Well the day to fly is finally here, gear has been checked and rechecked. Truck packed, directions left for dog and house sitter, extra directions text'd on the correct safari surprise return dates and a few hours of sleep. Head to the Tucson airport and turn around 15 miles from home to get a forgotten prescription. Finally get to airport and get all the bags and guns checked and and head to the gate. Count noses and all 10 of our friends are there. Good flight to Atlanta, our friend Gary meets us there so all the gang is together.
The little short flight to Joberg is the normal watch movies and read books till were there. The BidAir guys meet us at the plane and shuffle the group through customs and baggage claim. Bruce from Gracy travel is there, quick visit to SAP and rifles are picked up. A short walk to City Lodge, some dinner and a good nights sleep and we get picked up by the transport service. We stop at Safari Taxidermy for lunch and to let everyone view their operation, get some ideas for their trophys, and establish contact information and back on the road to Intrepid Safaris.
Pull up at the front of the lodge and Phillip and all his staff are waiting and bags unloaded, rooms assigned, and everyone gets settled in and meet for lunch. This is the most impressive lodge I have seen in my three trips to South Africa! Truly 5 stars . Everyone meets their PH and head to the range to confirm rifles are still shooting straight. Those that are borrowing rifles get to dial their assigned rifle in and everyone heads out for the last hour before dark to start getting acquainted with their hunting team. Phillip is going to be our PH.
My wife and I are also riding with our friends Cindy and Jim. Cindy as a little girl had a dream to hunt Africa with her mother. Time and life happening they were never able to make that dream come true. So when we asked them to come along they jumped at the opportunity. She is a 3 time cancer survivor and has woked hard to get in shape and be prepared for this safari. She went to the range with us 10 times over the last 6 months. I will also include their impressions in another hunt report but wanted to introduce them in mine.
On our ride around we start seeing game almost immediately. My primary target is a nice Roan. We sight a few young bulls, a number of Nyala, and some impressive Sable. No shots fired but I just close my eyes and enjoy the sounds and smells. I am back in Africa.
At the fire with the southern cross in and out behind the clouds I smile and drink a toast to Redleg, all our old buddies we lost in harms way and ask for remembrance of all who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the profession of arms no matter what country they came from.
Drank a toast to my buddies Scott and Edward who couldn't make the trip, and to success for our little band of hunters.
Day 1
Early breakfast and head out with a smile on our faces and hope that the hunting gods smile on everyone. We are looking for my Roan as the primary target and what ever Africa might give us. Spot a few small ones and then see a monster and off the back of the bakkie and the first stalk of the trip is on. Get in but the wind lightly caresses the back of the neck and off they go. Spent the morning in good company and made it back for lunch. The PH's have a group set up on whatsapp and several of the group are having early morning success. Back our for the afternoon and about a hour later the tracker spots several nice Roan. Phillip and I head out to cut them off. We get down to about 75 yards
and the largest steps out giving me a shooting lane to a perfect broadside shot. Up go the sticks and the Verney Carron 450/400 speaks with a 1/3 of the way up the shoulder hit, he gives the double mule kick reaction of the hard hit and swaps direction and thew second barrel sends the second 400gr A-frame angling through the lungs. We hear him crash in the bush about 75 yards away. Phillip has a new 10 month old tracking dog that is in training so Mr Nitro is put on the track and off he goes. Get the roan setup for pictures and a call is set to the lodge for a trailer. About the same time we finish with pictures hear a ATV coming with the trailer behind it and Phillips children driving. We just love it that their operation is a family affair, and is one of the reasons we chose them for this safari. The kids have to go back to school tomorrow but had today to enjoy time with everyone and quick as can be the roan is loaded and headed to the skinning shed.
Rifles selected, loads developed, and range time dedicated. More to follow
so now I am coordinating a second hunting safari after the Madikwe photo safari. Now comes the fun part I told my wife we were taking a photo safari at the end of the trip where she has a good chance to see wild dogs. I enlisted Motsomi to help with all the coordinated and keeping the TRI part a secret. All our friends have also Kept this a secret for a year. Gracy travel did a great job of helping with Safari #1 and helping Sonya's Safari #3 a surprise . So we are less than a day from flying. I have checked and re-checked everything and both groups are ready to rock and roll.
for you to come visit us for a few days.
