SOUTH AFRICA: Hunt With Chumanzi Zulu Safaris

rinehart0050 said:

Thanks for sharing! Congrats on you're success, really enjoying your report.

We stayed at a Africa sky for the first time back in July and loved it.

Congrats on that nyala! I find the ones I really have to work for- whether before or after the shot- are frequently the most rewarding!

Can't wait to hear how the rest of the hunt goes

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I have to agree with you. One of the best places I've stayed and great for the money.

Thank you. I may get Nyala that are bigger but this one has a great story behind it!

I'll be adding to the tale today hang in there.

enysse said:

Congrats on the great nyala! Very pretty shape!

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Thanks! He's no world record but a nice representative and has a great story behind him.

Day 3 continued:

After getting the nyala to the skinning shed we broke for brunch, which was amazing per usual. After the morning the wind had risen to a steady 10-15 mph from the ESE with higher gusts. It was an exceptionally warm day with temps in the 80's (Fahrenheit, Brickburn, no spontaneous combustion happening) so most game was laying up in the shade. We encountered a small herd of wildebeest near where the chumanzi river is supposed to be. Due to it being the dry season and a two-year drought it is more of a wash with an occasional pool of water. We put a stalk on them but got made before we could line up a shot. After a 20 minute staring contest, we backed off, not having a chance to get a clear shot. So ended another day. Back to the lodge for grilled impala steaks and a sundowner by the fire. I'd like to note that I could probably eat impala every other day for the rest of my life and be ok with that. I'm also amazed at the popularity of Carling Black Label beer.
Off to bed to prep for another day of living the dream!

Great story, keep it up !

Day 4 Chumanzi Lodge:

1700 63 degrees 54% humidity, overcast, calm

Out this morning to an area of rare flat country with mixed grass and trees which is of course, on top of a hill. During the morning the wind shifted to the south and was light and variable. About mid-morning we glassed a herd of wildebeest with a very nice bull in it and put a stalk on them. Unfortunately, they had a single, very attentive blesbuck with them acting as an early warning radar. We just could not get into position for a shot. After lunch we were back out to the same area and spotted a small herd of wildebeest lying in the shade. After making an extremely wide loop to get the wind in our favor we started a blind stalk towards where we saw them last. After about 20 minutes we had them in sight. For once everything was in our favor, wind in our faces, sun at our backs. With some glassing we spotted a decent bull among them. This was not terribly easy as they were laying down in a cluster. After shifting to get what we hoped was a line of sight to the shooter bull e started what we anticipated to be a long wait. I was on the sticks and waiting for an opportunity for a shot. I would like to thank the skimpy bull that got nervous and stood up, prompting the rest of the herd to follow suit. One head on shot at 90 yards later I had my wildebeest on the ground. Uncharacteristically, he dropped like a puppet with its strings cut with one shot. DRT. Bushbuck and warthog left to go and 3 days to do it in!

The pictures here are: My hero shot with the wildebeest, looking back towards where I made the shot from, its the forked tree at the end of the lane in the center and Mr. beest after we winched him into the truck, and a nice view of his horns.

Nyati said:

Great story, keep it up !

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Thank you! I'm working on it.

Day 5 Chumanzi lodge:
1700 49 degrees, 45% humidity, overcast, S wind light and variable

This morning started with overcast and winds from the south at 10-15 mph and temps in the high 40's. A strong cold front had come through and the game was hunkering down. During the entire morning we only saw a few impala. Glassing along the Mkuze river shortly before noon we saw three baboons and an immature nyala. Bust of a morning, but that's hunting. I was amazed that all the game we had been seeing just seemed to evaporate. On our way out from the river we saw two mountain reedbuck crossing the road. As soon as they spotted us they made an amazing dash up a 30 degree slope made of loose rock to get away. A slow morning, I never even touched my rifle.
After the lunch break we went back out. The wind had dropped and there were occasional breaks in the overcast. The game was moving and we saw several kudu cows. After glassing some good bushbuck cover, which if you ask "How in the name of Steve are we ever going to hunt this?" it is good bushbuck cover. We spotted a shootable bushbuck on a hillside across a canyon. After a short stalk, which was short because we covered 1/4 mile along a canyon rim at a trot, I was on the sticks again. A shot of between 175 and 225 yards, its not precise because I couldn't pace it off unless I learned to fly. The bushbuck was quartering away, facing uphill. It took one shot, which went in high behind the near shoulder, got both lungs and broke the far shoulder. He rolled about 20 feet down slope and was dead right there. This concluded the easy part. now, Muzie the tracker headed over to get it out. After Johann spent 15 minutes guiding him onto the spot and determining that the buck was really dead, Muzie made a few cuts, folded the buck into a backpack and started packing it out. Johann and I went back and got the truck and met him at the top of the slope. It took him 20 minutes to haul a 100+ pound bushbuck up slope through thick bush. I timed him. Simply amazing! This is actually one of the more difficult trophies to get on this property. Nyala and bushbuck compete for habitat and with a large nyala population bushbuck are less common than usual. Apparently the hunter before me struck out on bushbuck.

This picture series is the hero shot of me and the real hero, Muzie with my bushbuck. Photo two is Johann as we were walking back to the truck, it kind of shows the slope and bush density. Finally, a shot of Muzie packing it out, still amazing.

Man I feel like we are African hunting brothers. I went Nyala and then Bushbuck on my trip Africa. My bushbuck was shot at about the same range as well. Cool story, keep it coming!

LivingTheDream said:

Man I feel like we are African hunting brothers. I went Nyala and then Bushbuck on my trip Africa. My bushbuck was shot at about the same range as well. Cool story, keep it coming!

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Thank you! That puts me in good company. I almost had to get a Nyala since they are native and numerous. Not to mention I now have to go back and get my kudu. I also got a great deal on the trophy fee.
It's good to hear I'm not the only one who made a longish shot at a bushbuck. The slightly downhill, quartering away, angled uphill positioning made this one of the more challenging shots I've taken. It didn't help that I was slightly winded and on a slope steep enough I was sitting behind the sticks. This and my nyala kind of reminded me of the descriptions of a sheep hunt. Only if you don't drop them they vanish into deep bush.

It is funny because I passed on a Kudu, so I could hunt a Nyala. When I completed my stalk, I asked my PH if we were sheep hunting lol. They are fun to hunt. And like you now I have an easy excuse to go back, I need my kudu, lol. Look forward to reading more of your report.

Congrats on the bushbuck, that's a nice one!

Sounds like you are having a good time. I was afraid after the first warthog miss you were going to have troubles with some of the others. Good job. Bruce

Day 6 Chumanzi lodge:

2100 55 degrees, 58% humidity, clear, SW wind 5 mph

Only one animal to go to fill out my package, my nemesis the warthog. We went out to the Highveld near here I got my wildebeest and were looking for warthog. We happened upon one in midmorning and I made a snap shot. I assumed I missed yet again since the hog looked really healthy as he headed for the bush. Muzie then had a quick conference in Zulu with Johann and I got the analysis. “You shot just under him, we are going to find blood because you creased him, and it will be a few drops of pale blood that will quickly dry up. Let’s go get the new tracking dog and see how right Muzie is.” After picking up the dog it played out exactly as described. While I was getting advanced where to aim on a warthog instruction we spotted a warthog popping out of the grass about 50 yards away and trotting towards a dried waterhole. Taking a rest on Johann’s shoulder one shot later I FINALLY got a warthog. Oh and he had a fresh crease on one leg. It wasn’t a great hog but it was my next to last day, kind of a let’s try and get the client a warthog, moment. Everything I had paid for was in the salt! We dropped off the hog and had our lunch break.

After the break I went out with Johann to set some bushpig baits for the next group of hunters. We were in an area next to a blind with Johann setting out bait and me taking pictures of local African flora and its thorns. Now, this is where a bit of backstory is needed. This is a high fence area, most places in SA are. There is one cross fence which separates the property into “here be buffalo” and “here there are no buffalo” areas. We were in the “no buffalo” area so neither one of us had a rifle. As I was taking pictures I got the photo you see below. Yes, it’s a buffalo and I learned several new words in Afrikaans when I said; "Johann! Buffalo!' 'Where?' 'Right there!' ". While you can fence a property, you cannot fence a river and apparently this was one of what we discovered were three bulls that walked up the mostly dry Mkuze ;river to new digs. It was a little unnerving to say the least!

This photo series is me with my warthog. Johann putting out bushpig bait. A fine example of the local flora, and my surprise moment when I panned my camera.

LivingTheDream said:

It is funny because I passed on a Kudu, so I could hunt a Nyala. When I completed my stalk, I asked my PH if we were sheep hunting lol. They are fun to hunt. And like you now I have an easy excuse to go back, I need my kudu, lol. Look forward to reading more of your report.

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Thank you! We seem to be of the same mindset. And the same opinion. Of course sheep like nice open slopes not ones with bush "thick as hair on dogs back, made out of barbed wire". And there is more coming, don't worry.

enysse said:

Congrats on the bushbuck, that's a nice one!

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Thank you! It is a serious trophy both in size and effort. I really wish I had put a tape on him.

gillettehunter said:

Sounds like you are having a good time. I was afraid after the first warthog miss you were going to have troubles with some of the others. Good job. Bruce

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No, just with warthog. But I get my revenge! Coming soon,

How about that Buffalo!!! So I have heard that there are Buffalo areas and no Buffalo areas and all Buffalo apparently love to tear up fences, which means you can always be in for a surprise.

LivingTheDream said:

How about that Buffalo!!! So I have heard that there are Buffalo areas and no Buffalo areas and all Buffalo apparently love to tear up fences, which means you can always be in for a surprise.

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Well, this was a surprise for everyone involved. The Mkuze river had finally dried enough that animals were moving up and down the channel. We dragged the roads and went looking for buffalo the next day. Found two more dugga boys that had decided to wander in and I could have gotten a really cheap buffalo, which was still worth more than my rifle, scope, boots and my soul. That tale is in the pipe.

Excellent report thus far, look forward to the rest. Johann is an awesome guy, great hunter. Iv been to the area you hunted with Johann, awesome terrain, very steep but super exciting to hunt. You never know what you will walk into. Muzie is an excellent tracker! Awesome trophies taken so far.

Pierre

Enjoying the updates, thanks for sharing!