Philip Ashby Hunting
Sport hunting in Tanzania
Tanzania is one of the last few true unfenced and unmanaged wildernesses in Africa. Recently I attended a talk by a world-renowned expert on Lion, and was surprised to hear that one third of the world's remaining wild lion are to be found in Tanzania. The real surprise was that this famous conservationist was there to logically explain why he and his colleagues will now support controlled trophy hunting of lion when it is ethically and fairly executed. Forgive the pun! Lion in Tanzania kill more than two hundred people annually and the repercussions of these deaths normally lead to entire prides being poisoned. In areas where lions are regularly hunted for sport man-eaters are less common. The killing of mature male lion of six years and over, by sport hunters, does not affect the lion population but ensures that the lion will have a healthy respect for people.
It has also been proved that fifteen percent of most wildlife populations can be culled without affecting the natural population fluctuations and it is believed that the increased turnover within the population renders it more vigorous and healthy. Although I have no scientific proof of this, years of watching Tanzanian wildlife in its natural environment has proved this to me beyond any doubt.
If a hunter is looking for either an easy or a cheap hunt, do not look in Tanzania. This is not the ranch hunting of South Africa where the government fees are minimal and the game often managed and thick on the ground. Tanzania has approximately one third of its total land area protected in one or more of the following ways:
National Parks include the incredible Serengeti. The only activities permitted in the National Parks are scientific research and photographic tourism. Tanzania will soon have at least ten National Parks and more are planed. Several are large enough to be reasonably sized European countries. The majority of the National Parks are very under-utilized at present. There is one Conservation Area, the Ngorongoro, which is also a world heritage site. This is a failing experiment in the co-habitation of people and wildlife as the once pastoral Maasai are now tuning to agriculture and have effectively cut off the famous crater from the rest of the ecosystem. However the Ngorongoro will always remain a must see. Game Reserves including the famous Selous Game Reserve (the largest in the world) and many of the prime hunting areas. They are offered the same protected status as the National Parks but sport trophy hunting is allowed and in most cases no photographic tourism is permitted. Forestry Reserves cover vast areas of commercially important woodland and vital green water catchments. Many of the rural communities have large traditional grazing areas that contain wildlife to varying degrees. These communities will only tolerate the presence of the animals, some dangerous and all competing with or feeding on their domestic stock, if they produce revenue for the community. These areas are either Wildlife Management Areas or Game Controlled Areas. Traditionally these multiple use areas are referred to as Open Areas.
All wildlife belongs to the national government and the government controls the rights to wildlife. There is no provision for private ownership of wildlife in Tanzania at present. Much of the country including all of the protected areas baring the National Parks and the Conservation Area are divided into Hunting Blocks that vary in size depending on the wildlife abundance of the area. These blocks are then leased for a five-year period to sport trophy hunting companies. Each block is allocated a quota by the Division of Wildlife for the available species according to their abundance.
The hunting season starts on the first of July and finishes on the last day of December. This is generally the dry season, however the rains starts in November and many of the southern and central Tanzanian hunting blocks are inaccessible in November and December. The best time to hunt is often as the rains start, however most hunters seem to want to come at the beginning of the season.
Tanzania can be generally divided into two distinct biomes. The Northern third is Acacia savannah and the rest is variations of Miombo woodland interspersed with huge seasonal swamps and occasional mountain cloud forest. This variation produces variation in fauna too and most hunts, if time allows, are divided between at least two biomes to allow for a varied bag. On a lucky twenty-one day hunt as many as eighteen species can be attained with more available. The only animals that are excluded from the hunting list are the Giraffe, as it is the national animal of Tanzania, together with Rhino, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Buffalo are among the most desirable species hunted here.
Sport Trophy Hunting is a vital conservation tool, helping to ensure the survival of Tanzania’s threatened fauna and flora. In fact, visiting Tanzania on a hunting safari is in my opinion the best way to contribute to conserving Tanzania’s incredible wildlife heritage. I was once part of the anti-hunting lobby until I saw through my naivety. I am now the best and most effective sort of a conservationist, the hunting conservationist
There are generally three hunting safaris on offer by hunting outfitters in Tanzania which are worth considering. The number of days or duration of the hunt dictates the species that the government regulations allow on the hunt. Each hunting outfitter interoperates this a little differently depending on the species available in their hunting areas. The individual hunting areas are also called hunting blocks.
It must be remembered that the species available may be altered by the outfitter for specific areas. Always insist that the animals you are entitled to are listed in the contract with the outfitter and compare this to what is actually found in the area you will be visiting.
Ten day hunt
The ten day hunt is often referred to as a plains game hunt. Species available would include:
2 Buffalo
Impala
Grants Gazelle
Thompson Gazelle
Hartebeest
Warthog
Waterbuck
Wildebeest.
Sixteen Day Hunt
I addition to the species available on the ten day, the following can be taken on a sixteen day hunt:
Baboons
An extra buffalo
Bushbuck
Bushpig
Civet
Genet
African Wildcat
Crocodile
Dik Dik
Duiker
Hyena
Jackal
Monkeys
Oribi
Mountain Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck
Steinbuck
Suni
Topi
Another Waterbuck
Another Wildebeest
Another Warthog
Elephant
Twenty-one Day Hunt
Additional Animals:
Eland
Serval
Gerenuk
Grysbock
Hippo
Greater Kudu
Leser Kudu
Leopard
Lion
Oryx
Ostrich
Porcupine
Puku
Ratel (Honey badger)
Bohor Reedbuck
Roan Antelope
Sable Antelope
Sitatunga
Another Topi
Another Waterbuck
Another Wildebeest
It should be remembered that it is common for clients to book hunt in order to allow them the opportunity to take all of the game available but to not stay for the whole duration. This is normally due to the clients time constraints.
Billing
Most safari companies divide their billing into a basic safari rate which includes all of the services provided by the company while you are on the hunt (accommodation, professional hunter, vehicle, food, staff and so on) and the other expenses that are controlled by the government (fees and taxes).
The customer must always read this information provided by the company well as each company has a different system. Some outfitters lump it all together and others hide excessive extras in the small print. Be forewarned.
It has also been proved that fifteen percent of most wildlife populations can be culled without affecting the natural population fluctuations and it is believed that the increased turnover within the population renders it more vigorous and healthy. Although I have no scientific proof of this, years of watching Tanzanian wildlife in its natural environment has proved this to me beyond any doubt.
If a hunter is looking for either an easy or a cheap hunt, do not look in Tanzania. This is not the ranch hunting of South Africa where the government fees are minimal and the game often managed and thick on the ground. Tanzania has approximately one third of its total land area protected in one or more of the following ways:
National Parks include the incredible Serengeti. The only activities permitted in the National Parks are scientific research and photographic tourism. Tanzania will soon have at least ten National Parks and more are planed. Several are large enough to be reasonably sized European countries. The majority of the National Parks are very under-utilized at present. There is one Conservation Area, the Ngorongoro, which is also a world heritage site. This is a failing experiment in the co-habitation of people and wildlife as the once pastoral Maasai are now tuning to agriculture and have effectively cut off the famous crater from the rest of the ecosystem. However the Ngorongoro will always remain a must see. Game Reserves including the famous Selous Game Reserve (the largest in the world) and many of the prime hunting areas. They are offered the same protected status as the National Parks but sport trophy hunting is allowed and in most cases no photographic tourism is permitted. Forestry Reserves cover vast areas of commercially important woodland and vital green water catchments. Many of the rural communities have large traditional grazing areas that contain wildlife to varying degrees. These communities will only tolerate the presence of the animals, some dangerous and all competing with or feeding on their domestic stock, if they produce revenue for the community. These areas are either Wildlife Management Areas or Game Controlled Areas. Traditionally these multiple use areas are referred to as Open Areas.
All wildlife belongs to the national government and the government controls the rights to wildlife. There is no provision for private ownership of wildlife in Tanzania at present. Much of the country including all of the protected areas baring the National Parks and the Conservation Area are divided into Hunting Blocks that vary in size depending on the wildlife abundance of the area. These blocks are then leased for a five-year period to sport trophy hunting companies. Each block is allocated a quota by the Division of Wildlife for the available species according to their abundance.
The hunting season starts on the first of July and finishes on the last day of December. This is generally the dry season, however the rains starts in November and many of the southern and central Tanzanian hunting blocks are inaccessible in November and December. The best time to hunt is often as the rains start, however most hunters seem to want to come at the beginning of the season.
Tanzania can be generally divided into two distinct biomes. The Northern third is Acacia savannah and the rest is variations of Miombo woodland interspersed with huge seasonal swamps and occasional mountain cloud forest. This variation produces variation in fauna too and most hunts, if time allows, are divided between at least two biomes to allow for a varied bag. On a lucky twenty-one day hunt as many as eighteen species can be attained with more available. The only animals that are excluded from the hunting list are the Giraffe, as it is the national animal of Tanzania, together with Rhino, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Lion, Leopard, Elephant and Buffalo are among the most desirable species hunted here.
Sport Trophy Hunting is a vital conservation tool, helping to ensure the survival of Tanzania’s threatened fauna and flora. In fact, visiting Tanzania on a hunting safari is in my opinion the best way to contribute to conserving Tanzania’s incredible wildlife heritage. I was once part of the anti-hunting lobby until I saw through my naivety. I am now the best and most effective sort of a conservationist, the hunting conservationist
There are generally three hunting safaris on offer by hunting outfitters in Tanzania which are worth considering. The number of days or duration of the hunt dictates the species that the government regulations allow on the hunt. Each hunting outfitter interoperates this a little differently depending on the species available in their hunting areas. The individual hunting areas are also called hunting blocks.
It must be remembered that the species available may be altered by the outfitter for specific areas. Always insist that the animals you are entitled to are listed in the contract with the outfitter and compare this to what is actually found in the area you will be visiting.
Ten day hunt
The ten day hunt is often referred to as a plains game hunt. Species available would include:
2 Buffalo
Impala
Grants Gazelle
Thompson Gazelle
Hartebeest
Warthog
Waterbuck
Wildebeest.
Sixteen Day Hunt
I addition to the species available on the ten day, the following can be taken on a sixteen day hunt:
Baboons
An extra buffalo
Bushbuck
Bushpig
Civet
Genet
African Wildcat
Crocodile
Dik Dik
Duiker
Hyena
Jackal
Monkeys
Oribi
Mountain Reedbuck
Southern Reedbuck
Steinbuck
Suni
Topi
Another Waterbuck
Another Wildebeest
Another Warthog
Elephant
Twenty-one Day Hunt
Additional Animals:
Eland
Serval
Gerenuk
Grysbock
Hippo
Greater Kudu
Leser Kudu
Leopard
Lion
Oryx
Ostrich
Porcupine
Puku
Ratel (Honey badger)
Bohor Reedbuck
Roan Antelope
Sable Antelope
Sitatunga
Another Topi
Another Waterbuck
Another Wildebeest
It should be remembered that it is common for clients to book hunt in order to allow them the opportunity to take all of the game available but to not stay for the whole duration. This is normally due to the clients time constraints.
Billing
Most safari companies divide their billing into a basic safari rate which includes all of the services provided by the company while you are on the hunt (accommodation, professional hunter, vehicle, food, staff and so on) and the other expenses that are controlled by the government (fees and taxes).
The customer must always read this information provided by the company well as each company has a different system. Some outfitters lump it all together and others hide excessive extras in the small print. Be forewarned.
