ZIMBABWE: Chifuti Safaris Cape Buffalo & Hippo

[Royal27]

I'm going to start this report from the very beginning of my planning, which began when I was 4-5 years old and I'm 46 now.

My father's best friend did some peace corp work in Tanzania in the late 1960s. When he came to visit us in 1970-71 my father had him tell me about hunting Zebra. I already knew that I wanted to be a hunter and that story made a strong impression on a small boy and I KNEW right then and there that I wanted to hunt in Africa. It became a dream and one that I thought had died at one point (my choice).

So, I actually have pictures of the Zebra that started my journey and it still resides on the wall of my father's friend's house. He was kind enough to send me photos to use in this report. How cool is that?

I consider myself fortunate to know where my journey began and think it is also a testimony to the impact that a man can have on a small boy by sharing his stories as you never know where those stories may lead many years later.

Now, I'm only nine more days away from leaving for Zimbabwe!

 

[BRICKBURN]

It always starts somewhere.
Those stories sure do have an impact.
I'm ready to read the rest of your story.

 

[Buff-Buster]

Great outfit, great area...I'm sure it will live up to 40 years worth of dreams! There will only be one "First Safari"! It's going to be a long nine days!

 

[Nyati]

Wish you the best of luck on the fulfillment of your dream.

 

[PeteG]

That's pretty cool Royal, hope you have a great hunt. Will be looking forward to the report.

 

[spike.t]

R27 looking forward to the rest of your writings.

 

[ActionBob]

Way Cool! Thanks for posting that and look forward to more. Have a great Safari!

 

[Royal27]

It always starts somewhere.
Those stories sure do have an impact.
I'm ready to read the rest of your story.

They really do, don't they? This has been a valuable lesson for me. What I say and do can have an impact, good or bad, and in ways I way never know.

Great outfit, great area...I'm sure it will live up to 40 years worth of dreams! There will only be one "First Safari"! It's going to be a long nine days!

I did get to meet my PH, Rich Schultz, at DSC in January and have e-mailed with him since then. Getting to know Rich even just a little bit has been great. And I've also heard much about him from gsxr-sarge here on ah.com. Search "Chifuti" and read that hunt report. Wow.... I will also have to admit that seeing Rich on Dark and Dangerous helped to get the blood pumping as well!


Now to the planning part of my story and how I ended up with Chifuti.

I had quit hunting for years. I had reached almost 250 lbs (I'm 5'9") and dealt with some other personal issues that led to me making a personal decision not to hunt. I had lost myself. Well, I started making changes in my life about three years ago and things were getting better. In December of 2011 my grandmother passed away at 94. At the funeral I was talking to my cousin, who had never stopped hunting and had already been to Africa twice. He showed me a picture of his Cape Buffalo that he had taken with Chifuti earlier in the year. He also mentioned that he was going back in 2014 and said I should go. I laughed it off, but also started thinking about it. Within a couple of months I had called him back and told him I was going. And so it all began... My first call to Chifuti was to tell them I was going and needed to know how to sign up! so much for planning and references!!! LOL

The important note here, back to childhood dreams, is that this cousin and I had talked about going to Africa together since we were probably 8-10 years old. And now it is happening. Things happen like they do for a reason I think and this one certainly did. My Grandfather would be tickled to death for the two of us! The best part of this hunt is that I have ZERO expectations. The hunt will be successful as soon as we land on that dirt airstrip. Anything after that will be a bonus.

 

[Royal27]

My cousin and his buff since I know how much Brickburn appreciates pictures!

 

[Wheels]

Got to give more credit to those Peace Corps workers!

I can already tell this is going to be a good report. Looking forward to it Royal.

All the best.

 

[buckcurtin]

They really do, don't they? This has been a valuable lesson for me. What I say and do can have an impact, good or bad, and in ways I way never know.



I did get to meet my PH, Rich Schultz, at DSC in January and have e-mailed with him since then. Getting to know Rich even just a little bit has been great. And I've also heard much about him from gsxr-sarge here on ah.com. Search "Chifuti" and read that hunt report. Wow.... I will also have to admit that seeing Rich on Dark and Dangerous helped to get the blood pumping as well!


Now to the planning part of my story and how I ended up with Chifuti.

I had quit hunting for years. I had reached almost 250 lbs (I'm 5'9") and dealt with some other personal issues that led to me making a personal decision not to hunt. I had lost myself. Well, I started making changes in my life about three years ago and things were getting better. In December of 2011 my grandmother passed away at 94. At the funeral I was talking to my cousin, who had never stopped hunting and had already been to Africa twice. He showed me a picture of his Cape Buffalo that he had taken with Chifuti earlier in the year. He also mentioned that he was going back in 2014 and said I should go. I laughed it off, but also started thinking about it. Within a couple of months I had called him back and told him I was going. And so it all began... My first call to Chifuti was to tell them I was going and needed to know how to sign up! so much for planning and references!!! LOL

The important note here, back to childhood dreams, is that this cousin and I had talked about going to Africa together since we were probably 8-10 years old. And now it is happening. Things happen like they do for a reason I think and this one certainly did. My Grandfather would be tickled to death for the two of us! The best part of this hunt is that I have ZERO expectations. The hunt will be successful as soon as we land on that dirt airstrip. Anything after that will be a bonus.

Hunted with Rich in 2010 with another company. First class PH with a great crew! You will enjoy the hunt and the company! Have a great trip!

 

[gxsr-sarge]

Royal,

You'll have a first class experience with Chifuti and Rich!

I can't wait to hear about your hunt. Enjoy EVERY SECOND that you are out there!!

Good luck but more importantly, have a blast!

 

[ROCKET]

Royal......get ready......in some days you will be collecting the beast memories for a hunter......maybe some day another six years old boy starts his dream with "your"story.......!!!!!

Beast luck.....!!!!

 

[buchnerl]

Royal, this is where a dream comes true! I am overly excited for you, and I believe that with Rich as PH and Chifuti you will be in very good, capable and experienced hands. Enjoy the safari, and don't forget to take lots of pictures.

PS: I'm also counting the days before I meet you in Johannesburg Airport to hand you some "muti"to take on the Black Death of Africa.

 

[gillettehunter]

Its great to read that your going. We can actually "feel" your excitement. It makes us want to go with you. Thats why hunt reports are so cool. We get to go back to africa with you and share in the experience. Take a notebook and keep a journal. It will help. I'll guarantee it. Shoot straight and have a great time. Bruce

 

[flatwater bill]

Royal.........my best wishes too..................what rifles are you taking? Or hiring?

Your plan is great. Too many hunters show up with a grocery list of animals, and an un-achievable agenda. Enjoy the moment. The smells, sounds and the different culture. You have already won, and if you put something on the dirt, it's even better.

And your cousin is the MAN with that awesome buff showing a well place bullet........I would follow his lead......FWB

 

[Royal27]

Royal......get ready......in some days you will be collecting the beast memories for a hunter......maybe some day another six years old boy starts his dream with "your"story.......!!!!!

Beast luck.....!!!!

This is so very true and I can only hope!!!

Royal, this is where a dream comes true! I am overly excited for you, and I believe that with Rich as PH and Chifuti you will be in very good, capable and experienced hands. Enjoy the safari, and don't forget to take lots of pictures.

PS: I'm also counting the days before I meet you in Johannesburg Airport to hand you some "muti"to take on the Black Death of Africa.

Loodt,
Thanks and I can't wait to meet you in person and spend a little time with you! I'm sorry that I couldn't work it out to come to Tootabi on this trip, but next May will be here quickly too, I know.

Its great to read that your going. We can actually "feel" your excitement. It makes us want to go with you. Thats why hunt reports are so cool. We get to go back to africa with you and share in the experience. Take a notebook and keep a journal. It will help. I'll guarantee it. Shoot straight and have a great time. Bruce

You are right. I know that when I read hunt reports I can "feel" the writer. Writing this report and sharing just a little of the background even, is cathartic for me. And funny that you mention the notebook, it is one of th very few things that I've still been planning to go and get. I'll make sure that I do. And thanks again.

Royal.........my best wishes too..................what rifles are you taking? Or hiring?

Your plan is great. Too many hunters show up with a grocery list of animals, and an un-achievable agenda. Enjoy the moment. The smells, sounds and the different culture. You have already won, and if you put something on the dirt, it's even better.

And your cousin is the MAN with that awesome buff showing a well place bullet........I would follow his lead......FWB

I'm taking a CZ 550 (left hand) in .375 H&H. I've shot it a lot over the last two years and am very comfortable with it. It does its part as long as I do mine. I'm also taking a 12 gauge shotgun so that we can take a few birds. My cousin as two rifles so we figured why not?

And you are right about my cousin. He's a hunter's hunter and always have been. He's two years older than me and I looked up to him when we were kids and I still do now. To do this trip with him is the way it was supposed to be.

7 days, 21 hours and 39 minutes, roughly....

 

[huntermn15]

Royal,
A great beginning to what I know will be a great story, I look forward to reading the rest. I hope to follow my first safari with Zim for the same quarry you seek.

 

[Royal27]

Well it is getting closer!!!

Today was packing day. I've had almost everything in my office closet for months and today it is almost all in the bags. I soaked my clothes in Permethrin today, so they are still drying, but the tuffpak with the guns is ready to go and I ran my final errands - cash from the bank, got my Cipro prescription, that kind of thing.

To add to my excitement I watched the latest episode of Tracks across Africa and who was the PH for the latest episode? Yup, it was my PH, Rich Schultz. I will have to admit, seeing your PH on TV hunting what you will be hunting is pretty cool...

I also did a little reflecting today. Thinking about how fortunate I am to be able to take this trip. That not many people throughout the world would ever have this kind of chance and that even fewer take advantage of it. I'm really grateful to God for giving me this opportunity. I'm going to enjoy every moment. Heck, I'm even enjoying the anticipation now. Over 2.5 years of planning and I'm now less than five days away!!!! Wow....

Oh, and one more thing I'm grateful for, this website!!!! I can't believe all of the friends I've made here. I mean real friends, people that I talk to on the phone and e-mail with and want to hunt with someday. That's pretty cool. I joined this site just to get some information and ask some questions, but I've gotten so much more!!!

 

[Bobpuckett]

My cousin and his buff since I know how much Brickburn appreciates pictures!
View attachment 29941

BICKBURN heck we all love pics. Loving the story!