ZIMBABWE: Nyerezi Safaris, Savé - Father Like Son

[tau]

‘Do not rely on luck but be grateful if you are blessed”. – Tau







Yes, that is the thoughts I had on the back of a Toyota in the glorious 40 Celsius chill of the Savé Valley with very little going our way.









WARNING: I write these reports as I experience the hunt and try create a story that is fun to read. My spelling is horrible at the best of times and my grammar worse.

[tau]

Savé Valley Conservancy, it just sounds so romantic and foreign for a farm boy from the country in South Africa. The name makes me excited!!!

I see people wearing strangely spelled and pronounced branded hats. I have seen those names on golf balls at the driving range. I have always connected those incorrectly spelled names (Titleist, Ping, Srixon) with golfing success and grown men wearing tight white pants.

And I wondered why people would wear a spelling mistake branded cap whilst following a ball that is always missing in the rough.

I do not judge as we hunters are the same, just different. We buy khaki clothing in different shades and leather boots and ammo holders and we cannot wait to wear and use these items that smells of leather and polish for a couple of days a year whilst hunting. The excitement and energy that is felt and spent to reload for your rifle, sharpen your knife pack your clothes and check and recheck the packing list is a friendly return to pre-hunt jitters.

When you sit in your trophy room, reloading area or at work when I am just tired, and you close your eyes for a moment……. It is there. I can hear a bolt closing on a loaded solid cartridge and the comfortable pressure of my rifle resting over my shoulder as I swing it into position in a familiar pattern. The sound of a string of grown men walking in a line thru the bush with Mopani leave crushing under the pressure of the boots.

The wait becomes unbearable. 2 months, 1 month, 1 week and then before you know it, you are standing at Bulawayo airport with a person asking you to “buy them lunch” to speed up the rifle import process.

Jump in the back of the confines of a extra cab Hilux for 6 hours and before I know it, BOOOM !!!!!!!!

Savé Valley Conservancy, breath out close my eyes and look up. As I open them, I am standing under the leaves of the large Cathedral Mopanies of the Neyangumbe river camp. I close my eyes again and listen to the Hammerkop making his familiar noises, Hyenas in the background and the Crested Francolins racing around in the undergrowth of the riverine forest.

Heaven to me, just being here again is a feeling I wish I can bottle and sell to the depressed and those longing for rest or success. Can one place be so beautiful????

[Capt. Yoda]

Seun stuur net vir my die fotos

[partner]

Pragtig Tau. Baie Dankies.

[tau]

We had a brilliant first evening in camp, strange how a place I have only spent 7 days at 11 months ago felt like home.



The camp on the banks of the Neyangambe river is even more beautiful this year as the grass around the tented chalets and upkeep of the camp was country club like, whilst still keeping to a natural layout and feel to the camp.

I will call the camp Bush 5 star.




Us Africans have a attraction to fire and sitting around one on a hunting trip is standard procedure even if it is mid 30 Celsius at night .




I wish this picture was of Sean showing my Dad shot placement pictures, but no they realised both have a love for flying and Light sports aircraft.

I am a planner and prepper when it comes to hunting. My Dad is a planner and prepper when it comes to life, strange how I now felt the urge to talk shot placement, starting times and possible scenario's. My Dad just said we can go out in the morning and quickly go shoot some Buffalo.

Oh I was using my beloved Ruger Alaskan .375 Ruger with hand loaded ammo. I have used it on a Northern Namibia hunt earlier this year ( Yes I need to still write that report) and trained with it on my range to be ready for this hunt. My ammo was polished my Aimpoint cleaned and fitted with a new battery.

My Dad rented a camp gun from Sean with some 300gr solids he took one look at the weathered Winchester Pre 64 and was happy.. What about eye relief and trigger feel and bullet performance??? I asked. My Dad and Sean just looked at me funny and continued to talk about aeroplanes and flying.





We had a brilliant supper and went to bed. At 01:00 the local pride of lions decided to treat us to a 2 hr long roaring spectacular. At a stage it felt like they where less than 100meters from my tent.

[tau]

The first day of Safari with my Father arrived. I am very fortunate to experience such an adventure with my Dad and for the first time in my life I am treating him. Since our visit last year Sean is now also in control of Hammond ranch which is the neighbouring property to Neyangumbe conservancy in die Save Valley. The Mwkasine river splits the two properties, so “I wonder what is on the other side of the river” feeling was now replaced by go to the other side and exploring the breath-taking Hammond ranch.







I am a hunter, but firstly a Conservationist. The fauna and flora of Hammond is spread over mopani flats, rivers lined by massive trees and then the koppies/ Ghomos with their massive rock formations.




We had a drive to the Shooting range and my Father with his rental rifle was on target and my little Ruger was also in the bullseye.




We started exploring the new to us section and immediately the beauty of the area was refreshing and I felt like I needed to take 10 mental pictures every second to remember this place by when I am back at work.

[tau]

So we take a drive from the range a little later than planned and drive up the most beautiful vantage point on top of a koppie. We would come here a couple of time more on this trip.



Whilst scanning the area, we are shocked by seeing 3 Dugga boys grazing 200meters below us. We cannot get to them as we ar on top of a huge Granite boulder.




We haven't really had 'the talk' and game plan session.

To none hunters or "occasional hunters" us dedicated hunters can sometimes be too much. You know the knife, ammo belt, boots and pre hunt prep can puzzle others.

I love hunting and all the extra's. Reloading, time on the range, sharpening my knives, getting my boots ready. And then some more time on the range. My Father pitches and shoots animals and goes home after a hunt. The only reason he was carrying a knife on this hunt is because I had it custom made for him. The custom bullet holder never left his tent... He shakes his head when he see my guns and reloading equipment etc. He believes in 2 things, God and his 7mmRem Mag. In his mind nothing is better or needs improvement. If it was legal he would shoot his Buffalo with his trusty 7mm RM that he has taken 100's of Gemsbok and other Game with.

So keeping this in mind and visualise me trying to show him shot placement pictures ( I have 308 of them on my phone) as we leave the shooting range on the first morning.... we spot 3 Dugga boys and before I can explain to him the importance of walking softly and slowly he is on the sticks not even 800 meters from the bakkie on day one looking at a Buffalo thru the Zeiss Davari on the loaner .375 H&H.




I am so excited on the one side that my Dad gets this experience on the first stalk and morning of a 6 day hunt, but I cannot imagine the aftermath of this success.
" Buffalo hunting is easy, should have taken my 7mmRm, you make too much of it" would be repeated at every Braai and family gathering. I was fine with it, last year on our Buffalo hunt we had a chance on day one on a 41" plus bull and we didn't take it as serious as we should. We did a couple of short stalks and my Dad was on the sticks 3 or 4 times however the branches and shot angles did not coincide with our view of the Buffalo. Unfortunately the wind turned and gave our position away which made the Buffalo move away.

[tau]

Day 2 of the hunt arrived.

Some info about hunting Zimbabwe in October!!

October is hell month in the lowveld of Zimbabwe. The heat is not your friend and hunting in the heat is very challenging.

No,no I am tough enough and where I live in South Africa we have the same dry heat during February +plus a little more. The difference is in February at home I sit in my aircon office and the last thing I think about is hunting!!! Hunting during the heat of October after a very good rainy season creates a very short hunting day.

Why? Well, the Buffalo can graze during the night (we had full moon) or very early in the morning until 10:30 and then they disappear into the undergrowth of the riverine forest or the mopani shrub areas that still have leave. They will then only start moving again from 15:30 onwards. Between 11:30 -15:00 the temps were hitting 40-43 Celsius daily. So even if the hunter can handle the heat you won’t be hunting buffalo during mid-day, they will bed down and you will only bump them or you will have to wait for hours for them to get up.

How did I get to hunt such an amazing area?

Sean had management Buffalo left on his sections, he was very kind to accommodate myself and my Father on a 6-day hunt in between two groups of European hunters. Hunting two management animals in 6 days in the heat or anytime of the year is a little bit of a crunch especially if you want to Walk & Stalk and in my case shoot without a telescope.

I was happy with this, as such an opportunity does not come around every day.


We had barely left camp when we bumped into a herd of Buffalo crossing the road. We stopped behind an anthill and my Father and Sean did a quick climb to the top. The sun was rising and in the haste to get in position neither of them had sun glasses on. The sat in this position for almost 30 minutes, but the Buffalo did not give them an open shot.



My Dad and Sean on stake out position.

The Buffalo moved on and we started tracking on foot. We got very close 3 times, but then the wind gave our position away and the Buffalo would jog away a little bit and start walking. By 07;30 they had enough. A brilliant early morning walk in any way.




Shooting from or stalking from anthill to anthill became e regular occurrence on this hunt.



We spent the rest of the morning looking for Buffalo, but the heat made them bed down in the shade.

[Frederik]

Lekker man lekker.

[DWB]

Lekker Tau!

[Capt. Yoda]

Lekker JW, nou wag ons maar vir volgende week vir epeisode 3 van series 2

[tau]

The temperature was in the 40 Celsius range so the afternoon started very slow. We barely spotted anything, however we explored huge sections of Hammond ranch and visited some waterholes.
Day 2 waterhole jackeberry.jpg

This waterhole at the base of granite koppies was especially pretty. We climbed up and watched the sun set.










We left just after sunset for the 1.5 hr drive back to camp. The iPhone ability to take pictures in low light is amazing, but these buffalo and elephant pictures was taken in very low light. We bumped so many animals as it got darker showing us that the animals was staying out of the worst heat of the day and feeding and drinking at night.




Another wonderful day of exploring and we had a good chance early morning. There was shots, but not without risk of hitting branches, so not worth it.

[tau]

Day 3



Welcome to the mid hunt blues…. Goodness gracious how did we end up here again after two great days!!!



Yes like last year day 3 was dismal, well when considering we were looking for old Buffalo, the bush and other animals was still brilliant to spot. We spent lots of time at and around waterholes looking at spoor. As always, I tried learning as much as possible from the trackers and Sean whenever they looked at spoor. My skills are very rusty.




Not much to report only that the heat was serious in the 43 Celsius area and the Mopani flies tried to drive me nuts. It was still great fun.



For me this is where the hunt is formed, you don't choose it. You just need to suffer a little or alot to epxerience and appreciate the hunt. Buffalo hunting should not be easy or quick..... I convinced myself as I was screening the bush like a hawk as we drove for hours and hours searching for spoor or Buffalo.

We went to our favorite koppie again scouting for Buffalo






The bush was "dead" every animal had left the area and gone to a cooler place it felt like : )


We had lunch in one of the underground dugouts at a waterhole and had some nice close up views of Impala and Sable.




We tried and tried, but did not find any Buffalo. We did howver spent some time in some of the most beautiful places I have been in the bush. Considering this was the last days before the dry season would end.




You need to keep a positive attitude on these hunts, or any hunt worthwhile. Well that is the pep talk I silently had with myself : )

[tau]

Day 4 had arrived.

My Dad was starting to feel the pressure I could see.

Something about a rental gun and getting older. Firstly the eye relief setup on any rifle is very important especially if you need to shoot quickly. Rental guns setup is not always correct for your ey relief. Practice with the rifle in camp and get used to the eye relief of the specific rifle. In Zim ammo is such a problem that you cannot move scope and sight rifle in again so rather get used to the rifle and the functions of the optics.
Day 4 dad Rifle.png

Getting older eyes take longer to focus. My Dad used to shoot extremely fats as he grew up in the Namib desert in Namibia. I also got taught to be ready and shoot quickly as animals don't give you too much time where we are from. However now at 70 and a rental gun and scope and very thick bush he was taking longer than normally to get his eyes, scope and Buffalo lined up. He also did the correct thing and declined to shoot when there was sticks or small branches in the way. The PH doesn't have the exact same angle towards target as the hunter so the hunter still needs to make the final call if the shot is on or not.

[tau]

Day 4 had arrived.

My Dad was starting to feel the pressure I could see.

Something about a rental gun and getting older. Firstly the eye relief setup on any rifle is very important especially if you need to shoot quickly. Rental guns setup is not always correct for your ey relief. Practice with the rifle in camp and get used to the eye relief of the specific rifle. In Zim ammo is such a problem that you cannot move scope and sight rifle in again so rather get used to the rifle and the functions of the optics.



Getting older eyes take longer to focus. My Dad used to shoot extremely fats as he grew up in the Namib desert in Namibia. I also got taught to be ready and shoot quickly as animals don't give you too much time where we are from. However now at 70 and a rental gun and scope and very thick bush he was taking longer than normally to get his eyes, scope and Buffalo lined up. He also did the correct thing and declined to shoot when there was sticks or small branches in the way. The PH doesn't have the exact same angle towards target as the hunter so the hunter still needs to make the final call if the shot is on or not.



This picture is a perfect example of the shooting lane between you and the Buffalo at 30- 40meters. You can see them and all the vitals, but the amount of braches and twigs between you and the Buffalo makes it very challenging to take a secure shot .

[tau]

We barely left camp before we found tracks 1km out of camp. We would follow these tracks on very Corn flakes like undergrowth. The crunching of grass and crackling of Rhodesian teak seed pods made stealthy approaches very difficult.




Once again we got withing 80 meters of the herd of Dugga boys, but the branches and twiggs blocked any responsible shots.



My Father was on and of the sticks on many occasions, but the Buffalo was moving away and we just couldn't get a shot in.

It was however one of the best areas to walk in the Neyangumbe Conservancy all along the winding Neyangumbe river/creek.

[tau]

ditto

[tau]

We retreated back to camp to escape the mid day heat.

We started at 15:30 in very very very hot windless conditions.

However we still had lots to explore and learn.

We found what is left of an old tree that the elephant had worn down super smooth and created their own rubbing post.





We ran across this guy showing of to the ladies.

This is a species of rock Agama some of the smarter guides can help me with the correct name.



We tried hard, but no Buffalo was shot on day 4, only pictures!!!

[tau]

Day 5 ... arrived.

My Dad was worried that we would not get our Buffalo. He wanted me to shoot first now. I said no, I am fine. Maybe I had a hidden agenda. See if I do not shoot a Buffalo, I have to return again to this wonderful place .

Sean as also getting a little stressed. I understand that a PH is only as successful in some people or their own eyes as their last hunt or trophy sizes etc. The reality of hunting as anybody that has done it enough is you need to work hard and you need to have some luck/ blessings.

Like the great Gary Player said " The more you practice the luckier you get".

So we went out earlier on day 5 at 05:30. If we would be successful in harvesting a Buffalo(s) or not at least we anted to insure we did all we can.

Barely out of camp and we once again got on the tracks of a herd of Dugga boys in the very very dense grass. The tracking was very difficult.

We got spooked by a Buffalo at less than 10 meters lying under a tree sleeping. We swung around lifting our rifles, just to realise the huge old bull was already dead. He had no wounds on him other than his rump that was already eaten by Hyena's.










The Buff was in good condition and we couldn't find any injuries on the left side. Turning it over would have been a very stinky affair.

We departed for camp and the relief of the portable pool

[tau]

Well if you reach afternoon of day 5 of a six day hunt without any success you do everything Possible. We decided to walk form camp. This was glorious!!! I love hunting Kudu and Eland like this. Yes you waste time, but it just feels good to me.

As luck would have it we bumped into a herd of Dugga boys and my Dad got on the sticks on three occasions. there was a bull in the group of 7 that was a perfect management bull. Small horn and body and old enough to harvest. At a stage Sean took a branch of a Raisin bush and we walked in a line towards the Buffalo they just stood and looked at us until we got closer it was a very comical scene.

There was a stage that I was convinced my Father would shoot, but the shooting sticks collapsed under him and the Buffalo ran of..... the mood was sombre and the Shooting sticks got scolded

We ended up doing a nice 6km walk and got to camp as it was dark.

One more day left.

[tau]

The final day.

If you hunt or fish enough you will know that sometimes it is your day and sometimes it is not. At this stage of the hunt I had made peace that I would not get my Buffalo. I was loving being in the bush with my Father. The camp and food was brilliant. My only complaint was that we didn't walk enough, because we just didn't find the correct Buffalo to track.

We had a strick no shooting in herds policy and also this was a management hunt so we were looking for those weaker gentic old animals.

Big Buffalo and herds there was plenty so at least we were seeing lots of Buffalo.

We started at 05:00 giving ourselves the biggest opportunity possible on the last day.

The morning session went past in a blur we drove the Western boundary of the Save conservancy, it is really sad to see the difference between protected and non protected areas. It was a unmissable divide of barren red soil flats waiting to be planted on the west and lush dense Mopanie forests on the eastern side of the jeep track roads. The importance of conserving these areas for our children is immense and without hunting funds it will not be possible. We covered most of Hammond in the morning session. However no Dugga boys was found only big herds of Buffalo.

We had a brilliant lunch, swim in the little pool under the tree and a siesta.

We woke up determined, yet slightly dulled. That feeling you get before a test that you know you didn't learn enough for, but you are hoping for the best.

As we left camp the Anti poaching guys told us they had seen 7 Dugga boys on the northern side of the Neyangumbe conservancy, they suspected it was the same group we had stalked the previous evening. We drove to the spot and got on the tracks immediately at 15;20. It was screaming hot and slow going staying on the tracks in the dry thick grass and Rhodesian teak seeds making crackling sounds under our boots.

We track and backtracked numerous times. You know when you do not have time.....it fly's past.

Our tracker trust stopped after 2 km and said the Dugga boys has joined a herd. At this stage Sean was not convinced and said he has lost the tracks and the fuzzy feeling of being on fresh tracks left the group. We returned to the bakkkie and started driving away at 16;00.

We only had 2 hrs left of hunting time on this hunt. It was over.

You know that break up drive after you leave your girlfriend or she leaves you. The disappointment takes over and you just drive, no reason or destination just away from the disappointment. Your friend ask if you are ok and you say yes, but actually you mean no. You will never find love again.... however that is not true. You meet a nice lady at the gun store a week later and you Ex girlfriend is forgotten and the pain only a 18 year old boy knows is replaced by that "new love " feeling.

We made a loop in our drive towards an area where I told Sean I wanted to camp in future. The talk was light and nobody showed that we had a little disappointment in us. As we crested the hill on our left was a massive herd of 60 -80 Buffalo. Unfortunately a family herd so we didn'y even stop to have a look. As we passed the herd we drove smack bang into the herd of 7 Dugga boys. They had not joined the big family group but trailed them by 100meters!!!!!

We drove past them and jumped of the bakkie. My Dad took one look at me and said I must shoot first. I wanted to decline, but he said no you shoot first and I will take the second Buffalo:)

OI just laughed how after 6 days of hunting and multiple stalks would we now in the last two hours of the hunt take a Buff let alone 2. I am however a toxic positive person so I agreed and for the first time in my life I was the second guy in the walking line with just Sean Infront of me.

We made our first stalk inline with a big anthill....wait a minute I have been here. It was the exact anthill my Dad was on on day 1. At this stage I had never seen the Buffalo from up close with every stalk i would hang back to give my Father and Sean the best chance at getting a shot. As we glanced of the anthill Sean said it was the same 7 Dugga boys from day one and the evening of day 5!!!! There was two no shoot trophy bulls in the group, 3 soft bulls and two older bulls.

Our first opportunity was at 100meters. I was flat on my stomach with a very good sight of one of the younger bulls. I wanted to shoot I will admit. Sean said no he was not the right one. How did my Father stay so cool being on the sticks 10-15 times during this hunt and not getting the "take the shot" line from Sean!!!

We backtracked and came in with the wind in our faces towards another anthill. No more than 80 meters away!!! I got into an even better position than before.

It is here that I must mention that Sean asked me if I can take a brain shot so that we could get a chance at a second Bull for my Dad when we started the stalk.

The Dugga boys now moved closer and closer to the herd . I was so ready to take the shot at the first Dugga boy that stopped, poor Sean just had to keep me in line. I am just flesh and bone.

Once again Sean declined and said we must get closer... I always listen to Sean. So we back tracked again and came towards the Buffalo with the wind in our faces for the third time.

Yes to another ant hill....I kid you not this time the branches on the tree was perfectly positioned. The Buffalo was no more than 60 meters way. They now knew of us, but with the strongest wind we have had the entire 6 days blowing towards us they where happy that we didn't threaten their safety as a herd.

I could hit the tick on the Buffalo I told Sean with my Aimpoint red dot. I even told him about the Warthog and Blue Wildebeest I hunted in June in Northern Namibia with brain shots and this rifle...




Proof of said Warthog taken at 100meters in Namibia with my red dot


Sean wanted to hear nothing. This is Buffalo hunting we needed to get closer.


We backtracked again.... we did a bigger loop and came in towards the Dugga boys. As they came into sight again the front of the large family herd and the 7 Dugga boys joined... Sean immediately said he needs to be certain we do not shoot one of the herd bulls.

I got in position on the shooting sticks for the first time on the hunt. The Herd and the Duggaboys was now sniffing and bellowing as they greeted each other.

We had received some luck or a blessing. The Herd bull was still at the back of the herd and two of the Dugga boys was taking chances sniffing at some of the better looking Buffalo cows. We knew that if the two big Herd bulls noticed this they would chase them away so our time was limited.

Then it happened the entire herd turned towards us and started feeding towards us!!!! How was this possible. The herds fear lions, but in these numbers they felt safe. Sean was glassing and for 5 minutes he went from animal to animal and telling me no too young, no herd bull, not female( trust me you need guidance sometimes).

And then at a bull decided to walk straight towards us. His Boss appeared a little soft to me, but Sean said get ready.... Sean I was ready 20 minutes ago at Anthill number 1. The bull Walked straight at me at no more than 25 meters. I had the red dot in the middle fixed on a frontal brain shot. To me he looked a little young, but I trusted Sean on his call.

As Sean lowered his bino's he said those three words every man loves being whispered to them.

" Take the Shot'


My faithful Ruger exploded with all its fury.




The Buff dropped like value of the Zim dollar in the 2000's.

" You shot, you shot it in the head, I am deaf!!!!" Sean yelled at me.

"Yes you said I must shoot!!! I replied laughing at him.

Poor Sean was deaf. Before he could lower the binos and get his fingers in his ears, my little 20" barrel .375 Ruger barked and the Buffalo dropped to it's knees. The Buffalo had lowered his head to graze as he gave me instructions to shoot. I took the shot as close to the bosses of the Bull to still hit the brain.

I reloaded like I had trained hundreds of times and was ready for shot number two. What I witnessed next I will never have believed. The bull got up!!! He had blood squirting from his nostrils like a fire house. I immediately fired and hit him with a perfect broadside heart shot. He collapsed where he fell the first time. Head folder back, dead no death bellow nothing.

" Why are you shooting dead Buffalo!!! Now I am deaf in my other ear" Sean yelled at me clutching his other ear.

" Sorry Sean I watched lots of Youtube videos and they say not to stop shooting till the Buffalo is down" I replied with a smile.

Sean was happy I was happy my Dad was ecstatic. Sean looked at us and said lets get number two.

I wanted to go look at my Bull, but Sean said It was dead I ensured of that twice. I glanced at my Bull and though, sucks that boss looks soft, well at least I got my first Buff.

We walked 50 meters and here the Dugga boys stood waiting for their friend that some bold bloke just shot, twice.

My Father got on the sticks and guess who was looking at him??? The same Bull from the previous night. My Dad made a perfect frontal chest/ heart shot. I looked at my watch it was 16:55.

We gave the bull 5 minutes. The herd had not moved much just the Dugga boys ran of this was interesting to experience how the two groups reacted differently to danger.

We walk in closer and the bull was staggering from side to side. I could see it was a very old hard bossed bull, I was so happy for my Dad.

The only shot he gave my Dad was the quartering away on the left side shot. He took the shot and the bull started running away. As any good son would do I followed up his shot hitting the Bull on the left rear ramp. The bull collapsed.

" John can you stop shooting at dead buffalo" Sean yelled at me holding his ears again.

It was 17:05 on the last day of our hunt and we had two bulls down!!!

The ecstasy and happiness that was felt in the next 20 minutes was so rewarding.

Sean could not partake in any conversation as my 20" barrelled Ruger had now destroyed the last of his very poor hearing.

I am very Sorry Sean. We took plenty of pictures of my Fathers bull. It was the perfect management animal. Small body not great horns but old. It would and probably have never been the herd bull. There was even jokes of its resemblance to Nkonkoni ( Blue Wildebeest)

[tau]

My Father first shot had hit the Buffalo on the spot and punctured the heart and lungs and penetrated all the way out the rear of the Buffalo.

His Second shot was on the left side just in front of the stomach and also smashed the lungs and exited out the front right leg.

My Shot on my Dads buffalo entered the rear right leg passed thru the gut, smashed the left lung and exited out the neck on the right hand side!!! so the proper full cross section of a Buffalo.



My Father and his Buffalo. On the rear leg you can see the spot where his first shot exited.

[tau]

We walked to my Buffalo the younger one with the soft Bosses.

I could see Sean smiling at me as we walked closer. I was wondering if it was because of the zinging in his ears or relieve that we got two Buffalo.

As I mentioned my Buffalo collapsed over backwards so I never really looked at the horns from close up, I am not a person that measures horns and take animals for their horns. I love the broken horn or single horn animals.

We turned the Bull over and I was shocked . It was an old Monster, I felt ecstatic and a little out of place. I looked at Sean and said no way is this a Management bull. He said it was under 38" so it was a management bull, it was not part of the herd and it was older than 8.5 years old so it was a management bull.

I am not often at a point that I have a lack for words, but this was it.

My third Buffalo hunt I was on, but my first own Buffalo. In Zimbabwe. In the Save and with my Father.

What a moment.







The bosses was 16 and a bit inches.








Does my small Ruger make your horns look big?


Trust smiling!! He was right we didn't believe him. In very difficult thick dry grass he called the tracks correctly.

[tau]

My absolute massive thank to Sean and his team. As many hunters know Ph's and their team quickly becomes family. Massive pressure on them to perform in a couple of days what has been your/ our dream for months or years. His sense of humour and work ethic makes hunting a pleasure, he get hot and bothered when things don't work out, because he puts himself and his team under pressure to deliver.

I know under his management Neyangumbe and Hammond will both be protected and improved.

Well next year I am only going with as second rifle, my first Buffalo has broken all expectations I had of reaching when shooting a Big Bull and that on a management hunt.

The Save Valley conservancy is an amazing project and story and those that built it will forever be hero's in my book like many other parks and conservation areas.

The only problem now is to remember I used to be a Nature conservationist and now have a day job and that dreaming of walking in that thick bush in the South of Zimbabwe is a privilege I cannot wait to experience again.

[Capt. Yoda]

Netjies Johna, dae wat jy en jou Pa vir altyd sal onthou