GSTONE
AH veteran
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2011
- Messages
- 180
- Reaction score
- 24
- Media
- 60
- Member of
- SCI Life Member, NRA Life member, NAHC Life member, Oregon Hunter Ass'n
- Hunted
- USA, RSA,Zimbabwe,Canada
Last year I decided that I wanted to try to get the Big 5, so I asked Jacques Spamer of Hartzview to help me determine the best place to go to hunt Elephant and Leopard. I got my Black Maned Lion in 2011, and my Cape Buffalo in 2012...so Elephant and Leopard were next. After several e-mails were exchanged, he narrowed the field to a few possibilities...but he said the best might be in Zimbabwe with Threeways Safaris. He said they had one Leopard permit left, so I needed to decide soon if I wanted to go there. In addition, he said there was excellent Elephant hunting there. I decided that was the place to go...so I sent a deposit and started planning the hunt. I decided to only bring one rifle for the hunt: my .416 Ruger Hawkeye Alaskan with a Trijicon scope. I worked up a load for Barnes 350 TSX bullet and figured that, along with the 400 DGS would be sufficient for almost any game we would encounter.
My wife and I left Reno on the 14th of September this year for Africa. We chose Delta Airlines this year instead of United/ South African Airlines. A much smoother trip with more time between flights. (Thanks Cliffy) We arrived at Johannesburg on the evening of the 15th. After clearing the airport, we went to Africa Sky Guest House for the night. A wonderful place to stay!
The next morning we went to the airport and boarded a plane to Polokwane (Pietersburg), South Africa. We arrived after a short flight, along with photographer Scott Jurgins of Hannes Pienaar Productions. We were met there by Quinn Kloppers of Threeways Safaris. A little later, we were joined by Jacques Spamer of Hartzview Safaris, and we were on our way to Zimbabwe by vehicle. We crossed the border at Beitbridge (a story in itself!) and proceeded to Threeways base camp.
The camp is beautiful and was everything one could hope for. After a short stay, we proceeded to the area we were going to hunt: Mateke Mountain!
Must take a short break, then I will continue!
My wife and I left Reno on the 14th of September this year for Africa. We chose Delta Airlines this year instead of United/ South African Airlines. A much smoother trip with more time between flights. (Thanks Cliffy) We arrived at Johannesburg on the evening of the 15th. After clearing the airport, we went to Africa Sky Guest House for the night. A wonderful place to stay!
The next morning we went to the airport and boarded a plane to Polokwane (Pietersburg), South Africa. We arrived after a short flight, along with photographer Scott Jurgins of Hannes Pienaar Productions. We were met there by Quinn Kloppers of Threeways Safaris. A little later, we were joined by Jacques Spamer of Hartzview Safaris, and we were on our way to Zimbabwe by vehicle. We crossed the border at Beitbridge (a story in itself!) and proceeded to Threeways base camp.
The camp is beautiful and was everything one could hope for. After a short stay, we proceeded to the area we were going to hunt: Mateke Mountain!
Must take a short break, then I will continue!
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