1st african animal

Congratulations!

What a kill, what a rifle!

PARA45 said:

Congratulations. The first African animal is always a very special one. I still vividly remember shooting my first African animal and sobbing like a 5 years old. It’s is the one in my Avatar.

Hope there is more to come.

Click to expand...

Same here, Brother. Sobbed on my last one too. Wouldn't change a thing.

I wish I remembered, it was either a zebra or a kudu. I missed a warthog, an oryx and a red hartebeest with a loaner rifle then dialed it in on those 3 on the same day. We later figured out the scope was loose and moving.

We had two in the back of the Defender 110 when we drove into camp. I feel like the zebra was first. It was the 2nd or 3rd evening.

I jumped into the middle of this thread but got excited so I have to join in. I saw where this is about a guy's first and the comment was made you never forget your first. I sure haven't. I was spending the night at my best friends house-- we were 15-- and his sister was 12 and had a 13 year old friend spending the night with her. Lisa was the friends name and she was smoking hot. In the middle of the night Lisa came into our (the boys) bedroom and said she needed to talk to me. We went into the dining room and there was no talking involved. The next thing I knew Lisa's tongue was down my gullet and her hands-- OH CRAP-- this is a hunting thread. I am so sorry. But I still remember my first!

Man. Glad we don't live in the UK! LOL!

Day 3
The order for the day was getting my uncle his impala and wildebeest or if we had another opportunity at a gemsbok. They day started with the typical breakfast and coffee. Immediately as the sun broke over the horizon we started getting into impala, having opportunity after opportunity but it was proving to be quite difficult to get my uncle on a good mature ram especially since he cant stalk as silent or dismount from the truck fast due to him having a major back surgery a few years ago that left him with a drop foot and it was eating him alive since the ph and tracker where working so hard to get him an opportunity but the team being professional never let on that it was bothering them or giving them frustration they just kept us being positive and saying the ram he was supposed to have must not of been in the group. After about 7 missed stalks and 5 miles walked it was now the heat of the day and lunch time so the ph took us to a pit blind over looking a water hole, as we wrapped up lunch and where about to start into the nap sessions, the ph silently motioned for my uncle to get on the sticks under the window and as my uncle slid onto the sticks the ph whispered that he would open the window and that he needed to be ready as there wouldn't be much time, my uncle still hadn't seen the wildebeest yet, as the window opened he got on his rifle and was expecting an impala but to his surprise there was a lone wildebeest bull at the water and wasting no time he got steady and sent a 180gr federal from his 300 win mag directly into the shoulder of the bull. Immediately there was back slaps and fist bumps galore as all could see it was a good hit. Taking our time we all climbed out of the pit blind and took up the track about 30 minutes after the shot and much to our surprise not 20 yards into the bush we saw a flicker of a wildebeest tail and the ph Immediately had my uncle slam another round into the spine of the bull putting him down for good. We all shouted in elation and smiles where on everyone as my uncle got to place his hands on the beautiful animal that is a blue wildebeest. After pictures and the bull loaded we took the bull back to the skinning shed as quickly as we could so as to not waste time since we still had an impala to get. After we deposited the wildebeest we where back at the impala chase hopeful that our luck was changing and that it would be a short duration before we had the ram but that was not the experience we had as it was once again being failed stalk after stalk until about the end of the day we spotted a lone ram off the road feeding into the bush unaware of our presence so the ph had the truck stop and quietly but quickly my uncle dismounted and the pair moved about 100 yards from the truck before the sticks went up and my uncle slid his rifle onto its perch and my uncle squeezed off a shot dropping the impala ram where he fed! Joyous whoops and hollers where probably heard all the way back in Pretoria as our entire crew was relieved and joyful that we had found success, ypu probably would of thought we had taken a 100 pound ele with the smiles we had but all in all we had an impala ram that took over 7.3 miles worth of stalks. With pictures taken and the ram loaded the sun had set and it was time to head back for another lion lager by the campfire and share our success with the rest of camp. For dinner that night we had kudu back strap which was out of this world, as I drifted off to sleep I couldn't help but dream of gemsbok and warthog as I was up for day 4 and there was a calm start to set in that i knew something exciting was about to happen.

CO_mtnman said:

Day 3
The order for the day was getting my uncle his impala and wildebeest or if we had another opportunity at a gemsbok. They day started with the typical breakfast and coffee. Immediately as the sun broke over the horizon we started getting into impala, having opportunity after opportunity but it was proving to be quite difficult to get my uncle on a good mature ram especially since he cant stalk as silent or dismount from the truck fast due to him having a major back surgery a few years ago that left him with a drop foot and it was eating him alive since the ph and tracker where working so hard to get him an opportunity but the team being professional never let on that it was bothering them or giving them frustration they just kept us being positive and saying the ram he was supposed to have must not of been in the group. After about 7 missed stalks and 5 miles walked it was now the heat of the day and lunch time so the ph took us to a pit blind over looking a water hole, as we wrapped up lunch and where about to start into the nap sessions, the ph silently motioned for my uncle to get on the sticks under the window and as my uncle slid onto the sticks the ph whispered that he would open the window and that he needed to be ready as there wouldn't be much time, my uncle still hadn't seen the wildebeest yet, as the window opened he got on his rifle and was expecting an impala but to his surprise there was a lone wildebeest bull at the water and wasting no time he got steady and sent a 180gr federal from his 300 win mag directly into the shoulder of the bull. Immediately there was back slaps and fist bumps galore as all could see it was a good hit. Taking our time we all climbed out of the pit blind and took up the track about 30 minutes after the shot and much to our surprise not 20 yards into the bush we saw a flicker of a wildebeest tail and the ph Immediately had my uncle slam another round into the spine of the bull putting him down for good. We all shouted in elation and smiles where on everyone as my uncle got to place his hands on the beautiful animal that is a blue wildebeest. After pictures and the bull loaded we took the bull back to the skinning shed as quickly as we could so as to not waste time since we still had an impala to get. After we deposited the wildebeest we where back at the impala chase hopeful that our luck was changing and that it would be a short duration before we had the ram but that was not the experience we had as it was once again being failed stalk after stalk until about the end of the day we spotted a lone ram off the road feeding into the bush unaware of our presence so the ph had the truck stop and quietly but quickly my uncle dismounted and the pair moved about 100 yards from the truck before the sticks went up and my uncle slid his rifle onto its perch and my uncle squeezed off a shot dropping the impala ram where he fed! Joyous whoops and hollers where probably heard all the way back in Pretoria as our entire crew was relieved and joyful that we had found success, ypu probably would of thought we had taken a 100 pound ele with the smiles we had but all in all we had an impala ram that took over 7.3 miles worth of stalks. With pictures taken and the ram loaded the sun had set and it was time to head back for another lion lager by the campfire and share our success with the rest of camp. For dinner that night we had kudu back strap which was out of this world, as I drifted off to sleep I couldn't help but dream of gemsbok and warthog as I was up for day 4 and there was a calm start to set in that i knew something exciting was about to happen.View attachment 775046View attachment 775047View attachment 775048View attachment 775049

Click to expand...

I would ask him to not drill a hole in my horns

CO_mtnman said:

Just got my 1st african animal ever the evening of day 1, a blesbok at about 40 yards with my 30-378 wby shooting 199gr hammer stone hammers, the bull went straight down with the shot. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions as I had dreamed of this day ever since I learned to read.View attachment 774659

Click to expand...

nice! my first animal was a blesbok as well. 294 yards on some shaky bipod sticks sitting in high grass after crawling a good ways.

That first animal typically sets the pace for the entire safari

Sounds like a heck of a hunt, congratulations. Can't wait till I can go next year.

CO_mtnman said:

Just got my 1st african animal ever the evening of day 1, a blesbok at about 40 yards with my 30-378 wby shooting 199gr hammer stone hammers, the bull went straight down with the shot. Talk about a whirlwind of emotions as I had dreamed of this day ever since I learned to read.View attachment 774659

Click to expand...

Fantastic animal and congratulations!!! It does not matter how many animals you take, Africa just makes it magical!!!

Day 4!!!!
Today the focus was on my gemsbok and warthog for my uncle and I since they where the only animals remaining. The day started with a beautiful sunrise and the fog was sitting in the low ground but there was a different feeling in the air, something good was going to happen today I could just feel it. We had our normal breakfast of 2 eggs, potatoes, banana and a strawberry yogurt as well as 2 cups of coffee and our ph doing his patented "are you ready? Good, lets go!". We drove out to the area, along some ridgelines trying to get some elevation to see if we could spot our gemsbok but the fog prevented this, the ph looked at me and said lets go for a walk, which I now know means something different to him than from I lol so I zipped off my light jacket and climbed off the bakie and did a little stretch getting ready for potentially a day of long walks but I was determined to get my gemsbok even if it ment I had to walk to Pretoria and back. Our trio slipped down off the ridge into a thick little vein of bush that was in the low ground. We found where they fed during the night but it was fresh! We took up the track of 2 gemsbok and where hot on their trail, it was a rush of adrenaline as I was stalking an animal that only lived in my dreams and the whole reason for coming to Africa, I had to stay focused on my steps being quite or else I would get choked up just thinking that I was finally in africa chasing dreams, I was finally doing it. So I pushed all that to the back and had my rifle in my hands pointed in a safe and efficient manner ready to slide on the sticks any moment and making sure my steps where silent and in the same sandy tracks as my ph. We kept this up for 1.3 miles as the sign kept getting fresher and fresher, this was going to happen then all of a sudden the tracker and ph froze and dropped to a knee so I followed suit. There they are can you see, can you see but I was so focused on my steps I had know situational awareness so it took what felt like hours trying to get me to see these masked beauties in the bush but was honestly only a moment or 2. I said yes I see them!! Then up went the sticks as we rose from our kneel to our feet only 70 yards from our quarry, the one on the left is a really old cow lets take that one. I had previously told my ph I did not mind taking a gemsbok cow as long as it was old and age was my trophy not inches. She was hard quartering away but had her head turned back looking directly at us, the ph was saying take your time and make a good shot but we dont have much time. I settled the reticle to where I knew my exit would hit the offside shoulder and started my shot process but taking a moment to remind my self to breathe and relax. After the shot I was lost since she dropped immediately as if she had the rug yanked out from underneath her and all I could see was the the other gemsbok take off through the bush, also I immediately felt the recoil from a huge back pat from my ph saying she dropped and it was a great shot but I still immediately ran my bolt as fast as I could getting a new round in the chamber ready for anything knowing how animals can come back alive at a moments notice, as we moved to her location it was apparent that she would not be getting up, there she was my gemsbok I was speechless and just felt like I was floating. I couldn't hear a thing I just felt the wind until my ph grabbed ahold of me snapping me out of my daze. Then the joy set in and I couldn't control my smile or giggling lol it was embarrassing but I was absolutely soaring. I dont know if anyone else feels this way but getting a hand shake from the tracker and ph saying good job just means the world to me as I try my absolute very best to be a good client. He asked if I was happy and I just immediately gave him a hug saying yes I am happy and couldn't thank him enough. Then he went to get the truck and rest of our party as the tracker and I just sat with my animal just feeling every hair taking note of how Grey her face was getting and how worn her tips where, how smooth they where and how massive her bases where. The ph arrived and just seeing my wife emerge from the bush with a smile on her face as she knew how much this ment to me started to get me tearing up but they never fell. She immediately came over to me giving me a hug and congratulating me was such an awesome feeling, I was so glad she made the trip with me.pictures taken then it was off the lodge to deposit this old girl to the skinning shed and it was warthog time. The ph said she was the perfect cow to take as she was probably 11 years old.

Day 4 continue
Warthog time!!!

After the gemsbok was dropped off at the skinning she'd it was off to chase Warthog (our last animals on the list). We drove out to the rocky open flats where we had seen multiple females and younger boars in hope that an old board or 2 would show himself. No less than 45 seconds after the ph stated that the weather was not in our favor as it was a cloudy day with low clouds and over cast and we honestly had a 20% chance of seeing pigs, when the truck came to an abrupt stop and an old boar was spotted moving through the bush so we quickly dismounted and got on the sticks but i couldnt get a bead on him so the ph picked up the sticks and we jogged up to a high rise in the road when he set the sticks up and stayed he is moving towards the road and we didn't have much time so I got set up oriented on the road when he came lumbering across the road at 111 yards but he was moving so I didnt dare take a shot, the ph barked at him imitating a baboon, the old boar stopped and turned so I started my shot process and sent the 199gr stone hammer his way, dropping him immediately where he stood but he was thrashing about in the dirt so I instantly got another round in the chamber ready for another shot but he expired before it was necessary. As we made our way over to the boar he was growing in size and his character was starting to show. It turned out that this old warrior was covered in scars, was missing an eye and a foot!!! He also had a broken tusk to boot. I couldn't of drawn up a better Warthog to take. I was thrilled to wrap up my list with this old warrior. Pictures taken, and the boar was loaded up ready to continue the hunt for my uncles Warthog. We decided to sit over water during the heat of the day in hopes another old boar would come in for a drink. As we where getting settled in a beautiful blind that was built into a mountain looking down at the water hole the cattle started to come in for a drink so we made the decision to head to a different water hole without this much bovine activity. So off we went into a new blind about 10 miles away not 3 minutes into the sit had another boar come into drink when the ph set my uncle up on the sticks as quietly as possible and the window was opened, the rifle barrel eased out of the blind and my uncle dropped his Warthog not 30 yards away with his 300 win mag, it was another old boar with a broken tusk, the same side as mine had broken. I wonder if these 2 old boars had met each other and exchanged opposing opinions on the climate or sow population. Either way I was soaring in the clouds as it wasnt even 3 pm and we had 3 animals down in the salt, my dream gemsbok and 2 Warthog when we had a 20% chance, dont tell us the odds lol.

Congratulations, and great looking blesbok!

Day 5
We had completed our list and still had an extra day of hunting so I had made a grave mistake and talked my wife into going after an impala. So the day started with a trip to the range to ensure my rifle was still on for my wife and 1 quick shot proved that it was and we loaded up the truck to go see if the bush would bless us with an impala. We drove out to thick area that had a dry river bottom running through it and once we dismounted we where instantly greeted by local baboons which i was worried that they would alert the impala in the area that we where there, we came across some very impala sign and we took up the track. The tracker, ph, my wife, myself and uncle all in a single silent file working our way along the trail slowly making up ground getting closer and closer, the sign had taken us through some of the prettiest terrain I have ever hunted, and followed a sandy river bottom which helped aid in keeping us silent. The tracker and pH had stopped and pointed out a still steaming pile of impala dung and motioned for my uncle and I to stay put as the tracker, ph and my wife got on all 4s and where crawling through the bush to try and get eyes on the impala herd and pick out a good male, they where gone for about 30 minutes as my uncle and I remained kneeling and not moving a muscle when a shot broke the silence of the morning air. Right after the shot jolted us to the present I could hear the ph hollering "yes! Thats how you shoot an impala! Way to go, good job" I immediately left to my feet and followed the voices and as I emerged from the bush, my wife was kneeling down by her impala, her 1st every african animal and 2nd big game animal ever! She was all smiles and speechless just as I had been. I instantly gave her a hug and shook the ph and trackers hands in a congratulations as it was an awesome stalk just perfect and one I will remember for all my days. Since then my wife has built her own trophy list and is already working over the budget to get us back to africa as soon as we can, and she is wanting a winchester 300 win mag to go along with her, I am so happy that she has fallen in love with africa the same as I. I know this safari wasnt as grand as some of the others but its our safari and the 1st of hopefully many, many more and I am so happy that we have this forum for me to share our experience as opposed to reading about others.

Africa1 said:

You never forget your first! Congratulations and may this be the first of many!

Click to expand...

Actually you do. . I had to rack my brain, but had a lucid interval and it came to me.

on my first hunt with my friend eric (big guy on the left) we both shot several impla. over the next five hunts i took over 60 animals from 15 different speces from steenbuck to buffalo cow. i would like to go again and maybe shoot a hippo, but with getting close to 83 now i,m not sure its in the cards. last hunt was in 2019 with no problems.

Greetings from Parker, Co. Very nice write-up on your trip as well as pics of great critters. My first Africa trip was 2023 with NKWE Safaris, Botswana. Eland bull was my first African animal. September 2025 hunt with Bushman's Quiver delivered Nyala within 2 hours of arriving in Eastern Cape camp. It's getting to where it's easier to hunt in Africa than to draw big game tags in Colorado. Planning to return there in 2027.

This rings pretty true.

Yeah, but for some reason, it just means more than my neighbors butter churn collection....

RichD said:

This rings pretty true.

Click to expand...