BOTSWANA: 30 Days With NKWE SAFARIS

[Egan36]

I have been back for about 3 weeks now and I figured I better get started on a report. So I spent 30 days in Botswana with Jaco Visser owner and PH of Nkwe Safaris. This is my third hunt with Jaco. I planned this trip to do some traveling with Jaco to see the sights and get a real experience of Botswana. We were to do some hunting some sightseeing and a little fishing. Fortunately I have most of the common plains game species, however I was still looking for a kudu.


I left the states on April 25th from Philadelphia International Airport using Qatar Airlines. Covid test was done on the 23rd inside the airport which is close to my house, so that worked well. Had an 8 hour flight to Doha with a 3 hour layover. After that the flight to Johannesburg was another 12 hours again with Qatar. Then came the worst part, landing at 4am in Joburg and not connecting until 1200 hours. I used Airlink to fly up to Maun about a 1.5 hour flight. To my surprise everyone was rapid tested in Maun, which really only took a half hour but felt like an eternity after all that traveling. As soon as I cleared customs Jaco and his youngest son Beartie were there waiting. Then on the road we went. Early night to bed.

We spent the next two days checking out 2 hunting areas. Ghanzi was blessed with an abundance of rain this year. Even though this is considered a Kalahari area, it was flooded. Only half of the farm was accessible a few weeks before I got there. The areas were the water receded looked like a golf course. There was still plenty of water. It really looked like a completely different area from what I remember.

I took these photos on just one area of the property. Almost unbelievable for the Kalahari. Some parts of the farm were still impassable.

 

[Egan36]

Sorry for the delay

We spent the next week shooting culls in the morning (mainly Wildebeest and Zebra) and Kudu hunting in the afternoons. We actually stayed in a farm house close to a particular Kudu area Jaco wanted to check out. I have heard some people complain they would not want to stay in a house while in Africa. I had plenty of time there so this did not bother me at all. Also didn't mind if the hunting was good. So Jaco has access to 100's of thousands of acres for these Kudu hunts. Keep in mind this is all free range Kudu hunting.

After the first afternoon hunting this area with Jaco I would of slept in the truck every night. The amount of movement was incredible. We would see 30-40 Kudu in one afternoon. Which included 12-14 bulls an afternoon. Bulls ranging from young bulls to 54-57 inches. We would see bulls crossing the road as we drove in and see bulls as we set up a blind at intersections in the road. Sitting there for 3 hours each afternoon we would consistently see cows and bulls the entire time. Jaco knows Im after a special bull. Every time we saw a good bull (55,56,57 inches) Jaco would shake his head. I would say what? He would reply you know any other hunter would take that bull no questions asked. Than we would laugh and wait for the next one.

I guess the third afternoon we had what Jaco said was a 58 inch bull come in from behind us. We waited for a while as Jaco thought he would certainly wind us. He actually did not. At one point he had his head in the bush and his body sticking out. Jaco says he's a great bull and we really shouldn't pass him up. We put a short stalk on him and I took a shot. Unfortunately my bullet grazed an old post and that was the end of that. We did walk over and check the entire area. Nothing. Jaco says I saw the dust come off the post when you shot. WOW. What a disappointing afternoon. I was so pissed at myself. Its not everyday you get a shot at a 58 inch free range bull.

The following day we returned to the exact same spot. Again we saw a ton of Kudu. As we were sitting there straight out about 150 yards down a road a big bull stepped out. Jaco was checking him out in the binos for about 3 seconds and said he's a big bull. Jaco says he's our bull. By the time I even raised the gun he walked right back into the bush. Jaco looked at me and said he was big so I knew he was a giant. Jaco says pushing 60. We waited until dark hoping he might come back. No such luck. We did spend every afternoon in that spot watching kudu. We easily could of shot a trophy Kudu bull every night. Absolutely outstanding. Without question the best Kudu hunting in Africa.

 

[shootist~]

Outstanding pictures and story. Please continue.

 

[VertigoBE]

Thanks for sharing @Egan36 ! Hope you managed to get that big kudu bull!

 

[buck wild]

Oh I do love kudu

 

[Ridgewalker]

30 days in Africa!!! Awesome! This has already started out as a GRAND adventure!

 

[Ravensview]

Sounds like quite the trip, seems very laid back, your pictures are very clear, what type of camera did you use? Thanks for bringing us along for the trip.

 

[Nyati]

Interesting adventura, keep it coming

 

[TennJay]

Keep it coming.

 

[Egan36]

Sounds like quite the trip, seems very laid back, your pictures are very clear, what type of camera did you use? Thanks for bringing us along for the trip.

We booked it to be very laid back. No rush to do anything. I used a Sony Nex7.

 

[Egan36]

Off to the Okavango Delta. First we prepared a Wildebeest we culled. This way we would have meat for our trip. We prepared Vors (Sausage), Dry Vors (Jerky), Steaks and Filets.

 

[Egan36]

We left Ghanzi for our 5 hour trek to Shakawe which would be our base for our fishing and camping adventure. Lampie Visser (Jaco's brother) would be our Captain. It was a long ride but we did get a chance to see elephant on the road as we drove. We arrived in Shakawe in the afternoon and would leave the following morning. Jaco decided we would go out and find an island in the Okavango Delta to camp on for a couple days. So we loaded everything we might need onto the boat and headed out into the Delta.

After about 3 hours by boat we found a small island Jaco and Lampie thought would do for a couple days. We tied the boat off so we could unload and set up camp.

 

[Egan36]

We spent the next 3 days fishing the Okavango for Bream and Tiger fish. We did well. We each caught a few Tigers and a bunch of Bream. Large Bream too. Lampie said the Bream were hanging in the main stream which was different than there normal spots, which would be in the small offshoots. We had an absolute blast fishing and shooting the sh*t. Of course there was a bunch of needling back and forth, but that is what it is all about.

 

[Rick Cox]

I have been back for about 3 weeks now and I figured I better get started on a report. So I spent 30 days in Botswana with Jaco Visser owner and PH of Nkwe Safaris. This is my third hunt with Jaco. I planned this trip to do some traveling with Jaco to see the sights and get a real experience of Botswana. We were to do some hunting some sightseeing and a little fishing. Fortunately I have most of the common plains game species, however I was still looking for a kudu.


I left the states on April 25th from Philadelphia International Airport using Qatar Airlines. Covid test was done on the 23rd inside the airport which is close to my house, so that worked well. Had an 8 hour flight to Doha with a 3 hour layover. After that the flight to Johannesburg was another 12 hours again with Qatar. Then came the worst part, landing at 4am in Joburg and not connecting until 1200 hours. I used Airlink to fly up to Maun about a 1.5 hour flight. To my surprise everyone was rapid tested in Maun, which really only took a half hour but felt like an eternity after all that traveling. As soon as I cleared customs Jaco and his youngest son Beartie were there waiting. Then on the road we went. Early night to bed.
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We spent the next two days checking out 2 hunting areas. Ghanzi was blessed with an abundance of rain this year. Even though this is considered a Kalahari area, it was flooded. Only half of the farm was accessible a few weeks before I got there. The areas were the water receded looked like a golf course. There was still plenty of water. It really looked like a completely different area from what I remember.

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I took these photos on just one area of the property. Almost unbelievable for the Kalahari. Some parts of the farm were still impassable.

Good greif! That's a lot of water, especially for there.
I really like your concept of just 'hanging' out, fishing, camping, exploring or whatever as a means to get to know Africa. Awesome!
I can't wait to see how you do on the Kudu.

 

[Ravensview]

Trip just keeps sounding better and better! Looks like you had a nice campsite and some great fishing as well.

 

[Egan36]

Just some pictures I took. Also T-bones potatoes and Bream cooked on the Braai. Absolutely Fantastic.

After our few days fishing we packed up and headed back to Shakawe, this is where Jaco's brother Lampie lives so we stayed 2 nights with him. For those 2 days we decided just to jump in the truck and do some exploring. Well exploring for me. Jaco knows almost all of this area from all the hunting he has done in these areas.

Lesson Learned. Don't forget to put sunscreen on your knees.

 

[Egan36]

Ok. So back to Ghanzi and the Kudu hunting. Jaco decided we should go right back to the same area we were the first week. We planned to go back for about 4 days. We packed the truck and headed out. The first night proved to be the same. A ton of Kudu. Seeing lots of bulls and cows again.

So the next afternoon Jaco said I know a spot on the same farm that should be good. We will have to go early and check the wind and figure out where we would want to set up. So typically we were not seeing the bigger bulls until later in afternoon. So we headed out a bit earlier and got to the spot Jaco wanted to check out. Jaco figured out roughly where we should set up but there was no cover. So we spent about a half an hour making a blind. We sat down a tad early and joked that we would have a while until things picked back up. About one hour later a bunch of Kudu cows came running in and Jaco nodded that they were off my left shoulder. I slowly looked over and they were super close. Within 40 yards. We were watching them for about a minute when Jaco said there is a bull coming out. Without hesitation he said he's a big bull. I raised my gun up before I even saw the bull. If Jaco said he was big I knew he was a good bull. Just as I did he walked out and past the little cover we had. He was immediately locked onto us. Jaco whispered take him now and with that the rifle went off. The bull ran off and Jaco grabbed my elbow as one of the Kudu cows almost ran us over. He said to me he is hit hard. After I caught my breath and let my heart stop pounding we started tracking him. Roughly 50 yards away we found him.

Jaco gave him a measure and he turned out to be 58 inches. Absolutely Incredible. I honestly couldn't be happier. We with a doubt put the work in and it paid off. My trip was made. Awesome. We went back and had a couple drinks to cap off the evening.

We spent the last few days just relaxing and wondering how the trip went so fast. I was able to get my Covid test at local doctor in Ghanzi. I received written and emailed results the next day. The day after we were off to Maun so I could head home. The whole time pondering when I can return.

I have to say. This is my 13th trip to Africa. Third time being in Botswana. Jaco is the absolute best. Not only is he extremely experienced in hunting, but he is a great person. He will absolutely go out of his way to make sure your trip is something special. He has extensive experience in Dangerous Game hunting and plains game hunting. He has spent his whole life in the bush and it is evident when hunting with him. You would be hard pressed to find a better PH.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Fantastic Kudu! I really enjoy the camp/boat pictures, it really gives a feel for the adventure.

 

[WAB]

Ok. So back to Ghanzi and the Kudu hunting. Jaco decided we should go right back to the same area we were the first week. We planned to go back for about 4 days. We packed the truck and headed out. The first night proved to be the same. A ton of Kudu. Seeing lots of bulls and cows again.
View attachment 409479
So the next afternoon Jaco said I know a spot on the same farm that should be good. We will have to go early and check the wind and figure out where we would want to set up. So typically we were not seeing the bigger bulls until later in afternoon. So we headed out a bit earlier and got to the spot Jaco wanted to check out. Jaco figured out roughly where we should set up but there was no cover. So we spent about a half an hour making a blind. We sat down a tad early and joked that we would have a while until things picked back up. About one hour later a bunch of Kudu cows came running in and Jaco nodded that they were off my left shoulder. I slowly looked over and they were super close. Within 40 yards. We were watching them for about a minute when Jaco said there is a bull coming out. Without hesitation he said he's a big bull. I raised my gun up before I even saw the bull. If Jaco said he was big I knew he was a good bull. Just as I did he walked out and past the little cover we had. He was immediately locked onto us. Jaco whispered take him now and with that the rifle went off. The bull ran off and Jaco grabbed my elbow as one of the Kudu cows almost ran us over. He said to me he is hit hard. After I caught my breath and let my heart stop pounding we started tracking him. Roughly 50 yards away we found him.
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Jaco gave him a measure and he turned out to be 58 inches. Absolutely Incredible. I honestly couldn't be happier. We with a doubt put the work in and it paid off. My trip was made. Awesome. We went back and had a couple drinks to cap off the evening.

We spent the last few days just relaxing and wondering how the trip went so fast. I was able to get my Covid test at local doctor in Ghanzi. I received written and emailed results the next day. The day after we were off to Maun so I could head home. The whole time pondering when I can return.

I have to say. This is my 13th trip to Africa. Third time being in Botswana. Jaco is the absolute best. Not only is he extremely experienced in hunting, but he is a great person. He will absolutely go out of his way to make sure your trip is something special. He has extensive experience in Dangerous Game hunting and plains game hunting. He has spent his whole life in the bush and it is evident when hunting with him. You would be hard pressed to find a better PH.

That is a great bull!

 

[VertigoBE]

A superb kudu ! congratulations @Egan36 !