SOUTH AFRICA: Waterberg SA Safari - Progress

[NIGHTHAWK]

Roan: .243 Tikka

First shot was single lung. It didn’t have an exit hole. That 1 shot probably was enough because he didn’t go far and laid straight down with blood in the nose. Second shot was through left shoulder and went straight through and out of the right shoulder. Through the top of the heart and both lungs.

 

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Lechewe: .243 Tikka:

2 broadside shots at over 300 yards in fairly quick succession. Both heart and lungs are shot.

 

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Two recovered 80 Grain Barnes TTSX bullets.

 

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Accommodations

Main Camp:

My Cabin/Chalet

Camp Lodge & Chalets/Cabins:

 

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Emirates Airline:

I will fly Emirates, if possible, before Delta. Emirates was great in so many ways:
1. Price - less than $2,500 with exit row seat upgrades. Used my personal travel agent who understands how to book for hunters. Booked a couple months out…
2. Communication - clear and concise from, email, to phone calls, to direct conversation at ticketing, rifle and ammo check in, and throughout the whole process to include a weapons transit form for Emirates.
3. Seat selection - Easy and convenient.
4. Nice polite and helpful people to deal with from each end.
5. Dubai airport is an amazing place to layover vs Atlanta.
6. No flight cancellations or changes to deal with like Delta.
7. My rifle checked all the way through to Joberg from San Francisco.
8. My economy seats were great.
9. Nice equipment (Airbus).
10. They understand hunters, rifle, and ammo check in processes.
11. More food than I could eat and quality was good.
12. Friendly flight attendants that covered over 20 languages each flight.
13. Layover times varied. I chose a longer layover in Dubai going to RSA because of uncertainty. I just wanted to leave SFO early, so it was a little over 7 hours. Worked out good on the first leg because I was able to shower in the Hotel lounge using my priority pass. My return layover was about 4 hours, which was enough time to transit through. Allowed time to stretch my legs, do a little shopping, eat, and shower in the lounge.
14. A morning arrival was very important to me! I don’t like the Delta late flight and having to stay the night at a safe house/guest house. It was nice to be on my way to camp by 11:30am. I hunted that night!
15. They didn’t charge me for oversize or additional checked luggage. I may have lucked out for both directions this time.
16. I got priority assistance and to the front of the line because I had weapons and ammo. They knew who to call and understood the process of rifle permits and check in on both directions. Gave them my passport and they had my forms in minutes! Made things so easy!
17. My rifle checked all the way back through to San Francisco from Joberg.

I thought about business class and laying down most of the time. I’m 6’-2” and 230 pounds. I’m in my early 50’s, so it made sense to consider. I did fine with my seat selection. I booked early enough to get the same seat each flight and both directions. Exit row, no one in front of me, room to stand up and stretch, steps away from the bathroom. And, I saved a lot of money! More money for more animals to hunt!

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Recap on. What worked well:

Pro Tips -Pros:
**GLOBAL ENTRY! So valuable. Front of the line, Pre-Check, Shoes on, straight through. Look back and see 300-400 people in the respective/adjacent line behind you is surreal.
1. AMEX Platinum - Gets you reimbursed for Global Entry and Clear.
2. Clear - Strsight to the front of the line! Shoes on… Worth it.
3. Global Entry. Can be a PITA to get, but saved my bacon a couple times. Plus TSA linked. Pre-Check.
4. Priority Pass. Lounge access!
5. AMEX Platinum reimburses for Priority Pass, Clear, and Global Entry!
6. AMEX Platinum- lot of benefits, but I especially appreciate lounge access through there centurion club lounges and through other affiliates. Took showers in Dubai both directions.
7. Pack as light as possible. Your laundry is done daily so you don’t need to overpack.
8. AirTags. I have them in all my cases and bags. I even have one in my wallet. I can see that my gear is with me without even asking. It’s not perfect, but it helps. No guarantees! Nice to know that your rifles on on the flight and at the airports when you arrive. Not perfect, but good enough to see your gear has made it…
9. Hunting with an experienced outfitter that knows what they are doing and how to handle every level of hunters regardless of experience. I appreciate this about Boseveld Jacobs Safari.
10. Emirates Airline. Great!
11. Rifle selection and calibers. .375 H&H and .243. Both served me well and I’m likely to continue with this combination. This was my 3rd Safari with this pairing and I have no regrets or concerns.
12. I have custom loaded ammo matched to these rifles, which are both semi custom. The Tikka .243 has had more work done than the SAKO in .375H&H. Scopes are matched to the rifle, DOPE is validated for both. Makes shooting longer distances, should the need arise, very seamless for me. I hand loaded for the SAKO using the same recipe from my original custom ammo. 375H&H uses 300 grain Barnes TSX and the .243 uses 80 Grain Barnes TTSX.
13. Noise cackling headphones. Plus, plus! I have Sony, they work great. Won’t travel without them on these longer flights.
14. Memory foam seat cushion. Made my narrow ass very comfortable. Won’t travel without it on these longer flights.
15. Funny, but my neck pillow is an inflatable e-collar that I got for my dog after a surgery and it was too big for her. Rolls up nice, fits in my backpack, easy to inflate, and surprisingly comfortable! Haha!

Cons:

1. I didn’t like my KUIU Gortex jacket on this hunt because it was loud in the blind. In the unlikely event we had rain, it was available to hunt in. My PH loaded me another quieter jacket.
2. Didn’t need my camp Slip-ons/Slides. I hunted days and nights, so I wore my boots all the time. Didn’t have time to lounge at the camp fire.
3. Didn’t need or use my auxiliary battery charger for my iPhone, which I use for a camera. I had ample opportunity to charge it at camp and in the truck.
4. Never wore my running pants/lounge pants, too busy hunting to lounge at the campfire.
5. I didn’t need a Safari style hunting shirt because Boseveld Jacobs Safaris gives you a new one and they have more for sale, along with branded T-Shirts and really nice jackets.
6. Didn’t need a baseball cap, Boseveld provided a really nice branded hat.
7. Didn’t need a tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo, bar soap, or body wash because both Boseveld Jacobs provides everything and Emirates airline provides Toothbrush and toothpaste and I had lounge access at the airports where there are fully stocked showers that also provide shave kits! The free states camp also was fully supplied and stocked…

I will travel considerably lighter on my next Safari.

Boseveld Jacobs Main Camp:

Free States Camp: