Back From Africa - 2012 Picture Heavy

[Caveman]

On our last evening before heading out of the park to start to make our way to our safari destination, we got a pleasant surprise. Our luggage had arrived! It was at the park’s main gate. Perfect, we’ll pick it up on route to our next accommodation in Hazyview along the Panorama Route. Unfortunately, only one of two bags arrived. The good news was this was the bag with most of my hunting clothes. With one bag in tow we carried onto to Hazyview.

We drove a good piece of the Panorama Route and stopped in at the “Potholes”, “Gods Window”, “The Pinnacle” and “Mac Mac Falls”, all amazing scenic wonders.







This is where I got a souveigner that I could have done without. I got caught by a photo radar crew and got a speeding ticket. They wrote my ticket and escorted us to the local Police dept to pay “in cash” the equivalent of $59.50. The next day we headed back to Krueger International Airport to catch a flight to Johannesburg then on to Port Elizabeth to meet our PH and go onto the Safari Lodge. While in Johannesburg, we made a second baggage claim as we were still out one bag. The guys in Baggage Claim vowed to make it their mission to find our other bag. We arrived in Port Elizabeth and met our PH, Eardley, who drove us to the Safari lodge to begin the next leg of our adventure.

[Caveman]

When we arrived at the lodge there were six American hunters enjoying their last evening, before heading back to the US. They had all had a great week of hunting taking many nice animals. Two of them had taken all their game by bow, both compound and long bow. We shared a few drinks with them and listened to their tales which excited me for what was to come in the next week. Arthur and his wife Trinnete, the owners of the lodge, were also there to greet us and to see the departing hunters, before they were to leave. We then shared a great meal of Kudu lasagna, sweet potatoes and sausages. The Rudman’s welcomed us into their home as if we were family and wished the best of luck in the coming week as well as congratulated the Americans in their success. After a more few drinks and stories it was time to hit the sack in preparation for the morning.
The next morning, I had to fire a round through the 30.06 I was to rent for the week, to ensure the gun was on, and to show the PH I was able to handle the gun. I only fired the gun once, at 30 yds. All seemed good, so off to see if we could find a nice Impala or maybe a good Kudu. The first thing I noticed was how dense the vegetation was, with a mix of many different slow growing trees and shrubs, mixed with cactus. Many of the plants have thorns, which are quite nasty. The terrain is quite hilly and for the most part there are few roads other than along “low” fences to keep sheep and goats contained. In contrast to driving through the park, the game here, being hunted, were not eager to stand and present much of a shot opportunity. We drove for miles watching and glassing many Impala bounding through thickets only giving brief chances to glass looking for a nice ram. Soon we began to see Kudu cows and younger bulls. With a brisk morning breeze the Kudu were spotted on protected slopes, feeding and watching us as we came closer. They blend in quite well in the thicket to an untrained eye. It was amazing to see how the tracker and PH could pick them out from long distances. Often this was as good as it got. This was a picture taken in the park, but you get the idea



Again, few gave you a really good look, but the PH was quick to say that these are younger bulls. We had one good bull stand at the ridge with a cow just in front of him. His long curled horns, ears and head was all we could see. He stood there at about 275 yds giving a chance to assess his headgear, but never to give a chance for a shot as he sleeked into the thicket as he crested the ridge following the cow. We hunted the morning seeing numerous Warthogs, Duikers and a good number of Kudu and Impala. Back at the lodge for lunch, we discussed a plan for the afternoon. Based on the direction of the wind we would try another area and see what it would bring.
We headed out at about 3:00pm to another location. Going in there were impala everywhere, but they were bounding into the thicket, never giving a chance to really get a look at them let alone a shot. We came onto a large opening with a herd of Black Wildebeest, a large number of Impala and Blesbok, and a few Zebra. As I was not pursuing a Wildebeest at this point, we were looking for a nice Impala ram. The only issue being that there were so many eyes on the lookout that when one animal would run, they all would take off, Impala and Blesbok together. After a numerous stalks we elected to try another spot and walk in to where we could sit and wait as the sun set.

[Caveman]

We headed out at about 3:00pm to another location. Going in there were impala everywhere, but they were bounding into the thicket, never giving a chance to really get a look at them let alone a shot. We came onto a large opening with a herd of Black Wildebeest, a large number of Impala and Blesbok, and a few Zebra. As I was not pursuing a Wildebeest at this point, we were looking for a nice Impala ram. The only issue being that there were so many eyes on the lookout that when one animal would run, they all would take off, Impala and Blesbok together. After a numerous stalks we elected to try another spot and walk in to where we could sit and wait as the sun set. We walked into a cutline with a couple lookout stands at either end of the cut about 600 yds apart. The PH climbed the rickety old stand as I highly doubt it would support two people, to get a better view of the narrow cut line. After a half hour, or so, a Bushbuck stepped out at the far end to feed. These are generally solitaire and not seen as often as other breeds, but it was on my list of animals to try to get. The PH climbed down and we decided to try and get closer. As we started to close ground on the Bushbuck, several Kudu cows and a young bull stepped out about where the Bushbuck was. We stuck to the edge of the cut line and continued along closing the distance. The Bushbuck had gone into the thicket and was nowhere to be seen. When we got to about 170 yds of where the Bushbuck was he stepped back out into the cutline, so the PH set up the sticks and I readied myself for the shot. The setup was perfect. We had the sun to our back and a clear line to the Bushbuck. The Kudu were still feeding here as well, so I had to wait for the Bushbuck to walk clear and present a shot. As he walked across the cut, the PH whistled at him in attempt to stop him to give me the shot. He lifted his head and stopped to look in our direction and I squeezed the trigger. The 150gr bullet dropped him in his tracks. My first Africa trophy was on the ground. Not the biggest animal in the world, for sure, but not one that everyone gets the chance to take.



The Bushbuck has a reputation of being nasty if wounded and cornered. The PH mentioned that they have lost dogs to them as they will put their heads down and charge the dogs or hunter if they are able. Their horns are very solid and very sharp and would pierce the thigh of a hunter with ease.

[Caveman]

After a few pictures are taken we load him up and carry on. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking for a Kudu. As the sun was about to set we start to walk along the edge on an open area next to the thicket. On the open hillside are about forty Impala and a herd of Blesbok running around. In the evenings the Impala rams like to spar and chase each other around. They make the strangest sound. They actually growl and bark as they spar. We edge along the dense growth as a few Kudu cows feed out to us. One young bull is with them and we stalk into about 100yds of them hoping a larger bull would soon join them. We stuck with them well after dark to no avail. Time to take the Bushbuck to the skinning shack.

Back at the lodge it’s time for a couple drinks, relive the hunt of the day and snack on some fresh biltong at the bar and watch some rugby or cricket. After another great meal with the PH and the owners of the lodge we again retire to the bar to wind down for the evening.

Day two of the hunt we are determined to get a nice Impala ram, so off we go with the tracker in the back of the Landcruiser and an assistant PH in tow. We come into a nice area and I point out a couple rams in the distance. At first glance the PH didn’t pay them much attention, but as we got closer, a second look made the PH take a much better look. After glassing the two he said the one in a very good ram. We got out of the truck and started on foot to stalk the two rams hoping to close some ground on them. We spent a half hour trying to get a chance for a shot, only to have them run off, making us continue to pursue them. After several stalks and the PH setting up the sticks for me they finally stood long enough for a shot. At this point I wished I had spent more time with the shooting sticks, as this was my third shot with this gun on these sticks and the Impala is at 260yds. I lay the cross hairs on the Impala, take a slow breath and squeeze, as I exhaled. The Impala is hit, but runs off with his partner as if nothing was wrong, but we heard the impact. We watched them bound off into the thick stuff outwards of 600 yds. At this point the PH says we’ll need the dogs, so we’ll let the tracker find some sign of the wounded Impala and we will return with the dogs allowing him to bed down and stiffen up. When we returned with the dogs we put one on a lead and the other loose with the tracker and assistant PH, while we went around to the other side of a draw where we felt the Impala would run when jumped. It wasn’t long after we got setup before we heard the dog barking as he had picked up the trail. All of a sudden we spotted the ram running across in front of us with the dog not far behind. In short order the dog has the Impala bayed in the thicket. We can see the head and neck but are about 250yds out. Two misses, then a third shot, and the ram falls. From where we are at, we can clearly hear the ram is still alive and growling at the dog as he darts in to nip at his ears. The tracker meanwhile is running over to where the Impala and dog are at, to finish the ram off with a quick jab with his “Oldtimer” lock blade knife. We walked up to where the Impala lay to have our first close look at my ram. We then carried him out into the open for a photo opportunity before loading him in the truck. The morning had ended just early enough to run him over to the skinning shack and back to the lodge for brunch.

[Caveman]

The afternoon brought some winds and the sightings of kudu were much fewer, with no bulls of note. Again we were out right until dark looking for that one bull.

[Caveman]

The next morning back at it, but again, no mature kudu. Many were spotted, but none that quite met the Ph’s criteria. He mentioned that the weather for the afternoon was to be good for Kudu. It has been his finding that over 50% of kudu he has hunted were all taken in the late afternoon.

One thing to mention that I found odd was that the PH’s like to use oranges to bait Kudu. I never hunted over any but the evening before we glassed across a valley to a location that looked to be a truckload of oranges on a cutline. A lone Kudu stood there and had to pickup and eat at least a dozen or more oranges. The condition of the vegetation right now was so good that the oranges were not overly effective, as there was plenty of feed. I asked if they were able to use any calls to attract Kudu. The PH said they don’t really vocalize. The only sound I heard is a bark they let out to warn of danger. If you hear that it’s too late as they are moving for cover. They generally come and go in silence.

The afternoon proved to be exactly as the PH promised. We glassed numerous bulls and made a couple stalks in the early afternoon. Several close calls but they were not to be. With about a hour before dark we glassed a couple nice bulls feeding towards an opening out of the thicket out about 1000yds. We decided one was well worth pursuing so we left the truck to stalk closer. We hastily made our way towards the bulls glassing to keep track of their movements. About half way there we are interrupted by another bull. Another mature bull but maybe not quite in the class of the one we were after. We carried on our quest to the three bulls feeding into the opening along a ridge above a river basin. As we approached, we set up several times looking for the shot and ensuring we were on the bull we selected. Finally at about 280yds the bull steps out in front of us, strongly quartering away from us. We decide it is time for the shot. Not the best angle and not a shot I would normally take, but time was running out. I lined up over the sticks and took the shot, just in front of the hind leg hopefully entering the ribs into the vitals area. We could hit the impact of the bullet very clearly. The bull ran off. We could hear the three bulls crashing through the underbrush as they crested the ridge to the river basin. As we searched for tracks on the downhill slope we felt the bull ran, the tracker radio’d us to say he could see a bull walking along the ridge. He said it was quivering every so often. Thinking this must be my bull we crested the ridge walking in the direction of this bull. After a few minutes we find it bedded between two trees. I stalked up within about 25ft and as the bull struggled to get to his feet, I squeezed on him, putting another round in his shoulder. The Kudu bull hunched up a bit, took a few steps and dropped. My kudu was down just minutes before dark. We set him up for pictures with the African sunset in the background across the valley.



Awesome!

[mark]

Wow buddy, what an awesome adventure!

[Blainer]

Brings back fond memories from a few months ago.
Look forward to more of the tale.

[Gavin Johnson]

Wow man, that is awesome! Out of curiosity what did the trip cost roughly?

[pronghorn]

looks like a trip of a lifetime congrats