Russ16
AH legend
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2024
- Messages
- 2,085
- Reaction score
- 4,017
- Location
- Mid-Atlantic
- Hunted
- US (34 states), Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Romania, Scotland
Safari Dates: July 31- August 10
Area: Dande, Zimbabwe
Outfitter: Charlton McCallum Safaris (CMS)
PH: Gareth Lecluse
Appy: Owen
Trackers: Paul and Uriya
Firearms Used: Chapuis 450-400, Winchester Model 70 375 H&H Magnum
Species Targeted: Buffalo Bull and Sable
Species Taken: Buffalo Bull and Cow, Zebra, Duiker
I booked this hunt at the DSC show in 2025 to fulfill a lifelong dream of hunting buffalo; I also really wanted to hunt sable as I think they are easily the most beautiful of the antelope. I knew full well that the sable hunting in Dande would be tough and no guarantee but that any trophy would be well earned.
Departure was July 27 with an IAD-DOH-HRE routing on Qatar airways; it would be in the Q-Suite for the IAD-DOH leg and standard business DOH-HRE which would arrive July 29. I was originally booked on Emirates, but schedule changes related to the Iran conflict made that itinerary unworkable Gracy travel was very helpful in getting me a refund and rebooking on Qatar.
The outbound included an 8-hour layover in Doha. Qatar will provide a complimentary hotel room for layovers of that length but can’t guarantee if you’ll have to leave the airport or not until you arrive. Instead, I opted to pay the $150 to access the Al Safwa First Class lounge which includes sleeping rooms. I didn’t wind up using one but did have excellent food and drink options and was able to shower before my connecting flight.
Upon arrival we were met by some airport personnel arranged by CMS, and they assisted us with the firearms paperwork. This included a lot of people checking all the same information and taking pictures of our documents and guns. Once through customs a representative from CMS met me and took me to the Amanzi Lodge for an overnight.
Amanzi is a great facility and everyone there was super nice. The bar was great and both lunch and dinner were excellent. I opted to order off the African Specialties portion of the menu and really enjoyed the sadza and different stews at both meals. Myles McCallum came by and we chatted for a while about the hunting season and my hunt.
The next day Myles picked me up and took me to back to the airport for the charter to Dande. This included a nearly duplicate check of firearms before going through security and heading to the charter plane.
The flight was seamless, and we were met at the airstrip by Owen, an appy who grew up in the village that surrounds the strip. He started working in the camps as a waiter and eventually a camp manager. He’s nearly through with his apprenticeship and is scheduled for his oral exams in February. Getting to know Owen would turn out to be one of the highlights of the trip and I really hope he gets his full license as I would love to return and hunt with him as my PH one day.
That night would be spent at the Matombo camp on the Zambezi; we would be heading to the Mururu camp the next afternoon after a morning of fishing. We had arrived in time for lunch and enjoyed it while soaking in our surroundings and waiting for the heat of the day to pass. Late afternoon Owen took to boat out, and we did a little fishing and looking at hippos, crocs, and a group of elephants including a young bull with beautiful long ivory.
This was my first trip to Africa and seeing the Zambezi was an amazing introduction. Witnessing how closely the villagers live to the game is amazing. They had crops right on the edge of the river and had tried to construct crude fences to keep the hippo and elephants out, they also had huts they sleep in during the peak growing season so that they can hear crop raiders and try to scare them off in the night. Seeing a group of kids 8 or so years old fishing with cane poles only a few hundred yards down the bank from a sunning 12-foot croc is a sobering sight. Those of us in America just can’t comprehend how close to disaster they live. Despite that everyone you saw or met had a huge smile and a friendly wave. It really makes you think realize comfort, convenience, and technology aren’t the key to happiness, and in fact may spoil it.
When we returned from fishing Gareth had arrived along with Daniel MacDonald who would be filming my hunt. We had a couple of sundowners and enjoyed dinner before turning in for the night.
In the morning we left early to fish and followed the Zambezi all the way upriver along the Chewore safari area. The fishing wasn’t great hooking a couple of catfish but unable to land any. But It was a great morning seeing the game which included some bushbuck, baboons, impala, and elephant along with the ever-present hippo and croc.
After lunch we took a nap and packed up for the 90-minute drive to Mururu. Once there we checked the rifles which had maintained zero through the trip. Sleep didn’t come easy as the anticipation of my first day hunting in Africa made unwinding difficult.
Area: Dande, Zimbabwe
Outfitter: Charlton McCallum Safaris (CMS)
PH: Gareth Lecluse
Appy: Owen
Trackers: Paul and Uriya
Firearms Used: Chapuis 450-400, Winchester Model 70 375 H&H Magnum
Species Targeted: Buffalo Bull and Sable
Species Taken: Buffalo Bull and Cow, Zebra, Duiker
I booked this hunt at the DSC show in 2025 to fulfill a lifelong dream of hunting buffalo; I also really wanted to hunt sable as I think they are easily the most beautiful of the antelope. I knew full well that the sable hunting in Dande would be tough and no guarantee but that any trophy would be well earned.
Departure was July 27 with an IAD-DOH-HRE routing on Qatar airways; it would be in the Q-Suite for the IAD-DOH leg and standard business DOH-HRE which would arrive July 29. I was originally booked on Emirates, but schedule changes related to the Iran conflict made that itinerary unworkable Gracy travel was very helpful in getting me a refund and rebooking on Qatar.
The outbound included an 8-hour layover in Doha. Qatar will provide a complimentary hotel room for layovers of that length but can’t guarantee if you’ll have to leave the airport or not until you arrive. Instead, I opted to pay the $150 to access the Al Safwa First Class lounge which includes sleeping rooms. I didn’t wind up using one but did have excellent food and drink options and was able to shower before my connecting flight.
Upon arrival we were met by some airport personnel arranged by CMS, and they assisted us with the firearms paperwork. This included a lot of people checking all the same information and taking pictures of our documents and guns. Once through customs a representative from CMS met me and took me to the Amanzi Lodge for an overnight.
Amanzi is a great facility and everyone there was super nice. The bar was great and both lunch and dinner were excellent. I opted to order off the African Specialties portion of the menu and really enjoyed the sadza and different stews at both meals. Myles McCallum came by and we chatted for a while about the hunting season and my hunt.
The next day Myles picked me up and took me to back to the airport for the charter to Dande. This included a nearly duplicate check of firearms before going through security and heading to the charter plane.
The flight was seamless, and we were met at the airstrip by Owen, an appy who grew up in the village that surrounds the strip. He started working in the camps as a waiter and eventually a camp manager. He’s nearly through with his apprenticeship and is scheduled for his oral exams in February. Getting to know Owen would turn out to be one of the highlights of the trip and I really hope he gets his full license as I would love to return and hunt with him as my PH one day.
That night would be spent at the Matombo camp on the Zambezi; we would be heading to the Mururu camp the next afternoon after a morning of fishing. We had arrived in time for lunch and enjoyed it while soaking in our surroundings and waiting for the heat of the day to pass. Late afternoon Owen took to boat out, and we did a little fishing and looking at hippos, crocs, and a group of elephants including a young bull with beautiful long ivory.
This was my first trip to Africa and seeing the Zambezi was an amazing introduction. Witnessing how closely the villagers live to the game is amazing. They had crops right on the edge of the river and had tried to construct crude fences to keep the hippo and elephants out, they also had huts they sleep in during the peak growing season so that they can hear crop raiders and try to scare them off in the night. Seeing a group of kids 8 or so years old fishing with cane poles only a few hundred yards down the bank from a sunning 12-foot croc is a sobering sight. Those of us in America just can’t comprehend how close to disaster they live. Despite that everyone you saw or met had a huge smile and a friendly wave. It really makes you think realize comfort, convenience, and technology aren’t the key to happiness, and in fact may spoil it.
When we returned from fishing Gareth had arrived along with Daniel MacDonald who would be filming my hunt. We had a couple of sundowners and enjoyed dinner before turning in for the night.
In the morning we left early to fish and followed the Zambezi all the way upriver along the Chewore safari area. The fishing wasn’t great hooking a couple of catfish but unable to land any. But It was a great morning seeing the game which included some bushbuck, baboons, impala, and elephant along with the ever-present hippo and croc.
After lunch we took a nap and packed up for the 90-minute drive to Mururu. Once there we checked the rifles which had maintained zero through the trip. Sleep didn’t come easy as the anticipation of my first day hunting in Africa made unwinding difficult.
