Tssesebe, 1988 Okavango Delta, Jao Camp, Allistair MacFarlane, Vira Safaris. Best move I ever made in my life! Leaving in 2 months for another injection of the African drug.

Impala for me.

My first was a 54" Kudu bull, late morning of the first hunting day in Namibia back in 2003. Followed by a nice mountain zebra 2 days later.
5 days and a-wake-up to go before flying back for 15 days in Namibia and then 8 days in South Africa with a list from leopard, eland, waterbok, etc down to nyala, bushbuck in SA

An Impala for Leopard bait.

38" Cape Eland for me, taken with a 358 STA, in 1995.

A jackal, shooted for free while we were arriving at the first hunting area near Windoek.
the first of 18 animals bagged in that hunting trip.

Blesbok ,October 2003, SA.

Warthog

First animal was this impala:



Followed by this zebra on the next day:

boy that was a long time ago, but i believe it was a zebra

I remember we arrived at Vic Falls from London. My PH pickd us up, and we headed to Rosslyn safaris in Matetsi.

We had lunch, and then went to sight in our rifles.

I had a Ruger 77 in 25-06 Remington, and a Remington Safari in 375 H&H.

After sighting in our rifles, we headed out to hunt.

We found a good waterbuck, which I duly dispatched.

My very first African animal. And I remember it like it was yesterday.

My first animal was cape buffalo, 60 years old and was lifetime dream, followed by zebra, if I knew how to post pics I would.

A Lion. Since I have hunted alot of North America Big Game I'm not really interested in hunting Plains Game. Going after a Buffalo in three weeks.

Kudu at last light after several failed stalks on gemsbok. Perfect ending to a perfect hunting day. At least until we got a flat tire after dark.

Warthog taken on the first morning of the hunt in the Kafue region of Zambia. From l. to r., Brown, Jingo, myself and our trusty game scout Dan.

Blesbok (good Silver medal) on the first day in travel clothes and with a borrowed Rifle as SAA had lost my luggage. Oh but the second day with all the proper gear 29 1/2" Nyala, man I din't know how lucky I was.

Gemsbok.

My first was a Steinbuck my buddy wounded on the way to sight in the rifles (I had to make a 210 yard shot w/ my 375), and the first for my collection was a nice Gemsbuck bull, in RSA, somewhere between Bloemfontein and Kimberley. I was hooked...

Interesting mix and some very nice trophies. I was suprised on my first safari that the PH said we were going after buffalo on the first morning. It was my impression that the normal procedure was to take the client and get him or her blooded on something else before tackling DG. My first was this one on the first afternoon.

Mine was a wildebeest Aug. 5, 1996 hunting with Ronnie McFarlane in business with Johan Calitz operating as Michelleti-Bates. Ronnie wouldn't let me buffalo hunt until I proved I could shoot. We were at Kubu Camp (an island) in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This area is now all photographic. Wow I was young then!!! It seems like yesterday! Sorry for all the photos, but the transportation logistics were impressive for my first trip to Africa.

Regards, D. Nelson

Gemsbok, July 07

My first, an ivory tipped kudu bull.

Kamanjab, Namibia 107*F, approximately 1300 hours, that's my sporterized 1909 in the back ground.

This guy was my first African game animal.



He came after a couple of missed shots on Zebra, so it really took the pressure off.

Warthog in Namibia

Warthog - South Africa

A caged lioness or a high fenced lioness if you prefer.

I was the ultimate sucker...showed up the first day and uncased the 458 to sight it in for plainsgame (cant explain why a 458 - it seemed right for Africa at the time) and the first shot sailed about 2" right and an inch low and the PH said thats good.

Then he revealed that they were looking for someone to help them with a little problem of a lioness that had got in the fence and was feasting on their plainsgame. Of course there was a little trophy fee.

Poorly shot, yet a nice Cape Buff Bull

A cow elephant at 9 paces.



Never said I was smart.

Andy

My first was a cow cape buff. Bait for a leopard that never showed - and hasn't yet.

JPK

Impala, followed quickly by 16 other different plains game.

First morning in in Namibia, I was going to say a blue wildebeast with my bow, but I actually shot a guinea fowl for my tracker with my bow because he wanted it for supper,, then I shot a really nice blue wildebeast with my bow, followed by 9 other plains game within the next two weeks, and leave again in August for another dose,,,drwes

Impala then Cape Buffalo

A gemsbok, I remember it like yesterday. It was about 70 yards, my first shot in Africa. It was facing us, and I took it in the chest. The animal took off in a hurry, and I could see the PH (now a good friend after 8 safaries together) was worried. He asked me about the shot, and I said I hit it 2 inches left of center at the base of the neck. We found the critter 50 yards away, with a hole just where I said. There was no more questioning the shots, but I wish they were all that good.

A zebra in the Eastern Cape of South Africa on the first morning of my safari in 2004. Also was my 40th birthday that day. Enjoyed cuban cigars and Dom that evening! Like others, I remember it just as if it occured yesterday....

My first trip to Africa and my PH left me in a blind with my bow and a radio. A couple hours later a herd of impala came to drink and I picked out the one with the best horns and whacked him.

The only time I can remember being so excited was the first time I saw a real live woman with her clothes off.

Elephant...But it wasn't for lack of effort or want on my part as I was trying to bag a blonded, double-breasted mattress thumper who was hanging out around the African Hunter Magazine headquarters...Trophy fees on those are just never ending though.

Brian

Impala. 2002. Still wearing my clothes from the flight to Jo-berg, and shooting a borrowed rifle...



Cheers
Canuck

Mine was a Stenbok, a 5" fellow and I have him full body mounted in a coffee table exactly like I saw him for the first time, resting in the shade of a small bush in the sands of the Kalahari.

Cape buffalo with Russ Broom in 1994.