Archive for category: Past Newsletters

Dear Hunting Friends

I trust this penultimate newsletter for 2018 finds you well.

Since my last newsletter on the 17th July 2018 we have conducted some great hunts for our clients from all around the world including 10 buffalo hunts, 4 elephant hunts a wild lion hunt and many others, please scroll down to see the photos from the hunts.

It has been 11 years now years now since I started Take Aim Safaris, I have been working in the hunting industry full time since then. During the past 11 years it has been and remains my pleasure to offer you my clients 1st class hunts in both South Africa and Zimbabwe in fact I have sold hunts to over 400 hunters during that period. Until now I have not considered expanding my hunt offering to my clients to include any other countries.

I have for the past year been researching hunts in Botswana and Namibia in fact I have visited Botswana twice during that period to look at hunts there. As we all know big game hunting on Government concessions is currently closed in Botswana with rumors of elephant hunting opening again amounting to nothing to date, plains game hunting on private land is not closed for hunting although the plains game industry does not seem to be thriving in Botswana for reasons unknown to me.

On the other hand, I have just returned from Namibia having spent the month of August there, during that time amongst visiting tourist destinations I was visiting friends in the safari industry that have been doing hunting business with Take Aim Safaris in South Africa and Zimbabwe for some time. I was most impressed with Namibia from a hunting perspective and on that basis have concluded marketing agreements with two top class hunting destinations in Namibia in order that Take Aim Safaris can and will from now on offer clients Namibia as a hunting destination with my main focus being on plains game and leopard hunts. Zimbabwe remains my favoured destination for big game hunts.

Please follow the links at the bottom of this paragraph to read about these Namibian hunting concessions including seeing maps, reading area information, price lists and photos are all available on the TAS website.
I must add here that during the month I was in Namibia I have never seen more foreign tourists in any African country than I saw in Namibia, both hunters and non-hunters alike, every hunting camp I visited was full of foreign hunters, all camps/concessions had more hunters arriving and hunters that had just left. All National Parks, hotels, B&B’s and camp sites were literally full of tourists that were all very comfortable visiting this super safe country that has so much to offer visitors, for more of what I saw and thought please read my county and hunting concession description on the home page of my website and under the Namibia heading.

I am very excited about these well priced top class Namibian hunts that I will be selling on behalf of Namibian Safari Operators. Just for your information neither of these Operators that I represent market at the international hunting shows that I do, you will only get these hunts from Take Aim Safaris.

While I was in Namibia I did some hunting, my sons and I managed to get a Hartman’s Zebra / Mountain Zebra that I have wanted to hunt for some years now and also these two oryx: (note the white stomach on the zebra stallion).

Also during my month in Namibia my good friend Zimbabwean PH Simon Dzingai and I hiked the Fish River Canyon that is the second biggest canyon in the world, this is a 5 day hike covering 85 kilometres. I would highly recommend this hike.

If you would like to see a few photos from the hike and of the canyon please follow this link: https://www.takeaimsafaris.co.za/carl-and-simon-hike-the-fish-river-canyon-in-namibia/

Please follow these links for more information on Namibian hunts:

http://www.takeaimsafaris.com
https://www.takeaimsafaris.co.za/otjiwarongo-safari-hunting-area/
https://www.takeaimsafaris.co.za/omaruru-safari-hunting-area/

Onto other recent hunts since my last newsletter all of which were conducted in Zimbabwe by Zimbabwean Professional Hunters:

Firstly a special thanks to my South African clients and countrymen that are dominating our Gonarezhou buffalo hunt bookings, I am now selling + 15 buffalo hunts a year to RSA clients in the Gonarezhou hunting areas.

On a recent hunt conducted in July a long term client and friend, Ernest from South Africa returned for his 5^th buffalo hunt with us having also hunted an elephant on a hunt booked with me, on this hunt Ernest shot this very nice dagga boy early in the hunt. It is not uncommon for clients to get their buffalo early in the hunt since the number of buffalo in the Sengwe 1 and 2 concessions is at an all-time high.

In the 10 years that I have been offering these areas I have never seen the number of dagga boy buffalo bulls that we are currently seeing, these bulls are mainly coming from RSA/Kruger National Park that is unfenced over the Limpopo and remain resident in Zimbabwe, of course the Gonarezhou National Park and the Mozambique National Parks that the Sengwe concessions including “Crooks Corner” on the Zimbabwe side are also open and unfenced too serve as feeder parks to the hunting area as well.

Well done Ernest and thanks for this Gonarezhou/Sengwe 1 hunt, looking forward to seeing you again soon:

Repeat client Brian from the USA was guided by Steve Meyer in Matetsi/Zimbabwe, Brian managed to hunt this super solid 41 inch buffalo and a great zebra:

On another recent hunt in Matetsi this time guided by Zimbabwean PH Zane Bronkhorst a client of ours from Europe hunted our second lion that we had on quota for 2018. From the two lion hunts booked in 2018 both were successful. In fact no client of mine has failed on a lion hunt in Matetsi since I started selling hunts there in 2012. If you want to hunt a wild lion there is no better place than Matetsi to hunt a free roaming wild lion, in fact the Matetsi ECA is in my opinion better for cats than the Units as night hunting for these nocturnal species is permitted in the Matetsi ECA whereas night hunting is not permitted at all in the Matetsi Units (Matetsi ECA = Extended Conservation Area). Please follow this link to read more about the Matetsi ECA and see a map of the ECA versus the Units and also pictures of the two camps in the ECA: https://www.takeaimsafaris.co.za/matetsi-eca-hunting-area/

Take Aim Safaris has access to two Matetsi ECA lion permits a year (and 3 leopard), I do still have one lion permit available for 2019. Don’t delay book now before I sell this hunt at the 2019 hunting shows.

This lone male lion hunt that Zane guided was a very old full mane lion, a perfect lion for hunting.
Take a look at these 3 young males that Zane had feeding and the big male that didn’t come back after feeding one night and finishing the bait. The future of lion hunting in Matetsi is looking superb and is in great hands. Why wait? Book your big game hunt in Zimbabwe now, big game hunting does not get better than Zimbabwe that is also a super safe hunting and holiday destination.

Here is an excerpt from the email I received from the agent (Tony Ulmer) that booked this hunt after the hunt was completed:  “In the meantime I have spoken also on last Friday with the client – and I am really happy to tell you – that he is sooo happy and satisfied with all!!! He also told us, that Zane is the best PH that he ever had – thanks also to Zane, the very professional young man!”

Thanks to Andre from Pretoria/RSA for this buffalo hunt in the Gonarezhou area of Zimbabwe, another superb hard boss bull we achieved for our client, thanks to Nixon Dzingai for guiding the hunt.

RSA clients driving from South Africa, the Sengwe 1 camp is 150 kms drive from Musina/Beit Bridge, the camp is located on the banks of the Limpopo River overlooking crooks corner on the Zimbabwe side and the Kruger National Park. Book your dagga boy hunt with us, no fences at all these are free range fair chase hunts.

Please follow this link to see Sengwe 1 camp photos taken in August 2018, that is the Limpopo River you see and the Kruger Park in the background that is open and unfenced to the Sengwe hunting areas.

Camp photos for Sengwe 1 are at the bottom of the page under this link to our site: https://www.takeaimsafaris.co.za/gonarezhou-hunting-area/.

RSA PH Albert Johnson bought his own buffalo hunt from TAS, he hunted in Sengwe with PH Simon Dzingai. Super solids…

Also in the Gonarezhou Area: RSA PH Joost Pretorius booked an elephant hunt from me for his client, the client from Europe managed to hunt this 35 pounder elephant bull. Thanks Joost for the booking, we are looking forward to seeing you again in October for your two buffalo hunts.

In Matetsi on a recent hunt we welcomed two clients from Bulgaria that I booked in Dortmund last year for elephant hunts, they both got their elephants plus they got this hyena and these small cats. These 10 day Matetsi elephant hunts at around 25.000 USD should not be overlooked as great value for money hunts. Thanks to PH’s Steve Meyer and Zane Bronkhorst for guiding the hunts.

In the Sengwe 1 area of the Gonarezhou we welcomed back Marius from RSA on his 4^th buffalo hunt booked with me, Marius as always was well received by the locals and had a great time on his hunt with PH Simon Dzingai, during the hunt they managed to hunt this very nice old dagga boy buffalo, thanks Marius:

During September we welcomed two hunters from Europe to Matetsi that I booked in Germany, these hunters booked a big bag of animals they wished to hunt, this was a 14 day hunt for 4 buffalo, an elephant bull, a sable and plains game plus the agent that booked the hunt from me also wanted to hunt a buffalo, the hunt was conducted in the Matetsi ECA by PH’s Steve Meyer and Zane Bronkhorst, the clients managed to get all 4 of their buffalos and the agent got his buffalo plus the elephant (40 pounder) and sable plus the plains game they wanted, here are some photos from the hunt: (Nice old buffalos).

As far as the rest of the season goes I have another 7 Gonarezhou buffalo hunts booked plus two late season trophy elephant bull and buffalo hunts in the Naivaisha/Mahenye and Sengwe 1&2 areas, I am hoping for another two 2018 big elephant bulls on these hunts to follow up on my clients 85 pounder in March and 95 pounder in April. Plus a big group from Lithuania coming for crocodile and hippo plus plains game and small cats in RSA. As you can see there is still LOTS of hunting to come for the year ahead with lots of dates and quota still available.

If you want to book contact me now, no reason to wait.

Please watch out for my final newsletter for the year in a few months’ time that will include 2019 pricing, I am working on revised/lower pricing for RSA and on keeping my Zimbabwe prices the same as they are, of course these Namibian prices are valid for 2019.
Anyone booking now for 2019 will get 2018 prices for their hunt.

I will be attending these international hunting shows in 2019 and invite you to come and discuss your hunt or your clients hunt with me in person:

• SCI in Reno USA booth numbers # 5215 and 5217.
• In Germany/Dortmund Hall 7 stand D28.
• In Salzburg with Tony Ulmer/Mistral in the centre of the main hall, you won’t miss Mistral once you arrive in the main hall.
• In South Africa at Huntex in JHB Hall 4 stand # 416 as always pull in boys lets hunt some buffalo.

Hunters, Agents, Outfitters, PH’s please contact me for all your South Africa, Zimbabwe and now Namibia hunt bookings. I have quota and dates available for 2018/2019 and beyond, book early to get the dates and quota you want.

Hunters best wishes.

Carl Knight

(JHB RSA)
Contact Number: 0027-82-749-1747
Email: carl@takeaimsafaris.com
Web: www.takeaimsafaris.com

Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Before we get started please bear with me as this is a long newsletter, it has been over two months since my last one, this newsletter contains our 2018 concession information and is a must read if you are considering hunting in or selling hunts in Zimbabwe or RSA in the near future.

Since my last newsletter on the 18th August we have guided clients from all over the world on some very good hunts including these 13 Buffalo hunts, leopard, elephant, hippo & croc to mention but a few, please read on for pictures and information from our recent hunts. I must also take this opportunity to launch the new concessions I am offering from now onwards:  Matetsi Unit 2 and Matetsi Unit 5, I am very excited to be able to offer you these first class world renowned safari areas, but first here are the hunt updates:

During August we welcomed a father and son from the USA to hunt the Mkwasine concession Southern Save Valley Conservancy with PH Lloyd Yeatman, the hunters both got very good buffalos and this bushbuck, waterbuck and the best looking eland I have seen:

Also during August this time in Matetsi and Binga PH Steve Meyer guided a client from Europe on this leopard, hippo and crocodile hunt, please take a close look at the size and thickness of this crocodile, it looks like a  prehistoric dinosaur to me:

During August PH Simon Dzingai guided this client from the USA on a buffalo hunt in our Gonarezhou concessions: (note the maize crops in the background)

Also during August PH Nixon Dzingai guided another client from the USA on this buffalo hunt also in our Gonarezhou concessions:

We welcomed hunters from Europe into our Malipati Safari Area concession during September, they were celebrating a 60th birthday doing a buffalo and PG hunt, we enjoyed them very much thanks gents and thanks to PH Simon Dzingai for guiding the hunt:

During September we welcomed two hunters from Europe, another father and son hunt also for buffalo, the hunters managed to get these very good hard boss buffalos:

Also during September a RSA client of ours hunted this lion in RSA with PH Riaan Louwrens, the clients second hunt with TAS, last time was a Gonarezhou elephant bull:

During September and October PH Zane Bronkhorst guided two different clients from Europe on these two buffalo hunts in the Matetsi ECA.

During October a RSA client on his 3rd hunt booked with TAS hunted these two very good dagga boys in Sengwe 1 on the Limpopo River open to the KNP with PH Simon Dzingai, the same client also shot an elephant bull although I don’t have any photos yet.

During September PH Jono Joseph guided a client from the USA on a buffalo hunt, they got a great bull and had a great hunt in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Lastly as far as hunts for this newsletter go we had another client from Europe, this time in the Gonarezhou area with PH Nixon Dzingai, the client shot a hippo and a croc plus this buffalo in Sengwe 1, unfortunately I don’t have the hippo and croc photos yet.

 

2018 CONCESSION AND PRICING INFORMATION

Take Aim Safaris is offering hunts in the following concessions at the following prices for the 2018 season and beyond, below this text is the area information, camp photos, maps and price list for each concession. As always: Hunting Clients, Agents, PH’s and Hunting Outfitters please feel free to contact me for more information.

On a personal note I am very pleased and proud to be able to offer you these exclusive hunts that are without doubt amongst the best hunting areas in Africa today and the best of the best areas that Zimbabwe and South Africa have to offer. I have been in this business for over 10 years now, a veteran of many hundred big game hunt bookings and have proven myself to my clients, concession owners, agents, PH’s and Government institutions alike that have collectively entrusted me and my colleagues to bring you these the best hunts in Africa in the best hunting areas in Africa guided by the best PH’s that Africa has to offer, please contact me for bookings, you will not find this assortment of quality hunts anywhere else.

All of these concessions: Matetsi Unit 2, Matetsi Unit 5, Matetsi ECA, Malipati Safari Area (Gonarezhou), Naivaisha Safari Area (Gonarezhou), Sengwe 1 and 2 (Gonarezhou), Limpopo Serengeti (RSA), Philippolis (RSA) are all the best of the best hunting areas in today’s Africa. To able to offer these concessions is huge honour for me and has come at the cost of many years of hard work, these are not hunts that are freely available these are as I said before the best of the best.

In no specific order here are the TAS hunting concessions:

 

MATETSI UNIT 2 SAFARI AREA ZIMBABWE

The Matetsi Units are the best remaining wild, free range, fair chase hunting areas in Africa today, there is no doubt in my mind about that fact, this is true for all big game species, Unit 2 is no exception to this.

Unit 2 is 292 Kilometres squared in extent.

Unit 2 like Unit 5 is a National Parks Safari Area, there are no people living in any of the Matetsi Units making them true safari areas.

It is not uncommon to see herds of hundreds of buffalos, plus dagga boy groups in Unit 2.

Unit 2 is fantastic for cats, lion and leopard.

Unit 2 shares a border with Botswana and also with Units 1 and 3, fantastic elephant and sable movement from these units and Botswana together with the resident population of animals make this area a big game mecca.

During 2017 Unit 2 was burnt out due to a natural fire, when I was there in September 2017 the re growth of the grass was already very good, you can be sure that 2018 and 2019 will be fantastic hunting years in Unit 2 as a result of this new grass that takes up many squared kilometres, same will be irresistible to the big herds.

There are 3 client chalets at the Unit 2 Safari lodge, each chalet sleeps two persons, each chalet has en suite bathrooms.

There is WIFI in the lodge.

There is electricity in camp and a back-up generator.

Matetsi Unit 2 is a 90 minute drive from Victoria Falls International Airport, there is no charter flight needed to hunt the Matetsi Units.

The Professional Hunters guiding the hunts in Units 2 and 5 are Zimbabwe National Parks PH’s the same PH’s that deal with dangerous problem animals for Zimbabwe Parks, these same PH’s are also responsible for the theoretical and practical examination of Professional Hunters who are in training to become PH’s in Zimbabwe.

The calibre of PH’s guiding these hunts is of the highest standard.

Book these Matetsi Unit hunts with confidence.

Victoria Falls International Airport that is a maximum 90 minutes’ drive from any of our Matetsi concessions:

 

MATETSI UNIT 5 SAFARI AREA ZIMBABWE

The Matetsi Units are the best remaining wild, free range, fair chase hunting areas in Africa today, there is no doubt in my mind about that fact, this is true for all big game species.  See the attached photo I took of a herd of 1000+ buffalo on the Unit 5 Parks boundary in September 2017.

When you look at the units themselves unit 5 stands out to me as the best located unit as it is directly adjoined to the Hwange National Park by a 40 kilometre open unfenced boundary with the National Park.

Matetsi Unit 5 is 390 Kilometres squared in extent, the biggest of all the Matetsi Units.

There are 5 luxury client chalets each sleeping two persons, all with en suite bathroom.

There is WIFI in the lodge.

There is generator run power in camp.

Unit 5 has natural drinking water all year around making the unit a hot spot to animals from the adjoining Hwange National Park that is the biggest National Park in Zimbabwe and home to an overwhelming number of wild, free roaming animals.

The rolling hills and valleys in Unit 5 are a perfect area for the resident elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, sable, roan and a whole host of plains game, besides the resident populations that live in Unit 5 there are also migratory animals moving into and out of the Unit at all times of the year.

Matetsi Unit 5 is a 90 minute drive from Victoria Falls International Airport, there is no charter flight needed to hunt the Matetsi Units.

The Professional Hunters guiding the hunts in Units 2 and 5 are Zimbabwe National Parks PH’s the same PH’s that deal with dangerous problem animals for Zimbabwe Parks, these same PH’s are also responsible for the theoretical and practical examination of Professional Hunters who are in training to become PH’s in Zimbabwe.

The calibre of PH’s guiding these hunts is of the highest standard.

Book these Matetsi Unit hunts with confidence.

 

GONAREZHOU SAFARI AREAS IN THE SOUTH EASTERN ZIMBABWE

The Gonarezhou Safari areas are hunting areas that are open/un fenced areas adjoined to the Gonarezhou National or the Kruger National Park or the Mozambique National Park, these are massive areas made up of different concessions that form part of the collective Gonarezhou Hunting concessions, the ones that TAS offers are as follows from North to South.

Naivaisha Safari Area is a community owned safari/hunting area that is operated by a Zimbabwean Safari Operator on a community sharing program, there are no people living in Naivaisha that shares a 33 kilometre un-fenced open boundary with the Gonarezhou National Park, the concession including the adjoined Chibedziva hot spots is around 100.000 hectares. Naivaisha is amongst the best leopard areas in Zimbabwe, is perfect for buffalo, very good for trophy elephant bulls, sable, lion and plain game all found in good numbers in this beautiful, well run concession. See camp photos attached. A big plus for cat hunters is that night hunting of nocturnal species is permitted in Naivaisha. Hippo and croc are available nearby.

Malipati Safari Area is a Zimbabwe National Parks Safari area, the area is around 56.000 Hectares in extent and is adjoined to the Gonarezhou National Park via the Nuanetsi River. There are no people living in Malipati Safari area. Keys species for Malipati are buffalo, elephant, leopard, nyala, bushbuck, waterbuck. Hippo and croc are available nearby. World renowned as a fantastic safari area.

The Sengwe 1 and 2 TTL (Tribal Trust Land) hunting areas are open and adjoined to the Gonarezhou National Park, the Kruger National Park and also Mozambique, Crooks Corner on the Zim side is in our concession and a real hot spot for dagga boys. Sengwe is well known for top trophy quality elephant and buffalo.  There are people living in and around the Sengwe areas in a low population density scenario.  Hippo and croc are available and on quota in Sengwe.

 

MAPS OF THE GONAREZHOU AREA

 

MALIPATI
Located on the banks of the Nuanetsi River that is the boundary between Gonarezhou and the safari area, Malipati has long been known as a top hunting concession.

NAIVAISHA
Located between Chiredzi and Mabalauta National Parks office nestled into Gonarezhou National Park and has a 33 kilometre unfenced shared boundary  with the National Park.

DUMISA CAMP / SENGWE 2
Also located on the Nuanetsi River to the South of Malipati another top concession in the southern Lowveld of Zimbabwe.

KWALA-KWALA / SENGWE 1
Located in the Southernmost tip of Zimbabwe on the Limpopo River that is the border between Kruger Park and Zimbabwe this magnificent location allows free roaming for animals between Kruger and the hunting concession, a truly beautiful place to hunt and can be described as a part of the Kruger Park.

 

LIMPOPO’S OWN SERENGETI / SOUTH AFRICA

Take Aim Safaris is proud to bring you this first class South African hunting concession that is conveniently situated 3 hours’ drive North West of Pretoria.

If you like me have done all the seriously tough hunts, driven all day when hunting and travelled hours on foot and by car looking for game movement in wild concessions and are now interested in a more luxurious hunt where game movement is good from the time you start hunting in the morning until you stop hunting in the evening yet you still insist on a fair chase hunt then this South African hunting area will be perfect for you.

The hunting area/Safari area is 10.000 hectares in extent that is equal to 100 square kilometres.

The hunting area has 3 lodges within the 100 square kilometre area, there is a main lodge/luxury 5 star lodge that includes a gym, a swimming pool, free wifi, 7 client villas all with en-suite bathrooms, there is a fully stocked well-appointed bar and a luxurious dining room plus a formal lounge with satellite/cable television plus a private office area that is available to guests wanting to catch up on emails/Skype calls etc.

The hunting area has many flat and mountainous sections that are ideal for all hunters whether you are interested in hunting mountains or flat areas, this hunting area will accommodate all hunting requirements and expectations.

We have a mountain lodge and a bush camp; the photos tell the story of this fantastic hunting area. There is also a helipad and a private runway on the property. The runway is 1300 metres long and 30 metres wide.

Whether you are interested in a 5 star lodge or a rustic but very comfortable bush camp or a luxurious private/exclusive mountain lodge we have got exactly what you are looking for and expecting from your South African safari.

This is a big game hunting area with buffalo, rhino, sable, crocodile, and leopard all available to be hunted on the same property plus an abundance of plains game that can be added to all our big game hunts.

This is South African hunting at its absolute best on a property that offers you a fair chase hunt with no breeding camps, no ear tags, no colour variants and no canned/pseudo hunting. I would go as far as to say that hunting in South Africa does not get better than this, in fairness there are of course other good hunting areas in this wonderful country, we are right up there with the best of them.

 

PHILIPPOLIS / SOUTH AFRICA

Nestled between undulating landscapes and ravines of the Southern Free State of South Africa, this Private Game Reserve spans some 14,000 hectares (34,500 acres) on elevated plains, with majestic hills rising from the charming yet harsh and rugged African Bushveld, captivating the most discerning visitor. This private nature reserve is unrivalled in its appeal as one of Southern Africa’s premier hunting destinations. The Reserve is privileged to have the Lake Vanderkloof extending its 25km (15,5 miles) Western Boundary.

When I consider this Philippolis hunting area words and key features that come to mind are:

·          Privacy
·          Up-market
·          Exclusive
·          Luxurious
·          5 star
·          Abundance of game, big game and plains game

When you hunt Philippolis, you will be guided by top class full time hunting guides known as a PH’s, ensuring not only an unforgettable experience but everlasting memories that will entice your return. The serene setting coupled with the day’s events will make for good conversation around the fire at sunset.

We offer both the seasoned and less experienced hunter a hunt to suit their tastes and preferences. The reserve is vast and expansive, allowing a ‘walk and stalk’ hunt if you so wish. Hunting from pre-built hides is also an option.

The vastness of the Reserve coupled with the varied topography makes every hunt different – from high open plateaus to deep thorny ravines, the environment is not only aesthetically pleasing, but offers a different challenge on every day.

Hunters best wishes.

Carl Knight
Contact Number: 0027-82-749-1747
Email: carl@takeaimsafaris.com
Web: www.takeaimsafaris.com