SOUTH AFRICA: Africa As I Had Hoped, With DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS

[Nyati]

Congrats on a great experience, and thanks for sharing !

Very good waterbuck

 

[Justhunt]

Great report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Bhfs300]

I think you have a great idea with the Nyala I had mine shoulder mounted but I had the back skin tanned.
Had a bench that it fit over and it looks great.
Red Hartebeest rifle case.

 

[Smitty]

Great report! Thank you for sharing and glad you had a fantastic trip

Thanks, and thank you for looking at it. More than anything, I wrote this report for me to have in the future, sort of like a diary. I am glad you enjoyed it.

 

[Smitty]

I think you have a great idea with the Nyala I had mine shoulder mounted but I had the back skin tanned.
Had a bench that it fit over and it looks great.
Red Hartebeest rifle case.
View attachment 693354

I love it! Good idea! I was thinking of mounting the skin on a wall, diagonally, but I really like the idea of using it on a bench or coffee table..... Hmmm. Nice gun case, too. Was that done in Africa, or over here?

 

[Smitty]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! Thanks for the nice report!

Thank you for reading it. It was a wonderful trip. As stated, everything I had hoped for.

 

[Smitty]

That looks like quite the waterbuck!

Thank you. It certainly looked big to me as well. The horns are long, but mostly the mass. I could only get my hand half way around the base. The body as well, was huge. I would guess in excess of 500 lbs. For a first Waterbuck, I doubt I will ever do better.

 

[Smitty]

Great write up and a great adventure.

Thank you, Hillbilly Marine. I appreciate it!

 

[Smitty]

Super report! Thank you. Loved the video of the Nyala schnitzel! So awesome to have your son with you to experience it all. Congratulations.

Thank you so much. It was awesome. That Schnitzel was really delicious! The gravy was perfect for it. My son is studying to be a doctor, and wants to return there to work someday.

 

[Smitty]

Thanks for the report and congratulations!

You are welcome, thanks for viewing it. Awesome bear on your profile picture! I have shot black bears, but nothing bigger!

 

[Smitty]

Fantastic adventure!

Yes, it was. Thank you.

 

[Smitty]

Congratulations. I think you made a good choice choosing South Africa for what you wanted vs the option you were looking at in Zimbabwe.

Thank you 375Fox. I appreciate your guidance when I was trying to find someone. And, I am still thinking about the Caprivi that you mentioned. When I do go for the bull, that might be a good option. It isn't the horns, it would be for the experience. Thank you for taking the time to help me out.

 

[Smitty]

Great report and some really good trophies. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for looking at my report. The experience was everything, but it's a added bonus when the trophies are bigger than expected!

 

[Bhfs300]

I love it! Good idea! I was thinking of mounting the skin on a wall, diagonally, but I really like the idea of using it on a bench or coffee table..... Hmmm. Nice gun case, too. Was that done in Africa, or over here?

The town do the road from me had a company that made sport bags , rifle cases etc. I took the hide to them and asked if they could make a case out of it.
They had never done that before and gave me a real good price.
I think it was harder than they thought because they didn’t do it again?

 

[Smitty]

Congrats on a great second hunt experience. You did the right thing by adjusting your expectations along the way to make decisions on what was available. You should be very proud of that waterbuck! You got some experience with being close to buff and next time, you might take one of the bulls. Kudos on a great trip and hunt report to share with us.

Thank you! Sable was a dream for me, and the Zebra hide on my first hunt was ruined due to the Covid shutdown, so I really wanted to hunt those two. Other than Sable and Zebra, I was open to what Africa offered up. It took a lot of pressure off, and allowed me to just enjoy being there.

 

[Smitty]

Congratulations. Yes, if you heard lions roar, a leopard saw, a haeyna call, and hunted all those things, then you experienced Africa as you had hoped!!! It would be hard to do all that in a lot of places.

Thank you. It was great.

 

[Smitty]

Great report, I felt like I was there! Beautiful waterbuck and sable!

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed it. It was so long, I was afraid people wouldn't like it. I just had no other way to tell the story though.

 

[Smitty]

You got the experience and hunt that you were looking for in Spades! I hunted near Melalane and spent 3 days touring Kruger with the PH. Seeing Kruger with the wife was - hands down-some of the best money I’ve spent in Africa! Congratulations.

Thank you Matt. It was a great hunt, and Kruger was very, very nice to see. I am thinking someday it would be nice to take one of the walking tours through Kruger for several days. If I get the chance!

 

[Smitty]

Congratulations on a great trip, and thank you for sharing!

Thank you for reading it! I check AH every day for new Hunt Reports. I like to hear the experience of other hunters in Africa, so it is only right to return the favor!

 

[Smitty]

Congratz on fulfilling a lifelong dream! Sounds like they took fantastic care of you and went above and beyond your expectations. That is a Tank of a waterbuck

Thank you! They did take great care of my son and me. DK Safaris is a family operation, and they are good people. And yes, the Waterbuck stunned me when I saw the size of him! Beginner's luck, but that's better than no luck!