SOUTH AFRICA: My 1st African Safari

[jbirdwell]

Trip Review​

Trip Dates: June 7, 2024 – June 18, 2024

Outfitter​

• @Bos en Dal SAFARIS: Gerrit
• PH: Rickus
• Cameraman: Francois

Services Utilized​

• Travel Express
• Global Rescue: Trip Insurance, Medical & Security Plan
• Rifle Permits
• Airline: Qatar Airways

Equipment Used​

• Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 in 375 H&H Magnum using Barnes 300 grain TSX factory ammo.
• Custom 35 Whelen using Buffalo Bore 225 grain TSX ammo.
• Swarovski Z6 3-18 x 50 Scopes on both rifles.
• Swarovski EL 10X42 Binoculars.
• Viper Flex Quad Shooting Sticks (Which I gifted to my PH).
• Tuffpak 1050 Gun case.
• Apple Air Tags in all baggage.

Before I begin with the trip details, let me say that every organization that I dealt with, from the start of planning this trip to my arrival back in Houston was the epitome of professionalism. I recommend each and every one and whole heartily.
One other acknowledgment. Without Mark Biggerstaff taking me under his wings with guidance and advice on planning this trip, my first safari would have probably been another few years from happening. He sent me a PM right after I joined @AfricaHunting.com with his phone number and an offer to call him anytime if I had questions.
June 7th: Arrive at IAH in Houston at 1:30 pm for my 6:10 pm flight. Had only planned to arrive 4 hours early but my ride to the airport showed up early.

Trina from Qatar had called me about 5 minutes before my arrival, wanting me to email me her copies of firearms documents. She ended up meeting me at the gate and walking me through the entire process until I went through the customs check.

First, at the check in area, she had me open my checked bag to weigh my ammo and then escorted me to the TSA check area. At the TSA check area, they had me unload the two soft gun cases and then ran a cloth down each side to the cases checking for explosive residue. Then it was off through customs to access the boarding areas.

When we arrived in Doha, I was met at the gate by another representative from Qatar Airways and was escorted to the Business Class lounge. Before anything else, I took advantage of the showers room in the lounge and then a quick bite in the cafeteria. Since this was a very long layover I also ended up eating again at the restaurant on the upper floor prior to the next flight.

I arrived in Johannesburg on time at 9:50 am on Sunday, June 9th and was met at the gate by the rep from Rifle Permits. One of the few snags of the trip was that they could not get the door open for the cargo area on the plane, so we ended up waiting for about an hour to get my checked bag and gun case.

After that was a quick pass though customs and was then met by my PH Rickus and Cameraman Francois. Then it was on to the SAP office for my firearms permits.

After arriving at the lodge and having a great lunch, we went to the range to check to make sure both my rifles were on. After some adjustments to my 375, we rode around the property until right before dark.

Hunt Day 1: Dawn broke clear, as it did everyday, I was there. With the exception of the last 2 day mornings were around 35 – 36 degrees and highs were in the mid to high 60’s. It wasn’t too long until the PH pointed out a nice Impala and the decision was to make my first stalk. You would have thought I was trying to shoot my first animal ever. I had a severe case of buck fever stalking up to the animal. My excitement level was beyond control. In hindsight, I’m glad I did not get a shot on that Impala because that short stalk calmed my nerves for the rest of the trip. Later that morning I had another busted stalk on an impala and another on a Zebra. Little did I know at this point that the crafty Impala would become my nemesis for the entire trip.

After a great lunch, it was decided to get back in the field and hunt immediately over a big tank, figuring that animals would be coming in to drink during the heat of the day. We parked on a road and hiked into the tank from the back side where the levee was high. The Blue Wildebeest at already beaten us there. After determining there was large bull, we ended up setting the sticks on the side angle of the levee for the shot. The bull was laying down facing away from us. After about 25-30 minutes, the bull stood up and was going to go to our left which would have put him behind a tree in about 2-3 steps.

The original plan was that once I was on the animal, I would make sure the cameraman was on the animal and then shoot. Unfortunately, with the bull deciding to go left, I did not have the time. As his front end was already behind the tree, I aimed just an inch or so off the right side of the tree to where his shoulder was still visible. With the precarious setup on the sticks due to the tank levee I never saw the impact, but my PH assured me he took 2 steps and was down.
View attachment IMG_2454.JPG

After much picture and video taking and waiting for Robert to pick the Wildebeest, we were back at it again. At about 3:45 pm, we spotted some Zebra on the side of the road. I had wanted to shoot a nice mare instead of a stallion if I hunted Zebra, figuring the mare would have a less scarred up hide. The mare that I was on, was hiding behind a tree and I was on the sticks waiting for her to come out. While waiting, my PH picked out another mare that was a little further back, so we moved the sticks six or seven feet to the right to get me a clear shot. After settling on the sticks and putting another shot in the shoulder, my second animal was down. By the time we were done with all the after shot activities it was getting close to dark so we headed into the lodge for a few after hunt drinks and a superb dinner.

 

[TTundra]

Congrats on a great start to your first hunt over!

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Congrats on a great start! Can't wait for more!

 

[Firebird]

Gotta find out if you took down your nemesis or not!
Impala one of my favorites

 

[Elkeater]

Awesome first day! The Zebra was my nemesis. They can be sneaky buggers.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Congrats on getting 2 nice animals. Good report so far. Need to find out about getting, or not, your nemesis, the impala.

 

[ILDRHNTR]

Awesome start for any safari, let alone your first. Congrats on the Blue and the Zebra. Both beautiful animals. Can’t wait for more. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventure.

 

[jbirdwell]

Day 2 started how much like day one. We were sitting around the fire, they had made to take the chill out of the morning and were supposed to leave camp from 7:00. As we were all just sitting there we decided to just go ahead and leave then which ended up being just the right time. We were probably just about 3 or 4 miles away from camp when we came around a curve in the road to see a big bunch of Blesbok on the left. Seeing us, they took off running in front of us but stayed near the road.

Blesbok were never on my list but as they were moving off there was one ram that horns looked to be about about 5-6 inches above the rest. Also I figured when your PH and Camerman's eyes light up and there going about how big he was, that's an animal you need to hunt.

Luckily they stopped after a few hundred yards and we quickly got out of the truck and made our way up to a vantage point where I could take a shot. Once on the sticks, the big male was identified and I was ready for the shot. He was facing almost straight at us, just quartering slightly away from us. I took aim at the middle of the chest and my 35 Whelen did it's job again.

This was one that did not suffer ground shrinkage as we walked up on him. If anything, the started looking bigger than I originally thought.

I had always planned that if I changed my mind, I would just do a skull mount as the pics I had seen of Blesbok didn't really impress me that much. However, this one will be getting a shoulder mount he deserves and a good place of honor on my wall. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

The rest of the morning was pretty uneventful except for several more unsuccessful stalks on impala again. On the last stalk as we were walking back to the truck, I slipped on one of the gazillion rocks there and busted my knee. After several oaths that would make a sailor blush and being unable to put any weight on it for a few minutes, the phrase "F***ing Impalas" became common for the rest of the trip.

After a good lunch we headed back out to hunt. While we saw lots of game and many different species, they were not what I was looking for or not a mature enough animal. We also headed back to that same tank dam hoping to catch a Warthog in for a quick drink but he forgot to appear.

After a great meal and several screwdrivers I headed to bed to dream of my adventures yet to come.

 

[Bearkat]

Great report and congrats on the trophies!

 

[jbirdwell]

Hunt Day 3: After leaving camp we headed to a different property. We had been there on the first day and seen 3 Sable females together but could never find the male, if he was with them. We did see a younger male, in another area on that property with impressive horns but way too young. I had told the PH that I was thinking about adding a Sable to the list so we were looking for a more mature male that or anything else the bush would give us. Like the elusive Impala!

At about 7:50 a larger male and 3 females were spotted. It looked like they were coming up from the brush lining a small creek. After a short stalk and another good performance by the 35 Whelen, we were taking pictures and high fiving once again. At this point, I had no clue how magical this morning would be.

After getting the Sable loaded and headed back to camp, we set off in search of other game. We had not gone but a mile or two when we saw some warthogs run into the grass on the left side of the road. We got out of the truck and starting glassing for them and finally picked up a group and could tell that there was a boar with them trying to service one of the sows in the group. Before we could get on the stalk good, the group split up, with 1 sow and some piglets going back across the road and the solitary boar and sow staying parallel with the road about 60 yards into the grass. We stayed on the stalk and they stopped again. This time we closed the distance a little bit but they busted again on us. After another 75 yards or so they finally stopped a third time.

The boar was bound and determined to finish the deed this time. The PH did tell me the boar was not all that large and actually a cull that they didn't want breeding. Since I was bound and determined to take a warthog regardless of the circumstances, he was fine by me. I guess I should have been a gentleman and let him finish his deed. However, lets just say, he died with a smile on his face.

Day 3 will be contunued.