SOUTH AFRICA: Buffalo & Plains Game With GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS 2025

We didn’t need to leave the lodge until 1030 or 11 on my last day. I was happy to have one last breakfast but it was lonely by myself. Bags packed, just me wandering around looking for new birds or flowers.
Wik came out with a little workhorse rifle and suggested we go hunting one more time.
His plan was to use his suppressed .222 and try for some birds. Wik had guinee fowl on his mind as were could still use some fly tying material and he knows how much I love birds. I’ve never asked to hunt them because I kinda feel like it is a waste to kill just one bird and do it with a rifle. Wik had that sorted out too, I just needed to do my part. My place would be in the rack of the truck and when Wik stopped I had several seconds to pick any bird before they flew. I missed my chance at a guinee. . . I drew feathers which we kept and then continued on our way. We drove the property as time allowed just saying goodbye to the giraffes and waterbuck and the odd kudu that was still out in the sun. On our way back to the lodge we found a single Egyptian goose. It wasn’t a long shot and off the rack isn’t as hard as I tried to make it. At the shot the gander did a backflip and was done. The little bullet did almost no damage and the goose was too good to rob of its feathers and leave for the kitchen ladies. Wik had already spoken with the taxidermist and had instructions how to care for it preparatory to shipping home. I am a bird taxidermist on my days away from the fire department and fingers crossed I can do the skin due justice when it makes the migration all the way to my house. This will be a good trial run for future bird hunts as well.
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A beautiful bird. I’ve always wanted one and was grateful when the opportunity was offered.
We dropped off a load of meat and bones to the butchery on our way to port Elizabeth and the airport. Wik walked me in, got me to the right place before the gate was even open. we shook hands and my hunt was officially over.
 
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Sad day to be leaving but the anticipation of the next trip is always out there.
Great report, really enjoyed it!
 
I’m glad you enjoyed it-there should be something for everyone in here.
The next trip—-? There should always be a next trip. There are still a number of east cape species I would like to cross paths with. Give me a few years to carch up, then I would definitely return. Probably chase greater kudu on the north property as well as some of the common plains species abundant there. But there are others I would love such as Klipspringer and Vaal rhebok. Haven’t hunted bushpig or caracal yet and still want to find a big, ancient mtn reedbuck ram. Maybe a common reedbuck-there is obviously lots to chase and I think Wik has found access to all of them, if not on the family property, then that of friends and extended family. Maybe an aoudad. . . This is a great place to hunt so many different species, and so much of it I would like to leave footprints on. I’ll be back, and I’ll have Wik help me build a list. Can’t wait!
 
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Veggies, potato strips, pap, sauce (I think,) rolls and two kinds of game meat off the grill and salad makings. After dinner Wik made a presentation to Paul and myself. They have these knives custom made for successful buffalo hunters. The workmanship is outstanding and the presentation box is over the top. A neat little ceremony and keepsake from a successful trip here.
I have a great picture of Wik with his daughter but won’t post it without his permission. It shows a softer, sillier side of Wik that is think is important to see once in awhile.
We had some great conversations about tv shows, sports, movies and music and wives and kids. I offered to trade mine for another buffalo hunt. Wik said no thank you. . .
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What a great safari and thank you for sharing and taking us along. It's great to see a place and to have similar experiences and feelings towards the owners. The animals you took are over the top, and I'm sure you are very happy with them. Wik and his wonderful team work hard to get us into quality animals. Oh, and the quality of the pictures you took are wonderful too. Like I've said earlier, I need to slow down and see what's around and snap a picture or two.

I told my wife to be ready that in two years or so we were going back and she was coming along. I said to her that she needs to see and feel the experience vs. me trying to tell her. I'll probably book a full day at one of those game parks, and when the time come I'll probably reach out to you.

The knife and the box, flat out beautiful. Wik asked me if I wanted the box :ROFLMAO: and of course I said oh yeah! LOL!
 
Some items I wished I had or found very helpful-
Small electric boot dryers/adapter for s Africa power system.
Butt powder-it’s a long flight!
Also flushable wipes. Great for the airplane, in camp or in the field-not just your bum, butt also hands face etc
Leatherman-always just in case
Forceps or Hemostats-found these very useful, mostly slivers from thorns. Maybe for ticks, I never saw any on me-use tick spray of course.
An injection needle-the best sliver remover I’ve ever used. Pulled one out of my knee about 1/2 inch long!
Cameraman Dean used running shoes the whole trip-just changed socks when needed. I had a light pair of leather hiking boots from Columbia and wool socks. I tried several brands, no noticeable difference in any of them. Dean didn’t even have good socks but he never complained at all!
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Red hartebeests from Amakhala
Nyala bulls at woodvale

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Buffalo herd at Woodvale-several “up and coming”

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Medicine-don’t forget immodium or pepto tabs, allergy meds such as Benadryl and my own personal favorite. Tylenol PM
 
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