SOUTH AFRICA: My First Safari, The Experience & Things I Learned

[Tbitty]

Some more really nice animals. Congrats!

I would think it humorous a PH forgot the rifle, had I not grabbed the wrong rifle case last week. I thought I had grabbed the case with my 30-06, to go deer hunting, got to my hunting area 30 minutes from home, was geared up when I reached to pull the rifle from the case and discovered i had brought my .22 rifle by mistake.Two hours later I was finally set up in the woods.

So I can understand your PH's frustrations.

Easy to understand his frustration (and yours). I was glad I could relieve him some by not making it a big deal.

 

[Frederik]

Keep em coming!!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Our departure started a little rocky. As I mentioned, we all come from different locations and were to meet in NY on the 2nd, stay a night there together, and depart on the 3rd for a direct flight to Johannesburg. Oddly, each of us was delayed in departures from starting cities. My flight was cancelled the morning of my flight. I was lucky to hear the alert (couldn't sleep with excitement anyway) and found that they tried to re-book me too late. Instead, I found a flight leaving sooner than original, got it reserved, and had to high-tail it to the airport. Good thing I was packed and ready! ... My brother had to wait for 40 minutes for his planes' pilot to arrive, then they had to fly around a big storm. He ended up 2 hours later than scheduled arrival time. ... and, to hit the trifecta, my step dad's flight was held in a holding pattern waiting to land. BUT, we all made it safely and headed to the hotel for the night. We had a nice dinner at the hotel restaurant, and retired early. The next morning , we shuttled to the airport and got there plenty early to ensure we didnt miss the flight. Everything went smooth and we played the waiting game for boarding to begin. Knowing it was a long flight, we mostly strolled around the airport aimlessly killing time.

Finally, we boarded and made ready for the long flight (roughly 15.5 hours). Given the distance and time changes, we were set to arrive in Johannesburg around 8am local time. A lot of card playing, movie watching, mostly failed sleep attempts, and reading, we arrived ready for the hunt. I mentioned it before, and I'll say it again: upgrading to the exit row seats was the best "extra money" I've spent in quite some time.

Upon arrival, it was first class all the way. A Numzaan representative met us at the gate, escorted to to customs, waited for us on the other side, and got us to the main entrance/exit where our PHs were waiting to take us to camp. We made a fuel stop, got some drinks, and made the 3 hour trek to camp. They had packed a lunch, so we stopped once to stretch and eat, and kept going. It was exciting as we got into areas seeing various hunting concessions, and our first glimpses of game animals. My brother and I rode in one truck with our PH, and he asked us questions about what we were after, got to know our experience levels and comfort with potential shooting scenarios. He gave us a book about shot placement on African game, and made suggestions. We also got to know him some, and before we knew it we were at our concession.

He gave an impromptu tour of the ground to help us familiarize and understand the terrain and layout, then made our way to camp. I dont know why, but I was surprised that the lodge was in the middle of the hunting area. We unloaded our gear, and checked out our weeks "home". We were the only group in this camp, I'm unsure if this is standard or unusual, but it meant we each had our own room. There was a fully stocked fridge and bar, and it was a wonderful place to stay. We also met the camp staff, and our tracker/skinner. After a little paperwork, since it was still only midday, we went out with the rental rifles to make sure we were comfortable with them.

I went first, using the PHs Ruger American Rifle in .308 with suppressor and Core-Lokt 180gr ammo. First shot, I was 1" high at 100, which is nearly identical to where I sight in my hunting rifles. Took a 2nd shot to make sure, and it was touching the first. I was happy.

My brother took the rifle, since we would share it as a 2x1 hunt, and was comfortable with the results of his first and double check shots. He shoots lefty (I'm right), and his POI was a little different, but still within a lethal zone and not enough to worry any of us.

My step dad then took up his PHs Remington 700 in 308, using same ammo, and was ready to test fire. He does not hunt as much as we do, and isn't as immediately comfortable for quick shots, so it took a couple extra minutes for him. We made some adjustments to the scopes zero to fit him, and had him confident in just a few shots. Knowing that he had not shot off sticks before, I asked his PH to let him take a shot or two off the sticks as well. He obliged, and even my brother asked to take one shot that way, too. They both felt good, I was ready, and so we were all set to go hunting.

Since there was some good daylight left, our PHs decided to have us all go together in one truck to look around some. As luck would have it, a very nice impala ram was spotted. I had the longest list of critters I wanted to chase, and despite my buddies advice not to shoot the first thing we saw, both PHs indicated this was a nice old ram and a great trophy to chase. Combine that with my itchy trigger finger, and it was a quick decision that I would like to make a try before it got dark. We stalked along into a good position and had him in the crosshairs. However, he was with a group of ewes, and there was one directly behind him. My PH told me to wait for him to step forward some, or her to move from behind, and I waited for the opportunity to present. After a few minutes (or maybe it was less and just felt longer), he finally stepped forward and gave me a clear shot. My PH had already given me clearance to fire when I was comfortable AND there was a clean shot without others that could be hit behind, so I put the crosshairs on the shoulder, perfect broadside, and touched off.

I heard the bullet hit home, and watched through the scope as he jumped sky high, then disappeared behind some thicket. I was sure he'd be laying right there, but my PH put some slight question in my mind as he said it sounded a little hollow, like I'd hit too far back. I told him I didnt think so, I was confident my shot was true, so we headed to where he'd been. The others had hung back some, watching through binoculars so as to put fewer bodies in motion to be spotted by the heard, but they joined us now. I surged with confidence as my brother said he'd seen it hit through binos, and he scored it as a great shot. We walked up, and sure enough, he was laying one jump away from where he'd stood! Straight through both shoulders and a path that would have taken both lungs and heart.

With daylight starting to fade, we snapped some pictures and carried him off into the sunset to the truck. A phenomenal first day in Africa!

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We headed back to camp, enjoyed a nice dinner, and started planning for the next day, which was supposed to be Day 1 of the hunt.

Great hunting narrative and photos! Congrats! But, Remington Core Lokts? How did you kill anything in Africa with those bullets? Many here on AH have said that’s impossible! I’ve killed a number of elk with them, but apparently they don’t work on game in Africa? I’ll have to re think this? Please continue with your excellent adventure narrative!

 

[Tbitty]

On to the next day...

At this time, I was set on chasing Kudu. The others had completed their lists, but my step dad decided to chase springbuck with the extra time. My brother said he would go with him, and maybe they could find a nice warthog. So we split waysx both venturing to some more nearby grounds.

The property my PH and I went to was owned by a different group, so we met with them briefly to verify paperwork, etc., and he gave us a rundown of the land and his suggestions on where to look. This was by far the thickest cover and mountainous place we had been, and it quickly proved difficult for a spot and stalk to happen. After a couple of busted groups, and some hard-earned miles walked, it was suggested that we make a blind and wait at the water hole to see what would come. We spent several hours in wait, and saw a lot of different critters, including some young Kudu, but no mature bulls. Finally, he called it quits on this spot, and said we would drive the grounds and get higher on the mountain to see if we could find any to pursue. This also proved nearly unfruitful, until nearly sundown. We finally spotted one and went after him, but the thick, tall cover made it difficult to get a shot. Even a couple times when we would have an opening, he would move before I could get on the sticks. I told Lourens that I was comfortable with offhand shooting, having taken many whitetail deer over the years this way, so if we got another shot, just give me the ok and skip the sticks. With just minutes of good shooting light left, I finally got my opportunity. We spotted him in a small clearing at what I guessed to be 175 yards. I shouldered the rifle, found my aim, and fired.

This time, fortune was not on my side. I missed, and we were out of daylight. As I'm sure many of you have done, I replayed the shot over and over in a somber ride back to camp, but can only come up with disappointment in myself for not making the shot.

The others had succeeded in their journey, however, so it was still a good day. After a few blown attempts, both in not getting on target in time for a shot, and in a couple of misses, my step dad had bagged his springbuck. They were even able to see the white puff of back fur raised up when they got to the downed animal, before it returned to the normal "laid down" look.

After dinner, we decided that the next morning I would make one last attempt at a Kudu, while my brother would sit at a watering hole where a big warthog had been spotted by the others a couple day before. My stepdad would go sit with him just to see the animals that came in; he was done hunting. Since I had been away from him all week with my longer list, i said that I wanted to spend the afternoon with all of us together at a blind, even if that meant giving up on Kudu. It turned out to be an uneventful day, though my brother was at least tempted to take a nice impala ram at the water when we were all together. But, since one is included with the 2020 hunt, he decided to pass. Instead, we shot the animals we saw with our cameras, and enjoyed each others company, albeit in near silent wait. As we left the spot and headed back to camp to conclude our hunt, we did spot one more kudu bull. We had seen him a couple of times already, and he was not quite mature, but I was a little disappointed to be leaving without getting the #1 animal on my list. After a short mental battle with myself between wanting to get one, vs taking a mature animal, my better hunter self prevailed and said to pass. Hunting is more to me than simply killing an animal, and I am glad to reflect and know I made the right decision.

It just means that now I must go back.

 

[Tbitty]

Remington Core Lokts? How did you kill anything in Africa with those bullets? Many here on AH have said that’s impossible! I’ve killed a number of elk with them, but apparently they don’t work on game in Africa? I’ll have to re think this? Please continue with your excellent adventure narrative!

That is the ammo that was supplied by both of our PHs, each having at least a couple boxes in their possession, for the rental rifles. Given my success rate, 4 one-shot kills (blue and black wildebeest, impala, and blesbuck), and one 2-shot (red hartebeest, which fell after the first and certainly would have died), I have no doubt about the ability for a 308 using core-lokts to kill everything Kudu sized or smaller.

Shot placement is far more critical than any reasonable conversation about caliber or bullet selection. --- Obviously you should not use a .223 ballistic tip for an elephant, but that's why I use the term "reasonable conversation"

 

[Newboomer]

Excellent account and now you are hooked. Welcome to the African Hunting Disease Ward. Make yourself at home with the rest of us for all eternity for there is no cure. The only treatment is to go back again and again. Good old Rem Corelokt. They have taken a ton of North American big game over the years an proved ideal for your hunt.

 

[Tbitty]

Thanks for sticking with me so far everyone. Time to wrap up.

We were on our final morning in country, with a full day ahead before our flight. As a group, we went to each of the camp staff, our tracker/skinner, and the PHs with our gratuities, and thanked them for the great hospitality of the week. We packed our bags, had a nice breakfast, and loaded up the meat and trophies on the trucks. CC would depart ahead of us, to take the meat to their aging and processing facility. Lourens would take us and our trophies to the main facility, where we settled up our balances and did the final paperwork. From there, he took us to a curio and we picked up a couple souvenirs, then made the long trek back to the airport. Once again, we were escorted through the ticketing process and to the security gate. When we got through, we waved goodbye, and waited for our plane. It was a late flight, several hours away, so we ate some food, perused along, and tried not to sit too long before our 16 hour trip to NY, then follow up flights home.

It was an absolutely fantastic trip and one I hope I'll never forget. Now I get to fuel my fire by reading through these forums, and considering my options for round 2.

Happy Hunting!

 

[Tbitty]

Excellent account and now you are hooked. Welcome to the African Hunting Disease Ward. Make yourself at home with the rest of us for all eternity for there is no cure. The only treatment is to go back again and again.

I'm indeed self diagnosed with the disease, and ready for treatment.

 

[Nyati]

Congrats for a great hunt !

 

[Cam Moon]

I'm glad that you had such a good time! It's crazy how you go thinking it's a once in a lifetime experience, and then end up thinking about how and when you can go back before you're even home!

 

[perttime]

We got back to camp and were happy to see a Gemsbok hanging at the skinning shed. As we went for closer inspection and to get the tale from our step dad, we realized he had another on the ground next to it! He had shot one after a successful spot and stock, that dropped behind a brush pile. After they waited for their tracker to come with the truck, the walked up to where he was and up jumped the gems. CC told him to shoot again, and down it went. Much to both of their surprise, as they walked to where it was down, they get around the original brush pile to see the first. An "Oh S@!&" moment for CC, they realized they had two down animals, despite the intention of only one. Nonetheless, it makes for more story to go with the trip.

...

That is not unlike a Jeff Cooper story that I've read. He had a good buffalo bedded down in the grass "35 paces" away and took a brain shot. He worked the bolt of his heavy rifle quickly, only to see a bull scramble to its feet. So he shot it in the ribs. Turns out he got two buffalo, with two shots, in about two seconds, on his birthday.

 

[Cam Moon]

Now that's a cool story

 

[perttime]

A question about the rifle shown in the impala photos:
I suppose that is some sort of a camo sleeve or veil over the barrel. The length and shape suggest that there is a suppressor there. Correct?
Can you tell us anything more about the rifle?

 

[Tbitty]

A question about the rifle shown in the impala photos:
I suppose that is some sort of a camo sleeve or veil over the barrel. The length and shape suggest that there is a suppressor there. Correct?
Can you tell us anything more about the rifle?

You are correct. It is a suppressor, wrapped in camo tape. Time had changed the color to an almost blue hue. The PH told me that in RSA, they have a long process to get a rifle, but suppressors are basically available over the counter, pretty much the exact opposite of USA.

Looked to me like a factory/stock Ruger American Rifle in .308, plus the can on the end.

 

[Tbitty]

Congrats for a great hunt !

Thanks

 

[Frederik]

You will not regret not taking that other kudu you will probarbly end up with a monster for your patience.

 

[MAdcox]

Thanks for the report. Great read and stirred up my memories. My first hunt - Aug 2017- was also a family hunt purchased at an auction. My first animal was also an impala taken just a few minutes into my first outing.
And, most importantly I too have the bug badly. Getting geared up for my third trip this May. You will go back, and I hope you get a whopper of a Kudu for your patience.

 

[Tbitty]

Thanks for the report. Great read and stirred up my memories. My first hunt - Aug 2017- was also a family hunt purchased at an auction. My first animal was also an impala taken just a few minutes into my first outing.

That is strikingly similar. I'm glad yours was also a success

 

[Bonk]

We got back to camp and were happy to see a Gemsbok hanging at the skinning shed. As we went for closer inspection and to get the tale from our step dad, we realized he had another on the ground next to it! He had shot one after a successful spot and stock, that dropped behind a brush pile. After they waited for their tracker to come with the truck, the walked up to where he was and up jumped the gems. CC told him to shoot again, and down it went. Much to both of their surprise, as they walked to where it was down, they get around the original brush pile to see the first. An "Oh S@!&" moment for CC, they realized they had two down animals, despite the intention of only one. Nonetheless, it makes for more story to go with the trip.

First of all THANK YOU for the excellent report about your trip. My first one has been booked and threads like this only serve to make me even more excited about finally getting to go to Africa.

This anecdote really hit home. I had the exact same thing happen to me while hunting whitetails. I shot a nice doe. I gave her a few minutes and then casually strolled over to where she was standing when I shot. As I walked out of the woods into a meadow I came face to face with a doe standing about 25 yards away. Dang it! I must have missed! I shot her 'again' and watched her go about 20 yards before she fell in the tall grass. As I was walking over to her I almost tripped over the first doe I shot. She lay dead as stone about 10 yards from where I originally shot her. Even though nobody else was around I was extremely embarrassed that I had inadvertently shot two animals when I only intended to take one. Fortunately I'm allowed to take as many does as I want in my part of Kentucky so there weren't any legal issues. If you're still in correspondence with "CC" please tell him from me it's reassuring to know that even the pros occasionally make mistakes. I don't feel quite as stupid now.

 

[Cam Moon]

@Bonk Where are you headed to?