DmacD
AH enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2016
- Messages
- 370
- Reaction score
- 685
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
- Media
- 53
- Hunted
- Canada, U.S.A., Namibia, England, South Africa
Hello All,
This Safari took place September 8 - 15, 2025, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, adjacent to the Jozini reservoir. @MPETI SAFARIS OUTFITTER consists of PH Conrad Fick, along with Ranch manager Ruan Donald, and Apprentice PH Henno Terblanche. The ranch itself is 12,000 acres, with access to the Pongola Game reserve situated next door that consists of another 70,000 acres. We dipped in and out of the Reserve several times during our hunt.
“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.” - Richard Mullin
This was my third African safari. The first two were excellent, however, they were a solo affair. This time, I was accompanied by a friend, one who was doing his very first hunting trip to Africa. I was excited to hunt Buffalo, yes, but I was also so very excited to share this experience with another, to be there to witness the claws dig into another. You can read about his impressions and experience here under his handle - HotspurHodge
This is my story.
I departed Toronto with British Airways, landing at London Heathrow, then a 10 hour layover, which can't be avoided when passing through Europe, unfortunately. HotspurHodge joined me at Heathrow, and after sufficient amounts of whisky in the lounge, we carried on to Johannesburg. I had read all of the pros and cons of using British Airways, and really, except for their $230 CAD Firearms Handling fee, have nothing to complain about. The firearms check-in process at Toronto was slow, but only because the staff were inexperienced in how to go about letting my on this flight. They were courteous, and most apologetic about the wait. Business Class there, Premium Economy on the way home, excellent food, lie flat seats, we left on time. We splurged on Business Class because at 6'7", regular class is tortuous, and also we wanted to have gotten at least some sleep in order to function on arrival. Our wives were following us one week later, and the four of us did a nine day Cape Town and Kruger Safari together. They had great service with BA as well, however, the trip home left much to be desired. No firearms issues, but the ground staff contracted by BA at JNB airport are terrible. But that, is another story.
We had engaged the services of Afton Lodge for out last night in Johannesburg, which included their Firearm Concierge service and firearm storage for after the hunt. Mr. X met us at JNB, and navigated us through the process. He then saw to it that we were safely checked in with our rifles for the interior flight to Richard's Bay. I cannot say enough good things about this service, for without it, I do believe I would still be in Johannesburg airport, crying in a corner somewhere....
Conrad and Ruan picked us up at Richard's Bay, then whisked us away to Mpeti. I liked Conrad immediately, and we both knew that we were in for a week of fun. After lunch and a quick freshen-up, we headed out to the range to check our rifles. Each of our rifles performed as they should, and we were able to show Conrad that we were somewhat proficient with them. I had booked a Buffalo package, consisting of both a Bull and a cow. My companion had opted for a plains game package. We were hoping to hunt together, but were not sure if that would be possible, given that we were after different game. Conrad confirmed that this would not be a problem, and we headed out for what we thought would be a nice, leisurely game drive. 10 minutes later, and Russ had shot an incredible Impala at 94m! Conrad had talked him through the shot, and the process worked like a dream. His combination of an M18 Mauser and 165gr Norma Ecostrike in .30-06 produced stellar results. Most everything he shot fell down stone dead. He was a real beast with this rifle!
I had brought a Heym Martini Express, chambered in .404 Jeffery. I had been watching this particular rifle on an online gun selling site here in Canada for almost 18 months. When the price got to where I could afford it, I jumped at the chance. It really is the smoothest, best handling rifle that I have ever handled, and is easily the nicest rifle that I own. Topped with a Leupold VX-5, 1-5 illuminated reticle, I felt very well armed. As for ammunition, I chose North Fork 400gr SS projectiles. I had learned to reload especially for this hunt. It took me close to two years to gather all of the components, and gain enough experience in order for me to feel comfortable in possibly shooting a Buffalo with them.
Day 2
We got onto Buffalo right away, two Bulls. One was a very wide specimen, but still too young, The other, was very nice. Older, with more wear, and missing a lot of hair. Even I could distinguish between the two at distance, as the older one was much greyer than the younger one, earing him the nickname "Grey Boss". we bumped them twice after a long hard tromp through the hills, them left them alone.
We continued our search, but crossed paths with an impressive Nyala. Russ had his second animal in the salt after a 34m chip shot. Nice. This pattern continued for the rest of the week. We would head out for either Buffalo or Plains game, but switch it up as the spoor presented itself, following whatever Africa offered up to us that day.
That evening, we dined on some Nyala loin shot by a previous hunter, cooked over the braai. An excellent meal after a day of stalking.
Day3
On the same two Buff this morning. They've been moving around a little, no doubt caused by our interest in them. We got very close, 30m to the young one, but bumped them twice then left them alone. The young one gave us the stare down, while the older one kept out of clear view. Grey Boss is crafty.
After this, we got onto a herd of Buffalo, hoping for a shot on a suitable cow. We plowed through the icky, pricky, grabby, thick shit - everything gets you - excellent Buffalo habitat, I am told. This herd is over 50 Buffalo strong, but we got very close several times. At one point, the herd decided to make a stand, and a standoff of sorts ensued, no one dared to move a muscle until they melted away into the brush. We decided to back off. Exciting stuff!
After lunch, we picked up two of the resident trackers, Madlas and Doctor, presumably to go after those Buff again. Along the way, Russ dropped his zebra at 84m with another textbook shot.
We chased a Buffalo all the remainder of the afternoon. Several times we got very close, within 10m, but a proper female was never out in the open long enough for a shot. The herd split into two halves. we followed the smaller of the two groups, but they gave us the slip.
A Word on Fines:
At this point, I suppose I should mention the fines. If you choose to participate, you may engage in the practice of levying a fine upon someone at the end of the day. Conversely, you too, may have a fine levied upon you. These are given out for infractions of the rules, missteps taken or any other behavior deemed as not acceptable. Some of the rules are deeply ingrained in hunting culture - missing an animal, losing your hat off of the bakkie causing us to have to stop to retrieve it, busting a shot due to noise, etc. Some infractions though, I expect are made up on the fly! Both Russ and I received fines for flubbing a shot due to having the safety engaged while attempting a shot at game, for example. The fine consists of one shot of Jagermeister per infraction. You may appeal the fine. The jury - your hunting party - will decide by vote if your appeal holds merit. If you win, the person who handed out the fine must take the shot. However, if you lose your appeal and the jury decides against you, your fine is doubled. This makes for a very fun time indeed! The team really comes together, laughing, drinking and creating bullshit in order to sway the jury in your favour. Poor Henno pays a lot of fines. As the apprentice, he takes the brunt of the scrutiny. I wonder if I could get this past H.R. back home?
Day 4
We are starting early today. Buffalo and more Buffalo. We skipped breakfast in order to get the jump on them. I have a feeling that Conrad feels he owes me the chance at a Buff, but I still believe in fate, and we'll see what comes up. We spent all of this morning crawling under, around, and through the thorns chasing the herd from the previous day. We tracked them into a block - they moved during the night. We were more than thorough, but all of us were left wondering how a herd of over 50 animals could disappear?
We returned to the lodge for a late lunch. We just got tucked in, when Ruan, the Farm manager comes in and reports that two Buffalo were spotted. We quickly finish eating, and race off towards the area, Conrad, Henno, trackers Madlas and Doctor, Russ and Myself. Madlas is an exceptional tracker. Conrad likes him on the track, as they have hunted Buffalo together many times. They each seem to know what the other is thinking without any exchange of words. Two Buff are indeed spotted, and they are confirmed to be the Dagga Boy and the big youngster from the mountain stalk on day 2. Grey Boss is our target.
Doctor is left at the truck while the rest of the party, five in total, manage to maneuver into position. We are able to crawl on our bellies to within 25m and situate ourselves inside of a bush for cover. We, all five of us, are on top of each other, very, very close. Grey Boss is lying down, sleeping inside of a bush of his own, hiding from the heat of the day. His head is the only thing tantalizingly visible. The young male is lying down another 5m behind him. We wait. And we wait. 1 and a half hours in our little bush, in the heat. We are too low for sticks, so Madlas offers up his shoulder as a rest for my Heym. Finally, Grey Boss stands, but his vitals are directly behind a tree. We wait another 5 minutes, and he takes a step forward.....
From 25m, in our bush, off Madlas' shoulder, I send the 400gr North fork into just behind his right shoulder.
The scene becomes a blur, a flurry of activity that took me several hours to process in my head. The analysis of what took place, the piecing together of it all was helped by input from all of those present. Grey Boss started to run from his bush shelter from left to right, angling towards us. By this time, the group had emerged, off of our knees, and I had chambered another round. Fuck, they're fast. Conrad instructs me to "put another into him, he is coming". I put another into his neck, which travels through the vitals, and somewhere into the stomach. He turned away at this point, and I put one more into his neck again, as that was all that I could see of him. He switched ends, and is now facing to the left, and collapses. We're not convinced that he is done, so I cover him with the crosshairs while he struggles to regain his feet. I topped off the magazine, and we reposition in order to put a final shot into his spine. Along the way, Grey Boss let out a long, low, drawn out death bellow. What a sound!
Henno managed to take a video of the whole event. In it, you can hear Conrad giving instruction to me on the placement of my initial shot, and then subsequent instructions on the follow-up shots. His demeanor was calm, and he allowed me the latitude to complete this Buffalo hunt on my own, which I am forever grateful for. I knew that he was there, .416 at the ready, but he allowed the situation to play out.
Unfortunately, I am unable to post the video as it is in another format not recognized by my computer. Hopefully, in the next few days, I will be able to work the bugs out, and share it all with you.
Conrad had reported seeing blood spewing from the Buff's nose at the first shot. Henno and Russ both confirmed this as well. I paced out the distance from where I made the first shot to where he was hit, and that first shot was indeed fatal. There were copious amounts of lung blood sprayed all over the path that the Buff had taken to his final resting place. These animals are incredible, and worthy of our admiration and respect. After it was all done, and I had some time to gather my thoughts somewhat, I was hit with a very interesting feeling. It is hard to describe, but it was very palpable, and arrived as if it was a wave that flowed through me. It wasn't relief, it wasn't regret or even remorse, just a sort of calm. I came to the realization that I had come to Africa, and did what I needed to do. I no longer felt compelled to fill my additional Buffalo tag and take a Cow as well. I just sort of, put it all to bed, so to speak. I still had days remaining, and still wanted to take part in the hunting, but no longer had any specific goal animals in mind. I Just wanted to take what Africa provided from that point onward.
The scene took on a celebratory tone. Congratulations were shared, many handshakes and pats on the back. A portable braai was produced and lit. A bar was set up on the the tailgate. Everyone relayed their account of what happened, and gaps in the story were filled in. Many photos were taken, and toasts and cheers offered up. The recovery team arrived, and winched the Buffalo up onto a trailer. We ate sausages, and drank many African Cokes (Klipdrift Brandy & Coke).
We made our way over to the skinning shed to watch the process. It always amazes me how seven guys, hacking, slashing and sawing away on a Buffalo don't cut themselves or each other. It is here that I really got the story of how the North Forks performed.
Bullet #1 entered behind the right shoulder, through a rib, both lungs, through another rib, and lodged in the left shoulder.
Bullet #2 entered the neck, travelled down through the vitals, and presumably into the stomach/insides somewhere. This bullet was not recovered.
Bullet #3 entered on the right side of the neck, and when the skin was pulled back on the left side, fell onto the floor.
Bullet #1 on the left, weighed 364gr upon recovery. Bullet #3 weighed 398.5gr.
Conrad was very happy with the results, as was I. This was his first client that had brought North Forks, and he was happy to endorse their use.
I could not be entirely sure as to how these bullets would perform. My Garmin data showed an average speed of 2200 fps. All of my knowledge was academic up until this point. I trusted in the math, but in the back of my head, I just did not know. It was a massive relief to me, knowing that they had performed as needed.
I would like to offer up a sincere thank you to all of those who reported their findings regarding their own experiences with this bullet. Without this knowledge, I would have been flying in the dark. I would also like to thank the member who agreed to sell me some of his .404 Jeffery stash. These are hard to come by, and without them, I truly believe that my hunt would not have been so successful.
Day 5
Terribly, terribly hungover this morning. The celebrations lasted long into the night. Fines were levied, and paid in full.
We went in search of warthog after a late breakfast. We arrived at a historically productive Pig Place, adjacent to the reservoir, where warthogs come to drink at the shore. We did see a very nice one, but he was too fast. Russ did shoot a cull pig - very sick. He put him out of a painful existence. The crew here show a compassion towards the animals on their concession. Anything deemed sick or suffering get dispatched quickly. It was another perfect shot at 65m, nonetheless.
After lunch, we decided to go down to the "Pig Blind". This is an unused lodge building located on the edge of a water hole. Dozens of pigs came to drink, as well as Nyala, monitor lizard, mongoose and all sorts of bird life. It was a nice change of pace from the previous days of bush whacking. In the evening, we set up a pop-up blind from 6 - 9, hunting for Bushpig. The camp gut pile is located here. A hyena came, witnessed through the night vision spotter, but no Bushpig visited. A late supper this evening, and we all agreed that any fines will be postponed until tomorrow evening.
Day 6
We arrived at Jozini Dam reservoir in search of a suitable Warthog. While searching, Conrad stops the truck, eyes wide and in a rushed tone, excited. He asks me if I am still wanting to take what Africa gives. When I tell him yes, he instructs me to grab my rifle and follow him into the bush. Through excited whisper, he tells me that we are following a big Nyala. One that he has been trying to shoot for some time now. We bump him several times, then, he stands still for just a second too long.... Slightly quartering away, at 60m, I place my dot on where I estimate his shoulder to be as he is partially obscured by a bush. The .404 hits, and he leaps high into the air. The track begins, although not a difficult one given the amount of blood splattered on the surrounding bushes. Henno is in the lead, but Conrad gives him a warning to stay well back. Sure enough, the Nyala was waiting in ambush for us around the bend! We snuck in and I put a finishing shot into his shoulder, dropping him. Conrad is wary of Nyala. They have a reputation for getting aggressive. Diesel, his constant companion, retriever of birds and finder of downed game, was once skewered by a wounded Nyala. He spent some time at an animal hospital, not certain that he would make it. As for bullet performance, we assume that the 400gr North Fork was just too tough to fully expand at that range and on the the thickness of the Nyala. all ended well, but it does illustrate that just because a bullet is big, does not mean it is suitable foe all applications. This was indeed the one that we were after, and Conrad was pleased to have taken him.
We decided to return to the "Pig Blind". Many animals once again, with the addition of some very loud, very angry sounding elephants trumpeting in the area. They are one of the hazards present here at Mpeti, along with Black Rhino. Our initial safety brief with Conrad included instruction on what to do if we encountered such beasts. Something about not being the slowest....
Anyway, Russ got his Warthog! From the blind, at 30m, dropped like a stone. I too, took a female, along with a chunk of the railing while aiming at a sizeable male (that was a fine). The blind session was accompanied by an online cellphone viewing of a Rugby match. The beloved Springboks were up against the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand, in Wellington, no less. The Springboks thrashed the All Blacks, 43 - 10, in an upset victory. Much celebration was done by our hosts! We shot warthogs between Tries, as they pumped fists and attempted to keep contained. What a morning!
The afternoon was spent fishing on the reservoir. There are Tiger fish in these waters. We didn't have any luck with the fish, but had a great time dodging the Hippo and cruising along. We Braai'ed onboard and laughed a lot.
Day 7, Last Day
Late start, as it was raining, and the Fines from the night before had caught up with us. This is a cull day, as all of our wished for animals had been taken. Russ took several more cull animals (Impala, Warthog). I took a female Nyala, and for some reason, the bullet performance was much better (Maybe hitting more bone?)
We hunted right up until it was time to go, ending with lunch before departure.
As it turned out, our departure flight form Richard's Bay got cancelled. Ruan had to scramble to book us on another flight so we could make it back to Johannesburg to meet our wives the next morning. He made alternate arrangements for our firearms to get back to Johannesburg, and into a safe storage facility while we were on the second portion of the holiday. Unfortunately, the only flight that would get us there in time departed from Durban, two hours drive away the next morning. Without hesitation, Ruan and Henno drove us to Durban and booked into a hotel room, The next morning they made sure we got on the right flight, and we made it back in time to start the next leg of our journey. They went well above what anyone could have expected from them. What a Team!!!
Notes on The Lodge
The Lodge itself was very well appointed. Very nice Bungalows, each with a king sized bed, and all amenities. The staff were all friendly and couldn't do enough for you. All meals were excellent, and there was plenty of it. The facilities were all well kept, as well as the vehicles used to transport us around. There was always someone maintaining the pool, and our rooms were immaculate when we returned each night. Laundry was done daily, and on time.
An Epilogue of Sorts:
Why do we do this? What is our reasoning for travelling so far and for so long?
For some, I expect it is the challenge that such a hunt presents. The beasts we encounter, the testing of our mettle. For others, perhaps it is the completion of a list of desired quarry, a fulfillment of a slam or varieties of a certain species.
For me, it is escape, pure and simple.
You wanna live like a Pirate? You can do that here. Although, in order to get here, you must behave, must comply with the rules and process of soft men, of small men. However, once you are here, and have worked hard enough, paid the admission, you can live your pirate lifestyle. You can drink what you want, shoot what you want. You answer to no soft men and their rules. You are free.
The Pirate life is alive and well at Mpeti. Conrad is Peter Pan. We have been lucky enough to become part of the crew here for a week, one of his Lost Boys. It was a week of constant fun - we followed the rules of the Bushveld, not the petty layers of legislation that we all must endure in our everyday lives.
When seriousness was called for, we were serious. Buffalo is no joke. Conrad's cool and calm instructions to me, even as that Buff was veering towards us, ensured a safe outcome for us all. I received the adrenaline fueled high that I came for. My desire for adventure was fulfilled - and I am still able to return to my wife at the end of it all.
Will I come back to Mpeti?
Well, three days after returning home, I took an overtime shift, so you can surmise what you want from that.
This Safari took place September 8 - 15, 2025, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, adjacent to the Jozini reservoir. @MPETI SAFARIS OUTFITTER consists of PH Conrad Fick, along with Ranch manager Ruan Donald, and Apprentice PH Henno Terblanche. The ranch itself is 12,000 acres, with access to the Pongola Game reserve situated next door that consists of another 70,000 acres. We dipped in and out of the Reserve several times during our hunt.
“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to.” - Richard Mullin
This was my third African safari. The first two were excellent, however, they were a solo affair. This time, I was accompanied by a friend, one who was doing his very first hunting trip to Africa. I was excited to hunt Buffalo, yes, but I was also so very excited to share this experience with another, to be there to witness the claws dig into another. You can read about his impressions and experience here under his handle - HotspurHodge
This is my story.
I departed Toronto with British Airways, landing at London Heathrow, then a 10 hour layover, which can't be avoided when passing through Europe, unfortunately. HotspurHodge joined me at Heathrow, and after sufficient amounts of whisky in the lounge, we carried on to Johannesburg. I had read all of the pros and cons of using British Airways, and really, except for their $230 CAD Firearms Handling fee, have nothing to complain about. The firearms check-in process at Toronto was slow, but only because the staff were inexperienced in how to go about letting my on this flight. They were courteous, and most apologetic about the wait. Business Class there, Premium Economy on the way home, excellent food, lie flat seats, we left on time. We splurged on Business Class because at 6'7", regular class is tortuous, and also we wanted to have gotten at least some sleep in order to function on arrival. Our wives were following us one week later, and the four of us did a nine day Cape Town and Kruger Safari together. They had great service with BA as well, however, the trip home left much to be desired. No firearms issues, but the ground staff contracted by BA at JNB airport are terrible. But that, is another story.
We had engaged the services of Afton Lodge for out last night in Johannesburg, which included their Firearm Concierge service and firearm storage for after the hunt. Mr. X met us at JNB, and navigated us through the process. He then saw to it that we were safely checked in with our rifles for the interior flight to Richard's Bay. I cannot say enough good things about this service, for without it, I do believe I would still be in Johannesburg airport, crying in a corner somewhere....
Conrad and Ruan picked us up at Richard's Bay, then whisked us away to Mpeti. I liked Conrad immediately, and we both knew that we were in for a week of fun. After lunch and a quick freshen-up, we headed out to the range to check our rifles. Each of our rifles performed as they should, and we were able to show Conrad that we were somewhat proficient with them. I had booked a Buffalo package, consisting of both a Bull and a cow. My companion had opted for a plains game package. We were hoping to hunt together, but were not sure if that would be possible, given that we were after different game. Conrad confirmed that this would not be a problem, and we headed out for what we thought would be a nice, leisurely game drive. 10 minutes later, and Russ had shot an incredible Impala at 94m! Conrad had talked him through the shot, and the process worked like a dream. His combination of an M18 Mauser and 165gr Norma Ecostrike in .30-06 produced stellar results. Most everything he shot fell down stone dead. He was a real beast with this rifle!
I had brought a Heym Martini Express, chambered in .404 Jeffery. I had been watching this particular rifle on an online gun selling site here in Canada for almost 18 months. When the price got to where I could afford it, I jumped at the chance. It really is the smoothest, best handling rifle that I have ever handled, and is easily the nicest rifle that I own. Topped with a Leupold VX-5, 1-5 illuminated reticle, I felt very well armed. As for ammunition, I chose North Fork 400gr SS projectiles. I had learned to reload especially for this hunt. It took me close to two years to gather all of the components, and gain enough experience in order for me to feel comfortable in possibly shooting a Buffalo with them.
Day 2
We got onto Buffalo right away, two Bulls. One was a very wide specimen, but still too young, The other, was very nice. Older, with more wear, and missing a lot of hair. Even I could distinguish between the two at distance, as the older one was much greyer than the younger one, earing him the nickname "Grey Boss". we bumped them twice after a long hard tromp through the hills, them left them alone.
We continued our search, but crossed paths with an impressive Nyala. Russ had his second animal in the salt after a 34m chip shot. Nice. This pattern continued for the rest of the week. We would head out for either Buffalo or Plains game, but switch it up as the spoor presented itself, following whatever Africa offered up to us that day.
That evening, we dined on some Nyala loin shot by a previous hunter, cooked over the braai. An excellent meal after a day of stalking.
Day3
On the same two Buff this morning. They've been moving around a little, no doubt caused by our interest in them. We got very close, 30m to the young one, but bumped them twice then left them alone. The young one gave us the stare down, while the older one kept out of clear view. Grey Boss is crafty.
After this, we got onto a herd of Buffalo, hoping for a shot on a suitable cow. We plowed through the icky, pricky, grabby, thick shit - everything gets you - excellent Buffalo habitat, I am told. This herd is over 50 Buffalo strong, but we got very close several times. At one point, the herd decided to make a stand, and a standoff of sorts ensued, no one dared to move a muscle until they melted away into the brush. We decided to back off. Exciting stuff!
After lunch, we picked up two of the resident trackers, Madlas and Doctor, presumably to go after those Buff again. Along the way, Russ dropped his zebra at 84m with another textbook shot.
We chased a Buffalo all the remainder of the afternoon. Several times we got very close, within 10m, but a proper female was never out in the open long enough for a shot. The herd split into two halves. we followed the smaller of the two groups, but they gave us the slip.
A Word on Fines:
At this point, I suppose I should mention the fines. If you choose to participate, you may engage in the practice of levying a fine upon someone at the end of the day. Conversely, you too, may have a fine levied upon you. These are given out for infractions of the rules, missteps taken or any other behavior deemed as not acceptable. Some of the rules are deeply ingrained in hunting culture - missing an animal, losing your hat off of the bakkie causing us to have to stop to retrieve it, busting a shot due to noise, etc. Some infractions though, I expect are made up on the fly! Both Russ and I received fines for flubbing a shot due to having the safety engaged while attempting a shot at game, for example. The fine consists of one shot of Jagermeister per infraction. You may appeal the fine. The jury - your hunting party - will decide by vote if your appeal holds merit. If you win, the person who handed out the fine must take the shot. However, if you lose your appeal and the jury decides against you, your fine is doubled. This makes for a very fun time indeed! The team really comes together, laughing, drinking and creating bullshit in order to sway the jury in your favour. Poor Henno pays a lot of fines. As the apprentice, he takes the brunt of the scrutiny. I wonder if I could get this past H.R. back home?
Day 4
We are starting early today. Buffalo and more Buffalo. We skipped breakfast in order to get the jump on them. I have a feeling that Conrad feels he owes me the chance at a Buff, but I still believe in fate, and we'll see what comes up. We spent all of this morning crawling under, around, and through the thorns chasing the herd from the previous day. We tracked them into a block - they moved during the night. We were more than thorough, but all of us were left wondering how a herd of over 50 animals could disappear?
We returned to the lodge for a late lunch. We just got tucked in, when Ruan, the Farm manager comes in and reports that two Buffalo were spotted. We quickly finish eating, and race off towards the area, Conrad, Henno, trackers Madlas and Doctor, Russ and Myself. Madlas is an exceptional tracker. Conrad likes him on the track, as they have hunted Buffalo together many times. They each seem to know what the other is thinking without any exchange of words. Two Buff are indeed spotted, and they are confirmed to be the Dagga Boy and the big youngster from the mountain stalk on day 2. Grey Boss is our target.
Doctor is left at the truck while the rest of the party, five in total, manage to maneuver into position. We are able to crawl on our bellies to within 25m and situate ourselves inside of a bush for cover. We, all five of us, are on top of each other, very, very close. Grey Boss is lying down, sleeping inside of a bush of his own, hiding from the heat of the day. His head is the only thing tantalizingly visible. The young male is lying down another 5m behind him. We wait. And we wait. 1 and a half hours in our little bush, in the heat. We are too low for sticks, so Madlas offers up his shoulder as a rest for my Heym. Finally, Grey Boss stands, but his vitals are directly behind a tree. We wait another 5 minutes, and he takes a step forward.....
From 25m, in our bush, off Madlas' shoulder, I send the 400gr North fork into just behind his right shoulder.
The scene becomes a blur, a flurry of activity that took me several hours to process in my head. The analysis of what took place, the piecing together of it all was helped by input from all of those present. Grey Boss started to run from his bush shelter from left to right, angling towards us. By this time, the group had emerged, off of our knees, and I had chambered another round. Fuck, they're fast. Conrad instructs me to "put another into him, he is coming". I put another into his neck, which travels through the vitals, and somewhere into the stomach. He turned away at this point, and I put one more into his neck again, as that was all that I could see of him. He switched ends, and is now facing to the left, and collapses. We're not convinced that he is done, so I cover him with the crosshairs while he struggles to regain his feet. I topped off the magazine, and we reposition in order to put a final shot into his spine. Along the way, Grey Boss let out a long, low, drawn out death bellow. What a sound!
Henno managed to take a video of the whole event. In it, you can hear Conrad giving instruction to me on the placement of my initial shot, and then subsequent instructions on the follow-up shots. His demeanor was calm, and he allowed me the latitude to complete this Buffalo hunt on my own, which I am forever grateful for. I knew that he was there, .416 at the ready, but he allowed the situation to play out.
Unfortunately, I am unable to post the video as it is in another format not recognized by my computer. Hopefully, in the next few days, I will be able to work the bugs out, and share it all with you.
Conrad had reported seeing blood spewing from the Buff's nose at the first shot. Henno and Russ both confirmed this as well. I paced out the distance from where I made the first shot to where he was hit, and that first shot was indeed fatal. There were copious amounts of lung blood sprayed all over the path that the Buff had taken to his final resting place. These animals are incredible, and worthy of our admiration and respect. After it was all done, and I had some time to gather my thoughts somewhat, I was hit with a very interesting feeling. It is hard to describe, but it was very palpable, and arrived as if it was a wave that flowed through me. It wasn't relief, it wasn't regret or even remorse, just a sort of calm. I came to the realization that I had come to Africa, and did what I needed to do. I no longer felt compelled to fill my additional Buffalo tag and take a Cow as well. I just sort of, put it all to bed, so to speak. I still had days remaining, and still wanted to take part in the hunting, but no longer had any specific goal animals in mind. I Just wanted to take what Africa provided from that point onward.
The scene took on a celebratory tone. Congratulations were shared, many handshakes and pats on the back. A portable braai was produced and lit. A bar was set up on the the tailgate. Everyone relayed their account of what happened, and gaps in the story were filled in. Many photos were taken, and toasts and cheers offered up. The recovery team arrived, and winched the Buffalo up onto a trailer. We ate sausages, and drank many African Cokes (Klipdrift Brandy & Coke).
We made our way over to the skinning shed to watch the process. It always amazes me how seven guys, hacking, slashing and sawing away on a Buffalo don't cut themselves or each other. It is here that I really got the story of how the North Forks performed.
Bullet #1 entered behind the right shoulder, through a rib, both lungs, through another rib, and lodged in the left shoulder.
Bullet #2 entered the neck, travelled down through the vitals, and presumably into the stomach/insides somewhere. This bullet was not recovered.
Bullet #3 entered on the right side of the neck, and when the skin was pulled back on the left side, fell onto the floor.
Bullet #1 on the left, weighed 364gr upon recovery. Bullet #3 weighed 398.5gr.
Conrad was very happy with the results, as was I. This was his first client that had brought North Forks, and he was happy to endorse their use.
I could not be entirely sure as to how these bullets would perform. My Garmin data showed an average speed of 2200 fps. All of my knowledge was academic up until this point. I trusted in the math, but in the back of my head, I just did not know. It was a massive relief to me, knowing that they had performed as needed.
I would like to offer up a sincere thank you to all of those who reported their findings regarding their own experiences with this bullet. Without this knowledge, I would have been flying in the dark. I would also like to thank the member who agreed to sell me some of his .404 Jeffery stash. These are hard to come by, and without them, I truly believe that my hunt would not have been so successful.
Day 5
Terribly, terribly hungover this morning. The celebrations lasted long into the night. Fines were levied, and paid in full.
We went in search of warthog after a late breakfast. We arrived at a historically productive Pig Place, adjacent to the reservoir, where warthogs come to drink at the shore. We did see a very nice one, but he was too fast. Russ did shoot a cull pig - very sick. He put him out of a painful existence. The crew here show a compassion towards the animals on their concession. Anything deemed sick or suffering get dispatched quickly. It was another perfect shot at 65m, nonetheless.
After lunch, we decided to go down to the "Pig Blind". This is an unused lodge building located on the edge of a water hole. Dozens of pigs came to drink, as well as Nyala, monitor lizard, mongoose and all sorts of bird life. It was a nice change of pace from the previous days of bush whacking. In the evening, we set up a pop-up blind from 6 - 9, hunting for Bushpig. The camp gut pile is located here. A hyena came, witnessed through the night vision spotter, but no Bushpig visited. A late supper this evening, and we all agreed that any fines will be postponed until tomorrow evening.
Day 6
We arrived at Jozini Dam reservoir in search of a suitable Warthog. While searching, Conrad stops the truck, eyes wide and in a rushed tone, excited. He asks me if I am still wanting to take what Africa gives. When I tell him yes, he instructs me to grab my rifle and follow him into the bush. Through excited whisper, he tells me that we are following a big Nyala. One that he has been trying to shoot for some time now. We bump him several times, then, he stands still for just a second too long.... Slightly quartering away, at 60m, I place my dot on where I estimate his shoulder to be as he is partially obscured by a bush. The .404 hits, and he leaps high into the air. The track begins, although not a difficult one given the amount of blood splattered on the surrounding bushes. Henno is in the lead, but Conrad gives him a warning to stay well back. Sure enough, the Nyala was waiting in ambush for us around the bend! We snuck in and I put a finishing shot into his shoulder, dropping him. Conrad is wary of Nyala. They have a reputation for getting aggressive. Diesel, his constant companion, retriever of birds and finder of downed game, was once skewered by a wounded Nyala. He spent some time at an animal hospital, not certain that he would make it. As for bullet performance, we assume that the 400gr North Fork was just too tough to fully expand at that range and on the the thickness of the Nyala. all ended well, but it does illustrate that just because a bullet is big, does not mean it is suitable foe all applications. This was indeed the one that we were after, and Conrad was pleased to have taken him.
We decided to return to the "Pig Blind". Many animals once again, with the addition of some very loud, very angry sounding elephants trumpeting in the area. They are one of the hazards present here at Mpeti, along with Black Rhino. Our initial safety brief with Conrad included instruction on what to do if we encountered such beasts. Something about not being the slowest....
Anyway, Russ got his Warthog! From the blind, at 30m, dropped like a stone. I too, took a female, along with a chunk of the railing while aiming at a sizeable male (that was a fine). The blind session was accompanied by an online cellphone viewing of a Rugby match. The beloved Springboks were up against the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand, in Wellington, no less. The Springboks thrashed the All Blacks, 43 - 10, in an upset victory. Much celebration was done by our hosts! We shot warthogs between Tries, as they pumped fists and attempted to keep contained. What a morning!
The afternoon was spent fishing on the reservoir. There are Tiger fish in these waters. We didn't have any luck with the fish, but had a great time dodging the Hippo and cruising along. We Braai'ed onboard and laughed a lot.
Day 7, Last Day
Late start, as it was raining, and the Fines from the night before had caught up with us. This is a cull day, as all of our wished for animals had been taken. Russ took several more cull animals (Impala, Warthog). I took a female Nyala, and for some reason, the bullet performance was much better (Maybe hitting more bone?)
We hunted right up until it was time to go, ending with lunch before departure.
As it turned out, our departure flight form Richard's Bay got cancelled. Ruan had to scramble to book us on another flight so we could make it back to Johannesburg to meet our wives the next morning. He made alternate arrangements for our firearms to get back to Johannesburg, and into a safe storage facility while we were on the second portion of the holiday. Unfortunately, the only flight that would get us there in time departed from Durban, two hours drive away the next morning. Without hesitation, Ruan and Henno drove us to Durban and booked into a hotel room, The next morning they made sure we got on the right flight, and we made it back in time to start the next leg of our journey. They went well above what anyone could have expected from them. What a Team!!!
Notes on The Lodge
The Lodge itself was very well appointed. Very nice Bungalows, each with a king sized bed, and all amenities. The staff were all friendly and couldn't do enough for you. All meals were excellent, and there was plenty of it. The facilities were all well kept, as well as the vehicles used to transport us around. There was always someone maintaining the pool, and our rooms were immaculate when we returned each night. Laundry was done daily, and on time.
An Epilogue of Sorts:
Why do we do this? What is our reasoning for travelling so far and for so long?
For some, I expect it is the challenge that such a hunt presents. The beasts we encounter, the testing of our mettle. For others, perhaps it is the completion of a list of desired quarry, a fulfillment of a slam or varieties of a certain species.
For me, it is escape, pure and simple.
You wanna live like a Pirate? You can do that here. Although, in order to get here, you must behave, must comply with the rules and process of soft men, of small men. However, once you are here, and have worked hard enough, paid the admission, you can live your pirate lifestyle. You can drink what you want, shoot what you want. You answer to no soft men and their rules. You are free.
The Pirate life is alive and well at Mpeti. Conrad is Peter Pan. We have been lucky enough to become part of the crew here for a week, one of his Lost Boys. It was a week of constant fun - we followed the rules of the Bushveld, not the petty layers of legislation that we all must endure in our everyday lives.
When seriousness was called for, we were serious. Buffalo is no joke. Conrad's cool and calm instructions to me, even as that Buff was veering towards us, ensured a safe outcome for us all. I received the adrenaline fueled high that I came for. My desire for adventure was fulfilled - and I am still able to return to my wife at the end of it all.
Will I come back to Mpeti?
Well, three days after returning home, I took an overtime shift, so you can surmise what you want from that.
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