hunting4sanity
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2013
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- eastern Washington
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- RMEF, DU, SCI, NRA
My brother and I recently returned from our first ever trip to Africa and it certainly won't be my last. We hunted with Henk Brink of Kido Safaris in KwaZulu-Natal and the entire experience exceeded my expectations. The staff and facilities were all top-notch. Getting there was a bit tedious, from home to hunt was roughly 11,000 miles and 44 hours. Those 44 hours did include a short over-night stay in Johannesburg, which I think was good to help make the 10 hour time change adjustment, plus I had an excellent steak that evening which was a welcome change from 'airplane food.' The next morning we had a short plane ride to Richards Bay where we were met by Henk and thankfully our rifles and luggage too. After a two hour drive we arrived at Kido Safaris in the Zululand Rhino Reserve, the rest of the first day was spent checking rifles and then just getting to know the area and seeing some of Africa's amazing wildlife.
I knew the weather during this safari would be hot, but hey, I'm a farmer and I'm used to working in the hot summer sun. After hunting hard on a sunny day that reached 104 degrees I decided this farmer spends more time than he thought in a nice air conditioned John Deere back home on hot summer days. On the second full day of hunting, I got a shot at my first ever African animal and thought it was very fitting that it was a kudu. After committing to this hunt I made a life-size kudu target to practice on at home and then a kudu was the first thing I put crosshairs on in Africa. The first animal for my brother was also a kudu. The first few days were very hot, but productive.
It was surreal to be hunting these animals I had only seen pictures of and read about, now it was actually happening. We also had to be aware of where other animals, like elephants and rhinos, were at to avoid any unwanted run-ins. The trackers, Elias and James, were unbelievable in their ability to spot game. One day as Elias seemed to be concentrating on the opposite side of the canyon, I spotted a group of impala and proudly blurted out "impalas!" In his unique cadence and accent Elias quietly said, "yes, 6 females." I quickly glanced back to 'my find' and sure enough, it was exactly 6 female impalas contently feeding away from us. I swear Elias had eyes in the front, back and sides of his head. Over the course of our trip we hunted in blistering heat, cool light rain, pounding heavy rains and loved every minute of it.
On the last evening of our hunt the rain again began to fall and the warthog I had hoped to find on this hunt safely took cover from the rain and out of our sight. The last minute rain and no warthog wasn't the exact ending I was hoping for, but it was far from sad. My first safari, perhaps the most important of all safaris a person will go on, had been everything I had hoped for and even more. My brother and I each shot a kudu, a zebra, a nyala, a springbok, and two impalas. I also got a common reedbuck, a giraffe and a black wildebeest. My brother, Rob, also got a warthog, a blue wildebeest and a gemsbok. We would each be taking home 9 animals. So much for the budget!
Africa will cause sensory overload, the sights, sounds and smells all add to the experience. You experience so many emotions; the excitement of your first shot opportunity, the nervous anticipation of knowing you made a good shot, but still the kudu made it out of that small sight window you had. Was it a good shot??? Now, youæ± e doubting yourself. Absolute relief and joy when you find your first kudu not more than 30 yards from where you shot him, but out of sight from where you took the shot. Stomach-churning worry when you realize the shot you made on your blue wildebeest was too far back and darkness falls. Sorrow, when after a night of rain, you fail to find your wildebeest despite everyone looking for hours, painful heartache wondering what you did wrong. Joy and excitement return when you admire your first impala. Awe struck at the beauty of a nyala. The range of emotions experienced on an African safari are many and varied. By the end of the safari I was both exhausted and invigorated, and already planning how to get back there and hunt again. I can certainly say I hope to hunt with Kido Safaris again, and soon. Also, I can recommend them without any hesitation to anyone looking for a safari.
Sorry for getting a little long winded in my account, but this trip was filled with countless memories. Thank you, to all those on this forum who helped answer the many questions I had as I prepared for this great hunt. In the short time I致e spent here on AfricaHunting.com I致e found there are several other outfitters and members I hope to get the chance to hunt with someday ?? I'm going to have to win the lottery or something, this Africa addiction appears to be insatiable. Now, the wait begins for that glorious day when the taxidermist calls and says, éheyæ± e ready. To anyone wondering about hunting Africa, wondering if it's worth it - GO!
I knew the weather during this safari would be hot, but hey, I'm a farmer and I'm used to working in the hot summer sun. After hunting hard on a sunny day that reached 104 degrees I decided this farmer spends more time than he thought in a nice air conditioned John Deere back home on hot summer days. On the second full day of hunting, I got a shot at my first ever African animal and thought it was very fitting that it was a kudu. After committing to this hunt I made a life-size kudu target to practice on at home and then a kudu was the first thing I put crosshairs on in Africa. The first animal for my brother was also a kudu. The first few days were very hot, but productive.
It was surreal to be hunting these animals I had only seen pictures of and read about, now it was actually happening. We also had to be aware of where other animals, like elephants and rhinos, were at to avoid any unwanted run-ins. The trackers, Elias and James, were unbelievable in their ability to spot game. One day as Elias seemed to be concentrating on the opposite side of the canyon, I spotted a group of impala and proudly blurted out "impalas!" In his unique cadence and accent Elias quietly said, "yes, 6 females." I quickly glanced back to 'my find' and sure enough, it was exactly 6 female impalas contently feeding away from us. I swear Elias had eyes in the front, back and sides of his head. Over the course of our trip we hunted in blistering heat, cool light rain, pounding heavy rains and loved every minute of it.
On the last evening of our hunt the rain again began to fall and the warthog I had hoped to find on this hunt safely took cover from the rain and out of our sight. The last minute rain and no warthog wasn't the exact ending I was hoping for, but it was far from sad. My first safari, perhaps the most important of all safaris a person will go on, had been everything I had hoped for and even more. My brother and I each shot a kudu, a zebra, a nyala, a springbok, and two impalas. I also got a common reedbuck, a giraffe and a black wildebeest. My brother, Rob, also got a warthog, a blue wildebeest and a gemsbok. We would each be taking home 9 animals. So much for the budget!
Africa will cause sensory overload, the sights, sounds and smells all add to the experience. You experience so many emotions; the excitement of your first shot opportunity, the nervous anticipation of knowing you made a good shot, but still the kudu made it out of that small sight window you had. Was it a good shot??? Now, youæ± e doubting yourself. Absolute relief and joy when you find your first kudu not more than 30 yards from where you shot him, but out of sight from where you took the shot. Stomach-churning worry when you realize the shot you made on your blue wildebeest was too far back and darkness falls. Sorrow, when after a night of rain, you fail to find your wildebeest despite everyone looking for hours, painful heartache wondering what you did wrong. Joy and excitement return when you admire your first impala. Awe struck at the beauty of a nyala. The range of emotions experienced on an African safari are many and varied. By the end of the safari I was both exhausted and invigorated, and already planning how to get back there and hunt again. I can certainly say I hope to hunt with Kido Safaris again, and soon. Also, I can recommend them without any hesitation to anyone looking for a safari.
Sorry for getting a little long winded in my account, but this trip was filled with countless memories. Thank you, to all those on this forum who helped answer the many questions I had as I prepared for this great hunt. In the short time I致e spent here on AfricaHunting.com I致e found there are several other outfitters and members I hope to get the chance to hunt with someday ?? I'm going to have to win the lottery or something, this Africa addiction appears to be insatiable. Now, the wait begins for that glorious day when the taxidermist calls and says, éheyæ± e ready. To anyone wondering about hunting Africa, wondering if it's worth it - GO!
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