Impala in Limpopo 4 years ago tomorrow. Hunted with Isan van Zyl of Eulalie Safaris...375 H&H out of my Model 70

Blaukrantz, East Cape....Impala, 1999. Took a total of 16 animals, first of 16 trips over.

Impala, 1994 with Paul Jelonek, Bundu Safaris Zimbabwe.

My first was a monster of a Blue Wildebeast with Matabula Safaris at Rooiport in 2003. Got the African bug bad.

Near Matetsi in Zim, 2006. Daylight hyena while looking for buff. PH was Spike Claassen. Always had good sucess with him.

Blur wildebeest. Henry DeSchmit, Irene ranch.

Dave

First day, first hour, my PH Paul Kruger says (while looking for black wildebeest), "Fancy a blesbok?"

It turned into a bit of a rodeo with my poor shooting, but a blesbok was my first African animal on my first safari last year in 2016.

I definitely had a list of animals I wanted, but I also told them I wouldn't be saying no very much.

The only animal I wanted that I didn't take was an eland, but it was really my decision, as I hadn't wanted a red lechwe, but had a ton of fun stalking them with a bow. And after I killed a good bull, I told my PH I couldn't afford an eland now.

Had a ton of fun, and going back to SA in 2018.

Impala Ram, 175 yards, pre 64 Win 70 375 H&H, Mayogi Safaris, Eatern Cape South Africa, PH Dirk Dorfling 2015

Buffalo with Mafigeni safaris 2003 with Claude Kleynhans at Klaserie

Impala-2002.

Cape Buffalo-Chewore South

Zebra in the save in 2010.

Mike

I always wondered who your PH was in your Avatar...I should have known

I was with Jim Hackiewicz in South Africa. Our first day at camp. Sighted in rifles, not much daylight left, "Are you ready to hunt right now?" "Sure, let's go!"

Blesbok in RSA, Limpopo, with the late Christo Kaiser in 2005. Hunting with Jerry Hoover.

14 Years ago blesbok hunting with The Legend Scott Van Zyl Rest In Peace ole Buddy

Lots of really cool pics / stories, I just wish I could go to Africa!

Usangu Flats 1967-68 2 Kirks Dik-Dik.

Shot one, walked up to it only to find a second dik-dik right behind him. To this date, my only double on mammals.

Hard to believe how fast time flies. Doesn't seem that long ago. Enjoy your opportunities to hunt while you can.

July 2008 - Blesbok - Louis Lategan - SA Eastern Cape - .375 after a few bad shots I attribute to jitters/jet lag. It was still fun and I guess there will never be a first again (like some other "dangerous" game)

Oribi, with a fold-down .410 shotgun, approximately 48 years ago on a Tea Estate somewhere in the Nakuru area.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Lots of really cool pics / stories, I just wish I could go to Africa!

You're just jealous you're first African animal wasn't a Lion.

Mine was an Impala on Humani in 2000, my brother and I were shooting bait for my dad who was on a Leopard hunt. We shot 6 each if I remember correctly.

Second species was an old old Warthog in 2002 in Chewore South hunting with Clive Hallamore. My dad was after Tuskless and Buffalo. Thierry Labat was with us on the hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:
Oribi, with a fold-down .410 shotgun, approximately 48 years ago on a Tea Estate somewhere in the Nakuru area.

Sounds like you got about ten years of great hunting in before the curtain closed.

Selous LU5 with Zane van der Merwe and Adam Clements Safaris in 2008.

Tuskless elephant with rich tabor hunting with cm safaris. Thanks cm.

Kudu in the Eastern Cape in 2007 with Marius van Deventer and Africa Bushveld Safaris. 302 yards lasered with a 45-110 Sharps and barrel buckhorn sights using traditional cast lead paper patched bullets and black powder.

Buff with Abbie Steyn Steyn Safaris RSA 2002.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Lots of really cool pics / stories, I just wish I could go to Africa!

You're just jealous you're first African animal wasn't a Lion.

True! But it was my 2nd African animal.

Tsessebe with Tsankaruka hunting (Simon Roger)at Kennilworth in 1989.
PH - Con Van Wyk

Blue Wildebeest with Hunters Rock Safaris in Limpopo

Cape Kudu in Eastern Cape June 2004. What a great memory. 365 yards with my favorite plains game rifle...300WSM
First of 12 animals on my first trip to Africa. I officially got the bug after.
Great topic....

First was in 1991. It was a 42" Sable shot on Antoinette Concession (made famous recently by Cecil). Safari company was Rosslyn Safaris and my PH was Martinus Naude. My hunt was booked through Tommy Morrison. What great memories even though I lost a cape buffalo.

Leopard on day 8 with Rex Hoets in Chewore South - 2013

This mountain zebra is the second animal I shot just a few kilometres South of Windhoek in Namibia whilst hunting with Osombahe Nord last October. He was more than a little unfortunate. I had chest shot shot a mare from the same herd about 20 seconds earlier but she made it into cover. The next zebra I spotted was this one and I asked my guide whether it was my animal. Receiving no reply I fired at this animal, hitting him in the spine and killing him instantly at 383 yds with a 165gn TTSX out of my Blaser .300WM. The mare that I'd shot dropped at precisely the same time as the stallion and was apparently directly between my shooting position and the stallion but perhaps 80 yards closer. Out of the field of view of my scope anyway. When the stallion dropped the first reaction from our guide was that I had missed the mare with my second shot and accidentally killed the stallion. Would have been the worst miss of my life had he been correct.
So now I have two Hartmann's mountain zebra skins. Fortunately the stallion's skin is in good shape which is rare apparently. Common for them to be badly scarred from fighting.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Lots of really cool pics / stories, I just wish I could go to Africa!

You're just jealous you're first African animal wasn't a Lion.

True! But it was my 2nd African animal.

and your 11th , and your 19th , and your.....

My first African animal was a big Hippo bull in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. with Malombo Safaris.

.......................................................................

Impala for lion bait - Chewore South

Elephant bull in 2001, Binga area in Zim with Gavin Rorke.

Leopard - day 8, Chewore South, 2013 with PH Rex Hoets, Chifuti

2014 Eastern Cape near Komga