From the beginning of my hunting career, Africa has always been at the top of my "bucket list". In November 2016, I decided it was time to book my first safari with Intaba Safaris.
I booked a basic 7 day package for kudu, blue wildebeest, impala, springbok, blesbok, and warthog. The following months were filled with planning, anticipation, and adding 3 additional days, plus Nyala and gemsbok.
On May 2, I met my PH, Eugene Erasmus, at Port Elizabeth airport and the safari began.
The first hunting day, we began by taking a blesbok cull and the rain cancelled all hunting plans for that day.
Day 2: Shortly after daylight, we set up on a hill overlooking an area a large kudu bull had been seen in. A short (45 minute) sit, and the bull stepped out at 200 yards. One shot from my 30-06 with Barnes triple shock bullets and I was having pictures made with a 52 1/2 inch Cape kudu.
After the kudu photo session, Eugene asked if I would like to try for Nyala with my crossbow. We went back to camp, grabbed the crossbow, and got settled into a bow blind. After an hour in the blind, several Nyala females started coming out of the brush followed by a big mature bull. A 32 yard shot with a Muzzy trocar broadhead, and I had my 2nd trophy before lunch!
Day 3: We had a short drive to another concession for impala, wildebeest, and blesbok. The first afternoon I took a great impala, and glassed herds of blue wildebeest for the following day.
Day 4: After an early breakfast, we were out looking for a blue wildebeest bull. One the groups had a nice bull we decided to go after. We rushed to get ahead of the herd and get set up for a shot. Within minutes, they began working their way within range. Another Barnes bullet later, we had a blue wildebeest.
On the way back to the lodge, my PH saw a herd of blesbok that had a nice ram in it. We made a long stalk, and somehow got in range of him. One shot, and I had a big blesbok.
Day 5: We traveled to another concession for gemsbok. While gassing a distant herd, we saw a nice male warthog. Gemsbok hunting was put on hold temporarily, and I made a good shot to get my warthog.
We continued hunting and found a nice herd of gemsbok with a couple of nice bulls on it. A couple hours later, we were taking pictures of my gemsbok bull!
After a trip to the skinning shed, my PH asked if I would like to go for springbok that afternoon. He had a farm close by with some nice springbok. We played cat and mouse with the herd for over an hour before a shot was presented, and I got my springbok.
The rest of the trip consisted of sightseeing, Addo Elephant Park, Bloukrans bungee jumping, and great times with new friends.
I can't thank Eugene Erasmus enough for making my first safari a great one. I'm looking forward to a return trip!
I booked a basic 7 day package for kudu, blue wildebeest, impala, springbok, blesbok, and warthog. The following months were filled with planning, anticipation, and adding 3 additional days, plus Nyala and gemsbok.
On May 2, I met my PH, Eugene Erasmus, at Port Elizabeth airport and the safari began.
The first hunting day, we began by taking a blesbok cull and the rain cancelled all hunting plans for that day.
Day 2: Shortly after daylight, we set up on a hill overlooking an area a large kudu bull had been seen in. A short (45 minute) sit, and the bull stepped out at 200 yards. One shot from my 30-06 with Barnes triple shock bullets and I was having pictures made with a 52 1/2 inch Cape kudu.
After the kudu photo session, Eugene asked if I would like to try for Nyala with my crossbow. We went back to camp, grabbed the crossbow, and got settled into a bow blind. After an hour in the blind, several Nyala females started coming out of the brush followed by a big mature bull. A 32 yard shot with a Muzzy trocar broadhead, and I had my 2nd trophy before lunch!
Day 3: We had a short drive to another concession for impala, wildebeest, and blesbok. The first afternoon I took a great impala, and glassed herds of blue wildebeest for the following day.
Day 4: After an early breakfast, we were out looking for a blue wildebeest bull. One the groups had a nice bull we decided to go after. We rushed to get ahead of the herd and get set up for a shot. Within minutes, they began working their way within range. Another Barnes bullet later, we had a blue wildebeest.
On the way back to the lodge, my PH saw a herd of blesbok that had a nice ram in it. We made a long stalk, and somehow got in range of him. One shot, and I had a big blesbok.
Day 5: We traveled to another concession for gemsbok. While gassing a distant herd, we saw a nice male warthog. Gemsbok hunting was put on hold temporarily, and I made a good shot to get my warthog.
We continued hunting and found a nice herd of gemsbok with a couple of nice bulls on it. A couple hours later, we were taking pictures of my gemsbok bull!
After a trip to the skinning shed, my PH asked if I would like to go for springbok that afternoon. He had a farm close by with some nice springbok. We played cat and mouse with the herd for over an hour before a shot was presented, and I got my springbok.
The rest of the trip consisted of sightseeing, Addo Elephant Park, Bloukrans bungee jumping, and great times with new friends.
I can't thank Eugene Erasmus enough for making my first safari a great one. I'm looking forward to a return trip!
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