Five weeks in Africa!

[jpomazi]

@jpomazi my son and I hunted with Pieter in 2017. We spent a couple of days hunting on Riaan's property with him and Jonathan, our other PH. The first day, my son took a big pig at about 100 yards.

Then I was back there in 2018 and I took the second pig on Riaan's property at 60 yards. Not as big as my son's. View attachment 420203View attachment 420204

Hi sierra one: Yes we really enjoyed Riaan and Pieter treated us great. He was pretty sick but went with us on a giraffe hunt. Might have been the last hunt he did which was a privilege for me. Nice pigs!

 

[jpomazi]

Jpo........wow, 5 weeks! That's great. I salute you for your work in the combat zone. You deserve a break. So nice to have your family along. Do your wife or kids bowhunt as well? Hope so. Looking forward to your report. .......FWB

Hi Bill, Thanks, yes it is a combat zone but I'm a half glass full kind of guy, so that means unlimited overtime to pay for a trip like this and the opportunity to get away from that place for 5 weeks. The wife is a bowhunter and the girls both shot impala with a crossbow in 2019.

 

[jpomazi]

Very cool trip planned! Hope you and family truly enjoy every second!

And I hope to hear a report on the new Afton house. Sounds like a lot of great changes under the new ownership! Richard did my last trophy shipment and is doing a current one. He's been very competitive

ActionBob, I enjoy the Afton House and talking to other hunters. Just something about the atmosphere. How is it I can see someone from high school for the first time in forever and be out of conversation in 10 minutes. Yet, I see a hunter I don't know from Adam and can talk forever.

 

[sierraone]

Hi sierra one: Yes we really enjoyed Riaan and Pieter treated us great. He was pretty sick but went with us on a giraffe hunt. Might have been the last hunt he did which was a privilege for me. Nice pigs!

Such a shame Pieter died so young. He was only 50 or 51. Tell Riaan hello for me.

 

[Chukar]

Thanks Chukar, just over the mountain from the good part of the State you are!!

It's alright, the town is a bit too blue for me but the location is ideal....

Happy flights and great hunting!

Steve

 

[jpomazi]

For you guys that do hunt reports and also read them a question? Should I do each separately or just do one on the whole trip? I really enjoy the people that spend time and chronicle their trips. It always gets me excited and is certainly a good resource to evaluate outfitters. Thanks for the input.

 

[flatwater bill]

Jpo.........Maybe you'll find a little time to drop us a note some evenings.......always nice to hear about hunts when experiences are fresh from the day. But you have your family there, so we'll take whatever and whenever you decide to report....................FW Bill

 

[VertigoBE]

For you guys that do hunt reports and also read them a question? Should I do each separately or just do one on the whole trip? I really enjoy the people that spend time and chronicle their trips. It always gets me excited and is certainly a good resource to evaluate outfitters. Thanks for the input.

For myself, I only had the time to jot down simple phrases and facts or certain observations most evenings. Definitely not well written phrases. So I rewrote everything when I got home and only then posted it all.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Oh envy! 5 weeks on an Africa adventure!
I’ll never forget seeing you and your wife after she used a rifle on her first ever big game and WOW! It was in Africa and a handsome hard earned zebra! I felt like a proud father watching you two, and your young ladies, just seeing how it all came together! No doubt you had better be careful, or she will take the best animals!
I am so jealous of your night critters you are after and will be anxiously waiting to read your successful reports!
3 reports is my vote! Unless you can get your wife and girls to write some from their perspective too!
Have an absolutely awesome adventure!

 

[cpr0312]

Sounds awesome , have a great time,!

 

[Shootist43]

I'm with Ridgewalker on the three reports. I hunted with Pieter and Riaan in 2018 and got several very nice animals. Take the gals out hunting, it will be a lot cheaper than letting them go shopping, and most likely a lot safer. Good luck on what for most would be the trip of a lifetime.

BTW if your girls were friends, cordial and civil until the age of 13 I think you got three bonus years. LOL That is why I told my wife that she could only have boys, which thankfully she did. Ha Ha.

 

[yhc]

5 weeks…that’s awesome @jpomazi !! That’s like the classic safaris in early 20th century except you will be flying rather than sailing to Africa. Enjoy and safe travels.

 

[jpomazi]

Oh envy! 5 weeks on an Africa adventure!
I’ll never forget seeing you and your wife after she used a rifle on her first ever big game and WOW! It was in Africa and a handsome hard earned zebra! I felt like a proud father watching you two, and your young ladies, just seeing how it all came together! No doubt you had better be careful, or she will take the best animals!
I am so jealous of your night critters you are after and will be anxiously waiting to read your successful reports!
3 reports is my vote! Unless you can get your wife and girls to write some from their perspective too!
Have an absolutely awesome adventure!

Thanks Phil,
The wife is very excited about hunting crocodile. We were at SCI and this outfitter from either Florida or Louisiana had a slogan of "Shoot a gator wear it later". The wife thought that was the best because she wants a purse made out of one. I'm thinking it will be the highlight of the hunt. Girls are finally getting excited and might want to shoot a warthog or something so that would be awesome as well.
I know the year will go fast and you and your grand daughter will finally get to go on a great trip. Take care and hopefully we'll see you this spring.

 

[jpomazi]

I'm with Ridgewalker on the three reports. I hunted with Pieter and Riaan in 2018 and got several very nice animals. Take the gals out hunting, it will be a lot cheaper than letting them go shopping, and most likely a lot safer. Good luck on what for most would be the trip of a lifetime.

BTW if your girls were friends, cordial and civil until the age of 13 I think you got three bonus years. LOL That is why I told my wife that she could only have boys, which thankfully she did. Ha Ha.

Hi Shootist43
The wife goes out probably 90% of the time we are there. The girls do but also enjoy hanging around the lodge and swimming. We might stop at a curio shop on the way back to the airport but really that's about it as far as shopping goes. I'm all about them shooting animals if they want though. Like I said previously, the twins could be the main hunters on the first trip if they wanted and the wife and I would just observe.

It would of been helpful is someone would of told me that all I had to do was tell my wife boys only!!!!

 

[Ridgewalker]

It would of been helpful is someone would of told me that all I had to do was tell my wife boys only!!!!

 

[Shootist43]

You guys all know that was probably the last time I "put my foot down" and it stayed there. LOL

 

[TXhunter65]

Has the makings of the longest hunt report on AH!

 

[jpomazi]

The count down is about 28 hours! My last work shift. I'm worthless right now. Some would say that's nothing new, but this is next level. So, the wife likes collecting Starbucks mugs with the city names on them. No Starbucks in the Jo-burg airport. At least there wasn't in 2019. Does anyone know if there is one close to the airport?

 

[Shootist43]

Just "googled" it, there are several Starbucks listed, but their proximity to the airport is another question. Ask the guys that pick you up at the airport, maybe you'll be passing one enroute to camp. Something from Kentucky Fried Chicken would be another story. LOL

 

[Tanks]

For you guys that do hunt reports and also read them a question? Should I do each separately or just do one on the whole trip? I really enjoy the people that spend time and chronicle their trips. It always gets me excited and is certainly a good resource to evaluate outfitters. Thanks for the input.

On my recent trip report here:

ZIMBABWE: My 21 Day Safari With Charlton McCallum Safaris & A Pair Of Double Rifles

Outfitter: Charlton - McCallum Safaris aka CMS - http://cmsafaris.com/ PH: Keith Wall Main Game: Leopard, Buffalo, Tuskless Elephant Hunt Area: Zambezi Valley and Dante East. Rifles: Heym 88B 9.3x74R (scoped with Swarovski Z6i 1.7 - 10X BT), Heym 88B .500 NE with 1MOA Trijicon. Day -4: Covid...

www.africahunting.com

I took notes each day on my iPhone along with pics from trail cameras, actual cameras and iPhone pics. I had no cell phone connection or internet access during the trip. Heck, when I left Cuomo was Governor of NY and Afghanistan was fine. Quite a change when I got back.

Anyway, I digress. I could have made a short post and just could have posted trophy pics and be done with it. But, I realize not everyone is able to go on a long DG hunt for multiple animals and wanted to provide information about the whole experience. So, I spend an hour or so each day to chronicle the experience with extra pics etc..

I will say one thing, with the full schedule of a hunt you really will not have time to do justice to your experience doing daily posts, especially the fact that you have family with you. I'd enjoy the experience, just take short notes and then post when you get back.