Baboon, Böhm’s zebra, bushpig, Cape buffalo, Chobe bushbuck, common duiker, crocodile, eland, elephant, grysbok, hippo, impala, kudu, leopard, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, lion, reedbuck, Roosevelt’s sable, warthog, waterbuck and wildebeest.

This particular outfitter hunts northern Mozambique in Niassa Block L2.  This hunting concession consists of over 988,000 acres of pristine wilderness located in the southwest corner of the Niassa Game Reserve – with the northern border of the concession located approximately 47 miles (75 km) south of the Tanzanian border.

The hunting area lies between the Luatise and Lugenda Rivers, which serve as the northern and southeastern boundaries of Block L2 respectively.

Hunting in the Niassa Reserve is subject to very strict quotas.

The hunting season in Mozambique commences in June and runs through November, with the optimum season being June through September.

The Niassa Reserve is dominated by miombo woodlands – which covers over half of the 10,000,000 acre (42,000 km2) preserve.

The remainder of the Reserve is open savannah with some wetlands and isolated patches of forest. One of the most striking features of the Niassa Reserve are the spectacular granite inselbergs that rise from the surrounding bush.

As indicated above, a wide diversity of habitats are represented within Niassa Block L2 hunted by Johan Calitz Safaris. This is truly a magnificent wilderness area with few roads. As a result, considerable walking is required for hunting both the plains and dangerous game species within the Reserve. The brochure for the outfitter states that “Clients MUST be fit and prepared to walk//stalk their trophy over rugged and densely vegetated terrain as this safari can be physically taxing”.

Dangerous game hunting including buffalo and elephant will most likely involve considerable walking as one tracks herds or individual animals, so the hunter wishing to pursue these animals should be accustomed to walking very long distances each day. The tracking process is typically slow and methodical up until the point that the quarry is sighted and then it may be necessary to move very quickly in order to get into position for a shot. Make sure that your hunting boots are well broken in before your safari!

On a fitness scale of one to ten (with one being very poor physical condition and ten being excellent physical condition), I would rate the physical level of this hunt at a six for plains game and a seven for dangerous game based on topography, the thick jess, and the general lack of a well established road system within the concession. However, so long as the hunter is able to walk reasonable distances with some climbing over or around the rocky kopjes or tracking through the rolling miombo woodlands, there should not be a problem from a physical standpoint.

Keep in mind that your Professional Hunter will be very happy to gear the pace of the hunt to fit your particular physical abilities – so don’t hesitate to advise if he is moving too fast, walking too far, etc. After all, it is your safari, so don’t be afraid to speak up and advise your PH of your expectations, physical abilities or physical limitations!

As stated, transportation to/from the Niassa L2 concession is via either air charter from Lilongwe, Malawi or by vehicle transfer from Linchinga, Mozambique.   Air charter costs will vary based on the number of people traveling to/from the concession and whether a single or twin-engine aircraft is required for the charter.  Average charter costs can be quoted upon request – there are STRICT luggage/weight limitations on these charter flights.

A well maintained airstrip in the concession not too far from camp allows airplanes up to the size of twin engine aircrafts access to the area.

The client will be responsible for transportation costs to/from either Lilongwe or Lichinga the concession.

Once in the hunting concession, ground transportation consisting of a four wheel drive vehicle will be provided within the hunt area.

Any flat-shooting caliber from the .270 Winchester upwards should be sufficient for most of the soft-skinned plains game species; however, we strongly recommend a .300 Winchester Magnum or equivalent if available – particularly for the larger plains game species such as eland, hartebeest, kudu, sable and zebra.

The bullet selected should be a premium bonded core soft point.  Specific recommendations can be made upon request.

We would also recommend a variable power scope with a low power setting somewhere around 3X to 4X and a high power setting somewhere around 10X.

Be advised that semi-automatic and/or military-style rifles are generally not allowed in Africa.

For dangerous game such as Cape buffalo, hippo and lion, the minimum acceptable caliber should be a .375, whether the .375 Ruger, .375 H & H Magnum or equivalent.  Again, specific recommendations for calibers and bullets can be made upon request.

For the smaller antelope such as duiker, grysbok, oribi and suni the hunter should consider bringing a scoped small-bore rifle such as the .22 Hornet, if available, in order to prevent potentially serious damage to the capes of these relatively small antelope resulting from larger diameter, high-velocity bullets.  The .22 Hornet has a slower muzzle velocity and less muzzle energy, which is ideal for these light, small-bodied animals.

Much of the shooting will be done while standing utilizing shooting sticks – as is standard practice throughout Africa.  We highly recommend that you obtain a pair of shooting sticks such as those offered by Long Grass Outfitters or African Sporting Creations and practice shooting from the standing position off of the sticks.  Shots on some plains game species often exceed 200 yards, so you need to know the ballistics of your rifle and be comfortable shooting out to 300 yards.  In other words, practice, practice, practice!

Take a small digital camera that you can carry in your shirt or vest pocket for your trophy photos and learn how to use the camera before your trip.  I would also recommend taking a slightly larger camera such as the Canon PowerShot SX-1 IS or the PowerShot SX-10 IS, both of which have a 20X optical zoom (equal to a 560 mm telephoto lens) for shots of wildlife while you are driving around the bush or sitting at the waterhole.  After four trips to Africa, I assure you that you won’t regret the investment and you will bring home outstanding photos of the African wildlife that the smaller cameras just don’t have the optical zoom to capture.

For initial hunt planning purposes, general clothing and equipment recommendations are as follows:

• Bug jackets, gloves and face netting (tsetse flies are a nuisance);
• DEET-based insect repellent;
• Comfortable walking shoes and natural fiber socks;
• Long trousers, sweater and weather resistant jacket;
• Hat and sunglasses;
• Binoculars, camera and flash attachment;
• Step-down electrical converter (220 – 110 volt);
• Anti-malarial prescription, personal medications, sun block;
• Rain coat;
• Ammunition belt; and
• Satellite phone (if needed on a frequent basis).

Lightweight cottons and linens in natural (earth tone) colors are preferred.  Please avoid dark clothes (black or navy blue) as these attract Tsetse flies.  Military-style camouflage clothing is not recommended.  A complete list of recommended clothing and equipment will be furnished upon booking.

A daily laundry service is provided for your convenience.

The safari camp is situated on the banks of the scenic Lugenda River and consists of four safari style tents, each of which is equipped with a comfortable en-suite bathroom complete with a hot shower, wash basin and flush toilet.  The outfitter provides towels and basic toiletries including shampoo, shower gel and soap.  Tents overlook the river with breath taking views from the porch and they are separated from one another with bamboo fences to ensure privacy. The tents are serviced daily which includes laundry service.

The communal deck and dining area have the most incredible views over the river and this is where most meals will be served and evenings spent around the camp fire. Except when packed lunches are arranged which are enjoyed in the bush.  The camp is NOT fenced, meaning all wildlife roams free - especially at night.  This makes for an unbelievably true experience in the African bush.

For the brave there is also a fly camping option which will consist of basic but comfortable facilities.  This allows the hunter better access to this large hunting area and increases the chances of success.  This option is also a good plan if on the track of the trophy animal you are after.

Breakfast and dinner will be served each day and will include a selection of breads, meats, fruits and vegetables based on availability and individual preferences.  Meats served during your stay will include a sampling of the local wild game and will be expertly prepared for your dining pleasure.

On most days, the hunting party will return to camp for lunch and an opportunity to rest during the middle of the day when most of the game animals are laying down in the thick jess.  In those instances where the hunting party will stay out all day, packed lunches and drinks will be provided.

Alcoholic beverages will be provided in moderation and will include a selection of wines, domestic beer and a limited supply of distilled spirits.  Those individuals wishing to imbibe a specific brand of American, Canadian or Scottish spirits would be advised to purchase a bottle in the duty free shops in transit to ensure that your preferred brand is available.  Mineral waters are also provided.

You will fly commercially to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa – from there you have two options as follows:

Option One: From Johannesburg, you can fly commercially to Lilongwe, Malawi via either South African Airways or Air Malawi.  On arrival at the Lilongwe airport, you will be met by a representative of the air charter company.  You will overnight in Lilongwe (either at a guest house or hotel) and will transported via charter aircraft to the hunting concession the following day via Lichinga, Mozambique where you will clear Mozambican customs.  The safari operator will arrange the charter services on your behalf.

Option Two: There are daily commercial flights between Johannesburg and Maputo, Mozambique with connecting flights from Maputo to Lichinga via Tete (on Mondays) or via Beira/Nampula (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) via Linhas Areaes de Mozambique (LAM).  Depending on your arrival time from Maputo, you may have to overnight in Lichinga as it is not advisable to take the eight hour drive to camp after dark.  The safari operator can arrange your flights from Johannesburg to Lichinga.

Mozambique experiences a tropical/subtropical climate with two seasons:  a wet season that generally runs from October to March and a dry season that generally runs from April to September with localized climatic conditions varying with altitude.  Mozambique's rainfall varies greatly with a tendency to be higher in the northern part of the country than in the south. These rains are known as the monsoons and are characterized by periods of heavy down pours, which often result in flash flooding.

Rainfall is typically heavy along the coast and decreases in the inland areas to the north and south of the country.  The annual precipitation varies from 20 to 35 inches depending upon the region, with a nationwide average of 23 inches.  Cyclones are common during the wet season.

Average temperatures in Maputo range from 55°F to 75ºF in July and from 72°F to 88ºF in February.  Daytime temperatures in the hunting area can range from 85°F to 100°F in September through November, with temperatures ranging from 65°F to 85°F from May through August.

A light, windproof coat is recommended for the early morning and late evening hours from May through August.

The Republic of Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa that is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, Swaziland to the south and South Africa to the southwest.  Mozambique is the 35th largest country in the world (after Pakistan) and is drained by five principal rivers with the largest being the Zambezi.  The country has three major fresh water lakes including Lake Niassa (or Malawi), Lake Chiuta and Lake Shirwa – all located in the north of the country.

Mozambique has a surface area of 309,496 mi2 (801,590 km2) with an estimated population of 22,894,000 people living within ten provinces including Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete and Zambezia.  The capital city of Maputo has also been granted provincial status and has a population estimated at 1.1 million residents.  Beira is the second most populous city in the country with an estimated population of 546,000 residents, while Nampula is the third largest city in Mozambique with an estimated population of 471,000 people.

The area was explored by Vasco de Gama in 1498 and subsequently colonized by Portugal in 1501.  Mozambique gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and became the scene of an intense and violent civil war that lasted sixteen years (from 1977 to 1992) between the anti-communist forces of RENAMO (Mozambican National Resistance) rebel militias and the Marxist FRELIMO (Front for the Liberation of Mozambique) regime.  The civil war ended in 1992 with the acceptance of the Rome General Peace Accords.  Today, Mozambique is a multi-party democracy under a constitution that was adopted in 1990.  The constitution allows for an executive branch including a president, prime minister and Council of Ministers.  There is an elected National Assembly and municipal assemblies.  The judiciary comprises a Supreme Court and provincial, district, and municipal courts.  Mozambicans are eligible to vote upon attaining the age of eighteen.

Since the civil war ended in 1992, Mozambique has endeavored to rebuild the game populations that were ravaged by sixteen years of civil war.  As a result of these efforts Mozambique has re-emerged as a primary safari destination for big game - with hunting now being conducted in two primary areas of the country including the Niassa Reserve in the north and the Zambezi River delta in the central portion of the country.  Game populations in these areas continue to increase under careful management and hunting for species such as buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, nyala and sable remains not only affordable but a major attraction for hunters seeking adventure in Africa.