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Originally Posted by CAelknuts
One excellent place that has hardly been mentioned (only once so far) is Tanzania. Yes, Zimbabwe has very good leopard hunting if you go with the right PH, Namibia has some but isn’t as widespread as people think (personally I would not consider Namibia as I believe there are much better options), Zambia is very good, with Luangwa Valley (Johnny DuPlooy of Muchinga Adventures)and Kafue areas (Richard Bell-Cross of Pro-hunt Zambia) both excellent but nobody talks much about Tanzania. Perhaps that is because of the cost of a Tanzanian safari. But... there are some operations in Tanzania that have outstanding leopard hunting. As previously mentioned, Charl Van Rooyen has Mbaragandu and Nalika concessions, which border the southern side of the Selous. They are enjoying fantastic success on nice leopards. However, there are a couple others worthy of mention as they enjoy fantastic success on daytime leopards (personally, I would not ever do a nighttime leopard hunt. I’ve shot 2 leopards in daytime, so perhaps I’m jaded).

Mike Fell hunts Maswa North, which borders the northwest side of Serengeti National Park. He enjoys a very high success rate and kills some huge leopards, 180 lbs+ huge. He is excellent, though expensive, but produces fantastic results. My son and I hunted buffalo out of his camp in December of 2019, and though we were not hunting leopard, we saw sign in many places and it was common to hear one ‘sawing’ at night from camp. Also heard lions roaring more nights than not.

The other PH in Tanzania is Alan Vincent, who hunts Mlele in western Tanzania. I’ve known Alan since first hunting with his father, Roy, back in 1983. Alan grew up watching his dad hunt leopards in some great areas of Zimbabwe and learned well. I’m booked to hunt with him this fall, and while I did not originally intend to hunt another leopard, I’m mainly focused on 3 buffalo, Alan strongly urged me to include leopard as he told me Mlele is one of the best leopard areas he’s ever been in. He’s hunted all over Zimbabwe and Tanzania over the last 28 years, so he has a good basis for comparison. The area had been vacant for a couple years (Robin Hurt had it before) before Alan took it over last year. He only ran one hunt in there due to the pandemic but told me that, while checking baits mid-day, they twice drove up to bait trees to find nice Tom’s laying beneath the trees. He told me these are the least spooky leopards he’s ever seen, so I added another peopled onto our list to hunt. I’ll be the last hunter of the year, so will update in November when back home.


Spot on as well.


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Doug Duckworth of Mokore Safaris, a well respected PH and safari company, has just posted a cancellation offer on AR, for a leopard in Matabeleland, nice chance for a big Tom. All in, about $21,000.

Last edited by CAelknuts; 03/16/21.
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You have been given some excellent advice. I would add that this cancellation hunt was just posted recently and you would have a high chance of success.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/canceled-leopard-hunt-zimbabwe-2021.62791/
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I think you should go for more than just leopard.

In 2011 I went for a "big 4" safari in Zim. I shot elephant, buffalo, lion, hippo (for bait), zebra, and some impala (for bait). Never got a shot at a leopard.

While driving around checking baits for leopard, you might cross some buffalo tracks worth following or, as we did, blunder into a bull elephant track good enough to follow.

Sadly, it's almost imporssible for Americans to import lion or elephant since then but you get the idea.

Some of the Namibia hunts have higher success with leopard but that's about the only game you can hunt except warthog for bait.


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Thanks to all that took the time to chime in.

I ended up booking for Zimbabwe in august of 2022.

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Originally Posted by Ky221
Thanks to all that took the time to chime in.

I ended up booking for Zimbabwe in august of 2022.

Who with if I may ask..


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Originally Posted by jorgeI
Originally Posted by Ky221
Thanks to all that took the time to chime in.

I ended up booking for Zimbabwe in august of 2022.

Who with if I may ask..





PH name- Gunter Bierbaumer Leadwood African Adventures.

An acquaintance of mine just finished a lion/Buffalo/rhino hunt with this outfit.

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Thank you and good luck!


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Originally Posted by jorgeI
Thank you and good luck!



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As M3taco pointed out, Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris in Kamanjab Namibia has a Leopard hunt on offer for $17,500 all in for a 14 day hunt. I’ve hunted Plainsgame FIVE times with Jan, and can attest that he has lots of Leopards on his ranch. In addition, Jan has excellent relations with all the neighboring ranchers, so if Leopard hunting is slow on his property, he can move his hunter to an active area where a big Tom Leopard is hitting the bait. I’ve never hunted Leopards with Jan because of my limited financial resources, but I’ve shot bait animals for him (Gemsbok, baboons, Zebra) and checked baits while out pursuing Plainsgame. An additional benefit is the gourmet food prepared by Jan’s wife Mariesje.


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Some good recommendations in here, especially Sharp and the Duckworths (I have hunted all three of the Duckworth's areas).

Shaun Buffee is another good PH for leopard, he loves hunting them. I took a leopard in the daylight after sitting in the blind for only a few hours with Shaun in the Omay. We worked hard getting to that point and it was a great hunt. It was actually 10 years tomorrow that I shot that leopard. I have not talked to Shaun in two years but I believe he is still hunting on Bubye Valley Conservancy.

Keep in mind when booking Zim you have to hunt with a licensed PH and to be licensed you pretty much have to be a Zim citizen. Don't let anybody bs you on this. And be careful of areas, while Zim is a great place to hunt there is still some bad things that go on there.

This is from the Zim PH association and is a good place to start.

Zim Info

Good luck with your choice, I love hunting in Zimbabwe. If Zim is your choice try to see Victoria Falls. It is worth the trip.


Edit:

I should have read the entire thread first, I see you booked in Zim with what appears to be a South African company PH. Not saying anything is wrong but I would proceed with caution, make sure a fully licensed Zimbabwe PH is with you the entire hunt. Contact the ZPGA through the link above if you have questions.


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Leopard hunting is very specialized. There are plenty of good PH’s for Buffalo but I believe there are far fewer PHs that are really good on leopard.

In Zimbabwe you can hunt leopard day or night on private land but only day time in Safari areas. If it important for you to kill a leopard during the day some areas will be really difficult. The cats in some areas are notoriously smart and in general will be hunted at night.

Also in Zimbabwe size of the cat will vary greatly by area. You can kill a heavy cat with a big skull in the Save or the BVC but if you hunt in the valley the cat will more than likely be much smaller. A big cat in the BVC will go 180 plus pounds, in the valley maybe 140.

A good area with plenty of bait and a true leopard expert PH will save you many days and nights in a blind. Having a PH that is full time on the concession is important. They will know the area, know where the cats are, and know their patterns.

It is definitely not like tracking Buffalo. Hunting leopard can be grueling, monotonous, boring, and I can promise you the gut bucket will begin to smell after a couple of days.

Anyway these posts brought back some fond memories.

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What Mike says is 100% spot on. Personally if I'm hunting in ZIM, I'd go with a Zim PH.


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A few probably dumb questions about baited Leopard hunts.
Hunter usually shoots a bunch of various bait animals.Does hunter pay for them individually or are they in the package?
Does a Leopard prefer one bait animal over another or don't they care?
Gotta be one tense experience making the shot !
As an aside anyone hearing anything about the daily Delta flights to JHB?

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I have to completely agree with Mike & Jorge about hunting with a Zimbabwean when hunting in Zimbabwe. I wouldn’t do it any other way.

In answer to hlg’s question, bait animals are often allocated as part of a leopard hunt, but you do pay for each bait you shoot. You do not shoot ‘a bunch’ of various bait, just what is needed. Impala and warthogs are common baits that leopards love, baboons less common but also a good leopard bait. Interesting point, Alan Vincent told me we will be using some zebra for leopard bait on my hunt later this year, he says it makes excellent leopard bait. When I’ve hunted leopards in the past, we used only impala and warthog and had great success in getting nice cats on bait.

As for it being a tense experience making the shot, not really. It’s probably the easiest shot you’ll make on your hunt. Close, rifle well supported with sights set where the cat is expected to stand. It’s an easy shot as long as you manage your nerves.

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"I have to completely agree with Mike & Jorge about hunting with a Zimbabwean when hunting in Zimbabwe. I wouldn’t do it any other way."
+3, or is it +4?

Just got back from my leopard hunt with John Sharp. He strongly prefers Zebra for bait. Supposedly lasts longer in the heat and more meat. 4 baits per zebra. Shot 3 zebra at the beginning of the hunt and then didn't worry about getting bait after that.

The only thing difficult about the shot is managing your nerves, as CAelknuts said. I for sure didn't want to jerk the trigger or make a mistake on placement and get somebody chewed on. Got my cat on the 12th night. 39 yd shot in the moonlight. Hunting on BVC, so night hunting allowed.


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I didn't realize this thread had been re-kindled....my mistake.

So here's the scoop. The PH I'm hunting with "Gunter Bierbaumer" ,We spoke just today; and I had a few questions for him. He assured me that there will be a Zimbabwean PH present as well as a game scout.

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Originally Posted by gunner500
ultimatetanzaniasafaris, talk to Charl, Mbarangandu Game Reserve, i shot my leopard in broad daylight, plenty of leopards and they're not skittish, four leopards were taken there last year on a very short season.

400 H&H, 1.5-5 Leupold, with a homemade 400gr hollow point from a Swift A Frame bullet, 70 yards, center punched both shoulders, he was dead before his feet left the limb.


I see this threads still rolling along, again, big, dumb, and plentiful leopards, shot mine one hour after daybreak on the second setting, happens on a regular basis there according to my PH Gawie, 100% success rate cant be beat.


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A lot of good advice. Leopard is hard but a PH that is a cat guy will get it done.
I have been twice for leopard.

1st was with dogs in Zim - fantastic and great fun. My son and I each killed one on day 7 and 8 of the trip. Exciting.

2nd was in TZ with baits. No cats seen or on bait in 14 days.

So, choose wisely. I would hunt with dogs again in a heartbeat.

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+1 They have an area up north that has big leopard.
Originally Posted by BOWHUNR
Lindon Stanton Mbababala Safari's in Zim. He has areas in the North and South. Southern Zim historically has the larger bodied cats, but if you're playing the odds up North is a better choice.


Last edited by swiftshot; 06/06/21.
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