Sand Rat
AH fanatic
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2013
- Messages
- 787
- Reaction score
- 1,168
- Location
- Texas and Saudi Arabia
- Media
- 129
- Articles
- 1
- Hunted
- Texas, Mississippi, Kansas, Botswana, Eastern Cape
We were met at the Maun airport by Kanana rep Will (apprentice PH) and our journey began! The wife and I had chose to spend a few days at Afton House in Joberg prior to our safari and the stay was very relaxing and enjoyable. We were accompanied by a work colleague and his nephew who joined use in Joberg prior to our flight departure. Will stop to allow us to stretch our legs halfway through the 3.5 hour drive from Maun to the lodge which gave us the opportunity to gawk at a giant Baobab tree.
View attachment 19530
We arrived at Kanana in time for a quick trip to the gun range before dark to get comfortable with the supplied firearms. I was shooting a CZ 550 in 30-06 that is hands down one of the best firearms I have ever handled. After a wonderful dinner under the stars we settled in for the night of rest with a herd of Blue Wildebeest running between our tents in the middle of the night. Welcome to Africa (it was great)! Apprentice Will gave the wakeup call @ 0600 and breakfast was served @ 0630. By 0700 we were on the truck and the adventure began. Our first Kalahari sunrise will forever be imprinted in our mind.
After numerous failed stalks (gemsbok, zebra, wildebeest...)that first morning due to the constant wind shift I was able to take my first African plains game, a fine Blue Wildebeest that measured 27" outside and had lots of height and curl. We had seen bigger that morning but I was very happy with my first kill and he is one of my favorite trophies taken.
An APB had been placed on a one horn waterbuck the night before that Kanana wanted shot in order to make a flat skin rug for a client. luck would have it we spotted it midday on the way to the skinning shed with my Blue and it was added to the truck. The broke horn was found later in the week so I have the option for a repaired European mount for the cost of the taxidermy work.
I can't say enough about my PH, a young man named J.P. who did and outstanding job for the whole trip. Having been raised in the area he was well versed in the native wildlife and went out of his way to not only ensure me the best shot but also show Sandy and I all the little things that normally go unnoticed. The other hunters said the wildebeest visited the camp again the second night but we never heard them.
After breakfast the next morning it was a repeat of the first morning. The winds were swirling and all our stalks were busted until midmorning when I harvested a nice 37" bull gemsbok out of a herd of seven animals at a water hole.
Late that afternoon a blind stalk to the "hippo'' water hole produced the first of three warthogs Sandy and I would harvest.
That's all for now, days 3-8 coming soon.
View attachment 19530
We arrived at Kanana in time for a quick trip to the gun range before dark to get comfortable with the supplied firearms. I was shooting a CZ 550 in 30-06 that is hands down one of the best firearms I have ever handled. After a wonderful dinner under the stars we settled in for the night of rest with a herd of Blue Wildebeest running between our tents in the middle of the night. Welcome to Africa (it was great)! Apprentice Will gave the wakeup call @ 0600 and breakfast was served @ 0630. By 0700 we were on the truck and the adventure began. Our first Kalahari sunrise will forever be imprinted in our mind.
After numerous failed stalks (gemsbok, zebra, wildebeest...)that first morning due to the constant wind shift I was able to take my first African plains game, a fine Blue Wildebeest that measured 27" outside and had lots of height and curl. We had seen bigger that morning but I was very happy with my first kill and he is one of my favorite trophies taken.
An APB had been placed on a one horn waterbuck the night before that Kanana wanted shot in order to make a flat skin rug for a client. luck would have it we spotted it midday on the way to the skinning shed with my Blue and it was added to the truck. The broke horn was found later in the week so I have the option for a repaired European mount for the cost of the taxidermy work.
I can't say enough about my PH, a young man named J.P. who did and outstanding job for the whole trip. Having been raised in the area he was well versed in the native wildlife and went out of his way to not only ensure me the best shot but also show Sandy and I all the little things that normally go unnoticed. The other hunters said the wildebeest visited the camp again the second night but we never heard them.
After breakfast the next morning it was a repeat of the first morning. The winds were swirling and all our stalks were busted until midmorning when I harvested a nice 37" bull gemsbok out of a herd of seven animals at a water hole.
Late that afternoon a blind stalk to the "hippo'' water hole produced the first of three warthogs Sandy and I would harvest.
That's all for now, days 3-8 coming soon.
opcorn:
