SOUTH AFRICA: MOZAMBIQUE: Off To Southern Africa With KMG & TMS & PPS

[BRICKBURN]

The wind was SCREAMING today. Got up to 15C and melting everything. Strange stuff.
The Bakkie was being rocked constantly by the wind. Quite intense up high.
Everything was hiding down in the drainages. Ass backwards really.

5 star accommodation way up high. Gorgeous lodge.
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9Km of "strolling" today with 7000 feet of ascent. Never mind the descent.
I was leaning into the wind and it made walking interesting.
There were actually eight insane Vaalies out in that wind up by the Lesotho border.
Crazy.

Approached one herd to within 38 yards.
Nice Ram.
These critters have eyes that are better than Hawks.
Zero knowledge of our presence.
Zero possibility for a bow shot.

They soon caught on and went out to three hundred and wondered what had bothered them.
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Saw at least 50 Vaalies today, lost count actually. Several Rowland Rams are still out there growing.

Finally spotted some Vaalies (several herds actually hiding from the wind) down low in this drainage and decided to put the stalk on them. Walking in the creek to stay out of sight and the wind.

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This is a view back toward the drainage from the Vaalies vantage point.

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It finally came down to the fact that it was never going to be possible today in this wind to use the bow effectively. It was just a reality of hunting. The original ten days is what is required to get it done. Between weather and the learning curve fours days was not quite enough.
Therefore, I made a "new plan".
We looked him over for a long time and he bedded down and stood several times. Finally , when we were about to back away and make a different approach the herd saw the PH move and that settled the deal. We were screwed on getting any closer.
I took the shot from the drainage in the dead centre of the picture above. (Vaalies perspective picture)
368 yards with a 12 inch drift for the wind and this very old 8 inch trophy was going home with me. (I would have hated to see what the drift would have been if the wind were perpendicular to the shot line.) Broken tips and and very old man. Comment from the peanut gallery: "By far the thickest Vaalie ram I have encountered that did not make 10 inches".
The ram also wasted some effort trying to grow a horn out of his nose too.


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That did not stop me from searching for the elusive 11 inch Monster. Plenty of glassing and nothing big enough ever showed itself for the rest of the day.


Final group of the day going to bed. You spot the Ram in this herd. There are eight critters bedded or standing.

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Happy with the effort and the result. Incredible experience up here on the top of South Africa.

Off to Joburg tomorrow.

I always wonder why I drag a huge bag of clothing along when I go hunting in various provinces in Southern Africa. Africa can be bloody cold. Looks just like home in the winter time.

What a difference:

Same elevation 10 months later. Just plain luck.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I just received 39 pages of documentation for my trophies (several years/ safaris worth) travels to get home.
Export permits, vet docs, CITES, invoices, etc.

Looking forward to getting these trophies in their rightful spots.

So, close.

 

[Hank2211]

I just received 39 pages of documentation for my trophies (several years/ safaris worth) travels to get home.
Export permits, vet docs, CITES, invoices, etc.

Looking forward to getting these trophies in their rightful spots.

So, close.

These are the same trophies that certain airlines won't carry because they don't want to contribute to poaching?

Maybe if you'd had 62 pages of documentation, they'd be reassured.

 

[Royal27]

Maybe if you'd had 62 pages of documentation, they'd be reassured.

Not for Canada, but somehow seems appropriate here....

 

[BRICKBURN]

These are the same trophies that certain airlines won't carry because they don't want to contribute to poaching?

Maybe if you'd had 62 pages of documentation, they'd be reassured.

Just discovered a few omissions after reviewing it all and will be adding to the list. At least four more pages to come.

Nothing is slipping by in this process for sure. The airlines can rest easy. Oh yeah, I get to avoid all the airlines that have placed these stupid embargoes with this shipment.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Not for Canada, but somehow seems appropriate here....

View attachment 154955

This baby has to go through the EU to get here. I do not want to know about the number of pages of crap they require. That one is out of my hands. Thankfully.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Turns out, it was seven more pages that were required to complete the bail.
Three CITES permits are all in place and in hand.

 

[BRICKBURN]

The note from the freight forwarder in this mornings email.

"We would like to confirm that we have received payment, thank you.
Formal notification of your flight details are to follow soonest."

Oh, so close. I won't start yet though.

 

[siml]

Sounds like a call for some...

 

[Foxi]

Not for Canada, but somehow seems appropriate here....

View attachment 154955

the essential things are always simple.
And at Pythagoras time (over 500 years before Christ) no one had to bring 28 Nations under one hat (in peace).
Its a fine job for the EU-Commisioneers.Sure and very well paid :-(
But I tell you, its much less complicated to visit Europe as a hunter with a gun ,than the USA.
Foxi

 

[BRICKBURN]

Sounds like a call for some...

Raspberry and Rum!

 

[BRICKBURN]

...............
But I tell you, its much less complicated to visit Europe as a hunter with a gun ,than the USA.
Foxi

I'll have to test that theory one of these days.

 

[Foxi]

I'll have to test that theory one of these days.

where are you going to ?

 

[BRICKBURN]

where are you going to ?

Just researching now. If you have suggestions please PM me.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I have final an Airwaybill Number and flight numbers. I woke up to find it in my email. Yeah!

The trophies are sitting in Luxembourg as I write this. One leg down.

Then they get the joy of touring Scotland, Los Angeles, Seattle and finally home.

Apparently nothing has changed in the CFIA process, same fees and notifications.

Looking forward to this.

 

[spike.t]

....wayne any idea why they get to visit scotland?......

 

[BRICKBURN]

....wayne any idea why they get to visit scotland?......

Just happens to be the milk run route that this particular cargo flight takes.

 

[vancewalker007]

• 
  It is the time of year when the reports start being filed here on AH and it has been a pleasure to read them and I am sure more are in the oven. I thought I would start my own.
  
  I tend to encourage people to share their stories and I found it very interesting this year to have members contacting me about their upcoming hunts which just happened to be at the same Outfitters I would be going to. Since the only one mentioned publicly thus far was Marius, I found that very interesting.
  
  The members contacting me were strongly encouraging me to share my report before they would be leaving for their safari. Since my excursion is actually going to be four weeks long and would in fact be overlapping some of the solicitors own trips, I said I would try to at least share an update. (If the internet allowed).

• 
  billc started a thread about "who's going where this year" and my reply was:
  
  
  
  
  A few more things are settled, thankfully since there are only 9 days left until departure:
  • A new twist was thrown into the mix a few weeks back when my companions bailed on me. So, I will be going the trip alone. I did invite Eric, but he apparently has a life.
  • New boots, broken in nicely.
  • Global Rescue package in place.
  • The rifle is ready and I have actually had to clean dust off of it since I sighted it in.
  • Bow has new cables and strings. I shot it so much that the cable was starting to have strands break down. Final tune before departure. But it's grouping like it should at 70 yards. Arrows touching. I hope to get MUCH closer to everything.
• View attachment 44975
  • For those of you who recall the 375H&H penetration test into 4x6 treated wood.
  • Here is the one for the bow.
• View attachment 44982
• • Only taking one weapon case. The im3300 Storm case with the foam rearranged to allow the bow and the rifle to fit into it. I'll remove the sight and the stabilizer and put it back together in RSA. I have zero concerns as it has worked well on several test runs here.
  • View attachment 44976
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  • Ammunition is weighed and in the pelican container with the locks on ready to go. 100 of the 375H&H with the 250 TTSX at the front end.
  • View attachment 44978
  • I have lodges located and marked in Google and the GPS for some of the guys around PE that may get to share my company.
  • Gun Storage in arranged. Thank you for your kind direction Jaco http://www.africahunting.com/members/jaco-strauss.5935/. (You are owed a shot or two of Jameson at SCI)
  • View attachment 44979
  • • Applications for firearms export are in hand long ago.
    • British Airways is aware of the fire power they are transporting. This was much more entertainment than it needed to be.
    Seats on the way out are reserved for the leg room. They changed the scheduled planes and departure times once or twice to keep it interesting. I think we have it solved now. 767 and then the A380. (The "Bliksem Volstruis" was coming to my mind many times during this debacle and the Hanks end result was a passing thought. Again, way harder than it needed to be BA)
  • I got some great news the other day that will make the London to Joburg flight more interesting.
  • View attachment 44980
  • Layover in London, basically scoped out. Certainly the return trip when I have 11 hours to check out the country side. Richmond Park (https://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/richmond-park) was kindly suggested by Tom - UKHUNTER http://www.africahunting.com/members/ukhunter.10352/ to allow me to hunt some Red Stag on the Queens private Royal estate. (Big White Gun)
• View attachment 44983
• • My friends in the Northern Cape are excited to have me visit again.
  • View attachment 44981
  • It will be great to see the Karoo again and have a night over on my way to KMG Safaris. http://www.africahunting.com/members/kmg-hunting-safaris.2602/
• 
  
• • Timing is everything in this business. In trying to fill that last week I was making inquiries about various schedules and who was around. I discovered Outfitters are very busy people and many choices were unavailable at this late stage. It was finally determined that 5 or 6 days on the ground in Niassa province were in order.
  • Another flight was booked; JNB to Lichinga. Thank you to Elaine at Supreme Travel in Harrismith, RSA for the last minute arrangements.
  • I applied for my VISA to get into Mozambique. Pre approval is suggested to cut down on delays upon arrival. 10 Business days is an interesting measuring stick and I can tell you Africa time was officially exported to Washington DC.. Like Hank noted in his report regarding perception of distance, that people have a funny perception of "close". I discovered it is much the same with "10 days". You see the Consular services folks are only open a few hours a day and they do not work on Fridays. When I called for an update at the ten business day mark, I was informed in the most luxurious Southern African accent, "that you must be patient sir" . Apparently it takes two business days to open a courier package and log it in. The courier arrived with my package three weeks later and I have the VISA in hand inside my passport.
  • Upon return to South Africa I will get to spend one day hunting with Pieter http://www.africahunting.com/members/paw-print.7037/ before I leave.
  • I ordered a Cat Quiver Mini, after reading suggestions on AH (Thanks). It looks like it will work well in the walk and stalk category. I await the delivery by UPS. Should be here today.
  • View attachment 44987
  • New custom ear plugs are on the way. Somehow the last set must have decided to stay in RSA.
  • My Ghillie suit(s) have been ordered. SA Ghillie will deliver them to KMG Safaris for me. I'll be able to test them out on Bushbuck and maybe the Egyptian Goose. The true test will come with the Bow hunted Vallie!
  • I ordered two, just in case. A Stalker and a Half body.
  • View attachment 44986 View attachment 44985

• One last purchase to make sure I have back up camera in my pocket. Again from some good suggestions from AH members. DMC ZS50
• View attachment 44990

Now, I just have to throw the stuff in a bag and head to the airport on the appointed day.
​

Glad to see those Barnes TTSXs are catching on for Africa. Used them in a 300 WSM 180grains for plains game, worked perfect and have found a sub-MOA load gor thise 250 grainers in my 375 Ruger.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I use nothing but TTSX in every rifle now. They get the job done.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Just happens to be the milk run route that this particular cargo flight takes.

My stuff is actually in the same time zone, for the next ten minutes. Soon to land at LAX.

Only 7.5 hours before it is scheduled to arrive at my airport!