Going to Zimbabwe

[Scott CWO]

I'm no one's agent I'm Mike Blignauts partner and Martin Pieters USA office. This hunt was donated to KCSCI at Amundundamela a forestry area located at the south east corner of Hwange National Park. They have 2 cats on open quota. There's tons of plains game in the area and baiting is difficult so these permits are seldom used or filled. Since it's a forestry parks boundary area we always have a game scout. The last dedicated leopard hunt we did here was some time ago but yielded the current crossbow world record. I have personally seen leopard in the day including an enormous male standing in the 2 track my last visit so a "by chance" opportunity is possible given the high numbers of cats living in the area. My point is why do so many of you always jump straight to the bad side of this business? Nothing to do just be negative armchair quarterbacks?

Agreed. I killed my leopard in the daylight and in seven trips I have seen two other leopards in the daylight while out hunting on foot. I know it’s unusual but it does happen. One was a large male, the other, a female. I do agree however, that shooting a leopard while out hunting other species on foot or from the safari vehicle is highly unlikely.

 

[Scott CWO]

I am paying $50, but some outfitters from Zim have been advertising $80 here (hence why some of us are skeptical about various claims).

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Most outfitters I’ve communicated with in Zim charge $75-$100 per day for the Parks Ranger for lion, leopard and elephant. Parks is charging the operator $50 but the operator has to feed and house the Ranger. Plus, unfortunately, it’s quite common that businesses upcharge everything to make a profit for their trouble.

 

[Tanks]

That makes sense in a way, though I am glad CMS is passing it straight through instead of marking it up. The trackers and rangers etc. bunk and cook together so I doubt it costs much at all if to the outfitter. Heck, they got plenty of meat to add to their maize in addition to taking meat home from my hunt.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

I can only speak from our experience. Our hunting camp and original concession is the Mucheni conservancy. We also hunt a very large portion of the land governed by Binga Rural Council. We are required to have a National Parks Ranger for Lion, Leopard and Elephant we have paid N.P. $50.00, $70.00, $80.00 & $100.00. Some have came with their own food some without. We usually quote in our all inclusive price that we are paying $100.00 per day, but we adjust price down if we pay less.

In addition to a National Parks Ranger we are also required to have a "Ranger" present from Binga Rural Council. We pay nothing for this Ranger, but we are required to provide food. One big difference for the Parks Ranger we are required to have the Ranger as long as the L,L&E are being hunted this could be one day or it could be for the full days booked. For the Binga Council Ranger, it is for the duration of the hunt.

Most of the time these Rangers are just excess baggage, but now and then they save the day, here are a couple of examples. A corrupt elected official (anti-hunting) during a hunt accused us of hunting elephant without a permit or quota. The N.P. Ranger was able to verify to the N.P. Area Manager that all papers were properly filed and in his office. The second incident the same anti-hunting official made a false report that we killed an elephant in an area that our permit did not cover. Again the Rangers GPS log in and pictures saved the day.

All quotas originate with National Parks. Councils, Communities, Conservancies,Land Owners all receive their quota from National Parks, usually in February. Quotas terminate at the end of that calendar year.