The experience, is everything! No payday is sweeter than a hard-earned one… No reward is greater than one truly deserved… No answer is better than one fully understood… No product is better than one whose process is fully appreciated… and just like all things of value in life, no trophy is better than a well-earned one with a remarkable and memorable experience.
As expressed in the trophy segment, no two are the same and each one is special. What truly makes it personal is the experience! Your hunting experience connects you to the animal you take, or don’t. Ultimately, your hunting experience becomes your compass of hunting itself. It connects you to every aspect of the hunt… the people, places, practices, habitats, conditions, traditions, superstitions etc. It is probably the main reason our hunting heritage has and will continue to stand the test of time. Hunting is proactive in its vast and varied experiences. This is the true essence of hunting and its priceless value – experience!
This topic is endless and difficult for me to share objectively. I am a hunter, thus subjective in my personal experiences. I will try my best to share my own, which are mine, just as yours are yours. I will also share a few from some of my guests over the years. What I share comes from my experience of it with various hunters I’ve been blessed to guide and accompany. There will be good, bad and everything in between… Most experiences are great, but hunting buffalo as a mainstay over three decades, you definitely get a mixed bag.
When on safari in true wilderness habitat, you never know what mother-nature will reward you with. Rest assured, she will give you priceless experiences throughout your interaction. I firmly believe what you put-in, dictates what you get out. Most relate this to money, time, effort and sacrifice, which is true. My advice is to keep an open mind and allow your senses to come alive. Take it all in, it is your experience, enjoy it to the fullest. Experience is something you go after.
Fundamentals & Flaws
Before I share experiences, you must, as you would on a safari with me, listen to my pep talk…
“Welcome to Tanzania – The Summit of Safari. Being here in itself sets you apart. It also means there is no escape : ) All the planning, saving, sacrificing, packing, anxiety, travel… and you are finally here. Enjoy it. Enjoy every bit of it. This is YOUR safari and WE are ALL here to make it memorable for the right reasons. Please feel free to communicate openly and frequently with everyone. Help us make your stay as enjoyable and comfortable as possible. We are all here exclusively for you. We look forward to serving, guiding and sharing in your safari. KARIBU.
You may have read many books, seen hundreds of photos and watched plenty of footage about African safaris… now I must ask you to throw all that out your heads and hearts. Do not allow any preconceived ideas or third-hand information influence the actuality of being here. You’re here to write your own story, take your own photos and capture your own experiences. Take it all in – the good, the bad and the ups and downs. Everything that unfolds during your safari, is uniquely yours and a personal experience. You’re with us because we have more in common than not. We have planned it together, share a kindred spirit and are like-minded. We are a team and that is how we will best enjoy this safari.
Don’t make the mistake of trying to influence Africa as that’s not how it works – she influences you. Sights, sounds, smells, feel and emotion – take it all in. Accept Africa for what she truly is and she never disappoints. This is uncorrupted Africa in all her bounty. She rewards those who embrace her and you are in for a wild ride. I must warn you – this stuff is highly addictive!”
Our hunting heritage and policy thereof, secures ecological diversity & ensures Tanzania as a wildlife haven.
When you listen to my pep talk, understand it. You will find therein, everything needed, for great safari experiences. Focus on fundamentals and flaws will fade. A lot of information in marketing circles are a façade. Get back to basics. Get real and fully indulge Mother Nature. Whether you have hunted once or a hundred times, you are always at the mercy of nature.
Why listen to my pep talk? Because it is honest, humble and based on reality. No matter how experienced or knowledgeable anyone thinks they are, in the face of nature, we’re all learners. Maybe the unknown and untamed is what intrigues us so much about hunting. No image nor literature compares to firsthand experience of God’s work. It is a thing of awe and raw beauty.
But nothing does both like being there in person.
One must appreciate, the world of safari is different. Not just the environment, but people, customs and animals. People in Africa are unfamiliar with your environment and customs. As much as we can, we try to adjust and adapt to varied backgrounds, but our own remains firm. So when a waiter pours wine a little differently, be aware he/she never drinks wine nor been to modern restaurants and cities. African hospitality is built around warmth, smiles and courtesy. When you seek technicalities and western etiquette, you may always find flaws. Regardless, it is service with a smile accompanied with humble honor. This is true in all aspects of safari and so too in methods and traditions of hunting. Experience is not just the hunt, it is everything!
Their Camp 
Your Camp
Ash bags, binoculars, camo clothing, trail cameras, pop-up blinds, callers and so on are all new contraptions to an African hunter. I have personally adopted some, but still do not use others. When you see something lacking in the hunting team, it could well be, you’re the one lacking. Besides your PH, trackers probably work better without gadgets and trickery. Communicate, rather than assume. A good team always works together and learns from one another. Don’t complicate the cause, compliment it. Feel free to ask and discuss anything you’re uneasy with or uncertain about. That in itself is part of the hunting experience. Cooperate and collaborate.
I am not big on camo, but use it occasionally. I am not big on pop-up blinds and avoid their use. If I can’t imitate sound, I will not use a gadget for it. Have I used gadgets? Yes. Do they work? Yes. Has not using gadgets affected my hunting? No. Only thing I have on my belt is ammo. That’s just who I am, now. There was a time I’d have a bunch of kit on my belt – It felt necessary at the time. I’ve learned to keep it simple and apply more stealth, strategy & skill. Experience!
Keeping it simple – gun/ammo/bino 
Bunch of stuff – ammo/knife/bino/watch/earring & belly.
Legend Has It…
I have been fortunate to apprentice, meet and work with some legendary hunters. I hope this continues over the course of my safari life. The wealth of knowledge-thru-experience imparted by these elders is priceless. They have their own principles and philosophy, but a few things are common among all of them – experience, respect & honor. These pillars to which they profess no shortcuts, apply to wildlife, habitats, people and time. Respect, Honor and truly Experience our Hunting Heritage. These are a hunters greatest assets and therefore his or her real wealth.
If you are truly a hunter, you will find everything you need to live a purposeful and principled life. It is our hunting heritage. Values of a hunter are built on pillars of reality of life, fully connected to nature. Follow “Blood Origins” and you will know of our hunting heritage…
Be True To You
With progress in technology, so much has changed. Hunters access so much information from all kinds of resources today. When I first started, I never had videos to watch, books to read or courses to attend. We learned everything from naturally gifted people and nature herself. This type of learning and experience has a way of keeping you honest with yourself and everything. With progressive changes, a tendency to want to be like “someone” or experience “something” has grown. Don’t fall for it – just be you. You’re the best you can ever be and the feeling is bliss
If you are not the type who enjoys walking all day, say so. The team will adjust accordingly. To enjoy your experience, it must be to your guidelines and limitations. It always looks and sounds good on tv or a book, when hunters cover miles and days in pursuit of game. Nobody knows a thing about it until they actually experience it. So experience it. Your PH and hunting crew can handle anything. Be wise about testing them. We can literally walk your soles off to gauge you.
While you think of the day ahead, we think of the full 10 days of safari or more. You may be focused on your buffalo, we consider an entire quota. Chances are, we know more about the area, its game, conditions and terrain. Have faith in your choice and work positively to get the most out of your safari. The road to success is only guaranteed in experience. Do it.
The only brand that matters is YOU! 
Some you need, most you don’t. It’s your call.
Just because pro-staff and celebrity hunters mention a certain caliber or brand, don’t feel you must follow the fad. Use what works for you. Buy within your budget. Be practical & realistic. Most importantly, be comfortable with everything – equipment, conditions and the people you deal with. Once you bring doubt into the equation, things tend to get negative. Positivity is key to having great experiences. It is also important for safety and success.
Expectation & Desire
We all have them. Just like “assumptions”, they are a fine-line to tread and built on emotion. But they exist and cannot be avoided. Only way is to keep them as attainable as possible. To have high expectation and great desire is a positive thing. But reality trumps all. So don’t go setting yourself up for disappointment. If you’re going to Africa to hunt Polar Bear, then you better take a full stock of whatever you’re drinking and smoking to last you the entire safari.
There are many options in hunting today. Nothing wrong with any hunt within legal guidelines. Do research and talk to people about what’s out there. Get an idea of what suits your personal desire and expectation. Based on that, narrow it down to your choice of countries, policy, PH, concessions, outfitters and personnel. Look for factors that connect your desired experiences. Your priority preferences could be a range of factors from terrain, fences, trophy, philosophy, people or perhaps a country or an area you want to experience. Be open and clear about it. Always remember, nothing is guaranteed in hunting. Whoever guarantees on behalf of nature is… Well, you decide for yourself. Guarantees are more about shooting rather than hunting.
Planning & Proceeding
It is rather simple… you contact me and take it from there. This would be your best start…
Planning is no easy task and you will get burned a few times. That in itself is experience. There is no perfect score in hunting. Even shopping at convenient stores is not much of a guarantee. There are some great booking agencies and really good consultants out there. Find someone or somewhere you are comfortable with. Partnership is what you are looking to build. In a great partnership, it’s not always good and easy. Great partnerships are built on good & bad with ups and downs. If you can come through the bad as nice as you can come through the good, you’ve got something special. Blame games are easy. Standing accountable and taking responsibility are tough tasks. Don’t preach about judging books by their covers, when you judge a bed by its sheets. They were both meant to achieve the same – cover things up. Beware the salesman… Seek out the hunter. Deceive not, the hunter you are, by being what you are not.
Never feel you should build only one partnership. Build as many as you can. Some serve areas and requirements better than others. It is about relevance and expertise. Like getting a second and third opinion in the medical field. There is no right or wrong but it is better to know more. The more you know, the better informed decisions you can make.
We all enjoy being in our comfort zones and hanging out with like-minded people. Think about how you achieved these notions and people… Nothing is realized without putting yourself out there and experiencing things. Getting too comfortable and too accustomed tends to limit you. Don’t be afraid to keep growing your horizons through new people and new experiences. You will always have your comfort zone to return to, but you may never know what more there is to experience and how much of yourself there is to unleash and discover. Life is short, live it out.
The Experience… Africa Awaits!
Your average buffalo hunting experience revolves around “fair chase” principles. Everyone is entitled to their own definition. To me, it means hunting on foot, in natural wilderness habitat, offering ample conditions for game to get away and never be seen again, while challenging the hunter to engage and immerse as part of nature, in achieving his or her hunting objectives.
I have never hunted a fenced or contained area and therefore cannot judge nor share relevant experience on that type of hunting. In a big enough area, I would imagine similar experiences.
After arrival at camp, a welcome by the crew and orientation of the set-up, you will settle-in, have drinks and enjoy a meal before being hit by a pep talk. Before any hunting begins, you test the rifles you intend to use. Once the team is happy with guns and marksman, it’s a go.
Your first hunting day is usually the day following your arrival. Get a good nights’ rest. Relax.
Use a ‘dead-rest’ when first sighting your rifle… 
Then practice more realistic situations on ‘sticks’
Your performance at the range is what your hunting team goes by. They will know if you flinch, are afraid of the recoil or simply not serious enough to demand high standard of yourself and them.
An Average Buffalo Hunt
Wake-up at 5am, freshen-up, get kitted out and meet for breakfast at 5:30am, in the hope of heading out by 6am. Based on current buffalo movement and distribution, you try get to the hot zones to pick-up fresh tracks or visit waterholes to read the watering news. If you have nothing to work on by 10am, then you stop somewhere for a mid-morning snack and fluids.
Depending on various factors such as burning, moon cycle, temperature, water scarcity and grazing… you will need to figure-out buffalo movement based on behavior and the terrain. It varies from time to time due to climatic changes and hunting pressure. You WILL find them.
Once you feel you have good sign, you pack-up, load-up and start following on foot. This is where trackers come to the fore. Anyone can track buffalo. Good trackers do it effortlessly. Great trackers do it over any terrain and can differentiate time between tracks on the same path. By tracking animals, you learn so much more about them. How they use the wind on game trails. How they use lay-of-the-land to cover territory and systematically graze. Before long, just by tracking, you will know their pace, where they turn to gaze back, when they run, where they march in order, where they scatter, where they lay down and so much more info. Your senses truly come alive. You familiarize with smells, ground and vegetation. Buffalo!
Tracking buffalo, whether a herd or Kuffi’s (bachelor bulls), could take anything from an hour to an entire day. You never know if there are predators on them, or moving to newer grazing on that particular day. If you are up for it, you keep at it. If not, you pull out and look for another opportunity. Your PH and his trackers will know best how to assess any circumstance from local knowledge and experience of the area. Depending on your hunting priorities and condition, do discuss your plan of action together and do not hold back on giving input.
In most cases, you will catch up with the buffalo, get in close to age them and judge trophies. This is when the whole team needs to be on full alert and aware of surroundings and situation. Wind, sun-glare, cover, alertness of the buffalo and a plan of approach. If you are lucky, it will be a suitable bull, you will get into position, take the shot and successfully claim your buffalo. In reality, you will probably make dozens of approaches and look through hundreds of buffalo before you actually get one. This is the beauty of buffalo hunting – you get more bang for your buck and experience so much about every aspect of safari. People, places and most of all, you. No two buffalo hunting experiences are the same. You will want more and more. Addictive.
A Classic Buffalo Hunt
You will read many stories and watch many features about this type of hunt. It is a classic and never goes out of fashion. It normally starts by getting to a buffalo area and walking. You just walk and cover country on foot until you pick up fresh sign. Then you work them until you get on the buffalo. Sounds ordinary right? Delight is in the detail. A classic buffalo hunt takes you through a full spectrum of terrain, emotion and tests your mettle to the max.
Very similar to your average buffalo hunt, but involves more than anyone can predict. A classic hunt is when you avoid advantage through modern day practices. No driving around too much.
This type of hunt tends to take you through a variety of terrain and teaches you to read signs in the bush simply because any chance of success depends on it. You tend to get a lot of surprise sightings too. There is something special about coming upon unexpected wildlife. Most times, they are unaware of your presence and you get to enjoy their natural peaceful behavior. You start noticing the slightest wonders of nature, simply because you are not preoccupied by any specific pursuit. The birds, trees, bugs, footprints, scrapes, markings etc. Enjoy the process.
Before you know it, you are in too deep to call it off. The emotions begin. You sweat and feel your muscles and thirst. The urge to give up gets strong, but you remind yourself who you are and what you are doing. You push yourself. It hurts physically, plays emotionally & challenges you mentally. Once you manage these, you feel elated, determined and fully committed. Until you find focus in the form of fresh sign or sight of buffalo, you’ll go through numerous physical, mental and emotional rollercoaster rides. Success or not, you will love it for the experience it is and probably want more. You unleash the classic hunter in you. You are now a buffalo hunter.
In most cases, you will find the buffalo. If it is one or a few Kuffi’s, your inclination is to take the oldest and hardiest one. I believe the choice becomes a reflection of your own value, resulting from your classic experience. In a herd, you will likely look for a notable old bull. Unsurprising and fittingly, a hunter opts to honor the hunt by not settling for less – meaning you let them go and get to do it all over again and you find what you believe is worthy of your experience.
A 72 year old hunter. Not in Buffalo Camp. Plains game camp before going to swamp. We got on opportune tracks early morning and tracked this herd through forest, pans, miombo woodland, rolling hills, long-grass valleys, rocky ridges and streams ALL DAY. We got slivers of opportunity but not clear. Stuck with it, despite running out of water. We moved & bedded with them… becoming part of the herd. At 5pm we got our shot and took it perfectly. An amazing feeling. We both knew that couldn’t be topped… It was his one and only Buffalo. What a Buff!
An Obsession
A hunt dictated by the quarry or fantasy of it. This hunt is usually triggered by seeing or finding sign of something very special. Could be a huge hoof print, an ideal Kuffi hideaway or sighting of a tremendous bull. When everything about you decides you want to go for a specific pursuit, the obsession becomes the hunt. Be sure of what you are about to embark upon.
I have been fortunate to guide a few obsessive hunters. I have only one disappointment. It is the only hunter I have never shot a buffalo with. Easy to ignore it, but I can’t. Easier to label it a blemish on my record, but I don’t. I learned more on that safari, than most successful hunts. We saw hundreds of buffalo and could have taken many an old bull. We got close to taking a bull close to the hunters’ criteria, twice, but it was not a clear certainty and we let them go. It was frustrating for me and the entire team, but we could only admire the pure determination and standard set by the hunter. He was neither angry, nor disappointed and he enjoyed every moment. Through him, we understood obsessive hunting. He wanted a certain type of trophy and had to earn it in a true wilderness habitat. No compromise. Go big or go home. Wild.
Sometimes you see a dream buffalo and make a pact to get him at all costs. Or you find a micro habitat that shows sign of an old Kuffi and decide you must outsmart the old bull. Other times you notice waterhole and/or grazing patterns and work them until you get a sighting. On rare occasions you see spoor so big that you simply must see what the carrier looks like. These are all high risk endeavors, but highly exciting and rewarding. One thing is for certain, satisfying an obsession is an amazing feeling. Most times you end empty handed. Never stop. Keep at it.
Left: We crossed a river into new territory and saw a group of 12 Kuffi’s. This one stood higher and bigger than the rest. He had unique ivory horn segments and white spots on its’ body. Over the next week, we manoeuvred, herded and straight-up exhausted these buffalo into offering us a shot. It was taken perfectly.
Right: My personal obsession. This Kuffi outsmarted me for five years. I tried with numerous guests. Failed so many times on my own. He lived by a fishing camp, using the most secure pieces of territory to avoid any and all hunters. The patch was surrounded by a deep gulley always flowing with water and he only came out to graze at night. Following him was suicidal. I tried a couple of times, but could not hack it. Got my only clear chance when he wandered too far, for too long with some other bulls. Caught him just before he made it back to his fortress. Almost messed it up too. After some hairy moments in the long grass, Bunny finished him off. Obsession Bull.
Opportunity Knocks
When you come all the way to Africa for buffalo, there will be other animals you are after…. Sometimes you go after endemic species to that area or something you are yet to experience. Get as much hunting done to maximize value. In pursuit of plains or other dangerous game, you come-upon buffalo and focus may shift quickly. These make for memorable experiences.
These are the times you may find yourself under-gunned. You may get overwhelmed from spur of the moment rush. Trust your PH and calm yourself down. This is an opportunity. If you all agree on it, focus on claiming your lucky prize. In my personal hunting, this is how I’ve gained experience on taking buffalo with calibers such as .30-06/.338/.308 & 6.5x68s.
All attempts were successful, but there was unnecessary drama. I was forced to take over two shots with smaller calibers. The .308 needed four shots and I ended up one tree with Hebron up another. Hebron later snuck down and went to the car for Bunny and more ammo. I’d run out. The original target was Impala. Buffalo shot with smaller calibers take much longer to die in comparison. All were taken with side lung shots. When opportunity knocks, knock back.
The Casual Call
This is a common occurrence in well managed areas. You could be driving out of camp or just out and about and suddenly see buffalo. If you are lucky, with wind in your favor and remain undetected, it becomes an easy task of making an approach, seeing a good old bull and getting a shot at it. In the haste of it all, stay focused. It can turn from casual to critical in a heartbeat. You make a bad shot (due to the casual manner of it all) and you are in for a run-around ending badly for all involved and worse still, could lose your buffalo.
The casual call is anything but casual. In fact, there is nothing casual about hunting buffalo in all and any scenario. Buffalo hunting can be anything and everything, but casual it’s definitely not! Respect the animal at all times and do your utmost to know its behavior and understand its will to live. Don’t become a casualty of casual behavior when hunting buffalo. They mean no harm and will try to get away as soon as they sense danger. But wound them, corner them or pursue them beyond their comfort zone and you will see a side of this animal only experienced hunters can appreciate. When they get into an adrenaline rage, nothing stops them, unless you brain or spine them. Executing such a shot requires nerves of steel and brass danglers as big as theirs… Note – You never truly know if you can stand your ground, until you actually stand your ground.
Sweltering Swamps
I’ve done most of my hunting in the Kilombero Valley of Tanzania. A floodplain wetland with a lot of swamp. A special factor was lack of hard cover – no trees to climb or much to shield you, except gun and guts. By default, you learn to stand your ground or become part of it. 20 years in Kilombero, earned me 40 years of buffalo hunting experience. This is no dare nor a brag, but those who experienced it with us will understand – if you hunt swamps, the way we did, you’ll know a thing or two about fear! Swamps can be the easiest or toughest experience in hunting.
Fearful conditions. Early season before burning… Fearless conditions. Late season after burning…
Fearful conditions. Early season before burning… 
Fearless conditions. Late season after burning…
I’ve heard talk of having no fear. Sing that song all you want. Fear is very real. Until you feel it, understand it and know it, how do you even deal with it? As a kid, I was afraid of a lot of things – the dark, being alone, creepy sounds etc. This may have been from stories told by my father and uncles. They were always tall tales. Early escapades of watching horror films never helped my cause either – imagination runs wild. But facing fear in reality and directly, began as a teen, when I started hunting on my own. Hunting on my own was an important part of my growth…
In the Kilombero, we hunted on foot. Not to say I never used vantage of a car to get a job done, but it was on very rare occasion. One such incident stands out; we were after an ancient bull we couldn’t see, but followed where he shook the grass ahead of us. We got to a point we just could not penetrate the reeds anymore. Figuring I can flush him out with the cruiser, we went in. A little further from where we turned back on foot, the cruiser scrambled for traction and eventually got suspended on reeds. It was so thick, we hadn’t noticed the buffalo just a couple meters from the fender. Trackers pointed him out to us by the shine of his bosses. Engine off, at full attention, we could hear crackling when he stirred. We could not see much of his trophy. He just stood his ground with no plan to retreat. A shine, glimmer and twitch of the ear, but no full trophy image, nor possible shot placement. We started the engine, revved and honked, but he wouldn’t budge. I went to the front of the fender to pry some reeds for a better view. We now saw both his bosses and they were mountains of smoothness. Our trackers warned – his next move would be a charge. The hunter maneuvered into position for a shot at this ancient bull and did. Now imagine that without a cruiser… we did it many a time. Too many times for sanity. We got a few and some got away. Truth is, we got away with and are thankful for it.
What appears a featureless sea of grass from the air, is a labyrinth of dips, ditches, korongo’s, clearings, streams, swamp reeds and grass ranging from foot long to five meters high. Some of the grass could hide an elephant herd. White Egrets were our spotters. We were blind without them. Some vegetation is so dense, they would have what we came to know as death tunnels. Hippo would create these tunnels. They would be the only way to navigate such patches. Once in a tunnel, there is no room to turn, let alone escape. This is how I perfected the bum-crawl. I used to go through tunnels on all fours and almost got rammed by a hippo. From then, I go feet first, with gun on thigh and hip, even if it means snaking in, flat. You still get a quick and better shot this way. My hippo incident was pure luck of the draw. I couldn’t position myself nor the gun to aim. I simply fired hopefully, with gun held under my arching body and hit him. It was a shot out of fear. It worked. We are alive. Luck helps. Prayer is key. Facing fear is not optional.
The Kilombero teaches you a great deal about yourself. It served many a PH over the years and some made the cut, others didn’t. I’ve seen macho men run and tough guys cry in fear of what could be. We came close a few times, but never lost nor had guests injured. Knock wood luck.
A very good PH once had a buffalo die on top of him. The same PH’s cruiser got hit so hard, his hand got caught between the steering wheel and door – imagine the impact! Early years, I was lucky to spend bush-time with a fine English PH who pioneered our Kilombero field operations. He taught me a lot about managing fear. I am yet to meet anyone as daring and single-minded. Maybe as a kid, it had more dramatic impact on me. I think about it often. It has become my reference for whenever I am hesitant in sticky situations. He didn’t say much, but did things that spoke volumes. From him, I learned about the “fear switch” in a kill or get killed reality.
Buffalo are perfectly suited to swamp habitat. When you hunt them, in great numbers, over 20 years, you experience things most people can only imagine. I feel buffalo blessed in this aspect. Because of my years in the sweltering swamps of Kilombero, stories of parting grass with your barrel to expose the buffalo you are about to shoot… are not just stories… They’re experience.
Udzungwa Mountains backdrop.
Thickets of Terror
This comprises small parts of my hunting experience. Hunting buffalo in Maasailands’ semi-arid thorn-thicket habitat of northern Tanzania. An extension of the Eastern Tarangire ecosystem. Lolkisale, Loboiserit, Naberera, Kitiangare should sound familiar to those who’ve been on these “Black Ninja” training grounds. The buffalo here are few and far between, but gifted in genetics and abundant in rage. They live a highly stressful coexistence of unnatural pressures.
Through a legendary man, I now know what I know. In my early days, I was not as informed and probably took unnecessary risks. Again, luck. These buffalo are under extreme pressure from Maasai pastoralism, farming, poaching and general human activities. As a result, they are always in a bad mood. Their refuge are thorn thickets scattered around Maasailand. They must water and graze and this brings them into conflict with Maasai cattle using the same resources. Unnaturally, they have become rather nocturnal in some locales. Their Black Ninja reputation is from their habit of hiding in thickets and charging unprovoked when they sense any intruder.
It is hairy enough hunting them, but you must be especially cautious when hunting other game. Don’t leave your guard down and god-forbid, your heavy caliber… This is when trouble strikes. In Ninja country, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” you are going to get some action. Be on constant alert and ready to tackle terror from the thickets. These bulls are full of contempt and intent on killing any and all adversaries. Sadly, not much natural habitat remains and not many Ninja’s roam Maasailand. Hopefully this changes with on-going conservation through hunting.
Mountain Madness
Mountain hunting for buffalo is unique. There is buffalo on many African mountains. But I can only share what makes-up my least experience in buffalo hunting – Maasailand Mountains. It’s not just the physical aspect of the hunt, but the nature of Maasailand’s Mad Mountain Buffalo. Just like in the lowland thorn thickets, they are similarly grumpy in the cooler montane forests.
Imagine climbing and navigating physical demands of forested mountains while going after buff that will probably charge at the first opportunity. It is not for the fainthearted. To hunt Buffalo on Maasailand Mountains, you need to understand you are going into a realm beyond reason. The whole deal requires some insanity. When I’m after buffalo, that’s what we’re after and we are going to do what it takes to get it done. A mountain buffalo hunt is a highly specialized and dedicated hunt. There is not much casual, safe or sane about it.
You do not have the luxury of routine or extra-curricular activity. You follow the sign and do all it takes to catch-up with buffalo and get a good look at them or him. Sometimes, buffalo come in to have a good look at you. These mountain buffalo like to pummel or toss their subjects, so be full aware of the realities on such hunts. On the mountain, everything works against you. It could be gusts of wind, angle of the sun, vantage or elevation, time disadvantage, other game, Maasai, altitude sickness, fear, exhaustion and dozens of other factors. So when you set-out on these mountain buffalo hunts, don’t expect a kill. But you can expect an adventure like none other. It is exhilarating and tests you like you just don’t know. This type of hunt is meant for hunters looking to push boundaries, face fears and risk it all. It is not a walk in the park.
Close Calls
Most dangerous game hunters have them. Most of them involve buffalo. Many stories have a lot of added spice. Make no mistake, the intent is death and the chances are real. Some PH’s believe every dangerous game PH must have scars to show, others believe it’s a matter of time before you have scars to show, some believe both and others have memorials to that effect. None are wrong and anything is possible, but I personally intend to remain free of any tattoos.
Most injuries are from grass-cuts and vegetation… 
Some close calls are unnatural and unintended.
What qualifies as a “close call”? If it means a buffalo taking two steps towards you with beady eyes, then you’re gonna have more close calls than a century of nitro express productions. If it entails a buffalo running unawares in your direction to get away from danger, that don’t count. If stopping a charge attempt 20 meters out is close, then I’ll have hundreds of stories to tell…
What qualifies a ‘close-call’ is when a buffalo is out to get you and almost does. You know it is close because you feel you’ve lost one of your ‘bonus lives’ in the game of safari. Rest assured, there aren’t too many close calls when you hunt professionally. I am crawling to a thousand… In all my time, I qualify only a handful of close calls. Truth is, prey have a natural fear of man.
The closest, swept me off my feet in its momentum of death. The one I thought would kill me, was stopped about three paces away. For some reason, I did not feel I could stop that charge. He came from over 50 meters out and was at full tilt instantly. I got him just before he dropped his head for a tossed Shallom salad. Maybe it’s the extra time I had (5secs), but I felt this Buff was gonna get me and I even braced for impact soon after firing. My second barrel was more out of surprise at seeing the bull drop and slide in my direction, than any precise intent. I can’t tell what it was exactly, but this bull gave me a feeling never experienced previously. Maybe I had time to think. Could be my ‘switch’ off, from being in open woodland and not expecting it. Perhaps because it was the only full season I did not have my tracker Hebron with me… I may never know for sure, but I do know it is a feeling I would rather not experience again. Close.
Another was in a death tunnel. More of a surge than a charge. If you’ve seen ‘The Ghost and The Darkness’ and recall the scene where Patterson faces the second lion and after shooting it, it continues to crawl toward him in a determined rage? Well buffalo can do that maneuver too. When a buff is cornered and his adrenalin kicks-in, not much can stop him. I still used my .416 bolt action back then. The buff was already shot twice through the boiler room. He found his last stand. He had enough in him to take two softs in the head (not brain), which brought him down. With red, rage-filled eyes he kept surging towards me in a crawl that made me start to crawl backward after firing a third (monolithic solid). He shook his head and kept on surging. With the end of my barrel about a meter from his mouth, I sent my last solid through the brain. His head collapsed and I frantically reloaded. When I gained my senses, I was shaking scared. Hebron was right behind me and others were calling out far behind us in unknowing concern.
One that put me off a certain caliber and brand of ammo was when my .416 got driven over by a cousin of mine. The wooden stock broke badly. I had to borrow a spare rifle. It could have been a real disaster. Lucky for me, as his wounded buffalo was about to come at us from 10 paces, we both heard the loudest ‘click’ of our lives from my gun. He finished him off. If I was alone, many stories would remain untold. That incident prompted purchase of my first and only Double Rifle, which is an extension of me to this day. My “Bunny” or “Humping Rabbits”, custom built by Krieghoff in Classic .470NE is an investment that still proves it’s worth 20 years and over 1,500 rounds later. The value is second to none and the safety mechanism is the best.
The others involved herd situations in the long grass. One was a stampede we survived by the grace of God. Literally bunching up together behind our downed buffalo and hoping not to get trampled by the herd rushing past us. Talk about feeling helpless. Another is a straggler I’d not seen, suddenly rushed and broke the grass almost at the end of my barrels. I fired my first slug, breaking its neck and fired another, out of fear, as it collapsed. Back then, I apprenticed under my father. I was assigned a side-by-side 12 gauge Greener Shotgun with slugs. His only child!
Sometimes you get a tree to shield you… 
Other times you get one to shade you…
Beliefs exist and are to be respected… 
But God’s beauty is undeniable and unmatched.
The One That Got Away
The ones that get away are a big part of hunting. It’s what defines ethics and fair chase. All hunters should be familiar with this reality. No denying the bitter feeling of misfortune and defeat in these instances. Once your emotion settles, understand this – hunting shall remain eternal BECAUSE of the ones that get away. The beauty and constant draw of free range and wilderness hunting is built on sustainability and therefore more game will get away than get in bellies, freezers and trophy rooms. A hunter hunts. Everyone dreams of 50” buff and scrum-cap warrior bulls. I do too. I have managed a scrum cap and been close to a 50” – A 49” to be precise. Has it or will it change anything about me? No. Will I want another? Yes. Will I be disappointed if I don’t? No. What matters is the hunt. Don’t let the hunter get away…
As I end this segment on the Experience of Buffalo Hunting, I cannot emphasize how hard it has been to write. What I thought would take a couple weeks, has taken a few months. There is so much more to share in terms of buffalo hunting experience. It feels incomplete, but honestly, it never can end. Sharing experience through writing or images will never do full justice. Nothing beats actual hunting of buffalo in their natural wilderness habitat. It’s been a treat recollecting and reliving some of the buffalo hunting experiences from my past. Looking forward to plenty more. I hope you have enjoyed reading my buffalo hunting experience and insight, as much as I have enjoyed sharing it. You should be making your own memories through experience as well.
If you are yet to experience it – DO IT! As a hunter, there is little else that ticks the number of boxes as a buffalo hunt in wild Africa does. I will say it over & again – BEWARE… it is addictive!
It’s been said to me before and some may think it after reading this… “Shallom, you put a lot of passion into killing.” In person, I take the time to explain. As public writing, I may not be able to express myself to people who see it so. If you see it that way, you may have a detachment issue that must be addressed. I am more than willing to help. So here it is in a nutshell:
I am passionate about life. Hunting is my heritage. Death is an end for all living things. If I told you, death is guaranteed and birth is not, would you agree? Consider this, ONLY from my time in The Kilombero Valley. For 20 years I protected wilderness habitat which ensured a thriving ecosystem with abundance of wildlife. I killed a lot of animals. I selectively and sustainably did it. Those sacrificed animals (past their prime), having lived wild and free most of their lifespan, insured and ensured the natural habitat and wildlife populace was protected and sustained.
Hunting also supports adjacent communities and all levels of government from District, Region to National platforms. Economic, social and environmental benefits are gained at every level. Removing hunters collapsed an entire ecosystem. Today there is not even remnants of what existed. With hunters, wildlife has a chance at life. Hunters’ allow re-birth of wildlife on a daily basis. Hunters’ absence leaves only death, which is guaranteed for us all. Birth, unlike death does need nature and nurture. In Africa, rural populations are largely illiterate and clueless on Wildlife Management and Habitat Sustainability. Poverty is a catalyst to resource exploitation. It is therefore crucial to have hunters in place. Hunters are low-impact, proactive protectors, degradation deterrents and custodians to natural wilderness resource. Legally regulated, selective, sustainable hunting is not about killing… It is about value-based sustainable use.
It is not the “kill” we are after. As hunters, we are after an intimate connection with nature at a level only our honorable hunting heritage can deliver. To have this access, we indiscriminately and passionately protect and promote our “way of life”. Hunters are the heart of conservation.
The widest bull I have guided so far – 49 inches. 
Intimate connection with wild nature.
No walk in the park… 
No swim in the pool either…
Poaching is a threat to African Wildlife… 
The consequences are devastating…
No hunter supports indiscriminate killing of wildlife… 
Nor the exploitation of resources.
Experiences happen when you put yourself out there… Accomplished by a 72 year old.
I was there, she was here. Now she is there and I am here. Even Florida could not keep me from holidays in the bush. Brought my little Canadian cousins for a feel of it. Memories Made.