ZIMBABWE: Chirundu, Zimbabwe: (Wet) Dreams On The Zambezi River

wildwilderness

wildwilderness

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When something is Too Good to be True, it usually isn’t!​


This hunt report is in response to the post by Dalton and York Safaris of a last minute cancellation hunt:


DALTON & YORK SAFARIS

Thread 'Cancellation Hunt 2026 Chirundu'

Good afternoon all I hope this finds you well you all well . We have had an unfortunate event happen to a client who was scheduled to hunt in 3 weeks . The hunt would take place in chirundu adjacent to nyakasanga on the Zambezi river . This little oasis is an incredible honey hole and a joy to hunt . The package is for a 15 day safari . Dates avalible July 15 - Aug 18 2026.

All daily rates are paid and the only thing left is the taxes and trophy fees

Avalible quota

Elephant bull $18000
Buffalo $6500
Leopard $9000
Crocodile $6000
Hippo $5000

Multiple plainsgame .

This is a great...
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Such a great offer- was it really true? I had to find out for myself!
 
I was at a family reunion when my friend Brady messaged that there was a great offer here and sent me the link- I saw that it was posted the night before and one or two member had responded that they would take it-

Sort of relieved that it might be gone so I wouldn’t have to decide to take it or not… I knew I still had to do my due diligence and follow up. A few messages and a call quickly revealed it was still up for grabs, but as I posted there were expectations to commit to the full time and pursue all the listed animals. Quick math, fees, travel and prep….

Was I ready for that and tell my wife? And the time off work? We already had a couples retreat planned in Europe and I had a sheep hunt back home in Alaska…. I knew my wife would kill me if I cancelled Europe :) so I would have to go the later dates offered and cancel a sheep hunt… not too bad as I have already harvested a few and would go again.

I have gone on a couple “good deal” hunts in the past- One to the Savé in Zim that was a complete disaster, another to Cameroon that was not as anticipated. Both wastes of time and money. Would this be the same?

The clincher was all day fees paid and trophy fees only on killing. This would take a huge pressure off the hunt. Deep down I knew I would regret not going now that I had the chance… and I really wanted a Leopard. I had already gone on 2 unsuccessful hunts (Zim, and Namibia) There would be not better offer than this.

I called Dalton right back and made the deposit!
 
In Namibia who did you hunt leopard with please?
 
Man, I messaged York about this hunt also and was prepared to leave the next day if need be but I didn't hear back for 3 weeks :mad:. I'm glad it went to someone here, and based on the FB pics, I think good things are coming for this report !
 
Rare Breed said:
In Namibia who did you hunt leopard with please?
Click to expand...
I hunted on a private ranch in 2024- there was a cancellation hunt posted here from an outfitter Kou Kuas that was related. There were multiple cats on the property, saw a female, but the one we targeted was too smart... would go to a different bait when we sat one all the time. By the time we caught on and removed a bait he was still clever to us. The other mature male was very intermittent like once every 5-7 days.

They had shot the leopard multiple years in a row up until then, and the hunter the year after me (2025) killed on his first day! That was bad luck for me since he offered me to come back in 2025 (at a good price of about $14k all in) but I had too many other commitments that time.

And this year 2026 he did not draw his leopard tag.... I heard Namibia got some new person and drastically cut exportable leopard tags.
 
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wildwilderness said:
I was at a family reunion when my friend Brady messaged that there was a great offer here and sent me the link- I saw that it was posted the night before and one or two member had responded that they would take it-

Sort of relieved that it might be gone so I wouldn’t have to decide to take it or not… I knew I still had to do my due diligence and follow up. A few messages and a call quickly revealed it was still up for grabs, but as I posted there were expectations to commit to the full time and pursue all the listed animals. Quick math, fees, travel and prep….

Was I ready for that and tell my wife? And the time off work? We already had a couples retreat planned in Europe and I had a sheep hunt back home in Alaska…. I knew my wife would kill me if I cancelled Europe :) so I would have to go the later dates offered and cancel a sheep hunt… not too bad as I have already harvested a few and would go again.

I have gone on a couple “good deal” hunts in the past- One to the Savé in Zim that was a complete disaster, another to Cameroon that was not as anticipated. Both wastes of time and money. Would this be the same?

The clincher was all day fees paid and trophy fees only on killing. This would take a huge pressure off the hunt. Deep down I knew I would regret not going now that I had the chance… and I really wanted a Leopard. I had already gone on 2 unsuccessful hunts (Zim, and Namibia) There would be not better offer than this.

I called Dalton right back and made the deposit!
Click to expand...
Huge congrats! I had failed to recognize you are a fellow Alaskan. What part of the state?

I saw a little of what appeared like an amazing safari, so cannot wait to read and see the days unfold.

I hope you enjoyed hunting with Johny. While every single one of the Dalton & York team is especially skilled and solid gents in and out of camp, I really think Johny is one of the kindest and most genuine folks I have met in a long time. We've shared camp a couple times and shared way too many drinks in Nashville, but have not hunted together...yet. As long as things hold, we are set for a fun couple/few weeks in October...which cannot get here soon enough.

As a sheep hunter you'll understand, that I did get some seriously needed distraction when Idaho WSF called to notify me that an Alaskan had won their state-wide governor's bighorn tag, which this year included Unit 11, Hells Canyon, so I now at least have a last-minute dream hunt to help pass the time until Zimbabwe.

Cannot wait to hear more, and honestly if we ever end up in similar area, maybe share a coffee/beer.

Cheers,
Will
 
Now committed to the hunt I had a very short window to prepare- about 1 week since our Europe trip was set to depart mid July and not get back til the end of the month.

I decided to get a new rifle- I had a 375 ruger I sold to a friend after my last hunt since he is a collector of them, and I had a 470 NE in a double that I did not think versatile enough for the variety of game and unknown conditions: If lucky I planned for the Croc, Hippo, Buffalo and Ele with the big gun- some of those require precision shots at distances up to 100 yds, and my 470 was not up to that task.

So I found two local options and posted it here:
wildwilderness

Thread 'Which would you prefer- 416 or 404'

Last minute been thinking of an Elephant/Buffalo bolt rifle- a couple of options locally available as mentioned a 416 Taylor or a 404 Jeffery.

The 416 would be about $2000
the Jeffery about $3000

Which would you prefer and why?
  • Like
 
Wildwillalaska said:
Huge congrats! I had failed to recognize you are a fellow Alaskan. What part of the state?

I saw a little of what appeared like an amazing safari, so cannot wait to read and see the days unfold.

I hope you enjoyed hunting with Johny. While every single one of the Dalton & York team is especially skilled and solid gents in and out of camp, I really think Johny is one of the kindest and most genuine folks I have met in a long time. We've shared camp a couple times and shared way too many drinks in Nashville, but have not hunted together...yet. As long as things hold, we are set for a fun couple/few weeks in October...which cannot get here soon enough.

As a sheep hunter you'll understand, that I did get some seriously needed distraction when Idaho WSF called to notify me that an Alaskan had won their state-wide governor's bighorn tag, which this year included Unit 11, Hells Canyon, so I now at least have a last-minute dream hunt to help pass the time until Zimbabwe.

Cannot wait to hear more, and honestly if we ever end up in similar area, maybe share a coffee/beer.

Cheers,
Will
Click to expand...
Yes, Congrats on your Tag! I am so jealous, hope to see a monster bighorn ram! I completed my Grand Slam of Sheep in Dec 2025 with an archery killed Desert. I definitely understand Sheep Fever :)

I do have to say Johnny Russell may be the best PH I have ever hunted with and made the safari fabulous. I will hunt with him again!
 
So with the new 416 I decided to go with Cutting edge bullets: heard many good things about them and wanted to see for my self. With the short case of the 416 Taylor I elected to try the 350 gr solids and 325 raptors. I figured it would still out perform a .375 cal as similar speeds

I had less than a week and ordered a ton of stuff. Shipping to Eagle River AK is never as quick but luck was there. I got the Solids going 2490 fps and the Raptors 2550 fps with a medium load. I didn’t want a max load in a new to me gun going to Hot Africa.

For the Leopard and plains game I elected my most accurate rifle I use for western hunting a custom 7mm SAUM that has been 100% reliable. I changed the load from a high BC eldm to a 160 Accubond for more durability going an easy 2860 fps

Looks like I got some decent first shot accuracy in such a short time. I did resight to 50 yds once in country
 

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wildwilderness said:
For the Leopard and plains game I elected my most accurate rifle I use for western hunting a custom 7mm SAUM that has been 100% reliable. I changed the load from a high BC eldm to a 160 Accubond for more durability going an easy 2860 fps
Click to expand...
Enjoying your play by play report so far - looking forward to more ...

Thought I was the only guy on the whole forum that still has a 7mm SAUM hiding in the closet. Underated calibre that tends to be very accurate, one that never caught on. Interesting load choice for the Leopard. Will be following to see how that goes
 
Nosler guy said:
Enjoying your play by play report so far - looking forward to more ...

Thought I was the only guy on the whole forum that still has a 7mm SAUM hiding in the closet. Underated calibre that tends to be very accurate, one that never caught on. Interesting load choice for the Leopard. Will be following to see how that goes
Click to expand...
The 7 saum and 160 accubond was recommended by the PHs for it performance on possible bigger plains game. Still a soft and will expand but bonded say for a Kudu or waterbuck. If leopard only I’d consider the eldm but have less predictable performance with some huge exits or none at all and who knows with bone. Works great on sheep but they die easily.
 
Europe went well- my wife was annoyed with all my pre prep for Africa but was able to make it up to her. Went to Switzerland and Austria. Beautiful mountains and did see a number of stags in some areas. The last place we stayed near Salzburg was an old hunting lodge- full of roe deer, chamois, stags and even alpine ibex trophies. (Would have loved to hunted but that would have been death for me)

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wildwilderness said:
Europe went well- my wife was annoyed with all my pre prep for Africa but was able to make it up to her. Went to Switzerland and Austria. Beautiful mountains and did see a number of stags in some areas. The last place we stayed near Salzburg was an old hunting lodge- full of roe deer, chamois, stags and even alpine ibex trophies.
Click to expand...
One of my favorite parts of the world in those mountains - spectacular country, great food and lovely people.
 
Yes I have to work to pay for all the trips! And catch up on all the neglected home stuff!

I also tend to prefer to add some details etc since I find something like this will help me remember not only the trip but all my experiences and some thoughts that went into it. So bear with me as I find the time and I write it up
 
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