SOUTH AFRICA: Pawprint Kalahari Lion & Lioness Hunt

[cls]

Safe travels, good luck and shoot straight.

 

[huntermn15]

Good luck and safe travels. I did a lioness hunt in 2015 and had a fantastic tracking hunt!

 

[LivingTheDream]

Good luck!! You are going to have a blast!

 

[Tra3]

Good luck! Enjoy the hunt! Shoot straight and RELOAD!

Doesn’t hunting lion require more than one large pack of wet wipes?

 

[gesch]

You are a great example for me. The training is very interesting! Did you design your own regimen or do you have a trainer? I’m looking forward to hearing all about the hunt. Thanks for all you interesting positive posts.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Doesn’t hunting lion require more than one large pack of wet wipes?

Did you design your own regimen or do you have a trainer?

I have had a one day a week coach for the last 6 months. At my age, we spend a lot of time on balance exercises. Core and legs are keys to good balance.
I have worked out since high school on and off, but since I retired 20 years ago, I have tried to stay in shape to fish and hunt. Now that my granddaughter is hunting with me, I have even more of a reason to stay healthy.
Who knows, maybe one of my two great granddaughters (now 4 & 4 1/2) might want to hunt Africa with me!
You can’t let “old” get in the way!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Global Rescue...done.
Credit card travel notification...done. What a pain! Must have taken 30 minutes of punching numbers and finally got a live person!
Typhoid updated. Took the pill regimen this time because it’s good for 5 years instead of 2 like the shot. A pain to take though, but...done.
Hep A, B good.
Tetanus good.
Cash for travel, food, tips, snacks...done.
Copies of: itinerary, first page of passport, 4457, outfitter invitation letter, RiflePermits mandate...done.
Hmmm...?

 

[Ironhorse375]

Living vicariously through you my friend.
Best of luck. Should be one hell of a hunt.
Glad you got the global rescue renewed, and looks like you covered all the medical bases.
One of the most organized people I know. Must be that engineers brain.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Must be that engineers brain.

I probably make things more complicated than they need to be...an engineer’s shortcoming! Overthinking things!

 

[jacques smith]

All the best Phil
Sounds like a hoot
Very best to your granddaughter
Jacques

 

[Ridgewalker]

All the best Phil
Sounds like a hoot
Very best to your granddaughter
Jacques

Thanks Jacques! She is really anxious for next year! We will see how she does this fall on elk in the cold and walking a lot!

 

[TOBY458]

PawPrint Safaris had an offer on AH while I was in Africa in 2018. No one seemed interested because either they thought it was a put and take, or because they couldn’t bring anything back to the states from the lions. Well, I have no space for a mounted lion and I just wanted the experience of hunting one. I couldn’t afford one of the big time free range hunts, but didn’t want a put and take hunt. Pieter told me it was a huge high fenced property where the lions lived off the game farm animals. He also indicated it wasn’t just one lion, but a lion, lioness, gemsbok and an impala! It was a walk and stalk hunt with no baiting. All I could think was it was pretty similar to a free range, but that I could actually afford it. I signed up.

Johan emailed me I needed to be ready to walk up to 10 miles a day! In my early 70s this might be a challenge, so I have been walking a lot along with my gym exercising. Still 10 miles a day carrying a 10lb rifle can be tough depending on the terrain.

Very encouraging to me were email messages with Norfolk Shooter of AH. He, along with a couple of his buddies, went on a similar hunt on the same property earlier. His emails were very exciting and encouraging that this was going to be a grand time! Thanks Norfolk Shooter!

Also, Toby458 signed up to go along at the same time. This is assuming he could decide which caliber and rifle he was going to use. Obviously a tough decision since he owns many! Just teasing Toby! I’m just jealous since I only have one pseudo heavy caliber rifle!

Packing time came:

Carry-on 5.11 Rush loaded and ready.
View attachment 294902

Vest ready for traveling.
View attachment 294903

New HF Apache carry-on size hard case to meet OR Tambo’s newest requirements. We will see how it holds up to air travel in the cargo hole.
View attachment 294904

All packed but my rifle. Just once more to the range and leaving it fouled.
View attachment 294905


As always thanks to Jennifer at Travel Express and Henry at RiflePermits.

Delta 200 wheels up Sunday, July 28 and landing at OR Tambo Monday, July 29.

I’ll try to keep this live as internet and personal time/energy are available.

What are these new requirements you speak of???

 

[gillettehunter]

Looking forward to your hunt report. I expect that you are going to have a very memorable hunt. Good luck.
Bruce

 

[Ridgewalker]

What are these new requirements you speak of???

There was a thread on AH about new luggage requirements at Joberg. As I recall, if it is soft or has straps it has to be wrapped. If not, it has to ha no straps and have at least one hard side or bottom. I’ll try to find the thread and send it to you.

Found it: https://www.africahunting.com/threads/new-luggage-restrictions-ort-johannesburg.48818/

 

[rinehart0050]

Sounds like you're ready! Best of luck!

 

[Ridgewalker]

Went to the close indoor range to verify my scope one more time and foul the bore (I’ve found Barnes accuracy improves with a well fouled bore) before I get to Africa. The 235TSX went 3 vertical in 1/2”. The 300gr Swifts (just in case I “need” another buffalo) are dead on at 100yds with 8 clicks up and 6 clicks right. Adjusting it back, the 235s were back on at 100yds.
Rifle ready I think! Just need to put it in a soft case and stuff into the Pelican.
Now come on Sunday! I’m ready to go!

 

[Shootist43]

Well guys, one more day and a wake-up and you'll be on your way. Have either of you considered taking some
"KIND" bars with you. They are delicious and make a good snack for those day long hunting trips.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Well guys, one more day and a wake-up and you'll be on your way. Have either of you considered taking some
"KIND" bars with you. They are delicious and make a good snack for those day long hunting trips.

Good idea! I don’t care for biltong. Rarely can my old teeth chew it up. It seems like they cut it with the grain rather than across the grain.

I’m a bit nervous today. We had to go pick up the granddaughter yesterday, two days early from her week long mountain camp. She was having stomach issues, nausea and running a low fever. I’m staying away from her. I skipped getting trip insurance!

Yesterday was her mom’s birthday and today is hers. Being sick on your birthday isn’t much fun!

 

[Shootist43]

Sounds like it is time for a "fist bump" instead of a loving hug. Hopefully some of grandma's chicken soup will fix her right up.

 

[Vanguard2279]

Ridgewalker, I hope your granddaughter is feeling better. You'll love Reitzdale Farm as I'm pretty sure that is where you're going. I was with Norfolk Shooter and Dabloobana in May for their hunts. I was after Buffalo and Sable. Eventually, I'll get around to writing my hunt report.
Hearing the Lions roar in the morning was a great experience. Beautiful lodge and great food.