What was your first African Animal?

Ontario Hunter said:
Very nice. A cow I presume?

Judging by the rings at horn bases I would guess your gemsbuck was a much younger animal but nevertheless very impressive horns.
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Nope, bull. Not an ancient one, but mature.
And the first of 6 animals on that trip to drop with one with one shot each using a 30-06 and 168 gr TTSX ammo you were asking about recently.
 
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My first animal in Africa in the Selous Reserve 2025 with a 416 Rigby
 
My first was this nice Impala ram. May 2016, hunting with Jacques Strauss at the fantastic Kowas Adventure Safaris in Namibia. We saw this ram in some thick cover and made a short stalk. The quartering-on shot from my A-Bolt 30/06 was spot on with a 180gn Woodleigh hitting home.

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Nyala in South Africa
 
Ryan said:
Nope, bull. Not an ancient one, but mature.
And the first of 6 animals on that trip to drop with one with one shot each using a 30-06 and 168 gr TTSX ammo you were asking about recently.
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Long horns for a bull. My 2nd and 3rd were bulls and old enough to need culling but they can't compare to yours.
 
Mine was a Blue Wildebeest with JKO Safaris. Taken at dusk with my Savage Axis .308 Win.
 

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Hillcountry63 said:
Saw an earlier post and it got me thinking about my first African Animal and the experience, so I thought I'd start us a thread. A proper Nyala spot and stalk, second day, Winchester 70. 30-06 Barnes TTSX 180gn, shot distance approx. 120 yards, one shot bang flop, Limpopo SA.



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LOL - We are clearly brothers who were separated at birth. My first African animal was also a Nyala. Taken in Limpopo with my 308 after a classic stalk in very dense cover. The shot was 30y and all I could see was a patch of hair. 180g Fed Fusion bonded. At the shot the animal took two steps and made a sound like air escaping from a balloon "Mwaaw" and dropped dead. The horns were 1/8" short of an SCI gold. A great beginning on a wonderful Safari.

The Nyala now occupies a place of honor in my trophy room. 1/2 body mount by Nylstroom Taxidermy looks like he is stepping out of the wall.

BTW: The horns on yours are magnificent. Well done Sir!

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54 inch Northern Transvaal Kudu - 2006. Spot and stalk while following a group of Burchells Zebra - 225gr Accubond (new then) Sako 75 in 338WM.
 

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Great thread. Mine was an impala ram as a youngster here in Limpopo — nothing exotic, but I can still see it. A walk-and-stalk in the dead heat of midday when everything sensible was lying up, chasing an old ram that had given us the slip two mornings running. One shot with a borrowed .270, and my hands were shaking harder afterwards than before. Funny how it's never the biggest animal you remember best — it's the first one that teaches you what the fuss is about. Congratulations to everyone on a proper first; that nyala stalk is a cracking way to start.
 
First day in Zimbabwe, and dreamt of a deep kudu since a teenager. It appeared at the end of the day, quartering away, shot was too far forward through brisket/leg. The lions killed it later and the hyenas finished it. What an experience

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dchum said:
Wow! What a beautiful bull.

What area was this in with CMS?
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It was the first year they had Nyakasanga. Was originally planned for Mururu camp and buff/kudu. A cancelation opened up dates and got upgraded for my first safari! Beyond lucky
 
Mine was a Blue Wildebeest. Shot roughly 100 yds or o, just before dusk.
 

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1st African animal was a zebra. 155 yards. I was nervous about shooting off sticks as my home range would not let me practice off them and I didn't have as much practice as I would have liked. As soon as I took the shot, I knew it was way left. I was getting ready to say out loud “Miss” but then I heard the round hit as I was shooting my PHs 308 suppressed. Turns out I got lucky. Ended up being a killing neck shot (that was not the plan). But the first animal nerves were gone and it was the only bad shot I made that trip. Here is a picture of him and a painting I commissioned from a South African artist based on the picture.
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