June 2025

In a little way, landing in England feels like home. Having dual citizenship, a colonial upbringing in what was then Rhodesia, living in London for a year in 1994 while traveling overseas (as we called it), one can’t help feeling you are in the center of the world.

Outstanding weather to set the scene, and driving the narrow country roads, I was taken aback at the range of small wildlife roadkill. I always send pics back to my kids, because they think I am mad stopping to admire the roadside deaths as I travel the South African road, collecting ones that are worth having saving. Many have made their way back into the Afton trophy room 😊. 

I digressed.

Seeing so many pheasants, it’s worth mentioning how in England, the shooting industry is a global story of note there, where tens of millions are bred to support an age-old industry of pheasant shooting. Regarding shooting, it was for Rigby’s 250^th Anniversary that I was there in the heart of England. With an hour to go, due to some guest’s last-minute cancellation, Vanessa cracked the nod too. 

I knew it was going to be grand but had no idea how grand.

At Portsmouth harbor there was an aircraft carrier on one side, historic ships, a guard of honor to welcome everyone. A Highland Band belting out war time tunes, haunting bag pipe sounds, 250 serious high-end guests all set the scene. It was spectacular. Money cannot buy tradition and history and the Brits, when they need it, have it in spades.

What a start to the celebrations. 

Rigby’s full press release, for those who want to read the full, fact-filled story, can be found here … but let me continue with my personal account.

A tour of the historic HMS Warrior, with Rigby artists displaying their workmanship. From there, a short walk to HMS Warrior where, on the deck, celebrations began. Descending below deck for a dinner among the armament and cannons. Connecting with friends from west and eastern hemispheres. Titans of the industry like Doctari (Kevin Robertson), Craig Boddington (African hunting's #1 living ambasador, pictured to the right), and my good friend John Sharp from my home town, Bulawayo. When Marc Newton took over running Rigby, I suggested he and John meet. I felt John was the right Ambassador for Rigby in Africa back then. It was wonderful to see this roll out over the years and John managed to wear his bandana to such a grand event. Wato – one of the most interesting 80-year-olds I have had the privilege of getting to know – was miles from the Outback, and decked out in his Rigby bow tie. He and Vanessa had a wonderful pic.

There was a direct descendant of Rigby, carrying the flag.

Son of the most powerful man on the planet and major supporter of hunting, Donald Trump Jnr, was there. Personally, I think he will play an enormous role in this industry in the years to come. He has age on his side and it is so great to see him involved with Rigby. Quietly behind the scenes, the financial backer and genius to not only engineer getting the gunmaker back to Britan, but finding the right person run it there. Asking for and receiving no limelight – but what a giant of the industry he is.

The treat of seeing Spitfires overhead and a fireworks display of note rounded off the celebration while we were on the deck to bid farewell to the evening.

But… the last word must go to Marc Newton. An incredible, energetic young man. A man on a mission, out to not only save by resurrect the brand to its rightful place.

And he has done it – unquestionably. What an achievement.

He coauthored a book to commemorate this milestone – apply names The Resurrection. And so, from me to Marc, a big thank you. One fortunate AHG subscriber wins a wonderful .416 Rigby rifle each year, a partnership that I hope will continue for a long time.

And that was it, folks. What an event, what a brand and what a legacy this brand has with African hunting, which the AHG, with a mission to promote hunting in Africa, is very proud to be associated with.

We closed with the British national anthem and for that night, I was a proud Brit.

Have a wonderful rest of June.

Richard Lendrum

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Secretarybirds: Africa’s Most Iconic Birds

By Cassie Carstens

As with most large bird species across the globe, the threats that Secretarybirds face are varied and widespread. Loss, fragmentation, and habitat degradation have the most significant impact, with the open savannas and grasslands they prefer having seen dramatic changes over the past few decades, with the most prominent expansion of agricultural and residential areas.

Red Hartebeest Among White Rhinos

By Glenn Geelhout

An uneasy feeling tugged at my gut as we made our final approach on the wounded buffalo. We had pushed the old boy for hours and now, it seemed, the pushing was over. I knew he was there, just in the distance holed up in a tangle of sickle bush, but I also knew that he was tired and ornery and all those things a buffalo can become when they’ve decided to make a stand. As we crept closer, I also knew a decision point would be reached and that all hell was likely to come thundering towards us. I knew all of this, but onward we pressed, as this, you see, is the essence of hunting buffalo.

Shootability and Ergonomics: The Keys to a Good Hunting Rifle

By Terry Wieland

The ideal big-game rifle combines a number of virtues: Adequate power and accuracy are a given, but beyond that it needs to be ergonomic. The right weight, shape, and balance for the shooter to make it an extension of his body.

Always Trust Your PH

By Lucas Paugh

“Nothing captures your heart like Africa,” was the mantra of my friend and mentor Craig Boddington. And as a young hunter I had always dreamed of hunting Africa to experience what most others only talked about, and very few Americans ever experienced.

Seeing the Big Five taxidermy exhibits at various trade shows sparked a fire in me to someday make this dream a reality. My longtime friend and hunting partner Jason Quick had previously introduced me to Alex and Johnny Thomson of Eland Safaris, a private hunting concession in the Northern Limpopo Province of South Africa, and we finally inked the date for early July 2018.

Chapter Three

Matobo

As the Rhodesian war blazed into 1980, a ceasefire was brokered, and to keep us soldiers busy and out of mischief we were allocated various tasks throughout Mashonaland in support of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. These anti-poaching and patrol duties were a far cry from our recent violent assaults into guerrilla camps in Chimoio and Mapaai in Mozambique, but we enjoyed them. They were relaxing, and our support gave the Wildlife people a chance to catch up on duties long neglected in “hot” areas during the war. We were deployed at Kariba, then Mana Pools and then at the Umfurudzi National Park, enjoying the wilderness areas without having to live every second expecting mayhem of some sort.

Who are the African Dawn Outfitters?

The African Dawn Program is about promoting hunting in Africa, not just through what we publish, but with the outfitters’ cooperation in this program… and it is for your peace of mind.

International travel consumes two precious commodities – personal time and money. And when you are a hunter, things can get tricky when there are further considerations like rules, regulations, details and differences between each country and their species. It is important to have a good outfitter, and whether it is your next hunting safari, or your first one, there are many outfitters to choose from. In fact, there are over 500, so how do you find a reliable one, the one that is right for you?

To help you, we decided to promote and work with approximately 10% of this continent-wide group of outfitters. We have listed a limited number of an esteemed group of established and reputable African outfitters and they can be found in this Catalogue. To familiarize yourself with this list, we also offer monthly publications, and monthly trophy gallery posts (Trophies Fresh from the Veld). To ensure you receive these updates, sign up www.africanhuntinggazette.com.

If you are an agent looking for an outfitter to represent, you’ll be safe contacting one of these outfitters.

If you are researching for your next safari, be sure to contact any one of listed outfitters directly. It will support them and save you money by booking with them. Please tell them that it was by them being an African Dawn Member that contributed to the decision.

Our website www.africanhuntinggazette.com has a detailed overview of them all, and you know where to contact me if you need to know anything more.

For now, just enjoy the read.

Richard Lendrum - Publisher African Hunting Gazette

richard@africanhuntinggazette.com

2025 African Dawn Members