Tracey Colson
AH senior member
I am starting to get over the jet lag so will attempt a hunt report. We (my wife and I) scheduled this trip at the 2020 DSC show for late April early May of 2021. When all the COVID-19 stuff started going on and airline ticket prices dropped we took a leap of faith and had Patrick with TWG book our tickets on Delta from Billings/Salt Lake/Atlanta/Joberg/Kimberly. I don't think I need to tell anybody that this is not how we ended up traveling to get there which is the reason I would tell anybody doing this type of trip to use a travel agent that is familiar with traveling with firearms. The trip ended up being mostly on Qatar air and while check in was a little slow between the COVID restrictions and traveling with firearms it was really painless, just had to have some patience. Flights were nice, meals were above expectations for airplane food, and service was good.
We arrived in Joberg almost 24hrs before we needed to be back on the plane for Kimberly so we had arranged for a stay at the African Sky and they assisted with firearm import as well. It was a really smooth process with Gilbert from Africa Sky helping get it all done, 15 minutes and we were on our way out of the airport. The stay at Africa Sky was wonderful. Courtyard was a great place to sit and relax, drinks and snacks were available until mealtime, and the room was super nice. In the evening my wife and I both chose the filet and it was some of the best steak we had ever had, and that says something with her growing up on a ranch and both of us coming from beef country.
The next morning Gilbert took us to the airport and assisted us with the check in process for our bags and firearms before we departed for Kimberly. Again I feel it was a big help having somebody that new the system to aid in this process.
After a short flight to Kimberly we were met by our outfitter Ruan at the airport, a quick check of the firearms and we were on our way to camp. Before we even got the lodge we had seen impala, red hartebeest, and some nyala. The lodge facilities were very nice and after a quick tour of the camp and a little settling in it was decided that we had time to put an afternoon hunt together and see what we could come up with.
A quick check of my rifles at the range confirmed that they had made the nearly 14,000 air miles just fine and we were off. We saw a lot of game from the bakki, but being it was the first afternoon we were being a bit picky. We arrived at a spot and Ruan says lets go for a walk, there is a clearing ahead where lots of things like to hang out. We walked a few hundred yards before we were pinned down behind what he called a fall bush by a herd of blue wildebeest. After trying unsuccessfully to figure out how to either move a little for a shot or set up where we were we were busted by the ugliest blue wildebeest bull I saw on the whole trip. He lifted his head and stared right at us and I knew the gig was up. The herd ran out into the open and when they stopped the sticks went up and Ruan said "do you see the bull looking at us?" I responded with "The one kind of quarting towards us?" It was confirmed we were talking about the same on and he said right on the point of the shoulder. The shot from my 7mm mag was true and the 175gr Barnes TSX worked flawlessly. I had officially taken my first animal in Africa.
I will continue later, but right now it is off to work so I can start saving for the next trip.
We arrived in Joberg almost 24hrs before we needed to be back on the plane for Kimberly so we had arranged for a stay at the African Sky and they assisted with firearm import as well. It was a really smooth process with Gilbert from Africa Sky helping get it all done, 15 minutes and we were on our way out of the airport. The stay at Africa Sky was wonderful. Courtyard was a great place to sit and relax, drinks and snacks were available until mealtime, and the room was super nice. In the evening my wife and I both chose the filet and it was some of the best steak we had ever had, and that says something with her growing up on a ranch and both of us coming from beef country.
The next morning Gilbert took us to the airport and assisted us with the check in process for our bags and firearms before we departed for Kimberly. Again I feel it was a big help having somebody that new the system to aid in this process.
After a short flight to Kimberly we were met by our outfitter Ruan at the airport, a quick check of the firearms and we were on our way to camp. Before we even got the lodge we had seen impala, red hartebeest, and some nyala. The lodge facilities were very nice and after a quick tour of the camp and a little settling in it was decided that we had time to put an afternoon hunt together and see what we could come up with.
A quick check of my rifles at the range confirmed that they had made the nearly 14,000 air miles just fine and we were off. We saw a lot of game from the bakki, but being it was the first afternoon we were being a bit picky. We arrived at a spot and Ruan says lets go for a walk, there is a clearing ahead where lots of things like to hang out. We walked a few hundred yards before we were pinned down behind what he called a fall bush by a herd of blue wildebeest. After trying unsuccessfully to figure out how to either move a little for a shot or set up where we were we were busted by the ugliest blue wildebeest bull I saw on the whole trip. He lifted his head and stared right at us and I knew the gig was up. The herd ran out into the open and when they stopped the sticks went up and Ruan said "do you see the bull looking at us?" I responded with "The one kind of quarting towards us?" It was confirmed we were talking about the same on and he said right on the point of the shoulder. The shot from my 7mm mag was true and the 175gr Barnes TSX worked flawlessly. I had officially taken my first animal in Africa.
I will continue later, but right now it is off to work so I can start saving for the next trip.
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