Well folks,

I just got back from my travels in South Africa.

The first part of the trip was spent game viewing in the Klaserie Game Reserve near the Kruger National Park and then 10 days plains game hunting in the Northern Province with JJ Hack and Chris (posts as Canuck, on the Canadian Forum) and a couple of other folks who i don't think post on AR.

Jim runs a great operation up there and we had some really wonderful hunting with everybody taking some nice animals. I will post a few pics and a better report when the jet lag subsides a bit.

I would also like to thank Wimpie for taking the time to visit me on my final afternoon in Joburg; we had a couple of hours in two local gun shops and rounded it off with a beer before I had to depart.

I was also hoping to meet or at least chat with Steve who posts as Shakari, but technical gremlins (or my stupidity) with cell phones beat me on that one.

Regards,

Pete

Pete,

Welcome back.

Glad your safari went well. The first of many I hope. Also good to meet and hunt with some fellow ARers I think.

Glad to hear all went well for you Pete. Love to see the photos when you get a chance to post them.

Ah, I had been wondering if you were back - seeing a post from you on another forum. Good to have you back, happy to hear your trip went well. We shall all be looking forward to the pics and the tall tales!
- mike

Gents,

A few pictures and some details of the various animals taken.

The first couple of days I seemed to have no luck; everybody else had taken nice animals, but my PH kept on saying “too small†to everything we saw..Finally we chanced on this waterbuck on the third day and I took him with a broadside shot which was a little high due to brush ect and he ran about 150 yards before falling over.



This pig gave me the biggest scare of my trip. We stalked in pretty close (20m) in thick bush and I hit him with a quartering shot in through near side front shoulder and out through the off side ribs. He jumped in the air and did a 180 degree turn before hitting the after burners. There was no blood on the ground where he stood and it took several minutes of tracking by the PH to find the first specks about 80m along the trail; then there was nothing more and he also lost the track too. I was sure I had cocked the shot up, but after 45 minutes more of searching we finally found him stone dead about 200m further way. I can understand him running as he knew he was being stalked, but was trying to slink away; the lack of blood trail is more baffling however.




The Kudu was taken after a good stalk which resulted in me taking a 170m shot from the sitting position using my sticks. He was constantly moving as he followed the Kudu cows about; obviously love was on his mind. The shot was a broadside through the heart/lungs and he went about 30 yards with a hell of a blood trail. He measures aprrox 53†and to say both the PH and I were chuffed is an understatement!



We chased around after Gemsbok for nearly three days over two blocks of property before we nailed this one. To say they were skittish and elusive would not be doing them justice. We finally managed to stalk down wind and cut off a small group that was crossing our front in thick bush about 80 yards away. Most of the time all that was visible was legs or bums moving through the thorn scrub. This one paused for that last fatal look back and received a quartering shot that went from the near side ribs out through the offside shoulder again taken standing using my sticks.


The zebra was another animal that proved elusive and skittish and this mare was taken after a nice stalk on to a small party in thick brush. She dropped to the shot after receiving a broadside shot through the heart and lungs again taken off sticks at around 70m.



This wildebeest as taken on the last morning of the hunt in a stalk and shot virtually identical to the Kudu except it was quartering away from me. Again complete penetration with the Barnes X 286grn bullets and a massive blood trail for about 50m. As he was still moving his head as we approached I put another bullet in him to finish him off quickly, but it was not really needed.



Finally in the last ten minutes of light of the last day we came across this old Warthog. I head shot him from around 60 paces again using my sticks. This was the only animal I recovered a bullet from and it was found lodged in his spine. It had lost 3 of its 4 petals and I suppose could be classed as a “failure†but it did drop him where he stood first though…I think I could go back to Africa and hunt just warhogs they are that much fun to stalk.



So all in all I was pretty lucky and I had a great hunt. My CZ550 in 9.3x62mm worked flawlessly and seems to fit me like a glove. It was scoped with a Meopta 4x32mm and that turned out to be a perfect choice; I never felt under or over scoped and it just plain worked. I was toying with replacing it with a “better quality†S&B 4x36mm but now I am not so sure.

Regards,

Pete

Wow, I am so glad to hear the safari was such a great success!
That waterbuck and kudu are especially impressive.
I remember you saying you especially wanted to bag a good warthog and a zebra, mission accomplished eh?

I have had a similar experience with a warthog going quite a distance before leaving a bloodtrail. I must agree they are one great game animal!
Gabriel B

Thanks so much for the pics and story Pete !
Impressive animals and trophies....
It´s good to see an "Classic European Combination" like the CZ, the 9,3x62 and the Meopta in action with such a perfect outcome

Hey Pete,

Welcome Back. I was wandering when you were due back.

Looks like you had a blast. Congrats.

Rgds,
FB

Pete,

Congratulations on a splendid hunt in RSA!

I'm off on Sunday for a month to the Limpopo and your photos and write-up add to my already peaked anticipation!

Great photos & recap. The first Warthoggie and the Kudu are truly outstanding trophies - much, much better than representative! You hear alot about the Kudu of the Woods and all the hype about 57"-60", my expereince is that a 50+" Kudu's are good. Yours excellent!

I am partial to those old, brkoen and used, ready to be dispatched Warthogs like your last one.....a friend shot one similar that we knick-named "Stubbie", the name sums it, interesting trophy too! Like yourself, I could have a trip with only Warthogs on the menu and still have the time of my life!

I cannot in all good faith go to Africa without my trusty .375H&H while the 9.3x62 sits in the guns safe, what a pity, chioces, choices, choices. You relate a solid 9.3 expereince, my buddy is taking one with him so I'll get to live the 9.3x62 from the co-pilot's seat!

Again, Pete - Congratulations!

Nice Pete, looks like you had a good time!
- mike

Pete,

Congratulations - some great hunting and excellent shooting. I would expect no less from the Afrika Korps!

Thanks everyone..I wish I could say its good to be back, but I'd be lying!

Of course seeing as the 9.3mm was such a success, I need to plan some further work for it , perhaps moose or elk for instance


regards,

Pete

Pete,
Looking for an alternative...

Check out the piggie thread.


Oink oink,

FB

Pete,

Wonderful.

Great warthog and kudu.

Pete: Good work! and Congratulations...you shot some fine trophies...it is hard to settle down after such a good trip, isn't?! . Good work...both you and Canuck did a great job!

Pete

Superb pictures. Delighted for you.

What is next on the list? Buffalo?

Richard,

Buff would be good, but so would Moose, elk or bear..nearer to home, those wild boar the other guys are talking about also sound attractive..

So much hunting and so little time (or money!) to do it with!

regards,

Pete