Report by: Client, Jeff Sevor
PH : Hilary Daffi
Location: Rungwa Ikili
Date : 23 July 2006
23 July 06
Arrived with charter flight from Arusha with the usual jet lag. Met Craig, Tanzania Wildlife Company, Camp manager of Makwasa camp. Tanzania Wildlife Company has new ownership and the camps are quite simply the finest and most well appointed I have ever heard of. The mission this trip is to hunt for a world class lion with the world famous Hilary Daffi as PH. A quick bite and we are off. Harvested a nice Zebra and hung two baits for lion.
24 July 06
Lioness on both baits and took a large Dagga Boy Cape Buffalo with one round and placed 4 more baits.
25 July 06
Buffalo hunting again long track and one hour in close proximity to 60 Buff before I was able to take magnificent old bull with one round from my .458 Lott . Now we have plenty of baits
26 July 06
Checking baits for activity and several hits. One bait has two huge full mane Simbas, so we built a machan on a large kopje after hanging more bait. Hunted the evening, no lions. Pulled out just before dark.
27 July 06
Up at 3:00 AM and rolling by 3:30 AM and in the machan by 5:00. Both lions are on Bait!! Few sounds are more awe inspiring than 2 huge Simbas feeding and both roaring from a distance of 40 yards IN THE DARK!!! The leaves of the machan were shaking. We waited until good light about 7:15 to confirm black nose and a soft point .458 Lott on the shoulder anchored the largest black mane lion. What a lion, what a celebration. Craig and the boys in camp laid on a huge party. We took the rest of the day to rest and reflect. The lion skull measure 25 ¾ inches placing it well into Rowland and Ward. Truly the trophy of a life time.
28 July 06
Shifting gears to Leopard and Roan, took a nice Zebra for Bait.
29 July 06
Slow day checking baits, small leopards, no roan and a scarcity of plains game.
30 July 06
Checking baits for leopard, we have multiple hits, but no huge cats which are the goal. The sign shows 2 males to be respectable, but not a whopper like we are seeking. Hunted buff again and took another great Buff with huge bosses. I love Buffalo.
31 July 06
Looking for Roan, but they seem to be hiding, more plains game is showing up as the water dries up in surrounding areas. Five leopards on bait, Two appear to be good males, but not the whoppers we would like. Plan to move our operation to Lake Natron for plains game and maybe a crack at a huge Maasai Leopard.
August 1: Breakfast, Goodbye’s and an 8:45 AM charter flight.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |