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

Finally back from Europe I went to work for 2 days to catch up- not so easy with the jet lag, then had 1 day for final prep and pack. Then the long journey began-

Aug 2 Day 1 : Travel: Delta Airlines Anchorage - MSP- Atlanta

Aug 3 Day 2 : Travel ATL- JNB -long line to clear weapons and slow to bring them in. City Lodge for the night.

Aug 4 Day 3 : Travel: Airlink JNB to Harare - met by The charter company Mack Air and assisted to clear weapons and recheck for domestic- 1.5 hour wait for all personnel and late to the charter. Mack Air to Chirundu Strip. Expensive charter but saves 8-9 hours on horrible Zimbabwe roads.



We made a couple other stops on the way in. Neat to get an overview of the area. The landing approach is over Zambia airspace and coming in on the Zambezi River.

I saw hippos and elephant from the air. Exciting to finally get on the ground after sooo much travel! Living in Alaska is a bit of a drag when it comes to hunting Africa.

I was met by the PH Johnny Russel and his team. Instantly could tell he is a great and caring guy. The strip is on the property we would hunt and a quick 5 minute drive past impala and a big hippo in the pond out front we were at the lodge and ready for dinner!

Over dinner we chatted about the hunt and got to know each other. I was ready for bed and ready for the morning to come

Finally an African Sunset in the Bush

Travel note: would have been way easier to have gone straight from Europe to Harare. Would have saved 3 days of travel for sure! And cheaper all around

However, that would have precluded bringing my own rifles. I do enjoy an excuse for a new rifle or a reason to work up a new load. But with the short notice it would have been much easier to have not added that extra work (though enjoyable) was a bit stressful with the time crunch.

Also it is hard for me to know the quality of the rental rifles without prior experience with the same PH and Operators. I have seen some very questionable firearms over the years.

Furthermore I feel more comfortable with a rifle I have practiced with and shot many rounds. And for a big safari like this I don’t want any trouble on that end.

About the Property: From the Dalton and York website: I include it since it will not be posted for next year. This truly was a rare opportunity as I learned how competitive Hunting concessions are in Zim. Private land is at the whim of the Landowner so last year a different operator had it, this year Dalton &York, then he without telling sold the quota to someone else for Next year!

“It is a private estate which boasts great buffalo, crocodile, elephant bulls, hippo, leopard, lion and multiple plains game. This is the smallest area we operate in being only 6000 acres free range, but don’t be fooled by its size, it packs a punch with a high concentration of game and a beautiful scenic terrain. the camp is situated in land with a view of a big dam and a beautiful pan in front of camp giving guests’ great sitings from the outside terrace. It has multiple rooms with aircon and permanent power as well as a beautiful swimming pool to cool off in after a hot day.”

And a link to the Actual website: so you can see pictures (of course it looks better than it really is but still nice for Zim) Tamarind camp has been neglected but they are working to fix it up- however far that reinvestment goes who knows- it’s Zimbabwe


We stayed at the main Lodge and had a good time, and yes the animal viewing from the deck was great. They did double book a bit with some campers and other guests but fortunately it worked out ok.



Small area even smaller with the farm operations and personal dwellings that the landowner didn’t want us shooting too close. We did have nice flood plains, but any islands were off limits claimed by Parks.

I have been on many safaris with hours travels to get where to hunt, cold on the back of the truck, sweaty hot in the day, tired dusty and cold driving back at the night- Not this hunt! We could drive the whole thing in an hour and be back to the lodge at anytime for a meal and a siesta

Keep it coming! I’m sitting on the beach waiting for more!

Aug 5, 2026 Day 6: Morning Hunt!

First off we went to shoot the rifles. No surprises there. I enjoy putting a couple rounds down the barrel to feel ready.

With Leopard on the menu we need bait ASAP. Johnny had scouted a nice mature hippo on a back eddy, important not to kill something in the main current!

We snuck into the area and quickly glassed up the hippo resting under the floating plants. We stalked in close and had a 20 yard shot straight into the brain! My first hippo was down! I had been with a brother in-law when he shot a hippo and that was a bigger fiasco when he missed the brain

Nice old mature hippo that would make excellent baits!



The guys are always happy with a successful hunt and clean harvest! First kill with the 416 Taylor- used the 325 Safari Raptor





Lots of scars on this lone hippo hiding out.

We did have to wait a while for the extra help, the tractor and wagon to show up. But that’s Africa time!

wildwilderness said:

Travel note: would have been way easier to have gone straight from Europe to Harare. Would have saved 3 days of travel for sure! And cheaper all around

However, that would have precluded bringing my own rifles. I do enjoy an excuse for a new rifle or a reason to work up a new load. But with the short notice it would have been much easier to have not added that extra work (though enjoyable) was a bit stressful with the time crunch.

Also it is hard for me to know the quality of the rental rifles without prior experience with the same PH and Operators. I have seen some very questionable firearms over the years.

Furthermore I feel more comfortable with a rifle I have practiced with and shot many rounds. And for a big safari like this I don’t want any trouble on that end.

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You could have flown Emirates or Qatar to Harare as an alternative.

Aug 5, Day 6 Afternoon hunt

After lunch and a cold Coke we headed back out- a quick drive south of the lodge in the river bed and I caught some movement. I pointed to Johnny to stop and said there is A- A - A and I couldn’t get out the word! A complete blank but Johnny quickly said oh that’s a nice bushbuck!

And we were off- I grabbed the 7mm and we made our way down the bank and towards where we last saw the bush buck. Some maneuvers and a bit of bush whacking and then some tracking- it had started to circle around us. We cleared a bush and there it was moving behind us. The sticks went up and I took the half second extra to confirm my spot and shot.

Good shot! The tracker saw it go down! I had my first bushbuck! A very fine specimen of a Chobe Bushbuck





We took the animal to the skinning shed since we were close and wanted it cooled down asap. With plenty of time left we headed back out to see what the bush had to give.

Coming out of the dry river we saw a group of Bull Elephants


Nice to see but nothing to get excited about. I had the year before been on my first Elephant hunt and harvested a 20# class bull. I told Johnny I would love a 40# this time to make the trophy fee worth it. He said he thought it possible if we were patient.

With the sun setting we went into the area west of the airstrip and ran into a group of dagga boys!



First day! The second was a beautiful specimen but Johnny had seen another group of 3 on the opposite side of the property the day before. But these were in such an accessible spot—

Johnny is a very ethical and proper PH, doesn’t want any shooting from vehicles or using it to push or unfair advantage.

So we backed out and exited the vehicle and stalked up to see what happened. As the sun was setting we got to about 50 yards and the pretty one turned frontal. I had him in the Trijicon accupoint 1x6 scope but didn’t feel like it was right to take the shot that close to dark and with his head going up and down. Johnny is never pushy and prefers that we wait for the perfect scenario and perfect shot angle. I had already shot 2 nice buffalo over the years with an exceptional 45” bull in South Africa with my bow, so no rush on my part.

They got wise to us and moved off- always another day!

Unfortunately we did not have time to get a bait up, but it was dark and time for dinner

Im booked with them at that location in Chirundu for August of 2028??? Have not heard from Datlon or York on not having the quota??? I hope there is not a problem?

Doug3006 said:

You could have flown Emirates or Qatar to Harare as an alternative.

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Neither of them go to Anchorage so I would have had to make a separate itinerary any way to another airport. I did try it once and lost a complete day since They required a 4 hour layover for a firearm transfer- I got there in Seattle 3 hours before the flight and they wouldn't take it! Made me wait til the next flight a day later

Ericedwinbates said:

Im booked with them at that location in Chirundu for August of 2028??? Have not heard from Datlon or York on not having the quota??? I hope there is not a problem?

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I am sure they know way more them me! As I said its day to day in the cut throat Concession business. Maybe they just committed to 2028+ after this safari! and the interloper didn't Good for them if they did.

wildwilderness said:

I am sure they know way more them me! As I said its day to day in the cut throat Concession business. Maybe they just committed to 2028+ after this safari! and the interloper didn't Good for them if they did.

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Also even if another Operator has an area they often can sell quota or a hunt to another PH if they have a client and agree to terms.

That's the behind the scenes business side of Safaris. Parks only gives a 5 year lease for hunting, and they can take areas and make them Photographic instead. So a good area after 5 years most likely will have multiple bids and the price increase. The current outfit may lose it, or end up having to pay more. Also Communal areas are up to the Council and they can decide on terms and operators if they like them or not As mentioned Private is up to the whims of the landowner or LLC/Trust that owns it.

I have learned to Verify specific areas as well as Operators, and which actual PH will be taking you when booking a Safari. It all matters for the success and enjoyability of the hunt. That's why I would be leery of any Brokers and especially Non-Zimbabwean operators that are not the actual ones hunting the specific area.

wildwilderness said:

I am sure they know way more them me! As I said its day to day in the cut throat Concession business. Maybe they just committed to 2028+ after this safari! and the interloper didn't Good for them if they did.

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To be fair, from your description, they are currently the interloper. It really does shock me how competitive it is for concessions in Zimbabwe. It’s not as big as it once was unfortunately.

wildwilderness said:

Neither of them go to Anchorage so I would have had to make a separate itinerary any way to another airport. I did try it once and lost a complete day since They required a 4 hour layover for a firearm transfer- I got there in Seattle 3 hours before the flight and they wouldn't take it! Made me wait til the next flight a day later

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Which one did this? I agree that’s just nonsense. The times I’ve flown them we had more than 4 hours layover, but the gun part took less than an hour.

375Fox said:

To be fair, from your description, they are currently the interloper. It really does shock me how competitive it is for concessions in Zimbabwe. It’s not as big as it once was unfortunately.

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Yes always depends on which side you are on! Especially for the one who previously had it.

From what I heard it was a videographer (not a Zim PH) who fancies himself as a wanna be hunting celebrity (instead of the clients he is videoing) that got the quota for next year. I suppose to make “content” under his control rather than some other operator calling the “shots”

Doug3006 said:

Which one did this? I agree that’s just nonsense. The times I’ve flown them we had more than 4 hours layover, but the gun part took less than an hour.

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It was Qatar in 2023 The flight got to Seattle at 12:30 ish (maybe arrived a bit late) and the Qatar flight left at 5:10pm

By the time my flight taxied and got bags out, it was closer to 1:30 or 2 pm when I was trying to check into and informed of the time policy.

Pretty ridiculous and I could tell the agent had no idea about firearms. I had booked those flight through Jennifer at Travel Express.

That was just the start of the whole fiasco- and the criminal operator and no PH or much game and no trophies… but that’s a different story

Aug 6, 2026 : Day 5 - I noticed I made an error in the day yesterday and put the wrong one. With the Edit function having a time out I can’t correct it.


The priority was getting leopard baits set up. Johnny had some areas in mind and we went to work. Finding the right tree was not always possible so they had a good way to make a good tree! Also for putting up trail cameras with digging a hole and putting a pole in the right spot.

We saw a fresh leopard track by the main Zambezi and set up a bait



Driving to another spot we came what was becoming a common sight


We also ran into a herd of buffalo- only saw smaller and soft bulls with the herd. But just a bit further we found another group of Dagga boys- this was the first group Johnny had seen and there was a nice one with good drops and width- 39-40” maybe. The Bosses were hard but not as wide as the one we saw the previous day. The other two were missing the ends of their tails! one was a Poser since he wasn’t fully hard maybe 8 yo, and the other was another legit rat, whiteface compact crappy horns.

We caught them bedded down but the wind was not cooperating. We maneuvered to get a closer look but they didn’t like it and moved on. Once again we probably could of forced a long shot into the brush but didn’t want any risk, and had to get baits set!

We found a really nice bait site near Tamarind Camp in the Mopane trees. I liked this one with a natural limb. Doing the drag the trackers said they found a really good leopard track.

After lunch we kept at it.

The next spot was just south of the lodge and a big dry river near where we shot the bushbuck. There was tons of elephant sign- he said it’s not fun to have them walking all over your blind at night, or pushing it over. Also really thorny bushes, not much shade- he said this would be called the shitty bait- and based on luck would be the one.



It took way longer than anticipated to cut trees, clear the roads and set everything up.

After that bait we did a quick cruise and saw a nice impala- we would see 100s of impala a day. Definitely an over population. In all my trips trips to Africa I had never killed a common impala! Also my kid, or someone else would (I did get a cull black impala with my bow on one trip)

The impala ram gave us the slip so nothing killed that day

wildwilderness said:

It was Qatar in 2023 The flight got to Seattle at 12:30 ish (maybe arrived a bit late) and the Qatar flight left at 5:10pm

By the time my flight taxied and got bags out, it was closer to 1:30 or 2 pm when I was trying to check into and informed of the time policy.

Pretty ridiculous and I could tell the agent had no idea about firearms. I had booked those flight through Jennifer at Travel Express.

That was just the start of the whole fiasco- and the criminal operator and no PH or much game and no trophies… but that’s a different story

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That truly stinks! I also had a bit of trouble with Qatar on my first flight with them from DFW to JNB to Harare a few years back. Of all things, it was concerning my checked bag, not my rifle or ammo. The ticket agent processed my gun and ammo cases no problem. He claimed my travel agent had not informed them of my checked bag, so I couldn’t check it. I hadn’t flown Qatar before so I wasn’t familiar with their baggage policies, but I told the idiot that nobody in the queue had done that either, because it’s simply not required. I got Patrick with Gracy (with them at the time) on the phone. He told the agent that he he also had never heard of such a requirement. The agent stuck to his guns and refused to call his supervisor. Patrick had to call his Qatar rep and have him call the gate supervisor. I refused to step out of line. It took 45 mins to an hour for a supervisor to arrive and inform the agent that he was an idiot.

August 7, Day 6- another work day

Now that baits were out we would make the rounds checking them and looking for opportunities.

Great news the shitty bait got hit by a mature leopard! Bad news the camera stopped working after 1 video so we didn’t have other angles or know how long it was there. We changed out the camera and decided to wait another day and see if it came back.


On the way to the second bait we came across the group of dagga boys we had seen the first day- having seen both groups the pretty one was just as good as the big drops- just different character- do you like blondes or brunettes? (Correct answer is both )

We tried to get the wind right and started following- they went the wrong way for the wind so we backed out and continued on to the next bait- nothing there, at the river bait we called it


On to the next- by Tamarind Camp- Yes! Can tell the branches had been moved. Turns out a small female had found it. Also some elephant activity


The hope was the big male track we saw would follow the female. We moved the camera



Then went looking for one more spot for a 4th bait. Having been on 2 unsuccessful leopards hunt I understood needing to get as much opportunity as possible.

While driving to a spot I noticed a flicker in the bush- I quickly signaled to Johnny look! There is a leopard! It quickly moved off but he got to see it. Wow a daylight leopard right where we are going to put a bait. My first time seeing one in daylight. (On the two previous hunts I did see a female while in the blind on each hunt)

I had a good feeling about the leopard hunt!



4th bait ready to go


While leaving that area we ran into a small group of Elephants lead by a Tuskless- my first time seeing one. Dang they look weird! And aggressive. Johnny said there was one on quota, but there would be some paperwork to get my name on it… he didn’t seem to keen on it so we put it off for now.


We also found a herd of 10 bulls but no size.

Also many crocs in the old pans from the old croc farm the used to run. There is still a small scale operation but fenced in

I forgot to mention that when we were checking one of the baits we saw a huge Livingstone Eland step out of the bush. I have never gotten an eland, and have even tried for a Lord Derby in an unsuccessful Cameroon trip.

But Alas the 1 eland quota was already allocated for the next hunt. I still asked and the answer was that hunter was really looking forward to an eland and no, I couldn’t fill the tag for him

wildwilderness said:

I am sure they know way more them me! As I said its day to day in the cut throat Concession business. Maybe they just committed to 2028+ after this safari! and the interloper didn't Good for them if they did.

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Excellent write up, love how you used the word interloper.

I had my first Safari booked for July 2024 in the Omay and months after I payed the deposit an interloper posted on this forum that they now owned rights to Omay for 2024 and anyone with hunts booked should contact the interloper to make arrangements.

Long story short it ended up in court and D&Y won and I hunted the Omay as planned.

Johnny Russel was in camp and I agree with your statements he seems to be an all around great person; sadly he told me by WhatsApp that a client dropped his rifle a while back and put a crack in the stock of his .500J and I wonder if he got that taken care of?