Finally back, finally going back.

[browningbbr]

Hello All,

It's been quite a while since I have signed onto AH. A new job, a move to a new location, etc. have kept me too busy. I now have a bit of time to participate again. It's great to see familiar names and to see so many new people on the forum.

It's been even longer since my wife and I hunted in the RSA. We're finally headed back to Africa this year and have booked a July buffalo and leopard hunt in Tanzania with Ryan Shallom.

The last couple of years have not been ALL work. My wife and I did get time to do some trout fishing and antelope hunting in WY and some bear hunting in Idaho.

- browningbbr

 

[enysse]

Welcome back, Tanzania....I'm jealous but happy for you and your wife.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Glad you survived your hiatus.

Look forward to your hunt report with lots of pictures.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Good to have you back browningbbr!

 

[Nyati]

Welcome back, wish you the best of luck on your coming hunt !

 

[The Big Game Hunter]

Best of luck to you on your hunt!

 

[browningbbr]

My wife and I are 40 days from getting on the plane bound for Tanzania.

Spent Sunday practicing with my "spare" rifle - Montana .375 H&H. I'm starting to let my self get excited about the hunt.

The .416 is sighted in and ready to go. The ammo for the trip is packed. I've already got both sets of binoculars, the range finder, all of the cameras, ammo belt and cleaning kit in my bag.

I didn't want to start thinking about it too soon. I'd spend all of my time doing nothing else. After reading about other's hunts, I think it's time to start daydreaming about buffalo stalks and leopard blinds...

- browningbbr

 

[Bobpuckett]

My wife and I are 40 days from getting on the plane bound for Tanzania.

Spent Sunday practicing with my "spare" rifle - Montana .375 H&H. I'm starting to let my self get excited about the hunt.

The .416 is sighted in and ready to go. The ammo for the trip is packed. I've already got both sets of binoculars, the range finder, all of the cameras, ammo belt and cleaning kit in my bag.

I didn't want to start thinking about it too soon. I'd spend all of my time doing nothing else. After reading about other's hunts, I think it's time to start daydreaming about buffalo stalks and leopard blinds...

- browningbbr

Oh it gets worst your not going to be able to think straight when a cat runs across the road in front of you while driving to work you start seeing a Pride of lions chasing a Cape Buffalo and a Dog running out of your yard takes a strange Resemblance to a Jackal Thank God I've only got less then 12 hours before I climb on the plane to South Africa. Good luck to you and your wife.

 

[bluey]

Thank God I've only got less then 12 hours before I climb on the plane to South Africa. Good luck to you and your wife.

its 1415 0n the 29 th down here now bobby if you left from Melbourne you would be 1/2 way there now mate
best of times to you and deb be safe and hunt hard bloko

 

[DOC-404]

Thank God I've only got less then 12 hours before I climb on the plane to South Africa.

..where you going Bob ? You better come and say hello if your'e in Namibia. If you don't...I know where you live..!

 

[spike.t]

Oh it gets worst your not going to be able to think straight when a cat runs across the road in front of you while driving to work you start seeing a Pride of lions chasing a Cape Buffalo and a Dog running out of your yard takes a strange Resemblance to a Jackal Thank God I've only got less then 12 hours before I climb on the plane to South Africa. Good luck to you and your wife.

Bob you must be at the airport or close (thats if the clocks on here are on my time??), so both of you have a great trip and keep an eye over your shoulder for the DOCMAN...:lookaround::beer:

 

[Bobpuckett]

..where you going Bob ? You better come and say hello if your'e in Namibia. If you don't...I know where you live..!

headed for the East Cape HHS going to try and swing by and see Marius and drink up all his Beer! :beer:

 

[Bobpuckett]

Bob you must be at the airport or close (thats if the clocks on here are on my time??), so both of you have a great trip and keep an eye over your shoulder for the DOCMAN...:lookaround::beer:

Thanks Spike getting ready to walk out the door right now. And I always keep a watch over my shoulder for Docman....:lookaround::beer:

 

[browningbbr]

Still counting down. 31 days until I leave to hunt with Ryan Shallom in Tanzania.

Black Angus cattle are starting to look like nyati. The neighbor's cat looks like chui and his dog looks like fisi.

I think I will just go to the airport and wait for my flight!

 

[enysse]

What's on the hit list besides leopard and Cape buffalo, any interesting antelope on the menu?

 

[browningbbr]

A hyena would a target of opportunity. Any of the gazelles are next on the list. From there, we will play it by ear.

I would not duplicate any animal I have already taken except perhaps a zebra.

 

[spike.t]

what area are you hunting? oh by the way these last 10 days went pretty quick for me, but not for you i bet....

 

[browningbbr]

4 days left - work to do and can only think about Africa

spike,

The block I am hunting is in the Lake Rukwa GR. I'll try to attach a pdf showing the area. It's the 1974 sq km of land between Katavi NP and Lake Rukwa.

If the upload works and you can see the file, the main camp is between LR-26 and LR-26. Camp 2 is under construction and lies at LR-13. A 3rd camp is planned for the southern tip at LR-10.

I've only been in weekend communication with Ryan Shallom (PH & Outfitter - frequent contributor to this formum) for the last 3 weeks because he's been in the bush getting the camps set up. This is brand new territory to his company and late rains delayed getting into the area. He tells me that we're looking at some serious travel time to get there.

My wife and I are leaving on Sunday from O'Hare at 10:30 PM CDT. Travel time through Istanbul to Dar es Salaam is about 25 hours. We arrive in Dar at 2:30 AM on the 9th - Dar is 8 hours ahead of US central time, so the flight time/local time get compressed.

From there, here's the itinerary that Ryan has laid out for us:

9th - travel to Morogoro and have breakfast with his family (about 4 hours) - after breakfast, travel to Tabora (about 10 hours) and overnight in a hotel there.

10th - travel from Tabora to the concession (about 10 more hours) - try to get in early enough to check sight-in on the rifles and maybe get a shot at one or two leopard baits.

11th - 24th - start baiting ASAP followed by hunting leopard and buffalo + whatever the hunting gods send our way

25th - begin the trip back home via the same routes and stops.

Here's what Ryan has told me about the area so far:
* The flora of the western arm of the block is much like the Kilombero that he used to hunt
* Roads and trails to the area were virtually non-existent. It took the better part of a day to clear the track into camp one
* The tsetse flies are bad in the eastern 2/3rds of the block. The western portion seems to be clear of them.
* He's seeing some real nice buffalo

Other than buffalo and leopard, we're open on other game. I'd love to get a hyena (because they are just so damn ugly) if possible. I don't measure trophies, so it's not like I have a lot of objectives beside the buff, the cat and having a lot of fun.

- browningbbr

 

[spike.t]

jeez that is some driving! i would have thought morogoro to tabora is heading quite a way north of where you are going to come back south again.

 

[browningbbr]

yeah, it is, but apparently it's the only place for an overnight stay.

leaving tomorrow night!