Buffalo Hunt Recommendations

Catahoula said:

I had myself convinced that I would stick to plains game going forward. However, I now have a 458 Lott on the way, and I may as well put it to good use. I'm looking for recommendations from those that have done recent buffalo hunts. (My only experience is a cow hunt in South Africa) I'm open to location. My wish list is as follows.

1) True walk and stalk hunt. I know that locating herds is often done from the truck, but I want to spend the bulk of my time with boots on the ground.
2) A remote feeling to the accommodations. A lodge located in a bush setting is great, a tent camp might be better.
3) Minimal to no other hunters in camp. I know that asking for a camp too yourself as a solo hunter is sometimes a tall order, but I prefer not sharing my camp with large groups. I enjoy quiet conversation around the fire at days end. Too many hunters in camp can get a little loud and boisterous for my taste.
4) A representative, hard bossed bull. I don't need a monster, but do want a mature bull that I can be proud to display.
5) A PH that enjoys the hunt as much as I do and is willing to adapt to my needs. I know the PH's first priority is safety, but I want to hunt and shoot my buff, including any needed follow up shots, unless safety is a concern.
6) The ability to add some plains game without a lot of additional travel.
7) A large property. I don't mind high fences as much as some, but want the property to be large enough that it feels like hunting and not shooting.

I'd be possibly looking at late 2019, but more realistically would be in 2020 due to some other travel already booked. This would be my 4th safari, and I want to do it right. I'd love to hear what some of you liked about your hunt, along with things you would change or do differently. Feel free to PM if you prefer. Thanks in advance for any replies.

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fourfive8 said:

Can't add much to what's already posted except if you hunt free range, the distribution and density of game will not be as "predictable" as on many of the high fence areas. But a high fence area needs to be BIG to feel comfortable (for me anyway) especially for a DG hunt the way you want to hunt. Big is subjective of course but a 5-10K acre high fence area is not big to me. 100-200K acres or larger may start to feel big enough-- dunno?

I've noticed a couple of BVC (previously known as Lemco) recommendations. It is big, however when assigned to a camp/area with a PH, you are restricted to hunt within that area. In certain circumstances PHs in adjoining areas may agree to a "trespass" for certain species based on agreement between the PHs and their hunters. But I wouldn't count on it for every circumstance. While BVC is large, you have to study the BVC camp/hunt area map to get a more reasonable idea as to the actual size and lay out of the area you may be hunting. And the Malangani area is separated by it's own high fence from the rest of BVC. While ok for certain PG it does not have lion, rhino nor elephant which are always a bonus to have around for the experience whether hunting them or not. It does have decent leopard however (mainly because of no lions). There are buff in Malangani but I think areas like Fimbiri, Dyers and Nengo are much better buff areas. Also, BVC is more expensive than many comparable areas so take that into consideration. If you can find a quality free range area in Zambia or Mozambique, it may fit more closely to what you are really wanting. $.02

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375 Ruger Fan said:

@fourfive8 Unless the BVC has drastically changed since 2015, I have to disagree with you on the description of the place. Lions are all over the place, however I did not see any big males during my 10 day hunt. Elephants are all over the place and I had a close encounter with a big boy. My PH, John Sharp, calmly opened his Rigby 470 NE and removed the softs and loaded a couple of solids. Luckily, that's all that happened but it was a very cool experience with our little standoff. Also saw black rhino and white rhino. The BVC has its own little army to do battle with poachers. My impression of the BVC was that it might actually have too much PG. Giraffe, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest and maybe Elephant population are quite high.

You are correct that the BVC is pricey, but I think it was less than Moz. You are correct the 800,000+ acres are somewhat subdivided between the 8 camps. Each camp essentially is allocated about 100,000 acres. I hunted out of Chamalaya, which was outstanding. (http://www.john-sharp-safaris.com/bubye-valley-conservancy/) While I was there, in late May, only 3 of the 8 camps were occupied. John Sharp would talk with the other PHs at night and also the conservancy General Manager and we received permission to hunt the other areas.

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fourfive8 said:

375 Ruger Fan Re-read the post! I said Malagani is separated by a high fence of its own and is separated from rest of BVC. MALANGANI has no lions nor rhinos nor elephants.

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Hallgeir Gravråk said:

I hunted Buffalo cow with Christo Joubert at Chivic African Safaris situated in Hoedspruit,
I was the only hunter at the camp and I stayed at Marakapula lodge near Phalaborwa.
The hunt for the cow was not easy, they where very spooky.
We used the pick up truck to the nearest watering hole, found tracks and follow them thru the whole day, we had lunch in the bush in the tracks, I think we walked about 30km every day in 7 days before I got my buff cow.
Christo is a very dedicated PH and Outfitter, He is a very nice person wich is easy to get to know and like.
We also had a tracker, a fellow from Zim his name are Roberto Nadinho Chisaze, he was fantastic, He tracked better than a dog, he wes laughing and smiling all day, and did a fantastic job for me as a tracker.
We did hunt in area near the Kruger park and we saw buffalo avery day, I could have shot big bull but the cows where hiding in the heard.
I`m gonna book more hunting with Christo, next time I will go for those old wild dagga boys.
And I know that I will be taken good care of and also next time I will get this fantastic hunting on foot, just following the track of the buffalo.
Christo is a Outfitter and PH that I will recomend if you looking for a DG hunt.
The camps are excellent with good and plenty of food, you can choose luxury camp or a MOZ type camp and at night you can relax and listen to the Hyenas laughing and the lions roaring around the camp, You can`t get closer to the wild Africa.

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