SOUTH AFRICA: First Trip To Africa - HuntersHill Safaris

[Bamaalum95]

This was a HS Graduation trip for my son (a good excuse to fulfill my bucket list as well). We left ATL on the delta flight to Johannesburg on June 15. I had read that most of the flight would be hunters and that was accurate! We spoke with several other hunters while waiting to board. The flight was not too bad even though I didn’t really sleep much.

Upon arrival, we collected checked bags and the met the guys from Africa Sky to facilitate the rifle check. The VIP service was well worth it as we breezed in to the front of the line and did a quick check and then out the door. A good dinner and a comfortable bed awaited at Africa Sky.

Day 2 stated with an outstanding breakfast before heading to the airport for the flight to East London. After the short 1.5 hour flight, we collected bags and completed another rifle/ammo check. A comfortable ride in the van for about 3 hours delivered us to HuntersHill.

 

[wesheltonj]

Awaiting the rest of the report.

 

[Bamaalum95]

We had gotten in right before dark the day before, so we started off at the range after breakfast,
Our set up for this trip is as follows:

Ruger American gen 2 in .308
Vortex Viper 2.5 -10 x 44
Hornady outfitter 168 grain with CX bullet
Banish 30 suppressor

After verifying that zero was still good, we headed out looking for black wildebeest, springbok, or impala. As Alabama based whitetail hunters, we were absolutely in awe at all the game we would see. Animals just everywhere! Eventually we zeroed in on black wildebeest. After a few failed stalks, we had 5 rams split off from the herd, including the one that Brett (our PH) identified as an old one. Thye would allow us to get only so close before taking off again. Finally, they settled and Brett said we need to take him from here. I got on the sticks and he ranged him at 308 yards. I had never shot an animal beyond 200 before! I trusted the equipment and squeezed a decent shot that hit the old guy a little low. We had to follow a little while further until he settled again and I finished him with a 275 yard shot. Unbelievable first hunt!

We loaded him up and went back to the camp for lunch. The wind had really picked up mid morning and was howling that afternoon. Since we had one animal in the salt that day, we decided to go check out the captive lions they have on the property. The best pics we got were taken from my son’s drone footage.

Outstanding first day of hunting.

 

[TKessel]

You’re in good hands with Brett and Simon!

 

[Bamaalum95]

You’re in good hands with Brett and Simon!

Yes sir!

 

[mark-hunter]

@Bamaalum95
Great start, looking forward to the rest.

However, please note that you do not need to start a new thread every day. Just continue here.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 4 started with a tasty breakfast from Max. Pictured with my son, Carson below.
We then started out looking for springbok and Blue Wildebeest. We spotted a good springbok ram, but after about an hour of tracking, he gave us the slip. We then proceeded to a high rocky outcropping with great views in all directions. It was unreal. I could see Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, impala, black wildebeest and baboons all over. After glassing for about an hour, Brett spotted a a good Blue in with a few Kudu about 640 yards away. He wanted to see if the kudu would move off to give us a chance to make a move on him, but after watching him for 45 minutes or so, we decided to go around in the truck to see if we could come at him from behind and above. After walking in to a cliff, Brett spotted our target below. Carson was up for this one and got on the sticks and shot him at a fairly steep downward angle from about 180 yards. He initially went down, but then got up and lumbered off to the left. Brett grabbed the sticks and hustled over to stay parallel to him and Carson took a running shot at his direction that caught the guts. He then turned and ran straight away and stopped at about 250 yards. Carson stayed on the sticks and in the scope for almost 30 minutes waiting for him to either go down or turn as he was facing directly away. He finally turned and the kill shot was delivered right on the shoulder. Amazing hunt! I was proud of how Carson stayed with it and connected on the running shot and then finally finished him off.
After lunch, we went looking for springbok again, but just could not find a mature ram that we could get on.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 5 started with yet another hearty breakfast by Max. This was to be our last day at the main Hunters Hill camp before moving down to the Rocklands camp. Again we were looking for a springbok, but the mature rams we saw proved to be too elusive. Once again, the amount of game was incredible. After lunch we packed up and made the drive down to Rocklands.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 6 was our first full day at Rocklands. After another hearty breakfast, we headed out and soon got on a herd of impala. The terrain is more dense with less savanna like openings compared to the main camp. Brett identified an old ram and we stalked for at least 3 miles, bumping them a couple of times through some brush. We finally got eyes on him again and Brett pointed left to a small rise and once set up there, I had a good look from 120 yards. He turned broadside and he was dropped where he stood. After dropping him at the skinning shed, we had lunch and then went back out in search of warthog. The trackers spotted a good one, but an hour stalk was fruitless so we headed back to the truck. We then spotted another herd of impala and this time, Carson would be up. Brett identified another old ram and Carson’s first shot from 200 yards was a little low, but the follow up from 180 after a short stalk was on the money.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 7 started once again with breakfast at 7 am. Since the Rocklands camp only has a few springbok and they are trying to grow the herd, I had discussed swapping out for blesbok and I was agreeable to that. So, we headed out looking

for blesbok while also keeping an eye for a good warthog. We only had one opportunity that morning, but I could not comfortable with the cab of the truck as a rest. When I sat on the seat, I was too high, when I kneeled, I was too low…. Brett loaned me his bipod after that and that would have worked very well, but we never had a shot from the truck again. After lunch, we got on a herd and Brett picked out a mature ram. I hit him a little low from 240 yards and then we hustled after him til we got to 180. He was standing facing away and slightly quartering left. I was on the sticks and Brett said “I’m afraid we will lose him if he takes off again, if you feel good, take it.” I felt solid and put it right on his left hip and he dropped dead right there. After dropping him off, we looked specifically for a warthog and had a good stalk on one, but he gave us the slip. We also saw a jackal, but was unable to get on him quickly enough for a shot. Dinner was my favorite of the week. Impala fillets and sausages on the grill.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 8 was our last day of hunting. WOW, that flew by! The focus today was warthog. There had been a big one spotted close to camp so we started off just up the hill glassing for him. We never did see him and headed out to a couple of spots to glass for a good boar. One was spotted at the second spot and we set off on a stalk. We went down through a creek bed and up by pond (or a dam, as they call them). Brett expertly guided us in and soon he told everyone else to stay put while he and Carson moved in closer. He got on the sticks and made a great shot at may 40 yards. With the wind in our face, they never knew we were there. We spent the rest of the day looking for cull pigs and after one failed stalk, I was able to connect on one. The warthog hunts were probably my favorite because we stalked in quietly in some dense brush.

 

[Bamaalum95]

Day 9 was our last day in South Africa. After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Brett, the trackers Dumi and Bantu, Alex, the cameraman, and Mama Lucy. A 2 hour drive to the airport, then a 1.5 hour flight to Johannesburg, followed by a 7 hour layover, and finally, the 15.5 hour flight back to Atlanta. A few observations from my first trip:
- there truly is no way to accurately convey the experience. You just have to go do it.
- I will go back. Looking at 2027 now. I definitely want a Kudu. I will consider waterbuck, red hartebeest, zebra, gemsbok, and lechwe as well.
- I thought I practiced shooting off sticks enough, but I did not. Needed to be quicker and more confident.
- Huntershill runs a good operation and I cannot say enough good things about Brett Stone, our PH. He was knowledgeable, patient, and just a great guy to hang out with for a few days.

 

[Scott CWO]

Congrats on your hunt and glad you took your son. He won’t soon forget it I bet! I’m taking my son in 2027 and I’m very excited to be an observer on his hunt.