When our client, AJ, told us he wanted to break in his brand-new .416 Merkel double rifle on safari, we knew exactly what kind of adventure he had in mind. He didn’t want to blow the budget, but he wanted something unforgettable—so we lined up the perfect dangerous game combination: Cape buffalo, tuskless elephant, and hippo on land. And where better than the wild shores of Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe?
Day one set the tone. While glassing elephants along the lake’s edge, we picked up movement to the side—a group of buffalo bulls. Among them stood a true giant. The stalk was on. After careful maneuvering, AJ settled behind his scoped rifle and pulled off a long, precise shot, dropping a stunning 43-inch buffalo bull. It was the perfect start to a dream hunt.
If the first day was intense, day two was pure adrenaline. Tracking through thick bush, AJ and professional hunter York Mare closed the gap on a tuskless cow elephant—old, calf-less, and the perfect candidate. The team slipped within 15 meters before the elephant suddenly spun to face them. AJ fired a frontal with his double rifle and missed the brain. The cow turned to bolt, and in a flash, AJ swung and sent the second barrel home with a devastating side brain shot. The hunt was over in seconds, and the celebration began. As always, all the meat went straight to the local community, ensuring nothing was wasted.
Day five brought another test of courage: a hippo bull on land. Getting close is never easy with these massive beasts, but AJ made his move and sent two solid shots into the shoulder.
The bull lunged back toward the water and disappeared. Hours later, the great animal floated to the surface, and recovery was made—a true testament to patience and perseverance.
For AJ, this safari was about more than trophies. It was about finally living the dream of hunting Africa’s most dangerous game with a double rifle.
From the crack of the Merkel’s barrels to the heart-stopping charges and tense stalks, it was the kind of experience that leaves a hunter changed forever.
AJ wrapped up early, heading back to Louisiana with memories—and trophies—that will last a lifetime. For those who dream of testing themselves against buffalo, elephant, and hippo, there’s no adventure quite like it. This is Africa.
