Hunting Report from Adansonia Safaris

Well before I even start , I have to explain my tardyness . I was supposed to write this in the beginning of June but , moving and general life got in the way . Secondly I have to thank Lorie at travel express , She made the trip over and back painless and easy , thanks again .

Well here it goes
Starting on the day we arrived ,
Picked up and transported to the lodge by My PH Stehan Dekock and his wife Maja , we were treated to a great supper and then off early to bed .

UP at 5 a quick breakfast and off to the range , a few shoots later and off we went looking for a impala , Stehan took the time to show me how to judge them before , we went by using a few that were on the wall at the lodge . We had seen tons of impala none that were what we were looking for . Just before we were going to break for lunch our driver Johnas spotted a nice one and the stalk was on . We had to skirt around a bunch of thick brush and a small hill to get into position but somehow we managed to get to about 150 yards for the shot and just like that my first african animal was down .



Next on the list of wants was a gemsbuck , but as things go in africa , you have to be prepared to adapt . we stalked all day after a herd of about 12 but could not get into a position to take a shot .Late in the day a nice blue wildebeast stepped into the clear and my second one was down .



We took a day to do some sightseeing and some side trips to the white lion park and on a elephant ride . Did I mention that my wife wanted to go on a elephant ride , people if you go make sure to get on the lead elephant you will figgure it out from there .

Next two days we spent looking for a 50 plus Kudu , I had asked Stehan at the start to find me a nice kudu , all the rest I just wanted a good representative of the species , but kudu was my dream animal and I really wanted a nice one . We passed up a large number that were small, too young or just not big enough . but on the third day we spotted one off in the distance, and as we got closer it was easy to tell he was a shooter . After waiting for what seemed forever he gave us a shot and just like that number three was down .



My gemsbuck was next and he was a product of just being in the right place at the right time .



Next up was a Zebra and this proved to be the hardest to get for me , might of helped if I could of made a a better first shot but in the end we had it on to the bakke and home for a good meal .



Mof and Minne Venter were some of the nicest people I have met in a while , they made sure our first trip was everything we had imagined , The food was awesome , the staff second to none . We had booked two more weeks of side trips to vic falls and to Kruger everything was top notch . My PH Stehan was great and my wife thinks PH stand for pretty hot , sorry Stehan had to do it .

on a side note to all you jerks out there that convinced me to go , I want to tell you my retirement is now screwed , I have allready started saving for my next trip in 2013.. Mark

Congratulations Mark...that Kudu's beautiful....something like that caps off any hunt. Your Gemsbok looks a bit thick in the coat which I haven't noticed on many of his brethren..looks good but was it a bit cool where you were to make him grow that winter woolly?

Yes i noticed that also, it was about 20 degrees there when we went . the kudu went 54.5 on one side and 54 on the other

Congratulations.
You closed out your first trip with a lot of good trophies.
I'm with you on the Kudu. Dream animal for sure.
Yep, now you have to go back and get the rest.
June with that much coat, must have been cold or he knew it was coming.
Good luck on the next hunt.

Mark,
A belated welcome back !
I had been wondering how your hunt went, and now we know....most excellently!
Congratulations.
I especially like the group photo with the big Kudu. It's nice compliment to the team effort, and by the looks of your wonderful photos you had a great team.
Man, those zebras can be a real tough nut to crack. Been there done that. Glad you got it.
Very nice trophies one and all.
You will never be the same. Welcome to the club. HaHahahahaha!
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
Best regards,
Ty

Congrats Mark, you shot some beautiful animals! Everyone is nice trophy!

Thanks for the report, and congratulations for your hunt, Mark.

By the way, nice kudu

Whats this?! 54 plus kudu on the first trip?! Some guys have all the luck!! Well done!! Excellent animals all!!

Well done Mark. Thanks for posting your hunt report and trophy pictures.

Good job Mark....as we all know like happens and other thing have to take a place in line....

thank you for your good report and please go to the outfitter section an do a review of your PH and outfitter...for all to use in the future...

Congrats on very nice trophies. I`m jealous about your kudu...And thanks for the report.

Congrats Mark on a fine hunt and some fantastic trophies. I know what you mean putting off your retirement I've got my second trip planned for May so ritirement will have to wait a few more years for me as well.

Congrats on some fine looking animals! Who needs to retire...... To many things to hunt in this world!!

Thank you all , and thats what everyone said < too big for your first Kudu >

I'm just jealous thats all. Took me 3 trys to get one over 50, and just barely at that.

while i was in camp a doctor from the US shot a 60.5 man that was a tank

A friend of mine went to RSA some time ago and took what was then the new number 2 kudu. I think it went about 63 inches. I've seen it at his trophy room. A real "monsta"!

You guys talking of 60 inch Kudu has me salivating!
Ses, snap a picture of that beast and post it would you..... Thx

I dont have one to post. Look in your SCI book, its the one taken by Jim Cloward.

Sorry Ses, no book in my possession.
I looked on line for the current SCI records and came up with these names under rifle. Can't find your buddy,Oh well.
If the picture ever falls in your lap let me know.
One way of the other a 63 inch Kudu is huge.

Rifle
Rank Book ID Name Score
1 165740 David M. Tallman 158 6/8
2 1093855 Ghaleb Al-Hamad 156 2/8
3 123020 Shahin Aghayan 155 3/8
4 1126499 Angus Murray 155 1/8
5 172566 Berry Hendry 154 2/8
6 157620 John Collins 154 1/8
6 1119951 Angus Murray 154 1/8
7 100227 Jean Berger 154
8 118059 H.I.H. Prince Abdorreza 153
9 1099852 William C. Myer 152
10 1096882 Frank W. Schroeder 151 6/8