Iron Buck

I have been lucky enough to get there three times and two of those hunting.

The first trip I travelled overland from Kenya, through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and finally Zimbabwe. Ran out of money in Zim and had to fly back to Europe where I was then working. That was in 1988.

Set myself a five year target to get back there and this time hunt.

1994, went to Zimbabwe with my wife on our honeymoon. Wanted to hunt buffalo on a short safari but left it too late and they were booked out with the outfitter (too late, as we needed to set the dates for the wedding etc first

). Hunted in the low veld and took kudu, eland, blue wildebeest, zebra, warthog, impala and a duiker.

Set myself another five year target but this time it took to 2002. Main target was definitely buffalo. But first hunted with BigFive (of this board) of African Bush Safaris in South Africa and aimed for Limpopo Bushbuck as a priority, hartebeest (or Hell Beast as I call them), plus anything else better than I already had. Took a very nice Limpopo Bushbuck on a great property, and a good impala. Missed a kudu and hunted very hard for many days and many miles for the hartebeest whom in the end beat us.

Then again to Zimbabwe to hunt with Pierre van Wyk of Nemba Safaris in the Gwayi Conservancy. Took a nice Waterbuck on the banks of the Shangaani, a record class Chobe Bushbuck, a zebra, and another impala (love impala). Stalked good buffalo and then after a change in scene hunted the Matetsi Safari area and took a old Duggaboy buffalo, and a second zebra (a rug plus a shoulder mount now possible). Hunted for a Sable but no luck this time.

When again? Hoping for next year. What? Hoping for a cow elephant hunt and another buffalo. Don't know how yet, but will try hard. Perhaps an end of season special in 2004 if any come up.