Longwalker
AH elite
July 2024 - Coutada 9, 9 days. Hunted Buffalo (management) and also trophy Eland, Kudu, Bushbuck, Impala, Warthog. PH Fabian Fellner. Firearms used Merkel double .450-400 3" / 400 gr. Swift Aframe and V-C bolt action 9.3x62, 285 gr. Swift Aframe.
I'm just back, what follows is an account of the buffalo hunt portion of our safari. It was an excellent experience, beyond expectations over all. Beautiful countryside, despite the current drought conditions. Plentiful game of multiple species, excellent trophy quality, good facilities, good food, excellent service and professionalism. I'm a happy hunter!
What a wonderful first day on Safari! Our professional hunter Fabian Fellner is skilled, considerate and ethical in his dealings with both people and animals. Starting at dawn, we checked a water hole and picked up the tracks of a group of three old Cape buffalo bulls. Followed for several kms in the hot dry and densely vegetated miombo woodland. We never caught up with them. But we did encounter many kudu, impala, warthogs, duiker and waterbuck and also some elephant, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck, baboon, sable and oribi. What a wealth of wildlife that is only here in Coutada 9 because of the investment and dedication of the hunting safari camp operators. My buddy Evan is a first time Africa visitor and hunter. He’s excited as a kid in a candy shop. Me too even after 6 trips. During all that, we watched huge Lappet faced vultures and Bataleur eagles having a bath in a water hole, observed fierce Matabele army ants raiding a termite hill, and later listend to the soothing sounds of Emerald-spotted and Cape turtle doves put the sun to bed as the full moon rose and several species of bats came out. After a delicious meal of Nyala chops and Impala filet with a side of local veggies we sat around a thorn wood camp fire for “sundowners and stories” with camp owner Niel Duckworth and one of his neighbour colleagues. Their stories were quite educational. We were also warned to keep a flashlight handy on the path back to the sleeping cabin after dark because a group of five rather cheeky lions make their rounds near camp most evenings. One of our afternoon activities had been to smooth the road and trails with a thorn bush tied behind the Toyota hilux which we drug to wipe out old buffalo tracks. So tomorrow we can choose a fresh set of tracks to follow. I’m not sure if sleep is difficult because of jet lag or excitement!
I'm just back, what follows is an account of the buffalo hunt portion of our safari. It was an excellent experience, beyond expectations over all. Beautiful countryside, despite the current drought conditions. Plentiful game of multiple species, excellent trophy quality, good facilities, good food, excellent service and professionalism. I'm a happy hunter!
What a wonderful first day on Safari! Our professional hunter Fabian Fellner is skilled, considerate and ethical in his dealings with both people and animals. Starting at dawn, we checked a water hole and picked up the tracks of a group of three old Cape buffalo bulls. Followed for several kms in the hot dry and densely vegetated miombo woodland. We never caught up with them. But we did encounter many kudu, impala, warthogs, duiker and waterbuck and also some elephant, eland, reedbuck, bushbuck, baboon, sable and oribi. What a wealth of wildlife that is only here in Coutada 9 because of the investment and dedication of the hunting safari camp operators. My buddy Evan is a first time Africa visitor and hunter. He’s excited as a kid in a candy shop. Me too even after 6 trips. During all that, we watched huge Lappet faced vultures and Bataleur eagles having a bath in a water hole, observed fierce Matabele army ants raiding a termite hill, and later listend to the soothing sounds of Emerald-spotted and Cape turtle doves put the sun to bed as the full moon rose and several species of bats came out. After a delicious meal of Nyala chops and Impala filet with a side of local veggies we sat around a thorn wood camp fire for “sundowners and stories” with camp owner Niel Duckworth and one of his neighbour colleagues. Their stories were quite educational. We were also warned to keep a flashlight handy on the path back to the sleeping cabin after dark because a group of five rather cheeky lions make their rounds near camp most evenings. One of our afternoon activities had been to smooth the road and trails with a thorn bush tied behind the Toyota hilux which we drug to wipe out old buffalo tracks. So tomorrow we can choose a fresh set of tracks to follow. I’m not sure if sleep is difficult because of jet lag or excitement!
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