Leann and I had an amazing hunt at the end of 2010. Let’s say right off the bat, it wasn’t successful. Regardless, surprisingly, I have to say it was still a great hunt. (Take a look at the big tusker we passed across the highway from our concession while leaving! ) On our very last day, a new hunter – just arrived – shot HIS elephant on his FIRST day! I suppose normally one could be a little jealous, but we’re really happy for him. Arnold Payne just secured a concession in eastern Botswana – it covers a huge tribal area. Payne’s Impala Safaris has been one of our major donors over the year. He is now putting on some great value Botswana elephant hunts in his new concession. They have taken 9 elephants out of the 14 permits issued in the area thus far. He has a few slots still left open if you ever wanted to hunt a Bots ele. What’s amazing, unlike most areas in Botswana, there is no limit or extra charge on ivory size, that’s what attracted me to the area.
The hunting season in this great area starts September and runs till January. Unseasonal early heavy rains hit and the elephant moved out of our concession crossing the Sabe river into Zimbabwe – just bad luck. They didn’t come back until our last day – that’s elephant hunting, never a guarantee – always a surprise.
It was “real” hunting – up early at 3:30 am, and on the road looking for tracks. Then dinner, many times at 10:00 pm before crashing into bed. Some nights in the fly camp, sleeping out in the wilds of tribal Africa, leopards calling in the night; complete with hyenas attacking and eating villagers donkeys – like I said – the real deal. Arnold Payne put on a great elephant hunt – authentic as it gets, and sometimes you just aren’t lucky – we couldn’t believe how heavy the rain was nor how deep and lush the vegetation. The PH Calvin Nobrega, worked hard to put us on elephant. He was relentless in the pursuit, and I can’t say enough about how good a job he did, nor how well his wife ran the camp. It was a real family experience, comfortable, though not posh. For many of our members this would be the perfect hunt, affordable, not over the top luxury wise, and a chance to get an elephant in legendary Botswana.