Hunt Dates: July 21-27
Hunt area: Caprivi, Salambala Conservancy
Outfitter:Vaughn Fulton Classic Safaris
PH: Fred Bezuidenhout
Booking agent: Wendell Reich @ Hunter's Quest International

This hunt was booked as a non-trophy bull elephant hunt in Caprivi strip.I was given the option of taking a hippo as well with the understanding that neither animal would be exportable. The purpose of the hunt was two-fold.First to provide me with the thrill of an elephant and hippo hunt and also to provide the local community with a source of meat for their annual Traditional Festival.

I arrived in Windhoek on July 20 where I was met by a representative of VFCS and transported to the Safari Court Hotel. The accommodations were quite nice and I enjoyed a nice steak and a decent nights sleep.The next morning I was picked up by Paula, Vaughn's right hand gal, and transported to Eros Airfield for my flight to Katima Mullilo.

When checked in ,I made my way through the security check and sat down to await my flight.I looked at my ticket and noticed that it said destination -Mpacha South Africa. I ran through the lobby to catch Paula and she said not to worry, it was going to Katima Mulillo, Namibia. Mpacha was the name of the airfield and South Africa was just a missprint.Back through customs I go.Details not quite as important as in larger airports ,I guess.

When we were do to leave at about 7:30 am an agent came into the lobby and announced that there would be a thirty minute delay.When thirty minutes came and went , she returned to tell us that the delay was due to the fact that they were having difficulty finding a pilot with the propper documents to fly our aircraft.I could just see them out in the parking lot screaming," Can anyone fly a twin engine Beechcraft".This is a regularly scheduled weekly flight,by the way, not a charter.

A bit over an hour later we were on our way!The flight was about an hour and fifteen minutes and without incident.I found a flight magazine in the chair back pocket in front of me and was delighted to see an article talking about the Annual Traditional Festival that was planned for the next week.It was exciting to know that I would be a major, although behind the scenes player in the event.

Upon exiting the plane I ws met by my PH Fred and a couple of other hunters that would be in camp at the same time as I. They were S.D.Hall and his Dad. Shaun has already posted a great report about his hunt so I will not say anymore about them except that they were great guys and a lot of fun in camp.I would be happy to join either of them around a camp fire anytime.

The drive to camp was about an hour and Fred kept us entertained with stories about the area.He showed us a cemetary that he claimed is probably the fastest growing cemetary anywhere.It stretched for quite a ways along the highway and we could see several parties of grave diggers at work as we passed on the highway. HIV/AIDS was the biggest factor according to Fred and he claims this area has one of the highest infection rates in the world.

As we approached the campsite we came into veiw of the Chobe River and Botswana on the other side.The Botswana side was a national park and from the lack of vegetation it was obvious that the wildlife there was abundant.Fred explained that as the season went on , more and more of the game would cross the river to take advantage of the superior grazing on the Namibia side.In July , there was only a few sporadic buffalo and zebra on our side.Across the river we spotted herds of zebra, waterbuck, kudu, impala, baboons,elephant and warthog. At night we herd hippo coughing in the river, baboons barking their alarm,hyena laughing, leopards sawing and lions roaring.It was a beautiful setting for a camp and I had a sense that this was the Africa that I dream of, wild and un-tamed.

Our first afternoon we had only enough time to check the sights on our rifles. Honestly I did not shoot all that well.My 416 Rigby (open sighted CZ 550) was a bit left of the mark consistently.Once I adjusted for it I was set to go.I also was confident that another day in country would help me get over my jet-lag and steady my shooting.I probably felt more confident than Fred and Vaughn when we headed back to camp.

Our hunt truly began the next morning ,July 22.We were up at 5:30 am for a hot breakfast of bacon and french toast, washed down with all the hot coffee a fellow could handle.We left camp at first light driving north about seven miles.On the way I told Fred that I did not know how many elephants I might be able to hunt and that if circumstances allowed I would very much like to be the one who killed my elephant.If life and limb were at risk I understand that he is expected to step in, but otherwise I hoped to take the elephant without collaboration. I had no sense that Fred was trigger happy but just thought it best to have this discussion at the onset,rather than after the fact when feelings may have been hurt. Fred assured me that he would be involved only as a last resort.

We began scouting likely looking areas and waterholes looking for fresh tracks.Elephant tracks and droppings were quite abundant but nothing fresh enough to pursue.We made a hike through some areas where Fred had seen elephant before and again saw lots of old sign but nothing that held immediate promise.At about ten o'clock we left the area we were in and drove west across the main highway to another location. To our surprise we found a road grader reworking the dirt roads and we went nearly 10 kilometers before putting the work crews behind us.Once we had them out of sight we began to look for sign again.Just a bit later we spotted some tracks that appeared to be from the night before.I thought we might take this track but Fred decided that we would start back to camp as we were supposed to be meeting up with a game scout at noon.This guy was supposed to be obseving our hunt but had been late in arriving at camp.

We bagan making our way back toward the main road to camp when we came upon a couple of locals on bicycles. They told us that they had spotted a herd of about eight elephant near the road about 4k from where we were now.It was in the direction we needed to go so as we got close to the location we began to look for the elephants.We saw where they had crossed the road in front of us and we stopped to have a look. Fred sent the bushman trackers,Windos and Zacharias in to see if they were still in the area.In just a few minutes they returned and spoke quietly to Fred.He turned to me and said,"Load your rifle and come on, they are just ahead."

The trackers led us into the bush making a half circle to put the wind in our face.We had gone only about five hundred yards when the sounds of feeding elephant could be heard.Just a bit further and we spotted the first of the elephants. One bull was walking across our foreground from right to left.He had the slender tusks of a young bull.Just behind him was a second bull with shorter but thicker tusks.This bull was busy pushing over a smallish tree. Off to the right we could hear but not see the rest of the herd as the fed unaware of the danger among them.

Fred honed in on the bull that was distracted by the task of dismantling a tree.

"Take your safety off," he said.

We moved right to put a big double trunked tree between us and our bull and began moving forward.At about forty yards the bull looked up in our direction and we froze.Soon he went back to tearing limbs off the tree he had pushed over and we moved forward with a good strong breeze directly in our face. When we reached the big tree we were twenty yards away from our elephant and I settled my rifle between the trunks of the tree and steadied myself for the opportunity that I knew would soon come.

"Wait till he turns sideways," Fred whispered.

The bull was facing us as he tore bark from the limbs he pulled off the fallen tree.I was solid with my rest , gun pointed upward at the head of this magnificent animal, enjoying the most exciting moment of my life. And then he turned to look left in the direction of the slender tusked bull. My sight found the eye and then moved right toward the earhole as I tightened up the slack in my trigger.When the sear broke the reaction was instantaneous. The head went up and and the butt went down.Then the front end saggedand he was down. I never heard the sound of the gun going off and I don't think he did either.

I worked my bolt and chambered another round as the elephants head swung around straight to us and inline with his body.As soon as the bolt was closed I put a second round into the forehead of the bull just to seal the deal and in case the first had not been solidly in the brain. The elephant sagged noticeably and I was sure now that he was mine.

The trackers moved in close behind us now and we began to approach the elephant.One of the game scouts was shouting , "Please put it in again, please again". I placed one more in the forehead from ten yards and the downed monarch never moved.Paying the insurance they say.

I know it was silly of me, but I was so relieved that he had fallen and settled spread eagle and upright.It was visual evidence to me that a classic brain shot had been made. Also since I could not take home a trophy I knew that at least I could get some good trophy pictures.




After we took photos Fred took the trackers and went to fetch the truck, leaving me alone for a few minutes with my elephant.I will always appreciate that gesture as it gave me time to pause and reflect on what I had done.I was grateful for the opportunity and also that the animal had died well.I was appreciative of the fact that he would be utilized entirely by the local community. I was also humbled and a trifle saddened by the enormity of his death.I have not felt this so profoundly when standing over the carcass of any other animal.I hope I never get so used to death that I am not at least a little bit moved by it.

All the next day was spent butchering the elephant and delivering it to the local community for the festival that was scheduled for the following weekend.

The rest of my hunting days were spent chasing Hippo.We ventured as far as the Kasika Conservancy in pursuit but eventually returned to Salambala to find my hippo.The hippo was sunbathing at a crawl out location on the Chobe river and also fell to a brain shot. Because of this never it reached the water.




I would very much reccommend this hunt to anyone whom is interested in hunting a remote and wild part of Africa.The trip was delivered as booked.No surprises, no shenanagins.I loved the camp location and the game veiwing as we travelled the river to and from the conservancy at Kasika. Those seeking trophy elephant and/or buffalo may have better success if they hunt later in the season when more game is crossing the river but the hunt I was on was great value for the money and I would reccommend it highly.

Thanks for the report and congratulations on the elephant and hippo. When you inserted the image URLs you added a period at the end so they do not show up. Just edit them and the pics should pop right up.

Thanks for the help Charles.Killing elephants is not nearly so hard as posting the pictures, at least for some of us.

Eyedoc,

Sounds like you had a fantastic time on your hunt! Sounds like Vaughans new boat gets put to use often and well! If you were going up and down the Chobe with it I would imagine that the game life you had the chance to see was amazing!

Great shooting for two great animals.

Did you get to see any of the Traditional Feast Event?

Mark

Congratulations

Thats a great hunt.

Well done! Congratulations on your elephant, and your hippo too. Good hunting and good shooting!

I really enjoyed your report.

My Caprivi bull elephant (also hunted with Classic Safaris) fell straight down and remained upright after death as well. That makes for a superb trophy photo, IMO, and yours is certainly one to remember.

There is nothing like elephant hunting.

Mark- We took that boat from Katima Mulilo to Kasika (6 hours) and then from Kasika to the camp (2.5 hours).A lot of time in the boat but well worth the adventure.I am glad I got to see it all, especially from Kasika to the camp down the Chobe.Incredible wildlife!

MR-I know dead is dead but like you,I am thankful he died upright.

Great report and congratulations on the elephant and hippo. I wish that someday I could do that elephant hunt.

Congrats again.

George

What a great hunt. And how lucky was that, his landing as he did for the trophy photo. That was totally topped off the hunt.

The line by the trackers cracked me up -

quote:

was shouting , "Please put it in again, please again".

Reminds me of an old girlfriend.

Good job Doc. How many days did you spend chasing hippos.

Eyedoc, excellent read and good shooting... You have lifetime memories..


Mike

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story with us! Did you recover any bullets?

Fjold-Spent five days hunting hippo and was into hippo almost everyday.Sometimes we could not find a good bull, sometimes they gave us no shot and sometimes they were just on the wrong side of the river.It all finally came together and the hunt was better because it did not come "too easy."

Eyedoc- I assume your PH was Fred Bezuidenhout or Fred "Bez". I have hunted with Fred on two different safaris and think he is fantastic-at least he tells it like it is!

Regarding SBT's comment above, I have seen his "old girlfriend" and trust me, she is old, very old!!

Anyway, what a great hunt. Had to be an adrenalin burner with that Ele 20 yards away!

Congrats!

John

Yes it was Fred Bez and I have to say he gave me the exact hunt I asked for.First day out , right off the bat, I said," Fred,I want to get close and personal.Not interested in sniping from afar.Also I would rather do all the shooting if possible."

Fred took me in to twenty yards and when it was over and done he had his rifle slung over his shoulder on a sling and he never even bothered to chamber a round. He even said that he wished he had thought to get my video camera from the game scout as he would have been able to do the videoing since his hands were free.

Game scout will not be getting an emmy for videography.

Great report Mike, I enjoyed the time in camp with you.

Awesome trip! Appreciate the pictures and the story. Did you happen to have ear plugs and sunglasses handy for that flight to Katima?

I too hunted w/Fred, buff/leopard/hyena then lion/roan, and really appreciate his work ethic and upfront approach to things, no screwing around or double-talk. Sounds like you guys matched up well too.

Can you post a pict of the ele w/Fred in it (or email me at bill@wyodata.com)...I want to see if he is still putting black shoe polish in his hair!

These Caprivi meat hunts are really neat, big bulls, authentic hunting experience, and reliable. So Wendell, how far are you booked out on these?

Congrats, Eyedoc, excellent hunt and great hunt report! I could almost imagine standing next to you while you took your ellie. Well done.

Nitehawk-I was fortunate in that I was able to collect the bullet that brought down the elephant.It entered between the eye and earhole and penetrated through the brain before exiting just behind th ear on the opposite side.

It slid along the ear flap and eventually entered where it was located between the layers of the ear.It looked as if it could be reloaded and used again.

eyedoc, what loads/bullets did you use? That is great penetration, IMO.

Congrats on your hunt. Thanks for the great write up of the elephant approach and your fine shooting!

JPK

My ammo was factory loaded Hornady FMJ round nosed solids.

I know from another thread on the African big game forum that these are supposed to tumble and veer off line but mine passed completely through the skull and brains in a perfect line and slid between the layers of the ear ,nose forward.

As stated earlier it looks ready for the next elephant.

nice ele!!!