Richie Schultz Safaris – Hunting for memories

About

I was born into a family of hunting/fishing enthusiasts and raised in the Northern part of Zimbabwe close to the Zambezi River. In the footsteps of my father and my uncles every school holidays I was either hunting or fishing and was exposed to the wild at an early age. I shot my first animal, a duiker and was so young I don’t even remember how old I was!!!. As a kid I spent any free time I had hunting birds with my pellet gun and chasing anything and everything that moved, I think thats when my hunting instinct began!!! I also accompanied my father and uncles in the Zambezi Valley where they bought citizen hunts and was able to hunt elephant, buffalo, hippo and lots of plains game. After completing my secondary education at Lomagundi College school in Zimbabwe, I went straight into the hunting world and became an apprentice hunter, and with in 2 years I had my Professional Hunters(PH) license. I ended up working for a very well known safari company where I gained a wealth of experience from some of the older PH’s in the industry!!! Since then I have had many doors open up for me and have been able to hunt Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique as well as hunt throughout the whole of Zimbabwe. I also owe a lot to my beautiful wife who puts up with me and all my craziness!!! Stef has certainly been a pillar of strength in my life and now we have two beautiful children, Shyla and Caden, the most perfect little people!!! Hunting has been my life since a very very young age and is a passion of mine.

Hunting has been my life since a young age

Zimbabwe

Without doubt, Zimbabwe is one of the most popular hunting destinations in Africa. It is one of Africa’s most affordable destinations, especially when it comes to Dangerous Game. One only has to take a look at the various hunting grounds found within its borders, to understand the tremendous variety of terrain and species on offer. The ease of travel, vastness of the hunting areas and the abundance of trophy quality animals, makes this a country to hunt in. Its people are among the friendliest on the Continent.

Hunting Season – There is no specific hunting season as such, but the majority of hunts start in April and finish in mid November, which is when the heavy rains typically start. Depending on what you are after I will advise you as to what I think the best time of year for the species you are after would be for each area as they differ from area to area.

Hunting Areas – Nuanetsi Conservancy, all along the Zambezi Valley and in Matetsi/Forestry areas bordering the famous Hwange National Park.

Mozambique

The best hunting concessions in Mozambique are known as Coutadas. In addition to these Coutadas there are a few areas around the central and northern part of the country. Mozambique is famous for its large herds of Sable, Leopard and Buffalo as well as many other species of plainsgame. There is also the famous Zambezi Delta area for a swamp Buffalo hunt.

Hunting Season – The best time to hunt in Mozambique is from late June through to mid November.

Cameroon

This is the most stable country in Central Africa as far as politics and safety are concerned. Hunting in Cameroon is divided into two classes which both have very different habitat. One being the savannah which is in the north of the country and the other is an equatorial rainforest in the south. The north areas have the famous Lord Derby Eland, Western Roan, North Western buffalo, Western Kob as well as a few other plainsgame species. The southern areas in the rainforest have the Western Bongo, Forest Sitatunga, Dwarf Buffalo and various forest duikers.

Hunting Season in the North (Savannah) – Early January through to end of April. (the rut for the LDE)

Hunting Season in the South (Forest) – April through to end of June.(the rainy season)

Zambia

Is another amazing part of Africa and has some amazing hunting areas from the Kafue Flats to the Bangweulu Swamps down to the Luangwa Valley. Zambia has some great areas for both Lion and Leopard as well as Buffalo, Sable and Roan. There are a few select areas where you can hunt the Sitatunga also. The terrain varies from area to area in Zambia.

Hunting Season – Like Zimbabwe there is not specific season but generally opens up in April and runs through to November.

Tanzania

Tanzania goes far back in “hunting” history where you see a lot of the old books from Courtney Selous and others telling their stories about the great hunting Tanzania once had and in some areas still to this day Tanzania offers some of the finest hunting in Africa!!

It offers a wide range of species from lion, buffalo, leopard, topi, roan and much more in the western part to the Famous Selous then down to the Masailand where you can hunt the lesser kudu, grants gazelle and much more and where you can also experience and see the Masai culture!!!

The diversity and difference to each area is certainly something special.

Hunting Season – Normally from July through to December (also dependant on your priority animals).

Uganda

Since Uganda has opened up hunting again it has become a very popular destination to hunt as it hosts a variety of game, form the Nile and Cape Buffalo, the Sitatunga in the swamps, to the various plains game like the Uganda Kob, Jacksons Hartebeest, Topi and a few others significant to Uganda. Since it is on the equator it has a pretty high rain fall per annum. Uganda is also an easy destination to travel to with ease.