2020 started off great, then Covid came. Safari plans to hunt Namibia the first half of July were derailed by the pandemic. Nathan Askew from Bullet Safaris was able to get me into Tanzania for leopard, buffalo, and plains game. I told Nathan I was flexible on dates from 9/15/20 to 10/31/20.
A few phone calls and emails and plans were put in place to hunt 10/2 to 10/15. Practicing on sticks and off a Caldwell tripod became weekly occurrences leading up to my departure. I was packed and ready to board the plane about 5 days before departure I was so excited.
Travel was from St. Louis to Ft. Worth on American then Qatar Airlines from Ft. Worth to Doha and finally Doha to Arusha. Steve at TWG did an amazing job as the flight schedules did change after purchase and he made it all work with the Bullet Safaris team.
Travel was rather uneventful with the exception of the business class lounge at the Doha airport. Pay the fee if you are not business class to partake. Lockers, showers, restaurants … everything you need on a layover to feel refreshed.
Overnight at Kibo Palace in Arusha, the Bullet Safaris staff met me at Kilimanjaro airport and took care of me all the way through. The next morning the same manager and driver for Bullet took me to the Arusha airport where I got on the charter flight into the Rungwa Game Reserve.
Day 0:
When we landed on the airstrip there was one truck waiting for us, by the time my bags were on the ground Nathan had arrived with another leopard hunter that was leaving on the plane. The departing hunter was successful on leopard as well as a pair of buffalo and some plains game. My gear was loaded up and we drove roughly an hour or so through the bush to reach the camp, I forgot to write the name of the camp down. Introductions to the staff and shown around the camp site. My license started that day so we grabbed my rifle and went to check it at the range. Three shots and all where they should be, off to look for a zebra to add some baits to the ones Nathan already had up.
The trackers spotted a group 12 +/- zebra and we made our stalk through the brush as the sun set. We closed the gap to the last tree about 110 yards or so. Once a broadside shot was presented I squeezed the trigger on the 375 and we heard the sound of a solid hit. The stallion ran about 40 yards or so then stopped before dropping in the field. We took some pictures and got the zebra loaded up, much different than my S. Africa zebra. No shadow stripes and the stripes went all the way to the hooves. Beautiful animal.
Great food and a whiskey or two, or three and off to bed.
A few phone calls and emails and plans were put in place to hunt 10/2 to 10/15. Practicing on sticks and off a Caldwell tripod became weekly occurrences leading up to my departure. I was packed and ready to board the plane about 5 days before departure I was so excited.
Travel was from St. Louis to Ft. Worth on American then Qatar Airlines from Ft. Worth to Doha and finally Doha to Arusha. Steve at TWG did an amazing job as the flight schedules did change after purchase and he made it all work with the Bullet Safaris team.
Travel was rather uneventful with the exception of the business class lounge at the Doha airport. Pay the fee if you are not business class to partake. Lockers, showers, restaurants … everything you need on a layover to feel refreshed.
Overnight at Kibo Palace in Arusha, the Bullet Safaris staff met me at Kilimanjaro airport and took care of me all the way through. The next morning the same manager and driver for Bullet took me to the Arusha airport where I got on the charter flight into the Rungwa Game Reserve.
Day 0:
When we landed on the airstrip there was one truck waiting for us, by the time my bags were on the ground Nathan had arrived with another leopard hunter that was leaving on the plane. The departing hunter was successful on leopard as well as a pair of buffalo and some plains game. My gear was loaded up and we drove roughly an hour or so through the bush to reach the camp, I forgot to write the name of the camp down. Introductions to the staff and shown around the camp site. My license started that day so we grabbed my rifle and went to check it at the range. Three shots and all where they should be, off to look for a zebra to add some baits to the ones Nathan already had up.
The trackers spotted a group 12 +/- zebra and we made our stalk through the brush as the sun set. We closed the gap to the last tree about 110 yards or so. Once a broadside shot was presented I squeezed the trigger on the 375 and we heard the sound of a solid hit. The stallion ran about 40 yards or so then stopped before dropping in the field. We took some pictures and got the zebra loaded up, much different than my S. Africa zebra. No shadow stripes and the stripes went all the way to the hooves. Beautiful animal.
Great food and a whiskey or two, or three and off to bed.
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