Bubye Valley Cape buffalo experience?

[Fzj80]

We are heading to Bubye Valley Conservancy this May for a Cape buffalo hunt and wanted to hear firsthand experiences from others who have hunted there around the same time of year.

From what I’ve gathered, May can be a bit of a transitional period—still some green on the ground, thicker cover, and animals not fully concentrated on water yet. That said, it also sounds like buffalo numbers in Bubye are strong regardless.

For those of you who have hunted buffalo there in May (or early season in general), I’d really appreciate your insight:

- How was your overall success?
- Were you seeing buffalo consistently?
- How difficult was it to get into shooting range with the thicker vegetation?
- Did you feel like opportunities were limited compared to later in the season?
- Anything you’d do differently if you were going back at that time of year?

I’m planning for a full effort hunt and wanting to go in with realistic expectations, just trying to learn as much as I can ahead of time.

Appreciate any feedback or stories you’re willing to share.

 

[DLSJR]

You’ll be hunting in very green, thick cover this May. It’s been an incredibly wet season this year so the bush will be thick. I’ve not hunted Nuanetsi but did hunt Hammond last May and it was thick. That gave us a great, very enjoyable buffalo hunt as we were inside 50 yards of buffalo every day. Several times we were 10-15 yards from multiple buffalo and that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t thick. Enjoy it, hunting buffalo up close and personal is great fun.

Who’re you hunting with? Some very fine PH’s hunt on Bubye.

 

[Fzj80]

We are booked with Martin Pieters, still unsure who our ph will be. Thanks for the feedback!

You’ll be hunting in very green, thick cover this May. It’s been an incredibly wet season this year so the bush will be thick. I’ve not hunted Nuanetsi but did hunt Hammond last May and it was thick. That gave us a great, very enjoyable buffalo hunt as we were inside 50 yards of buffalo every day. Several times we were 10-15 yards from multiple buffalo and that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t thick. Enjoy it, hunting buffalo up close and personal is great fun.

Who’re you hunting with? Some very fine PH’s hunt on Bubye.

 

[Zim Fan]

Hunted Bubye several times late May into June. Which PH and which camp?

 

[Fzj80]

Hunted Bubye several times late May into June. Which PH and which camp?

We are booked with Martin pieters, still haven’t heard which Ph or camp.

 

[Fzj80]

You’ll be hunting in very green, thick cover this May. It’s been an incredibly wet season this year so the bush will be thick. I’ve not hunted Nuanetsi but did hunt Hammond last May and it was thick. That gave us a great, very enjoyable buffalo hunt as we were inside 50 yards of buffalo every day. Several times we were 10-15 yards from multiple buffalo and that wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t thick. Enjoy it, hunting buffalo up close and personal is great fun.

Who’re you hunting with? Some very fine PH’s hunt on Bubye.

Did you kill on that trip?

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

About 10 years ago, I hunted with John Sharp in the BVC. Late May. Hunted 10 days and were on buffalo everyday, just couldn't close the deal. Never had a good shot opportunity. We were in think bush, sometimes very close (20-4- yards). Couldn't properly evaluate the bull, so didn't shoot. May is too early, in my opinion. Having said that, the client John had prior to my hunt got his buffalo.

 

[Fzj80]

About 10 years ago, I hunted with John Sharp in the BVC. Late May. Hunted 10 days and were on buffalo everyday, just couldn't close the deal. Never had a good shot opportunity. We were in think bush, sometimes very close (20-4- yards). Couldn't properly evaluate the bull, so didn't shoot. May is too early, in my opinion. Having said that, the client John had prior to my hunt got his buffalo.

What camp were you out of?

 

[DLSJR]

Did you kill on that trip?

Yes…

Non-trophy, non-export bull. All I brought home were pictures and trophy sized memories. I could have shot buffalo each day, we stretched it out to four days so we could keep hunting them. And I decided this was a perfect non-trophy bull. Old and battered, very old.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

I hunted there excatly this time last year, hunted out of Fimbiri camp but because there was no other hunters on the concervancy at the time we went to other areas as well, not that we needed to but we just did becase we could. It was very thick but that didn't stop us from finding buffalo, I shot 3 non-trophy bulls on a 10 day hunt. We did alot of tracking and hunting along the Bubye river.
I am going back late September this year for another 10 day double non-trophy hunt and will be hunting out of Chamalaya camp. Going late season this year not because early season wasn't good but just for something different and it lines up better with my work commitments this year.

You won't be dissapointed it's a great place!

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: 10 Day Non-Trophy Buffalo Hunt'

Apr 22, 2025

I just got home from a 10 day non-trophy buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe with @DAVE LANGERMAN Safaris, the hunt was in the BVC out of Fimbiri camp.

I chose to use my Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffery for the hunt, firing handloaded 535 grain Woodleigh RNSN bullets at right on 2300fps. Rifle is topped with a Leupold VX3-HD 1.5-5 scope. I also took my Highland Stalker in 9.3 as a back up rifle and for warthog but with the thick bush we didn't end up with a warthog unfortunately.

The first bull came on the afternoon of day 3, after seeing the bull on a small waterhole we got into position on the...

• Aussie_Hunter
• Replies: 74
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 
• 

 

[Landlock91]

Everyone I've talked to who hunted Bubye, regardless of month, said the same thing: the conservancy is incredible. The wildlife diversity is amazing (you'll see elephant, lion, rhino if you're lucky). The PHs are professional. The camp is comfortable but not fancy. And the buffalo are genuinely wild and challenging.

 

[Fzj80]

Yes…
View attachment 757778
Non-trophy, non-export bull. All I brought home were pictures and trophy sized memories. I could have shot buffalo each day, we stretched it out to four days so we could keep hunting them. And I decided this was a perfect non-trophy bull. Old and battered, very old.

Non-trophy? Wow, what an awesome bull.

 

[Fzj80]

I hunted there excatly this time last year, hunted out of Fimbiri camp but because there was no other hunters on the concervancy at the time we went to other areas as well, not that we needed to but we just did becase we could. It was very thick but that didn't stop us from finding buffalo, I shot 3 non-trophy bulls on a 10 day hunt. We did alot of tracking and hunting along the Bubye river.
I am going back late September this year for another 10 day double non-trophy hunt and will be hunting out of Chamalaya camp. Going late season this year not because early season wasn't good but just for something different and it lines up better with my work commitments this year.

You won't be dissapointed it's a great place!

Thread 'ZIMBABWE: 10 Day Non-Trophy Buffalo Hunt'

Apr 22, 2025

I just got home from a 10 day non-trophy buffalo hunt in Zimbabwe with @DAVE LANGERMAN Safaris, the hunt was in the BVC out of Fimbiri camp.

I chose to use my Blaser R8 in 500 Jeffery for the hunt, firing handloaded 535 grain Woodleigh RNSN bullets at right on 2300fps. Rifle is topped with a Leupold VX3-HD 1.5-5 scope. I also took my Highland Stalker in 9.3 as a back up rifle and for warthog but with the thick bush we didn't end up with a warthog unfortunately.

The first bull came on the afternoon of day 3, after seeing the bull on a small waterhole we got into position on the...

• Aussie_Hunter
• Replies: 74
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

• 
• 

What an epic hunt! Thanks for sharing.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

What camp were you out of?

Chamalaya Camp

I think there are 8 camps, each having about 100,000 acres. However, if there are camps with no hunters, the various PHs will coordinate through the BVC General Manager and hunt anywhere they choose.

 

[fourfive8]

Go and enjoy the hunt! Far too much is made of amount of green vegetation during these hunts! I’ve hunted BVC more than once and all over several of camp areas during vacancies or just visiting PHs and other camps. Get out and hunt… trackers love their job… unless you insist on sitting on water during a drought where all the animals are thin, in poor condition and desperate for water. It is hunting, not shooting, it’s buffalo, not duiker. I’ve been on several Africa hunts during different seasons, from very dry, late season following drought conditions with very low vegetation density to early season after rains where vegetation is max. I much prefer green conditions and healthy animals.

 

[Fzj80]

Go and enjoy the hunt! Far too much is made of amount of green vegetation during these hunts! I’ve hunted BVC more than once and all over several of camp areas during vacancies or just visiting PHs and other camps. Get out and hunt… trackers love their job… unless you insist on sitting on water during a drought where all the animals are thin, in poor condition and desperate for water. It is hunting, not shooting, it’s buffalo, not duiker. I’ve been on several Africa hunts during different seasons, from very dry, late season following drought conditions with very low vegetation density to early season after rains where vegetation is max. I much prefer green conditions and healthy animals.

Thanks ! That’s encouraging. What did you think about the plainsgame opportunities in BVC?

 

[dogcat1]

Took my family there many years ago. It was a fantastic area.
With that said, my favorite PH tells me that they have an abundance of lions now and that plains game and buff are getting hammered. There are still plenty and the hunting is super, but, based on his comments, the lions will ulimately do a lot of damage to the ungulates.

With that said, go there and hunt lion!!!

 

[C.W. Richter]

'Was there when the PHs still referred to it as LEMCO, not in may (Jul-Aug) and it was incredibly dry-too dry!!! 'Did see LOTS of buffalo!!! And lion. Herds and groups of daggaboys. 'Got the royal tour by a local PH, met Davy (and his elderly Mom who resided in the main former beef ranch house-Super nice people!) but came over to cull some PG that were eating themselves out of house and home (esp. Giraffe on leafless trees!) That said, even in those conditions, there were microclimates closer to rivers and lakes (and irrigated lands) where cover abounded-where we'd see bushbuck, elephant and leopard after monkeys. 'Got the spiral slam (that was the purpose of the safari-a Zim primer with a retiring PH.) Stayed in the Greater Kuduland lodge on the Nottingham estate (on the Limpopo R.) but the fishing lodge on the lake on Nottingham was even nicer (I think the rivers would be much more scenic in May with more water.) Never stayed on the "LEMCO" (Liebig's Extract of Meat Co.) property proper and didn't see any accommodations while there. That may have changed? 'Love that area. Hunt hard and smart, and you'll achieve success (not to mention enjoy all that is uniquely Zim.)

 

[fourfive8]

Thanks ! That’s encouraging. What did you think about the plainsgame opportunities in BVC?

PG? Generally excellent. It is a game rich area. Bumping into black rhinos on occasion was a treat, given their rarity. Lots of elephants and lions to keep you busy with photo ops. Go with attitude for taking only what opportunity provides while poking around looking for an old buffalo.

As an aside. Other than the San trackers in Botswana, one of the young BVC game scouts assigned to us on one trip, was the best tracker I’ve ever hunted with. IIRC his name was Alec.

 

[C.W. Richter]

*forgot to specifically mention...BIG Kudu, Eland, Bushbuck!!! Saw big Waterbuck <1 min into the hunt-not over water-in the shade! Lots of lion chow (Zebra) running around.