SOUTH AFRICA: ZIMBABWE: BOTSWANA: RSA / Zimbabwe (With A Little Bit Of Botswana) 2026 Hunt Report With JKO HUNTING SAFARIS

Those are very bad news Phil,

I cannot imagine the pain you must have gone through.

I hope Africa helps in the healing process.

My sincere condolences.

I cannot comprehend the heart ache.

As was said earlier, grieve and love. Remember all of the wonderful times that you together that will never be diminished.

Phil...you and your wife have my families prayers.

Sorry for your loss.

Genuinely sorry for your loss, I hope and pray that this trip can bring you and your wife peace and a sense of joy in the remembrance of all of the good times and memories you shared with your son. Very nice kudu to start of the trip with as well.

Phil so sorry for your loss, I can't even imagine. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Praying for your family.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and encouraging posts, it is most appreciated.

We are back now at the Shearwater Explorers Lodge in Vic Falls after two full days in Chobe National Park. In an hour or so a PH that works with Jacques @JKO HUNTING SAFARIS on hunts in the Matetsi ECA area will be by to pick us up. Jacques is on the road now to camp and will meet us there later this evening.

So time for a cold one and adding the next installment to this hunt report.

We arrived at JNB on Sunday morning, July 26, more/less on time and on quickly to the hunting property in the NW province that I'd not hunted before. @BeeMaa hunted this property last year and took a buffalo here.

We arrived after dark so we didn't get rifles sighted in until Monday morning. No adjustments needed, rifles shooting just fine. So off @AZ KJ and his wife went with Jacques and off myself and Donna went with Riaan. Riaan has been with JKO for a few years now, some of you may have met him at the shows last year. This would be my first time hunting with him, and all I can say is he came thru. I enjoyed hunting with him and look forward to doing so again.

We weren't long from camp when we came to a small stream crossing. As we approached I could see up the other side there was a sable bull and it definitely had my attention. He was facing us, but I could get a glimpse of just how far his horns swept back. He only let us get so close before moving on, but he gave us enough of a look that he quickly made the "Strong Consideration" list.

Riaan didn't want to just jump on the first animal, but to take our time at least for a few hours to see what else was about. So off we continued to the south and into what I started to call Kudu land. I'm quite certain that in all of my previous trips to Africa that I can say I saw as many kudu in this hunt as I've seen in total of all my other hunts. A mix of females, young males, almost ready for hunting males and finally some very nice fully mature bulls.

I've been after a 55" or better bull now for awhile. Length however was more of a general goal versus shape. I really wanted a bull that had 3 full curls with the end points pointing outward. So with all of the bulls we were seeing, this one stood out quickly to me and also to Riaan. We knew the bull might not make that 55" inch mark as the curls are not terribly deep, but we were both taken with the width and the 3 full curls.

Second animal just made the strong consideration list. We're now approaching midday and it's time for a return to the beautiful lodge we were staying at. The lodge has a river in front of it that gives great views and of course attracts many animals.

After a wonderful lunch and a nap most welcomed, we're back out for the evening hunt. We agree that while we were seeing plenty of nice sable bulls, the best was that first one and we will see if we can get on him.

Sometime in the afternoon the bull actually moved across the stream and we came upon him sooner than expected. He was in thick cover but we could get glimpses of him depending on the position of the truck. We got the wind right and started a stalk. But it just wasn't meant to be. We'd already put the bull on alert by approaching too closely with the truck. With the cover he had, it was just a turn or two and he was gone. We decided to back out and relieve the pressure on him.

Back in the truck we go to now pursue the 3 curl kudu. We find him pretty close to where he was in the morning along with a quite a number of other bulls. We stalked him for awhile but it becomes apparent to us that he broke off from the other bulls. So we backed out to the truck and circle around to try and confirm he did break off. We see the other bulls he was with but not him and know he gave us the slip.

Taking a guess where he went and with light fading, Riaan felt he turned left when walking away from us to head to some other cover that the kudu liked. Turned out a good guess, with light fading fast we see him in some thick cover. Quick jump out of the truck and a short stalk later I have an opening in the thick brush just in front of him.....if he'll just continue to move forward.....which he does and walks right into the cross hairs of my scope. I take the shot confident it was a solid hit in the vitals. He bolts forward a bit but stops, a second shot is taken and he's down.

First animal is one I'm after and on the first day.....a great start to this 5 day hunt in RSA.

Second night in South Africa brings a pretty solid sleep, adjusting to time change nicely. We awaken to a very brisk morning as were all during these 5 days. The weather was quite perfect. Chilly to downright cold mornings, but quickly warmed with the sun rise followed by shorts/short sleeve weather in the afternoon/evening.

With the kudu down we're focusing our morning effort on the sable bull we spotted and stalked a bit yesterday. There are times in hunting where no matter what you do right, something always goes wrong, it just seems you're destined to fail. Then there are times when it seems like you can't do wrong and everything comes together almost as if God intended it to be.

This hunt turned out to be one of the latter. The sable was the first we spotted of the day. He was still on the lodge side of the stream mentioned in previous post, but now even close to the lodge working his way down a hillside. Here we come in the bakkie coming down the opposite hillside. The sun is more/less behind us and the chocolate brown coat just glistens in the sun. Not much effort required to verify it's the bull we're after.

We moved just slightly forward to conceal the truck and get out for the stalk. We move forward maybe 75 yards using a small rise to conceal our approach. During our move forward, the bull also moved in our direction some 75 yards. The bull that I'd ranged at some 300 or so yards from the truck is now 150 yards or so from us.

Rather than stalking more we climb up the rise to our right and Riaan sets Donna up on the sticks. I whisper to Riaan let's wait for broadside shot. The bull has the sun in his eyes, the wind at his back and he seems oblivious to our presence. I'd really rather Donna not have to make a frontal shot.

So we wait and wait and wait some more. The bull seems to be getting nervous or maybe it's just me, so I whisper to Riaan let's go for the frontal. I listen to Riaan step thru it with Donna and she takes the shot.

We can see by the bull's reaction he was hit and hit well. The shot clearly hit him in the chest but somewhat to our right. His front left leg was definitely hurt, but the vitals have been hit too as he struggles to go back up the hill and eventually sidehills for a bit. He stops behind some brush and Riaan works with Donna for a second shot. At the crack of the second shot I watch him drop like a rock in my binos. Donna has her sable and perhaps a bit too much pride here, but a damn nice bull.

Well it seems pics are an issue again. I'll try again later.

Phil, I’m so sorry to hear the news of your son. I can’t imagine the despair you and Donna have experienced. I am praying for you and your family.

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

@PHOENIX PHIL - Our sincere condolences on his passing and may he rest in peace. If there is anything my wife and I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. Our hearts go out to you as we will hold your family in our prayers.

Sorry guys, despite using Jacques' Startlink panel, pictures are just not loading. This report will have to wait until I'm home. We are now hunting near Vic Falls, leopard being the primary target.

My heart goes out to you and your family, so very sorry for your loss!

The best of luck on your safari, you deserve it.

Good morning from near Vic Falls. I remembered last night while sitting in a leopard blind I could email iPhone pics in a smaller size and that might do the trick. It seems to have worked. Donna and her very nice sable bull. We are off shortly for continuation of this project otherwise known as a leopard hunt.

Now what do we do?

We planned this first 5 day hunt so @AZ KJ could get his nyala, my wife a sable and if lucky enough a kudu for me.

It’s the second morning of the hunt and we’re tagged out as it were. So what do we do now? Well let’s just drive around and see what the hunt offers.

This property is roughly 20,000 acres or so. It is split into two adjacent pieces by a public road. Much of the property is very dense and tall bush. The buffalo love it in this and they are here. Spotting and stalking one can easily change to tracking one.

With an upcoming leopard hunt in Zim with buffalo a secondary target, I’m really not focusing on one for this hunt. Funny how things can change.

We are in the bakkie moving thru an area of this thick cover when we spot 3 bulls together just off the road. One is in his prime, definitely not a bull I want. I want old, low drop and worn down headgear.

The second bull is older but still not quite what I’m looking for. The third bull is not giving us much to see, but what I can see makes me want to see more.

He holds his position for what seemed a long time but I’m sure wasn’t. Finally he seems to be getting tired of our presence and moves a bit. He turns his head and is now giving us full view of his head…….pretty much exactly what I’m looking for.

I’ve now decided to give it a go, if it works out great, if it doesn’t that’s just fine too. We leave the buff and move ourselves downwind several hundred yards away.

I grab the double and off we go. Apparently we left in time and the bulls didn’t leave. We were amongst them fairly quickly. Riaan getting me to about 35 yards away and with the wind in our face. We identify the bull we want, but he’s not offering a good shot. If he’ll move his head, a frontal shot will be there, so we wait.

I’m on the sticks and looking thru the RMR red dot. At this moment I realize this may not be good. The sun is behind the buff and it’s very hazy due to smoke from a nearby fire. It’s difficult to make out details on the buff. Wishing at this moment I had my scoped 375, but I don’t.

Finally the bull turns his head and the shot is there. Reaction of the bull to the shot looked good, but he’s off quickly before I can send a second.

The rest of this day would be spent tracking the bull on foot. Then taking a guess where they were headed, driving there and repeating. Jacques joined in with KJ, I hate this as I’m taking away from KJ’s hunt.

This went on long enough and all I could think about was someone getting hurt due to my foul up. This country is designed for a buffalo charge. So as such, I tell Jacques that while I’m with Riaan, if he or anyone else gets a shot, take it.

Ultimately Jacques does get a quick shot. We come over to where he was and follow in from there. He got a good shot and we find him in a couple hundred yards. I put in an insurance shot to make sure he’s done, and it’s over. The old boy gave it a great fight, I’m only sorry I didn’t do my part better.

As mentioned I look for age, big bosses, low drop and worn tips. If I see that, I really don’t care much about width, but this bull checked all those marks I think.

Nice bull! The sable is also a nice bull.

Love the buff! Congrats!

Wonderful old buffalo! Congratulations