Hunting Zimbabwe Matetsi area in February?

HBartley

HBartley

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Hello everyone, I’m looking for some guidance and feedback on anyone that has experience in Zim in February.

I have an elephant/leopard hunt booked for the end of June 2027 but I’m needing to reschedule because my wife is due with our first born in early May.

February 27 would be the only time we could make the trip now but I’m getting some mixed feelings about it. I understand it’s the rainy season and humid but was wondering if anybody has personally experienced hunting in Zim in or around February.

My options are, go in February or postpone for a couple of years?

Just looking for some opinions and real world experience

Thank you guys
 
Early May. End of June.

I don’t see your problem. :cool:
 
My wife is going with me and I don’t think they want a screaming baby in camp
 
It would really be a question to ask your PH. My biggest concern would be if the particular area is accessible or a lot of roads would be not drivable depending on rains? There are some good early season elephant hunts. Plains game would likely be less successful than later in year.

Here’s a really successful report from @Sourdough from early March.
Sourdough

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: My Most Ambitious Hunt To Date And...'

We are only a month and a half out till my third hunt in Zimbabwe. The is by far my most ambitious hunt to date and certainly has the possibility of being the most epic. Four of the biggest highlights of this hunt are:

1. Again I'm hunting with my good friend and PH Buzz Charlton of Charlton McCallum Safaris.
2. My good friend Richard Harland and his girl friend will be coming along on this hunt. If you don't know who Richard Harland is, find out. It will be worth your time. As my back up rifle I'm bring my Mannlicher Schonauer magazine rifle in 458 Win Mag. This was Richard's favorite...
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If your pregnant wife would be going with you, you might want to discuss bugs with your PH. I’ve done a few early season hunts elsewhere. Wasps are not fun. I particularly dislike hairy caterpillars that are a combination of sting and itch. Mosquitoes and malaria are obviously higher concern than other times of year.
 
I started my safari in the Gwayi area of Zimbabwe (around Hwange National Park) on February 7th this year. Although there was unusually heavy rainfall this year, I didn't encounter any rain while hunting—perhaps because my PH and tracker were skilled at tracking the storm clouds. Ironically, I only ran into a shower at 10 AM on my last morning in Zimbabwe, during a lion walk near Victoria Falls.
On the hunting front, I spotted large herds of elephants (at least 100) foraging along the border between my hunting block and the national park every afternoon. However, I didn't manage to spot a single leopard during the day.
 
HBartley said:
My wife is going with me
Click to expand...

I would NOT take a 6-month pregnant wife to Zimbabwe. Medical care in 99% of Zimbabwe is inadequate compared to most of the USA.

My charming wife was born and grew up in Lusaka Zambia. She had three older sisters who all passed away. Two of them were lawyers who had practiced in London. This was not a family of starving villagers! One died because of a mis-diagnosis. Africa is not kind.

At elephant camp how many hours will you be from a good hospital in Harare or other major city? And really, how good will that hospital be? My mother in law died in Lusaka last year after a period of illness. Despite providing funding for her care, what she received compared to a 1970 at latest hospital in the USA. That was generous as most compared to 1945 level if care!

Then there was my first elephant hunt in Zimbabwe in 2021. My wife joined me and as tough as she is, well she was miserable. Just plain miserable. In planning my second elephant hunt she informed me she would join me at a hunt in South Africa where there are some amenities, but not in Zimbabwe.

Add to that, I think February will be wet, very, very wet in Zimbabwe.

Please do your homework with attention to both weather and availability of proper emergency medical care.
 
HBartley said:
This is great info, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you guys, keep it coming please.
My wife is pushing me to go but I have my reservations. I appreciate the first hand experience and advice from those more seasoned than myself. I’ve only been to different parts of SA a few times and only in June
Click to expand...

If your wife needs more convincing, DM me and I will set up a call between her and my Bemba Princess. My wife could also add a recent import young lady from Zimbabwe. Heck, after that, your wife would never go to Africa!
 
Back in the day, I spent three weeks in Zimbabwe in February. I was working for a safari operator conducting PAC (Mainly elephant.) Hot, muggy, buggy and all around not pleasant. My least favorite month to be in Zimbabwe. And I've been in Zim in every month except January, November and December.

My suggestion, continue making your plans on going in June. Your wife can join you on your next safari. You know, the next one you're already thinking about.:cool:
 
I'm all about pushing the envelope and swimming upstream, but Zimbabwe in February, rains, heat, bugs and mosquitoes being prevalent, you just have to give this situation great pause. Perhaps all would go without incident, but the moment something goes south, you'll find you're in a real 'situation'.

Good luck with whatever you two decide to do!
 
Mark A Ouellette said:
I would NOT take a 6-month pregnant wife to Zimbabwe. Medical care in 99% of Zimbabwe is inadequate compared to most of the USA.
Click to expand...
100%. And understand that when someone needs life saving medical care (in Zimbabwe) if they have the wherewithal they head to South Africa. So think about having to get out of the bush and back to a city with an airport, then arrange for the flight to South Africa. Not easy nor quick.
 
Put this off. The heat and bugs will be an issue.
Your bride will not be on her A game being that far along.
 
I think the earlier posts sum it up- not wise to bring your pregnant wife due to well documented health risks. The weather patterns in Feb could make it unpleasant to be there. Weather may also make it difficult to access the areas you plan to hunt. An ele/leopard hunt is something very special and should be savored . It sounds like you set up the safari of a lifetime. Why sell yourself short and try to force a hunt that could easily get compromised? If you choose to hunt in Feb, independent of the conditions you may not be in the frame of mind to fully appreciate and enjoy all that the experience has to offer. Take the time to think it thru ......
 
Bill Thom said:
I think the earlier posts sum it up- not wise to bring your pregnant wife due to well documented health risks. The weather patterns in Feb could make it unpleasant to be there. Weather may also make it difficult to access the areas you plan to hunt. An ele/leopard hunt is something very special and should be savored . It sounds like you set up the safari of a lifetime. Why sell yourself short and try to force a hunt that could easily get compromised? If you choose to hunt in Feb, independent of the conditions you may not be in the frame of mind to fully appreciate and enjoy all that the experience has to offer. Take the time to think it thru ......
Click to expand...
I respect this post and appreciate it ✊
 
I can’t comment on February but I was there in March of this year and we encountered rain several times, buried the truck numerous times, were often filling ruts with rocks and branches, and burned up a winch. I’ve also being in Zim (Matetsi) in late November with rain, bugs and humidity. Not somewhere I’d take a pregnant wife.

Go alone or reschedule
 
Mark A Ouellette said:
I would NOT take a 6-month pregnant wife to Zimbabwe. Medical care in 99% of Zimbabwe is inadequate compared to most of the USA.

My charming wife was born and grew up in Lusaka Zambia. She had three older sisters who all passed away. Two of them were lawyers who had practiced in London. This was not a family of starving villagers! One died because of a mis-diagnosis. Africa is not kind.

At elephant camp how many hours will you be from a good hospital in Harare or other major city? And really, how good will that hospital be? My mother in law died in Lusaka last year after a period of illness. Despite providing funding for her care, what she received compared to a 1970 at latest hospital in the USA. That was generous as most compared to 1945 level if care!

Then there was my first elephant hunt in Zimbabwe in 2021. My wife joined me and as tough as she is, well she was miserable. Just plain miserable. In planning my second elephant hunt she informed me she would join me at a hunt in South Africa where there are some amenities, but not in Zimbabwe.

Add to that, I think February will be wet, very, very wet in Zimbabwe.

Please do your homework with attention to both weather and availability of proper emergency medical care.
Click to expand...

Listen to this man! I had a project manager who thought he would stay in Kenya with his wife for the birth of their first child. I vetoed the idea. This is not a place to take your pregnant wife. If all goes well, fine, but if something goes sideways you do not have the availability for urgent care that you have in the US. I don’t know how you could live with yourself if you took this risk with your wife and unborn child and things went pear shaped.

Also, why would you want to hunt in a sub-optimal time of year. We don’t get that many safaris in a lifetime, do it right.
 
Which unit will you be hunting?
Are you having them pre bait for the leopard?

Taking your pregnant wife to Matetsi in February should be a definate no.

Hunting elephant and leopard will compound the discomfort. You will be doing a lot of driving.....baiting, checking baits and looking for elephant tracks or elephant.....

It will be hot, wet, humid......again depending which unit the accommodations may vary...

Taking up tracks she will be stuck on the truck.....

To compound matters Feb and even July is not a good time for elephant.....too much water around and the bulls will be mostly gone to Bots and Whange. You want to be there hunting elephant in sept and oct(november would be too late due to rain)....during this time elephant move in due to lack of water in Whange and Bots as Matetsi has permanent water....

This hunt in Febr will test your marriage to the limit....I would strongly suggest you reschedule.....
 
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