cagkt3
AH legend
Been tied up at work, so just now reading this. Congrats on a great trip with your father and some great trophies!!
DoubleLunger, thanks to you and your dad for taking the time to write your reports for us. It was so enjoyable to get to experience it through your eyes!
Been tied up at work, so just now reading this. Congrats on a great trip with your father and some great trophies!!
looked forward to reading your report reads like you had a good time. having hunted with Philip last year it brought back all those memories of my trip. and built the anticipation for my return next year this time taking both my children along for the experience.
Day 8 of huntingAs planned we traveled to the Kalahari yet stopping at a small outdoor flea market and the taxidermy along the way. A few gifts were picked up for our wives after negotiating with the eager merchants that were trying their best to get every dollar out of us.
Then, on to the taxidermist. Trophaendienste Taxidermy was the name of the company. It seemed like a rather large operation with a series of warehouses combined with a couple of show rooms, a large unique gift shop with a coffee bar, and a few small offices. I was very impressed. Their work looked really good and the customer service was on spot. If I had even the smallest question as to what something would look like then it was shown to me as they seemed to have every type of mount in their shop that I could think of. They had just about any different angle of shoulder mount that any hunter would want in his trophy room as well as full mounts, chairs, ottomans, etc. If I ever were to win the lottery than I would go shopping for furniture right here. That is of course, should my loving wife allow it.
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After leaving our skulls and hides with the taxidermist we were off to the Kalahari stopping at a small store along the way to pick up a fair amount of billtong to snack on while enroute.
After a couple hours of driving we arrived at the Okambara Lodge. It was unique in the sense that it looked like a castle from the outside. The inside was nice and well kept just like any other nice hotel or resort. My father and Dale had their own nice rooms with private balcony, bathroom, etc. My room on the other hand, not so much. My room was certainly not a dump by any means as I have definitely slept in worse. My sleeping quarters was one of a few dorm like rooms which were also lived in by the younger staff that worked at the lodge. It had a separate bathroom shared by myself and two others. My quarters were not cleaned daily nor was there a regular laundry service. But then again I was here to hunt and support my father's attempts in taking an Eland. Not to be pampered.
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My father hunted with Philip that afternoon as I went in a separate truck with two trackers. One named Marios and the other named Eric. They were friendly yet did not have the same skill set of a PH. Getting within gun range of an Oryx or Impala seemed to be difficult for them. Yet we did see plenty of wildlife such as elephant and giraffe.
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Eventually I told Marios that only two of us should set out on foot during our next walk and stalk. And that we did as soon as we spotted two young Gemsbok. Marios kept wanting to follow directly behind the animals as they kept walking directly away from us. I suggested we travel more to the left of the Gemsbok in better hopes of a flank shot. And sure enough, it paid off. Soon after loading up the Gemsbok the trackers let me play with the radio. I reported our harvest to Philip and he reported back that my father had taken his eland. He made me feel not happy but fortunate for my dad and I to be here in the Kalahari and taking game.
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Eric and myself with young Gemsbok for the kitchen
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Dad with his very impressive Eland(approx 1800 pounds)
Day 9 of huntingAfter breakfast we headed out to a blind over looking a water hole in an attempt to take some impala. We saw plenty of game but not what we were hoping for.
We hunted again that evening in separate trucks and saw plenty of game yet no animals were taken.
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Dad's Eland
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Waiting patiently in blind
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Dad passed out in blind
To be continued...............
Your invitation letter is in the press! Time to come hunting again ;-). Thank you for sharing your Experience!
Great report Homes,
And thanks for going along with Dale and myself.
Did we have a big time or what!
Cheerio,
Your Ol' Paps.
Sitting at OR Tambo just left Khomas Highland this morning......lots of game. Great time....just received my mounts in late June. You should have everything delivered within the month. Looks great
What taxidermist did you use?Excellent! I’m sure you had just as good of a time as we did. Did you use the same taxidermist? If so how about some pics?
If not then no worries my friend