SOUTH AFRICA: First Trip To Africa With Maximum Hunting Safaris

jphilibert

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Springbok.JPG
Just back from spending a week in the Swartruggens area of the Northwest Province at Professional Hunter and Outfitter Jacques Senekal's place Africa Maximum Safari's. Outstanding time at a very nice camp with access to some fantastic properties to hunt on. Being my first (and not by any means last) trip to Africa it was a "eyes wide open" experience with the sights, sounds, and flavor of the country. I won this trip a few years back at a Ducks Unlimited auction here in Massachusetts and Jacques was kind enough to allow me to delay my trip till I had some life situations straightened out. Cannot thank him enough for offering these trips as auction items here in the states as it brings awareness of not only how fantastic the hunting is in Africa but also how easily accessible it is at a very fair price compared to many hunts here in the states. I had the opportunity to not only take some excellent example trophies of plains game but more so to see more game animals in one day than I would seen in 2 - 3 seasons hunting white tailed deer here in the Northeast USA! You guys have it very lucky living where you do!

Details:
Hunt area - at their property Woodstock farm in Swartruggens - huge number of great animals, I took my Blesbok, and the Bushbuck there but had opportunity on Wildebeest, Zebra, and a FANTASTIC old Waterbuck bull I am still kicking myself for passing up! We also hunted on other properties within a 90 minute drive of the main farm which provided a nice mix of terrain and species as well as an opportunity to see the surrounding area.

PH - Jan-Hendrik Liebenberg, a 26 year old who's skills far outpaced his young age. This guy is destined to become one of the premiere PH's in Africa in my humble opinion and I would gladly follow him into the bush at any time I could. All of our hunts were epic spot and stalks through what was often limited cover. His ability to not only see game (that my 46 year old eyes struggled to pick out) but to get us without being seen, heard, or winded into ranges at or just above 100 yards (longest shot was the Springbok at 175, but he was in an open plain so that's not bad) was outstanding. His professionalism, hard work, as well as deep admiration and respect for our quarry was exactly what I was looking for in a PH. We walked about 50 hard miles in 6 days and were it not for the food I would have surely lost weight!

Rifle- nothing exotic....Mossberg 4 x 4 30-06 with a Redfield 3 - 9x 40. I handloaded 180 gr Barnes TTSX and after much concern can tell you this was more than enough rifle for plains game. I debated this a lot prior to my trip in lieu of getting a 375 H&H but if anyone reading this is planning a trip stick with the "06" if you use it here in the states and are comfortable with it. Its all about bullet selection and shot placement and I for one am a HUGE fan of the Barnes TTSX after seeing how devastating it was. All animals, save embarrassingly the Springbok, were one shot kills. The Spingbok I shot a little low at 175 yards and went through the chest low and took out the poor guys opposite leg, he didn't go far and allowed an easy finishing shot. I was particularly impressed with the Wildebeest that was frontal shot a somewhere over 100 yards, Barnes ripped through his heart, lungs, and liver before stopping somewhere in his rumen. I never recovered the bullet but he went about 10 yards and piled up, I put an insurance shot in him but he would have no doubt in my mind expired from the first one if we gave him time. That beest was 175 kilos butchered so we estimated him around 300 kg on the hoof.

Here's the proof in pictures....
Impala.JPG
Blesbok.JPG
Blue Wildebeest.JPG
Red Hartebeest.JPG


I know from reading threads here that many of you are addicted to hunting the Bushbuck. I have to say that I am now part of this group as well! Two other groups in camp shot their bigger spiral horned cousins the Kudu last week which far outweighed and sized this guy but I for one would rather have him in my collection. We hunted HARD for this guy. Three nights of stalking his area, first night had a clean shot and I blew it shooting right in front of him due to excitement and hearing him bark in jest as he ran off. Second night he came out 5 min too late and my old eyes could not collect enough light to make a clean shot so I had to pass. Third night he never showed so we decided to change our plan and come back pre-dawn the next morning. This was my last full day in country so the pressure was on and the temperature at 5:00 am was downright cold! Jan and I stood on the edge of his field in the darkness under a sky full of stars competing to see which of us would stay still the longest in the cold air. With a little divine intervention Mr. Bushbuck popped out at 6:05 with the first rays of sun filtering through. The rest....well the picture says it all.
Bushbuck.JPG




Overall thoughts - As I stated I am now an official Africa Junky, thanks to all for that new addiction! There are things I would do different next time around but that's all part of the experience. Africa Maximum was a great first choice and I cannot say enough on the class of operation that Jacques and his crew run there. The lodging was very comfortable, the service outstanding, having the opportunity to eat gourmet meals out of everything that was shot in camp that week made all the better the experience. I would highly recommend Jacques Senekal and Africa Maximum for anyone looking for a fair priced, easily accessible (2 hour drive from OR Tambo) safari with lots of opportunities in the concessions he has access to. Thanks. Looking forward to comments.
Jeff
 
Last edited:
Jeff;
Congrats on a great hunt and some nice trophies! I really like the hartebeest (and the classic hole in his shoulder(y) and can fully appreciate the challenges in taking bushbuck. And yes, springbuck can humble any shooter!

Loved reading about your success with the faithful old 30-06! Nothing wrong with that cartridge on pretty much any plains game. The only thing I would suggest changing is perhaps a better quality scope might have gotten you the bushbuck that evening. Your hunt proves you do not need to have some real expensive gun, just a good reliable one you know how to use.
 
Bob
Agreed. The Hartebeest I think is an underappreciated animal but was high on my list. They are so unusual looking and I have to tell you it was a very exciting hunt. We saw his group early one morning and having the wind to our favor followed them for about 2 hours to pick him out of the bunch. At one point I sat on the sticks for what seemed like an eternity watching one after another walk past a small gap in the bush until he stepped out. Luck would have it as he stepped out he turned hard quartering away and went behind a tree in the clearing instead of in front of it! After a little more hide an seek we came up on them again only to be busted by Giraffe's looking over the trees and causing a stampede as they some Zebra's, warthogs, and the Hartebeests ran off across the plains....only in Africa! We gave up the chase and went on to get the Springbok and Wildebeest that morning. After lunch we headed out on a completely different area of the farm miles away from the first and came up on another herd of Hartebeest which to our surprise was the same group! We knew this as there was a herd cow with a weirdly twisted horn. Another hour of creeping from bush to tree and favorable wind put us 125 yards or so from him as he unexpectedly stepped out from some scrub. One in the shoulder and he went about 20 yards and stopped. Nice old bull with lots of horn character. I loved all the red clay stuck in his grooves and wish I could preserve him that way.
 
Jeff;
Thanks so much for the more detailed report on the Hartebeest hunt! You have a great picture there and I think if you challenge your taxidermist just a bit, you can preserve that red clay!

I visited Relive in PE and talked to Paul about wanting the horns on my trophies to look as natural as possible... (I am confident I will get good personalized service from Paul).

I hate the way so many African mounts have the horns painted black... Seems to me like they are just taking the easy way out, they screw them up boiling them over an open fire in some chopped off barrel or something and then cover up the singing by painting them all black... And expect us to think that is great!

So now that I got my rant out, to the point.... Paul actually has a way of making the horns the color they were in nature, so they have the same color as when you shot them, if you ask for that.

We also visited Life Form (very impressive operation) and they had a clear sealer they put on the horns to coat and seal them but yet leave their natural color. Some species are easier than others.... For example, they might be able to rot off the spiral horns and then boil the skull with the horns off. But on a wildebeest or Buffalo, that does not work and they must be cleaned with the horns on the skull.

I'm having an issue with my first taxidermy having WD-40 sprayed on the horns so they are all black... After I repeatedly asked to have them kept natural! The hunt is easy compared to the taxidermy.... IMO.
 
Thanks for the hunt report
Can tell you had a blast
Nice animals
 
I am using Moredou Taxidermy in Schweizer-Reneke as they were recommended by the lodge. I was very specific in wanting the horns natural as I too hate the painted dark black color its very unnatural. The Wildebeest especially had nice worn bases with cracks and such that to me makes the trophy so I am hopeful they will come through. Its a more than a bit unnerving that I can't drop in as the year goes on to check on the progress and its going to be a surprise when they get here to the states with little I can do to correct at that time.
 
Thanks for the great hunt report. Keep us updated as you can on the taxidermy progress and post some pics when you trophy's finally arrive. As a newbie (haven't gone yet) I can't get enough of these reports. Awesome and congratulations.
 
Jeff I was/am in your shoes.

Did your outfitter take you to visit the taxidermist? After my admittedly small amount of experience to date, I would not want to let a taxidermist do work for me without visiting them and talking face to face. Or at least getting a strong detailed recommendation from another disinterested 3rd party, preferably a hunter who had them do work. The outfitter likely gets a commission so be wary of their recommendations, and at the least, be aware they may have different taste.

However that is one reason I asked to not have my trophies sent until I could get back. I was fortunate enough to make it back a year later and go check... So glad I did! They were very understanding of my wishes for a few changes to the cheeks however this would have been a problem had I not gone to visit. And they will be scrubbing the oil off the horns!

Ask for monthly updates and close up "focused" pictures in good light of all the face and horn details as well as the larger views. Especially the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and cheek detail.

I found an African outfitters viewpoint of a good trophy to be different than mine.

In fact before they start, ask for details and picture examples of how they do the muscle and blood vessel details. Everyone has different tastes and ideas of what they like. Don't let the taxidermist assume you like the it the same way as they do.
 
Action Bob
Great advice. I did not get to visit the taxidermist unfortunately but have spoken to them and conveyed my concerns as well as speaking to other hunters who have used them and were happy with the work. I like the idea of asking for updates and pictures I will ask. That's the best thing about this forum the exchange of knowledge and experience.

BTW I went to Veterinary School at the U of M, had a great time for the four years I lived there and thought long and hard about moving there after I finished my residency. Loved the cold and the fishing was outstanding. Never got to hunt while I was there but kick myself for not doing so now way more ducks than we have on the East Coast.
 
BTW I went to Veterinary School at the U of M
So are you the long arm or long finger type of Vet.? (cattle/horses or cats and dogs?)

Did you get to know Dr. Reneau or DR Fetrow?
 
LOL...actually I'm a specialist. I treat dogs and cats for cancer (oncologist). Had my share of experience with the large critters though, Dr. Fetrow was at the U when I was there but I spent most of my time in the small animal clinic.
 
Tanks for the hunt report. I like it. Nice trophies. You did have a good hunting. Congrats.
Witold
 
Nice group of animals and looks like a great first trip. Moredou does nice work and it is what I would say is one of the better shops without the big name. There prices are fair to just make sure you let them know again you don't want the horns painted.

The big question is when are you going back?
 
Thanks Bill....I made sure it was in bold on the transfer sheet when they are picking up the skulls and skins at the lodge as well as making it clear in my email to Moredou. Pikkie the owner seemed very interested in going out of his way in answering my questions so hopefully I will be ok. Will let you all know of course if I have progress reports/pictures.

As far as when I will be going back....not soon enough my friend! It may be a few years but there is no question I will go back to the Dark Continent. Next time I want to go someplace a bit more remote, Nyala, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, maybe a Buff on the list. Open for suggestions? I gotta dream between now and then!
 
Congrats on your hunt, Jeff, you got some nice animals.

Thanks for sharing.
 
Jeff,

Quality animals for a hunt, especially a first trip. Congratulations.

Thanks for sharing your experience and photos.
 
Congratulations on a successful hunt.
I love the photos. Well posed, sharp and clear.
That brindled hide on the wildebeest is beautiful.
 
Great hunt and report. I would recommend that you get the natural color request in writing from your taxidermist. I discussed it in person with my taxidermist and sent a follow up email and still got black horns.
 
Definetelly a great hunt you did.....very good trophies and memories.....Red Hartebeest was the main trophie I was loocking for in my only first hunt in SA and I got a nice one....!!!!

Respect the horns.......I prefer natural color also.....!!!!

Well done.....great hunt.....!!!!!
 

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