SOUTH AFRICA: Bandur Safaris

[Mark458]

Just got settled in here at Bandur Safari's. Drove straight from the airport instead of the usual overnight. Glad to go ahead and get here.

Unpacked and had a shower. Going to try to get a little sleep before breakfast at 7:00 and then to the range to check rifles and on to hunt buffalo.

Will keep you posted

 

[Pablo]

Looking forward to the report!

 

[Mark458]

Very enjoyable first morning. After breakfast we checked rifles and everything was right where I left it. Within an hour we already were in buffalo. Saw one really big bull, but seemed to always be in the middle of the herd. Followed them into some really thick bush and decided to leave them until this afternoon. Hopefully pick back up where we left off after they have had their nap.

Saw at least 10 different plains game species, but nothing we couldn't refuse. Taking a lunch break and getting back after them

 

[Jack Stevens]

Very enjoyable first morning. After breakfast we checked rifles and everything was right where I left it. Within an hour we already were in buffalo. Saw one really big bull, but seemed to always be in the middle of the herd. Followed them into some really thick bush and decided to leave them until this afternoon. Hopefully pick back up where we left off after they have had their nap.

Saw at least 10 different plains game species, but nothing we couldn't refuse. Taking a lunch break and getting back after them

Tagged.

 

[Mark458]

A couple of camp pictures

 

[30-06Ken]

Lodge looks fantastic ! I hope you have a great hunt.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Impressive lodge. Looking forward to your reports.

 

[Andrew62]

I love that open air dining area, all aspects of the lodge and your room look awesome! Hard to beat a thatched roof!

 

[Mark458]

Day one has come to an end without pulling the trigger on an animal, but it's been a wonderful day nonetheless. This afternoon we got back in close with the buffalo. Had we gotten to them sooner perhaps we might have had a chance on the big bull. A group of Zebra worked there way directly towards us and got within 20 yards and milled around for the better part of an hour not allowing us to move without spooking them and most likely the buffalo as well. When the Zebra finally moved out we closed in on the herd of Buffalo and I had at least 20 of them in my crosshairs, but the big bull again never presented a shot. Eventually we ran out of light and had to back out for the night.

Enjoyed sitting around the fire for a bit with Impala appetizers followed by a wonderful dinner with Wildebeest as the main course. A hot shower is next and then it's off to bed. I've only had about six hours of sleep since I got up Sunday morning. I know I'll sleep good tonight.

Back at em in the morning.

 

[Mark458]

Second morning was very similar to the first. We were able to locate the buffalo quickly and we were able to get out in front of them and tried to get in position to let them walk past us. As they got closer they began to scatter out a bit and many of them turned right towards us. We had buffalo front, left and right of us within 15 yards. The bulls instead of being in the center of the herd were off to our left this time and with all the buffalo so close there was no possibility of moving our location. Eventually a cow got around our right side enough to catch our wind and they all spooked and ran.

After letting them settle down for a bit we were able to catch back up to them, but by now they were ready to settle in for their mid day nap. We know where to pick up after lunch.

On our way back to the lodge we ran across a pretty nice Gemsbok that was just asking for a bullet and I was happy to accommodate him. I wanted one for a skull mount and a full flat skin.

 

[Mark458]

 

[Mark458]

230 grain Norma Oryx. Weighs 214 grains after recovery. .338 expanded to .884.

 

[Mark458]

Day two is now done and buffalo still have the lead, but the game is just getting started. They gave us the slip this afternoon as we had a large group of Wildebeest get in between us for quite some time and we never could get back on them before it got too dark. They stayed beded for a very long time today. They didn't get up and moving until an hour before dark.

We will be in position again in the morning when the sun comes up.

 

[Mark458]

Day three has come to a close with no shots fired. More close encounters with the buffalo in the very thick bush. This morning was looking very promising as we finally followed the group into an area that was a bit more open. They were getting ready to cross in a good shooting lane when about that time some Jackals started going crazy just behind us. Not sure what it was all about, but the buffalo decided they were not sticking around to find out.

This evening they stayed beded until an hour before dark. By the time they worked their way out of the very dense cover it was too dark to make anything happen.

We have been on buffalo morning and afternoon all three days. It's just a matter of time till the right opportunity presents itself.

For dinner tonight we had Gemsbok cordon bleu. It was absolutely amazing. Never had it prepared that way before. The cook here definitely knows what he's doing.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post tomorrow. It's time for a shower and then to bed. Breakfast is at 5:30.

 

[RLD]

Day three has come to a close with no shots fired. More close encounters with the buffalo in the very thick bush. This morning was looking very promising as we finally followed the group into an area that was a bit more open. They were getting ready to cross in a good shooting lane when about that time some Jackals started going crazy just behind us. Not sure what it was all about, but the buffalo decided they were not sticking around to find out.

This evening they stayed beded until an hour before dark. By the time they worked their way out of the very dense cover it was too dark to make anything happen.

We have been on buffalo morning and afternoon all three days. It's just a matter of time till the right opportunity presents itself.

For dinner tonight we had Gemsbok cordon bleu. It was absolutely amazing. Never had it prepared that way before. The cook here definitely knows what he's doing.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post tomorrow. It's time for a shower and then to bed. Breakfast is at 5:30.

It's going to come for you brother.

 

[DPHunter4570]

Lodge looks very nice, have a heck of a time!

 

[Hunt anything]

Stick with it!

 

[Rhoyland4]

Beautiful lodge! Good luck tomorrow, and keep the reports coming!

 

[ftrovato]

Just got settled in here at Bandur Safari's. Drove straight from the airport instead of the usual overnight. Glad to go ahead and get here.

Unpacked and had a shower. Going to try to get a little sleep before breakfast at 7:00 and then to the range to check rifles and on to hunt buffalo.

Will keep you posted

Have the safari of a lifetime!

 

[Mark458]

Had a very exciting morning. Got close to getting it done. A very nice bull within 30 yards standing behind a tree with several forked limbs. PH is amazing with his sight and his hearing. He could hear the buffalo and the birds and worked us in close until he saw the bull. You had to sit on the ground to be able to see him through the thick brush. As they say you don't look for buffalo, you look for pieces of buffalo. When I finally saw him I could just see the left side of his horns. I noticed the big loop of his deep curl. We sat there for more than 20 minutes and the bull would never move. He would only turn his head occasionally. At one point I was able to get the crosshairs on his eye and thought about a brain shot, but we thought he would move to one side or the other and present a shot. Bad thing was that the sun was shining directly on us and eventually he was convinced something didn't look just right and turned and went straight away without any shot opportunity. Left the tracker there to locate him again and we'll get back in there this afternoon.

Another exciting sighting was when we stopped to look at some Warthogs that were feeding in the road along with some Impala. The PH and I were both in the truck with our binoculars on the animals when about 75 yards behind them we see a Leopard cross the road. It surprised us for sure, we were not expecting that. Also surprised that none of the Warthogs or Impala saw it either.

Just a matter of time on the Buffalo.