Tejas1965
AH member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2022
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 74
- Location
- San Antonio, Tx
- Media
- 8
- Hunted
- Canada, Mexico, Peru, USA
Like most hunters, my plans to hunt in Africa during 2020 was placed on a two year hold due to Covid. What a bummer. Luckily my PH, Stuart Pringle, carried over my deposit until 2022, thank you sir for doing that. Little did I know that this little gesture of generosity on his part was a common trait he would show me multiple of times during the booking stage, thru the hunt, and since my departure. He is truly the epitome of what a Professional Hunter is supposed to be. I feel blessed to have met and hunted with him for 7 days this year, I and look forward to my 2024 safari with him.
That being said, let's get on to the main items of this review.
My flight to South Africa was incredibly long due to Delta Airlines changing the number of direct flights to Johannesburg, so after being in airports or on planes for 43 hours, I arrived in East London. It's funny what you think about when your exhausted, but at the moment that the plane touched down in East London, I remembered that my wife has always said that I have a freakish love affair with hunting. At that moment, I completely agreed with her, but I would never change a thing about the trip. Stuart met me at the baggage claim area, helped me get thru the final gun inspection office, and then we were off to our first hunting camp for four days of hunting. After a 1.5 drive, we arrived at Lalapa Lodge near Queenstown, SA. The facilities, cooks, and staff at this lodge were outstanding in every regards.
Our first day of hunting was spent glassing for Kudu and Gemsbok, but what we saw was a little young and needed a couple of years to develop into a true trophy. That night I would feast on African game for the first time - wow it was unbelievable.
The second day found us in a different section of the ranch, and we were very successful. Within the first hour of daylight, I had taken the most important trophy of my hunt, a mature Sable bull, what a beautiful animal. Later that morning we stocked a big Blue Wildebeest for around 3 hours, regrettably he slipped away, so back to the truck for a quick lunch and a needed drink. Luck was shining on me, because we hadn't gone more that quarter of a mile and ran across a very nice Blue Wildebeest bull which i was able to drop with a clean frontal shot. I am now feeling pretty good with a little of the pressure off since we were not successful the first day. As we left the pasture, I caught site of a large Impala which once verified by Stuart on its size and maturity we decided to put a stock on it as well. I was blessed with a successful shot and once retrieved, we realized just how good he was. His horns measured 24 inches in length without including the circumference measurements, that's a trophy in my book. So, we ended the day with three animals which was outstanding. Back to Lalapa for a fine dinner, drinks and conversation. That's what hunting is supposed to be about, right?
Day three found us glassing at daybreak on a mountain ridge for the elusive Kudu bull. While we spotted three separate bulls that morning, none really seemed to fit the maturity and horn development of a bull that should be harvested this year. So, we went back to the lodge for lunch, a quick nap, and them back behind the glasses until dark. No opportunities presented itself that afternoon, so back to the lodge for another round of fine dining, conversations and laughter.
Day four found us back on the mountain top glassing for Kudu bulls. We spotted a nice bull midmorning, and made our first stock on the bull, after about a mile and half walk, we were in place for a shot. At the moment of truth when he was about to give me a shot, the wind shifted, and blew our scent right to him. He was gone in a flash. All I can say is that the name of gray ghost is fitting for them. Later that afternoon we spotted a very nice, shadowed Zebra which I was able to take, so one more checked off the list. After dropping the Zebra off at the skinning shed, Stuart said we should go glass again until dark for Kudu since it appeared that they were in rut. Well, Stuart was right in his assumptions because we spotted the bull, we had put a stock on earlier that day about two miles from where last saw him, and this time he would not get away. I put one shot into his shoulder and one while he was running but it was getting dark, and we lost sight of him as he ran into a thick area. Stuart said we should back out and comeback in the morning.
Well, I can tell you that I didn't sleep much that night as all I could think about was my Kudu being eaten by every animal in Africa. At first light we were back in the truck heading towards the area where we last saw the bull running away. As luck would have it, we got to the area and only walked about 10 yards before we found him, untouched and in perfect shape. I was ecstatic. This ended our hunt at Lalapa Lodge. I had the most unbelievable time there.
The rest of day 5 was spent traveling to Aliwal North area and to a new lodge called Braamfantein. This lodge was exceptional, and the owners were the most amazing hosts I met while I was in South Africa.
Day 6 of the hunt, we were hunting for the three remaining trophies on my list, which were Gemsbok, Blesbok and Springbok. Early that morning we spotted Gemsbok and made our first stock on them which wasn't successful, however our second attempt was great, and I took a dandy bull with a frontal shot. I love that shot with a 300 win mag. Once we took him back to the skinning shed, we went back out to look for Blesbok and ran across a group within ten minutes of looking. One quick stalk and I was able to put a nice one down. Later that afternoon, I was blessed with taking a very old Springbok that had the facial scares to prove his place in the pack.
Stuart's abilities as a PH were top notch and I can say with complete honesty that he made all my dreams come true on my first safari. I look forward to hunting with him on all my future hunts. On a side note, he introduced me to one of the best Taxidermist I have ever met, Mr. Joe Regal, what a delightful gentleman. Should anybody need any additional information or references for Stuart Pringle with Pringle Legendary Safaris, please feel free to PM me.
That being said, let's get on to the main items of this review.
My flight to South Africa was incredibly long due to Delta Airlines changing the number of direct flights to Johannesburg, so after being in airports or on planes for 43 hours, I arrived in East London. It's funny what you think about when your exhausted, but at the moment that the plane touched down in East London, I remembered that my wife has always said that I have a freakish love affair with hunting. At that moment, I completely agreed with her, but I would never change a thing about the trip. Stuart met me at the baggage claim area, helped me get thru the final gun inspection office, and then we were off to our first hunting camp for four days of hunting. After a 1.5 drive, we arrived at Lalapa Lodge near Queenstown, SA. The facilities, cooks, and staff at this lodge were outstanding in every regards.
Our first day of hunting was spent glassing for Kudu and Gemsbok, but what we saw was a little young and needed a couple of years to develop into a true trophy. That night I would feast on African game for the first time - wow it was unbelievable.
The second day found us in a different section of the ranch, and we were very successful. Within the first hour of daylight, I had taken the most important trophy of my hunt, a mature Sable bull, what a beautiful animal. Later that morning we stocked a big Blue Wildebeest for around 3 hours, regrettably he slipped away, so back to the truck for a quick lunch and a needed drink. Luck was shining on me, because we hadn't gone more that quarter of a mile and ran across a very nice Blue Wildebeest bull which i was able to drop with a clean frontal shot. I am now feeling pretty good with a little of the pressure off since we were not successful the first day. As we left the pasture, I caught site of a large Impala which once verified by Stuart on its size and maturity we decided to put a stock on it as well. I was blessed with a successful shot and once retrieved, we realized just how good he was. His horns measured 24 inches in length without including the circumference measurements, that's a trophy in my book. So, we ended the day with three animals which was outstanding. Back to Lalapa for a fine dinner, drinks and conversation. That's what hunting is supposed to be about, right?
Day three found us glassing at daybreak on a mountain ridge for the elusive Kudu bull. While we spotted three separate bulls that morning, none really seemed to fit the maturity and horn development of a bull that should be harvested this year. So, we went back to the lodge for lunch, a quick nap, and them back behind the glasses until dark. No opportunities presented itself that afternoon, so back to the lodge for another round of fine dining, conversations and laughter.
Day four found us back on the mountain top glassing for Kudu bulls. We spotted a nice bull midmorning, and made our first stock on the bull, after about a mile and half walk, we were in place for a shot. At the moment of truth when he was about to give me a shot, the wind shifted, and blew our scent right to him. He was gone in a flash. All I can say is that the name of gray ghost is fitting for them. Later that afternoon we spotted a very nice, shadowed Zebra which I was able to take, so one more checked off the list. After dropping the Zebra off at the skinning shed, Stuart said we should go glass again until dark for Kudu since it appeared that they were in rut. Well, Stuart was right in his assumptions because we spotted the bull, we had put a stock on earlier that day about two miles from where last saw him, and this time he would not get away. I put one shot into his shoulder and one while he was running but it was getting dark, and we lost sight of him as he ran into a thick area. Stuart said we should back out and comeback in the morning.
Well, I can tell you that I didn't sleep much that night as all I could think about was my Kudu being eaten by every animal in Africa. At first light we were back in the truck heading towards the area where we last saw the bull running away. As luck would have it, we got to the area and only walked about 10 yards before we found him, untouched and in perfect shape. I was ecstatic. This ended our hunt at Lalapa Lodge. I had the most unbelievable time there.
The rest of day 5 was spent traveling to Aliwal North area and to a new lodge called Braamfantein. This lodge was exceptional, and the owners were the most amazing hosts I met while I was in South Africa.
Day 6 of the hunt, we were hunting for the three remaining trophies on my list, which were Gemsbok, Blesbok and Springbok. Early that morning we spotted Gemsbok and made our first stock on them which wasn't successful, however our second attempt was great, and I took a dandy bull with a frontal shot. I love that shot with a 300 win mag. Once we took him back to the skinning shed, we went back out to look for Blesbok and ran across a group within ten minutes of looking. One quick stalk and I was able to put a nice one down. Later that afternoon, I was blessed with taking a very old Springbok that had the facial scares to prove his place in the pack.
Stuart's abilities as a PH were top notch and I can say with complete honesty that he made all my dreams come true on my first safari. I look forward to hunting with him on all my future hunts. On a side note, he introduced me to one of the best Taxidermist I have ever met, Mr. Joe Regal, what a delightful gentleman. Should anybody need any additional information or references for Stuart Pringle with Pringle Legendary Safaris, please feel free to PM me.
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