TheWhitetailNut
AH veteran
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2012
- Messages
- 160
- Reaction score
- 207
- Location
- Valparaiso, In.
- Deals & offers
- 1
- Media
- 4
- Hunted
- Alaska, Ontario, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, New Mexico, Namibia
Like many on this forum, I've read all I could on Hunting Africa. After years of "someday" my wife and I decided that someday would be an excursion to commemorate my 39th Birthday. I've hunted every whitetail pocket within a days drive of my Indiana home and even made a trip to New Mexico for elk, but this would be something entirely different. What I expected was but 1 layer or dimension of what would unfold over 11 days from port to port.
Before I get into the fun stuff a couple notes for those that may consider this trip. First, Lori Spears of Travel Express ensured I was well prepared to travel abroad and everything she planned went off perfectly. Second, Africa is not like the US. As the owner of a service business I'm accustomed to response in minutes, and I found myself more than a little aggravated at the slow responses to my random queries. Bush contact is spotty I would discover. In fact, In the last 2 weeks I was unsure if everything was set and my documentation was in order. On pure faith I boarded the plane with my Christensen .300 Win Mag. Imagine my relief when I exited the gates at O.R. Tambo and found Philip's bright red head bobbing thorough the crowd to meet me! We tossed my bag and case into the LandRover, and motored north to Farm huesis. Philip invited me to clean up and meet him on the veranda for some lunch.
It was there I met my PH, Errens. It took me half a day to cut through the accents and pronounce his name, as I sit here I doubt I'll forget it. Here I also met a young sheep guide named Cole from Alberta who was in Namibia working for Philip. Cole and I made fast friends and the three of us would have a terrific time at Huesis. I sorted my gear and we went down to a dry riverbed to check my rifle. Wherever I go, I grab a handful of dirt and feel it in my hands. I've dreamed of executing this tradition in Africa many times and as the sparking mica rich silt slipped between my fingers I found myself entranced and giddy because it didn't even seem real. My first shot was 1.25 high and an inch left, but the second was a perfect 1.25" high and Top Dead Center. Errens looked my in the eyes with a coaxing grin and said "do you want to see if we can find something".
Shortly down the trail we encountered a very nice Steinbok doing his biological duty with a pretty little lady he had at roadside. After they bounded off, we would as well to a crest to glass. A band of about 20 Gemsbok were just down from the next ridge and before I knew it we were low zig-zagging through another creekbed and up to the animals on my first stalk!
Their horn were so long, so surreal. Tails flagging as light began to dim we followed them to the next ridge where they disappeared forever. Errens and I made our way back to the truck and we started back to Huesis. Along the way we saw a Black Wildebeest on an open plain guarding anything from entering. As darkness fell I sucked cool Africa through my nostrils.
Before I get into the fun stuff a couple notes for those that may consider this trip. First, Lori Spears of Travel Express ensured I was well prepared to travel abroad and everything she planned went off perfectly. Second, Africa is not like the US. As the owner of a service business I'm accustomed to response in minutes, and I found myself more than a little aggravated at the slow responses to my random queries. Bush contact is spotty I would discover. In fact, In the last 2 weeks I was unsure if everything was set and my documentation was in order. On pure faith I boarded the plane with my Christensen .300 Win Mag. Imagine my relief when I exited the gates at O.R. Tambo and found Philip's bright red head bobbing thorough the crowd to meet me! We tossed my bag and case into the LandRover, and motored north to Farm huesis. Philip invited me to clean up and meet him on the veranda for some lunch.
It was there I met my PH, Errens. It took me half a day to cut through the accents and pronounce his name, as I sit here I doubt I'll forget it. Here I also met a young sheep guide named Cole from Alberta who was in Namibia working for Philip. Cole and I made fast friends and the three of us would have a terrific time at Huesis. I sorted my gear and we went down to a dry riverbed to check my rifle. Wherever I go, I grab a handful of dirt and feel it in my hands. I've dreamed of executing this tradition in Africa many times and as the sparking mica rich silt slipped between my fingers I found myself entranced and giddy because it didn't even seem real. My first shot was 1.25 high and an inch left, but the second was a perfect 1.25" high and Top Dead Center. Errens looked my in the eyes with a coaxing grin and said "do you want to see if we can find something".
Shortly down the trail we encountered a very nice Steinbok doing his biological duty with a pretty little lady he had at roadside. After they bounded off, we would as well to a crest to glass. A band of about 20 Gemsbok were just down from the next ridge and before I knew it we were low zig-zagging through another creekbed and up to the animals on my first stalk!
Their horn were so long, so surreal. Tails flagging as light began to dim we followed them to the next ridge where they disappeared forever. Errens and I made our way back to the truck and we started back to Huesis. Along the way we saw a Black Wildebeest on an open plain guarding anything from entering. As darkness fell I sucked cool Africa through my nostrils.
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