skunked. It's hard hunting and uncertain success all the while you went in with unreasonable expectations for how quick and easy the success would be. (Buffalo in 4 days, add-on leopard/hippo/croc, plus an Eland)

If you want to try it again, go with a great PH and Operator of which many of us can recommend you some in Zim. Go for 14 days of hunting. Create a long list of animals you'd like to try and an attitude that you'll come back and try again if you don't get all of them. It will relax and de-stress you immensely. It took me 4 hunts to get my cat, 4 hunts to get my klippy, yet some amazing animals came awfully easy. Every time I go back my must-shoot list gets less demanding and the fun-factor and gold medal trophy count goes up. Go to relax and see what fate brings you'll be so much happier with the experience. This is the "safari bum" lifestyle and it really takes the pressure off.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Hunting Days 3-8:

Meet for breakfast between 6-7 am, on the road by 7:30-8a. Find old.....overnight to 2 day old hoof prints and sh't. No buff sighted. Seen other came giraffe, zebra, monkeys, Duke, etc.

2 1/2- 31/2 hour break for lunch and back out for another 2-3 hour afternoon hunt.

No site, sound or opportunity for a shot on a buff.

Me: And this is the prime time of year?? .......BS!!....WTF???.....

DAY 8: Lloyd and I'll paraphrase....there are eland in this area this time of year they mainly pass through here in August-September. There are fewer buff but most eland are in the other camp about 8 (+) hours from here....

Me: WTF... No buff and 0-less than slim chance on not getting an eland....BS.

Morning of Day 7 Samuel almost stepped on a Black mamba, had it not been cold overnight we would not be joking about this. When Samuel realized a black mamba was within MM, of striking him, had it been warm, Samuel back stepped so fast and loud he sounded like a buff charging. Lloyd readied his rifle as he looked for a charging buff, I readied my rifle thinking FTS!! I'm pulling my revolver, the 375 wouldn't give me the ballistics, speed, equivalent number of bullets, to deter or kill a bull at such close range.

Luckily not a buff, and Samuel fell on his back side, as the mamba relatively sped away in the opposite and away from us direction.

During one of the days 3-8 we also came across a fresh blood trail, but Lloyd didn't want to follow it: an d claimed it had probably been the result of fighting or from being shot by a previous hunter less than a week ago.

First was fresh blood on grass and a "sapling", secondly we found a good smear of dried blood on a branch. Making in my mind as a true hunter to locate and finish off such an injured animal. Lloyd on the other gave no indication of doing so. He was more interested in the amount of money he was making off my buff hunt.

Day 8: We came across a herd of about 12 buff. We gave chase. Upon arrival to a road, we spotted a cow attempting to cross the road at about 80 +/- yards.

The cow would have been easy. She has the bulk body, the horn mass, everything I'm looking for in a first buff........but at half the cost of a bull buff...$2500.00 USD cow buff....$5200.00 USD bull buff.

Me: At this point: FCK the PH....touch the trigger!!.....end the buff hunt and prep to leave Zim for SA without my eland.

Reality: I didn't shoot the cow end of the day.... on to hunt day nine.

 

[C.W. Richter]

It's interesting how perspectives differ...'anxiously awaiting the rest of your story.

'Been to Zimbabwe 3x now, and each trip was a highlight of my life (including 1 hunting with Lloyd, after seeing a video series he was featured in years back.) What I enjoy about Zimbabwe is that it's exceedingly rural country, that you have to go for those long drives and take in all the different culture, the sound of the brown hammerkops in the morning and the leopards chasing monkeys in the trees along the rivers at night. The fact that you are greeted by the Big 5 in the Harare Airport! Know that Zimbabwe (S. Rhodesia) was the breadbasket of Africa and once a model of excellence in every possible way. Coming from (English and German) farms families, I highly respect that (Lloyds father owned 5 sugar estates prior to you know who, but was also a PH. Did he tell you why he must donate blood every month? 'Hunted on the Knott citrus plantation with another PH and on the Lemco beef property prior to the establishment of the BVH-ALL fantastic places, and the owners were super nice people to get to know.) Funny how corruption and war let the air out of things. The landmines on the Mozambique border keep you on your toes, along with the mambas. We encountered mamba, a lion pride in camp one night, and even a black rhino while out hunting with Lloyd. We both got buff, a giant L. eland and waterbuck, and a bushbuck. It's no ski resort, it's Zimbabwe! A far cry from what you'd expect in most of the RSA-but that's why we like it. A visit to Victoria Falls, or better yet, a stay at the Safari Lodge there would've changed your mind for sure about the place (We did that on a later Caprivi hunt in Namibia as it was only a 2.5 hr drive.) Perhaps RSA or Tanzania is your cup of tea? Cutting out the middleman often reduces confu$ion, at a minimum! This forum will not allow me to post the story my son wrote about our last trip in A H G, but I had written a report on here prior regarding our great trip with Lloyd...Did we work hard for our Buff? We sure did! I got mine on the morning, and my son in the evening of our last day (We encountered them everyday-herds, dagga boys, but things didn't work out until the end. 'Passed up other game I now wished i hadn't in pursuit of buff.) For us, it's not about lining up our sights in a target-rich environment; The shot takes a fraction of a second, but the journey, the hunt, learning first-hand about new places and the culture represent 99.999% of why we hunt!

 

[C.W. Richter]

"I tell you no lies!" https://www.africahunting.com/threa...bwe-double-buffalo-at-shangani-safaris.40000/

 

[sestoppelman]

It's interesting how perspectives differ...'anxiously awaiting the rest of your story.

'Been to Zimbabwe 3x now, and each trip was a highlight of my life (including 1 hunting with Lloyd, after seeing a video series he was featured in years back.) What I enjoy about Zimbabwe is that it's exceedingly rural country, that you have to go for those long drives and take in all the different culture, the sound of the brown hammerkops in the morning and the leopards chasing monkeys in the trees along the rivers at night. The fact that you are greeted by the Big 5 in the Harare Airport! Know that Zimbabwe (S. Rhodesia) was the breadbasket of Africa and once a model of excellence in every possible way. Coming from (English and German) farms families, I highly respect that (Lloyds father owned 5 sugar estates prior to you know who, but was also a PH. Did he tell you why he must donate blood every month? 'Hunted on the Knott citrus plantation with another PH and on the Lemco beef property prior to the establishment of the BVH-ALL fantastic places, and the owners were super nice people to get to know.) Funny how corruption and war let the air out of things. The landmines on the Mozambique border keep you on your toes, along with the mambas. We encountered mamba, a lion pride in camp one night, and even a black rhino while out hunting with Lloyd. We both got buff, a giant L. eland and waterbuck, and a bushbuck. It's no ski resort, it's Zimbabwe! A far cry from what you'd expect in most of the RSA-but that's why we like it. A visit to Victoria Falls, or better yet, a stay at the Safari Lodge there would've changed your mind for sure about the place (We did that on a later Caprivi hunt in Namibia as it was only a 2.5 hr drive.) Perhaps RSA or Tanzania is your cup of tea? Cutting out the middleman often reduces confu$ion, at a minimum! This forum will not allow me to post the story my son wrote about our last trip in A H G, but I had written a report on here prior regarding our great trip with Lloyd...Did we work hard for our Buff? We sure did! I got mine on the morning, and my son in the evening of our last day (We encountered them everyday-herds, dagga boys, but things didn't work out until the end. 'Passed up other game I now wished i hadn't in pursuit of buff.) For us, it's not about lining up our sights in a target-rich environment; The shot takes a fraction of a second, but the journey, the hunt, learning first-hand about new places and the culture represent 99.999% of why we hunt!

I dont think you would be feeling quite the same about Zim or anywhere else for that matter if you had just had the same hunt as the OP.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Zim Hunt Day 9:

Blah, blah, blah start to day 9.......

We finally find fresh sign and get on the trail of buff at a waterhole in an area we have not looked over this whole past 8 days. We kept searching the same few acres, maybe 3 square kilometers over and over the past 7 days without success.

This area, by old and new sign, looks loaded with buff. This area looks like a dairy pasture, with tracks, sh't, and beds. Why have we been avoiding this area all this time??

It didn't take long to get on a herd. It would have been an even better experience had it not been a foot race as the herd started out only 100 yards +/- from the waterhole, about a half mile or so later we finally came within shooting range and able to see them, but they already knew we were on them. And they were ready to run, nervous no way they were going to relax after being pushed the way we pushed them.

Finally saw a bull alone, that is away, about 20 yards or less from the main herd of about 12 -15 buff. The sticks were set up but this bull wasn't going to make it easy, as he kept moving causing me to forgo the sticks and make an offhand shot on him.

Lloyd and I had already discussed this scenario and once he was set for a backup shot I would shoot. Lloyd was about 15 yards to my left and in an open spot to better see the bull. I unfortunately had a small bush in front of me offering only a clean head on the bull.

Lloyd looked ready as I watched him bring his gun a 450 caliber to the ready. I turned to the bull and aimed my rifle putting the crosshairs of my scope right between the bull's eyes for a brain shot. I touched the trigger, recovered from the recoil of my 375 H&H a saw the bull's reaction to the shot. WTH, WTF, it should have dropped dead right there. But it didn't. The bull headed for cover. The rest of the herd ran for the brush and kept on running.

I marked the area of where I last seen the bull in my scope with no chance of putting a second shot into him.

Lloyd and I met and he said he wasn't ready for the shot, as I assumed he was ready by his actions.

The tracker that seen what happened told Lloyd my shot went into the buffy's jaw.

Me: WTF..... how could a face shot, between the eyes, go into its jaw??.....

We waited about 10-15 minutes and started the track. One tiny spot of blood was found on a 2 inch diameter sapling prior to entering a low grass, ankle to mid knee, grassy area. No buff down. A bit, insignificant, more blood was found on a small broad leaf of grass.

Even if I had shot the bull in the jaw there should be a lot more of blood. The bull should have been bleeding profusely from the mouth and nose from a 375 soft bullet.

Lloyd and I stood about the field as the trackers were confused which way the buff ran.

I wasn't, they ran through the brush to our front, and we needed to follow. I least I did because I now had a wounded animal to finish off.

Lloyd said we would only push them onto the nearby National Park and I would have to pay an additional $3000.00 USD to finish the bull off on Tribal land.

Ah..... remember.......there is a high electrified fence dividing the park from the hunting area.....BS!!! about the animal going into the park.

Ok.

We are now on our way back to the truck.
We walk right into a herd of buff and a bull is staring at us. Up come the sticks, I'm looking to see if this is my wounded buff through my scope, I here Lloyd saying shoot him!, shoot him! This bull must be my wounded buff, I can't tell, perhaps Lloyd sees it as my wounded buff. So we Lloyd and I shoot and the buff is down.

No sign of this buff being wounded by me or by the previous hunter or by being in a fight. This buff is smaller than the buff cow I wanted to shoot and smaller than the buff I presumptuous previously may have severely wounded.

I'm glad I ended up with a buff on the ground. But I'm pissed I listened to my PH. I trusted him to ensure I was shooting the correct buff.

All Lloyd Yeatman seen from day 1 my arrival day and possibly before I arrived is dollar signs, to make up for the hunts lost due to covid, and to help him in getting part of the land he lost to the Zimbabwe government.

After all the photos the buff was loaded onto the truck and as we started back to camp, Lloyd told me he and the trackers would check out the water holes over the next few days for a "sick" buff and finish him off for me and then send it on down to KUBUSI Safaris for my taxidermist Danwyn to mount.

Well, $5200.00 - $2800.00 = $2400.00 difference since there was no way I was going to get the Livingstone eland on this trip in just 1 day with an 8 hour drive to the other "camp".

I made it known very clearly my budget for this trip had been spent and I have no intentions of going for a hippo or croc.

Next up Hunting Day 10/Zimbabwe Day11.

 

[375Fox]

I’m sorry to read you had a bad hunt, but how you booked this hunt stands out as a major lesson learned to me if I’m reading correctly. Did you communicate directly with your Zimbabwe PH prior to hunt or only to your South African outfitter? Did you look into multiple options for your Zimbabwe hunt or only this outfitter through your South African outfitter? What were your expectations prior to the hunt? What did you know about the outfitter, the hunting area, the PH/tracking team’s experience working together prior to this hunt? From your writing, mistakes were made, but I’m not sure you set yourself up for the best hunt from the start. Please correct me if I’ve interpreted something incorrectly.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I accepted this hunt based on my outfitter in RSA. I also had old references from those who hunted with Lloyd decades ago including a hunt with Buck Mcneely.

But that lingering unable to locate recent post about Shangani Safaris and Lloyd Yeatman kept nagging at me.

Granted back in the day when Lloyd was a reputable PH and his hunts and hunting were admirable/ethical hunt might have meant more. However, this hunt and hunting with Lloyd in the present day is totally different. And I won't be hunting with him or Shangani Safaris again.

I pride myself on hunting and finishing off game I have wounded.

Also, this hunt was primarily for cape buffalo and Livingstone eland and 2 days of sightseeing and souvenir shopping for mementos of a place I've never been before.

When an outfitter and/or PH only sees dollar signs instead of a client. It's time for prospective clients to look for another outfitter and/or another PH.

Since Lloyd and James have something of a good relationship, and I have a very high regard for James Williamson and KUBUSI Safaris, it will now be a game of wait and see.

More on this as I complete this hunt report and in Another 12 days in South Africa hunting report.

 

[C.W. Richter]

I dont think you would be feeling quite the same about Zim or anywhere else for that matter if you had just had the same hunt as the OP.

So far I haven't read anything that would cause me to lose my mind...I've been there, mandatory power outages, campfires on city sidewalks, MP checkpoints, diesel stations out/generators out in camp (although Lloyd tends to use solar), etc. All part of the love.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Ok, I read it. Is the improper shot placement on the PH? That's what stood out to me. The trigger for the other issues. Perhaps he thought based upon past experience that it was the wounded buff as its behavior was different than the others (I've seen 'em shot and just stand there, sick, while the herd disappears). Was there good light? What was the shot distance? It happens.

 

[sestoppelman]

So far I haven't read anything that would cause me to lose my mind...I've been there, mandatory power outages, campfires on city sidewalks, MP checkpoints, diesel stations out/generators out in camp (although Lloyd tends to use solar), etc. All part of the love.

If the hunt was successful as yours sounds it was, that makes all the difference. Everyone expects delays, hiccups and problems there, this was on a whole other level and not successful. Makes a big difference.
Your are comparing apples to oranges, in this case sour oranges, or better, lemons.

 

[rookhawk]

I‘d like to see a pic of the buffalo. Smaller than a cow you wanted to shoot? In zim they don’t measure the buffalo by how big it is compared to a cow or to the world record soft horned young bull, they measure them by being mature animals in decline with a hard boss.

If you got a 34” hard boss dugga boy that is a lot more impressive to me than a 54” South African soft horned trophy. Just my take, the Zim PHs will agree.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I’m sorry to read you had a bad hunt, but how you booked this hunt stands out as a major lesson learned to me if I’m reading correctly. Did you communicate directly with your Zimbabwe PH prior to hunt or only to your South African outfitter? Did you look into multiple options for your Zimbabwe hunt or only this outfitter through your South African outfitter? What were your expectations prior to the hunt? What did you know about the outfitter, the hunting area, the PH/tracking team’s experience working together prior to this hunt? From your writing, mistakes were made, but I’m not sure you set yourself up for the best hunt from the start. Please correct me if I’ve interpreted something incorrectly.

A lot of questions there. That's good. It will or might help others.

I hope answer your questions in order:

Yes. I did communicate with Lloyd Yeatman directly, keeping James and Ed (James' booking agent here in the US) in the loop to ensure there would be no problems regarding flights, covid, pick up and drop off, visa, weapons, ammo, etc.

Unfortunately, I relied on James, and since James and Lloyd have a good repore with each other I respected James assistance in getting me a proverbial last minute Zimbabwe DG hunt.

My expectations through communications with Lloyd was to have a remote tent camp, in an area in Zimbabwe that was totally free ranging of all animals PG and DG in and near camp, thus the reason for bringing my 44 mag as a personal protection/defense weapon in/around camp. There would only be a remote chance for going after hippo and croc, with a much better possibility of getting or at least seeing a leopard while on the buff or eland hunts.

As for the PH Lloyd Yeatman, I vaguely remembered a post on AH, but couldn't find it regarding avoiding him and another fellow when it comes to hunting in Zimbabwe. Check the threads another AH member reposted the thread on my post.

The problem on my part with no disrespect to James Williamson or Buck Mcneely, I should have done a better job of vetting Lloyd. Being close to Mozambique, a National Park, and open Tribal Lands led me to believe this would be a totally free range, no fence, hard hunt for buff and eland.

I asked Lloyd to ensure he understood what type of hunt I was wanting. He saw dollar signs instead of a client and assured me he could meet my needs.

After I finish my hunt report I hope your questions are fully answered and I can better fully answer any further questions you might have.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I‘d like to see a pic of the buffalo. Smaller than a cow you wanted to shoot? In zim they don’t measure the buffalo by how big it is compared to a cow or to the world record soft horned young bull, they measure them by being mature animals in decline with a hard boss.

If you got a 34” hard boss dugga boy that is a lot more impressive to me than a 54” South African soft horned trophy. Just my take, the Zim PHs will agree.

Better photos will be added as soon as I can get them uploaded to my computer from the camera. At the end of my hunt reports I'll include photos and would like experienced hunters to critique my animals.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Although I had to go through a booking agent to first hunt with Lloyd at the time, the agent did put me in-touch with Lloyd directly and we worked out the details up-front, from home (we discussed different area options, game, etc. and had a an agreed-upon plan prior to landing in country.) Everything was exactly as expected (including no solar power on cloudy day-nights!) What I miss the most is enjoying a Zambezi lager by the firepit/braai area overlooking the rivers. It is a wonderful country with a rich history that still carries on today, to a degree...Thank God there's still hunting there. As I recall, our safari was somewhere north of $12K for a father-son hunt, 2 buff, 1 eland, 1 waterbuck, and 1 bushbuck. We also get what we pay for sometimes.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Still trying to figure out where Chimopo is. No reasonable town of that name, you don't mean Chinhoyi perhaps? What was the hunting concession called?

Yeah, I'm not sure about the town name. I tried to copy the name down as Darlington, my driver from Harare to this drop off point was trying to spell it and kept pronouncing the town name.

I'll look it up on a map. It's somewhere "near" ( within mins-6 hours radius of) Triangle, Zimbabwe.

The lodge location is, according to Lloyd and Sabine, about 8-10 kilometers from the northern Mozambique border with Zimbabwe.

 

[rookhawk]

Yeah, I'm not sure about the town name. I tried to copy the name down as Darlington, my driver from Harare to this drop off point was trying to spell it and kept pronouncing the town name.

I'll look it up on a map. It's somewhere "near" ( within mins-6 hours radius of) Triangle, Zimbabwe.

The lodge location is, according to Lloyd and Sabine, about 8-10 kilometers from the northern Mozambique border with Zimbabwe.

Near the Moz border way up North? @Kevin Peacocke was he somewhere near Chewore? What strip would be up that way to land a plane?

Karoi?

 

[Ridge Runner]

Although I had to go through a booking agent to first hunt with Lloyd at the time, the agent did put me in-touch with Lloyd directly and we worked out the details up-front, from home (we discussed different area options, game, etc. and had a an agreed-upon plan prior to landing in country.) Everything was exactly as expected (including no solar power on cloudy day-nights!) What I miss the most is enjoying a Zambezi lager by the firepit/braai area overlooking the rivers. It is a wonderful country with a rich history that still carries on today, to a degree...Thank God there's still hunting there. As I recall, our safari was somewhere north of $12K for a father-son hunt, 2 buff, 1 eland, 1 waterbuck, and 1 bushbuck. We also get what we pay for sometimes.

I'm not sure where you were, sounds possibly like maybe the other camp.

There were no scenic views overlooking a river. Just bush and more bush.

Most excitement was when maybe 2 elephants came near the lodge, and later some monkeys in a tree inside of camp started sounding out.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Near the Moz border way up North? @Kevin Peacocke was he somewhere near Chewore? What strip would be up that way to land a plane?

Karoi?

We passed a small airport near Triangle only close city I can spell and remember another nearby town is Tranagalar(?). When I say close like 2-4 hour drive.

It was a 2+ hour drive through the tribal land and village to get to a river. Seems the area has 3 or 4 major or sub tribes.

If you can find the map that is like the one I saw on the dining/social area wall. There is a tribe that covers the northern part of Zimbabwe I think it list a esat or north, a central and west or south the large I was in is somewhere about the Mozambique border tribal land and around the boundary lines separating the larger tribe lands and another tribal land.

Again Chimopo may not be the right spelling of the nearest town to the lodge.