SOUTH AFRICA: Bos en Dal SAFARIS April 12-24, 2023

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Thanks for that heads up! My little guy has allergies and I had not put as much thought into this as I should have. Good food for thought!

I never had either, I have normal allergies during the spring at home. Never had anything this serious. I will be prepared for next trip. We just don't think about things like that happening until they do.

 

[PARA45]

@Mark Biggerstaff, did you have medical insurance for your trip, or you paid out of pocket for the medical service. I'm thinking that this is something we (me) should think about for future trips. Thanks, and glad everything worked out.

 

[buck wild]

Nice trip right up until the ER visit . Glad you made it back home.

 

[Inline6]

I never had either, I have normal allergies during the spring at home. Never had anything this serious. I will be prepared for next trip. We just don't think about things like that happening until they do.

Exactly! We take it for granted in the US that we are close to first class medical facilities. I don't always see all the possibilities, it is hard to think of everything possible scenario.

Have had to take little man to the ER once when we were at the lease, did not handle mesquite smoke well. It has been years since that happened. So that was not in the forefront of my mind.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

4/24
Last full day
Taking it easy today as both myself and Robbie are done on our animal lists for this trip. We had late breakfast and headed to Taxidermist to discuss details on what needed doing as for shipment and such.
While headed there Gerrit got call that Kudu Robbie had shot earlier had been located. He had started to smell and farm hands had found him. We headed there after taxidermist.
Got these pics of it. It was pretty ripe

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

@Mark Biggerstaff, did you have medical insurance for your trip, or you paid out of pocket for the medical service. I'm thinking that this is something we (me) should think about for future trips. Thanks, and glad everything worked out.

I have Global Rescue and Travel Insurance incase of major problems. Didn't even think about using it when Gerrit told me the bulls. Medical treatment was not expensive like here in states.
Hospital total bill was $87 US
Ambulance bill he had not received yet when I departed but was told less than $100 most likely

 

[PARA45]

Good to know, and thanks for sharing the info!

 

[PARA45]

Glad they found the kudu, BTW that is a very nice bull.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

We left for town to pick up more shotgun shells and do one last bird shoot.
We arrived at same field and spot as the other day. Birds flying everywhere. We each took 1 case 250 rounds with us. Back to same spots we shot from the other day.
Gerrit with me and Rikus with Robbie. PHs were doing the bird fetching as we didn't bring any trackers or farm guys with us since we were running around a lot today.
Birds were flying better than previous day. Hard to get any better. As we started shooting there appears one of the locals asking if he could help retrieve birds in exchange for keeping some for his family.
As we shot here comes number 2 guy then 3 then 4, in less than 15 min we had 6-7 guys there fetching birds and picking up hulls in exchange for the birds.
Robbie and me finished 250 rounds each in 55 minutes shooting. Hit ratio was not great, let's leave it at that.
The guys picking up birds where laughing and cutting up at our shooting. They were very appreciative of the game birds.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

That night back at camp Robbie and me showed the PHs how to fix Jalapeño Dove Poppers for the grill

Gerrit and Rikus grilled up some Nyala and Sable tenders to along with them

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

4/25
Day we depart
Robbie has early flight out on Qatar to make early connection in Doha for AM arrival in Dallas. I don't depart till 8:30 pm flight. We got one last group pic with all our skulls.
Then off to airports.

We had a great trip and want to thank Gerrit, Rikus, Frikkie and all the Bos en Dal team for another great safari.
Yes I already have dates and plans set for 2024

 

[PARA45]

Man, that warthog is massive. I would have shot him too. Good on you Mark.

 

[shootist~]

Ditto on what everyone had said on that monster warthog, Mark. What kind of mount are you going with?

Congratulations on another exciting safari.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Ditto on what everyone had said on that monster warthog, Mark. What kind of mount are you going with?

Congratulations on another exciting safari.

Warthog will be a Euro mount.

 

[Inline6]

That night back at camp Robbie and me showed the PHs how to fix Jalapeño Dove Poppers

Was hoping for that, was introduced to them in Texas and I love them prepared that way. It is my favorite way to eat dove.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Glad your trip went as well as it did, despite the scary hiccup.

Trophies all look great, but that Warthog is something else! Congratulations!

 

[CoElkHunter]

We left for town to pick up more shotgun shells and do one last bird shoot.
We arrived at same field and spot as the other day. Birds flying everywhere. We each took 1 case 250 rounds with us. Back to same spots we shot from the other day.
Gerrit with me and Rikus with Robbie. PHs were doing the bird fetching as we didn't bring any trackers or farm guys with us since we were running around a lot today.
Birds were flying better than previous day. Hard to get any better. As we started shooting there appears one of the locals asking if he could help retrieve birds in exchange for keeping some for his family.
As we shot here comes number 2 guy then 3 then 4, in less than 15 min we had 6-7 guys there fetching birds and picking up hulls in exchange for the birds.
Robbie and me finished 250 rounds each in 55 minutes shooting. Hit ratio was not great, let's leave it at that.
The guys picking up birds where laughing and cutting up at our shooting. They were very appreciative of the game birds.
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View attachment 530614

What specie of doves are those? That's a fantastic dove shoot!

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

They call them pigeons. But look very similar to White-wings here in Texas except bigger. Also Rock Pigeon

 

[WAB]

I assume your buddy is getting the second kudu?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I assume your buddy is getting the second kudu?

Yes. He paid for it and taxidermist will find a cape for it they said.