Newsletter 72

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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://lotsanesafaris.com/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://lotsanesafaris.com/otjiwarongo-safari-hunting-area/
https://lotsanesafaris.com/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 5th 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://lotsanesafaris.com/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://lotsanesafaris.com/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 4th 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

Newsletter 71

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well, since my last newsletter two months ago we have had some great hunts to report back on including another trophy elephant bull and a couple of great dagga boys, please read on: I have just returned from Botswana where I hunted plains game on a 100.000 hectare hunting concession that comprises of multiple low fence cattle farms that all have loads of wild game on them, the camp is good, food is great = this is free range fair chase hunting that reminds me very much of the old days growing up in and hunting in South Africa, I am working on marketing rights and a price list for these Botswana plains game hunts and will update you in due course. Also interesting is the indications that Botswana will be re-opening elephant hunting later this year for the 2019 season and beyond, you can be sure that when this happens I will endeavour to get quota on these bulls for my valued clients. I will update you accordingly.

Onto recent hunts:

In my last newsletter I mentioned that another big elephant had just been hunted on a hunt that I booked, here are the photos and confirmation of the bull that was hunted in April 2018: initial estimates put this bull at over 100 pounds per tusk…. The official weight of these tusks was just shy of 100 pounds per tusk @ 95 pounds and 93 pounds respectively making this bull a very respectable solid 90 pounder and the biggest elephant hunted in Africa this year so far that I know of taking that title from the 85 pounder that my client shot earlier this year a month before this bull was shot in the same area. This trophy bull as per the last one was hunted in the Gonarezhou Safari Area Naivaisha guided by Zim PH Lloyd Yeatman and assisted by RSA PH Russ Field who booked the hunt from me.

On another recent hunt in Zimbabwe, this time in Matetsi a client of ours from the USA hunted this very good hard boss buffalo with Zim PH Zane Bronkhorst:

On another recent hunt this time in RSA, a client from Europe hunted this very nice hard boss buffalo plus roan and nyala with PH Riaan Lourens:

Lastly whilst I was in Botswana I hunted this 55 inch kudu bull with my sons Hunter and Luke, a great bull.. Great hunt… Lots of these big bulls around those parts… please contact me if you want to jump the que and book your plains game hunt in Botswana.

As always thanks for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends, please contact me for more information about hunting in Southern Africa. As for me I am off to Namibia in August for a few weeks with my good friend Zim PH Simon Dzingai, we are going to hike the Fish River Canyon and so some hunting, from Namibia I am off to Botswana again in search of elephant quota for when elephant opens again in Botswana then onto Zimbabwe to visit Matetsi and the Gonarezhou to see the new hunting areas Mahenye and Bothmans that have as of 2018 become available for my clients to book and hunt, please email me for more information and standby for updates later in the year.

Hunters best wishes

Carl Knight

Newsletter 70

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this email finds you well and a big welcome to the 70th edition of my newsletters a milestone for me spanning over more than 10 years and 400+ big game trophies harvested to date including nearly 200 buffalos and over a 100 elephants plus lions, leopards, hippos, crocs, rhinos and sables plus a great many plains game that are in addition to the 400+ big game species. You can see the majority of these wonderful trophies harvested by clients from all over the world by following this link: https://lotsanesafaris.com/big-game-gallery/. When you book with Take Aim Safaris you will get the hunt the booked with no-nonsense.

Since my last newsletter on the 22 March 2018 we have had some fantastic hunts and have been fortunate enough to guide clients from all over the world in their hopes of hunting the trophy of their dreams, as you can see we have again delivered on our clients expectations.

During March 2018 we welcomed a father and son from Spain on a buffalo and plains game hunt in RSA, this hunt was guided by PH Riaan Lourens in the North West province of South Africa, our client shot a very nice hard boss buffalo and some trophy quality plains game:

During April we welcomed a client from the USA on a leopard hunt with us in our Matetsi ECA concession of Zimbabwe, this hunt was guided by Zimbabwean PH Zane Bronkhorst our client shot a very nice tom cat and some great plains game including a trophy waterbuck that I don’t have a photo of yet.

Also during April in the Matetsi ECA this fantastic wild lion was taken by a lucky client, this is the first of two lion hunts sold in the Matetsi ECA for 2018. We do still have an option for a 3rd lion permit of you are interested in a wild lion hunt in arguably the best lion country in Africa then please contact me. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THESE TWO ROUGE MALE LIONS COMING TO THE BAIT.

On another hunt conducted in April this time in the Gonarezhou Safari area PH Nixon Dzingai guided a client of ours from Europe on an elephant hunt, Nixon and the client managed to hunt this very nice 60 pounder elephant bull and a hippo that I don’t have a photo of.

During April PH Joost Pretorius guided a client of ours from Europe on this plains game hunt in RSA. These RSA hunts are very well priced and are great fun with lots of species available to be hunted, great value for money:

During May I hunted on our Philippolis concession with Zim PH’s Steve Meyer and Simon Dzingai, we worked together at the RSA hunting expo then went hunting together after that. We had a great time (as always) and got these very good trophies including a 43 inch sable that I hunted. Steve brought his family and a good time was had by all. I must say here that if you want to hunt one of the best areas that RSA has to offer from a hunting perspective then look no further than our Philippolis hunting concession that is over 14.000 hectares in extent (you will literally walk your arse off) with no internal fences and over 4000 head of game on the property including over 60 buffalo bulls and 60 sable bulls all of different ages plus cape mountain zebra to mention but a few of the species that occur here. There are two lodges on the hunting area, a main camp that is 4 star luxury and my personal favourite an African bush camp nestled into the mountains, please follow this link to see photos of the area that is situated 2 hours drive South of Bloemfontein: https://lotsanesafaris.com/philippolis-hunting-area/

(RSA PH (me) guiding the Zim PH’s…… hahahahahaha, doesn’t happen often)

Lastly another personal milestone for me: I have been taking my two sons Hunter and Luke with me on hunts since they were very young (during school holidays) however until now neither of them had hunted anything them self. During April my older son Hunter (9 years old) shot his first animal with his .243 he shot this wildebeest that my family and I are eating. I managed this zebra on the same hunt.

Hopefully (for me) by the time I get to newsletter #140 my sons will be guiding these hunts.

Recent news: A foreign client who’s hunt I booked has recently hunted a trophy elephant bull in the Gonarezhou Safari area Naivaisha with Zimbabwean PH Lloyd Yeatman, the bull is estimated at 100 pounds per tusk however the tusk weight is not official yet nor are the trophy photos available to be released to the public yet. I hope to be able to provide you all with photos and more information about that hunt on my next newsletter. If you plan to hunt a trophy elephant bull then the Gonarezhou is the place to hunt and Take Aim Safaris is the company to book with.

As always thank you for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends. I do have hunting quota and hunting dates available in both RSA and Zimbabwe, please contact me for your individual hunt quotation.

Hunters best wishes.

Carl Knight

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

Newsletter 69

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well and planning your next hunting trip…

Since my last newsletter our annual international marketing tour has come to an end, we booked a good number of hunts with lots of ongoing enquiries. If you are considering a hunt in either South Africa or Zimbabwe then please send me an email and lets start working on your enquiry.

I have long maintained that our Gonarezhou concessions in the South Eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe are the best place to hunt trophy elephant bulls in today’s Africa, our location adjoined and unfenced to the Kruger National Park, the Gonarezhou National Park and the Mozambique National Park = (the)Trans Frontier Park lends itself to these bulls coming into our areas. The photos don’t lie and tell the actual story:

The Gonarezhou safari areas are also the right place for those of you wanting to hunt a trophy buffalo bull since:

In our concessions it is very possible that you will not only shoot a 70 pounder plus elephant but also a 42, 44 inch + buffalo whilst hunting for dagga boys.

Our areas are well known for bull group hunts and not hunting bulls out of herds nor family groups. If you want to hunt for a trophy elephant bull or a dagga boy buffalo from dagga boy groups or lone bulls then the South Eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe is the place to do just that….. Where else are you hunting dagga boys and dagga boy groups? Wild buffalo/free roaming/fair chase…. You tell me…

I have said it before that the Gonarezhou is a hard man’s hunt these hunting areas are MASSIVE you need to work for your bull, this is real hunting.
These are well priced hunts (best priced buffalo hunts in Zimbabwe) not to be compared with 5 star overpriced pseudo hunting. Good meals, hot showers, clean sheets, good vehicles and the best PH’s in Zimbabwe plus the best trophies available in today’s Africa are what you can expect when you book the Gonarezhou Safari Areas.

The strengths of the Gonarezhou Safari areas are not limited to elephant and buffalo, hippo and croc are plentiful, leopard is always fantastic in Naivaisha, eland bulls and kudu bulls are moving into the Sengwe TTL from the Kruger Park on a daily basis. Come and hunt along the Limpopo River including the Zimbabwe side of Crooks Corner a seriously nostalgic top area to hunt, these areas are getting better and better as populations explode (thanks to no culling) in the adjoining National Parks. PS: I have a 2018 Gonarezhou Safari Area lion on quota that is not sold.

Our Matetsi ECA concession in 2018 will again produce fantastic lions, leopards, plains game, buffalo and elephant once the hunting starts there later this month, I will keep you updated on those hunts including two lion hunts, remember that my client shot the best lion in Zimbabwe in 2017 in Matetsi with PH Steve Meyer. Dates are available and so is hunting quota, contact me for more information on these hunts. I still have one Matetsi lion and 2 Matetsi leopards for 2018 that are not sold.

If you are interested in a massive crocodile, huge hippo and very nice lodge then come to Binga where our average croc hunted is over 4.2 meters. A combination hunt with fishing and a house boat for few days on Lake Kariba is a great and luxurious holiday. Please check out my website for photos of our Binga lodge, and Victoria Falls that is very close to both Binga and Matetsi. No charter flights are needed to hunt either Binga or Matetsi.

Here are some photos from the 2018 early season Gonarezhou hunts:

Steve Meyer guided this 70+ pounder hunt in the Gonarezhou Safari area Chibedziva during March 2018:

Nixon Dzingai guided this elephant hunt during March 2018 where our client from Europe managed to hunt these two beautiful bulls one of them in the 50 pound range and the other in the +60 pound range, please note the age of these old bulls and the stunning trees in the background, also hunted on this hunt was this great old hippo bull:

The 5th of our early season elephant bulls (1st was on last newsletter, +4 bulls on this newsletter) is this magnificent estimated 90 pounder that was conducted during March 2018 in Naivaisha concession central Gonarezhou. These big bulls have been hunted from North to South of the Gonarezhou Safari areas this year so far. All Gonarezhou concessions are producing top quality trophies. If you are interested in an elephant bull like these ones then look no further than Take Aim Safaris, Gonarezhou. Another strength of the Gonarezhou is the fact that you can hunt buffalo, cats, hippo, croc and plains game whilst you are hunting elephant, most elephant areas especially trophy bull areas only offer elephant within the same area…. Not the case with us. A special thanks to PH Lloyd Yeatman for another trophy elephant bull hunt.

Bookings for 2018 hunts are open and available, contact me for pricing, quota and dates.

Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends.

Hunters best wishes.

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

Newsletter 68

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this 68th version of my newsletter finds you well.

Since my last newsletter in November 2017 we have done some good hunts although the December/January period is our low period due to holidays and since the rains effect our ability to move around the concessions freely due to mud and floods, the rains were not as good as expected however we are currently experiencing some late rain in the Lowveld that is a welcome surprise and will make for very good early season elephant hunting in the Gonarezhou area especially.

We attended the early season hunting shows: SCI where Jono and Adriaan worked our booth there, I went to Dortmund with Steve Meyer for the 11th year in a row that Take Aim Safaris has done the German hunting expo, our fair chase free range hunts are always well received by the European hunters that attend that show, thanks for the support.

For the year ahead I have booked a record number of hunts already with the bulk of the booking season still to come so look out for my 6 or so newsletters that you will receive this year that will be full of interesting information and photos from our hunts. From my own point of view I hope to see you in the newsletters, if not this year then perhaps next year, book now to get the dates and hunting quota that you want.

To all our Spanish clients we will once again be attending the Spanish hunting convention CINERGETICA this year in Madrid from the 1st to the 4th March 2018 we will be in prime booth # 321 in the main hall, please come and visit us there.

You may be interested to know that a client of mine from Russia shot the biggest lion in Zimbabwe last year, judged in accordance with skull measurement’s. The hunt was guided in Matetsi by PH Steve Meyer, here is the award Steve won and a photo of the very old lion:

I do have one more lion on quota in Matetsi for this year, I have already sold two.

I also have a Gonarezhou lion on quota for this year that has not been sold yet.

Since my last newsletter we have done some great hunts, here are the updates and photos:

A client of ours from South Africa hunted this buffalo in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe with PH Steve Meyer in November 2017.

During January 2018 PH Nixon Dzingai guided this client from Europe on this buffalo, crocodile and elephant bull hunt in Sengwe 1 and 2 Zimbabwe.

During December 2017 PH Nixon Dzingai guided a client from Europe on this dagga boy hunt in Malipati Safari area, Zimbabwe.

During February 2018 PH Albert Johnson guided this plains game hunt in Limpopo South Africa:

How about this baobab in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe:

As always thank you for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends, if you are planning a hunt in South Africa or Zimbabwe please allow me the opportunity to tell you more about our hunts and our pricing for instance our Gonarezhou dagga boy hunts are to my knowledge the best priced buffalo hunts available in Zimbabwe, I do have quota and dates available on all big game hunts for 2018 and beyond.

Hunters best wishes.

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

Newsletter 67

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this last newsletter for 2017 finds you all well, may I also take this opportunity to wish you a happy festive season ahead and thanks for the support during 2017, prior and beyond. All 2018 concession information including price lists are available on our website: www.takeaimsafaris.com

Our concessions include:

  • Matetsi Unit 2
  • Matetsi Unit 5
  • Matetsi ECA
  • Binga
  • Gonarezhou Safari areas (4 camps, 300.000+ hectares)
  • Top class South African hunting areas

A short reminder that you can visit Take Aim Safaris at the following expo’s during 2018:

I have long maintained that the Gonarezhou Safari areas are the perfect place/best place to hunt for trophy elephant bulls and trophy buffalo bulls. During the last 5 years we have hunted two bulls over 100 pounds, one of them was 105 pounds, the next was 122 pounds and now there has been a 132 pounder pick-up, this bull was not hunted, the tusks were found by Parks Rangers inside the Park, this bull surely died of old age but not before passing on his gene. If you are interested in a trophy elephant bull I say the Gonarezhou Safari Areas are the best place to look, here is the 132 pound pick-up:

Onto the recent hunts where a client of ours from Europe hunted this hippo and croc in the Gonarezhou Safari Areas with PH Nixon Dzingai, these river hunts for hippo are always exciting due to the fact that most hippos are hunted on dry land in and around the Lowveld River system.

Also on a recent hunt a client from the USA hunted this trophy 44 inch buffalo bull in Malipati Safari Area, a special thanks to RSA PH Russ Field for the booking:

On another recent hunt a long term client of ours on his family’s 20th + hunt with TAS hunted this very good roan antelope and beautiful lion in the North West Province of RSA, thanks to PH Riaan Lourens for guiding the hunt. These lions hunts are great value for money hunts at about the price of an RSA buffalo hunt:

On the last of our recent hunts PH Talmage Alexander guided a client from the USA in the Matetsi ECA on this buffalo and sable hunt.

Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends, as always please contact me for all your big game hunts in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Hunters best wishes and a fantastic festive season ahead to you all.

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

Newsletter 66

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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

Newsletter 65

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Since my last newsletter on the 11th July we have had some great hunts to update you on, please read on below.

During July we welcomed a client from Europe who hunted in Malipati Safari Area (Gonarezhou, Zimbabwe) with PH Nixon Dzingai, the client managed to hunt this 14 foot crocodile, this very good leopard and some plains game:

Also during July myself and fellow PH Riaan Louwrens hunted with long term clients of TAS for these two lions and some plains game.

Now if you want to know what a dagga boy looks like then here you go:

This bull was hunted in July by an RSA client of mine on his second buffalo hunt booked with me, last year he also shot a great buffalo. Ernest has just booked his 3rd hunt with me this time another buffalo and an elephant. Hunters this is what you are looking for when you hunt the Gonarezhou safari areas, free range, fair chase dagga boys on their terms in their back yards:

Special thanks to PH Simon Dzingai for guiding this hunt.

Another RSA client of TAS hunted the Gonarezhou Safari area: Sengwe 2 during July where he was guided by PH Nixon Dzingai on this dagga boy hunt:

Also during July this time in Matetsi and Binga clients from the USA hunted these very good trophies with PH Steve Meyer:

During August I hunted with clients of mine on a very good RSA concession that is open to Botswana on the Limpopo River, we hunted this very good elephant bull in the 35 pound class and we saw over 100 elephants including 10 good bulls. We also hunted this crocodile that measured 3.4 meters and this very good plains game including this 30 inch waterbuck. A special thanks to PH Philip Craucamp for the hunt.

Also during August a client of ours from Europe hunted this buffalo bull in the Malipati Safari Area with PH Nixon Dzingai.

As always thanks for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends. PH’s, Outfitters, Clients and Agents please feel free to contact me for bookings in South Africa and in Zimbabwe.

Hunters best wishes.

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

Newsletter 64

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Since my last newsletter on the 14th June we have had some very good hunts to update you on including this follow up on the Matetsi Lion hunt that was ongoing when I sent out my last newsletter and I finalised the launch of two first class hunting destinations in South Africa as mentioned in newsletter 63, please read on below:

Starting in Matetsi Zimbabwe where PH Steve Meyer guided a Russian client of mine on this fantastic hunt, the client shot what Steve tells me is the biggest body lion he has ever seen or hunted and further estimates this lion to be 8 years + old, this wild lion had a broken front canine tooth that would have made hunting hard for him. The client also hunted this 44 pounder elephant in Matetsi plus this giraffe (lion bait) and buffalo before moving to Binga for his hippo and croc:

We do have one lion left in Matetsi for 2017 please contact me if you are interested.

On a recent Gonarezhou hunt with PH Nixon Dzingai our client managed to get this 62 pounder elephant and this 44 inch hard boss buffalo on his 5th hunt with us in the Gonarezhou. Nixon tells me that elephant and buffalo movement into Malipati Safari Area is at its all-time best, I do have quota available for elephant, leopard and buffalo plus a whole host of plains game including nyala, bushbuck and waterbuck for Malipati Safari Area and Naivaisha for the 2017 season, late season hunts are fantastic now is the time to book.

South African PH Russ Field booked a buffalo hunt with me for his client from the USA in our Sengwe concessions of the Gonarezhou area during June, Russ and Zim PH Simon Dzingai hunted this very good dagga boy on that hunt, thanks Russ.

A South African client of mine on his 3rd hunt booked with Take Aim Safaris hunted this hippo and croc with PH Steve Meyer in Zimbabwe/Binga:

Adding my own personal touch to this newsletter my sons and I hunted these two oryx and this red hartebeest on a recent concession visit to Philippolis/RSA, I saw fantastic numbers of game on that hunt including buffalo, sable and roan, a real pleasure to see the beauty of Africa in this place. Please read on:

I am trying to get a sense/re-enforce my own view of where big elephants are being hunted in today’s Africa, as far as I know in areas open for hunting the Gonarezhou produces the biggest tusk weight elephant bulls consistently. There are two other good trophy bull areas I know of but I say Gonarezhou is best (and around half the price). Does anyone know if a bigger elephant than this Gonarezhou 83 pounder our client hunted in February has been hunted anywhere in Africa this year yet?  PS: Don’t forget our 122 pounder in 2015 plus a whole host of other trophy bulls: https://lotsanesafaris.com/portfolio-item/elephant/

If you do have FACTS: Area, photos and date of a bigger bull that has been hunted in 2017 please let me know.

Look at this recent photo that was taken in the Gonarezhou National Park and tell me what you see? Obviously there are two elephant bulls in the photo but also a dead baobab that the elephants have just pushed over and killed for a few small fruights at the top of the tree and the high bark on the tree trunk.

There are very few baobab trees left in the Gonarezhou, same goes for the Kruger Park and the entire Lowveld (where elephants are found) thanks to an absolute over population of elephants that are now destroying their own habitat. If you think you are protecting elephants by not culling and not hunting them you are not, in fact at this rate they will destroy their own habitat very soon and take all other herbivores down with them.

How old is this baobab? 500? 1000 years old? This is critical situation that is not being addressed nor being helped by the so called greenies who stop us from culling in our own national parks by dangling the Dollar carrot, closing sustainable hunting in sustainable hunting areas will not help elephants nor any other animal in our Southern African National Parks, when the habitat is destroyed all animals will be gone not only the elephants. If you plan to do good then attack poachers and poaching not hunters who are real conservationists.

What should we be protecting here the baobab or the elephant?

As you may or may not know I live in Johannesburg South Africa and have hunted Southern Africa including South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique for the last 35 years (now 43 years old) in this time and over the 400+ hunts I have booked I have gained a wealth of experience with regards to Southern African hunting, on this point I can with confidence tell you that South African ranch/private farm hunting does not get better than these two areas:

LIMPOPO’S OWN SERENGETI

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

If you like me have done all the seriously tough hunts, driven all day when hunting then 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.

Here are a few photos of the area and lodge but please follow this link to see the full portfolio of photos: https://lotsanesafaris.com/hunt-in-south-africa/limpopo-serengeti/


PHILIPPOLIS

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 Philippolis hunting area words and key features that come to mind are:

  • Privacy
  • Up-market
  • Exclusive
  • Luxurious
  • 5 star luxury accommodation with Wi-Fi in the lodge
  • Abundance of game, big game and plains game

When you hunt Philippolis, you will be guided by top class full time hunting guides 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.

Come and do your fair chase hunting here on foot.

Here are few photos, to see the full portfolio of photos please follow this link:  https://lotsanesafaris.com/hunt-in-south-africa/philippolis/



As always thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter and for passing it onto your hunting friends.

I do have quota and dates available for all our hunts in South Africa and Zimbabwe, Agents, Clients, PH’s, Outfitters contact me for booking information.

Hunters best wishes.

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

Newsletter 63

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Dear Hunting Friends

I hope this newsletter finds you well.

Since my last newsletter on the 9th of May we have had some very good hunts to report back to you on including my own bear hunt in Siberia/Russia plus the True Green Alliance and Matt’s big 5, please read on:

Starting with the new hunts that have taken place/the business side of things as far as Take Aim Safaris goes:

On a recent hunt in the Gonarezhou area PH Lloyd Yeatman guided these clients from Europe on this buffalo and leopard hunt, Lloyds near 100% success rate on leopard makes Naivaisha a contender for the best leopard area in Zimbabwe, buffalo are plentyful in Naivaisha as well and of course the big one as far as the Gonarezhou goes is the chance for trophy elephant bulls. Lloyd and Sabine run a first class safari operation, Sabine has refined the camp and the kitchen adding the womans touch to the Yeatmans safari experience (no more coke and cigarettes for breakfast), for a first class safari in a first class Gonarezhou safari area contact me, dates and quota for 2017 are available.

I have added a few Naivaisha camp pictures to this newsletter, if you want to see all the camp pictures I have plus read area information and see maps of the area please follow this link:  https://lotsanesafaris.com/hunt-in-zimbabwe/zimbabwe-hunting-areas/gonarezhou/


On a Matetsi hunt that finished today a client of ours from Europe hunted this buffalo, giraffe and kudu with PH Zane Bronkhorst, also in Matetsi we currently have a lion hunt going on for a Russian client, we have a good lion feeding on one of our baits as per the attached photos. I will update you on this lion hunt with my next newsletter but it’s looking good. We do still have one Matetsi lion left on quota for the 2017 season, if you want to hunt a full maned Matetsi lion then contact me…. Best priced wild lion hunt in Zimbabwe.

On a recent hunt in South Africa a South African client of mine hunted this lion with PH Riaan Lourens, there has never been a better time for foreign or RSA clients to hunt lion in RSA, if you are interested in a lion or lioness hunt please contact me for more info, a South African male lion hunt will now cost you the same as a buffalo hunt.

The cost and hunt comparison between a ranch/farm lion and ranch/farm buffalo is an interesting one as these two hunts are very similar from the point of view that they are both walk and stalk hunts for farm/ranch dangerous game animals that have been bred, fed and translocated in captivity for hunting. I have dealt with and booked hunts for hunters who have hunted lion in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique that have also hunted these RSA lions, all agree that these walk and stalk RSA lion hunts are right up there with the wild lion hunts from an experience point of view. (not buffalo nor lion can ever be tamed or domesticated captive bred or not.)

This low price window will close as will this form of hunting I suppose, whether other key species like buffalo and crocodile bred and hunted the same way in RSA will close with lion is anyone’s guess, however right now we can legally hunt and export the trophies from them all. Contact me for bookings.

Now for a special note: He started as a client and has become a valued friend, those of you that read my newsletters and have been on my newsletter list for some time will recall me mentioning Matt and his quest to hunt the big 5 and the dangerous 7, we just hunted his rhino last month. I have booked a few hunts over the years for clients finishing their big 5 by achieving key species that I could and do offer, those have all been special hunts for me as I understand the commitment to finishing what one starts from a hunting perspective (and in life) however Matt is the first client to start and finish his big 5 with Take Aim Safaris plus he got his hippo and croc finishing his dangerous 7 then added sable, roan and a whole host of plains game including a 60 inch kudu and some massive baboons.

Now to be clear I did not guide all these hunts myself, some I did some I didn’t but I was there with Matt on all his big 5 hunts, I did credit the PH’s at the time of the hunts on past newsletters that are still all on my website if you care to review them please do so however another short thanks to all that were involved in making this dangerous 7 quest a reality especially Matt and Dave.

Now the stories of these hunts will stay with me a lifetime and are too numerous to recount on this platform, let me say that this has been a great project that has taken us 5 years and resulted in friendships that will last a lifetime, here are a few photos of Matts big 5 and dangerous 7:



You may be wondering whats next?? Well Matt just booked his next male lion hunt with Take Aim Safaris so here we go again…. Thanks Matt. A more deserving hunter I have never met, Matt never complained once about anything from camps to food to vehicles including when things go wrong as they can and will do never a bad or sad word, dankie boetie.

Here goes another bucket list achievement this time my own, since I was a young boy my dream has been/was (amoungst others) to hunt a brown bear, I am please to tell you all that I have just returned from Siberia/Russia where I went with another friend of mine from Johannesburg where we live to hunt our bears. Both Shaun and I had fantastic hunts that were made possible with the help of my good friend Tony Ulmer from Mistral hunting agency in Austria, like most Africans I know/knew very little about international hunting until I went into this buisness 10 years ago. Tony helped make this trip not only possible but affordable as well. If any of you are interested in a brown bear hunt feel free to contact Tony directly, thanks Tony and Maria.  Anton.Ulmer@mistral-jagd.at mistral@mistral-jagd.at

Here are some photos of the Siberian mountain range we hunted, our camp and my bear… Hope you enjoy.


If you are interested in a Tuskless elephant hunt let me know, I have some great offers from the Zimbabwe Lower Zambezi Valley Operators on tuskless elephant hunts where you can shoot a few tuskless on one hunt, 2×1 is available etc. etc.

Now for something a little more serious. All us hunters know that we are under ever more serious attack from the animal rights brigade. They began campaigning to shut us down 30 years ago but did not succeed.  However, they have never given up.  And, in the current era, they are more numerous than they have ever been and they are finding more and more ingenious ways to destroy us. But “non carborundum illegitimi!” – we are not going to let the bastards wear us down!

Many of you may know, or know of, Ron Thomson who is emerging now, in his twilight years, as the hunter’s and the wildlife manager’s most courageous champion. He has spent 58 years of his life managing Africa’s national parks and big game animals – and writing about hunting and wildlife management controversies – and he has huge experience. In my opinion, there is no hunter alive with more big game hunting experience than Ron; nor do I believe has a more experienced big game hunter ever lived.  Over a period of 30 years, Ron has hunted (not culled) 5000-odd elephants.  These he tracked down on foot with Bushman trackers and he shot them with – mostly – a .458 Magnum rifle (but he has used many other calibres, too).  He has also hunted some 800 buffalos and a great many lions and leopards. He dedicated many years of his life to pioneering the capture and translocation of Zimbabwe’s black rhinos in his capacity as a game ranger for the Rhodesian (now Zimbabwean) national parks department.  He estimates that he has spent some 25 000 hours hunting Africa’s big game animals – each hunt being calculated from the time he took up the animal’s tracks to the time he pulled the trigger – ONLY.  That amounts to 5.7 years of actual hunting from dawn to dusk each day. Do yourself a favour and buy his seven, limited edition, big game hunting memoir books.  They represent the best big game hunting literature I have ever read – and I re-read them as often as I can.  I spent my life as a youngster reading hunting books – and I still do – and I can assure you these books will take you to “the next level”. Look at his website: www.ronthmsonshuntingbooks.co.za.

Ron, and a number of his close associates, recently created a new NGO in South Africa (going global) called “The TRUE GREEN ALLIANCE” – of which he is the CEO.  The TGA’s express purpose is to destroy the credibility of the animal rights doctrine in the public domain; and to teach everybody about the principles and practices of science-based wildlife management. The TGA’s main purpose, however, is to destroy the anti-hunters.

Please review the attached literature and get involved with Ron’s TGA.  Help the TGA to achieve its goals. Help the TGA to educate non-hunters and anti-hunters alike – that we hunters are not the anti-Christs they believe us to be. Rather, we are true conservationists who really can save the world’s wildlife into posterity. And look at the TGA’s website: www.mahohboh.org.  It is packed with all sorts of information and advice that hunters will enjoy. The TGA’s Facebook can be found at: www.Facebook/TheTrueGreen Alliance/.

Please, hunters, get involved with Ron and the TGA, and, trust me, his big game hunting books are the best of the best.  They are a must read for anyone interested in hunting Africa’s big game – and the more experienced YOU are the more will you love these books.

It is personal honour for me to be this man’s personal friend, and to now be associated with his TGA. I hope, therefore, that you will join me in doing your bit to save the future of the sport we all love so much.  At the least, become a member of the TGA – and learn all about it. No contribution is too small.  Whether you want to spend of your time in the service of the TGA, use your professional expertise, or merely provide financial assistance, please get involved.  The TGA needs all the help it can get.  It is ranged against a number of extremely well-heeled NGOs that have oodles of money to spend on counter attacks. Those of you who are editors and writers please learn more about the TGA and help spread the word of this very worthy cause.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TGA MEDIA PACK

Lastly if you are considering booking a big game hunt in RSA then hold your horses please until you read my next newsletter #64 when I will introduce to you two of the best hunting areas that RSA has to offer, one of them @ 10.000 hectares in the Limpopo and the other @ 14.000 hectares in the Free State province on the Van Der Kloof dam, both of these areas are the best of the best when it comes to South African hunting. I have decided to do my best to sell more RSA hunts by offering the best of RSA to my 5000 plus strong client/newsletter reader base.

As always thanks for taking the time to read my newsletters and pass them onto your hunting friends, sorry that this one was extra length and thanks again.

Please contact me for all your Zim and RSA big game hunting requirements, Agents, PH’s, Clients, Outfitters all welcome. (bear hunters as well…. J)

Hunters best wishes.

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