Advice on Matetsi hunting units?

[liam375]

Hi All, taking a preliminary look at buffalo hunting + plainsgame near Victoria Falls for summer-ish of next year.

Has anyone hunted in any of the Matetsi Unit 1-5 blocks recently?

My understanding is that each of the units are managed by the following:
Unit 1- Mabalengwe Safaris
Unit 2 - Classic African Safaris - Guav Johnson
Unit 3 - Vexford Safaris
Unit 4 - Mattanja Safaris ECA - Dieter Prinsloo
Unit 5 - Martin Pieters (Does he still operate this unit)?

FYI - I hunted unit 5 back in late April of 2022 and the grass was quite tall. I was successful but my understanding is that late August/September is a better time for the overall Matetsi areas as the big herds (500+ buffalo) can move in from Hwange and Botswana due to the water available in Matetsi. Perhaps this is a better time to go?

Looking forward to any advice or guidance that you guys have. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tusker]

*Following this thread*
Unit 5 is no longer an option.
Unit3 is a good option since they have done so many updates.
Problem with 3 & 4 is that photo safari guiding companies from the park literally drive (using vehicles) buffalo heard back into Hwangue. This is ilegal practice, but this is Zimbabwe, everything allowed for the appropriate bribe!
Make sure to go later in the season, even as late as October. Buffalos will go away for the park looking for water and food.
You are welcome to DM me for further information.

 

[liam375]

*Following this thread*
Unit 5 is no longer an option.
Unit3 is a good option since they have done so many updates.
Problem with 3 & 4 is that photo safari guiding companies from the park literally drive (using vehicles) buffalo heard back into Hwangue. This is ilegal practice, but this is Zimbabwe, everything allowed for the appropriate bribe!
Make sure to go later in the season, even as late as October. Buffalos will go away for the park looking for water and food.
You are welcome to DM me for further information.

Really appreciate this @Tusker

This is exactly why I wanted to reach out and see if anyone had any feedback. I had no idea about the tourists pushing out the herds back South into the park. Curious to see how some of the outfitters address this.

 

[dchum]

For buff I would look to hunt in 2 - and yes you are right about time of year

I have a friend who just hunted unit 3 this summer in July. Not so much for buff.

Not first hand knowledge but thought you would still be interested to know

 

[MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS]

Hi All, taking a preliminary look at buffalo hunting + plainsgame near Victoria Falls for summer-ish of next year.

Has anyone hunted in any of the Matetsi Unit 1-5 blocks recently?

My understanding is that each of the units are managed by the following:
Unit 1- Mabalengwe Safaris
Unit 2 - Classic African Safaris - Guav Johnson
Unit 3 - Vexford Safaris
Unit 4 - Mattanja Safaris ECA - Dieter Prinsloo
Unit 5 - Martin Pieters (Does he still operate this unit)?

FYI - I hunted unit 5 back in late April of 2022 and the grass was quite tall. I was successful but my understanding is that late August/September is a better time for the overall Matetsi areas as the big herds (500+ buffalo) can move in from Hwange and Botswana due to the water available in Matetsi. Perhaps this is a better time to go?

Looking forward to any advice or guidance that you guys have. Thanks in advance.

Hi @liam375,

Matetsi Unit 4 and Matetsi ECA are two different units/areas.
Late season is better for Buffalo

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have a friend who just hunted unit 3 this summer in July. Not so much for buff.

Summer??? I thought July was winter.

 

[dchum]

Summer??? I thought July was winter.

I’ll tell you what,

It sure felt like summer when we took him to the airport here in Texas lol

But ya still stands, July was no bueno for buff in unit 3

 

[liam375]

Hi @liam375,

Matetsi Unit 4 and Matetsi ECA are two different units/areas.
Late season is better for Buffalo

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Tusker]

Now that Unit5 is not a hunting block (might change), Unit4 and ECA will benefit from it. Unit5 is the very best,,, there are so many that they behave like cattle. Those heards will go away from Unit5 when they run out of food or lions hunt them away. About ECA, you get MUCH lower prices, do some research. If you hunt on ECA, is better earlier in the year (March/April).

 

[Fatback]

I hunted in Matesi 2 in September of 2024. I got my buffalo on the evening of the first hunting day. In planning my hunt I was told the later in the season, the better.

It is a wonderful safari area. I was also able to take kudu, bushbuck, impala and a baboon on the last day. Also saw lots of waterbuck, some roan, some sable, duiker, grysbok, giraffe, eland, zebra. There are some tremendous reedbuck in the area as well. There were a couple I would have loved to get a crack at but there wasn’t any quota available when I was there. Also heard lions a couple of nights and I tried to get a spotted hyena and we had them on bait but it just didn’t work out.

With all of the game I just mentioned, we saw more elephants than all other game combined. There were elephants everywhere.

I hope to be able to hunt there again at some point in the future. Feel free to PM me if I can help in anyway. Best of luck planning your safari.

 

[liam375]

I hunted in Matesi 2 in September of 2024. I got my buffalo on the evening of the first hunting day. In planning my hunt I was told the later in the season, the better.

It is a wonderful safari area. I was also able to take kudu, bushbuck, impala and a baboon on the last day. Also saw lots of waterbuck, some roan, some sable, duiker, grysbok, giraffe, eland, zebra. There are some tremendous reedbuck in the area as well. There were a couple I would have loved to get a crack at but there wasn’t any quota available when I was there. Also heard lions a couple of nights and I tried to get a spotted hyena and we had them on bait but it just didn’t work out.

With all of the game I just mentioned, we saw more elephants than all other game combined. There were elephants everywhere.

I hope to be able to hunt there again at some point in the future. Feel free to PM me if I can help in anyway. Best of luck planning your safari.

Thank you. I will PM you later. Your feedback here is much appreciated.

 

[liam375]

Now that Unit5 is not a hunting block (might change), Unit4 and ECA will benefit from it. Unit5 is the very best,,, there are so many that they behave like cattle. Those heards will go away from Unit5 when they run out of food or lions hunt them away. About ECA, you get MUCH lower prices, do some research. If you hunt on ECA, is better earlier in the year (March/April).

I did a little research and see the new outfitter operating out of there. Seems to be lots of good reviews. I will PM you later if you don't mind. Thanks.

 

[LP67]

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[375Fox]

I don’t know the status of the matetsi units other than matetsi 2/classic African hunting. My Dad hunted there and repeats the identical comments as @Fatback that it’s an amazing area. You should note in Zimbabwe that it’s common for companies or individuals to hold concessions then sell the quota to outfitters, so it’s likely not as clear cut as your list. Multiple outfitters can have access to quota on the same concession. South African outfitters will not hold Zimbabwe concessions. They will hunt through Zimbabwe PHs, some may have a longer standing business relationship, some may only buy sporadic quota.