SOUTH AFRICA: 2021 South Africa Recap With Double Shot Outfitters

[Shade Asbhire]

Date: June 2021

Area: South Africa-Limpopo Providence

Outfitter: Double Shot Outfitter








After reading so many reports here for so many years I figured It was my turn to finally share something. I am not as great of a storyteller as some of the guys here (Love when you feel like you are there while reading!) but will do my best.



This trip really started 8 years ago. On my 30th birthday I decided to do something special for myself. Book a trip somewhere to hunt. Having never traveled International to hunt It was not even a thought to go to Africa if I’m being honest. While scrolling some hunting forums looking for something local to Texas, I came across a post from Adam Batot with Double Shot Outfitters.



A package to hunt Africa. My biggest dream growing up! The package he had posted was less than I planned for my budget, but I have all ways read horror stories of the hidden costs of Africa trips, so I sent him an email. He responded quickly answering my questions and to my surprise seemed very straight forward and there were no hidden costs. With It being May and so close to his planned trip that year I decided to plan it for the following year. Deposit sent and for a few weeks It was all I could think about. Reading stories, watching videos and planning in my own head. Adam kept in touch by phone and text almost weekly, give me tips and advice also updating me on everything being planned. I was quite impressed as I had never even met him in person and was taking a big risk, but he helped ease my concerns over time.



Fast forward to the month to leave. Tickets booked, 4457s completed, permits sent off, now just wait until the day arrives. I had booked my own ticket and not knowing what I was doing I booked it a day later than Adam had so he would be arriving before me (Now days I just let him do the booking for me).

Board the plane In Houston and layover In Atlanta for a while then the long flight to Africa. Being so excited and anxious It was hard to sleep and 15hrs in economy is not very comfortable. I didn’t know a person’s rear end could get so sore from sitting.

Upon landing and it being my first time in Africa I had paid for the VIP service through the travel agency, so a porter meets me at the off ramp. He was holding a sign with my name, easily spotted him and he walked me through customs. Once through and bags collected, we went over to the SAPs office for guns. 15 minutes later I'm out of there. I had not noticed my ride waiting for me so finally once I found them and we greeted one another we loaded the van and took off.

Soon as we hit the freeway, I almost had a heart attack. The driver pulls out into the left lane and floors It. Took a few minutes for me to remember I was in now In Africa and the rules here are different, opposite side the road for travel. We are chatting a bit as the driver is a younger man and his even younger brother Is In the back seat, I ask about their schooling and one of them Is planning to be a PH. The usual chatter but It being a 3 1/2hr drive and being up for so long I finally fade off to sleep.



I wake up about an hour from the lodge and Its pitch-black outside. It is not common to see it this dark back home but when I wake all I could see is road and fences on both sides. Almost on cue a Kudu steps up to the fence on the right side then an Impala. It was amazing seeing my first animals.



Now we stop at an Intersection and the driver and his brother are talking In Afrikaans, it sounds like they are arguing. One has the GPS pointing down the road the other is pointing to the left. After a few minutes the older of two the apologizes and says don't mind my little brother, he Is just being a brat. I just laugh and say no, he Is just being a little brother. I have 3 younger brothers and know how that goes. Turning down a dirt road we drive another 25 minutes then pull up at an old gate. Not what I was expecting as all the ones I have seen in the videos and stories was nice grand entrances. The driver can see my worry I assume, and he apologizes for not telling me in advance, this is not the use gate he normally uses, going to take a short cut through the farm. This eases me a bit but while running a dirt road in the bush and pitch black outside you can’t help but to wonder.



Accepting my possible fate, I wonder how much they are going to get for my kidneys, heart. I sure hope It’s a deserving kid that gets them. My only gun Is locked up in the back of the van and I have no knife either. Would not be much of a fight, I guess.



A brown Hyena crosses the road in front us and that’s when It really hit me. After so many years of dreaming and thinking I would never make It here, I am finally in AFRICA!



After what felt like forever, I see lights in the distance and then pull up to a nice lodge, the fear of my organs ending up on the black market start to fade. I get out and stretch and the guys tell me to go grab a drink in the kitchen and meet the guys, they will take my bags to chalet. I cut the corner and the first guy I see, Dusty who is a wounded warrior that had been in a hummer In Iraq when it took an IED. Adam brought him along for a trip since he does a charity hunt often. Now mind you Dusty was an amazing guy to hunt with the following week and I would be more than happy to hunt with him again anytime, but for being the first person I meet when getting to the lodge It was a bit of a surprise. He extends his hand out and greets me 'HI I’m Dusty" I go to shake but stop short when I see he has a nub. No hand. Just a nub, he sees me pause and laughs. “I’m just messing with you” then extends his other hand, It’s a hook. I grab It and shake It like I would any man’s hand and just laugh.

Adam walks up extends his hand after seeing what just happened and Is laughing. We shake hands and that was the start of a very close friendship!

 

[Shade Asbhire]

My first trip will always be burned into my memory for ever. Something I will not forget. Hopefully even when I am much older and going senile It Is my stories of Africa that I repeat and Indulge people with repeating the same stories!

The next few years though I have managed to make It back 6 more times and It seems each trip bests the last.



I will skip the past ones and review this latest one of 2021 since It stands out for me as much as the first.



We had just got back from our trip in 2019 and I came across a deal on two double rifles. I made myself a promise on my first trip I would not hunt buffalo until I could do It traditionally with my own double. After talking with the guy that was selling them, I bought them both, Adam bought one from me and we agreed It was time to hunt buffalo the next trip. We started making plans and I started sending payments. Adam Is very easy to work with when It comes to payment. We planned for 2020 buffalo trip.



We all know how 2020 worked out. Total crap show. We still talked often and visited on occasion as we do anyway and since we couldn’t make It In 2020, we just said 2021 will be the year….and boy was It!!

I was so busy with work that the trip sort of snuck up on me. I had nothing prepared as usual plus I was in the process of buy and moving into a new house when Adam texts me for my paperwork. What paperwork? Gun permits, medical, 4457, copy of passport?? Why? We have plenty of Tim…. oh, we are only 8 weeks from the trip! Face palm. Of course, that paperwork!! I get in my email and start filling out paperwork, sending copies etc. Schedule appointment at US Customs for 4457 and of course run around like crazy getting things done just in time.



Adam books us on United flight through Newark, we normally use Delta but where worried they wouldn’t be flying to Joburg by then. Two days before flight I go get my brain swabbed and get results for the Corvid test next day.



Day of flight I arrive at Houston International to check in EARLY. I have gotten used to holds when flying with guns and I’m glad I did. I get a new lady at the desk and of course It was a hassle. I’m patient but after about 45 minutes of questions that have nothing to do with my flight and arguing about how I do not need a VISA to travel there I call for a manager. 10 minutes later TSA Is checking my guns and I’m through the TSA Precheck. Ready for a drink! Board the plane and I’m off to Newark. Land in Newark and meet up with Adam and a few other guys coming with us. We have a few drinks and eat as we usually do while catching up.

We board the plane and Adam had booked us In the Premium Plus seats. I highly recommend the extra money. It Is well worth It!! We are off and I have to say It was my most pleasant flight yet.

Land in Africa and do all the usual customs clearance, SAPs office etc. then pile in the vehicles and head North. We arrive at the lodge around 11:30 and do our usual greetings. We know most of the staff from over time, so It was welcome to catch up with them as well.

Everyone hangs out and has a few drinks while catching up and getting to know one another. Off to bed around 1. The chalets are nice with each its own bathroom, cooking area, two bedrooms and A/C Heat In each room. Very comfortable and cozy. (Not to mention they keep some lions there for educational purposes with vet Interns and you can hear them roaring you to sleep)

Sleep In the next day with a late brunch then hunters are assigned PHs and most everyone takes off. Hunting with Adam so many years he knows I enjoy bouncing around a bit and getting to know everyone, so I jump in with a hunter Unc as they called him (I renamed him Nonc in Cajun French that is uncle where I am from) and a PH Simon, we are off to check guns. Adam joins us to film some of the hunt as well. That day I was able to watch a new friend take an Impala, his first African animal. I enjoy watching someone get excited over that just as much as doing It myself.



Short day since we started out late and we head back to the lodge at sun set. I always did love the African sunsets. We have a great meal and all recap our first day. Most of the hunters where on their first trip and It was awesome hearing them tell their stories of the first day. A few drinks around the fire and everyone Is In bed early.

Next morning after breakfast I jump In with Simon and Nonc again. Adam jumps in with another client to take pictures and some videos. Off we go and not 5 minutes from the lodge we spot two beautiful stallion Zebras grazing. I try to get a Zebra every trip, so we stop and hope out. Short stalk and a 150yrd shot with my 6.5PRC. It’s a good hit, he runs maybe 30yds and stops and just stands there. We give him a few minutes, but he doesn’t go down, just stands there with his head down. We all know how tough they can be, so I decide I don’t want to leave it suffer any and put a second shot in him. Down he goes and we load up to drive there. Set him up for pictures and the congratulations. I love the beauty of Zebra and the fact that no two are never the exact same! He has bright colors and a beautiful face not to mention he Is huge! The workers show up and we help them load It and off they go. We take off looking for more game. Simon Is VERY well educated in wildlife and plants and I don’t mind me questioning him. No matter how many trips I make I’m always wanting to learn new things.

We make a few roads and I mention Waterbuck Is on my list. He knows where they hang out, so we head that way and sure enough we spot a few nice bulls. There Is a hill and he think he saw some behind It. We get close and make the round of the hill and there Is my bull, 40yds. I was hoping to shoot most game with my 450/400 double and this was perfect. Swap the PRC out and grab my double. Boom!! Clean miss I shot over him. Not much of a confidence builder after practicing so much with it. The heard runs about 30 more yards and stops in some brush. To many females around so I grab the PRC. Wait for a clear shot and squeeze a bullet through a hole in the brush. He sits flat on his a#^ and falls over backwards. If that’s not a fatal shot I don’t know what Is. We start shaking hands and Johan our driver says hey he just got up!! We look and sure enough I see his rear end running away behind the hill. We sprint to the top of the hill; I drop to a knee rack a new round in and put the scope on him. He Is trotting slowly but can tells he’s going to stop soon. 180yds and he stops. Boom! Straight to the neck and he drops in his tracks. The strength of these animals never ceases to amaze me

 

[Shade Asbhire]

We set him up the pictures and being my first Water buck I admire his body size. I have been around them before but cannot get over his body size. Huge!! He has nice horns, right at 27” but he Is an old bull with huge bases and unique whiteness to his horns. The workers show up and It takes 7 of us to load him. Off they go and to the lodge we go for lunch.

After lunch and a short nap, we take off again. Nonc has Buffalo on his list and wasn’t long that we spot a heard at a watering hole. We stop and look them over, Simon picking out a nice old bull. I had offered to let Nonc shoot his buffalo with my double, so he grabs it and off we go. At about 30yds the bull turns broad side and BOOOM he lands a perfect shoulder shot! Off the buffalos go to the right but he is the last one in the heard and lagging so easy to spot as he’s running. BOOM another perfect shot, 6 inches from the first. Two 400gr Barnes softs 6” apart dead in the should. The bull runs 50yds and Is down for the count! The other bulls stop and don’t want to leave so we bring in the truck to run them off and block them. They check the shot buff and he is down for the count. The heard stops at 75yds and just stares at us. One bull locks eye with me as I am now on herd watch as the workers start clearing to get a truck in and Nonc admires his buffalo. I see a tear in his eyes as he had told me this was his dads biggest dream, sadly he never was able to make it before he passed. We all gave him a few minutes alone with his buffalo to reminisce and I hear him say this is for you pops.

The buffalo I locked eyes with Is still staring at me. I swear I have never had a look like that in my life, it wasn’t hatred, it wasn’t love, it just felt like he was telling me something, but I could never really figure It out. I hear a truck coming with more workers and only then did the heard take off. That one bull though stood there till the last second staring at me. It’s a look I will never forget! (I’m not being dramatic either, I really will never forget that. I can close my eyes now and still see It clear as can be!)

We set up the buffalo and take our pictures. Help the crew load It up and agree that was enough for the day. We take a long slow ride back to camp admiring the sunset.

Back at the lodge we all congratulate each other and do a group shot of Springbokies. This Is a tradition we started years ago and still stands for us.

The next morning, I decide to jump in with some other hunters. A father son team on their first trip as well. Adam and Flippy their PH Is In the back with us and Ernest, Adams Double Shot contact in Africa is driving. We set off for a Kudu that Ernest had his eye on for some time. It was a chilly morning and I swear It felt like we drove to Pretoria, finally we stop at a camp and talk with the owner. Off we go again and before long, we are hunting. It takes a awhile but one of the trackers finally spot the bull we are after. After a quick stalk (He was occupied by some ladies, we know how vulnerable we all are when that happens) so It wasn’t hard getting close. Boom! He jumps and runs 40yds smacking right into a tree. We are all scared he broke his horns off he hit so hard. We get to It and realize just how big he Is. After congratulations, back slaps and handshakes we get pictures and do a quick field scoring. 58 ½” Inches! Truly amazing bull!

He Is loaded up and off we go in search of other targets, Jay mentions a Sable and Ernest knows just where to go. It takes a while to locate the herd but once we do my draw drops. Not 1, not 2, not 3 but at least 5, 40 “ + Sables if not more. We watch the heard for a while and then HE comes out from the brush. I ask out loud, HOLY S&#T how big is that Sable. Ernest responds they are thinking right at 50” if not bigger. Jay see it and starts to shake. I really did enjoy watching his reactions through out the hunts. Don’t think I ever seen anyone get more excited. It takes awhile to get a clear shot but finally the others clear away he turns broadside, and a perfect shoulder shot puts him down in 30yards. We all race there to see it. I can’t get over the size and beauty of him. I believe sable are one of the prettiest an animal in Africa! We all congratulate Jay on the Sable and Adam says he thinks it will be one of the top in the books.

I spent most of the days riding with others watching them hunt. Waiting on my opportunity to hunt a buffalo as that was my main target this trip. The 4th day In I got a chance to take another Zebra with my double. 76yd shot and It ran about 40yds. My first animal with my double and helped rebuild my confidence. I feel I had rushed that first shot on the Waterbuck. On cloud 9 after performing great with my double, Adam decides to pop a Zebra at 96yds with his double. Thanks for bursting my cloud Adam! Congratulations in the same sentence though. Great shot!! HaHa

A few more days of fun observations and getting to watch some amazing animals go into the salt. Sable, Impala, Gemsbok, Zebra, Nyala, Blesbok, Waterbuck, Eland, Warthog, Giraffe you name It! Everyone was enjoying the trip and the guys on there for the first time where already planning their second trip.

I am a patient man but on the 7th night around the fire I tell Adam, I am enjoying myself more than ever. I don’t really need to hunt to have fun here but, the anticipation of my buffalo hunt is killing me. He just laughs and says don’t worry, It’s on the list for tomorrow as goal #1. Finally! That morning I woke up extra early due to excitement. I am finally possibly going to live out my second biggest dream I have ever had. I am finally going to hunt the Cape Buffalo I read about so much as a kid. I swear there Isn’t a book out there I know of that I have not read pertaining to hunting Africa. After getting dressed and being at the kitchen earlier than anyone else I enjoy my coffee as I watch the sky brighten and the Ostriches eating in the yard. It’s a chilly morning and the lions are up and roaring, this Is as close as I’ll come to a morning in the bush from stories by Chapstick, Roark, Hemmingway, Roosevelt and the likes of all the famous hunters. Closing my eyes, I try to picture what they would see when they came out of their tents. Hearing someone behind me I snap back out of It and get a good morning from Cecilia, one of the hostesses at the lodge. It’s time for a refill and to get ready.



Ernest shows up and we load Into his truck for the hunt. We are going to another farm as he wants to spread some wealth and help other farmers due to the Corvid killing the Industry for a year.

Once there we meet with the owner, his son jumps in with us and we are off. We cut some tracks at a water hole and take off on foot. Louis Is my head PH with Johan there as well. Adam is with us to film. Holding nothing but his camera Adam makes the statement, well I hope all of you are good shots. Otherwise well have some great charging video, don’t worry Adam, I’d make sure you got the credit for it at the funeral.

 

[Shade Asbhire]

We follow the tracks for a bit but realize the wind Is at our backs and It will be hard to get on one. We stop to talk and before we could say anything a bull burst out of the brush 30yds from us. We can hear him running for a long way. It Is amazing with their size how well they can hide!

Regroup and decide we busted him hard enough that he’s not stopping soon but think we know where he Is headed. Back to the truck to make the round and maybe cut him off. Off we go, on the way there someone spots another buffalo laid up in the shade of a Marula tree. We quickly jump off the truck and they drive off. Walking back, we spot him, and Louis grabs me and tells me he’s laying down. Hell stand up when he sees us, if you get a clear shot take him. As we round a bush, he spots us and Is up much faster than I expected. I put the sights on him and squeeze the trigger. The gun surprises me but even with the recoil I see him drop straight down. What the hell… that’s not how this Is supposed to go. keeping my gun on him I start running thoughts through my head. He was facing us. I put It on the V on his chest. I know the kill zone. I know where to hit him. That should not have dropped him. Did I shoot high again and spine him? Did I brain him? Louis tells me come let’s go closer, I snap out of my trance and as we are walking, I crack the double open and reload. Shot 1, I have 11 left in my belt. As we get closer, he starts trying to stand up. Shoot! Boom! Boom! He is back down. Luis and Johan cover me as I reload. We stand for a bit and hear a bellow. He Is down for good! We slowly walk closer and he picks his head up and looks at us. Shoot! On his spine! Boom! He stands up and Louis shoots boom! I shoot Boom! He’s back down. Reload! We stand for a bit and hear him bellow again. Surely this Is It! We get closer and can see he still has some life left. Louis says put one more in his should just in case. Boom! That’s It, his down for the count. I cover as Louis checks and to make sure. No reaction on the eye. He is done. I’ve just lived out my second biggest dream of my life. I won’t lie, it got a bit emotional for me for a bit. A tear may have pooled up for a minute are two. I reach out and just rub the fur as i admire his size. Nothing prepares you for this moment, all the books in the world cannot describe the feeling you get once you know you’ve taken down the one, they call Black Death.

We set the bull up and take our pictures. First just me, then me and Louis, then me and Adam. Before you know we have pictures with the whole gang. This is a memory of a lifetime and I am already printing and framing the pictures in my head. The day ends with loading up the bull then off to look for another. Kyle is after one as well and if we can get two in a day that would be awesome. We finish the day looking but no luck on another bull. Back to the lodge and tonight I am the one reliving the day with everyone. It was a day I can retell over and over for years to come. That night sitting around the fire I tell Adam that a second buffalo is not out of the question if we get the chance.

The night ends with as usual a great meal, round of Springbokie shots and drinks.

Next morning, I am still reliving the day before when we load up to head for Kyles Buffalo. We get to the farm and drop off the crew, Kyle, Adam, Louis, Johan, and a tracker. Me and Ernest go park the truck and talk while we listen to the radio waiting to hear the guys. We hear a shot in the distance, but it sounds like a miss. The radio confirms it is a miss indeed. We make the round and pick up the guys. After some refreshments they are off again to look some more. An hour later we hear another shot. The radio says it’s a hit, they are tracking it now. We drive back to pick up more trackers to help. On the way we see another huge buffalo. The though to take him crosses my mind but we decide to wait, do not want to deal with two wounded buffalo at the same time in the event it’s a bad shot.

He crashes though the brush as we pass and find the guys marker on the road and drop the trackers off. They are off we sit to hear what is needed next. Takes a while but finally the deed is done, and Kyle has his buffalo on the ground. Wie get a call over the radio to pick them since there is a second buffalo that will not leave the first one alone. We pick them up and I can hear Ernest talking. The second buffalo is big and a shooter. Adam looks at me and says, well you wanted a second one. Here is your chance.

I look and Ernest is already suiting on. Ammo belt goes on, binoculars are taken off and the 450/400 pulled from the case. We take off walking towards the area as I load. 60Yrds in the tracker is pointing at the brush talking to Ernest. I can see the dead one but not the live one. Ernest tells the tracker, not the dead one the other. Where is he? The tracker simply pulls me aside and there he is. 40yds away hidden in the shade of a tree. Again, it’s amazing how well they hide. I don’t hesitate and up goes the rifle. BOOM! BOOM! Two shoulder shots before he can take two steps. I open to reload and as I do, he starts to run to the left. I am back on him and BOOM! Ernest shoots as well! BOOM. At our two shots he’s back down but can see he’s still wanting to get up. My other barrel! BOOM! He is down! We start to walk to the right to stay behind him, reloading as I walk. Once we round the bushes, he was behind and can see a clear shot he is back on his feet!! BOOM! A 400gr Barnes punches him in the neck and he is down. This shot would have been enough I feel but he got the left barrel just in case.



We walk up slowly watching him for movement. Once close Ernest tells me get broadside and put one more in his should just in case. He covers me as I duck underbrush not to make any noise and BOOM! The shot rocks the whole animal, but he doesn’t flinch. He is done. Ernest checks his eye and no reaction. I can’t help but to hug Ernest, then Adam, then the tracker. Another emotional moment for me having two close friends there with me. I stand back and admire his size. His body size first as he is bigger than my last, then his bosses and his width. Such amazing animals!! Looking up he fell only 10yrds from Kyles. I wonder if these two where friends or enemies that happened to be close to each other. Both show plenty signs of fighting. The whole crew shows up and they bring in heavy equipment this time. Not so much physical labor thankfully. The buffalos are brought out to the front for pictures and some of the workers families came out to see them.



Pictures are taken, a celebratory drink consumed since the hunt is over, I just finished my trip. We stand around awhile talking while the workers load the buffalo. I was able to see the durability of the land cruiser that day with two full grown bulls put in the back of one. Really wish we could get those in the states!

That night at the lodge as I’m sitting next to Adam at dinner, I said you realize this is now a yearly thing for me, I already have multiples of the plains games I have wanted. No need to hunt them anymore. Buffalo and warthogs are my list from now on.

 

[Shade Asbhire]

Just a few pictures to go with the story.

 

[Shade Asbhire]

Buffalo one and Two.

 

[Shade Asbhire]

 

[TennJay]

Great report. Thanks for posting.

 

[Uncle Sauce]

Congrats - Great report and beautiful photos!

 

[Shade Asbhire]

Thank you.