Hello all! I just got home last night from my first african hunt. It was all I ever dreamed of and lots more. I am rebooking for 2010 and taking my wife along. Everything was perfect and I got everything I was after plus a few extras. Some trophies we measured, some we didn't because I am not really a tape measure guy when it comes down to it, but I believe all will qualify as gold medals. I was happy with all of my animals and can't wait to get them on the wall. I took the following: Springbuck (1st 14 5/8", 2nd was similar but not measured), impala, gemsbuck, blue wildebeast, hartmanns zebra, kudu (52"), 10' python, steenbuck and a porcupine. We saw lots of game and hunted very hard. I passed up kudu after kudu trying to get one 54" or better and finally settled for the one I got (happily I might add). Christie and Madeleine run a 100% first-class operation, if you can't be happy there, it is your fault. Madeleines cooking alone was well worth the trip. I will post a much more extensive report with pictures as soon as I can get caught up.

PJ, welcome back and looking forward to pics and the hunts....

Mike

Congratulations and welcome home. Now you've gone and done it! My "once in a lifetime trip" was in 2004; then again this year for leopard, waterbuck, and eland. Now we are looking at a DG trip in '09 or '10. So much for the kids inheritance!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to the report and to the pics.

Coooooool...................Heading to Christies in three weeks! Sent you a PM

P. Jilek

Might you provide a website for this outfitter. Thanks.

Congratulations PJ

Was there any evidence of rabies amonst the kudu? I've heard Nam' has had another outbreak.

I will be back hunting there in August. They are wonderful hosts, Christie is a great guide ! Amazingly enough, although I have taken a swatch of impalas (leopard baits and such) in other countries .. I have never shot one in Namibia. Was it one of those black faced ones ???

Scruffy - The impala I got was not the black faced. We discussed the 2 species and I learned the following: there was a farm in the area that had the black faced impala, but once they became illegal to export there was no market for them, thus the gentleman that had them got rid of them since there was no incentive to keep them. Another example of the bunnyhuggers and the damage they really do.

There have been rabies outbreaks, but not in Christies area. He said he had seen no evidence and all of the kudu (and everything else) looked to be in excellent condition.

The website address is: www.Christiesadventures.com

I am going to get some help from my wife and post some preliminary pictures later tonight. I apologize for my lack of computer skills but be patient and stay tuned!

Pat

Looking forward to your pictures. I'm hunting with Christie in October.

Come on, where are the pictures??

PJ: Just got back from my hunt yesterday, too, and more than half of it was at Shona Adventures' new lodge on the Huab River near Kamanjab. Very nice mopane savannah with lots of kopjes and loaded with game.

Hi PJ
Did you know that it is illegal to hunt porcupine in Namibia? Aparently they closed it down. Did you have it on your permit?
Hope Cristie will not get into trouble for hunting illegal species.

Congrats on a great hunt. By the way what is "elegal?"