Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Zimbabwe Hunt---- May or September???

What month would you choose and why? Elephant and Leopard being the main species. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

At first glance, May for leopards. That said I also would ask in what part of the country. Also, that combo is quite odd and unless you're booking 21 days, forget about it. jorge

?? indeed a strange combo..one walking a lot and the other sitting a lot,going to take a lot of time to have any success?
I did Zim in May of 2004,great weather,only a couple of hot afternoons,but game was moving well.

The reason it is an odd combo is that they are two different styles of hunting.

For leopard, you will take generally antelope/zebra for bait, hang it and make a blind when the leopard hits. You want to be at camp so that youcan enter the blind in late afternoon and sit. Generally you hunt PG in the am, return to camp for lunch and siesta, and then sit in the blind until action starts or dark.

Elephant hunting is on foot, and you will cover the miles in most cases. Chances are you may not be near the bait or want to cut short the elephant tracking to sit for the leopard.

Not that it can't be done, it is just not typical.

I'd shoot for May for a little cooler temps. As far as the combo several outfitters will prebait a week or so in advance looking for a big male. If that's the case, days would not matter a bunch. Enjoy it whatever month you decide.

Personally, I'd do May for the leopard and September for the Ele. I know that's not what you want to hear but that is the way I would do it. It is a tough pairing to get both on one hunt in one area...but it can be done.

May is the way to go for leopards and here's why; There's still plenty of water around so game isn't tied to a particular water source and thus provide an easy ambush for the cats so hunting is tougher for them, and they will come more readily to hung bait because they are hungry. In the drier months, fresh kills are easier to come by so hung bait tends to be less attractive. j

If one desires leopard, the hunt itself needs to be focused entirely on that goal. Anything else that ends up in the salt should be considered a lucky bonus.

I would be more concerned with ensuring that I booked with a well regarded and proven "cat man" (John Sharp immediately comes to mind) and go with his recommendation on which month to conduct the hunt.

BTDT, both ends of the season, more than once. It will be HOT, but September is my choice because the lack of water conncentrates the animals near whatever water there might be AND becuase the leaves are off of the trees and shrubs for the largest part, making animals far easier to see. You will be shocked at how well a herd of Elephants can truly HIDE in the thick stuff.

IF your body and conditioning and mindset (not to be discounted!) can handle the heat and mopane flies and thorns and dust, September is prime time for Dangerous game hunting.

Who are you hunting with? Might be someone I knew or know.

The same could be said for Hephalumps, in spades! I seriously doubt the 2 could be successfully combined into one hunt.


Pete

Like jorge1 said. 21 days for such a combo would be the way to go for reasons mentioned above.

September is good for elephant, we got one a few weeks ago on the second day because the bush is open. Elephant was our primary goal and there were no other animals required by the hunter and no specific size other than "big enough for me" (the hunter).

If you want 50 lbs or bigger you are going to see many elephant before you squeeze the trigger and you will need lots of time for that.