New Guy going to hunt Africa for the first time

[rockhound]

Going to hunt Africa in April of 2015 for the first time. A buddy of mine found this website and told me about it. I wish I would have found it sooner as there is a lot of helpful tips and seem to be some very help people on here.
I'm a member of some other forums and there seems lately that people are quick to jump on someone for not knowing things or stating their opinion. This site seem from what I have read so far is not that way.

Western Canadian guy that is looking to hunt some other places in the world other than Alberta. Not that there is any thing wrong with hunting in Alberta.

Look forward to spending a lot of time on this site and look forward to sharing my experiences once I get back.

rockhound
Some day I will shoot a bigger deer than my son!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Make sure you take notes and lots of pictures on your upcoming hunt and share the hunt report with us.

Congrats on your foray into Africa. Where are you going and what are you going after?

One more Canadian in the works won't hurt anything.

Welcome to AH.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Welcome to AH rockhound! Looking forward to having you here… Where are you heading to and what is your top species that you are after?

 

[rockhound]

Going to South Africa after plains game for 10 days, as well going to do some fishing.
Kudu, Black wildebeest, impala, gemsbok, are top of the list. After that I'm looking for 1 - 3 more if we find some good representation of the species such as bushbuck or Nyala. Don't want to take them all in one trip I need a reason with the wife to go back.

 

[rockhound]

thanks for the welcome guys look forward to sharing the trip and learning a lot for this site.

 

[billc]

Your lined up for a nice trip with that list. What outfitter are you hunting with?

Good luck with the hunt and you will want to go back even if you get all the animals.

 

[robertq]

Welcome......

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Welcome to AH rockhound, looking forward to your hunt report!

 

[rockhound]

Wild Horizon and Guy Swart is the PH.

Really looking forward to this.
RH

 

[gizmo]

Congrats and welcome. Looks like you have one heckava trip coming up. Take lots of pics and make sure to post a report when you get back.

 

[CAustin]

Welcome to AH and hope you have a great hunt.

 

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Welcome!

 

[spike.t]

welcome aboard, and have a great time

 

[ActionBob]

Welcome Rockhound! Great to have you aboard. We are the same age and my wife and I first made it to Africa a year ago April and are returning for the 3rd this April. I am so hooked!

Looks like a great hunt you have planned. I popped onto the web site for your outfitter and looks to me like some great pricing.... A friendly piece of advice, if that price list is current, think about skipping the Nyala (unless of course you see one too good to pass up), that looks like a heck of a good price on bontebuck! And real good on bushbuck. I would suggest you think about taking a bontebuck unless you are sure you can get one later at that price... Problem with them is you need to do a really great mount and that could run the bill up... Of course you have some time on that part. And don't dismiss a mountain reedbuck if you see a good one.

In any case, you have the right idea to save some funds for what comes during the hunt. Some advice I got before I went the first time was; If the trackers and PH get really excited about an animal, like "wow I've never seen one that big" or "we have been trying to get that one for a couple years".... Aim small and carefully squeeze the trigger, even if you took one of that species that morning.

Your going to have a blast and will definitely want to return! I look forward to you report and pictures!

 

[bassasdaindia]

welcome to AH.

 

[rockhound]

Thanks for the tips Action Bob, just might leave the nyala for the next time. The list for next time already is getting longer would like a hartebeest some time as well. So that mean a blue wildebeest, a nyala, a hartebeest, ........... There is three already and I have not got a water buck or any spring buck on the list yet. Six to seven more for the next time is a start.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Welcome to AH. Good luck.
Witold

 

[huntermn15]

Welcome rockhound. Looking forward to reading your report and seeing photos upon your return. Have a great trip and safe travels.

 

[Code4]

As a fellow member of the Commonwealth Op, I can say you have come to a good place. Like anywhere, leave your prejudices behind, relax and enjoy Africa. Hunting is hunting.

 

[Upton O. Good]

Welcome to the forum, there is a huge wealth of knowledge and experience in the members here.

One of the first items I purchased upon arrival on my first trip was the book Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman. You are going to see a lot of really beautiful and unusual birds and, if you are interested in birding, a bird guide is really handy.

Then there all of the different forms of vegetation. You will probably learn which trees and shrubs to avoid pretty quickly, be sure to wear your wounds with pride until they heal. I'm hoping your PH can give you the weird specifics of some of the plants/trees, they're really interesting, too.

And the mongooses, including meerkats, are fun to watch. They seem to pop up at the weirdest times like when you are kneeling very quietly with your PH, waiting for a big gemsbok bull to clear some brush 50 yards away.

The first trip for me was almost overwhelming. There was more than a nine hour time difference to adjust to, the number and variety of all of those native "exotics" was incredible. Sitting on a kopje and viewing six different different species at one time is a pretty neat experience. And seeing that first Cape buffalo bull or almost walking into a white rhino and her calf, those are the things that stick in one's mind.

If your trip is half of what my first one was, you are going to have an incredible time. Be sure to post your hunting reports with lots of photos. Good luck and travel well.