SOUTH AFRICA: A Second Trip To the Eastern Cape With GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS

[Scott CWO]

@Tundra Tiger congrats on a great hunt. I appreciate your honesty of the ups and downs. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

I got the “shanks” for part of my 2014 safari in Mozambique but got past it. It happens to everyone at some point.

As for your next safari, I’m excited you mentioned bushbuck, waterbuck and nyala. Three of my favorite species!

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[AZDAVE]

Congratz! on a nice hunt. The skills and determination of the African PH's and Trackers is amazing. Thank you for sharing your adventures and highlighting your ups and downs. We have all been there and know those feelings. have fun planning your next safari.

 

[PARA45]

TT, what a great report, thank you for taking us along. I knew you would like Don as your PH, he is a great individual and PH. Everyone at Game 4 Africa is top notch. Glad you bounced back, and got some beautiful animals. Well done my friend.

Now, what are you going to do with them?

 

[Nyati]

Congrats for a great hunt. Yes great, as you enjoyed it, despite its ups and downs, and thanks for sharing !

By the way, some nice piggies.

 

[Firebird]

Hartebeest was the one animal I shanked on. We still got him killed and brought home but I will have to try a re do on those guys next trip!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

@PARA45 ... I really wasn't sure - what to do with them - going in. Flat skins and euros for most. I decided on a shoulder mount on the black wildebeest, after the story it turned into. And I had the gemsbok skinned for a shoulder mount too; it's just to darned pretty not to.

To all... thanks for the words of encouragement; I truly appreciate them.

 

[PARA45]

That’s a great plan. I’ll prob do a shoulder mount on every Kudu I shoot.

 

[fourfive8]

I’ll echo the others, great trip and thanks for sharing! I gather you are a birder of sorts.

Birders paradise isn’t it!! Next trip try to talk your PH and trackers into following a honeyguide if they are around. Trust but verify the honeyguide

 

[Tundra Tiger]

@Scott CWO .... Thank you for the supportive words. You are way too kind in your assessment good sir.

@fourfive8 ... Short version: I didn't know diddle about birds 16 years ago, when I took a job as an outdoor educator for the USFWS. My job somewhat pushed me in the direction of becoming a birder amongst other things. It's something I am pretty enthusiastic about now. Africa is a lot of fun where birds are concerned.

 

[shootist~]

Good story Tundra T. I started it while sitting in the Slow Lounge at JNB on my way back two days ago Finished it just now. ( Guess I'm a slow reader.)

Glad you found the Black WB. If I make a third trip, which is iffy due to age, a black wildebeest will be at the top of my list.

 

[Ragman]

Very enjoyable report TT…love reading lever gun hunts! There used to be a local hunting forum that I was a member of that had three of us that became known as the “Lever Gang”. Me with my BLR and Model 94 (and eventually Dad’s 99), one guy with several BLRs and the third with his 99. We became friends and in 2020 I shot a bear on the 99 fellow’s farm with my BLR.
You’ve got me pining for the Eastern Cape again. You definitely need a bushbuck. If I ever get back I’ll be going after another. And guess what will be #1…..you got it, bushpig!!!
You hit the nail on the head about soaking in every minute. It’s such a rare opportunity and goes by so quickly. Well done!!!

 

[CBH Australia]

Great report. Congratulations on the Gemsbok. I didn't hunt one but we did eat some with the same outfitters.
I think I said in my hunt report from 2020 there are likely to be little Cootzee's in the nerar future .
I met Norman he and the other Skinner's who helped recover my Wildebeest when Lionel was guiding and Mike was tracking.
Nice Warthog btw.
What did you eat while there ? Did anything memorable?

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Great report. Congratulations on the Gemsbok. I didn't hunt one but we did eat some with the same outfitters.
I think I said in my hunt report from 2020 there are likely to be little Cootzee's in the nerar future .
I met Norman he and the other Skinner's who helped recover my Wildebeest when Lionel was guiding and Mike was tracking.
Nice Warthog btw.
What did you eat while there ? Did anything memorable?

I don't want this to sound like a cop-out, but it was all really good, just like the last time. The only one of mine I remember was the buffalo, and only because Wik said it was going to be tough. He was wrong. Very wrong.

Two others I remember - I didn't kill them - were mountain reedbuck and duiker. Those were new for me and both were excellent.

 

[Hunt anything]

Great report. Congratulations on the Gemsbok. I didn't hunt one but we did eat some with the same outfitters.
I think I said in my hunt report from 2020 there are likely to be little Cootzee's in the nerar future .
I met Norman he and the other Skinner's who helped recover my Wildebeest when Lionel was guiding and Mike was tracking.
Nice Warthog btw.
What did you eat while there ? Did anything memorable?

The 2 things I remember eating the most at G4A were eland burgers and a breakfast link sausage from warthog! I could sit down and eat them until it came out my ears. It was truly all good, it was a good thing Wic likes to walk.

 

[PARA45]

I ate the tenderloins of the buff I shot, and it was amazing. All the meat I ate there was game with exception of one night we had lamb. The same w my experience, the food was all delicious!

BTW, Don cooked a lot of the time, and I was surprised that they only put olive oil on the meat, no salt, pepper, garlic, nothing. The answer I got was so I can taste the difference of the meat I was eating.

 

[PARA45]

I had an eland stew, and it was amazing. Couldn’t get enough of it.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Oscar, the same was true of my buff.

I joked with Don about how I was going to explain in a believable way that we hiked 5-9 miles a day... and I put on 17 pounds. (In fact, I did actually lose weight)

 

[Drywaller44]

Blue wildebeest lasagna and kudu meatballs were my favorites. All the different tenderloins were excellent and I ate the hell out of their hard sausage appetizer they would set out before dinner.

 

[buck wild]

Late to the party. Stuck with it in true Alaskan style!