matt vejar
AH veteran
Where do you start when you finally have everything go your way? Derren Ellerman a Zimbabwean PH and his two trackers Chrispen and Kattela would probably be it. However, the entire staff at Kambako camp on the banks of the Lugenda River have to be commended for top notch service with a smile!
It’s a mission to get there. Virgin Atlantic SFO to Jo’berg. Airlink to Pemba, Moz and then a company Cessna to camp 1.5 hours flight and the airstrip 1 mile from camp.
I used a company gun, a warhorse Winchester Safari model 70 In 375 H&H with Schmidt Bender 1 by 4. Very clear scope. Like the saying goes “if it could only talk”. Felt just like my Pre64 just a little heavier. One bullseye off the sticks at 60 yds and let’s go hunting!
Hunt was for plains game specifically for Red Duiker, Sharpes Grysbuck, Zuni, Eland and Bushbuck, but with plenty of quota things took a twist!
Day 1 we headed out at around 5 with daylight breaking around 4:30. Immediately you start seeing game usually Impala, Waterbuck and Kudu. We drove in the direction of a hotspot for the tiny antelope as they had high priority on this hunt. At an hour or so from camp we started seeing lots of Zuni and several red Duiker but most were not quite big enough for day 1. We did some walking down the road here and there and saw one pretty good Zuni. Around 10:00 we were crossing a midsize river maybe 40 yds wide and saw a red Duiker on the the side. We got out and sat down but it turned out to be a female which also have much shorter horns. Babboons we’re around which is always a good sign. We decided to go for a walk and as we looped back towards the river a no doubt Zuni appeared and even I could see his long horns. Derren had the sticks up and despite the crunchy leaves he stood at 20 meters broad side and one 300 grain Barnes solid behind the shoulder a bit had him down! Center mass shooting is all that’s required on the dinkers!
We call for someone to pick him up as we drive back towards camp at some crossroad. We continue hunting till dark but see no shooters. Probably saw 20 or so Zuni and a dozen red Duiker. Great day. First night dinner was Eland steaks cooked to perfection by chef Angelo who has been at Kambako Camp for 10 years. He and his helper put out great dinners and lunches that are terrific by any measure! Had some drinks and conversation at the bar and off to bed.
Day 2 early rise and we’re headed toward some springs by the big mountain range maybe 10 miles from camp. We pick up a lone bull track and off we go. Immediately the tracking slows as it takes 2 hours to go 300 plus yards in tall grass and meandering bull. Once they sort it out and he leaves onto burned of areas the tracking speed picks up and 2 hours later we’ve closed the distance and everyone is on high alert as it is close to moon and he’s looking for shade I hope. Maybe 30 minutes later we sort through some tall grass and up and along a creek bank the trackers Duck and I duck. Derren is pulling me up - I slipped my ear muffs on - can’t here get on the sticks! The bull was lying down behind a big tree and pivots as it stands maybe 70yards away and the rodeo begins. He starts to run and I step in front of sticks and start throwing lead! Miss all 3. - running load miss at a 100yds but bull turns left and gives me one last shot before going over the rise and I punch him on the shoulder!! Derren catches up to me as we look over the rise and the bull is down maybe 70 yds away. It’s better to be lucky than good or as Derren said back at camp that night “ he was to close at first!” My first free range Eland is the one I’ve always dreamed of!
Everyone in camp is fired up about the Eland when we arrive back at camp just after dark. Going to be eating good for the next 10 days.
Day 3 we head up the Lugenda river looking for tiny stuff and Bushbuck. We leave around 7 as everyone is beat up from the whole Eland recovery. Derren had told me the Grysbuck would be the toughest to get and I should take the first one I see. We hadn’t driven an hour from camp when we see a big male from the road. A quick shot and my most worrisome animal for this trip is down!! Unbelievable jubilation as I kinda thought maybe I may not get one. Needless to say we saw a good population of them after I shot mine but with all duikers seeing and getting a shot is two different things! I was on cloud 9 as we headed back to camp and called it a day.
The lunch was great and we rested pull side as everyone could get ready for buffalo and the 3 am wake up the following morning.
I’ll finish tomorrow as I’m on Africa time and it’s 3am in California.
It’s a mission to get there. Virgin Atlantic SFO to Jo’berg. Airlink to Pemba, Moz and then a company Cessna to camp 1.5 hours flight and the airstrip 1 mile from camp.
I used a company gun, a warhorse Winchester Safari model 70 In 375 H&H with Schmidt Bender 1 by 4. Very clear scope. Like the saying goes “if it could only talk”. Felt just like my Pre64 just a little heavier. One bullseye off the sticks at 60 yds and let’s go hunting!
Hunt was for plains game specifically for Red Duiker, Sharpes Grysbuck, Zuni, Eland and Bushbuck, but with plenty of quota things took a twist!
Day 1 we headed out at around 5 with daylight breaking around 4:30. Immediately you start seeing game usually Impala, Waterbuck and Kudu. We drove in the direction of a hotspot for the tiny antelope as they had high priority on this hunt. At an hour or so from camp we started seeing lots of Zuni and several red Duiker but most were not quite big enough for day 1. We did some walking down the road here and there and saw one pretty good Zuni. Around 10:00 we were crossing a midsize river maybe 40 yds wide and saw a red Duiker on the the side. We got out and sat down but it turned out to be a female which also have much shorter horns. Babboons we’re around which is always a good sign. We decided to go for a walk and as we looped back towards the river a no doubt Zuni appeared and even I could see his long horns. Derren had the sticks up and despite the crunchy leaves he stood at 20 meters broad side and one 300 grain Barnes solid behind the shoulder a bit had him down! Center mass shooting is all that’s required on the dinkers!
We call for someone to pick him up as we drive back towards camp at some crossroad. We continue hunting till dark but see no shooters. Probably saw 20 or so Zuni and a dozen red Duiker. Great day. First night dinner was Eland steaks cooked to perfection by chef Angelo who has been at Kambako Camp for 10 years. He and his helper put out great dinners and lunches that are terrific by any measure! Had some drinks and conversation at the bar and off to bed.
Day 2 early rise and we’re headed toward some springs by the big mountain range maybe 10 miles from camp. We pick up a lone bull track and off we go. Immediately the tracking slows as it takes 2 hours to go 300 plus yards in tall grass and meandering bull. Once they sort it out and he leaves onto burned of areas the tracking speed picks up and 2 hours later we’ve closed the distance and everyone is on high alert as it is close to moon and he’s looking for shade I hope. Maybe 30 minutes later we sort through some tall grass and up and along a creek bank the trackers Duck and I duck. Derren is pulling me up - I slipped my ear muffs on - can’t here get on the sticks! The bull was lying down behind a big tree and pivots as it stands maybe 70yards away and the rodeo begins. He starts to run and I step in front of sticks and start throwing lead! Miss all 3. - running load miss at a 100yds but bull turns left and gives me one last shot before going over the rise and I punch him on the shoulder!! Derren catches up to me as we look over the rise and the bull is down maybe 70 yds away. It’s better to be lucky than good or as Derren said back at camp that night “ he was to close at first!” My first free range Eland is the one I’ve always dreamed of!
Day 3 we head up the Lugenda river looking for tiny stuff and Bushbuck. We leave around 7 as everyone is beat up from the whole Eland recovery. Derren had told me the Grysbuck would be the toughest to get and I should take the first one I see. We hadn’t driven an hour from camp when we see a big male from the road. A quick shot and my most worrisome animal for this trip is down!! Unbelievable jubilation as I kinda thought maybe I may not get one. Needless to say we saw a good population of them after I shot mine but with all duikers seeing and getting a shot is two different things! I was on cloud 9 as we headed back to camp and called it a day.
