It seems like it has been a LONG time in the works but the details have, for the most part, been worked out, the flight reservations have been made and the deposits paid for three weeks in Africa next year. We will begin on the East Cape, hunting with AR’s own Dave Davenport (Leopard’s Valley Safaris) to try to take some of the small antelopes; blue duiker, grysbok, oribi, along with bush pig, cape bushbuck and caracal. A big cape kudu would also be tempting! We will also be visiting Addo elephant park. Then we head to Northern Namibia to hunt with our good friends at Onduri Safaris for eland, red hartebeest, and I will be on the lookout for better gemsbok and springbok than I have already taken. I would also love to hunt the klipspringer I saw the last time I hunted with them. Then we will fish for bronze whaler sharks on the coast before we return home.
We are flying BA through Heathrow and plan to see what we can of London during the 10 hour layover. What do you recommend? My wife and I will have almost a full day in Johannesburg to burn as well and will spend the night at the Africa Sky Guesthouse. Also, any suggestions for my wife and mother-in-law to see/visit on the East Cape while I am hunting? Anybody fish the EC area? Shawn at Gracy Travel has taken care of all of the arrangements and I am hoping it all goes smoothly. My wife and MIL have not been to Africa, and although they are seasoned travelers, it will be an adventure! Now if I can just speed up time!

Dave will take excellent care of you

Good luck you are going to have real adventure

Congratulations, you are going to have the time of your life.

About the London stopover, you will have enough time to see some sights. It has been over 10 years since I lived in London, but if memory serves me - you should be able to hop on the tube (London subway) and get to central London in one hour. You can get off at a station near the London Tower and visit that, walk along the Thames and visit the Tower Bridge. Or you can get off near parliament and get to visit Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Those two areas have a lot of stuff within walking distance so you can see a lot in a few hours.

We had a 14 hour layover in London last year so we just did like accipiter1 recommended and bought a 1 day transit pass. Rode the tube into London and saw the sights since my brother hadn't been there before.

You're going to be in good hands with Dave. Enjoy Addo! It's a fun place.

I believe it is the museum of natural history. You will not believe the artifacts they have there. Some big ivory on display also.

Mike

Enjoy yourself and have a great time.

Tell us all the details when you get back!

1BigDeer, I'm envious!

................................................................Good hunting!

Thanks for the London suggestions gentlemen. Can you recommend any fun/interesting things to do with an entire day in Joburg?
Regarding the blue duiker hunt, if using a shotgun, what load would be best? I will have my trusty 338 RUM with me and have had good results shooting dik dik and steenbuck with solids but am considering a small caliber to bring on this hunt. I have .223 Rem (illegal caliber?), .243 Win or 25-06 available or is it best to stick with the bigger gun with which I have absolute confidence?

Dave Ristau

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
Thanks for the London suggestions gentlemen. Can you recommend any fun/interesting things to do with an entire day in Joburg?

Dave - You are definitely staying at the right place (Africa Sky). They offer half-day and full-day tours, and you are picked up and dropped off at the guesthouse. I think it is the way to go if you are jet-lagged. I have a packet that the front desk gave me, here are some of the tours they offer:

Half-day tours: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Gold Reef City (theme park), Apartheid Museum, Cullinan Diamond Mine, Crocodile Farm, Cheetah Research Centre

Full-day tours: Sun City, Pilanesberg National Park

There are a few more, but that gives you an idea. I did not go last time I was at Africa Sky, but I will definitely do the half-day diamond mine tour for my next stay.