Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials. |
First African safari! |
Post Reply | Page <1 34567 8> |
Author | |
SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Made it back. Harvested a brown hyeena, impala, blesbok, zebra stallion, warthog, blue wildebeest, and kudu. My wife shot her first animal ever-impala. We heard cheeta, saw 3 leopards and had a great time. Photos and stories to come!!
|
|
lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Please!!!!!!!!!
|
|
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
|
|
SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I'm going to need some help with the Photos! Read instructions but still having trouble. I'll work on this this weekend.
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Best option is photobucket account and link to them. With photobucket, you can store them indefinitely, secure them behind a password, or post for all the world to see.
Hope it is going well.
|
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
Chris Farris II
TEAM SWFA - Admin MODERATOR Joined: August/13/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3196 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
The trip to Africa with Warthog Safaris really began when I
was seven. I read a story and I was
mesmerized by the tales of adventure from Teddy Roosevelt’s trip to the Dark
Continent. I was afraid that my dreams
would outpace reality. Thankfully, I was
wrong! Following a 16 hour plus plane ride from Atlanta to J’burg,
the PH met us in the airport to clear rifle customs. In my one time experience, having the PH meet
you at the airport for this is worth the cost.
We had heard horror tales about the airport, but our PH got the three
hunters through the airport rifle check in under 20 minutes total. What a relief! We travelled the first night approximately 4 hours into the
Limpopo region and arrived at the lodge about midnight. The animals present even in the dark were
amazing. It felt like it was a
dream. The following morning we arose for a good breakfast and two
hour ride around a concession with our wives to see game. I am not sure that my lips have relaxed from
being wrapped around my ears in a grand smile at the sight of all the good Lord
has placed in His creation. We returned and shot our rifles to verify zero and had a
late brunch. We then travelled with our
PH’s for the first afternoon of hunting.
I am not sure that I could have pulled the trigger anyway, but I
witnessed a large male civet cruising through the brush, several rhino, one
with a new baby (28months gestation, try that one on for hormonal problems!),
and it was all sensory overload. That
night, we witnessed another civet cat and small offspring skirt along the edge
of the lodge. What a first day! Monday I was able to harvest a brown hyena (possibly the
most awful smelling thing I have ever witnessed), and a very good impala. The impala was huge bodied, with the average adult male weighing in the 170
pound range. Mine was over 200 lbs! The impala were in rut, and they make the
most interesting bark. They are the
whitetail of South Africa! Tuesday was humble pie day.
I didn’t see the 53 inch kudu beside the truck that my wife is staring
at, and then I didn’t see the 14 inch warthog standing on the rocks. I was beginning to think I had a major
problem. Tuesday could not end fast
enough! Wednesday we packed lunch and travelled north towards the
Botswana border to a 50 thousand acre concession. The primary animal today was the
blesbok. We tracked zebra in the
morning, to include two stalks of over 2 hours each. One animal that I had underestimated was the
zebra. We stalked within 30 yards of
thirty in the herd, and I didn’t see them until I stepped on a twig.
Unbelievable. We had a great lunch of
kudu sausage with onions and tomatoes cooked over a fire and then I was able to
make a 400 yard shot on a the blesbok below.
The rest of the afternoon we pursued zebra. We ran across a small herd of gemsbok, but
none presented a shot. We worked hard in
pursuit of the zebra, and were about to load up and roll out. We spotted a herd of zebra about 400 yards
out. We closed the distance to 300
yards, the PH pointed out the old stallion in the group, and I squeezed off a
175 grain Aframe from the 7mm Rem Mag.
The thump was significant. He
travelled less than 40 yards. I am still
blown away by the magnificence of the
creatures we hunted and saw! This
harvest was the first tear shedder of the trip! So, Wednesday ended with the harvest of two great trophies for me.
|
One day your life will flash before your eyes; Make sure it's worth watching.
|
Chris Farris II
TEAM SWFA - Admin MODERATOR Joined: August/13/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3196 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
One day your life will flash before your eyes; Make sure it's worth watching.
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Great job, congratulations.
I have 6 weeks till I am wheels up.
|
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks CFII, great job on fixing my mess!
Jeff, wish I were going with you again! |
|
Kickboxer
MODERATOR Moderator Joined: February/13/2008 Status: Offline Points: 23679 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Sam, great pictures and stories.
Jeff, I don't know how you can stand it... SO close...
|
|
Opinion,untempered by fact,is ignorance.
There are some who do not fear death... for they are more afraid of not really living |
|
Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Well done Sam fantastic animals, Africa has a way off drawing you back. So I'm sure we will be seeing you here again. Glad to see you look like one of the locals with your short pants.
|
|
Regards Chris
|
|
lucytuma
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: November/25/2007 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 5389 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Thanks for sharing, I'm sure you realize how fortunate you really are. Great story, great pictures!
|
|
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
|
|
SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Guys, I am blown away by how blessed I am to have gone and done the things you see in the photos.
I couldn't stand the noise with the long pants stalking, so I decided scratched legs were quieter! And you are right, I have already planned to go back!! |
|
8shots
Optics Jedi Knight Lord Of The Flies Joined: March/14/2007 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 6253 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Seems like Africa smiled upon you. Great hunt, great story.....thanks for sharing.
Yes we have it all at our back door...sometimes we do not appreciate it enough.
|
|
Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13682 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
A dream of mine. one day it will happen. I'm in awww of your hunt.
|
|
P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
Ecclesiastes 10:2 |
|
Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
So what did you think of the local cuisine Sam, did you get to try anything interesting?
|
|
Regards Chris
|
|
SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I am quite adventurous with foods. I liked everything that I ate. Ate guava fruit off the tree, picked oranges on one concession. Really enjoyed salami of mixed wildebeest and kudu.
cant remember the egg cheese meat dish that was a local favorite that was tremendous! |
|
Glock
Optics Master Joined: November/06/2005 Location: South Africa Status: Offline Points: 1430 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Must say we have some really good food here, suppose that's why most South African men have what I call big stomach syndrome. To much good food and beers. |
|
Regards Chris
|
|
SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
|
|
"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
|
|
Sparky
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: July/15/2007 Location: SD Status: Offline Points: 4569 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Very Nice!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
|
|
Rancid Coolaid
MODERATOR Joined: January/19/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9318 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Rifles were on the range today, confidence is a good thing.
Shooting from sticks ain't easy, especially when on is 6'4" tall. "We're gonna need a bigger boat."
|
|
Freedom is something you take.
Respect is something you earn. Equality is something you whine about not being given. |
|
Post Reply | Page <1 34567 8> |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |