South Africa Hunting Trip

[cedar creek]

Amazing

 

[preachnhunt]

Congratulations! There’s nothing like it. Once you’ve been you WILL go again. Time for a Cape buffalo.

 

[1wildcatfan]

Just returned from my first South African hunting trip. We were gone almost 2 weeks. Some great hunting was done while there. Nothing like I thought it would be. Cool and rainy windy weather. Coldest morning was 39. Rained on us for 3 days with them getting almost 10 inches of rain plus some days had 40-50 mph winds. Hunted a few days close to main lodge then took a couple days and made a 2.5hr ride and a 3hr to other areas.
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Day1 we hunted the plains close to the lodge getting this common springbuck. 220yd shot

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Day3 we hunted about 2.5hrs away for kudu in the mountains. Kudu hunting reminds me so much of elk hunting out west. Took 2.5 days to get on this nice bull. Made a 225yd shot across a deep rocky canyon. 4 guys was 5hrs getting it out across the canyon. Great hunt for the kudu.
Kudu was the main animal I wanted to hunt on this trip.
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Day5 found us farther east. We were hunting for impala or wildebeest. Saw a few on day4 but all young impala Walked up over a rise and spotted a couple rams chasing a female. He was the nicest of the 2 rams. It was a 200yd shot. Saw a few wildebeest that day but not able to get on them. One was really close to a herd of cape buffaloes so we decided to leave them alone.

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Day6 found us about 3 hrs away from main lodge. Only gemsbuck we saw was on day2 while after kudu. Saw 4 that day and I missed one at 350yds across a canyon. The cross wind was about 40 mph or better that day. So day6 we went after a gemsbuck again in a different area. With less than an hour left of daylight we got on a herd and made a stalk over a 1000yds to get into about 400yds of them. No cover to get closer so took a 380yd shot. Connected but still on its feet so put another round in it. Another great hunt.

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Day7 found us after a certain sable. My hunting buddy had saw this monster sable several days earlier and was saying it was a dandy so we went looking. A couple miles from where he saw it we glassed it from a high spot and made plans to stalk it. Couple hours later we was within range to make a shot. An absolute beautiful animal. The trip was amazing and would like to go again. Just unreal the different species of animals they have. I was surprised at the numbers of animals together with me thinking it would be a bunch but most times just 2-3 together at a time.

Take your own rifle of use theirs? How long was your flight, how many connections? They telling you a year to see your heads again?

 

[littlebear]

Thanks for sharing. See any predators?

The areas I hunted didn’t have loins and tigers but we drove thru some areas that had them but I didn’t see any. I did see 4 rhinos and a herd of about a dozen elephants.

 

[littlebear]

Awesome pics!! It looks a lot like parts of the southwest I’ve been in. What gun/scope/caliber were you shooting? I’m assuming it’s customary to tip everyone and their grandmother who helps track and pack out.

Yes some areas reminded me of Colorado and parts of Wyoming. I was using a browning xbolt western hunter 7mm mag with a 6-24x50 Nikon monarch 3 bdc scope on it. yes everyone wanted a tip. Even had a guy in the airport restroom trying to show you a toilet for a tip. Needless to say I found where to piss without giving him a dime.

 

[preachnhunt]

Take your own rifle of use theirs? How long was your flight, how many connections? They telling you a year to see your heads again?

I went in July of 2021. The taxidermist still hasn’t gotten the trophies back,to even start. Prepare for a long wait, and everyone gets a cut along the way.

 

[Drahts]

Congrats, some nice animals!

 

[davers]

Congratulations, on your South African Hunt.

 

[timer]

Great photos and story! Thanks for sharing.

 

[littlebear]

Take your own rifle of use theirs? How long was your flight, how many connections? They telling you a year to see your heads again?

Used My rifle. They charge a fee of $250 plus ammo used for hunt if you used their rifle. I guess someone might do that but I want to use my gun that I’m familiar with not someone else’s rifle. Louisville-Atlanta was an hour or so but Atlanta-johannasberg was over 16hrs flight time then Johannesburg-port Elizabeth was like 2 hrs then a 3 hr truck ride. On the way back it was 40hrs straight thru from when we left the lodge till I pulled into my drive. I’m doing paperwork now with a taxi in Africa and a broker in Chicago to take care of customs. I’m hearing 6 months plus just for horns- hides to arrive at tannery in states. Then off to a taxi here.

 

[WildmanWilson]

Hope you have a lot of wall space for all those mounts. Those are some sweet critters.

 

[1wildcatfan]

Used My rifle. They charge a fee of $250 plus ammo used for hunt if you used their rifle. I guess someone might do that but I want to use my gun that I’m familiar with not someone else’s rifle. Louisville-Atlanta was an hour or so but Atlanta-johannasberg was over 16hrs flight time then Johannesburg-port Elizabeth was like 2 hrs then a 3 hr truck ride. On the way back it was 40hrs straight thru from when we left the lodge till I pulled into my drive. I’m doing paperwork now with a taxi in Africa and a broker in Chicago to take care of customs. I’m hearing 6 months plus just for horns- hides to arrive at tannery in states. Then off to a taxi here.

Reason for all the questions, we're headed to Namibia next year. Did you book your own flights or go through someone? Who did your gun permit and lead time for that?
I showed your pics to my boys, they both said "no warthog"?😀

 

[3PointSlayer]

Congratulations that sounds like a blast.

 

[littlebear]

Reason for all the questions, we're headed to Namibia next year. Did you book your own flights or go through someone? Who did your gun permit and lead time for that?
I showed your pics to my boys, they both said "no warthog"?😀

One of the guys on our trips friend is a travel agent so he took care of flights. Back in January We went to Louisville airport and took our rifles for inspect and filled out I think a 1047 form to take with us. Our outfitter did the permits back in February. I saw a few warthogs but didn’t hunt them.

 

[mudhole crossing]

Wow! Congrats! What in the world goes with all the meat?