We have a bit more information on that mega-safari to Botswana that we mentioned briefly last month. The safari, you'll remember, was conducted by Rann Safaris for 10 clients in all, including Hunting Report subscriber Steve Chancellor, whose Hunt Report formed the basis of our story. Seems one client did indeed take a 90-plus elephant (91 x 85 pounds, to be exact) and eight other clients did take elephants in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Turns out one of those clients was Gulf War hero, General Norman Schwartzkopf, who went on to add a lion, leopard and buffalo to his bag. As for the other 90-plus pound elephant we mentioned last month, we now know it was not taken by anyone in this party, but by a Russian client, who also was hunting with Rann Safaris. The big jumbo weighed 94 x 85 pounds. At press time, Steve Rann, brother of company owner, Jeff Rann, said 20 clients had already been afield this year, and most of them had taken elephants. The average weight, Steve Rann said, was an impressive 67 pounds a side. He said the company had an opening for elephant, incidentally. The 14-day safari is valued at $43,000.... As for other operators, Steve Rann said he was not fully aware of what they were doing, but word was circulating of an 82-pound elephant taken by Johan Calitz Hunting Safaris. It's sounding like 1999 is the year Botswana really shines! Stay tuned for more details next month.
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