SOUTH AFRICA: First Hunt With Alpha Pride Safaris

[skydiver386]

I've been back in the States over 2 weeks now, so I thought I'd better get busy with review and pictures.
Country: South Africa
Dates: 27 September -11 October, 2023
Type of Hunt: Plains Game, Wingshooting, Varmint/night hunting
Method of Hunting: Rifle, shotgun
Outfitter: Alfa Pride Safaris
PH: Cristo Van de Wenter
Locations Hunted: Makapong, Kalahari SA
Species Hunted: Kudu, Blue Wildebeest, Warthog Red Hartebeest, Springbok, Impala, Sand Grouse.
Trophy Quality: Excellent
Lodging: Excellent
Food: Excellent
Activities: Hunting, bird watching
Travel Methods: Truck

High Points: My Kudu stalk
Low Points: Not bringing a proper camera
Things to Improve: Not much
Overall Rating: Excellent
Would Recommend to a Friend: Yes

Let me start out by saying this was everything I was expecting in an African hunt. Good food, excellent lodging, and great company. Because I'm the worlds slowest hunt and peck typist, it might take a while, but I'll post pictures to keep things moving.

 

[skydiver386]

My girlfriend Tina and I met Cristo in 2021 at one of the trade shows here in the Midwest. Years back they called it the Deer & Turkey Expo, then it was the Outdoor Life/Sports Afield Expo. Anyway, Tina and I stopped by several booths to talk with guides and outfitters, but most of them were simply brokers that sold hunting and fishing trips. Nothing wrong with this at all, but when we met Cristo, we we talking to the guy who would eventually be our Safari guide. We had dinner with both Cristo, and his brother in law Neil, and got to know them very well. Cristo is married to Neil's sister Minre, who you'll see later on in the pictures.

 

[skydiver386]

Leaving Columbus, Ohio for Atlanta was the only real glitch for us. The very nice ladies at the check-in counter had no real idea what to do with our firearms and ammo, so they literally had the instructions and read them off one by one. They were completely out of the red tags they have you sign and place in your gun case, but Tina had a few from a previous trip to the Airport to ask about flying with firearms. After an hour trying to get checked in, an older gentleman with Delta walked up and put everything in order. He knew exactly what to do and got us on our way. This was the only problem we encountered with our guns or ammo.

 

[skydiver386]

After the endless flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, we cleared Immigration, collected our guns and walked with our airline escort to the Police Station inside the terminal where Christo was waiting for us. The van driver from the African Sky Guest house drove us to our lodging for the night and put our rifle cases in their walk in vault. The wonderful receptionist at the front desk asked what we'd like for dinner, and informed us that our dinner would be waiting for us in 20 minutes. Just enough time to shower and change. What service.

 

[skydiver386]

In the bathroom I couldn't help but laugh at the can of insect repellent provided. THE DOOM! I got permission to take it with us, and it came in handy later on the trip

 

[skydiver386]

The next morning it was breakfast and our guide picked us up for the long ride from jburg to the Kalahari. The tracker/skinner Alfred and Cristos wife Minre we there to greet us with snacks and refreshments.

 

[skydiver386]

The next morning after a huge breakfast we drove to the range to check zero on the rifles. Both my CZ .375 and my Tikka .308 needed the action screws tightened, but after that they were bang on. A quick lunch off to the hunting area. This being my first trip to Africa, judging trophies isn't my strong suit, so like any smart hunter, I asked lots of questions and went with what my guide told me. Saw plenty of Kudu, Springbok, and Blue Wildebeest, but after several hours we didn't see anything worth putting a stalk on. Took a short break for some Powerade, then back at it. Spotted a large group of Wildebeest and decided to try a stalk on this fella. Staying behind any bushes and trees we could, the Wildebeest didn't spot us, but a Zebra sure did. We got just under a hundred yards and Cristo put the sticks out and we briefly discussed which one in the group to take. My CZ barked and this fine Blue Wildebeest went straight down.

 

[skydiver386]

Back at the Lodge, Minre was busy cooking up one her fine meals for us. She is very modest, but Tina and I both were more than happy with the 5 course meals every night. The desserts were especially good, and being a guy with a big sweet tooth, I loved ever bite. Cristo was a master of the BBQ grill, or braii as they call it.

 

[skydiver386]

The next morning was Tina's turn at bat. After several unsuccessful stalks on Springbok, we were able to get just over 130 yards from this Blesbok and Tina used 1 round from her Savage Lady Hunter .257 Roberts to take him.

 

[skydiver386]

After lunch and break for afternoon siesta, we headed to another property to look for Steinbok, but ended up with something completely different. My guide spotted a gray form several hundred yards down the track. I assumed it was a Guinea fowl, but after glassing it for a few seconds my guide whispered BIG Warthog! All I could see was his hind 1/3, the front 2/3 in the weeds, and I whispered "How can you tell?". Cristo looked at me with a big grin and said "I've shot dozens of big Warthog, and this one is BIG!". I whispered "Game On" and we slowly approached him in the soft sand. When we were maybe 60 yards from him I could tell it was a big one. He had his head down feeding on something, and was totally preoccupied with getting his belly filled. Christo put the sticks up and I took aim, but he told me not to shoot till the warthog gets up. We stood for several minutes waiting for a shot, but when the hog kept feeding Cristo whispered "Stay close behind me, I think we can get closer". I thought "What the heck for?", but by that time I was having so much fun I realized I had been grinning for the entire stalk. When we were 30 yards away, Cristo put the sticks out again and we waited. Nearly 10 minutes later the Warthog finally got up and Christo said "Take him". I put the Leupold Firedot on his shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger. I lost him when the rifle recoiled, but looked up to see him stone still in a cloud of dust.

 

[USN]

That Sir is one fine pig! Looks as if everything else is outstanding also. Congrats and looking forward to “the rest of the story”

 

[Graham Hunter]

Yes that is a BIG Warthog.

 

[skydiver386]

After some pictures and loading him in the truck, I was surprised at all the insects on my Warthog. It was the first time I remember seeing any insects since we'd arrived in the Kalahari. Living in Arizona during my time in the Army, I remember how insects appear from nowhere when there is any moisture, especially blood. I asked my guide if bug spray would be a good idea. He asked "You still have that can of DOOM in your pack?", and I replied "Never leave home without it", and after a quick burst, problem solved. This became a running joke and became known as THE DOOM TREATMENT.

 

[gillettehunter]

That is a great pig! Sounds like your hunt started off really well. Good shooting and congrats
Bruce

 

[skydiver386]

The next morning we went to a place with some thicker cover and a bit more rolling hills than where we had been previously. We did get a good look at some nice Kudu bulls, but my guide said that area produced much better, so we passed on them.


Coming over one small hill, we spotted 2 big Kudu bulls in a dry wash maybe 150 yards wide. They moved out at a trot, and we slowly stalked them down a dry riverbed. The going was easy because the sand was relatively hard, but still quiet to walk on, and after about 3/4 of a mile we spotted the bull again. After a few hundred yards, the bulls started to feed facing away from us. How often do you catch a lucky break like that!?!? The bigger bull walked a short ways to our right and parked himself under a large tree. It was quite hot, possibly in the high 80's, so he seemed content to stay right where he was, with a small tree blocking my shot. The other bull continued feeding facing away and I slowly put my rifle up on the sticks. Six inches forward or six inches back and I've got a clear shot from 110 yards. For what seemed like forever I stayed on the sticks with the cross hair right on where his shoulder would be......IF there wasn't that pesky tree right in the way!

Suddenly out of my right eye I see movement. A group of Kudu cows slowly feeding right toward us. Christo, Tina and I were stone still as they fed from our right, almost exactly halfway between us and the two bulls, and then disappeared into the trees to our left. The wind had been from our left the entire time, so how they never got our wind, I'll never know. Suddenly both bulls moved at a trot from left to right, and at roughly 60 yards I fired on the second bull. He started up the side of the dry river bank, but only made it another 20 yards after the shot.

 

[migrabill]

After lunch and break for afternoon siesta, we headed to another property to look for Steinbok, but ended up with something completely different. My guide spotted a gray form several hundred yards down the track. I assumed it was a Guinea fowl, but after glassing it for a few seconds my guide whispered BIG Warthog! All I could see was his hind 1/3, the front 2/3 in the weeds, and I whispered "How can you tell?". Cristo looked at me with a big grin and said "I've shot dozens of big Warthog, and this one is BIG!". I whispered "Game On" and we slowly approached him in the soft sand. When we were maybe 60 yards from him I could tell it was a big one. He had his head down feeding on something, and was totally preoccupied with getting his belly filled. Christo put the sticks up and I took aim, but he told me not to shoot till the warthog gets up. We stood for several minutes waiting for a shot, but when the hog kept feeding Cristo whispered "Stay close behind me, I think we can get closer". I thought "What the heck for?", but by that time I was having so much fun I realized I had been grinning for the entire stalk. When we were 30 yards away, Cristo put the sticks out again and we waited. Nearly 10 minutes later the Warthog finally got up and Christo said "Take him". I put the Leupold Firedot on his shoulder and slowly squeezed the trigger. I lost him when the rifle recoiled, but looked up to see him stone still in a cloud of dust.

That is a HUGE Warthog!

 

[migrabill]

The next morning we went to a place with some thicker cover and a bit more rolling hills than where we had been previously. We did get a good look at some nice Kudu bulls, but my guide said that area produced much better, so we passed on them.


Coming over one small hill, we spotted 2 big Kudu bulls in a dry wash maybe 150 yards wide. They moved out at a trot, and we slowly stalked them down a dry riverbed. The going was easy because the sand was relatively hard, but still quiet to walk on, and after about 3/4 of a mile we spotted the bull again. After a few hundred yards, the bulls started to feed facing away from us. How often do you catch a lucky break like that!?!? The bigger bull walked a short ways to our right and parked himself under a large tree. It was quite hot, possibly in the high 80's, so he seemed content to stay right where he was, with a small tree blocking my shot. The other bull continued feeding facing away and I slowly put my rifle up on the sticks. Six inches forward or six inches back and I've got a clear shot from 110 yards. For what seemed like forever I stayed on the sticks with the cross hair right on where his shoulder would be......IF there wasn't that pesky tree right in the way!

Suddenly out of my right eye I see movement. A group of Kudu cows slowly feeding right toward us. Christo, Tina and I were stone still as they fed from our right, almost exactly halfway between us and the two bulls, and then disappeared into the trees to our left. The wind had been from our left the entire time, so how they never got our wind, I'll never know. Suddenly both bulls moved at a trot from left to right, and at roughly 60 yards I fired on the second bull. He started up the side of the dry river bank, but only made it another 20 yards after the shot.

Love how that Kudu is still getting wider at the top.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Great Kudu and Warthog! Seems like this is a good outfitter.

HH

 

[MontanaPat]

That is a heck of a warthog anyone would be proud of taking!

 

[skydiver386]

Loading the Kudu into the back of the truck was more of a job than we thought. The width of the horns wouldn't fit under the gear racks and seat. You know you got a good one when the guide and skinner have a conversation in Africans, and have to dig out extra rope to keep the tailgate closed.

Back to the Lodge for lunch and a visit from the local insect population before heading out to look for Duiker and Steinbok.