Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa ZIMBABWE HUNT REPORT/LESSONS LEARNED

OK folks, you saw some of the pictures of my hunt. I now proffer some thoughts while they are still fresh on my mind. Most of you know that I've hunted with John previously and that I think he's the non-plus-ultra of PHs, so I won't say any more on his qualifications. I will try to give some insight into the entire trip that some of you might deem useful.

First, use a good, africa-experienced travel agent, There are a few, I used Debbie at Gracy Travel and the travel portion of the safari could not have run smoother. I also engaged the services of OPTIMA and that was money well spent. Can you get by without them? I did on my first trip, but between the myriad stories of Jo'Berg regulations, SAA morons, etc, I did not want my bags and guns winding up in bumfuck Egypt.

As an aside, there were at lest three hunters on my return flight to the US that hunted with either borrowed clothes or guns for the first few days.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS using SAA as your airline. I've already spewed enough on the shortcomings of the AIRBUS, but the SAA cabin crew was simply atrocious on both flights. Their attitude was curt at best and downright rude at worst and it is obvious that they don't much care to serve us "ex colonials." A scathinbg letter is on the way to SAA BTW on this very subject.

Don't overpack. This of course goes out the window if you're traveling with a female, as my wife deemed it nessesary to "dress for dinner" in the bush. IT does get quite chilly in the am and eves, but nothing a good wool sweater with "windstopper" lining can't handle. Good boots are a must and although I had my Russells with me, I had ordered a pair of COurtneys for me and my wife and they were superb, particularly for Kopje climbing.

Bottom line is use Terry Carr's packing list over on AR and you'll do just fine. Carry a compass or better a GPS. We had the IDIOT game scout get lost with my wife in tow and a 15 minute walk turned into a two hour search and rescue mission. I WAS NOT HAPPY.

Anyhow, enough on that. We had a great, albeit tough hunt with the buffalo, but I have to tell you it was the most rewarding hunt of my life. I PAID for that bull in blood ( my shins were a mess!) toil, tears and sweat to quote Mr. Churchill. I used 400gr Swifts as well as Hornady (old style) solids and they performed admirably as did the 180gr Partitions although I must say that for lighter game, the Hornady 180s seem to anchor the animals faster than the Partitions, lending credence to Roy Weatherbys theory of "shock," at least that was the case with the Warthog, impala, bushbuck and bushpig.

Good binos are a must, the smaller the better. My 10X42 SLCs were great for long distance glassing from the kopjes, but a bitch to carry on prolonged marches. Think I'll get a set of smaller 10x32s since light transmission is not a factor for most african conditions, save of course for leopard/lions off bait at dawn and dusk. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE off shooting sticks. I got to the point were I flet totally comfortable and it paid off with the 125 yard shot I had to make on that buffalo!

Bring all the money you can, then bring some more! I should have. Bring your wife! even if she isn't a huntress, the "african experience" is beyond description! The situation in Zimbabwe is critical for most people but with a reputable PH like I had, it was totally transparent. Already planning on 08 for leopard and sable....with my wife's blessing! Am I lucky or what! Well I've rambled enough. please feel free to email or call if you have any specific details that I left out. Good hunting and if you are considering going, do yourself a favor and look into hunting with John. He is just great! jorge

Jorge,

I agree wilth your observations. My wife and I were talking "lasterday" as one grandson puts it, we were bemoaning the death of the great airline South African Airways was. Please send your complaint to Debbie and to Don Causey at The Hunting Report as well as to SAA. Both have corporate contacts.

I also recommend Debby Gracy's outfit, they are capable of helping you put the wheel back on after it comes off in Africa: most travel outfits cannot.

Zim is great hunting and the people outside ZANU-PF are great.

I have my own guy there, but John is certainly a great PH.

jim

Jim: thanks for the input. I've already voiced it to Debbie but I hadn't thought about Mr. Causey. Who's your PH in Zim? jorge

Jorge1/ read your post with interest. hope to book africa hunt soon. who was your PH & how did you book your hunt; have a ph # for gracy travel? why did you choose Zem for your hunt? my goal is a good buffalo. thanks. chaz.

Chaz: My PH was John Sharp, he has a great website that you can look him up. I picked him by a good recommendation from a friend of mine who hunted with him before. He is one of the most reputed PHs in East Africa. I booked directly with him first by email then I met him at the Safari Club Convention. He is not cheap but you get EXACTLY what you pay for, i.e., THE BEST. Zimbabwe offers the most economical hunts for buffalo with practically 100% success rate on Buff. Gracy Travel: 800-299-8558. jorge

That's good advice, Jorge I have copied it and saved it in my files for my next African trip. I totally agree with you about SAA. They suck and the scarebus sux.

Jorge--really sorry to hear about SAA. Since they honor Delta miles my son and I flew SAA business class from Atlanta to Jo'burg via Capetown in 2002 and had about the finest flying experience imaginable, considering the lenth of the flight. Both flight and ground personnel in RSA were polite and professional, and we had zero gun hassles. Have they cratered in the last few years or is it just a YMMV thing?

Sounds like you had a wonderful hunt with Sharp---thanks for posting the pictures.

Jorge,

My PH in Zim is Gordon Duncan at Shangaan Hunters, I hunted with him in '01 and '02 taking a good leopard and an excellent Cape Buff (the largest entered in the PH awards for the '02 hunting year). I book for Gordon as well.

The PH development system in Zim guarantees a professional, and the folks that live there are really outstanding people. All in all it is hard to find a poor PH. Not to say the outfitter can't screw up on details. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

jim

Jorge,

In your post you mentioned that you used the services of "OPTIMA" to handle your luggage & rifles. Who (or what) is this outfit?

My son & I are leaving for RSA on Monday afternoon (July 4). Although it is a bit late to add another service to our trip - and I have not had any serious problems with luggage or rifles in my past 5 hunts there, there is always that possability. I'm going back to Tanzania soon and will be taking a couple of rifles and lots of photographic stuff. No need to have it misshandled any more that necessary.

Any information would be appreciated.

M-70: If you do a search over on AR Forum for "optima" you can get plenty of info or you can call Gracy Travel. It's money well spent. They essentially meet you at the gate, get you checked in on your connecting flight, but the most important thing they do is physically sight your bags/guns and ensure they make the flight. Same on your return. jorge

Jorge
Thanks for the lead.
Optima Business Service.
www.optimahandling.co.za is their web site. Several threads concerning them on AR. Price seems to be around $35.00 US per person. E-mail for information @ [email]callcentreoptimahandling.co.za.[/email]
This for the others on this forum that might want same information.

jorgel:

Thanks loads for the info. Really appreciated. I'm happy for you and the wife.

As regards SAA were the attendants black or white ? As you probably know there is BIG problem in RSA.

Bill Tibbe

WET: Jeez, I hate to answer that one becasue two flights aren't by any means statistical certainty, but yes they were black. Having said that on the flight from Bulawayo to Johannesburg on the SAA Airlink, the stewardesses were black and they were as nice as can be. And yes I do know about the issues over there and if they don[t fix it, we'll ALL stop going! jorge

Sorry you had such a bad experience with SAA. I've flown them roundtrip (from Atlanta) twice to Joberg, in 2002 and 2003. I thought they were one of the best airlines I've ever flown (Air Jamiaca is my all time favorite, China Airlines the worst). On both SAA trips I thought the food, service, and crew were great. Most of the crew were white though, so maybe things have changed.

Still sounds like you had a great trip with great memories (except for them losing your wife in the bush!).

I have made the trip 3 times in the last year and the service and food are the worst of any International Airline I have flown. Even worse than US carriers and that is going some way. Overall attitude is "you don't want anything do you". Long story but last trip, my wife got put in the back. This after I bought extra miles from Delta so she could have a business class seat. Reservations were made months in advance, she called two weeks before the trip to confirm business class seats and was informed all OK and then when she gets there, they stick her in a middle seat in the back and basically say tough chit, you never had a business class seat.
Can not prove it but highly suspect they had someone buy the business class seat and simply kicked her out.

She gets blood clots in her leg so this was a major problem on a long flight. THEY DID NOT CARE! Gave us major grief to even get her into a bulkhead seat for the return flight, so she could stretch her leg. Oh yeah, they ran out of water in the back too. Big no no on long flights but they did and the attitude was, tough!

I can also say this is the only International flight I have ever taken that I get off of hungry. And I have taken lots of flights. You get a fairly decent meal when you leave but after refueling, you get this tiny little roll with a slice of meat you could read a paper through. They look at you like your crazy if you ask for another. Then a light breakfast before you get there. This on a 20+ hour flight.

I am so tired of their crappy service and attitude (black and white) that I will do my best to fly through London from now on, even though it adds almost an extra days travel time to the trip.

This is just my experience but I take 8 to 10 International round trips per year, so I do have some experience with other lines to match it up with. I love South Africa but HATE SAA. TM

JorgeI--

Thanks for the information!

Travelingman et al--

Souns like the getting there and back with everything and emotionally intact is the biggest part of it.

George

I flew SAA last August and had a terrific experience. Great service, etc. Since then 4 freinds have used them with good experiences also. While in Zim, I heard horror stories from PH's and other hunters regarding sabotauged rifles with European based airlines, particularly with British Airways. Any other experiences out there similar?

safariman

jorgeI/ thanks for the info. this is a great thread. clearly i get what i pay for; avoid ssa air, & hire potima. appreciate it..chaz

I went Manchester to London Heathrow to Joburg just recently with Virgin Atlantic and had no problems with my rifle at all.

BA and Heathrow had a very bad reputation at one time but it seems to have improved leaps and bounds. Main problem we used to get was Americans arriving at London Heathrow and having no idea of British gun laws...Since 9/11 and American laws being tightened up ect, that seems to have reduced now...I think most people now expect some hassle when they fly with firearms regardless of the carrier or destination..

Regards,

Pete

My understanding with British Airways is that you cannot transport firearms to Zimbabwe at this time (if Zim is your end destination with BA). I'm sure there are ways to work around this, but seems to be a major headache.

My wife and I flew to Heathrow two years ago and on return was checking our bags in when the airport personnel told us, "Thank you for flying British Airways but we can't check you in, we have just gone on strike". Left 80,000 travelers stranded at Heathrow for 3 days before it was resolved. My wife and I hurried over to American Airlines, who got us out two days later, without charge in the most efficient manner possible considering the circumstances. Turns out the BA strike was over using credit card type timecards that the employees didn't want to use. Evidently there was no negotiation between employees and management, just a coordinated strike. I'm not sure what that cost BA, but they had empty planes flying out to all corners of the world just to make space for incoming flights.