Bullet Safaris - Tanzania - Wilderness Hunting Safaris - Dangerous Game Hunting Since 2003

Bullet Safaris

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Welcome To Bullet Safaris
Thank you for considering Bullet Safaris for your next adventure. We conduct custom designed Hunting Safaris as well as Photographic/Touring Safaris throughout the African Continent. We professionally outfit and assist with all aspects of your safari, from dangerous game hunting in Tanzania to relaxing at our luxury lodges in South Africa, we offer the highest quality of service attention to detail and expertise in the business. We operate in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa on exclusive government concessions and privately held properties.

Our transparent, no nonsense approach to outfitting will put your mind at ease and provide you with the African Safari of a lifetime. Please take the time to meet with us and discuss your options. Bullet Safaris is an American owned and run safari company. Bullet Safaris is not a booking agent or referral service. We market, organize, and conduct our client's safaris throughout Africa. I am a fully licensed Professional Hunter and my staff is hand selected from the best in the industry.

Africa has long been known as the world's premier hunting destination; let us show you why! Whether it's stalking big game on foot or hunting the continents numerous plains game species; we will make your safari our top priority. I appreciate your interest in my company and welcome you to personally contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
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Bullet Safaris
Professional Hunter and Owner
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Your African Hunting Safari Company
Nathan Askew was born in Sikeston, Missouri in 1977. He grew up hunting and fishing in rural Missouri. From an early age he was expertly versed in various hunting methods, equipment and outdoor skills. He acquired a B.S. in Biology from Truman State University in 2000 with a focus on life science and animal biology. A short stint in "Corporate America" led him to chase his childhood dream of hunting professionally in Africa. After pursuing numerous dead-ends he was offered an apprenticeship in Wild Africa. A letter of resignation and two weeks later he found himself in Mozambique with his backpack and a borrowed large caliber rifle.

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What began as a clearing roads and building safari camps in the wilderness soon turned into hunting Africa's "Big Five" with overseas clients. Bullet Safaris was born as a way to offer customized Safari Adventures to American friends and eventually clients worldwide. You will struggle to find a harder working and more experience American Professional Hunter than Nathan Askew. Nathan is a full time professional hunter living in Africa for half of the year operating in different countries, then spending the remaining time outfitting in the USA or assisting on other hunts around the world.

Bullet Safaris offers all types of African hunting safaris and tours throughout Africa. We specialize in dangerous game hunts and have exclusive concessions in Tanzania, Mozambique, Botswana, and South Africa. Our hunts are custom designed. Please use our website and brochure as a guide to help decide what type of safari experience you want. We will generate a unique itinerary and individualized quote for you after a thorough consultation. Bullet Safaris is an American owned company hunting in Africa.

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Bullet Safaris is truly unique in the Safari Industry:
  • We are American owned and operated.
  • We promote, book, and conduct all of our safaris.
  • We are fully licensed as Professional Hunters and Outfitters.
  • We use our exclusive areas.
  • We are not a booking agency for Africa and we do not hand our clients off to other operators.
  • We have a vast network of top notch outfitter around the world for additional hunts

Bullet Safaris has the expertise and on the ground knowledge to see our clients through every aspect of their safari. So whether it's a 5 star luxury vacation or a wilderness dangerous game hunting safari, you have landed with the right company.

We work hard and love what we do. You can rest assured that we will look out for your best interests in Africa.

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Plains game is the most popular hunt that is conducted in Africa. Most of these safaris take place in South Africa and typically range from 8 -12 days. In this time period you will have the opportunity to hunt as many as 25 different species. Most hunters take 6 – 10 animals while on a plains game safari.

You will have the opportunity to take a variety of plains game animals on your dangerous game hunts as well. There are many species of plains game to hunt, and it can take many safaris to different regions to hunt all of them. They range from the boot sized Blue Duiker to the 2,500 pound Eland. Some are herd animals and some are more solitary. The hunting is mostly spot and stalk or tracking. The amount of species, differing habitats, and geographical ranges can keep a dedicated hunter busy for a lifetime. With the plains game animals, the horns and skins come in all shapes, colors, and styles.

All of the antelope in Africa have true horns; they grow throughout the animal's life.

Bring your favorite scoped .30 caliber rifle and 3 boxes of quality soft point, heavier bullets are preferred. These safaris present a great opportunity to bring along your hunting buddies, father, son, wife, children, and even non-hunting observers. This is a great way to experience Africa and have a great hunting trip and vacation all rolled into one. The cost is comparable to a guided elk or bear hunt – the experience is much better! You get to shoot 10 times the animals with great accommodation and food.

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It is said that you hunt leopard with your brain, elephant with your feet, buffalo with your guts, and you hunt lion with your heart! Lion can be hunted throughout Africa and are a fantastic hunting experience. These big cats are a prized trophy and are pure excitement to hunt. You are scared 3 times on a lion hunt, first when you see the big tracks on the ground, next when you hear his intimidating roar, and for a third time when you lay your eyes on him. These big cats have a territory that they protect and hunting areas that they frequent. For baiting purposes larger baits are set up closer to the ground. High enough that the lions can feed with some effort and higher than Hyena can reach. Guts and stomach contents are scattered around the bait with the hope of drawing the cat in by smell. Lion hunting can be done in a blind waiting for a lion to feed or can be done by stalking the bait, typically early in the mornings to find the lion there at first light. Once on the bait, lions are typically easier to get a shot at than a leopard.

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They don't have much to worry about in the way of other animals and are confident in their position in the food chain. As with all dangerous animals accuracy is important when hunting lion. Lions can cause a lot more problems than just a few stitches. A good quality soft (Swift A-Frame or Barnes) in a .30 caliber will readily kill both a lion and a leopard. They are not thick skinned and are susceptible to hydrostatic shock, sometimes dying immediately with a well-placed bullet. They are extremely dangerous when wounded. Most places require a .375 minimum for all dangerous game; the bigger the better, as long as accuracy is not sacrificed. A trophy lion is not measured by the hair around its neck.

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They are measured by size of their skull. A big mane is a nice addition to your trophy lion. Some areas produce lion with thick manes while other areas produce big bodied lions with very average manes. Lion are typically hunted a 21 day safari, exceptions on duration of the hunt can be made. Lion and leopard are hunted in small numbers and available licenses or quota is limited.

General Lion Information

Male Lions: Average length 9 feet (2.7 meters)
Weight: 350-450 lbs. (157-180 Kg.)
Height: 36 in. (90 cm.)

Female Lions: Average length 8 feet (2.4 meters)
Weight: 250-300 lbs. (112-136 Kg.)
Height: 30 in. (75 cm.)

Lengths include the tail. Height measured at the shoulder.

Lifespan of a Lion: 12 years in the wild, 20 years in captivity. Females typically live a few more years in the wild.
Maximum speed: 30 mph over 50 yds.
Biggest Jump: 12 feet (3.7 meters) vertical, 36 feet (10.8 meters) horizontal.
Gestation period: 105-115 days. (About 3 1/2 - 4 months)

A group of Lions is called a Pride. The hunting territory for a pride of lions can range from 8 to 150 square miles. Lions are the most social of all cats. Prides may contain up to 40 members, with over half being young adults and cubs. Most of the time this is not the case and many places have loosely associated prides with animals frequently hunting on their own. While lions in captivity will eat about 15 pounds of raw meat daily, a wild lion will only eat about twice a week. They are not above stealing other animal's kills and scavenging meat.

Lions have hair rather than fur. Hair is defined as a single-layered, thin coat and fur is a double-layered, insulated coat. Although lions seem to be all one color, closer inspection reveals patches of white inside their legs and on their bellies. They are a tawny brown color.

Because most of a lion's weight is made up of muscle, they are amazing athletes. With one slap of a paw they can knock a full-grown zebra off its feet. Like any good athlete, they need their sleep and a lot of it! Twenty hours out of each day is spent snoozing. Lion are ambush predators; they surprise their prey and overwhelm it with a quick burst of speed and a powerful attack. When an animal is killed, lions will eat virtually every part of it–the skin, meat, intestines. The four members of the cat family who can roar are lions, leopards, tigers, and jaguars. But lions are by far the loudest. When the mood is peaceful, lions may make puffing noises instead. "Meows" and other sounds are used as well. But a mighty roar can be heard as far away as 5 or 6 miles. A lion is incapable of roaring until he/she is about 2 years old.

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If you hunt lion with your heart then you hunt leopard with your brain! Leopards are one of the most difficult animals to successfully hunt. It takes planning and the right technique to fool this illusive animal. When hunting Leopard I run multiple baits for different male cats. The territory of a mature Tom is large and constantly under his patrol. Females and food can slow him down and throw off his schedule. Typically, a leopard will cover his territory every 7 – 14 days depending on distractions and the size of his territory. In game rich environments, leopards tend to travel less due to smaller territories. In other places, I have noticed big males crossing the same locations only once every three weeks. They operate mainly at night. Catching a glimpse of a leopard in the daylight is a rare sight in Africa. They frequent easy travel corridors, such as riverbeds and hunting roads. Thick cover or rocky outcroppings provide them with secure daytime hangouts and good ambushing points for hunting leopard.

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Due to the animals reclusive nature successful leopard hunters will book a minimum of 14 days on the ground in the hunting area. Available meat is strategically secured to a climbable tree in an area the leopard frequents. The scent of guts and stomach contents, along with blood and decaying flesh attract the cat to the bait. The bait is typically in the dense area or thicket, close to his favorite travel routes. The dense bush helps the cat to feel secure and encourages him to feed in daylight hours. A blind is built on active bait and the wait in on! Blind location is dictated by terrain and wild direction. The approach to the blind is also very important. We take great care to look after all these important details. Shots are typically 50-70 yards and are from a set position. Accuracy is very important for leopard hunting. You will have one shot. More often than not, a wounded leopard will charge. They are very fast and can cause a hunter a lot of stitches in a very short amount of time. Trophy size is dictated by skull size. Weights of the cats fluctuate greatly and are often exaggerated by hunters.

Overall length of a cat is often discussed by hunters and is not usually reliable information. Leopard are CITIES I animals and are allowed to be imported to the United States. Hunting quotas are strictly issued and a limited number of tags are available for leopard hunting.

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General Leopard Information

Size: Shoulder height 30 inches, male weight around 150 lbs. Size can vary depending on the area. Females are typically 20% -40% smaller than males. Many hunters and ph's over estimate the weight of leopard or their scale has not been calibrated correctly. Any cat weighing over 150 pounds is huge.

Color: Ground color is off-white to golden, with black spots on the legs, shoulders, head and hindquarters, and irregular, light-centered 'rosettes' scattered profusely over the back and sides.

Potential Longevity: 20 years (5- 10 years shorter in the wild)

Most Like: Leopards are most like the Cheetah, but the leopard is heavily built and has no tear marks from corner of eye to corner of mouth. The leopard's main body markings are rosettes and not solid spots like those of the cheetah.

Habitat: Leopards have a very wide range of habitat tolerance, from rainforest to semi-desert, including savanna, mountainous areas and rocky hills. Leopards naturally occur in most parts of the African subcontinent and many parts of Asia.

Habits: Leopards lead a solitary lifestyle. Males inhabit territories of 5 to 40 square km, which may overlap with the territories of several females. They are very defensive of their territory and urinate around the boundaries of their territories to warn off intruders. They are most active between sunset and sunrise. Leopards often take their kills up into the safety of tree branches, to avoid the attention of hyenas and lions. They are incredibly strong and are capable of lifting carcasses three times their own body weight, placing them on branches over 6m high. There have been several reports of leopards hauling young giraffes into trees.

Diet: They have a number of prey items, including gazelles, antelopes, monkeys, jackals, duiker, eland, impala, insects, wildebeest, rodents, hyraxes, hares, peacocks, snakes, sheep and goats. Leopards can live independently of water for long periods of time, obtaining liquid from their prey.

Reproduction and Gestation Period: The Leopards gestation period is between 90 - 100 days (3 months).

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Buffalo Hunting can be done in many areas throughout Africa. They are the most hunted of the Big 5 animals. A buffalo hunt is usually booked as a 10 day package. In Tanzania you can shoot 2 buffalo on your license, other countries limit you to only one buffalo. They are large, difficult to kill, and will confront their pursuer under some circumstances. Some people claim it to be the most dangerous animal to hunt, but I do not agree. I believe that more hunters are killed and wounded by buffalo due to the fact that there are more buffalo hunted and subsequently wounded, thus leading to more dangerous encounters. Buffalo hunting is a close affair on foot that will get anyone's adrenaline pumping. Fresh tracks are followed on foot for as long as it takes (usually 2-6 hours).

Buffalo typically bed down in the middle of the day and if everything is right we can sneak in on the herd and select a good bull. If things continue to go our way, you will usually shoot this large animal at 50 yards or closer. After the shot it will most likely run into the brush with the others. If it is hit is good, the wounded bull will not be able to keep up with the herd and will peel off from the group, thus making tracking easier. Sometimes, we find him dead, sometimes he waiting for us, and sometimes running away. Backup shots are often required when hunting buffalo. Bigger is better when it comes to guns for buffalo (.375 or larger). I recommend using high quality soft points (Swift A-Frame or Barnes) followed by solid bullets.

Your PH should load with solids and is there to back you up if necessary. Buffalo seem to have a super natural ability to absorb large amounts of lead. If you're into excitement and adrenaline you will find buffalo hunting an addictive sport.

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General Buffalo Information

Habitat: Their primary habitat requirements are a plentiful supply of grass, shade and water. Buffalo are primarily grazers, and like to drink twice a day: they often wade into the water up to their bellies when drinking. They therefore occur in the better-watered northern and eastern parts of the southern African sub region, and avoid arid areas. They do not frequent wide open grasslands that are far from the shade they require for resting up in during the heat of the day, although they do move seasonally and may cross large, open expanses. They often graze in the vicinity of water, resting in the vicinity of reed beds. The bulls often wallow in mud, which not only helps keep them cool, but is good for their skin and helps control biting insects.

Habits: Buffalo are gregarious, occurring in herds of up to several thousand individuals. These herds are relatively stable associations, with the smaller herds forming into larger ones temporarily. Buffalo herds move seasonally in search of adequate grazing and water. There may be family cohesion of females within the herd: family ties in the males do not last beyond three years of age. Old and young bulls may leave the herd and form small bachelor herds, but the two age classes are usually found apart. There is an established hierarchy; both within bachelor herds and large herds, and old bulls often get harassed, which can result in them becoming solitary. The linear hierarchy is maintained primarily by threat behavior rather than by serious fighting (see communication), although if this doesn't prove a deterrent then fighting will occur. Fighting consists of the opponents charging each other and growling, then lowering their heads to take the impact on their horns. Due to their small size, bachelor herds can exploit small food niches such as occur along lake shores, whereas large herds need to have very large home ranges. Herds tend to move to water in the early morning and late afternoon.
Buffalo are inquisitive, and will often approach vehicles to examine them. If a herd is disturbed the individual buffalo will often stampede in unexpected directions. They are considered one of the most dangerous of the African species to hunt, and wounded buffalo have been known to double back and ambush their attackers.

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Feeding and Diet: Buffalo have the most efficient digestive system for digesting fibrous food of any of the ruminants. While they will feed on fresh, new grass such as occurs in freshly burnt areas, they also readily eat old grass, and can adequately cope with digesting it. Their habit of eating old grass and trampling it helps to open up these areas to other species by enabling new growth on them. During the rainy season, when food is abundant, they become selective feeders, and prefer red grass, buffalo grass, small buffalo grass, and finger grasses. Buffalo are sensitive to heat, and move into the shade during the heat of the day. Much of their feeding takes place at night, and they spend a large proportion of their time ruminating, especially during the dry season when the grass has a higher fiber content.
Their mouth parts are adapted for feeding on long grass, as they pull the grass into their mouths using their tongues, and bite stalks off by moving their lower incisors against the dental pad in their lower jaw.
Communication: Much of the communication is in the form of body language: the hierarchy between males is maintained by threatening displays with the head held high, nose pointing to the ground, or by both of these: the body is held laterally to emphasize its size.

Reproduction: While most male buffalo reach sexual maturity between 3.5 and 5.5 years old, they are not usually allowed to breed until they are 8 - 10 years old. Females, however, can have their first calf when they are 4 - 5 years old. Most buffalo calves are born in the summer months, and usually either during the late afternoon or just before dawn, when the herd is resting. A single calf is born, and new-born calves can follow the herd a few hours after birth: if the herd moves during this time the mother and calf may be left behind temporarily. Calves are sometimes hidden in thick undergrowth while the mother grazes nearby. The bond between mother and calf is fairly strong, and they communicate via croaking calls from the mother and bleating by the calf. Calves continue to suckle until they are about 15 months old, and can remain with their mother until the age of 2. Calf mortality is fairly high, as they are targeted by predators.

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Elephant hunting is a very challenging sport. You are in for long days of tracking individual bulls or small groups of mature bull elephants. The size of the track is a good indicator of animal size and sometimes trophy size. Our experience trackers can use the subtle aspects of the animal's foot print to roughly determine his age and size. Elephant dung is also used to tell the age, along with the condition of the animal's teeth. The coarser the particles in the dung, typically the older the elephants teeth may be, thus he may carry more ivory. More often than not, the day ends by turning away from the animal with the hope of finding a bigger tusker in the days to come. Even though they are the largest land animal in the world, they are difficult to see in thick brush, which is their preferred hang out. They walk silently and often the first thing you hear from them is a low rumble or the breaking of branches as they feed.

Elephants can cover great distances, so have a comfortable pair of boots. A hunter must know the position of the vitals and brain from multiple angles. A poorly placed shot from even the largest guns will have a negligible effect on the animal. I recommend a .400 caliber with good solids for elephant hunting. The killing shots are close, so open sights or a low power scope is preferred. These are not the same animal that your kids feed peanuts to at the circus – these things are big and don't like people. Elephant in some areas are very aggressive toward people and several are killed every year as problem animals. On the hunt it is not uncommon to be charged. Most of the charges will be a mock charge. The animal will have its ears fanned out, trumpeting loudly, and breaking brush as it heads toward us. This is a very effective display of dominance.


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A real charge is often silent with the ears pinned against their head. Hunters are killed by elephant every year. Trophy size is assessed by the weight of the tusks. Ivory size is genetically determined and varies throughout Africa, some places produce long thin ivory while other locations produce short and thick ivory. Estimating the exact weight of ivory is difficult due the unknown size of the hollow nerve running inside the tusk. Elephant hunting is regulated by the country. CITIES regulated the import and export of elephant trophies. Tanzania and Botswana host the best elephant hunting available to American Clients. Elephant hunts are a minimum of 10 days up to 25 days.

General Elephant Information

Average lifespan in the wild: Up to 70 years, 50 years is old in the wild
Size: Height at the shoulder, 8.2 to 13 ft. (2.5 to 4 m)
Weight: 5,000 to 14,000 lbs. (2,268 to 6,350 kg)

African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. They are slightly larger than their Asian cousins and can be identified by their larger ears that look somewhat like the continent of Africa. (Asian elephants have smaller, rounded ears.). Elephant ears help to radiate the animal's body heat and keep these large animals cool. Elephants are fond of water and frequent water sources. They are able to swim.

An elephant's trunk is actually a long nose used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and also for grabbing things. The trunk alone contains thousands of different muscles. African elephants have two fingerlike features on the end of their trunk that they can use to grab small items (Asian elephants have one).

Both male and female African elephants have tusks they use to dig for food and water and strip bark from trees. Males use the tusks to battle one another. Some elephant can be tuskless. Females are smaller in overall size and size of tusks. The tusks grow throughout the animal's life. The animals can live as long as an average human, but unlike us they will die when their teeth wear out. Elephants have 6 sets of molars that replace each other throughout their life.

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Because ivory is valuable to some humans, many elephants have been killed for their tusks. This type of killing is not hunting it is poaching. A strong distinction should be made between hunting and poaching. Trade in illegal ivory is obviously banned worldwide, but it has not been completely eliminated, and some African elephant populations remain endangered by poachers and the black market trade in ivory. All elephant that are hunted are pursued with the blessing of the country we are hunting in and all relevant licenses have been issued by the government in accordance with their management plan. We hunt mature males. The money brought to rural Africa through the legal hunting of mature elephants helps to fund anti-poaching teams and preserve the land to ensure the long term success of the species. Poaching is relatively under control in most parts of Africa, human sprawl and habitat destruction is not. This is the real enemy when it comes to the preservation of our natural resources. Money from hunters fund the preservation of the few remaining wild places on earth. We are interested in the long term preservation of all animals especially the mega fauna such as the African elephant.

Elephants eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark, and they eat a lot of these things. An adult elephant can consume up to 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of food in a single day.
These hungry animals do not sleep much, and they roam over great distances while foraging for the large quantities of food that they require to sustain their massive bodies.

Female elephants (cows) live in family herds with their young, but adult males (bulls) tend to roam on their own. The young males are pushed out of the herd soon after reaching sexual maturity. Under most circumstances they will not be allowed to breed until they are older. Their teenage years are spent with other sub adult males in bachelor herds or with an older dominant male. The female will stay with the herd for their entire life.

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A crocodile can be added to your big game safari for a trophy fee, or booked in combination with a hippo hunt. These croc and hippo hunts take place in remote areas and at least 10 days is advised. Crocodile are a challenging animal to hunt. They can smell as good as an antelope, see relatively well, feel vibrations in the water and on the ground, and I believe that they effectively use the shore birds calls to alert them of approaching danger. The trick to crocodile hunting is to locate a big croc on the shore sun bathing. Then set up a blind or sneak up to a shooting position. One mistake and the animal will retreat to the water. The best way to secure your trophy is by a shot in the neck. Many professional hunters advise a head shot when hunting crocodile, I disagree. A shot in the neck is more successful at anchoring the animal on the bank and provides the hunter with a bigger target. One flick of their powerful tail from a slightly off brain shot will send him sliding down the bank into the water. They do not float and it's a bad idea to go swimming to locate the carcass! A dead rest will be used for the shot and it is typically at a distance of less than 75 yards.

These animals can be over 100 years old and risky shots are not allowed. It is a privilege to be able to hunt such a prehistoric animal. Crocodile are CITIES II animals and hunted trophies are allowed to be imported into the USA.

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General Crocodile Information

Size: up to 20 ft., very rare average size of a mature male 13 – 15 ft.
Weight: up to 2,000 lbs.
Average life span in the wild: up to 100 years

The Nile crocodile has a somewhat deserved reputation as a vicious man-eater. The proximity of much of its habitat to people means run-ins are frequent. And it's virtually indiscriminate diet means a villager washing clothes by a riverbank might look just as tasty as a migrating wildebeest. Firm numbers are sketchy, but official estimates are that up to 200 people may die each year in the jaws of a Nile croc. I believe the number to be much higher.

Nostrils, eyes, and ears are situated on the tops of their head, so the rest of the body can remain concealed underwater. Their coloration also helps them hide: Juveniles are grey, dark olive, or brown; with darker cross-bands on their tail and body. As they mature they become darker and the cross-bands fade, especially those on the body. The underbelly is yellowish, and makes high-quality leather.

They normally crawl along on their bellies, but they can also "high walk" with their trunks raised above the ground. Smaller specimens can gallop, and even larger crocodiles are capable of surprising bursts of speeds, briefly reaching up to 12 to 14 km/h (7.5 to 8.5 mi/h). They can swim much faster by moving their body and tail in a sinuous fashion, and they can sustain this form of movement much longer at about 30 to 35 km/h.

They have a four-chambered heart, like a bird, which is especially efficient at oxygenating their blood. They normally dive for only a couple of minutes, but will stay underwater for up to 30 minutes if threatened, and if they remain inactive they can hold their breath for up to 2 hours. They have an ectothermic metabolism, so they can survive a long time between meals. When they do eat they can eat up to half their body weight at a time.

Their jaws are capable of exerting impressive force as they hold on to their prey. Their mouths are filled with a total of 64 to 68 cone-shaped teeth. Nile crocodiles in captivity have lived up to 56 years, but scientists estimate that in their natural habitat, they can live 70–100 years.

The Nile crocodile is the largest African crocodilian and the second largest crocodilian after the Saltwater crocodile, reaching lengths of up to 5 m (16 ft.), or rarely up to 6.1 m (20 ft.).[1] Good sized males weigh 500 kg (1100 lb.), and truly exceptional specimens may exceed 900 kg (2,000 lb.). Like all crocodiles they are sexually dimorphic, with the males up to 30% larger than the females, though the difference is even less in some species, like the saltwater crocodile.

Seven meters (23 ft.) and larger specimens have been reported, but since gross overestimation of size is common these reports are suspect. The largest living specimen is purported to be a notorious man-eater from Burundi named Gustave; he is believed to be approximately 20-30 feet long. Such giants are rare today.

One unusual characteristic of this fearsome predator is its caring nature as a parent. Where most reptiles lay their eggs and move on, mother and father Nile crocs ferociously guard their nests until the eggs hatch, and they will often roll the eggs gently in their mouths to help hatching babies emerge.

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Hippo hunting is an amphibious adventure. You may end up in a dug out canoe paddling towards a group of them, or slipping through the tall grass after a solitary bull. Hunting hippo is a great side adventure to add to you big game safari, or you can book a great hippo and croc combination hunt. When out of the water a body shot can be used with a large caliber and solid bullets. Usually the head shot is preferred and a hunter must be sure that he knows the location of the brain. A hippo shot in the water with a good brain shot will just sink out of sight. A missed brain shot will usually concuss the animal causing him to thrash about. At this time back shots should be administered at a high rate of speed without wounding any other hippo. The dead animal will float after a few hours due to the vegetation in its stomach producing enough gas to float the carcass. I will provide you with diagrams and advise on shot placement.

The trophy of a hippo is associated with the animal's 12 tusks. The longest canine tusk length is the measurement recorded by the record books. As far as trophy assessment goes we are looking for a mature bull and hope for the best on its tusks. You can make an educated guess on the teeth size by evaluating the 'pockets' on the top of the hippos jaw. These can indicate tusks size. If time is available you can wait for it to open his mouth for a visual confirmation.

The fun is in the hunt, it can be equated to pig hunting in that the size of the trophy is not considered to be of the utmost importance. Any mature hippo is going to be a huge animal and a pleasure to hunt on a safari. Hippo are CITIES II animals and are allowed to be imported into the USA.

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General Hippo Information


Average lifespan in the wild: Up to 40 years
Size: Head and body, 9.5 to 14 ft. (2.8 to 4.2 m); Tail, 13.75 to 19.75 inches (35 to 50 cm)
Weight: 5,000 to 8,000 lbs. (2,268 to 3,629 kg)

Group name: Pod

Hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the "river horse." Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged in rivers and lakes to keep their massive bodies cool under the hot African sun. Hippos are graceful in water, good swimmers, and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes. However, they are often large enough to simply walk or stand on the lake floor, or lie in the shallows. Their eyes and nostrils are located high on their heads, which allows them to see and breathe while mostly submerged.
Hippos also bask on the shoreline and secrete an oily red substance, which gave rise to the myth that they sweat blood. The liquid is actually a skin moistener and sunblock that may also provide protection against germs.

At sunset, hippopotamuses leave the water and travel overland to graze. They may travel 6 miles (10 kilometers) in a night, along single-file pathways, to consume some 80 pounds (35 kilograms) of grass. Considering their enormous size, a hippo's food intake is relatively low. If threatened on land hippos may run for the water—they can match a human's speed for short distances. They are insecure out of the water and will flee to water when threatened. Many human deaths can be attributed to a person unwittingly placing himself between this animal and the water's edge. They will attack under some circumstances and have been known to regularly charge humans and flip over small boats.

Hippo calves weigh nearly 100 pounds (45 kilograms) at birth and can suckle on land or underwater by closing their ears and nostrils. Each female has only one calf every two years. Soon after birth, mother and young join schools that provide some protection against crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

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Countries

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Tanzania is the premier destination for wilderness hunting adventures. We hunt remote concessions teeming with wildlife uninfluenced by man in most situations. We have multiple areas that we are hunting/managing in Tanzania. All of the areas in Tanzania are free ranging, wilderness areas owned by the government and leased by hunting companies for a 5 year term. The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania is the largest uninhabited wilderness left in Africa and we can take you hunting there. We also have concessions in the Rungwa ecosystem, notably the best area in Africa for Lion. Other areas that we hunt include Maasiland as well as western Tanzania. Tanzania has it all and we have access to the right areas.

Our areas are prime territory for a full bag safari (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and plains game). We specialize in cats and have the best success rate on mature male cats in the industry.

Tanzania is regarded as the best hunting in Africa. Basically every safari includes the hunting of at least one dangerous game animal. This type of East African Safari is a real adventure and a great experience. Remote camps and large hunting areas provide our client with great safaris. We have excellent success on cats and buffalo in Tanzania, there are also many specialized plains game that are found only in Tanzania. This is truly a hunter's paradise. Our camps are remote but very comfortable – inclusive of a full camp staff at your service (chef, waiter, laundry attendant, cleaning staff, and labourers) and a well trained hunting crew to see to your needs in the bush (professional hunter, trackers, driver, and skinners). We handle every detail of your safari – all we need is a client that is ready to experience old Africa and a real adventure!

The Selous Game Reserve is the largest uninhabited wild area in Africa. To get into or concessions most clients will fly in on a small charter plane from Dar es Salam. Road transfers are possible, but very timely. The animals that we hunt in the Selous with high success rate if pursued are: Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, Croc, Hippo, Hyena, Impala, Hartman Zebra, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Niassa Wildebeest, Warthog, Baboon, Eland, Elephant, Bushbuck, and Sable. The hunting is done by spot and stalk or by tracking.

The Rungwa area and ecosystem is known for producing quality big manned lion. The animals that we hunt here with a high rate of success are Lion, Buffalo, Elephant, Large Leopard, Sable, Roan, Lesser Kudu, Greater Kudu, Burchelles Zebra, Impala, Baboon, Warthog, Dik-Dik, Duiker, and Bushbuck. We are very successful on the cats in this area over a 21 day hunt and the quality is great. To get to our Rungwa areas you will arrival into Arusha Tanzania, be greeted by our staff, spend one night in a 5 star hotel, and transfer to camp early the next morning via private charter or vehicle.

You will fly to Tanzania on KLM most likely. You will transit through Amsterdam and have to apply for a rifle transit document ahead of time. You will purchase your visa for Tanzania at the airport. The form is there for you to fill out, then stand in line and give it to the official with your passport. The visa cost $100. A member of our staff will meet you at the airport and escort you through the rifle import process – he will have all your documents ahead of time and take care of everything at the airport. You will overnight and transfer to the hunting area the next day. Our staff will transport you to and from the airports and arrange your overnight accommodation. He is available to help with all matters.

Your travel documents should include: passport, copy of Netherlands rifle transit document, customs 4457 form, airline itinerary, invitation by Tanzanian company, shipping instructions for your trophies from your taxidermist. I have found it a good idea to have a file with all of these documents in my carry-on, have an extra copy of your customs 4457 form and your passport. I put a copy of any gun documents and my passport in my gun case where they are easily found by airport officials if needed. Please scan and email me a copy of your passport.

Dangerous game requires a .375 minimum. A heavier caliber may be desired for elephant and a lighter caliber for plains game. Bring solid and soft bullets for each rifle. We suggest that you have a 3 -9 power scope with high quality detachable mounts (then you can use the open sights for follow or for close quarters shooting). I prefer Swift A-Frame soft or Bares X for my soft points, and Barnes Banded Monolithic Solids for my solid points. High quality bullets are a must for Africa and dangerous game. Please practice shooting off hand and from shooting sticks. Shooting distances will vary but are normally around 100 - 150 yards. Elephant are shot at less than 40 yards. Cats are shot at approximately 70 yards. Buffalo are shot at less than 100 yards. Plains game can be shot as far 250 yards but are typically taken from 175 yards and closer. Be familiar with your rifle and know how to use it effectively.

Large Safari style tents are the normal accommodation in the camp. We have electricity from a generator and hot and cold showers with a flush toilet. You will be able to charge your electrical devises in camp. The camp is well staffed with drivers, mechanics, waiters, cooks, trackers, and skinners. Laundry is done every day and any special request will be met if possible – please arrange any special requests in advance. We use satellite phones for communication and HF radios to communicate with the home office in Arusha on a daily basis. The food is good, the camp is clean and comfortable and the hunting is great. Malaria prophylactics are required as well as a yellow fever vaccination. Consult your physician on this.

Please pack light and bring varied gear and clothes. There is no need for too many of the same items. All outer clothing should be dark brown or green. Most clients pack 3 pants (any combo of light weight khakis or jeans or camo pants – whatever you want to hunt in), 1 shorts, 6 tops (varied with 3 light weight button downs, 3 other shirts for hunting, 5 socks, 5 underwear, light Jacket, hat, hiking boots (light weight and comfortable with quality socks to prevent blisters), sandals or tennis shoes or both. Sandals can be nice to have around camp and the tennis shoes can be use to hunt in or around camp. A small knife, flashlight or head lamp, chapstick, eye drops, sunglasses, gloves (leather hand with mesh back is best), sunscreen, bug repellent, ammo belt, small day pack, binoculars, camera, and any other small hunting/personal items your require.

The temperature is warm and will average above 80. It is a dry climate and staying hydrated is important. The sun is intense and long sleeves, sunscreen and a hat are needed. Mornings can be cool and a light jacket is also needed. Malaria is in the area and precaution should be taken. Teste Flies are in the areas and a light weight bug suit of mesh can be a good idea. Rain is not likely during the main hunting season July – October. Rain is possible during November – March. A small travel poncho is a good idea to pack for the regular season, for the late season a proper rain Jacket is better.

Your Safari needs to be paid for in advance with a Trophy Fee deposit down on your main animals. Any money not used will be refunded to you. Please note that tipping the staff is the norm in African hunting camps. It is obviously up to the client to decide if and how much to tip the person but plan accordingly. Tips for the staff and Professional Hunter are typically done in USD.

Your trophies will be skinned and salted in camp then transported to the shipping agent as soon as possible. Bring instructions from your taxidermist, many of the taxidermist supply you with trophy tags as well. The Tanzanian shipping company will contact you for payment when required. The remainder of your trophy fee amount will need to be paid to the government with 10 days of the conclusion of your hunt. This is why a deposit is necessary, any amount over you deposit will need to be transferred to us immediately upon arrival in the USA.

Species – Lion Leopard Buffalo Crocodile hippo and many plains game. You will not find a better place to hunt cats. Tanzania also offers special plains game that are rare and hard to find in other countries – lesser kudu, gazelles, roan, sable, gerenuk, topi and dikdik to name a few.

Accommodation- East African style luxury tented camps. Individual accommodations with private bathroom and shower (hot and cold running water). We offer breakfast cooked to order and a picnic lunch in the field followed by a three course dinner and drinks in the evenings.

Hunting season – from July 1 to December 31
 
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Best known for its great plains game hunting. Our privately owned hunting concessions and lodges are conducive to both serious hunters and vacationing families. Plains game safaris are affordable and South Africa has many species available for hunting. It is not uncommon for a first time safari hunter to shoot fifteen species on a safari.

The ease of logistics and modern day conveniences make South Africa a prime destination for many first time safari hunters and experienced African sportsmen alike. Many camps have cell phone service, satellite TV and wireless internet available.

With the greatest variety of animals available for hunting in any one country, South Africa has developed into the most popular hunting destination on the continent. It is an equally excellent choice for a first time safari or the hunter to expand his collection from the many game species available. With its varied topography and climate, South Africa provides many hunting conditions which will test the hunter's skill and offer different challenges from one concession to the next. Askew and Maartens Safaris (A&M) operates from some of the finest concession areas in South Africa. The diverse terrain allows for many different species endemic to certain areas of the country and thus we offer safaris throughout South Africa so as to attain the best trophy possible during your safari. We provide professional, tailor made safaris.

Accommodation varies from thatched chalets to tented camps and all our accommodation meets our high standards. Rooms are en-suite and not shared unless specified by you. Activities for the non-hunter, or observer, are also catered for at all our camps and concessions. Once we have decided on your priority species and what part of the country you will be hunting in I will be able to give you more details on the accommodation to expect whilst hunting there. South Africa is well renowned for its wine and cuisine and our camps maintain this expectancy thus adding to your hunting enjoyment.

Johannesburg has become the gateway to Southern Africa and you can fly to it from many different countries and with many different airlines. Depending on the time of year for your safari the flights can quickly become full and thus the timely booking of your ticket is advised. On arrival you will have to get a visa which is obtainable at customs hassle-free and with no charge. Gun permits into RSA are handled by our staff and issued by the SAPS upon arrival.

Your travel documents should include: passport, rifle documents, customs 4457 form, airline itinerary, shipping instructions for your trophies from your taxidermist. We have found it a good idea to have a file with all of these documents in my carry-on, have an extra copy of your customs 4457 form and your passport. Put a copy of any gun documents and my passport in my gun case where they are easily found by airport officials if needed. Your ammunition will also have to be in a separate case.

Please pack light and bring varied gear and clothes. There is no need for too many of the same items. All outer clothing should be dark brown or green. We advise most clients to have a look at our website for suggestions on clothing and equipment needed whilst on safari. The temperature in South Africa is as varied as the terrain; please ensure that you are aware of what area you are hunting and temperatures to expect.

Your trophies will be salted in camp and then transported to the taxidermist/shipping agent as soon as possible. Bring instructions from your taxidermist, many of the taxidermist supply you with trophy tags as well. You will be contacted by the appropriate person when shipments are received.

50% of your Daily rate is required to book your safari. Please ensure that you read all the terms and conditions for South Africa. We will contact you with further payment instructions once required and suggestions for trophy fee deposits. Any money not used will be refunded to you. Please note that tipping the staff is the norm in African hunting camps. It is obviously up to the client to decide if and how much to tip the person but plan accordingly. Tips for the staff and Professional Hunter are typically done in USD. We will provide more information on this topic if needed.

Species – Basically all plains game species are available and of great trophy quality. Dangerous game is limited but available upon request.

Accommodation- permanent fully staffed lodge with individual chalets.

Hunting season - Trophy hunting is carried out throughout the year, but due to the summer heat and rains, most hunting is conducted between March and October, with June, July and August being the most popular months.
 
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Historically this country was one of the best destinations for plains game hunting as well as an excellent full bag dangerous game safari. This came to an end when the Portuguese were evicted from the country in 1975. A long civil war between Frelimo and Renomo supporters started in 1977; this terrible war destroyed the country and unchecked poaching brought this beautiful land to its knees, rendering it one of the poorest countries in the world. The war ended in 1992 and a slow rebuilding process began. Mozambique and the game populations have now made a good recovery mainly due to the efforts of sportsmen like you.

After years of internal struggle Mozambique has settled and this beautiful country is now safe. We have been hunting here without trouble since 2003. The people and government are happy to have us in the country and are very helpful. This is not the ideal destination for most first timers to Africa. The areas are big and remote; however, we have consistently taken excellent quality animals out of the areas that we hunt. The Safaris here take extra time and elbow grease. With this being said we prepare accordingly for your hunt and start the ground work well in advance of your arrival by scouting and pre-baiting.

Conditions with logistics and travel here are still difficult. Many areas are large with low animal density. Mozambique offers buffalo hunts in the swamps, large leopard roaming the interior, along with the best crocodile and hippo to be hunting in Africa. We feel this is a great destination for all hunters but may not be suitable for a first safari. Mozambique offers a great experience in a beautiful but very underdeveloped country.

Travel to Mozambique starts with a flight to Johannesburg South Africa. You will overnight here and then take a commercial or private charter into Mozambique. A malaria preventative is required in all areas. There are many different terrains and climates in Mozambique which add to its diversity and allure to the international hunter – these safaris require area specific attention to your hunting gear – we will advise on a case by case basis.

Species – Lion Leopard Buffalo Crocodile hippo and many plains game. Elephant can only be exported by European and Mexican clients.

Accommodation- permanent fully staffed lodge with individual chalets.

Hunting season – typically from June to November
 
Accommodation With Bullet Safaris

Random pictures of the accommodation facilities we use.

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Thanks for the information on your operations. Looks like you are out there getting after some excellent animals.
 
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Plains game is the most popular hunt that is conducted in Africa. Most of these safaris take place in South Africa and typically range from 8 -12 days. In this time period you will have the opportunity to hunt as many as 25 different species. Most hunters take 6 – 10 animals while on a plains game safari.

You will have the opportunity to take a variety of plains game animals on your dangerous game hunts as well. There are many species of plains game to hunt, and it can take many safaris to different regions to hunt all of them. They range from the boot sized Blue Duiker to the 2,500 pound Eland. Some are herd animals and some are more solitary. The hunting is mostly spot and stalk or tracking. The amount of species, differing habitats, and geographical ranges can keep a dedicated hunter busy for a lifetime. With the plains game animals, the horns and skins come in all shapes, colors, and styles.

All of the antelope in Africa have true horns; they grow throughout the animal's life.

Bring your favorite scoped .30 caliber rifle and 3 boxes of quality soft point, heavier bullets are preferred. These safaris present a great opportunity to bring along your hunting buddies, father, son, wife, children, and even non-hunting observers. This is a great way to experience Africa and have a great hunting trip and vacation all rolled into one. The cost is comparable to a guided elk or bear hunt – the experience is much better! You get to shoot 10 times the animals with great accommodation and food.

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Congratulations on such a fine array of trophies. One of my favorite is the blue wildebeest.
I am keen to get s nice eland one of these days.
Anyway enough of my "wants".
Best wishes on such a great outfit.
 
Great video!
 
thank you sir - come over and visit us in TZ!
Thanks for the information on your operations. Looks like you are out there getting after some excellent animals.
 
Great video!
thanks - we have 2 of the best leopard hunting areas in Africa.
Big Cats - a lot of them - and all daylight kills.
It is a really special place to hunt and the success rate on leopard is second to none. We scout the cats years in advance, I know exactly which three cats we will hunt in our opening month of the season as I have pictures of them from the last 2 years and I know their territories.
I appreciate the comment on the video!
 

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Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

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