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SEPTEMBER 2012 SAFARI TO KILWA
David Gibbs just returned from his hunt with Federico Gellini's Tanzania Safaris in the Kilwa Concession between the Selous and Mozambique. His return coincides with Ken Wilson's promise in the September Newsletter that he would comment on the pros and cons of all 9 hunting months in Tanzania. David previously hunted Tanzania for Buffalo with another well-known outfitter, but did not get one, so he concentrated on Buffalo to start and then branched out. His emails following his return two weeks ago included the following comments:
"This was a remarkable safari for me - it far exceeded by high expectations."
"My safari was tremendous ... amazing really."
"It was truly a great safari experience - better than anything I could have imagined."
NOW is the time to book your 2013 - 2014 Tanzania safari.
WHAT IS THE BEST MONTH TO HUNT TANZANIA?
By Ken Wilson
OVERVIEW
The hunting season in Tanzania extends from July 1 through March 31. The movement and visibility of game is very much rain-related. The timing, quantity, and distribution of rain varies from year-to-year, but in general, the light rains tend to occur late November - December and the heavy rains in April - May. When this happens, the following is what to expect when hunting (with variances according to location):
JULY
The season has been closed for three months. Except for Masailand, your concession has probably not been hunted since late November or early December. The ground is drying, but the grass is high and green. Water and game are disbursed, and you spend time each day burning the areas that are starting to dry out. But you are among the first hunters in months.
AUGUST
The burning process is completed, visibility is improved, and new grass is an attraction to the herbivores.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER
Water sources dry up and the game moves within proximity of the remaining sources.
NOVEMBER
Water becomes the major factor in game location and movement until the rains are sufficient to create new water sources.
DECEMBER
The hunting can be fantastic if the rains are late. If the rains are early, travel can be difficult and the game can be disbursed.
JANUARY - MARCH
Masailand is at its best (although July can also be excellent); especially when animals migrate out of the parks and into the hunting concessions, or more than the normal numbers stay in the hunting concessions as a result of the December rains.
IN ANY GIVEN YEAR
If the rains are early or late, or light or heavy, "normal" becomes "abnormal" and your Outfitter, PH, and Staff will need to adjust their strategies accordingly. For example, because of the late spring rains in 2012, the September 1 - 21 safari for David Gibbs was more like late July - early August.
www.shunnesonwilson.com
Ken Wilson (800-910-4868)
Lad Shunneson (303-258-7777)
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