This thread is great. I'm really surprised at how many have shot DG first instead of the obligatory impala, springbok, etc.

Your First African Species Taken

Ethiopian bird of some sort, no doubt, with my .375 catty and a rock. With a .375 Wby in RSA, a warthog was my first big game kill. PH Pieter Diedricks, Mabelingwane Safaris.

First was a wing shot, guinea fowl near Maseru, Lesotho in 1970. Finally got to big game in Zambia, the Mulobezi with Piet Swanepoel in 1984. Sable was just over 45" and made a beginner African hunter.

Regards, Tim

Will let all of you know when I get back from my first trip to Africa in September.

Doves and pigeons in South Africa 2014 - using a hammer SXS WW2 trophy gun!

This has been a fun post to follow along on. Thanks to everyone for responding. I am really surprised how many people started off with a Big 5 species. Kudos to you! I am jealous; I still don't have any of the Big 5. Hopefully someday and I hope it is sooner than later. Back to the Dark Continent in 45 days.

Gemsbok shot at 120 yards on the Eastern Cape, hunting with Victor Watson of Karoo Wild Safaris.

Buffalo. Matetsi 1. Gideon Watts.

Red hartebeest in Namibia with Christi Liebenburg of Hatari Safaris

2005 Greater Kudu Namibia.

First animal, bait Impala.
First Trophy. Leopard. Same day, first day.

I was on a plains game hunt. Go figure.

My first African species hunted was a blesbok shot in 2012 in Namibia with my PH Beon Van Niekerk.

2013- in the BVC with John Sharp. Sterling Davenport 35 Whelen- 200 gr TSX

Great photo of the zebra.

A Zebra first day with a borrowed 6.5X57 Mauser rifle, it had to be 100 years old. Misfired about every fourth shot!!!

Gemsbok at Kanana Safaris w/PH JP Bekker

Cape buffalo, 1983, Zimbabwe's Matetsi, Westwood Wildlife Safaris, Fanie Pretorius outfitter, Rob Martin PH.

Bill Quimby

Cape Eland, 1995....358 STA.

Zebra, Lower Lupande, Luangwa Valley,Zambia, 1992. .375 H&H Mauser, Still hangs on my dining room wall.