BOTSWANA: South Africa Trip

[Cody Malone]

Day 1

Whew, what a day... Reminds me of planes trains and automobiles, as I took a ride in em all today.

I started my day at Dallas Love Field at 10am, my first flight was to depart at 12:32. I had a camera backpack, carry-on and a huge pelican box full of clothes and miscellaneous. Like all airlines Delta has a 50 pound weight limit per beg which of corse I knew of and thought I was under, wrong... 57 pounds. I take a few clothing items and put into my carry on getting it down to 49, Disaster adverted.

I board the plane and have a non eventful flight to Atlanta, Ga. Now since I have only flown three or four times I was prepared to be wondering around aimlessly for an hour so I'd have an hour and a half to spare as my main flight to Johannesburg as it didn't depart until 7:12 pm. I hop on the train and get to my terminal and find the correct boarding gate without any trouble. So now I have several hours to wait, no big deal as I will just grab a bite to eat and pick up a few gifts for Kobus and his wife. After tackling that I went and found an available power plug and charged my phone, iPad etc after getting all checked in at the boarding gate to verify my passport and ticket.

We board a few minutes early which was a surprise. I find and get into my isle seat but there's no one else in my row, I think to myself surely not as this plane is packed like a sardine can. Sure enough ten minutes later the say they are closing the boarding door and will be taxing out to the runway very shortly. I am dumbfounded and excited that I have a whole row to myself for this 15 hour flight. The flight was quite pleasant other than the food that left much to be desired and quite honestly gave me gas like I have never experienced, luckily no one was around. I watched a few complementary movies and watched the sun set over the ocean and shortly there after decided to get some shut eye.

I was awaken by some turbulence and of course thought "that's it we are going down".. I open the window to see its pitch black and my wing is still attached to the plane so I'm feeling a little better but there is a lightning storm under us which is the culprit of the turbulence. It was quite exquisite to watch at 35,000 feet while doing 550 miles per hour. I decide to take out the camera and try to film some of it to share when I get home. I sleep off and on for the next 9 hours, never falling into a deep sleep like expected. I wake up and check the flight arrival time via small screen on the seat in front of mine, 6 more hours.. I watch the sun break the horizon snapping a few photographs and decide to sleep some more and make it count. The pilot makes an announcement that we will begin our decent into Joburg and will be arriving a few minutes early thanks to a 50 mile per hour tailwind the last few hours. We land softly and now it's time to get my passport checked, it only had a three mile long line. I get through it and go pick up my luggage, round the corner and bam Kobus waves as I am walking through the doorway.

We great each other and he introduces me to Mack, his fellow. We head out to the car after having a much needed smoke break. Now it's time for the 4.5 hour truck ride to the concession near Botswana. We stop to fill up the truck and grab a bite to eat at a fast food joint which was pretty good! On the way it starts getting dark and we start seeing game; Kudu, Cape buffalo, Eland, Gemsbok and Springbok mainly but a few Jackall and cats as well.

We are discussing different things about Africa and what animals I would like to hunt. The plan was Kudu, Gemsbok, Waterbuck, Zebra, Impala and Warthog but that changed quickly when Kobus mentions his neighbor has an old Giraffe Bull that has been by itself lately they want to harvest.. I agree to take a few hunts and try to make him topple like a crane, it is 16-2000 pounds while standing 15-19 feet tall. Then he says what else would you consider hunting that's not on our current list? I jokingly say what about a lioness? We talk a little business and decide hell why not. They are possibly going to have some major import laws take effect in the next year or so so it's kind of a now or never. Most people don't realize a lioness is more aggressive than a male lion and is three times the size of a cougar. A poor shot on a lion could obviously be very bad for me and my PHs life.

Now if you have been following my african safari is taking a turn... A turn from great hunt to a super great hunt but not quite so for my wallet, laugh out loud. I know I could die any day so why not live life to its fullest, I'm here so let's make it count! I expected for it to happen so I brought a little extra cash

My current game list is as follows..
Kudu
Gemsbok
Blessbok
Waterbuck
Giraffe
Lioness
Zebra X2 (my wife wants a rug and I want a pedestal shoulder so I'll just shoot two)
Impala
Warthog X2
Porcupine
Jackall
And what ever the hell else walks out, it's just money I'll make more! Oh a good note my wife gave me "the go ahead" to harvest two Zebra before I left and loves the giraffe mounts I showed her so that's two disasters I am avoiding. On the other hand we have the lioness, looks like I'll be telling her it charged me and I shot in self defense!

I get settled in to my room after sitting around talking with Kobus & Mack, get everything in order for tomorrow including the cameras because I think I'm gunna need em!

Just woke up from a few hours sleep and can't sleep; jet lag, excitement or disbelieve I'm actually here? I say a lot of em all!

 

[Cody Malone]

Here's a few travel pictures

 

[ActionBob]

Cody,
Why the multiples on Impala and wart hogs? Surely there must be some other low cost but fun critters available.

In any case... congratulations on the great luck getting there. You are off to a great start! Such a possitive outlook is going to really make for a great time for you and the people around you.

 

[Cody Malone]

I have a thing for warthogs, I have wanted to come to Africa and harvest once for nearly 20 years. I have several large bleached boar skulls and want to add a few beached warthog skulls to the collection

I also have the impala multiples as I saw a neat mount with two and will probably need one for my lioness mount if it comes together. It's just a ruff list as a diker or springbuck will probably take impala spots.

I'm like an open book, Kobus knows my budget and the couple of dream species so the little stuff to fill time or make a extravagant mount will fall into place. The nice thing is I don't really have a time I have to be home so if I need a few days extra, I'll pay the $275 to change the return plane ticket

 

[bassasdaindia]

enjoy the hunt and keep us posted.

 

[Cody Malone]

I'm enjoying just being here, lifelong dream for me.

I grew up hanging out at an indoor archery range/bow shop and was always fascinated by folks coming back showing their photos off and seeing all of the majestic animals they harvested.

I was always afraid to come because of the long flight and uncertainty in the cost but since meeting Kobus he has wiped away those fears and here I am.

 

[bluey]

great start kody .
like your style ,mate
looking foreward to a whole lot more ,from this hunt .
love this time of the year on AH, one hunt report rolls after another , just like waves at the beach

 

[BRICKBURN]

LMAO.
What is the trophy fee for a "Self Defence" Lion?

I'd like to hear the story when you tell your bride..

 

[Cody Malone]

Bluesy thanks for the kind words.

I will be trying to post every evening as we have wifi so as long as I don't get eaten, bitten or die

 

[Cody Malone]

Brick,

I'm going to say it was very cheap, I brought cash that no one knows about so they won't know what's missing

 

[BnC 04]

Live it to the fullest Cody! Looking forward to the continued report and some pictures.

 

[Cody Malone]

2 great impala and a huge bushbuck down during our morning spot and stalk. The bushbuck was not on the list but Kobus said I need to take him because he was so large so I did! Great choice and great PH work

Have seen a lot of game, wind was a bit shifty so it cost is a few shots due to not being able to get in correct passion because of the terrain.

 

[billc]

great report so fair wish I posted as I went along but service was not always good to get on computer.Your report is looking good so far and I hope that lioness happens for you.

 

[Cody Malone]

Here we go ladies & gentlemen

 

[Cody Malone]

Day 2 - Mid Day Report

Wow, what a place! I got up at 5:00 after getting two or three hours sleep. The room was nice and comfortable with a very comfortable bed luckily.

I went out and filmed the horizon as the sun started to break while taking in the sounds of Africa.

We take off to hunters creek to shoot the rifle a bit since it is my PHs. I use a bench first shot, 2" high so we are good. Next come the sticks, first shot 4" high but I was rushing to simulate a quick needed shot. Third shot three inches high. I'm feeling good about the rifle and off we go. We start stalking in a creek bed and make way to a watering hole. We see a Gemsbok cow with a young baby but there is a big bull hidden behind a brush pile. So we stand and wait to see just how big he is and if it is indeed the male we thought with a quick glimpse of his horn mass. As Kobus is locked on I keep my eyes open for dangers such as buffalo as they tend to favor this watering hole. I spot movement and wisper to Kobus, there's something brown at 11 o'clock. We bring our glasses up and I see it's an impala, a big one at that. Kobus agrees so we set up for the shot. He has no idea we are there and he has a few buddies with him but after farther exasperation we see he is the biggest and deserves a dirt nap by a Texas boy! He drops into the creek offering a quick opening at 50 yards and I squeeze one off and while he's falling I instantly chamber another round, but a follow up is not nessisary. As we are letting it have a few minutes to be expired I notice another staring at us a 100 or so yards out, we glass him and decide he is an old buy and would also be a great harvest. I'm sitting with both knees up so I take aim making a good rest while waiting for him to turn for at least a quartering shot, he's figuring out that something is way wrong so he starts to walkin to the bush and I laterally have two steps and he will vanish. Kobus says take him if you can. I wait for him to take one more step with my crosshairs on his last rib and he makes that move, book, the rifle sounds off. I instantly tell Kobus it's a few inches back but should come out mid shoulder on the opposing side. We go and find it dead 45 yards away with that exact shot. Impala number 2 down!

We start off stalking a few herds of oryx but the wind is strong and shift so no good shots are offered. We drive up to a small water while and see a loan oryx and a few warthogs about 220 yards out. One warthog is a brute but disappears quickly. Kobus says we went there specifically for a warthog pushing 13", so that was probably him. We debate shooting one male but decide to pass since it's early.

We decide to drive to another waterhole and start seeing a few animals in shade as it's heating up weather wise. We get to a big rise in the road and dismount. The water hole is right in the other sides so we start taking our time being stealthy. As soon as my head breaks the ridge I see a heard of 20 oryx. A good mixture of bulls and cows. We are classing them and deciding which one to take when the wind changes and they now know we are here. There's are a few warthog mixed in as well, one big female. The oryx walk off and we take chase. They still know we are there and stay moving and clumped up coming in and out of the brush as we are 300 yards out. I twit down and take aim on one and decide I don't want to try a frontal at that distance. As we are working our way up I see a bushbuck and Kobus takes a look and says Cody shoot him it's a giant, biggest I have seen here. I say yes sir, he is in some brush and share so I can't get a good look at his position or a clean shot. He had no idea we we there it know he does. I rush a shot chip shot and he bunches, instantly i chamber and get back on him but his running dead away. We never hear him crash so I'm not happy with my performance. We walk up to where he was and see no sign so I know it's back. Kobus heads back to where the shot originated and as he approaches I hear movement ahead towards where the bushbuck ran. I signal Kobus back over and we hear it again, I zoom out the scope to 3 in preparation for a brush shot. Kobus then sees him flop in a tree fall. I bring the gun up and he not moving. He's done! Liver or not. I was excited to see how large he was but disappointed in my shot. Oh well he's dead and skinned. I won't be rushing anymore chip shots. I'm so used to having lots of time on whitetail and most exotics in Texas plus since I guide I only shoot once a year on an animal other than follow up shots on my customers bucks.

Wears headed out now to shoot the 9.3x65 in preparation for the giraffe and Lioness.

I have been told the lioness will likely charge so I'm going to get some trigger time with a big bore!

We are going to hunt the giraffe tonight so the skinners can skin into the night while it's cold so the meat doesn't spoil.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Brick,

I'm going to say it was very cheap, I brought cash that no one knows about so they won't know what's missing

I'd be more concerned about the price when you get home.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Cody, you are getting it done. Taking what is presented to you.
Congrats.
Good luck.

 

[bluey]

nice bush buck, cody....
sounds like your kicking some goals .

 

[Cody Malone]

Well they didn't move near as well this evening.

We found a trophy Waterbuck but he slipped away somehow. During the tracking trying to catch up to him a giant warthog, 10-11" tucked male jumped up and I chose to take a low percentage shot through brush. I knew if I hit him he would be fatally wounded, if I pulled the shot even the least bit I would miss. I missed.. Not very common for me to miss or pull shots but those that have been a lot of times you literally have 1-2 seconds to make a choice, follow the front leg up while shouldering and squeeze of a round min shoulder. I'm used to having lots of time to study animals and getting good solid rest and stable platforms to harvest them. That don't fly here, lol

I did harvest a sickly warthog, just to put it out of its misery, running shot at 40 yard.

We saw several mid range kudu and gemsbok as well as a group of female giraffes but nothing quite worth harvesting this early.

I also got to sight in a 9.3X64, largest caliber to date I have shot. Handled it well and killed the target 7 times, along with. My shoulder lol. Just gearing it up for the Lioness and Giraffe

We are now sitting at camp, fire going, little mixed drinks and dinner about to be served. Gotta go!

 

[Cody Malone]

TIA = This Is Africa