ZIMBABWE: Our Zimbawe Adventure & Hunt For Buffalo & Elephant

My wife took a lot of pictures and as they were in order it helped a lot. I do believe I got some of the details out of sequence a bit, but not to the point it changes the story... There was a lot left out actually.

I started out writing things down on paper and very soon fell way behind... This was in such a wild and huge area that it required a lot of travel and it is impossible to write or type while driving, I was literally hanging on and trying to keep from bumping heads with Ann. Or to hold her head somewhat steady on my shoulder as she was sleeping! I did have a tablet with but used an old time paper journal.

I think my lesson that is to write down "just the facts" and in an outline or bullet point/list sort of way. Just to keep things straight an go from memory on the rest. I have trouble remembering names and what I'm supposed to pick up when I go to town, or do next sometimes... But I can remember things like this hunt like it just happened! In fact I can see those Klipspringers with the $200 trophy fee running off right now! LOL

Charlie I doubt you will be put through the travel rigors in RSA. So you might get more time to write things down and still be able to get some sleep. Other than Pieter might be pretty good company and keep you busy visiting.

I look forward to your report! Hunting elephant is such a special experience, do take great notes and pictures, but also enjoy it and revel in it! It will be something to reflect on the rest of your life! I will do it again if at all possible, not for the shooting, but for the majestic experience and to be part of the system and process of making the circle of life work.

God I can see it now how a big bull came to such an abrupt stop when he discovered he was on a collision course with a Matriarchal cow with a calf.... He was half again as big as her but pulled up and gave her the right of way! Elephants seem to have built in suspension systems and his whole body kind of bounced and recoiled like a big old 1970's Chrysler with bad shocks and a student driver almost running a stop sign (yea there is more to that story;). And it was right there in front of us! You just cannot get the same effect from a photo safari car.
 
Awesome Shots of those 3 Mule Powered Safari Ferraris! Sorry you had such a rough trip in, I hope the hunting will be a great memory.
 
Awesome Shots of those 3 Mule Powered Safari Ferraris! Sorry you had such a rough trip in, I hope the hunting will be a great memory.
I'm not sorry for the rough trip... it was an adventure!
 
Bob,
I don't know how I missed this, but I did. Great write up! I really enjoyed it. I just wished I would have read it before DSC. I would have cornered you and made you tell it in person! Super happy the hunt turned out the way it did. Great hard earned trophies. I doesn't get any better than that. Well done friend!
 
Bob, I was driving back home from a bowhunt in TN last night thinking about this story. Which of the Capstick books was this scene from I thought? Then I realized I had found this on AH! Excellent report and great photos too! Truly enjoyed it especially since thinking about buff in Zim. Thanks
 
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!!!!!!!
 
Thanks for the nice compliments all! It bring back great memories.

As this is currently a non-importable elephant, I commissioned replica tusks cast from the originals. They are in final paint and touch up now.
 
Fantastic stuff.
 
Great Report. Loved the pictures.
 
Great report Action Bob! Well done.
 
Great report and well done on your elephant and buffalo, I hunted that same area in the beginning of the year but there were no elephants so i think you had a really great time.
 
We saw lots of elephants but most in the Diti area, traveled a lot, hunted hard. Wore out shoes.
 
Petrus, that's elephant hunting, one day they there, the next they gone..
 
These are the photos of my replicas, still in Zimbabwe but on their way to RSA... should be in the US in a couple more months. as long as they made customized molds of my originals, I had two sets made. Thinking of plugging the one set into a replica shoulder mount but may hold off a bit and see if I can come up with a better place to display such a thing! The other set in on hand carved bases.
Replica Tusks (Side A).jpg
Replica Tusks (Side B).jpg
Replica Tusks on Carved Bases.jpg
 
Keep going... great read so far!!
 
Great report, congrats! The tusks look great!
 
Petrus, that's elephant hunting, one day they there, the next they gone..
NOT even... one MINUTE they are there and the next MINUTE they are gone!! :)
 

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Our trophy shed is filling up and we are only getting started,

cwpayton wrote on CM McKenzie's profile.
Sir ,is that picture of you packing the shoshone river trail thru buffalo pass? Im trying to get a plan togather for a ride. do you pack professionally or for pleasure. thanks
Cal {cwpayton}
ghay wrote on gearguywb's profile.
Is this rifle sold? If not what is the weight of it and do you know if there is enough difference in diameter between the 35W and the 9.3 to allow for a rebore to a 9.3x62 which is what I am after?
Thanks,
Gary (Just down the road in Springfield)
Woods wrote on Hunter-Habib's profile.
Forgive me if this is the incorrect area, I signed up to this forum just now because I wanted to be on the list to purchase a copy of your autobiography. Please feel free to pass my information along to whomever is selling. Thank you so much. I look forward to it!
I like the Tillie in my picture. They are supposed to fit loose (2 fingers inside hat band), have mesh for cooling, and hold their shape after washing.
 
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