I'll get all the questions in one post:
The leg is holding up good! I can't complain. Little stiff each night but hasn't slowed me down I don't think.
Riaan is my PH. Nothing but good things. Joshua is our tracker/driver
It is a female Gemsbok. I'm no judge of these things, but I was told it was a thicker/heavier female. I'm super pumped anyway and think it will look great!
On the Blesbuck, I hadn't planned to take one but we saw some and Riaan asked if I wanted one. I told him if there was an exceptional one I would be stupid not to take, but otherwise I would pass. He glassed them a min and said, "let's go, there is a really wide one I've been hunting all year. Not as thick, but really wide." So off we went!
Took my Zebra this morning in the ultimate "Take what Africa gives you" test. I had started the trip with Zebra or Gemsbok, whatever we get first. We spent the better pet of 3 days chasing Zebra and then connected with the gemsbok. So I was thinking Zebra was my African Nemesis. Well, we saw this great Zebra today hunting Kudu and I decided to stay on budget but take the Zebra and then either a bushbuck, hartebeest or wildebeest, whichever we came across first that falls into the same "you'd be an idiot not to" category as the Blesbok. So, next trip is for Kudu! I just had worked so hard for the Zebra I was really happy to take it home.