SOUTH AFRICA: Frontier Safaris September 2016

[Therack]

Arrived at Frontier Safaris on Sept. 9, 2016 after the PH Jason picked us up from the Port Elizabeth airport. Sighted in the guns and retired to the boma for a fire and a meal of roast chicken and impala stew.

Day 1:
A light drizzle in the morning had the animals sitting tight. I collected my first Africa trophy, black wildebeest, I can't begin to describe the feeling.

After a visit to the skinning shed we enjoyed lasagna with fish and chips for lunch. The afternoon hunt didn't yield any trophy animals and again we retired to the boma for a fire accompanied by kudu steak and pork for dinner.

Day 2:
Following breakfast we had a couple of failed stalks. Lunch was hamburgers and chicken, I'm realizing I will be gaining weight on this hunt. Passed on some gemsbuck and harvested a cull impala. Later in the afternoon harvested a cull Blesbuck. Dinner was T bones and soup.

 

[Therack]

Day 3:
First thing in the morning I made a bad shot on a white Blesbuck, after a couple of hours made a follow up shot and finished the job. Lunch was Blesbuck steak and bobote. I harvested an impala in the early afternoon. Loaded up and off we went. Found my kudu and double lunged him at 200 yards. My better half was along for the afternoon hunt and watched me harvest 2 animal. Only in Africa can you harvest 3 animals in a day. Dinner was grilled impala loin and impala roast.

Day 4:

Foggy morning in the low country so went up high in search of a Blesbuck and I connected. Back for a lunch of braised gemsbuck and Shepard's pie. The afternoon hunt yielded a bushbuck that we had to drag out of the thick, thorn brush. Drove through the town of Alicedale to get to the bushbuck spot. Dinner was gemsbuck roast and chicken.

 

[Therack]

Day 5:
After the normal breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon and fruit we hiked a canyon looking for gemsbuck, saw a trophy but couldn't get close enough. Late in the morning found a trophy gemsbuck while glossing. 180 yard shot and I had my trophy. After a drop at the skinning shed had a lasagna and kudu steak lunch. Had a few unsuccessful stalks in the afternoon and retired to the boma for kudu stew and Blesbuck loin.

Day 6:
Lunch was hamburgers and chicken. I missed a jackal at 220 yards in the morning. Had a couple of unsuccessful stalks for springbuck in the afternoon. Dinner was T bone steaks.

Day 7:

Spent the morning in search of warthog, didn't see a good one. Lunch was impala steak and babootie. During the afternoon hunt I elected to harvest a warthog sow. Loaded up and found a springbuck to go after. After a lengthy stalk took him at 180 yards. Loaded up and went looking for a duiker at sundown, success. Harvested 3 animals in 4 hours! This finished my package of 12 animals in 7 days of hunting. Dinner was lamb chops, warthog kabobs with rooster brood and bone soup.

 

[cls]

Thanks for the report, looks like you were very successful and had a great time.

 

[cpr0312]

Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[Therack]

Day 8:
Woke up to a light rain and took the day off to rest. The hunt was scheduled for 10 days. What to do? Buy more animals, of course.

Day 9:
Woke up to fog and made spotting a challenge in the morning. Late in the morning stalked a group of zebra and took the largest from the group. Went to the skinning shed and then a lunch of lasagna with fish and chips. The afternoon had several unsuccessful stalks on blue wildebeest. Dinner was springbuck roast and kudu stew.

Day 10:
After several unsuccessful stalks on blue wildebeest I finally connected on one late in the morning. Lunch was hamburgers and and chicken. In the afternoon we toured the taxidermist where my mounts would be done and did all the paperwork. Dinner was zebra filet and wildebeest steak.

 

[Therack]

Dates: September 10-19, 2016
Location: Alicedale South Africa
Operator: Frontier Safaris South Africa owned by Barry Burchell
PH: Jason Wicks
Tracker/skinner: Zola
Animals taken: 14
Hunt length: 10 days
Gun: Browning a-bolt 30-06
Ammo: 150 Gr Barnes ttsx

I don't have any complaints other than I had to leave at the end of the hunt. The food was outstanding as well as the laundry and cleaning staff. I saw plenty of animals everyday and felt like the PH wasn't afraid to pass on animals to find a larger one. The lodge is very comfortable with private chalets and bathrooms. Every evening there were snacks, drinks and a fire waiting for us in the boma when we returned from hunting. The lodge sits in the middle of 70,000+ continuous acres so there is no driving from ranch to ranch to hunt, when you leave the lodge you are hunting. The skinning shed was very nice and kept extremely clean. Trophy care was good and I was pleased with the taxidermy work. The taxidermy shop is owned by the lodge and had everything done and delivered to my door in 7 months. My girlfriend did day trips to Addo Elephant Park, Pumba Game Reserve, Elephant safari lodge for elephant riding and feeding and a spa day in Port Elizabeth. The ladies in the office were excellent in lining up these trips. She also accompanied me on a few afternoon hunts and the PH was very accommodating. Barry and his staff were excellent and I cannot think of anything I would change.

 

[Bill Kossmann]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm looking forward to uploading my report in mid-2019; I can hardly wait.

 

[CAustin]

Thank you for sharing the hunt report! You did very well.

 

[Eeleel]

Excellent information and a true representation of your hunt. Thank you, I hope to hunt there in 2018.
Did you see any Sable or Buffalo.

 

[Therack]

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks for sharing your hunt.

 

[flyfishaz]

Excellent information and a true representation of your hunt. Thank you, I hope to hunt there in 2018.
Did you see any Sable or Buffalo.

Jaco Prinsloo who was my PH in Africa now works there. If you hunt with him I guarantee you will have a great hunt.

 

[Nyati]

Congrats on your hunt, and thanks for sharing !

 

[dory]

It looks like one of the PHs is wearing a side arm in one of your photos ?
If so it is something I havnt seen before .
I hope it wasnt to keep you under control after a few to many .

 

[enysse]

Congrats, great pictures and memories. The lodge looks beautiful!