SOUTH AFRICA: ZIMBABWE: My Second Thanksgiving Safari

jeff said:

Congrats on a incredible adventure!! Great Ele ! What outfitter did you use in SA ?

Click to expand...

Edge said:

Awesome bull, I was hoping there would be a story since Wayne sent me a pic via WhatsApp in Nov. I need to work on my hunt report from October...

I didn’t see a comment on Wayne’s city driving skills, maybe he was on his best behavior?

Interesting about Bulawayo airport, was through there twice this year and they didn’t ask about counting cash and I had declared it on the entry forms.

Congratulations and looking forward to the rest of the adventure!

Click to expand...

jasyblood said:

Thanks and looking forward to your report!

I didn't mention Wayne's driving skills because I didn't want to scare anyone off

I thought it was odd that they wanted to count our cash as well. I think they make the rules up as they go sometimes!

Click to expand...

Edge said:

Awesome bull, I was hoping there would be a story since Wayne sent me a pic via WhatsApp in Nov. I need to work on my hunt report from October...

I didn’t see a comment on Wayne’s city driving skills, maybe he was on his best behavior?

Interesting about Bulawayo airport, was through there twice this year and they didn’t ask about counting cash and I had declared it on the entry forms.

Congratulations and looking forward to the rest of the adventure!

Click to expand...

jasyblood said:

Part 2

Daaammmnnn that is AWESOME!!!


We all get up @ 5:00 AM and are back on the truck at 5:30 looking for lion tracks. It takes a little longer this morning, but finally find some around 8:30. Just like yesterday, we make the block and the cat appears to still there. So, everyone gets out and gets ready for the stalk and since Wood had not brought a rifle, I offer him mine so he can back up his daughter. I also opted to sit this one out since there were already several people in the group. Me and the driver found a shade tree to park under and waited. It was about an hour later that we heard the first shot and then about 15 seconds later, we hear two more shots in quick succession. About 5 minutes later, the PH called us on the radio and told us where to find them. Since I wasn’t on the hunt, I’m not sure of the exact details, but I know she shot first and the lion ran into some thick stuff and then came out and she and Wood put two more into it. All three shots were spot on.

View attachment 259172

After pictures, we head back to camp and drop off the cat and then right back out again to see if we can find anything else before it gets too hot. About 30 minutes into this drive, we spot a nice steenbok in the brush and she puts a good shot on it.

View attachment 259173

It’s now getting pretty warm so we head back to camp for lunch and a few cold drinks. While we’re waiting for lunch to be prepared, the outfitter/owner comes out to say hello to everyone and he has a surprise offer for us. He said he had an old buffalo that needed to go and asked if anyone was interested. He describes the bull and then throws out a price…..it’s a damn good price too. Justin and I both look at Wood and he drops his head and we knew he was in….it looks like his daughter is going to get to hunt a buffalo too! So, after lunch, we all take a nap to let it cool down a bit before we head out around 3:30 to look for the bull. We have to drive to the property next door which takes us about 30 minutes and start driving the roads to see if we can find him. It takes us a little while but we spot him shading under a tree about 200 yards out and we make a plan. Since I had loaded and brought some 300 grain Barnes softs for this trip, I gave here my 375 for this hunt and off we went. We moved around and got the wind and then slowly started making our way towards where we had last seen the bull. We finally spot him again about 90-100 yards out and jumped from bush to bush until we were about 40 yards away and he was facing directly away from us. She and the PH eased out to the right and she got on the sticks….it was then that the bull spotted us and spun around to face us. She immediately put one in his chest and he tried to turn and run, but fell after taking 2 steps and never moved again.


View attachment 259174

He measured 42’’ with 17’’ bosses! What a bull!


View attachment 259175

Shortly after finishing taking pictures, another truck showed up to load the animal and it was all hands on deck to get him loaded.

We headed back to camp as started the celebration which ran late into the night. Justin and I have to leave early tomorrow morning to head to Johannesburg to get ready for our flight to Zim, while Wood and his daughter are going to hunt another day here before heading home.
I'll write more tomorrow.......

Click to expand...