Today, 6 July 2007, my first day of hunting with Andrew McLaren Safaris, is a day I shall long remember. I’m also assured by Andrew that, for him too, it has been a very special day and I am inclined to believing him. That day a long-standing “record†for all Andrew’s clients, was broken by myself.

But my story starts a long time ago. As a little boy I was fascinated by exotic stories about hunting in Africa and I have always kept images of fond reading memories. This adventure all started when a fellow hunter’s stories about hunting in South Africa awoke in me the desire to go hunting in Africa. I started looking for information to plan a trip. Many options were considered. Much Internet and specialists magazines research was done. Many questions were asked from all manner of wannabe experts and some real experts. After much deliberation and soul-searching the final decision was made by one of my hunting friends, whom I know and who knows the type of hunting I fancy: We would go hunting plains game with Andrew McLaren Safaris. We? Yes ‘we’, as I convinced my friend Ghislain to come along too! A period of rapid e-mail communication about dates, costs, formalities such as a Letter of Invitation, SAPS 520 and contracts culminated in Andrew confirming receipt of our deposits. The hunt was on, due to start 6 July 2007!

We arrived a few days ahead of this date and spent some good time with Andrew’s brother and his nephew, a fellow hunter. As we had followed Andrew’s advice to the letter, getting our firearms through customs was a breeze. No hassles whatsoever. No bribes. No trouble at all. South Africa started good.

By early this morning we had been thoroughly spoiled by Cecilia, Andrew’s wife, cooking and customer care. Some last forms to fill in, signatures, licenses folded and carried on person, and we were ready for blesbuck on the vast open Free State grassveldt!

I can give many details on the hunt about caliber, ammunition used, distance of the shot and clothes, binoculars, plus many more boring details. What I want to remark on is the calm manner in which Andrew spoke to me to give me confidence to shoot the longest shot that I have ever attempted at any game. This is not about shooting performance at all. The driving range is there for this kind of activities. We were hunting and he told me about how to hunt. A very nice trophy ram ran about 1 ½ yards and was down! We could just see his rump in the grass. I was very close to becoming all emotional!

The rest of the herd ran a bit closer to us. We saw again clearly this time a particular ram with what Andrew had earlier told me were probably deformed horns after having the tips shot off as a young animal. Now he was clearly visible and standing quite open, and Andrew whispered quietly: “Shoot him! Take your time, they are all looking back at their fallen comrade and are not going anywhere in a hurry!†Well, if your PH says: “Shootâ€, then you shoot? I did.

Immediately after the shot Andrew congratulated me. But he was running away! What now? I was assured that with that shot he isn’t going anywhere far. Then, after running some 200 meters, with what later turned out to be a very good double-lung shot, he was down too.

Today was a very successful introduction in hunting in South Africa. When the day was over Andrew told us we are going to hunt Oryx, Impalas and --- tomorrow. I can’t wait to be with him on that next hunt which I am confident will be another milestone in my hunter career. This confidence is mainly down to the fact that I know that Andrew will be able to tell me if the conditions are good and I will not have to make stupid attempts under pressure out of which disappointment is the more likely feeling. The certitude that I am well advised by someone I trust is priceless and I can tell now that I have not been mistaken at all to rely on Andrew’s organization.

Here is the more worthy of the two trophies.
http://picasaweb.google.com/AndrewMcLarenSafaris/Andrew...#5084316259596287970

Froggie No. 2

Sounds like your hunt is off to a great start. The important thing is that you are having fun and enjoying the new culture and building new friendships. The relationship with your PH is of the highest priority.

I'm amazed you have time to upload photos and a report after your first day...access to the internet while hunting is uncommon.

Sounds like a great start. Good luck on your safari.

It sounds like Mother Africa has stolen another heart. Congratulations.

Please say hello to Andrew for me as well. I too appreciate his calm professional manner, or at least what I could surmise of it over a good meal and a Sancerre wine in Paris!