joker2400
AH veteran
I went on another South African hunt in May. I bought the Inkulu African Safaris donation to the SCI Las Vegas auction. The hunt included 7 hunting days with trophy fees for Impala, Blesbuck, Blue Wildebeest, Kudu, Waterbuck, and Springbuck, as well as daily rates for 1 observer. I again invited my dad to join me.
We again flew American/British to Joburg through Heathrow, we did not pay for exit row this time. Terrible decision, he’s 6’7 and I’m 6’4 so the flight we rather uncomfortable for us as well as those unlucky enough to be seated in front of us. We connected to PE on SAA which went well. We were picked up in PE by our PH for the week, Johan. We then headed to the lodge outside of Jansenville, but were delayed rather quickly by a very flat tire on the side of a busy motorway.
After we changed the tire we made good time to the lodge where we were shown around and made a plan for the next day. They have beautiful lodge that was built in 1873 tucked in the middle of 50000+ acres.
I had planned this trip as a bow hunt. However, they received fairly heavy rains a couple of weeks before our arrival and there was quite a bit of standing water left. We decided that we would see how the 1st day went before switching to the rifle. The 1st day was a complete bust with no animals coming in to water.
On Day 2 we sat over water in the AM seeing only some giraffes in the distance and having a busted stalk on an impala while leaving the blind. So we decided to head to the rifle range to get acclimated to Johan’s .30-06. He is a short guy compared to us, so the fit on the rifle was not great, but after a few shots we felt we could work with it.
We had seen a very nice blesbuck ram in a group of 3 on the way into the shooting range. We located them in short order and attempted a stalk. We were busted early on but gave them a few minutes to settle down and went to cut them off as they crossed the ridge. We had them cross in front of us and I took a 120 yard shot quartering away. We could immediately tell it was a hit, but we headed to the spot they were standing to see what type of sign was left. As we got to the spot we saw the blesbuck laying down another 50 yards away and I finished it with another shot. We walked up to him and realized that this was a monster ram. He measured just short of 19 inches on the longer horn. We took pictures and called the recovery truck and continued hunting.
We saw a decent kudu dash across the road in front of us and we bailed off the truck to see if we could get a closer look. After a quarter mile or so it became obvious to me that the kudu had given us the slip, but we continued along anyway. We spotted a pair of wildebeest feeding on the mountainside across the valley. We noted one to be a nice bull and we decided to take him. He dropped in his tracks at the 1st shot, but continued to hold his head up for quite some time until I fired another shot into him. We hiked over to him for pictures and called it a night.
We spent the morning of day 3 in another blind. We saw a large group of arabian oryx, but i wasn’t tempted by them. We did hear an impala grunting in the river bed in front of the blind. We slowly walked through the area hoping to get on him for a stalk but were unable to locate him. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. We did decide to take advantage of the opportunity to cull some springboks however and decided to go out for a few with a light after dinner.
The next day we decided to start with the rifle. We spent the morning driving around but weren’t able to see much due to the mist. We drove up a mountain, saw some giraffes, then drove down the other side. As we were coming of the mountain we saw a waterbuck bull that wasn’t quite big enough yet and a worthy impala. We gave chase to the impala but he gave us the slip into a very thick valley after about 500 yards. At that point it was lunch time. So we headed back. On the way we decided to take a few “cull” springbok from the area where they are building the landing strip. As we getting ready to head to the lodge we noticed a wide impala and decided to go after him. A short time later and we got him. We drove around for the afternoon looking for an opportunity to stalk with the bow. We had a short lived attempt on a waterbuck before the wind changed. We didn’t have any other opportunities with the bow , but my dad was able to get a zebra with the rifle. It only took him 5 trips.
The next day we tried for some stalks with the bow. We got close to wildebeest on 2 stalks but just couldn’t close the deal. We enjoyed a nice bush dinner in a dry river bed that evening. Complete with Jaeger shots around the bush TV.
I was up early the next morning to enjoy a spectacular sunrise. It was quite windy today. We were going to let my dad try for an eland with my bow while we headed to the lion reserve for a kudu. We saw a nice one early on but were unable to get a shot. We did manage to find a nice steenbuck and a trophy springbuck. We headed to pick my dad up from the blind a came across a group of zebra and made a quick stalk in the wind and were able to connect on a nice stallion. The wind picked up in the afternoon and we headed out for waterbuck or kudu. Towards dark we came across an old waterbuck bull in the riverbed and made a nice stalk on him. One shot at 90 yards and he was done. His body size was quite impressive. He dressed about 20 kilos above their average bull. We saw some of the buffalo on the way out.
They were darting a rhino and moving some buffalo on the main part of the reserve, so we headed back to the lion reserve for kudu. We did not see any early but did come across a bushpig around 10am. Bushpigs have been on my list for quite awhile, so took off after him and were able to get a shot before he even knew we were there. We did find a nice kudu bull, but he winded us and busted out of the cover before presenting a shot. We head back to the lodge for lunch. They had stopped with the helicopter over the main hunting area so we headed back there for the afternoon. We immediately ran into what seemed like every mature kudu bull on the property with at least 10 shootable bulls. I was told which one I should shoot. He moved as I pulled the trigger and i hit him far back. We spent the afternoon trying to recover him, but were unable to do so. We headed back for dinner and to pack to the flight home.
We left before 9 for our flight to Joburg. After a quick and comfortable flight we headed to recheck our bags and find something for lunch before hitting the duty free shops. Can’t leave Africa without a couple bottles of Klipdrift brandy I received a message on WhatsApp from Johan that they had found my kudu bull that morning after we had left. A high note to end the trip. We made it back to Chicago without too much difficulty, but i did decide I’m not flying coach to Africa ever again.
We again flew American/British to Joburg through Heathrow, we did not pay for exit row this time. Terrible decision, he’s 6’7 and I’m 6’4 so the flight we rather uncomfortable for us as well as those unlucky enough to be seated in front of us. We connected to PE on SAA which went well. We were picked up in PE by our PH for the week, Johan. We then headed to the lodge outside of Jansenville, but were delayed rather quickly by a very flat tire on the side of a busy motorway.
After we changed the tire we made good time to the lodge where we were shown around and made a plan for the next day. They have beautiful lodge that was built in 1873 tucked in the middle of 50000+ acres.
I had planned this trip as a bow hunt. However, they received fairly heavy rains a couple of weeks before our arrival and there was quite a bit of standing water left. We decided that we would see how the 1st day went before switching to the rifle. The 1st day was a complete bust with no animals coming in to water.
On Day 2 we sat over water in the AM seeing only some giraffes in the distance and having a busted stalk on an impala while leaving the blind. So we decided to head to the rifle range to get acclimated to Johan’s .30-06. He is a short guy compared to us, so the fit on the rifle was not great, but after a few shots we felt we could work with it.
We had seen a very nice blesbuck ram in a group of 3 on the way into the shooting range. We located them in short order and attempted a stalk. We were busted early on but gave them a few minutes to settle down and went to cut them off as they crossed the ridge. We had them cross in front of us and I took a 120 yard shot quartering away. We could immediately tell it was a hit, but we headed to the spot they were standing to see what type of sign was left. As we got to the spot we saw the blesbuck laying down another 50 yards away and I finished it with another shot. We walked up to him and realized that this was a monster ram. He measured just short of 19 inches on the longer horn. We took pictures and called the recovery truck and continued hunting.
We saw a decent kudu dash across the road in front of us and we bailed off the truck to see if we could get a closer look. After a quarter mile or so it became obvious to me that the kudu had given us the slip, but we continued along anyway. We spotted a pair of wildebeest feeding on the mountainside across the valley. We noted one to be a nice bull and we decided to take him. He dropped in his tracks at the 1st shot, but continued to hold his head up for quite some time until I fired another shot into him. We hiked over to him for pictures and called it a night.
We spent the morning of day 3 in another blind. We saw a large group of arabian oryx, but i wasn’t tempted by them. We did hear an impala grunting in the river bed in front of the blind. We slowly walked through the area hoping to get on him for a stalk but were unable to locate him. The rest of the day was rather uneventful. We did decide to take advantage of the opportunity to cull some springboks however and decided to go out for a few with a light after dinner.
The next day we decided to start with the rifle. We spent the morning driving around but weren’t able to see much due to the mist. We drove up a mountain, saw some giraffes, then drove down the other side. As we were coming of the mountain we saw a waterbuck bull that wasn’t quite big enough yet and a worthy impala. We gave chase to the impala but he gave us the slip into a very thick valley after about 500 yards. At that point it was lunch time. So we headed back. On the way we decided to take a few “cull” springbok from the area where they are building the landing strip. As we getting ready to head to the lodge we noticed a wide impala and decided to go after him. A short time later and we got him. We drove around for the afternoon looking for an opportunity to stalk with the bow. We had a short lived attempt on a waterbuck before the wind changed. We didn’t have any other opportunities with the bow , but my dad was able to get a zebra with the rifle. It only took him 5 trips.
The next day we tried for some stalks with the bow. We got close to wildebeest on 2 stalks but just couldn’t close the deal. We enjoyed a nice bush dinner in a dry river bed that evening. Complete with Jaeger shots around the bush TV.
I was up early the next morning to enjoy a spectacular sunrise. It was quite windy today. We were going to let my dad try for an eland with my bow while we headed to the lion reserve for a kudu. We saw a nice one early on but were unable to get a shot. We did manage to find a nice steenbuck and a trophy springbuck. We headed to pick my dad up from the blind a came across a group of zebra and made a quick stalk in the wind and were able to connect on a nice stallion. The wind picked up in the afternoon and we headed out for waterbuck or kudu. Towards dark we came across an old waterbuck bull in the riverbed and made a nice stalk on him. One shot at 90 yards and he was done. His body size was quite impressive. He dressed about 20 kilos above their average bull. We saw some of the buffalo on the way out.
They were darting a rhino and moving some buffalo on the main part of the reserve, so we headed back to the lion reserve for kudu. We did not see any early but did come across a bushpig around 10am. Bushpigs have been on my list for quite awhile, so took off after him and were able to get a shot before he even knew we were there. We did find a nice kudu bull, but he winded us and busted out of the cover before presenting a shot. We head back to the lodge for lunch. They had stopped with the helicopter over the main hunting area so we headed back there for the afternoon. We immediately ran into what seemed like every mature kudu bull on the property with at least 10 shootable bulls. I was told which one I should shoot. He moved as I pulled the trigger and i hit him far back. We spent the afternoon trying to recover him, but were unable to do so. We headed back for dinner and to pack to the flight home.
We left before 9 for our flight to Joburg. After a quick and comfortable flight we headed to recheck our bags and find something for lunch before hitting the duty free shops. Can’t leave Africa without a couple bottles of Klipdrift brandy I received a message on WhatsApp from Johan that they had found my kudu bull that morning after we had left. A high note to end the trip. We made it back to Chicago without too much difficulty, but i did decide I’m not flying coach to Africa ever again.
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