From my own perspective, I see three main problems in hunting Zimbabwe:

1-many of us do not want to support the current leadership in any way and so will avoid the country. Yes, that affects a lot of other people but so it is.

2-many articles report poaching has decimated the game in some areas, even some of the reserves. Is this true or not?

3-there are some reports of falsely advertised hunts (people who cannot really be Phs in Zimbabwe but cross over anyway and the client is potentially left in the lurch if caught with the goods).

I have seen recent glowing reports from hunters who have been there so the confusion is clouding the potential for hunts there. Personally, I will go to Namibia.

The unfortunate thing with anyone avoiding Zim because of the politics is that it is really hurting the workers and their families on these concessions and other hunting areas. In a big way. The outfit that we have will feed the people we employ and in turn support their familes, children included. The moneys generated by hunting do help with wildlife populations, in many a way including keeping areas well managed and free of poachers ( poachers are all over Africa, Nmaibia included ) . When hunters avoid Zimbabwe it makes it hard to maintain all these structures to keep our wildlife populations strong. As far as wildlife populations go, Zimbabwe still has some of the best populations in all categories of Game on the continent. Ever wondered why the South african hunters "STILL" go to do their own hunts in zimbabwe? The law stipulates that poachers can be shot on site in zimbabwe, so even though it may occur on a small scale, wildlife is a great asset to the country. And Zim PH's go through the most gruelling test in all of africa, its easy to find out whether a PH in Zim is legitimate or not....check the Zim Tourism authority for authenticity.........have you ever hunted Zimbabwe?

I have never been to Zimbabwe. I have been to Tanzania and Namibia and will return to Namibia next year for leopard, giraffe, and whatever else. Other sites have dealt with this same issue, and the responses were those who would not patronize the country and those who will. We are free to make our choices. I would not completely rule out Zimbabwe, but at this time choose not to go.

I was speaking with a client of mine today that I had taken to Africa ( Zim) last month and his brother who also went along had spoken to him and was picking his brain on what he could do to help Africa in general. My reply to him was that there is no answer. Even though we enjoy the beauty that Africa has to offer ( especially Southern africa) there will always be those that do not have and a small elite class of the have's. The everyday guy on the ground in South West Africa ( Namibia), South africa , Botswana., zims ..whatever good hunting destination it might be, has very little. It is a pity that politics make it sound as though the problem for the people of the country is three fold when in actuality they ( all these nations) have always had these difficulties. As a Zimbabwean my job is to encourage hunters to hunt some of the finest trophy animals that all of africa has to offer, make sure that ALL of those involved in the process of conservation are well taken care of and in turn my son and his son will be able to enjoy what incredible beauty and wilderness Zimbabwe has to offer. by the way, the gentlemen i took to Zims took an Impala, Eland ( earlier that day he had come across a herd of about 85 animals and couldn't get a shot at a monster male that was being concealed by the cows!) , Kudu , and a Buffalo that they had wounded and had to track the following day for a good 6 hours. What game have you managed to take in Namibia?
cheers
Arnold : arnoldpayne@hotmail.com

Namibia: 5 days-2 kudu. one blue wildebeest, one black wildebeest, warthog, blesbok, springbok, gemsbok, all free range, hunted 12 hours a day

Tanzania: 12 days--2 buffalo (37' and 48"), impala, zebra, gazelle, hartebeest
(i could not get the oryx and kudu as they were not on my license)

What about the articles stating near clearing of game by poachers and the hungry? How much truth is there?

Is the hunting like Namibia? If you see it, you can shoot it, as long as you pay the fee and it does not have to be arranged up front (like the Tanzanian system)?

A very impressive hunt in both countries! , I've never been to Tanzania, been to Namibia once. A few years ago there were instances where because of a number of properties being taken over ( all political mayhem ) that had both wildlife and cattle the squatters were left to do as they please. Obviously some game was poached ( in over 90 % of the cases with snares ) because the squatters realized they could not farm and as a result went hungry. ( Snare poaching is very common in africa, as a child out hunting on the ranch we would take the trackers out to find snares and destroy them ) Most of these squatters are back in the cities and off these ranches. Amazingly alot of game still roams wild on these ranches ( many have low fences and game is free to move ) and these vast areas are only sparsely populated with people. Now we also have many large RANCHES that were never interrupted ( politically that is ) and the game has been managed so well that there is a surplus of some species. Lastly on the poaching question we have Safari Areas ( large concessions used exclusively for hunting and photo safaris...in Zims e.g Omay safari area 2,000,000 acres, Chirisa safari area 300,000 acres, Humani over 130,000 acres, Dande safari area is smaller than these and has a Cape buffalo herd of over 10,000 and over 3,000 elephant ( thats just one Safari area of 17 in the country used exclusively for hunting). In addition to this another 14 % of the TOTAL country is set aside for National Parkes and Nature preserves, hunting is NOT permitted on any of this land. In addition we have atleast 4% of the country dedicated to "Protected State Forest Land ", all the Big Four are found in abundance here too, no hunting is allowed on this land though. We also have communal land ( land that was given to the locals many years ago ) hunting is conducted on this land and moneys and meat go back to the community. Lastly we have consevancies, where hunting and photo safaris are conducted. Hunting is like Namibia, if you did not pay for the trophy on your original package and decide you want a particular animal we can allow you to take it as long as it is on a the quota. we operate on very strict quotas ( these are given to us by National parks of Zimabbwe ) in Zimbabwe, but plains game quotas are always more liberal than the "Big 4". still have great herds in Zims, cheers , Arnold
arnoldpayne@hotmail.com

I don't think there is a problem with hunting Zimbabwe, as long as you book with a well known safari company,and book your travel so that your rifles don;t get cought up in the arms embargo, by flying through Holland, or England, dirrectly to Zim!

My take is, if the safari companies aren't supported when robber Bob dies, there will be no safari companies left. Also the meat, and jobs supplied to the locals by safaris is a great help to the locals, and if stopped, the locals will have not other choice but to start poaching, which if happens there may not be anything to hunt when the smoke clears.

I have several personal friends who have had very good safaris in Zim in the last three years, and not one of them reports any problem at all!

I would got to Zimbabwe on safari in a heart beat!

DUGABOY

I'm please that your mates had a great time hunting in Zimbabwe, its a FABULOUS hunting destination and you are absolutely correct, if we don't manage the game correctly and discourage hunting there will eventually be nothing left of the incredible amount of game that we have. We actually will be supplying local villages with meat and monies generated by the hunts that we conduct. Best case scenario when travelling to Zimbabwe is to take a straight shot from the US to South Africa and then an hour connection to Zimbabwe. there will be no interruptions with weapons transfers that way, going through Europe and you're in for a hassle! There is nothin in Africa close to a Zimbabwe hunt...the countries beauty is unmatched and to top it off there could be that record trophy.......waiting for you!! If you did hunt Zimbabwe what trophies would you be after?
Cheers
Arnold : arnoldpayne@hotmail.com

for those that are concerened about their trophies after a Zimbabwe hunt, there are great Taxidermists in Zimbabwe that can prepare your trophies in Zim or have them shipped back to the States to your own taxidermist ,whatever you may please. Zimbabwe has GREAT quotas for 2007 and great prices too..th scenery is amazing and the memories unforgettable...I'll be heading back to Zims in Jan 2007 for another hunt...can't wait!
arnoldpayne@hotmail.com

Cheers
Arnold