ZAMBIA: Balla-Balla Safaris & Zambia Shine Again

Congrats on the eland as well! I was just in Zambia last July with Shawn's partner Strang at his home ranch not terribly far from where you were!
 
We met Strang a couple times, too. Great guy. Did you know that he has the world record Kafue lechwe?
 
We met Strang a couple times, too. Great guy. Did you know that he has the world record Kafue lechwe?

Yes great guy!

Are You talking about this one ;)
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Congrats Jeffro, that was a great hunt with excellent trophies !
 
I'm booked with Balla Balla for next year August, combo trip with them first then Cabassa Safaris near Tete, Moz. Did you see any Sharps Grysbok & Chobe Bushbuck? Those are on my list. I'd be interested to learn more about your travel issues, if you stayed a night in Livingstone & where, plus other lessons learned with travel/logistics. Since I have the Cabassa trip back to back & hunting hippo/croc there, I had planned to take my 375. I sure don't want issues with taking that rifle back & forth thru Joburg, which I assume I'll have to do. Any suggestions/recommendations on the travel plans would be appreciated.
 
Truthfully, I did not look for the Sharps. Shawn has access to Chobe bushbuck, both at Dendro, and neighbouring farms. As to travel with guns, every leg of a flight can be an ordeal: pack and unpack your ammo at the whim of incompetent or corrupt officials, open and close your gun case repeatedly for the same people, lost luggage and hunting days, hours of waiting for someone who should be there but isn't. It looks to me that you would need permits for three countries--expense and time in each place. By the way, Zambia is the king of time wasting...at least two hours for both entry and exit.
As a regular "tourist", step off the plane, or onto it, and go. No expense, no hassle, no lost time. By all means, stay a bit at Victoria Falls. I have stayed at the Amani twice, and find it very nice. The location cannot be better, as it is closest to the falls on the Zambian side. See if your outfitter can get you a rate. I also like the crafts market there, as the items are high quality and the sales tactics less pushy than in Okahandja in Namibia. Bargain hard, as it is part of the game! Watch that the baboons don't steal your stuff! Have a great hunt. Shawn will not disappoint.

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Jeffro..................I love that eland. Look at the stripes and the orange coloration.......not to mention the mass.........This year I got my first eland......now to follow your example and get the Lechwe......easily one of the most beautiful antelope..................thanks for the great postings.....................FWB
 
Thanks, Flatwater Bill. It seems to me that you recently completed a pretty nice trip, too!
 
Well done, some very nice animals. Congrats and thanks for the report.
 
Wow, what a trip. The lechwe in Zambia is definitely on my bucket list. Thank you for sharing!
 
Sorry for your “ugly” parts, but thanks for sharing all of it! In all, it sounded like a grand adventure!
 
Looks and sounds like you had a great hunt. You got your lechwe and that nyala... WOW! And the eland... What great trophies.
A nyala will be my main quest on my next safari. Additionally, I want to go to a different country. Zambia with Balla Balla may be the answer.
 
Congrats, it’s truly wonderful to see all those great antelope. I agree that eland is beautiful, breathtaking!
 
Rifle/ammo problems. They can be a pain, that is for sure. I have relatively avoided any issues by hiring a permit service, Air 2000 Hunter's Support. Anne and her team have never failed to look after me and I have had no issues whatsoever, granted I've only been to the RSA.

I applied for the Canadian Export permit myself. I used KLM, so I required a Netherlands transit permit. In the RSA, I contracted Air 2000, not so much for the permit, but for their presence at the Joburg airport where they have relationships with the police, never an issue.
 
Great report...well hunted and told!!
FANTASTIC trophies..that nyala is a real beauty!!
 
Truthfully, I did not look for the Sharps. Shawn has access to Chobe bushbuck, both at Dendro, and neighbouring farms. As to travel with guns, every leg of a flight can be an ordeal: pack and unpack your ammo at the whim of incompetent or corrupt officials, open and close your gun case repeatedly for the same people, lost luggage and hunting days, hours of waiting for someone who should be there but isn't. It looks to me that you would need permits for three countries--expense and time in each place. By the way, Zambia is the king of time wasting...at least two hours for both entry and exit.
As a regular "tourist", step off the plane, or onto it, and go. No expense, no hassle, no lost time. By all means, stay a bit at Victoria Falls. I have stayed at the Amani twice, and find it very nice. The location cannot be better, as it is closest to the falls on the Zambian side. See if your outfitter can get you a rate. I also like the crafts market there, as the items are high quality and the sales tactics less pushy than in Okahandja in Namibia. Bargain hard, as it is part of the game! Watch that the baboons don't steal your stuff! Have a great hunt. Shawn will not disappoint.

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Thanks for the info. I'll ask about using the outfitter's rifles. I think the 3 country permits is a potential problem, like you say regarding delays. I'll also look up the Amani. I've been at the market in Okahandja, so know what you mean there!
 

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