I've been to the BVC - think it would be a great place, but like trying something different.

Caprivi and Mozambique are marsh hunts and often longer shots.

Can do Tanzania but obviously $$$.

You might be surprised at the prices of some stuff in Tanzania. I would recommend the services of a qualified booking agent. They know far more outfitters than other one individual.

Zimbabwe has gotten, in my opinion unreasonably expensive. Zambia is a good option but can also be expensive.

Tanzania offers more generous Buffalo quota. A 10 day license has 2 buffalo. If I were you I would look around and call some credible booking agents

A buff in Zim is going to run $4-5.5K, plus dailies today. I have shot some very close up there. Closest was 16 paces.

http://www.safarisdemozambique.com/
I hunted here in 2014. Dry land hunt, lots of buffalo.
First class all the way.

I have buff in the Caprivi and Coutada 10 in Moz. Both marsh and mopani hunts in the Caprivi and Moz offers both forest and marsh hunts. Just ask the outfitter what he offers. Zim in the Omay is cheaper than either and hunting in the jesse is about as up close and personal as you can get. Crawling around in the Tiger Bay jesse with elephants and buffalo within spitting distance will be all the adventure you want. Contact Martin Pieters.

Another vote for Zim in the jesse....

Gache Gache campfire area on Lake Kariba with Corris Ferreira at Track-A-Hunt Safaris

Zim in the Omay comes to my mind first.

Mike

The "Crooks Corner" region of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa has some great buffalo hunting. Ranges are short and close quarters encounters are common.

I was on a hunt there where we followed a small group of dagga boys into some very thick vegetation. There is no feeling in the world quite like hearing the sound of a buffalo breathing and his tail swishing back and forth, but not being able to see it because the bush was so dense...

Zim is likely your best bet, early season will see the bush still pretty thick and buff encounters can be up close and personal. I had such a hunt in the Nyakasanga area near Mana Pools. The area was part of the annual government auction of hunt packages. These have become expensive and just as good options available with outfitters in the northern part of the country. For a balance of cost and good animals I suggest you check out Track a Hunt Safaris. Family owned and operated. A plus is their area borders Lake Kariba so you can get some great tiger fishing in as well as a serious buff hunt.

I hunted at Nuanetsi for a big buff this September. I could have shot a 41", but I couldn't keep up with the PH.

During 6 days of hunted we spotted another 41" and one 45", but they were too young in the opinion of my PH (Lin Stanton).

According to my PH, to get a really big buff, you have to get close to a lot of buffalo. Plan on tracking up to 2 or 3 different groups every day that you hunt. In a 10 day hunt, you will have a chance to get a really nice buff, if you can locate 3 - 10 bulls a day. That is a lot of walking and a lot of getting in close.

I wound up with a 36" buff, mainly because my arthritic hip was giving me fits.

Good luck.

BH63

PS Many PHs do not want you to shoot breeding bulls, no matter how big their horns are. Make sure you and the outfitter understand each other before booking the hunt. Having a 40+" buff feeding 30 yards away, but not being able to shoot it can be frustrating.

Close to booking trip to Zambia.

I am heading to Matetsi in the fall, twelve days for buffalo and sable.

Tanz ans Zambia for me.

I'll do Luangwa 2018. Booked and already half packed.

What ingwe said.

The SVC in Zimbabwe along the Save River.

I've had several up close and personal buffalo hunt in the reeds along the river and it is an adrenaline-laced, action packed hunt.

My favorite place to hunt buffalo by far!

I'm going to the Chifunda GMA with Muchinga. Have heard good things.

Totally OT< but management should not frustrate a hunter. Let you shoot whatever you want, and not care for the herd, then X years later there is nothing left to shoot... fairly simple actually.

MJK Safaris is hunting Chewore south in Zim this year. I was just talking to Tini Kok yesterday and he indicated they have some buffalo available in Chewore this season. MJK is Tini Kok and Lin Stanton. Both quality PH's. I have accompanied Tini on several buff hunts with great success.
PM me if you would like Tini's contact info.

Don't understand the "up close" part of your post.
Why not look for an ancient bull....then just wait and see what develops.
IT IS CALLED HUNTING.

I think the interesting part of hunting dangerous game is getting close to the animal. Not a lot of interest in shooting a buff at 100yds plus. Just my personal preference.

Pretty much all buffalo hunting is fairly close...less than 75 yards.

I can't speak from experience, but have heard from my PH in the Caprivi that there and Moz (eg Haldane) are more open ground, less cover, longer shots.

I shot a 39 inch bull in the Caprivi. Range was about 15 yards. We were near the Linyati river. (I hope the spelling is correct.) There were open areas but you rarely found buffalo in them. They were gathered up in think brush on small islands. If you are there you try for a hippo as well which were in abundance.

I have shot 7 nice buff, 4 in Tanzania with Rungwa Safaris, 3 in South Africa all in Klasserie, the last 2 with Duke Safaris. All were up close and personal, and I loved every one. I will be returning with Duke until I am too old and feeble. Klasserie has an open fence with Kruger, and the selection is great, and the cost-effectiveness can't be beat. Duke has had an ad in the last 2 issues of SPORTS AFIELD, and the upper right bull is mine. Tanzania and Rungwa are also great. Harpreet Brar is the current SCI PH of the year. Government trophy fees are more though.

"Up close" means the PH and I hunted for an old bull and stalked up close to shoot him.

Two from Klasserie South Africa



Ruhudji Tanzania

Sorry, lost the last photo, and Klaserie is the correct spelling

Ruhudji Tanzania

Shooting DG at ranges longer than 30 yds is not sporting IMO.


BH63