SOUTH AFRICA: AH Group Hunt For Dangerous Game With MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS…

[Green Chile]

The @ MATTANJA HUNTING SAFARIS 2026 group hunt for AH members to focus on dangerous game is concluded. Everyone is home safely having left a lot of trophies in the salt. Dieter and I felt like it was very successful and wanted to create this hunt report to share that success with you. We also wanted to share some thoughts about what inspired this idea. I will also be releasing the dates for next year’s AH group hunt for DG at the end of this report.

Several sponsors have offered group hunts to AH members. I always enjoy reading about them because I love hearing about people expanding their horizon with new experiences and how they are bulding new and better hunting relationships. I’ve heard many hunting enthusiasts comment about how they are the only hunter in their family…their kids aren’t interested…they don’t have a lot of friends that share their interests, etc. Anytime we can support each other in our outdoor interests and conservation efforts, life gets a little better!

When you combine that thought with the idea of hunting dangerous game, the room gets a little smaller…ok a lot smaller! When I get back from any hunting trip, the guys at church gather around to see my photos. They hunt on their leases and family land for dove, deer and hogs but can barely imagine hunting in Africa and especially for DG. I like to share with them that hunting DG in Africa doesn’t have to be some huge investment. It can be done if you review your spending and delay that new truck purchase…or end that hunt lease that didn’t turn out like you expected…or just cut back on that daily $7 latte. For sure you can hunt PG with great values in Africa but DG is within reach too for less than the cost of some of our western US hunts.

So Dieter and I decided to offer a group hunt with a focus on DG. The ranches we have access to have great buffalo genetics and in the case of crocs, Leadwood Conservancy is the only private property in the Limpopo province to receive the designation of wild managed crocs. You will hear more about that croc property in this report but many PHs bring their clients from far and wide to get a big croc there.

There was certainly a lot of PG hunting happening but almost every day, one or more members were chasing buff or crocs. I was fortunate to be present during each member’s success on buff and I couldn’t quit smiling and cheering them on. That was my main role during the hunt; to spend time with each group as they chased their DG but I was also able to see some great PG success as well. For some it was their first trip to Africa and you know how that turns out! Everything is on the menu.

Each individual or couple had their own local PH from Dieter’s network of professionals. You will hear a lot about great friendships forming with a lot of respect for the PH and their tracker. In every case, I heard comments about this is NOT our last hunt together with that PH.

This report is going to take a different format. Instead of many individual reports on the same place and time, I’m inviting the participants to post their experiences and photos in this report. I will be adding some of my experiences as I cheered them on. Follow along as we see some great memories take place!


(Photo from left to right…Bobby, Kurt, Pam, Tina, Darrell, myself)

 

[Andrew62]

Wonderful that you put this hunt together, looking forward to hearing more about it and also know when next year's hunt will take place.

 

[CloudySkies]

Got to say I really like this concept and look forward to hearing more and about the future plans. As someone looking at a future dangerous game hunt who knows no-one who would be interested to share it (wife likes hunting, but DG does not appeal), this is of interest to me as I'd love to share a camp with someone of a similar mindset.

 

[Green Chile]

One thing I was particularly pleased with was the physical prep each group had done to get ready for this. Each group had been through some kind of surgery and rehab in the last few months. Tough group of folks!

 

[Azklmsr]

This was a brand new experience for both me and my lovely wife Pam. I've never hunted outside the US and certainly never anything more dangerous than rattlesnakes in Arizona!

I hunted with Dieter and Vuci for Buffalo. My wife was involved in every step and made the trip a total blast. Critical for me was Bryan covering her with his 416 Rigby. 1st evening out we saw him. Dieter said, "Now that's a proper bull"! He was in cover, but Dieter put the sticks up for me and the only thing that came out of my mouth was, "We're taking him home". Broad, old, warn, rough, bit angry.

We hunted hard for about 2 days to capture the old Dagga Boy. None of the local folks could recall him. He was big, broad, ancient and really wily! Had him on sticks a few times, only to get busted before this rookie could get off a good shot. To say Dieter and Vuci not to mention Bryan and Pam were patient with me would be a huge understatement. We kept after him.

After stalking and working to understand his movement patterns, all from tracks and a few fleeting glimpses, we finally figured out where he was moving and put ourselves in an intercept position. We caught him jogging right at us. He made us a about 25 yds, head down and driving. Dieter gave a yelp and he stopped quartering slightly away. I put a 375 H&H 300 grain TSX slug into his onside shoulder. Clipped his heart. He ran and piled up about 25 yards away and gave a loud death bellow.

Crazy exciting

Buffalo down!

Myself, Vuci, Dieter. Awesome team. Fabulous Bull!

Most supportive wife Ever!

 

[Andrew62]

Got to say I really like this concept and look forward to hearing more and about the future plans. As someone looking at a future dangerous game hunt who knows no-one who would be interested to share it (wife likes hunting, but DG does not appeal), this is of interest to me as I'd love to share a camp with someone of a similar mindset.

Three years ago I did a 'group' hunt for buffalo in Uganda, meaning it was 2x1. Never in this lifetime would I look to do a buffalo hunt 2x1, but being Uganda, it wasn't a matter of getting one, it was a matter of getting one you liked.

Anyway, the fascinating part to me was listening to others tell their past hunting stories, and the guy I was paired up with was on his very first African hunt. So the first morning we headed out I said to him, 'you can shoot the first buffalo and the first Jackson's hartebeest'.

Watching him enjoy his very first hunt to Africa, and taking his very first buffalo was as much as fun as shooting the 2 buffalo I took. And, he benefitted from me filming his two kills with my iPhone.

 

[Art Lambart II]

Great Bull, congrats on your safari.

 

[Green Chile]

It was a lot of fun hunting with Kurt and Pam and seeing Africa through their first time eyes. He took a LOT more than buff. Wait till you see his PG list!

 

[Fatback]

What a great idea to put this type of hunt together. Congrats to all who participated and organized such a successful safari.

 

[Azklmsr]

Dieter Prinslo from Mattanja was awesome. I reached out him when I first heard of the group hunt. 1st to see if he would be comfortable teaching a rookie to hunt DG, second to see if he though the environment was going to be good for my wife. He was very supportive of both and the folks at Leadwood Conservancy were just fantastic. My first African experience was fabulous.

When hunting the team was always very courteous of my wife. As mentioned Bryan covered her with his Rigby while hunting buffalo. Both Pam and myself never felt anything but supported. Dieter had our 6 with his 458 Lott. We were always in double coverage while hunting DG. Exceptionally well secured allowing us to focus on the hunt and learn to safely hunt an animal that was very capable of killing us.

 

[PARA45]

Love it!

I'm actually in the process of organizing a group hunt for 2028. One of the hunters went with me last year for his first safari. He is hooked now. For the other three, this will be their first safari.

 

[migrabill]

I could not do the hunt this year. My knee surgery is August 26th so... I'm up for next year. I'm thinking Croc! When are the dates?

 

[MontanaPat]

Congratulations @Azklmsr msr on a nice buffalo

 

[Azklmsr]

I could not do the hunt this year. My knee surgery is August 26th so... I'm up for next year. I'm thinking Croc! When are the dates?

Big big big lizards there!

 

[Green Chile]

One cool memory of hunting with Kurt was up in the mountains looking for kudu. We saw the strangest sight…a group of 4 giraffe running with that goofy run that only giraffe have but down a vertical rocky face of at least 45+ degrees. I wish I had video of it. I remember saying those fool giraffes are going to break something running that steeply downhill. I was holding my breath fearing a BIG wipeout but they made it somehow. The things you see in Africa are hard to believe sometimes!

 

[Mekaniks]

Awesome! Congratulations Love hearing about successful AH groups

 

[skydiver386]

I'd like to start my portion of the hunt report by congratulating the entire staff along the way that worked so hard to make this hunt so memorable.

Gilbert and the staff at African Sky

Glen and Charmaine of Leadwood
Chef's Solani and Jacob
Butler Andrew

PH's Francois, Gys and Deiter

Trackers Vusi, Steven, Keepa

Each of them was a joy to get to know, and their hard work is very much appreciated.

The Lodging, food and company were all spectacular, with one small exception. One the first night in camp it was rather cold, and Tina went to our chalet while I got to know the staff and PH's around the fire. After an hour or so of Fancois stories about battling drunken Honey Badgers, I decided it was time for bed. As I slipped under the covers I felt something especially warm on my side of the bed, and not only was it warm, it was also HAIRY. My mind flashed to images of Francois tales of battling hung over Honey Badger's and figured for sure that's what it was as I jumped back out of bed.

THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO UNCASE MY CZ550 AND GO TO WORK!

I heard Tina giggle softly as she informed me it was a Hot Water Bottle placed there by the staff.

I figured from that moment on I'd better keep my guard up.

 

[Azklmsr]

The full Staff was fantastic, Charmaine and Glen were awesome, the PH's were so great, and the hot water bottle scared the crap out of me several times! I believe Tina and Pam were in on that one!

 

[TigerBob]

As my very first post on AH, I’m happy to report on a wonderful trip with this great group and my first foray into DG. I am primarily a bowhunter, but as Bryan (Green Chile) mentioned earlier, I am one of the guys coming off a recent surgery, so the bow wasn’t available for me. Luckily, Bryan convinced me to join this group and borrow a gun from my PH (I don’t own a gun larger than a .300 Win Mag). Being my 3rd trip to Africa, I wasn’t quite a newbie, but chasing buffalo through thick brush with a rifle is a tad different experience than sitting in a blind with the bow. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was just hoping for a “proper” buff hunt…you know, the kind you read about. Well, I got that and then some!

Our first day in camp was a Sunday, and after arriving we quickly went to the range and shot our rifles. As I mentioned, I had to borrow a gun from Francios, my PH (.375 H&H), but I drilled the bullseye at 50 yards on the first shot, so gun excuses would not be allowed. Francois seemed particularly excited to get out to scout as he had seen 3 large bulls just 2 days before in a dry river bottom. He wanted to see if they were still in the area before we took off Monday morning. Well, within about an hour we had found them (now a group of 4 bulls) and the lead bull was impressive! Now I know why he was so excited… We tried a quick stalk but the wind wasn’t right so we backed out and decided to try them first thing in the morning.

Well, once on both Monday and Tuesday mornings I got on the sticks only to be thwarted by either impala or a fickle wind or brush blocking vitals. However, Tuesday evening everything worked out in our favor. Our tracker knew the area in which we last left the bulls were and decided to track in after them while we waited on a nearby road for his direction. Within about 15 minutes a herd of impala came racing by along with something much heavier bringing up the rear. Well, the buffalo, as smart as they are, did not cross the road, but decided to run parallel to the road which brought them right in front of us right at 30 yards. Sometimes luck is just on your side. Francois told me our bull was leading the pack and when they were directly across the road, he made a “maaahhhh” sound that stopped them in their tracks. I made what I thought was a perfect shot and the 3 bulls ran off. The bull reacted like a great shot. We all high fived and waited to take up the blood trail, but that is where this story starts, not ends. More to come…

 

[TigerBob]

As we took up the blood trail it was apparent that our bull wanted to keep with the other 3, so we tracked all 4 bulls until the wounded one split off. Here is where I say how good these trackers are in Africa. How on earth my tracker, Tommie, could know that my bull, the one that was hurt, branched off from the other 3 is beyond me. Hell, how he could follow the 4 together was astonishing. I saw nothing but rocks, dust and critter tracks that could have been weeks old. But, he was correct as we found blood on the track he was on. As the bull split off from the group we slowed our pace and began methodically searching ahead of us trying to get a glimpse of him. But, as buff do, he went into thicker and thicker bush the longer we tracked. We heard rocks crunch and Tommie crouched down and pointed. Francois called me up and started telling me to shoot…shoot now!! Now, all I saw was black in my scope and I shot. After the fact I realized that the buff had laid down and was facing us, just waiting. When we were within about 40 yards he stood up and acted as if he wanted us for dinner. Luckily my shot hit somewhere on him and he turned tail and took off. He had blood coming out of his nose, but he still had some life in him which led us to think I had gotten one lung. Onward we track.

After another 100 yards or so, Tommie jumps back and before I can even move up Francois shoots his .450. Turns out the buff was on our right and busted out across us to our left at about 30 yards again. I’ll pause here and say that Francois and I had talked before the hunt that if he felt he needed to shoot to protect us, he had my full blessing – I’m not there to second guess his judgement, nor did I want my kids getting their inheritance yet! He said he didn’t want him to turn towards us and wanted to get another bullet in him, but he missed. So onward we treck.

We keep going and Tommie and Francois are following a pretty good blood trail when both Bryan and I hear what sounds like heavy breathing directly to our right. Tommie and Francois are still going straight and we’re trying to get their attention without making too much noise. This thing is close. No sooner did we get their attention than we heard it again and now all hell breaks loose. The bull rushes from the thick brush about 40 yards from our right (yes, he had circled back again) and both Francois and I hit him at the same time, which stopped the run. I cycled and shot him again and he did a face plant and flipped over himself. He was essentially done. Two more insurance shots for good measure and I finally got my bull.

Little did I know at the time, but when he face planted, his right horn got caught in the ground and he snapped it off up near his skull. This was the first time anyone there had seen this. So, I don’t know how wide he was, but I don’t really care. I got my proper buff hunt, one hell of a story and a trophy that I plan to mount with the horn broken. My plan is to mount him on a pedestal with the horn on the ground (top of the pedestal) beside him.