Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Buffalo in Tanzania, etc.

So, while I hunted plains game in South Africa in 2010, it was fun and on some big properties with flighty critters, however I have zero desire to go back to Africa with one exception: Cape Buffalo. I'd like it to be a true, old style track the herd down and get close kind of a hunt. My research has pointed me towards Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda or maybe Mozambique but I'm open to other options. I am not interested in South Africa or Namibia for this.

I also would like to:

• Hunt in March/April or early summer with March/April being preferred
• Book directly through an outfitter and not a third party, as I have generally had better experiences doing so
• Hunt out of a tent camp, as I despise big fancy lodges
• I really just am not interested in being ridiculously catered to or having 4-5 other hunters and lots of workers around other than a few trackers

Specifically, I am looking at these three outfits. Has anyone hunted with them? What can you tell me about the operation? Good, bad, ugly?

• Ultimate Tanzania Safaris: https://utsafaris.com
• Michael Mantheakis https://mm-safaris.co.tz/home
• Uganda Wildlife Safaris http://www.uganda-wildlife-safaris.com/contact/

John Sharp has a hell of a rep though I suspect he is booked up for quite a while.

Thanks for any insight.

Chifuti Safaris in Zimbabwe...

Is that who you went through?
Their site seems to be down, and a quick google search shows a lot of odd ball things. I am not sure they are even still in business.

No, I didnt go through them. Im not sure about their current standing, they used to have a stellar operation.
The guys I went through are long gone...

Look at the pricing in Tanzania...its usually off the charts high...lots of add-ons.

did my first hunt in africa this last aug in zambia.....pretty low key ...nice but not over the top at all..I did not want fancy at all....jhonny duplooy...buff leopard etc.

next hunt is in zimbabwe 25.....lin stanton buff elephant etc.


call mark young thats who I booked through....he is a straight shooter and doesn't cost extra...but will have tons of info for you......what you are wanting is what I wanted and got.....no lodges for me....thatched huts.....bob

I’ve hunted with John 3 times now…Won’t be a tent camp but otherwise checks the boxes. Just did a double buff hunt last July. Had a great time and great hunt. Shot my second buff at 11 paces. Worth an email and phone call to discuss. While he is getting older he is in good shape and a great guy to share camp with. No experience in Tanzania. Generally more expensive but opportunities for multiple buffalo make it an intriguing option.

Huh....good info all. This is the kind of info I am looking for...
Looking at Tanzania the prices don't look over the top to me....Ultimate Tanzania has their Buffalo Package #1 for right at $20K USD and looking at what was included and what was not, it didn't seem that I was missing anything...but this is why I asked.

Thanks!

pmed you..bob

If you’re considering TZ, be sure you ask about charter flights to camp and approx costs. They can quite easily be $4-6k or more. I’ve taken buff in TZ, Zim and the Caprivi. TZ is by far the most expensive if that matters- mainly because of the add ons and much higher day rates, offset somewhat by lower trophy fees.

It also depends on how much you want to experience what's known as "wild" Africa--meaning you're not hunting on ranches (even if the buffalo are wild), but where the other large animals of wild Africa might be encountered--such as lions and elephants, whether you can hunt them or not....

Thanks everyone for the info…this is the kind of stuff I was hoping for.

jdollar, Ultimate Tanzania Safaris’ packages includes domestic flights and hotels at least according to their website. My limited research doesn’t seem to indicate that Tanzania is any more expensive than anywhere else and what seems to be included in prices isn’t lacking anything, from what I can tell but I absolutely could be missing something…

I see that I have a lot of research yet to do, which is fine.

I know you said you were not interested in Namibia or RSA. You might want to look into hunting the Caprivi in northern Namibia. That is wild Africa. I hunted up there last year for buffalo and was able to get a real good one. We encountered elephant and hippo daily. Had to be real careful on the river, the hippo were very aggressive. Heard lions at night and saw a couple of kills. Prices are reasonable for the experience you get. If you change your mind about Namibia, I’ll be glad to share info on who I went with. Either way, good luck on getting your buffalo hunt scheduled.

Thanks Seilders....I will at least check that out.

Zimbabwe and Zambia most certainly are getting my attention right now.

Fair Warning:

Tsetse flies are thick in the Selous region. It's the only negative I can come up with about anywhere in Tanzania, except for Zanzibar. Avoid it. Tanzania is expensive on a whole.

The Caprivi Strip has always interested me, and I hear from some who have been there it's an amazing experience, and Namibia is well run.

T_Inman, you’ve picked some good operations but I’ll offer a few others to give consideration for your buffalo hunt.

If you need to hunt in March-April, you really limit your options in Tanzania largely to Masailand. You’d be hunting into the Long Rains, which can make for tough conditions. After hunting Maswa North in December of 2019 and dealing with heavy rain every day of our hunt, there is no way I’d personally risk hunting during the rains again. But, you can shoot 2 or 3 buffalo in Tanzania, depending how long you hunt and that’s a big benefit, IMO. Masailand is one of the few areas you can hunt during the long rains.

Michel Mantheakis’ Longido area is very good, though tends to be expensive. Charl Van Rooyen is a very accomplished safari operator, but I don’t know if Nalika & Mbaragandu are even huntable then. It’s just south of the Selous Game Reserve and hunting there is generally a July-October endeavor. I’m also not sure Charl is still hunting there as I know that Gerard Miller & Ryan Shallom have at least a portion of those two areas now. You’ll need to talk with Charl to confirm where he’s hunting and during what months.

A couple other options to consider in Masailand would include Eshkesh Safaris, who has Masai East Open Area. Mubarek Atik runs Eshkesh and is here on AfricaHunting as a sponsor. He’s a good guy, good PH whom I’d happily hunt with. Another to consider would be Ernest Dyason, another sponsor on here who does his Tanzania hunting through Kilombero North Safaris. They’re both good PH’s and have quality buffalo hunting on their areas. KNS has some fantastic buffalo hunting. I personally know both of them and would happily hunt with either one.

Moving to Uganda, March is a great time in to hunt the Karamoja District that Christian Weth holds. It’s some of the very best buffalo hunting anywhere and you can shoot multiple buffalo, but it ain’t cheap!

If you’re open to hunting later in the year, especially mid-July to end of September, you open up some additional fantastic options. These would include MA1/Madaba in the Selous with Alan Vincent or on Chifunda or other Luangwa Valley concession with Johnny DuPlooy. Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Caprivi also have lots of good options then.

Your time frame is going to figure heavily in where you end up.

If you want a more traditional "tended" East African Safari, then, look for outfits that offer "tended" safaris (lots in TZ and Zambia). Pierre van Tonder has some really good places and buffalo and his prices are very reasonable. I hunted buffalo with John Sharp up in the Dande North region of Zim which is very wild Africa. Ne now hunts the Bubyee valley conservancy.

Thanks everyone. I do appreciate it and am considering all of these options. I have absolutely zero experience with these critters.

I want a March or April hunt because I am so busy with NA hunting in our falls and my summers are busy at work. I am not a strict trophy or numbers guy and would be perfectly fine with any average bull, so I am not tied to one area that traditionally produces bulls of a certain size. What I want is the tracking and old school experience.

I really appreciate all the responses.

Doing a hunt in March/April - you'll be up close and personal for sure. Still a lot of green on the trees/bushes. CAelknuts raises a good point - if you want to shoot more than one buff, TZ is a good option on the average as you can take 1 or 2 extra on trophy fee basis.

In much of Southern Africa, March and April are the transition between the end of the rainy season and the start of the dry season. All the trees and shrubs will be fully leafed out, reducing visibility and making it a lot harder to see game. This is something to consider.

A hunt a couple of months later would be a bit easier and also cooler. The best hunting months are probably August to October.

Tanzania and Uganda have different wet and dry season patterns and would probably be more viable during March and April.

My son and I hunted buffalo and plains game last September with Neil Duckworth of Mokore Safaris in their Coutada 9 area in Mozambique. The hunting was terrific and we both took nice bulls along with a bunch of other animals. I've hunted buffalo 2 times with Neil and Mokore Safaris and they run a top notch operation.

Like Bob_mt I booked my hunts through Mark Young. He is a straightforward guy and easy to work with. He can answer lots of questions as he's done many hunts in Africa. He represents a number of good PH's including Johnny DuPlooy in Zambia and Mokore Safaris in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

I'm pretty sure I'll never afford a Tanzania hunt but if I did I'd beg, borrow but not steal to hunt Tommy Roberts and Grants on the same hunt.

Good luck with your selection and hope you have an awesome hunt.

Zero experience in Africa so you get what you paid for.

I would spend 4 days at the next DSC face to face with most everybody.

You're gonna find a newish guy who hunts hard and can't draw the bigger dollar clients yet but has a good area.

Maybe finding the right hunt is just as hard as finding a buff?

As Bob_mt and bowman have suggested, you’d do well to talk with Mark Young. It doesn’t cost extra to book through him, and all details including some you may not think of, will be addressed by him. I’ve booked various hunts with different agents over the years and have found Mark to be one of the very best. He doesn’t work with a large number of safari operators but does work with some of the best in various countries. You’d be well served to talk with him.

Thanks everyone. I am in touch with Mark Young and we are discussing options. I am also in contact with John Sharp.

John B: That would be an absolutely solid plan, but I am afraid I'd go postal being in a crowd such as what I have heard DSC is. Mediocre sized airport lines are bad enough. I don't know if I could handle a big show like DSC, SCI, SHOT or the like. You'd likely see me on the news....and not in a good way.

Mokore Safaris in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. I hunted with Gary Duckworth in Zim for plainsgame , buffalo and leopard, 42" buff taken. Lots of game and a super nice guy to hunt with. I can't recommend him highly enough. Like you I wanted to be in the bush not a fancy lodge. I wanted to see, hear and feel Africa, to absorb as much of the experience as I possibly could. Gary saw to it that my hunt did just that. They can be reached directly at mokoresafarisafrica.com. Good luck in your quest. Hunting Africa is a life changing experience especially Buffalo!

I've taken one safari, back in 1998, and Gary was my PH.

Great adventure, great PH.

I should go back!

Another name, if nobody mentioned him before, is Luke Samaras. Old school safaris in the Selous. Tented camp, two buff and limited plains game on a ten day hunt. Not super big buff, but a lot of them.

Luke doesn't spend a lot on marketing, but he doesn't need to!

LOL.

Somewhere in that big show is the perfect guy for your hunt.

He won't have a big booth on a busy isle.

He will have scraped just to get a 10X10 booth in a slow location and still has a lot of fire in his belly for the hunt.

Probably some shyster in the booth beside him so you will need the BS detector on max gain.

Think of it as getting 2 hunts for the price of one.

Awesome way to look at it.
Do booths at 'lesser' traffic areas of those shows come with lower prices to have a booth? Serious question as I have never been in that line of business.

We'll see what happens. I may look into some shows, somewhere. I am still probably 3 years out from this due to other commitments and I need to keep saving my pennies, so there's time.

No lower price on booth space.

As those big shows are always sold out so the newer guys without deep pockets start at the back, so to speak.

The Dallas SC show is the best of the big shows.

Just sitting back and watching how a booth is worked can tell you a lot about the exhibitor.

Do they get there early and stay to the end? There is a work ethic demonstrated at these shows.

Are they pleasant to everyone?

Day 3 and 4 (4 day show) are the best for attendees as the crowd thins a lot.

Lots of good deals on hunts happen on day 4.

Huh....that is good to know. Thx!

African hunting is a highly regulated industry. Daily rates and trophy fees are pretty much the same across the board. In essence, you get what you pay for and small time operators, AKA "suitcase PHs" (there are some good ones) are often times limited by the opportunities for quotas and areas. I for one simply cannot afford to have a "bad saferi", if for no other reason I can't afford to do so. I STRONGLY recommend you go with a known quantity, you will not only have a great time, but you'll want to go back!

Thanks Jorge.

I see the logic in both arguments. If a guy has a good BS meter to separate the wheat from the chaff concerning new operations I can see how the newer operators could provide a solid hunt at a better price, especially if the hunter is willing to be flexible and hunt harder than average. I am not too experienced in having those discussions however, as I don’t do many guided hunts.


Mark Young is directing me towards an operation in Zimbabwe and I am taking his suggestions seriously.

Jorgel is right ....trying to save money by using someone that is hungry is bad advice...they probably won't have their own area....it would be a shoestring operation.

I am the furthest thing from an expert but a little research into how things are run over there and some common sense goes a long way...bob

Mark is an EXCELLENT choice. Keep us posted.

My Father in Law and I are hunting with Johnny Duplooy the beginning of June. We considered Zim, Zambia, and Tanzania. Tanzania was just more than we wanted to spend this trip, but I will hunt it some day. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Johnny DuPlooy, and we booked through a booking agency that really listens to your desires. We wanted good Buffalo, as my father in law already has a 41” gold medal buff he took in SA. My goal is to shoot one 1” bigger than his with just as much drop. 🤣

Excellent choice... Our own Hatari hunts with them and has been for many years.

I'm a bit late to the discussion, lots of good suggestions here already...

I would definitely drop John Sharp a line, if I were you. He is not as busy as you would think. Bookings have been down in the BVC this past winter and he may have some openings yet this year, although those will be late in the season. John does his own booking so that checks your "no outfitter" box. Now, I know you don't want to go when things are busy here in America, but you should reconsider: you'll be here every August thru December for the rest of your life, but you may only be in Africa once for the rest of your life. So go to Africa when it's best to hunt Africa: late winter, or August to September.

The BVC where John hunts is an incredible hunting area, unlike anywhere else in Africa. It is very wild, both in terms of the ecology and the animals. You will not run across many humans other than your own party. The buffalo are plentiful and there are lots of big bulls. The hunting is true spot-and-stalk. Most of the hunting is of bachelor herds (dugga boys), but under some circumstances you may end up hunting a large herd. We did both on my last safari (2019), and I must say it was pretty exciting being less than 10 yards from multiple animals while the PH and trackers looked over the animals to find a shootable bull. You'll do a lot of walking, a lot of game-spotting, and when it's time to take the shot you'll feel like you've earned it.

Well it isn't a done deal yet but Mark is writing me up a contract for an early July 2025 hunt along the Luangwa River in Zambia with the DuPlooys'. I am having Nile Crocodile written into it as well.

Boy 'oh boy....here we go.....

Whacked a nice 9 inch tom turkey this morning, and now have this deal nearly in the bag. Good day, today has been.

Sounds like a great hunt! Congrats!

You’ve made a really good choice and will have a quality hunt. Johnny is very good. I’ve hunted with Muchinga in 2018 and am booked to hunt with Johnny again in November of ‘24. The DuPlooys are quality people who do things the right way.

Great news!!! Congrats.

Sweet deal all around! If going to Zambia I wouldn't be able to resist adding a puku and chobe bushbuck to the list.

Well it still isn't a 100% done deal yet but it is getting close. Early July 2025 looks to be a full moon and the only other opening is for late May which I likely will take---at Mark's suggestion. The DuPlooys' seem to think there'll be no issue finding Buffalo then, nor crocodile.

So, with that being said....bullets and binos. I will be discussing this with the PH at length but also for once I want to be the one on 24 Hour to ask the inevitable and ridiculously repetitively questions. Yes, I have googled the hell out of it and read opinions as varied as Ford vs Chevrolet. I have a Win 70 .375 H&H with Leupold VXIII 1.5-5X20 that will be going. What are the solid vs expanding bullet experiences here? 300 Gr Swift-A Frame has a reputation.

Binos? My standard Meopta 15X56s just do not sound optimal, like it does in the sheep or mule deer country I am used to hunting. I do have some 8.5X42 ELs that I use for timber hunting. I presume these are good for this kind of hunt?

The 8.5x42's should be great in the thorn bush. I used 8x42's last fall in Mozambique and they were perfect.

We used .375 270 grain TSX bullets to take two large buffalo with one shot each. But there are lots of good bullets that will work well, including the A-Frames.

Thanks bowmanh. Does the 270 TSX have enough velocity from a H&H to expand adequately, even at close range? Sounds like it worked for you, but any others??????

Out of my rifle the 270 grain TSX was going around 2700 fps. Most shots at buffalo are under 100 yards so that's plenty fast enough for good expansion. I shot my buffalo at about 70 yards and my son shot his at about 25. Sure killed them dead pretty fast.

I've shot two Zambian buff with 270 grain A-Frames. No problems.

If I was concentrating on buff I might switch to TSXs. Either will work. I usually use 300 grain bullets but the buff don't care.

As far as solids, ask Johnny. I have hunted three times with Alister Norton, DuPlooy's nephew, I think, and he doesn't feel a need for solids on buff.

T_Inman: I have killed 4 buffalo with the 270 grain Barnes LRX ( because I could not find the 270 TSX) they gave excellent expansion and on a broadside shot tended to be found under the hide on the far side.

I used the Woodleigh 300 HS solid as well. They worked as advertised.

Would like to see pictures of the bullets I recovered?

I think the 8x binos will be ideal.

I have used a 375 H&H on 12 buffalo and have used both the 270 TSX and LRX. Shot three at around 125-135 and they worked just like they did at 15 yards. Muzzle velocities were around 2800 (CFE223).

Have been loading my ammo for May and will be using the 250 TTSX at 2800. Expecting similar results.

Binoculars
I have used 8, 7, and 6x. My current favorites are the 6x. Keep them small and light weight. Anything over 8 is too much. You will be amazed at what the trackers see w/o binos.

Solids are for elephant and hippo not for buffaloes.

300 grain A-Frames

Exactly. Any of today's "premium" expanding bullets are enough for buffalo, and some are little too much.

All of the PHs I know (quite a few) like the Barnes TSX in the .375 H&H. But they prefer the 270-grain to the 300-grain, both because it tends to kill quicker AND doesn't tend to exit--and maybe hit another buffalo beyond the intended bull.

As others have said, your 8x binoculars will be perfect for your Zambian hunt. Regarding bullets, there are plenty of great options nowadays. You can’t go wrong with Swift A-frames, Trophy Bonded Bear Claws, Barnes TSXs, Cutting Edge Raptors and certainly other premium softs. There really is no need for solids these days when buffalo hunting. Johnny is a great guy and he’ll be happy to see you show up with your 375 shooting any of the above as long as you shoot well. It’s all you need for buffalo.

As mentioned above a good quality expanding bullet will get the job done. The Swift AFrames shoot very accurately out of my M70 375h&H, as do the 300 grain TSXs. Either will serve you well. 8x binos are plenty adequate for a buffalo hunt. What scope will you have in your rifle?

Thanks everyone. Google fu said solids really aren’t necessary but I wanted first hand opinions.




Leupold VXIII 1.5-5X20.

What is the campfire’s experience with Nile Crocodile? Same bullets/scope?

It has been 20 years since I hunted buffalo and theres more choices in bullets nowadays. FWIW I used a .375H&H with 300 Gr Swift A-Frames for the first shot. The rest in the magazine were A-Square Monolithic solids. I used them both and was very satisfied with the performance of both.Conventional thinking at the time was a soft first, then solids thereafter, so I went with it, knowing the PHs had a bit more experience with buffalo than I had.

A 350g Woodleigh would be perfect. Woodleigh should be back in business in a few months, so bullets should become available again.

Scope…my 375 has a NightForce 2.5-10. Super tough. Reticle big dot with a circle.

My 416 Rem wore a Leupold VX3 1.5-5 in Talley rings and bases. About 400 through it prior to the trip (Zim) with the 350 gr TSX. It worked.

Congrats on your hunt!

There are a bunch of great bullets out there these days. My dad and I went to Mozambique in September. He shot a 375 ruger with 270TSX. They worked perfectly. I’d say your 375 is a great choice and your scope is what I had on my 416 ( using 350tsx) when we went. I’d say a lite 7-8x bino would also be about perfect. When I go back I’ll more than likely take a 375hh loaded with 270TSX. As others have said I wouldn’t be too concerned about trying to find a load using solids.

Are you going to have to be on malaria meds for your trip? Apparently thethe locals over there know of a medication that you take IF you contact malaria…. My ph was from SA and he did not take any meds while we were there. He said IF he got it he would take the medicine they told me about because my meds were worse than the disease. I’m NOT telling you to do this but the meds I was on wrecked my GI tract! Just something to think about and probably ask your doc about if shots or meds are required for your trip. Good luck on your hunt!

Yup. For this season's hunt I had told the PH I'd be using A-Frames and he replied to not bother bringing solids. Wouldn't be using them anyways...

BTW, he very much likes TSX's...

Thanks for the input everyone....

I am not a big TSX guy and had concerns since the .375 H&H isn't exactly a speed demon. I have also never played with them in a caliber bigger than 6.5 mm, and with all the chatter about TSXs over .308" being designed differently, I am will be giving them a shot, so to speak.

I have 100 of the 300 grainers on the way to try out.

Be sure to try the 270 gr TSX per JBs advice. Ive heard the same thing from PHs...and FWIW the Swift A-Frame is a sure bet. 300 grainers.
Your rifle/scope combo is definitely good to go.

Thanks Ingwe.

The reason I am going to try to 300 grainers is because the American contact for this safari operation indicated the PH has no preference between the 270 vs 300 grainers and would be very happy to see me show up with either. I found some 300 grainers readily available, here on the classifieds.
Neither the PH nor I would be comfortable shooting at a buffalo in a herd anyway, so pass throughs are a non-issue. If it comes down to a wounded buffalo in a herd that I have to fire at, well then I guess it'll be a shïtshow regardless.

If they aren't accurate at all, I will most certainly look into the 270 grainers or A-Frames.

Edited: Just found some 270 grainers too and got some on the way. We'll see which shoots better.

Monkey with seating depth to get them to shoot-at least as much as the .375H&H will let you.

Yeah, the tiniest groups are necessary for killing Cape buffalo....

I thought that only applied to the Dwarf Forest Buffalo....

Point taken but group size influences confidence, even for big targets. Besides, I am also having crocodile written into the contract.
That does necessitate tiny groups, IMO.

In my experience, at least, the 375H&H is pretty easy to get to shoot. Luckily since nobody wants to spend any more time at the bench than necessary with it.

For crocs I would use a smaller cartridge/caliber. Also with the smaller cartridge/caliber you can have a larger scope which would aid in shot placement for the crocs brain.

Just my two cents worth.

That thought has crossed my mind Elks, as there is a lot of logic to it…and I may still go that route.

I understand though that Zambia has a .375” cal minimum for ‘dangerous or big game’ such as buffalo, however it is just .308” cal for ‘dangerous game’ leopard or lion. I am not sure which category crocs fit into and is something I will find out before getting too crazy.

I might be getting ahead of myself here concerning this, but that’s OK. It’s part of the fun.

Are you willing to travel with 2 guns?

Something about crocs that has always infatuated me. Like hunting a pre-historic dinosaur. A stone-cold killer with no conscience or empathy or fear. They just kind of scare the bajeses out of you.

I understand the attraction.

After my first safari over 3-years ago I have always traveled to Africa with two rifles, often chambered in cartridges that overlap in use. They have come in useful more often than not, partly when my hunting partners' rifles either didn't show up, or something went wrong with 'em. There's often considerable travel and time involved in getting to a gunsmith, or even just buying more ammo, for whatever reason. Also generally bring at least one spare scope, and it's been very useful more than once in a while.

Have also seen a number of hunters bring one rifle in some "magnum" chambering, and start flinching part way through the safari. In general rifles are shot far more in Africa than on hunting trips in North America, both because there are more animals involved, and due to checking the zero now and then after rattling around in Toyota Land Cruisers for a 2-3 days.

Travelling anywhere with one gun is a PITA.

So yea, true all that, but all things considered, I'm still asking Inman if he is willing to travel with 2 guns? And I guess only he can answer that question. And if so, curious what he would take to shoot the croc.

Lots of croc been shot with 375s...

Yeah, I know you were asking him.

My point is that there have been several times I've been glad to have two rifles in Africa. Would rather have a spare and not need it, than need one and not have it. And my hunting partners have also been quite happy on several occasions because I brought two rifles.

I haven't found it much harder to travel with two rifles than one. That mostly involves using the right case. Quite a few 2-rifles cases are a PITA. Some aren't.

Thanks guys.

I am absolutely willing to travel with 2 rifles, but still need to figure out the legal minimum on crocs there. It isn't like I don't have 2 years to figure it all out....
I don't really have any kind of a .308" tack driver, though my .300 H&H is plenty accurate. My super duper accurate rifles are 6.5mm and .224", both of which I presume wouldn't be legal nor advisable by the PH.

I have a solid double rifle case, as when I fly to places to hunt I usually try to take a shotgun or .22 along as well, so that is covered. Overseas with different countries involved I have always borrowed/rented rifles. This buffalo/croc hunt being what it is though, I will be bringing my own.

Tiny has been dealing with smallbore his entire life.
Embrace the .375.

Vinny

P.S. Lube is your friend…..
or One Shot

Sir, may I help you with something?

No. Just some fellow African hunter suggestions.

I have only rented firearms on the Dark Continent……..








and Kama Sutra enthusiasts. Once.

Vinny

P.S. Aim high, Willis.
Aim high.

If a guy isn’t obsessed with using their own rifle, renting or borrowing them is awesome. So much less hassle. Less baggage to deal with. No worry about something getting broken or stolen. No paperwork. I have borrowed or paid pennys to do so in 7-8 countries and Hawaii, and never once regretted it.

I couldn’t imagine the firearms control folks in some dirty African country stealing my favorite rifle, especially if paperwork says that it showed up and is in that country, somewhere. Holy hell…..then what?

This just isn’t the hunt to do that with though.

Suck it, Father V Card.
I ❤️U.
(In a very heterosexual way).

In all seriousness, in my 2 trips to Africa I have used the borrowed rifles and ammo because I went on “other” adventures both times for extended periods.
If I was to fly in, hunt & leave, I would be very likely to pack my own rifle or 2.
Sounds like a great adventure you are planning and you have received stellar advice here….
mostly from me.

Vinny

P.S. glad to provide additional help if more questions arise.
Just let me know. We now accept google pay & bitcoin, BTW.

I knew it.
Glad to see you finally admitting you swing that way and are not afraid of doing so in sub-Saraha Africa.

Make sure to get tested.

If the legal minimum is a .308" caliber for croc, then a .300 H&H and a .375 H&H would two excellent choices for your hunt. I could hunt anywhere in Africa with that combo and be quite satisfied.

Your mind is a gutter ball.
Give me 10 our Father's & 5 Hail Mary's.

gwe lined me out on all the inside info when we dined @ Chubby's in Clancy.
I mentioned his name ALOT over there, til I realized it was doubling the price of everything.
So remember that.

Slave

According to on-line info from , the .375 H&H s the legal minimum for crocodiles in Tanzania, as with all dangerous game.

But like many who've hunted in Africa, I've found such regs can be pretty flexible, even for the government game scout accompanying Tanzanian safaris I brought two rifles on my safari a dozen years ago, a 9.3x62 and .416 Rigby--and was allowed to take up to three buffalo. My PH, the late Paddy Curtis, was so intrigued with the way the 9.3 put down large, tough plains game that he wanted me to use it on a buffalo, and the game scout said sure. But I had already taken a very good bull with the .416, and wasn't going to shoot another unless it was bigger--and we never found one. (Also found one site that listed what it termed .375 (9.3) as legal for dangerous game.)

One of my hunting partners also brought two rifles, a .458 Lott and a .300 Winchester Magnum. If I recall correctly, he used the .300 on the big croc he took, on the advise of his PH who preferred its finer accuracy and flatter trajectory. I know he did use the .300 on his leopard, again on the advice of his PH (and with the consent of the game scout), even though according to the listed regulations .375 H&H is the legal minimum for all "dangerous game," regardless of size.

Good info.
That is the kind of stuff I am looking for.

Thanks.

I have a hunt in RSA booked for 2024. If I couldn't take my own rifle(s) I wouldn't go...

For general hunting the way it is done in most countries and not anything dangerous such as this hunt that I am inquiring about, I have zero issue not using my own rifle as long as it is a conventional rifle of some sort and I can fire a few rounds at a target beforehand. For these types of hunts the vast majority of my shots have been at well less than 200 yards and many at around 100. Never an issue---on 5 continents.

Some people feel taking their rifles/handloads is as important to them as anything else and there's nothing wrong with that. I do not feel that way though and doing so way has saved me a lot of hassle and I can only suspect some heartache as well.

Good luck in RSA.

Words hurt....

I shot one buffalo so please listen to me.

270 TSXs
74gr RL-15
WW cases (good luck in finding them)
F-210 Match primers
seat deep all the way to crimping cannelure.
DONE

A friend just gave me this skull.
Closest I'll ever come to going hunting in Africa.

That is my load as well. It has been on an unsuccessful SE Alaska brown bear hunt and will be used on a grizzly hunt next year. My one and only buffalo was taken in Zimbabwe with my 416 Rem M70 and the 350 gr TSX also handloaded with RL-15.

Why are you against hunting in the Caprivi Strip of Namibia? It's completely different from the rest of Namibia and is sandwiched between Angola and Botswana and Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Contact GRF on this forum, he hunted the strip for buffalo (I believe with Kowas Safaris in the fall 2021).

I’ve hunted the Caprivi 5 times now, taking 3 elephants, 2 buffs and a hippo. Also accompanied my BIL on a hunt where he took 2 elephants, a buff, hippo and croc in the first 5 days of a 10 day hunt. It’s a fantastic place to hunt with a huge range of habitats. Also the tiger fishing is good in both the Zambezi and Kwando rivers. What’s not to like? And it’s a boatload cheaper than TZ….

I have already been to Namibia, and want to see another part of the continent. That is the main reason.

My original post title meant to say "Buffalo in Tanzania, etc.".

Side note: I did some research and didn't really find Tanzania to be any more expensive than anywhere else in Africa, to include required taxes, but maybe there are hidden fees that I didn't pick up on??? In any event, I am booked for Zambia, 2025.