July 2022 – Newsletter
It has been a little while since my last update. Things seem to have normalized – whatever that may now mean and travel seems to be much simpler and less fraught for those who have decided to brave the journeys – long may it last!! We are so appreciative of all the continued support in a world gone bats!*t crazy.
For those of you in Europe – it appears to have been an exceptionally hot summer, whereas here in southern Africa it has been decidedly chilly – perfect conditions for peak season hunting – which we have taken full advantage of.
Ken arrived in May to hunt in Nyakasanga with leopard as the primary species we were targeting. It was prime time in a prime area. We wasted no time in shooting and getting baits up. By day four we had eight baits out and it was now just a waiting game. Check baits, drag………. repeat. Day five saw us checking our first bait by 8 a.m. – having already seen a female leopard that morning, five male lions and a pack of wild dogs. We had a hit and actually saw the leopard jump out of the tree as we were approaching – so much excitment!!. After some deliberation and setting up most of the blind we decided it was early on in the hunt and we could possibly do better – ever the optimist that I am!!!!.
On to the next bait, also a hit, a massive track and the trail camera confirmed our suspicions. This was a big, old cat. We hastily set up our blind and were back in it by 4 p.m. Two hyena appeared shortly afterwards lying in the small river bed. It was their hasty departure just before 6 p.m. that put us on high alert. Silently, almost magically, the leopard appeared in the tree and began pulling on the bait frantically. Ken made a phenomenal shot and we had a leopard.
There is always a lot of relief walking up to a dead cat of this size and we were both grateful to have had such a memorable hunt on such an old Tom.
Sincere thanks to Ken for such a truly memorable and enjoyable hunt.
After a bit of much needed rest and relaxation with the missus in June, it was back to the bush in early July. This time Paul and Albert joined me on safari in Gache Gache. We were after leopard, buffalo, crocodile and possibly a hippo, hyena and civet if the opportunity presented itself. July is a great month to hunt hippo and crocodile as they spend a fair amount of time sunning themselves in the midday sun, meaning you have several opportunities on a big crocodile besides just baiting. We soon found a massive crocodile lounging in the perfect position. After some skillful if somewhat inelegant leopard crawling we got to 50 yards undetected and Paul did the job and we had ourselves a massive crocodile!!!!
Leopards always take time and work and we had a younger male and female feeding pretty early on in the hunt, but we had seen very promising spoor on the first day and were hoping to get him feeding. It all came together a few days later and Paul proficiently took the huge old Tom.
We were ecstatic that things were going so well and that we would have time to concentrate on buffalo and other game.
The next morning we found five buffalo bulls and Paul again shot well with his Chapuis taking a massive bossed old bull. The rest of the hunt continued in the same vein, a huge hyena, civet and eland followed as well as a very exciting hippo hunt on land.
I look forward to the next adventure and many thanks to both Paul and Albert for making this happen and for being such great company.
I still have a busy season ahead and leave in the next few days but feel free to contact me for any 2023 hunts you may be looking for and I also have a few buffalo, a leopard and an elephant bull still available for this year.
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa” – John Hemingway
UNTIL THE NEXT EDITION…………………………. As always stay safe and stay true!!!
E-Mail: buffalotrailssafaris@gmail.com Jannie Tel: +263 772 265 571 Hayley Tel: +263 733 419 724
Website: http://www.buffalotrailssafaris.com