Brandon.Gleason
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2009
- Messages
- 485
- Reaction score
- 846
- Location
- New England
- Media
- 32
- Member of
- SCI Life Member, DSC, NRA Life Member
- Hunted
- Canada, RSA, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Dates: November 3-12, 2025
Outfitter: Muchinga Adventures
Location: Upper Lupande GMA, Zambia
PH: Johnny du Plooy/Sean Armstrong
Booking Agent: Arjun Reddy, Hunters Networks LLC
Game Hunted: Puku, Crocodile, Spotted Hyena, Sharpe Grysbok, Hippopotamus, Yellow Baboon
Game Seen (Additional): Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Livingston's Eland, Impala, Common Duiker, Warthog, Cookson's Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Zebra
Rifle: CZ 550 .375 H&H, handloaded CEB 275gr Safari Raptor and 300gr Safari Solids
We were originally booked to hunt lioness in the Save Valley Conservancy in Zim for August of 2025, but the elimination of lioness quota in SVC that was announced in January 2025 found us looking for an alternate hunt plan. I was one of 3 hunters in our party, the other two being members of the local SCI chapter (The Central Connecticut Chapter). Finding quota for 3 hunters in one area proved to be a steep order, but Arjun Reddy pretty quickly found us a pivot plan by the time we attended the SCI Convention in Nashville in late January. We met Johnny and Laura du Plooy and hit it off immediately with them. They had availability in October, but that wouldn't work with my family vacation schedule, so we landed on the first weeks of November. In speaking more with Laura, we also hatched a plan to bring Stop The Bleed training to a group of Zambian PHs. Laura and Johnny felt this particularly prudent given the unfortunate loss of PH Greg Michelson in 2024 from blood loss secondary to a buffalo goring incident. I was extremely happy to lend my medical knowledge and time to fellow hunters, and our Chapter was very happy to fund and provide basic trauma kits for all attendees of the course.
The night before we were scheduled to fly out, one of our three hunters had to cancel his trip due to his mother's failing health (she passed the day we were flying home). We pressed on from JFK to Lusaka with a layover in Qatar. I say EVERY flight that I'm going to prioritize budgeting for business class flights on the next trip, but then end up squirreling that extra money for more trophy fees!
Our layover day in Lusaka was the planned day to provide Stop the Bleed training for 20 Zambian PH, camp staff, and community members (including some VERY enthusiastic and bright teenagers). That evening we took a short flight to Mfuwe with Johnny and Sean and an hour drive later found us relaxing in camp for dinner. It was hot, but very pleasant in camp.
I won't go into terrible detail on the hunt, as I've submitted an article to Safari Magazine through SCI for publication, but I'll tease some photos here of our successes.
Half way through our hunt, we provided a Stop The Bleed course for Wildlife Police Officers and Community Game Scouts at the Nyamaluma Wildlife Training School.
I'll end in saying that Muchinga Adventures runs a first rate operation. Johnny du Plooy is very deserved of the 2026 SCI International Professional Hunter of the Year award he will be receiving in Nashville in February. I would unreservedly recommend their outfit for hunters interested in experiencing Zambia. They do a great job developing community relationships to decrease poaching, and increase game population throughout the Upper Lupande GMA.
Outfitter: Muchinga Adventures
Location: Upper Lupande GMA, Zambia
PH: Johnny du Plooy/Sean Armstrong
Booking Agent: Arjun Reddy, Hunters Networks LLC
Game Hunted: Puku, Crocodile, Spotted Hyena, Sharpe Grysbok, Hippopotamus, Yellow Baboon
Game Seen (Additional): Lion, Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Livingston's Eland, Impala, Common Duiker, Warthog, Cookson's Wildebeest, Bushbuck, Zebra
Rifle: CZ 550 .375 H&H, handloaded CEB 275gr Safari Raptor and 300gr Safari Solids
We were originally booked to hunt lioness in the Save Valley Conservancy in Zim for August of 2025, but the elimination of lioness quota in SVC that was announced in January 2025 found us looking for an alternate hunt plan. I was one of 3 hunters in our party, the other two being members of the local SCI chapter (The Central Connecticut Chapter). Finding quota for 3 hunters in one area proved to be a steep order, but Arjun Reddy pretty quickly found us a pivot plan by the time we attended the SCI Convention in Nashville in late January. We met Johnny and Laura du Plooy and hit it off immediately with them. They had availability in October, but that wouldn't work with my family vacation schedule, so we landed on the first weeks of November. In speaking more with Laura, we also hatched a plan to bring Stop The Bleed training to a group of Zambian PHs. Laura and Johnny felt this particularly prudent given the unfortunate loss of PH Greg Michelson in 2024 from blood loss secondary to a buffalo goring incident. I was extremely happy to lend my medical knowledge and time to fellow hunters, and our Chapter was very happy to fund and provide basic trauma kits for all attendees of the course.
The night before we were scheduled to fly out, one of our three hunters had to cancel his trip due to his mother's failing health (she passed the day we were flying home). We pressed on from JFK to Lusaka with a layover in Qatar. I say EVERY flight that I'm going to prioritize budgeting for business class flights on the next trip, but then end up squirreling that extra money for more trophy fees!
Our layover day in Lusaka was the planned day to provide Stop the Bleed training for 20 Zambian PH, camp staff, and community members (including some VERY enthusiastic and bright teenagers). That evening we took a short flight to Mfuwe with Johnny and Sean and an hour drive later found us relaxing in camp for dinner. It was hot, but very pleasant in camp.
I won't go into terrible detail on the hunt, as I've submitted an article to Safari Magazine through SCI for publication, but I'll tease some photos here of our successes.
Half way through our hunt, we provided a Stop The Bleed course for Wildlife Police Officers and Community Game Scouts at the Nyamaluma Wildlife Training School.
I'll end in saying that Muchinga Adventures runs a first rate operation. Johnny du Plooy is very deserved of the 2026 SCI International Professional Hunter of the Year award he will be receiving in Nashville in February. I would unreservedly recommend their outfit for hunters interested in experiencing Zambia. They do a great job developing community relationships to decrease poaching, and increase game population throughout the Upper Lupande GMA.
...happy to see you had a great hunt with johnny 
Congratulations.
