MOZAMBIQUE: Very Successful Safari With KWALATA SAFARIS 2024

[Safari1]

Awesome...did you see many elephants?

 

[Frederik]

Great stuff super Suni and great Red Duiker.

 

[BRICKBURN]

With a 0400 wake-up call (For those that don't know my better half ISN'T a morning person) 0430 breakfast and 0500 in the cruiser and headed along the road north looking for 1-3 bull tracks. Once we found a suitable set of tracks, everyone loads up and we get on track and start off after the buffalo. we would follow tracks till the wind shifted or we caught up with the animals and evaluated them for a shooter. Along the way we would keep a eye out for the animals on my list. Since @BRICKBURN requested "Get a monster Suni to make me envious!" I will start with that hunt. The morning after my wife harvested her buffalo, (She slept in) Headed out with Jaco and team and were looking for Suni. We started in the riverine areas slowly stalking along the elephant trails. This is one of my favorite ways to hunt the small antelope that inhabit this area. WE had been moving slowly and quietly for a couple hours when the tracker gave us the hand signal to stop. Jaco evaluated a Suni that was slowly feeding our way, (which was nice as all we had seen before were going mach 1 trough the bush). he asked me if I was comfortable take a free hand shot shoot trying to get the sticks set up was going to spook the little guy. Since I practice bench, sticks and free hand all the time I gave him a north south shake of my head. So each time the Suni had his head behind some brush I moved into a patented One foot 10 inched higher than the other, 3/4 squat shot above a branch and below another waiting for Mr Suini to walk into the opening. One 400gr northfork solid a couple inches behind the shoulder and we have a Suni DRT. Hand shakes and congratulations we head the couple miles back towards the truck looking for a suitable place to take photo's. after my wife's buffalo stalks this hunt was my favorite of the trip for my list animals.

View attachment 634086View attachment 634087

Holy hell, that worked. Look the thickness and that growth at the bases.
Congratulations.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Well lets talk about Sharpes Grysbok

Well we saw a fair number of these little guys, most were doing about Mach 3 with their tails on fire, couldn't even attempt a running shot due to under growth. However on day 6 came across a very nice ram while on buffalo track. We got into position, on sticks and Jaco said he is about 70 yards away 1/4 away beside the big rock. I relaxed and made a perfect shot. However I needed to be about a foot and a half father right as I saw the head and neck and mistook a smaller rock for his body. So the bad news was I shot a rock! The good news is it was a clean miss and he was headed to Tanzania very quickly and I shot the rock exactly where I was aiming. The better news is that the goddess of the hunt directed my bullet into the center of the rock and we were back on buffalo tracks. Which untimely lead to my wife making a perfect shot on her buffalo about a hour later.

OUCH!

 

[AZDAVE]

I had planned on at least one more animal than what was on my list, would see what Africa provided. I shot two animals that Africa gave me and didn't get two that were on my list. I wasn't able to connect on the Sharps Grysbok and Hyena.

We had been out all morning on track for buffalo and made it back to the truck, Jaco and the Tracker wanted to check out a remote spring that was close then go find a shady place to have lunch. parked about a 1/2 mile away and slowly approached the spring, there were baboons, a couple kudu cows and some impala at the upper spring they moved off as we approached. This spring hand a couple of small pools it fed going down a small ravine. Checking for buffalo tracks (There were a couple but were a couple days old) we made a small turn to the left and Jaco stops and asks if I have any interest in a Bohms Zebra. (The two animal I was interested in not on my list was Eland and Zebra). I gave him an affirmative answer and the sticks went up and I put a 400gr Aframe into a high shoulder shot that dropped the old stallion DRT. (Shot was 92 yards) We sat him up for some pictures and the tracker and Jaco went back for the truck. about a 20 minute road building session and the stallion was loaded into the truck. So we headed back to camp to get him in the skinning shed since it was 95 degrees. On a short historical side note my first safari in 2013 I took a Burchell Zebra at 92 meters with a 450 NE double.

 

[AZDAVE]

The second animal I took not on my list was the great grandpa of bushpigs. We had been out tracking a herd of Niassa wildebeest that just never stopped! We were driving around looking for some shade to have a nice relaxing lunch and see if we could fins a grysbok that would stand still for at least 2 seconds after lunch. As we were looking the tracker spotted a bushpig laying in the shade with a sow. How he saw that I have no idea. We drove past and made a plan to get the wind in our favor and moved out. He was resting with his nose in the wind, we were able to get within 65 yards and he was quartering away. Put a northfork solid through the boiler room and he never moved. As we walked up to him it became obvious that he was ancient The hair on his head and down his spine was gray white, his teeth were at the gum line. What a hammer of a pig.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Great picture of great grandpa and the Krieghoff

 

[Fatback]

Congrats on a fine safari and some wonderful trophies to remember it by. Appreciate you taking the time to share with all of us here.

 

[Nyati]

Ah ! I´m jealous of that bushpig

 

[AZDAVE]

Observations, lessons learned, and final thoughts.

The lodging in camp was much better than I expected, Having a concrete floor, nice bed, shower, electrical power and toilet is a first for us in a tent camp. The camp area was very well maintained. All our meals were very well prepared and good. The cook made bread each day, and most nights was game meat and vegetables that area grown in a small garden. Had home made ice cream on several occasions. I tip my hat to the cook. Laundry was done every day, and we found it folded when we returned after the days hunt. All in all a very well ran professional camp.

The work horse of transportation was the cruisers, they were all in good shape and very well maintained.

Jaco, AJ, and Dannie all worked their butts off to give us a great hunt experience. They fixed any problems quickly, and anticipated the needs of our group. They made our hunt experience a A+ event.

Lessons learned:
1. This was the first time we had hunted in a tsetse fly area. I only got bit a couple times kinda like a horsefly on steroids. My wife and I used a combination of Avon skin so soft wipes and Zevo scentless bug spray. It didn't keep them completely at bay but when they flew close they seemed to visit the PH and tracker more than us. So make sure you have a PH and Tracker that they like more than you

2. Before we left I checked on the normal temps for the pemba area. My mistake as the are in the bush was about 10 degrees hotter. Based on the first time in a tsetse area we took long pants and shirts. We live in Arizona and are used to the heat, however we aren't out waling in long pants and shirts in 95 degree weather all day. So next time we will be in shorts and short sleeve shirts. The areas we hike and walk are much like Africa in the everything bites, scratched, stings or pokes you. So we have developed the ability to walk through areas like that with minimal problems.

3. Hydration: the water carrier will have a large amount of water, make sure you are drinking enough!!!
Jaco had some hydration/electrolyte packets that we used and that helps immensity. Next time I will bring enough to use every day and some to leave behind.

4. Physical preparation: We knew that this would be a very walking heavy tracking safari. So our preparation had us walking 5-6 miles 5 times a week for the last 6 months before our safari. This helped tremendously. However we were walking on mostly paved even surfaces. What I will change before our next tracking style hunt is to walk on trails 3-5 miles in the morning. and 3 miles in the heat of the day during the afternoon on paved surfaces. I can't stress enough getting ready for 5-9 miles of tracking on buffalo on uneven ground will make your safari experience much more of a adventure you enjoy vs a slog fest that just leaves you wiped out at the end of each day.

5.Equipment prep: Bring a set of good binos. Have two pair of boots that are well broke in and several pairs of socks to allow a change at mid day is you have blister problems. I used a set of wildebeest boots that I picked up years ago in South Africa that have a soft rubber sole and are much quieter than vibram soled boot we find here in the states. My wife has always had problems with finding boots that won't give her blisters. She has found two pairs of Keen boots that work. So she has spent time out on our hikes learnig to walk what I call "lite footed" and quite.

You will be out in the sun all day, so sunblock for the tops of your ears (Or a hat that provides shade) Face, Hands and Arms is a must if you don't want to get fried.

If you are a person that likes a snack (Granola bar, nuts, powerbar etc) make sure you bring enough for one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Skip choclate as it will melt.

6. Range and dry fire practice: Once you decide on which rifle you are brining to the dance. If you don't reload secure enough ammo for the hunt and at least 6 months worth of practice from the same lot number so you have consistency. Get the rifle sighted in and get off the bench. Start all the practice off sticks. also you might have to shoot from the on your butt leopard stalk so practice a bit from the sitting position. Last your first shot will most likely be off sticks and subsquent shot will be free hand.
If you have a 22LR that is similar to your hunting rifle I encourage you to use IT alot. shoot the 22 to get your form and cheap practice down and then replicate it with several shots from your 9.3/ 375 to 577. I sat up a full size buff target for my wife and I to do dry fire on sticks, to sitting, to off hand. Using snap caps to get the practice of reloading on the move and working the bolt for her and quick loading on my double for me. Practice your manual of arms till you can do it with your eyes closed

7. Show up with a good attitude and just make sure you enjoy every second. Take the time to enjoy all tye sights, sounds, and smells of your adventure. take more pictures than you think you need, take the time each day to write your thoughts and experiences in a small journal. You will thank yourself weeks to years later. Don't get down when the animals seem to make everything easier for harder than your last safari. Those safaris where Africa makes you earn every trophy with sweat, determination and bit of blood are the ones that are the most special.

8. Listen to your PH and tracker they bust their butts to give you the best hunt possible.

9. I am sure I have forgotten a few things so I will ask my much better half to add them to a hunt report once she gets her writeup for Rigby done.

Final thoughts: First and formost Thank you to Jaco and the Kwalata team they made everything from our first handshake at DSC to Handshake getting on the charter after our safari very smooth and seemless. We had the safari we both wanted. The care and work they put into My wife getting her dream hunt for a Cape Buffalo, I can't thank them enough!!!! She is already talking about going back for the kritters we didn't harvest and another buffalo for us both and what ever Africa gives us.

I give a %100 reccomendation for Kwalata safaris. Thank you Jaco!!!

 

[AZDAVE]

@Safari1 Yes we saw elephants on about half the days of our safari.

 

[AZDAVE]

A few final pictures and Congratulations to my wonderful wife on her first buffalo.
@KWALATA SAFARIS

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Did you get to see any of the wild dogs in the area?

 

[AZDAVE]

Phil No we didn't get to see any wild dogs, to say that Jaco took some ribbing from my better half is an understatement

 

[WAB]

Outstanding sir!

 

[Chukardogs]

It seems that you guys had a wonderful experience and hunt. My wife and I agree with you in that the Kwalata team go the extra mile. That place is surely something special.

 

[Bivy]

No luck on the white stripe @AZDAVE?

 

[375Fox]

Phil No we didn't get to see any wild dogs, to say that Jaco took some ribbing from my better half is an understatement

Did you want to see wild dogs? As much as I like seeing them, they are honestly the worst thing you can see for PG in a hunting area (after poachers).

 

[BigHill]

Outstanding! I fully agree on the Kwalata team.

 

[AZDAVE]

@375Fox yes we wanted to see them, saw scat and tracks but no dogs. My wife has wanted to see them since our first safari. I have seen them in Kruger but she wasn't on that trip. (Yea I heard a bit about that one) I am thinking that there presence in the area we were looking for niassa Wildebeest is why they never stopped moving.