TWC – 2007 Year End Report & Newsletter
{Full-color PDF version available here)
Tanzania Wildlife Company Ltd. and our clients had a tremendously successful safari season. No matter for what reason we hunt, good quality trophies are always a nice bonus to the safari experience, and 2007 was no exception.
TWC’s Lake Natron South concession in northern Maasailand again yielded new discoveries. During various expeditions in the previous season we discovered several antelope species in the area that we did not know existed. We found healthy populations of Chandler’s Mountain Reedbuck on Kitumbeine and Kirimasi mountains, and Coke’s hartebeest - which had been thought to only exist in the northeastern corner of the concession - were found in good numbers in the foothills of Kitumbeine Mountain. The concession extends above the escarpment of the Rift Valley and in this area we were very pleased to find Robert’s Gazelle. Several clients collected these prized species for additions to their trophy rooms and SCI awards achievements.
A few 2007 Lake Natron trophies of noteworthy exception include client Jim Tarpley’s 17” Gerenuk and huge livestock-killing leopard from the Kitumbeine base-camp area, and PH Alistair James’ and client Jerry Scolari’s monster leopard and 32” lesser kudu from near Kiserian camp. PH Nigel Theisen and client Don Headings were also very fortunate to collect a white-bearded wildebeest that scored over 30”.
Our education of the local Maasai communities about the value of wildlife has paid off for the benefit of everyone involved. Instead of snaring or trying to kill the problem animals such as lion, leopard, and even buffalo, the Maasai now notify our staff so that our PH’s and clients can hunt for these animals. It is a win-win for everyone: the local community benefits from the income and protection of their livestock, and the clients often end up with a fine trophy and a unique hunting experience. Most importantly, the wildlife populations are the greatest beneficiaries as they are now recognized as having a value to the local communities.
TWC’s new semi-permanent camp at the foothills of Kitumbeine Mountain offers a spectacular view of Oldonyo Lengai, the Maasai’s “Mountain of God,” and only active volcano in eastern Africa. 
This season the volcanic activities started with small tremors which eventually escalated into two earthquakes measuring 6.1 and 6.2 on the Richter scale. Clients enjoyed from the safety of camp the rumblings and grand show of Lengai blowing ash and smoke; sometimes the lava flow could even be seen from camp in the evening.
Rungwa Ikili again produced the usual trophy quality buffalo (40” average) and lion that it is known for. Of the three lion hunters in 2007, two mature and exceptional cats were taken by our safari clients. PH Alistair James and client Charlie Henderson started off the lion hunts with a full-maned cat that every hunter dreams of, and then proceeded to also collect a fine leopard and a notable array of buffalo and plains game animals. I was able to take time away from TWC headquarters in Arusha to guide my longtime client and friend, John Lake, to success on another very old monarch of Rungwa Ikili.
Throughout the season we observed plenty of lion activity in prides and bachelor male groups. TWC’s policy for long-term trophy management allows only for shooting male lions over the age of six years. As you can see in photos from some of the automatic cameras which we routinely place at baits, there are a number of fine male lions coming into this mature age bracket. I expect the lion hunting, as well as all other specie trophy quality in Rungwa will only continue to improve as years progress!
A very promising sighting in Rungwa was that of a very nice bull elephant in September. More and more elephant are moving into the area and lots of older elephant are being seen. We expect to run at least one elephant-specific safari in Rungwa for 2008.
Whereas the previous season’s success suffered slightly from late rains in the Selous, the weather patterns in 2007 season returned to “normal” with early and good rains, making for outstanding hunting for the large numbers of buffalo and plains game that has brought fame to our three prime Selous Game Reserve blocks.
Client John Lochow and PH Nigel Theisen shot the potential new SCI #1 Suni, and client Jack Brittingham and PH John Greeff also collected a Suni with bow and arrow, a feat not often accomplished. Jack later used his rifle to take a very fine 13 foot crocodile on the banks of the Rufigi River.
PH Alistair James and Jack’s son, Barron Brittingham, celebrated Barron’s graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy by bagging a terrific lion and leopard, plus a hippo, buffalo, and plenty of plains game which made for an amazing array of table fare in camp.
The buffalo quality in the Selous was once again very good, with several clients taking buffalo over the sought-after 40” mark. Archery client Rick Hunt and PH Nigel Theisen connected on several successful stalks for buffalo, and made Rick’s year by taking one of his lifetime “wish list” animals, a spotted hyena.
Multiple clients enjoyed the excitement of a “buff double” in which they shot two buffalo out of the same group within minutes of each other. There is no adventure that quite compares to the thrill of tracking down a group of smart old “dugga boys” in the miombo forest of the Selous!
Though no clients spent their Selous safaris exclusively hunting for elephant, the regularity of weather conditions brought the tuskers back in great numbers to our MA1 and U3 areas. MA1 (Madaba camp) has historically been known as one of the best elephant areas in all of Tanzania. The later, drier months of the season are traditionally the best for elephant hunting and with all the positive sign we will definitely have elephant hunts to sell for 2008 and beyond. The long, thin ivory of the Selous tuskers are highly sought after, and a beautiful sight to behold.
In other news, we were able to finalize the initial company investment and TWC now sports six new camps equipped to the highest standards. Another comfortable upgrade in 2007 was the addition of three new double-cab Toyota Land Cruiser hunting vehicles to our already excellent fleet of safari trucks. These air-conditioned luxury cruisers are perfect for use with family groups in the dust of Maasailand or in the tsetse fly-invested areas in the south and west. These vehicles, combined with the new semi-permanent Kitumbeine camp also allow us to provide exceptional photographic safaris during the wet season Rift Valley wildebeest migration. I encourage everyone to join us during the off-season and personally experience this amazing spectacle of nature!
Unfortunately, 2007 will probably be most remembered as a year of turmoil and uncertainty in the hunting industry of Tanzania. On 29 June Government Notice 159 was published, and a letter notifying all hunting companies in Tanzania of a huge increase in block and trophy fees was circulated on the 11th of July, retroactive to the opening of hunting season on 1 July. This letter sent shock waves through the hunting world; in some cases clients had already completed their hunts and returned home only to find out about the increase of fees.
We were very fortunate not lose any clients that had already paid deposits for the 2007 season and for this we are very thankful. The negative impact of GN 159, however was apparent in the lack of trophies taken. Numerous clients had booked a full wish list of trophies, but due to the increase were not prepared or in some cases unable to pay the new ridiculously high fees. The Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) and consolidated voice of most Tanzanian outfitters - including TWC -not only complained about the timing of the letter but also the unreasonably high fees.
At the time of this newsletter, the government has conceded to TAHOA’s proposal to lower the fees to a more reasonable level for 2007, and we are hoping that this rationale will prevail for the 2008 season as well.
The Government’s main goal is, understandably, to increase its revenue through higher fees. We support the prosperity of this beautiful country and its people, but also must protect our clients’ interest and that of the conservation of wildlife. Without hunters who can afford to pay for opportunity to hunt these animals, the income used for conservation is lost, and inevitably it is the wildlife who suffers most.
Tanzania continues to offer some of the best hunting in Africa and truly magnificent trophies can be harvested thanks to good conservation principles. The fee increase will probably result in fewer clients coming to Tanzania in the years to come but those that do come will certainly be rewarded with incomparable hunting opportunities.
I would like to thank our 2007 clients for their support during the uncertain times of the fee issue, and encourage new clients to come experience Tanzania at her best with our first-class safari operation.
Asante,
Leon Lamprecht
Managing Director
Tanzania Wildlife Company
Arusha, Tanzania
