SOUTH AFRICA: Kalahari Buffalo 2019

[Vanguard2279]

 

[Vanguard2279]

I have no idea why that last picture is sideways nor how to fix it. I haven't even started drinking yet.
Regardless, the bull measured 37.5". He was younger and a bit softer than I'd hoped, but it was a great hunt and I'm thankful to Pieter. There was nothing easy about this hunt. We hunted a cunning adversary and harvested in true fair chase.

 

[Vanguard2279]

There was much to celebrate that night. The tenderloin of the buffalo was grilled by Seun that night and Dev produced a magnum bottle of champagne. Mani had the honor of uncorking that beast.

 

[Vanguard2279]

Before we go further, I should mention that my #1 trophy animal that I hope to find someday is a Warthog. That's right. This is the animal that has eluded me on four African hunts. While my package was for Buffalo & Sable, we were looking for a Warthog every moment.
The next morning, we went out looking for Sable. As these things happen, we stumbled across them. We disembarked the truck and heading to their last known location. Less than 100 yards distant stood a mature Sable bull with a great spread to his horns. Most of his body was hidden behind a large bush. I advised Pieter who told me that they were soft leaves and I could punch through them. I estimated the location his shoulder and fired my 9.3x62. The Sable hit the ground as if pole-axed. The 250-grain TSX had struck high. A finishing shot was required. The Sable would later be measured at 39". Are there bigger? Of course. Do I care? No. I could not have asked for a better Sable.

 

[Vanguard2279]

That evening, we met at a waterhole for the often spoke of "sundowner". Pieter took a good picture of me.

 

[Vanguard2279]

The next morning, we were to leave Reitzdale and head south to Pieter's Kiepersol farm near Rustenburg. And of course, more celebrating occurred that night. Alcohol was involved in some of these photos. I'll leave it to the reader to determine which ones.

 

[Vanguard2279]

Hopefully @BRICKBURN can fix these photos. Regardless, you all get the idea. I am so grateful for these two guys. We communicate almost daily on WhatsApp and we are kicking around a 2021 hunt together. Mani may go with me to Zambia next year on my hunt with the great @spike.t.
We got up and had breakfast. Before leaving, I tipped Lelani and the housekeeping staff. I caught up to the trackers and tipped them as well. Great guys and the hunts were successful in a huge part to their hard work.

 

[Vanguard2279]

The journey south was uneventful. We arrived at Pieter's farm and settled in. The main building on the lodge used for dining and drinking was very nice. Mani, Dev and I stayed in a two-bedroom chalet that was very comfortable. Each room had two beds. I think Mani and Dev dreaded my snoring and bunked together. Pieter has a living quarters on the farm across from the lodge center along with a chalet that he is working on. I believe this is where Ridgewalker stayed during his time there.

 

[Vanguard2279]

We were joined by PH Johan van Wyk to assist with the hunts from here. Dev wanted to take an Impala. Many and I wanted warthog. Somewhere in this period, Mani became obsessed with getting a Steenbuck. Pieter's Kiepersol farm ranges from open grassland with ponds to thick forest. It is all beautiful.
Dev and Johan headed out for Impala. I was not present, but Dev took a nice ram with his .375. It should be noted that Dev is the most experienced international hunter amongst the three of us. He comes a long heritage of Huntsman. Mani and I joked months before we left that this trip would create an African hunting fanatic. Little did we realize that this would start before we even left.

 

[Vanguard2279]

It is often said that you can't hunt Warthog. You only harvest them when you are hunting for something else. It was because of this that I proposed hunting white Blesbok to Pieter. On the last morning of the hunt, we headed to a game farm an hour or so from Pieter's property. And as is common, the game that you're searching for makes itself scarce. However, herds of Zebra and Blue Wildebeest were abundant. During this hunt, Mani observed an old female Blesbok with a deformed horn and decided to try for her. One shot at a couple hundred yards off the sticks and she was down. Mani used his suppressed 7x64 for that shot.
Shortly after, Dev decided to hunt a Blesbok ram. I gladly gave him my 9.3x62. From a distance, I watched he and Johan stalk a small herd. One shot and the Blesbok ram faceplanted into the grass.

 

[Vanguard2279]

After returning to the lodge, we made the decision to go fishing in one of the ponds on Kiepersol. Pieter provided the poles and I had brought some lures, tackle and plastic bait. Of course, we took our rifles in case we encountered the elusive warthog or steenbok.
I should also mention Pieter's dogs. He has a male GSP and a female Rhodesian Ridgeback. Two of his GSP hunting dogs had puppies and he kept two female puppies. I honestly believe that the lodge GSP thinks he is their father and while I'm sure he doesn't remember breeding, he's going to run with it. The two girls have sinister little eyes and they are mischievous. Having said that, they are sweet.

 

[Vanguard2279]

I have in the past attempted to write my hunt report in one evening. This is longer and I'll finish it tomorrow. Thank you to whomever is enjoying my narrative of this adventure.

 

[Vanguard2279]

And I just noticed that I am now an "AH Enthusiast". I'd like to thank the committee,....etc. I'm a long way from "Enabler", but with some hard work and more hunts, I might make it someday.

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

We were joined by PH Johan van Wyk to assist with the hunts from here. Dev wanted to take an Impala. Many and I wanted warthog. Somewhere in this period, Mani became obsessed with getting a Steenbuck. Pieter's Kiepersol farm ranges from open grassland with ponds to thick forest. It is all beautiful.
Dev and Johan headed out for Impala. I was not present, but Dev took a nice ram with his .375. It should be noted that Dev is the most experienced international hunter amongst the three of us. He comes a long heritage of Huntsman. Mani and I joked months before we left that this trip would create an African hunting fanatic. Little did we realize that this would start before we even left.
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Very nice meating you guys.

 

[EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA]

Nice meating you guys.

 

[Vanguard2279]

It was great meeting you, Johan. Thanks for all that you did.

 

[Ridgewalker]

I’m really enjoying this! It allows me to vicariously revisit where I have just been! Thanks Vanguard2279 for sharing a grand experience!
I’m anxiously looking forward to the next installment!

 

[Nyati]

Congrats @Vanguard2279 you guys really enjoyed it and picked up nice trophies

I hunted the Serapa farm a few years back, which is also close to Tosca. Just as you described, desert but with a lot of bushes and small trees.

 

[cls]

Excellent, thanks for the report and congrats on some fine animals.

 

[Frederik]

Congrats on a good and fun hunt.