Bubye Valley Cape buffalo experience?

[Zim Fan]

There are plenty of Buffalo on the Bubye. Plainsgame are slowly making their way back after a few down years, but then Buffalo, Lion and Leopard are the main attractions on the Bubye. The bush is thick this year but you will see lots of Buffalo and get in close. Been in September and did great, been in late May on a thick bush year and did excellent. Practice, Practice Practice and enjoy yourself.

 

[Fzj80]

There are plenty of Buffalo on the Bubye. Plainsgame are slowly making their way back after a few down years, but then Buffalo, Lion and Leopard are the main attractions on the Bubye. The bush is thick this year but you will see lots of Buffalo and get in close. Been in September and did great, been in late May on a thick bush year and did excellent. Practice, Practice Practice and enjoy yourself.

Thanks, we’re very much looking forward to it

 

[Fzj80]

'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.)

Thanks for the input, sounds like a great experience. That’s the plan!

 

[C.W. Richter]

Two bits of trivia re: the former LEMCO property. I personally don't like "extracts." Just eat meat! But, I get it for wartime and being out in the bush. (He's like the American Dr. Borden that invented condensed milk (for the Civil War). 'Cleaned up a LOT of his properties under the Elmer the cow (chemicals) name, rather than Elsie (Foods.) Eagle Foods was his original brand, sold to the U.S. Gov't. as rations. Both companies cashed in bigtime with gov't. contracts. The first time I saw Bovril spread (in Zim) I nearly died shaking my head and pursing my lips shut! lol https://theconservationimperative.com/the-fate-of-the-african-lion-the-bubye-valley-conservancy/

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/disappearing-pod/a-deadly-soup-for babies/#:~:text=World%20famous%2019th%2Dcentury%20chemist%20Justus,killing%20of%20four%20starving%20infants.

I believe Leibig owned beef ranches in Namibia (Sud West Africa German Colony) first.

From Beef to Buff-Go Get 'Em!

 

[Zim Fan]

Dave Langerman is in the Bubye and in the past two days and has seen 30 different Dagga Boys in that time. The bush is green and thick but no problem taking an old bull today. Charity and Thomas are a great team, one can track anything and the other has hearing and eyesight second to none.

 

[Jack Jones]

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.

Sounds like an awesome hunt-Bubye is a great place for buffalo.


I haven’t hunted there specifically in May, but early season in general can be a bit of a mixed bag like you mentioned. You’ll likely see good numbers, especially in Bubye where buffalo populations are strong, but the thicker cover can definitely make getting into shooting range more challenging. The upside is the animals tend to be in good condition and not as pressured.
From what I’ve experienced, you may do more tracking and less sitting on water early in the season. It can take a bit more effort, but it also makes for a more rewarding hunt.
If anything, I’d just go in prepared for longer days and trust your PH-hey’ll know how to adjust based on conditions. Either way, you should have plenty of opportunities if you put in the work.

Would love to hear how it turns out-good luck!

 

[Fzj80]

Dave Langerman is in the Bubye and in the past two days and has seen 30 different Dagga Boys in that time. The bush is green and thick but no problem taking an old bull today. Charity and Thomas are a great team, one can track anything and the other has hearing and eyesight second to none.

View attachment 759184

Thanks for sharing! Very good to hear. I can’t wait to witness these trackers first hand…

 

[Fzj80]

Sounds like an awesome hunt-Bubye is a great place for buffalo.


I haven’t hunted there specifically in May, but early season in general can be a bit of a mixed bag like you mentioned. You’ll likely see good numbers, especially in Bubye where buffalo populations are strong, but the thicker cover can definitely make getting into shooting range more challenging. The upside is the animals tend to be in good condition and not as pressured.
From what I’ve experienced, you may do more tracking and less sitting on water early in the season. It can take a bit more effort, but it also makes for a more rewarding hunt.
If anything, I’d just go in prepared for longer days and trust your PH-hey’ll know how to adjust based on conditions. Either way, you should have plenty of opportunities if you put in the work.

Would love to hear how it turns out-good luck!

Thanks! I’m planning to post report on here.

 

[Fzj80]

Dave Langerman is in the Bubye and in the past two days and has seen 30 different Dagga Boys in that time. The bush is green and thick but no problem taking an old bull today. Charity and Thomas are a great team, one can track anything and the other has hearing and eyesight second to none.

View attachment 759184

Just confirmed I’ll be hunting with Mr. Kevin Elliott.
I believe I saw him mentioned in a write up of yours?

 

[Zim Fan]

Kevin is a fantastic guy and you will enjoy hunting with him. Went looking for pictures of him on one of our family hunts and found he is camera shy. Always on the top of the list for second PH, sorry Kev but Dave remains number 1, Petrus and Dylan are in the mix as well.

Knows the Bubye well and has excellent trackers. Dave will fill him in on conditions as the two of them are very good friends.

 

[fourfive8]

@Fzj80, couple of pics Bubye from midsummer after wet season. Not green but still very thick with animals in top condition and plenty of natural water in addition to the water units that are scattered throughout all the camp areas

 

[Betterinthebush]

@Fzj80, couple of pics from midsummer after wet season. Not green but still very thick with animals in top condition and plenty of natural water in addition to the water units.

View attachment 759511View attachment 759512

Holy mackerel, what beautiful animals! That eland is spectacular! And the bosses on that buff! Wow!

 

[Fzj80]

@Fzj80, couple of pics Bubye from midsummer after wet season. Not green but still very thick with animals in top condition and plenty of natural water in addition to the water units that are scattered throughout all the camp areas

View attachment 759513View attachment 759514Wow those are absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing! What year did you go?

 

[fourfive8]

@Fzj80, 2015, 2018 and 2019. Also went to the large area just outside the NE part of the main concession, Malangani Camp, which has lots of PG and used sometimes for fishing gatherings and conferences. Not many large DG here but did see quite a number of leopards and not hunting leopards… go figure I think Malangani was originally developed by John Sharp.

 

[fourfive8]

I'm sure you will have opportunities for buffalo but it's impossible to predict circumstances. All the camps have good potential for hunting, and depending upon vacancies and other PHs/hunters, you may get to visit other camps and camp areas. There is a wide variety of terrain and habitat types on the BVC. I always enjoy getting close to old, broken tusk bulls and just watch and listen to them. Your PH will have a feel for how close is safe. It's the cows and some young askari bulls you have to be extra careful around. Lions are also a possibility and I don't trust any of them. Black rhinos there are very skittish. I think the game scouts continually harass them for their own good because of the ever present potential for poaching.

Walked into this bull who was with another similar broken tusk bachelor. Watched them for quite a while. They'll stand around and chew their cud or chew on sticks after a morning of active feeding.

 

[Betterinthebush]

They'll stand around and chew their cud or chew on sticks after a morning of active feeding.

Elephants are cud chewing ruminants?

 

[fourfive8]

Elephants are cud chewing ruminants?

After a feeding session they’ll stand around and do something that closely resembles cud chewing. I think they are relaxing and letting digestion get started. They will roll and chew on sticks between the molars. Something like some people do with toothpicks after a meal. If you find an area where they have been standing around after active feeding, you can find these “chew sticks” laying around. Most are about a foot or two long. Here are the ends of a couple of them. Many have flattened and frayed ends.

 

[fourfive8]

Ever since noticing this behavior, I’ve thought about why. Some possibilities come to mind. Just a nervous habit of chewing after long feeding session or cleaning fibers stuck in their molars. Or more likely, maybe they are stimulating more digestive fluid or saliva flow to help digestion.

 

[meigsbucks]

The buffalo in my avatar was taken in the BVC in 2013. I shot it on the fourth day of a 14 day hunt, so after taking it, we wen’t looking for buffalo. Day one: saw a heard of about 100. Day two: stalked two bulls, but they weren’t what we wanted. Day three: saw two bulls, but noting worth shooting. Day four: My bull was with another at a water hole and moved off. Tracked them a couple of miles before shooting mine. Encountered two more herds the balance of the hunt, including one heard of about 50+ we drove into the middle of in a thicket.
We visited a couple other camps and talked to other hunters. They had seen buffalo and shot a couple. In fact a German had an 11 shot gunfight with a bull that morning. No charge, but it just wouldn’t die. it was hanging at the skinning shed and its shoulder / chest was full of holes.

 

[Hombre]

Just an fyi but the BVC is no longer a PG meca. I hunted it 2006, 08, 10, 13 and 15. Unbelievable amount of PG and leopard, everything in abundance.
Just talked to a guy who hunted there last year, saw one wildebeast, two eland cows and handfull of impala. No kudu, nyala, sable, bushbuck, giraffe. All because the owner and biologist(american) are in love with lions.
If you are going for a well rounded safari, better check references for the last two years and not from 10 years ago.