The time had come, almost two years after taking the plunge and booking an African hunt Myself and partner Leanne were underway with trepidation, anxiety and excitement all rolled in to one. No more emails, planning, checking, rechecking or repacking, we were sorted and ready! Well, a slight hiccup involving a permit at Sydney Border Security had me panicking heavily however the issue was sorted and we boarded the plane for our 14-hour flight to Joburg. The flight was without concern and touched down to fine weather.
I had accepted Africa Sky’s offer of their VIP meet & greet service and we stepped from the air bridge to a welcome sign and smiling face (unfortunately didn’t catch the name of the first gentleman) and in no time we were ushered through customs without a hitch and soon were introduced to Gilbert who quickly and seamlessly got us through the remaining firearm import and licensing requirements, a short drive later we had checked in to Africa Sky for the night. I had also booked a massage for both of us thinking this could be a good idea after a long flight and this was a wise decision, I recommend it. Following a wholesome dinner, we finished the bottle of local red by the outside fire chatting to a PH who was waiting for his late arrival of a family of US hunters he would be taking up to Uganda. They arrived in due course but minus some luggage, an issue that had me worried greatly but thankfully didn’t experience.
The next morning Gilbert once more had us through the airline requirements simply and quickly to board our next flight to Port Elizabeth. A couple of hours later we touched down in PE to discover our pre-arranged shuttle service had been forgotten about but soon enough the check in to the Radisson Blu was complete.
0900 the next morning arrived and so did Marius to collect us. It was great to finally meet in person after all the email correspondence and his friendly nature made the next few hours in the car a pleasant experience and shortly after we rolled in to the block we would be hunting first. Marius had planned we would look for the Buff here then travel on to some of his more regular blocks for the other animals I had on my wish list. We met up with Connor who would be assisting PH, Lindile who would be our tracker/skinner and a representative from the block and spent the afternoon having a scout around the block to see what was about. There was mention of at least one good bull present, so interest levels were high and along with seeing many different African animals in their natural environment for the first time made for an enjoyable afternoon.
Day 1: Buffalo
We rise from a comfortable night’s sleep, get through breakfast and have everyone gathered and loaded for a 0630 getaway. We soak in the sightings of myriad animals captured in the morning sun working through likely areas with Eland, Gemsbuck, Springbok, Kudu, Zebra featuring heavily. The country is experiencing dryer times so locations holding scrub and possibly some water are what we’re looking for.
Suddenly a call from the guys up the back, a herd of buff have been spotted on the edge of a thicket deep in a gully. The vehicle is stopped, and we all hike to the top of a ridge to glass, the buff have been alerted to something and make their way into the thick gully. The call is made that a nice bull is present, and we hope they are not too alarmed and will eventually make their way back out into the open to resume feeding but unfortunately this is not to be and watch as they work through the scrub only to appear on the distant edge before traversing up an open face and disappearing over a saddle. They’re going the wrong way but if nothing else this enables a thorough assessment of a bull through the spotting scope and from that there is no denying we need to reconnect with this animal. Its only around 0730 of the first day of hunting and we have a bull to pursue.
My trainee spotter 
The local guy knows of a track that will take us around and up to the top of the gully system and we are soon glassing from the highest plateau level down into the gully we believe (hope) the herd are located. A small group of Zebra are inquisitive and hold around 200 yards from us, watching intently and occasionally voicing their disapproval of our presence.
The buff are spotted, holed up in thick scrub where it was hoped they would be but, how to get to them? They must be 1000 yards away and much lower than us, the team come up with a plan.
Marius and I will head directly down the face to an area beside a donga formed by the gully, Connor, Leanne and the local guy would sit tight spotting from the elevated position while Lindile would head across the adjacent face to the head of the gully, glassing and providing feedback of any sightings.
Around 35 minutes’ walk had us down in the basin and sourcing a suitable location, our fingers crossed that the buff would travel towards us when they moved and not up, away and over the top again. Positioned behind a thorn bush potential shooting lanes were ranged and shooting stick set-ups were tested. Even if the animals chose to head toward us, they had multiple options to take, not necessarily close by. Worst case they turn to their left after exiting the scrub as this would lead them directly away from us.
Our shooting position. The bull came from the green timbered gully in the distance.
The radio comes alive with a call from the team above, the buff are on the move, and they’re heading our way! All of a sudden things get very real as I entertain the idea of shouldering the rifle towards an animal for the first time, a buffalo no less and its only 1030 on the first day!
“There they are, coming to us” says Marius, I look and initially see nothing, then a mass of black bodies and grey horns moving through the low bush. They disappear briefly in a small depression, the one that could turn them to the left and blow our chances. They don’t, and suddenly they reemerge on a course almost straight at us with the bull front and centre, the first time I see him up close.
The sticks go up, but he is amongst others still moving at a trot and I start worrying about a potential pass through. They see the movement we make and as a group grind to a halt, the big fella propping prominently centre stage. The crosshairs find him and there he is filling my scope only 40 yards away, I have no need nor the time anyway to question him as a suitable candidate, Marius and the team have made the right call. There is just enough time to capture the image of him staring down his sights at us before I hear the call, “IN THE CHEST!”
The rifle sounds immediately the instruction is heard and he reacts to the shot. I’m off the sticks to reload and track him as he lunges away, heavy bleeding from the nose instantly apparent. Others create a risk of being hit and as he is heading away, we commence our follow up right away. He doesn’t get far before piling up and the death bellow carries across to us, there’s no movement as we approach but we all know the saying about the dead ones hurting you so from around 50 yards the insurance is paid.
The obligatory muzzle to the eye confirms a dream has been achieved. I couldn’t be happier but take a deep breath and ensure to pay him the respect he deserves considering my senses are alive with things like the strangely acceptable aroma, texture of hair and skin and awe concerning the size of his body and those horns!
My .425 doing what it was built for.
We need to return to where the shot was made to collect some gear left behind and elect to assess the blood trail as we return to the bull, following the path his last steps had carried him. Marius makes the discovery that the trail suggests he knew he couldn’t keep up with his herd and had turned in an attempt to make it into a nearby thicket, possibly to await the source of his discomfort. As it turns out on arrival of the rest of our team, we find Leanne has captured the events from her elevated position as a video on her phone and it confirms Marius’s belief.
Its midday when the knives get to work and continuing our good fortune the wind picks up only now almost like it knew the hunt was over, until that point it had been conveniently calm. I must admit I’m not a fan of windy conditions at the best of times so this was appreciated by me at least. Considering the work involved in breaking down a buffalo we decide to spend the remainder of the day undertaking this work, spend the night and move out the following morning.
Just one reason why these guys deserve a tip! 
The only bullet recovered during the trip. Aussie made Atomic29 360gn/.423"
To Be Cont.
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