This is a very long overdo hunt report but I guess it’s better late than never, right? I felt guilty not getting this out here sooner since I love reading everyone else’s hunt reports. For my Dad and I this was our maiden African safari. This has been something that we each have dreamed of since we can remember and the fact that it came together was incredible. What was even more incredible was that we were able to both do this together. My dad is my favorite person to hunt with and he is my best friend. We both now have the safari bug that can’t be shook! We will be back to Africa…

SOUTH AFRICA - EASTER CAPE, Ezulu/Swartkei Safaris (Bush Camp & Ocean Camp)
TRAVEL: Delta Flights from Moline, IL to Atlanta, GA to Johannesburg, South Africa. Then Johannesburg to Port Elzibeth, SA on SA Airlines.
GAME TAKEN: Springbok (2), Gemsbok (2), Hartebeest, Black Wildebeest
PHs: Christiaan Liebenberg & Rudolph Stephan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Doug King
GEAR: Ruger #1, .338 Winchester Mag, Superior .338 win mag ammo, Steiner Peregrine 8x42, Russell Moccasins PH model with gum crepe base, Tilly hats, Texas Hunt Co PH utility belt and ammo system, Texas Hunt Co gun sling

My Springbok



Dad's Gemsbok






My Gemsbok


My Hartebeest


Dad's Wildebeest (took us all day to track this after the first shot was not exactly perfect, such a great team effort in the recovery of this beautiful animal)





Ocean Camp - Port Alfred, SA (we came here for two days to relax before going to Harare, we were roughing it)










ZIMBABWE – SAVE VALLEY CONSERVANCY, Zambezi Hunters (Hammond Camp)
TRAVEL: SA Airlines from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, SA to Harare, Zimbabwe. Then a small 5 passenger chartered flight from Harare to the Save Valley Conservancy.
GAME TAKEN: Cape Buffalo (2), Eland, Zebra, Impala (2)
PH: Ivan Carter
VIDEOGRAPHER: Doug King
GEAR: Ruger M77 .416 Rigby, Superior .416 Rigby ammo, Steiner Peregrine 8x42, Russell Moccasins PH model with gum crepe base, Tilly hats, Texas Hunt Co PH utility belt and ammo system, Texas Hunt Co gun sling

Dad's Zebra


My Impala


Dad's Impala







Story telling by one of AR's members/Author, David Hulme






My Eland




Another AR member, from Sweden, Antone. He shared our camp for a couple of days while hunting with John Hulme for a cape buffalo(Antone's buffalo shown below with our group). He had recently shot a great tusker not too far from where we were hunting as well. It was fun having him and John in camp for a couple of days.


Dad's Buffalo




Re-creating the famous Teddy Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt picture pose with my Dad's buffalo


I give Doug a lot of credit, he follows Ivan around. We all know how close Ivan likes to get to big game.


They loaded this buffalo in about 10 minutes, amazing to watch



My Buffalo


As I shot a backup shot the buffalo swung his head low and I clipped a little of his boss. Plus my heart was probably five feet out of my body due to all the adrenaline. Thought this picture was funny since you can see my Dad giving me crap about the bad shot, all in good fun.


With trackers Powerman, Bashop, and Jefta

Now that's an adventure!! I love those old buff!!

Congratulations!!
Great post!!

Congratulations on a great hunt, thanks for posting it. I love the Roosevelt photo! Wish I would have thought of that.

That was one heck of a first trip.Just love that old eland.

Great report and great hunt. That eland is superb!!!!

Brett

Great fun and nothing better than spending time with dad on safari.

Very well done! Congrats!

Jim, no matter how many more safaris you do, this hunt will always be the special one. Congratulation on some very nice trophies and thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

Many congratulations! If there's one thing better than hunting with your kid it's hunting with your dad.

Great safari and some awesome trophies, love the old buffalo and eland!!

AWESOME

Great to see you and your Dad having such a great hunt together.

Who owned the double rifle in the picture??
Just curious?

Thank you all for your comments. They are very much appreciated.

Honkey, that double rifle was Ivan's. Needed it to make the TR re-acted photo look as much like the original as we could.

NICE picture and once again great hunt.

You guys won't forget this one.

An unforgettable experience! Congratulations!

Wow I just watched the episode of Craig Boddington's Africa that was about your hunt this morning. Great hunt and great trophies. After seeing Ivan on the TV so much lately, I would love to hunt with him.

Very well done. Next report will have to be more timely submitted. Otherwise, great. Congratulations.

Terrific pictures and report, congratulations.

Nice to meet you also, very nice pics and buffalos, so whats up next ?

Jim,
Great photos and great report. It was a pleasure working with both of you on helping to preserve your memories with artistic taxidermy mounts. I hope you didn't mind me posting a couple of the mounts... Thanks again...DAN

I enjoyed your hunting report. Great pictures and the finished mounts look great too. Congratulations to you and your dad on a fine hunt.

Thanks,

Greg

jim ,
it was great to hunt with you guys, you were a great pleasure to be around , knew what you wanted and hunted hard for it ..

folks , for the record both jim senior and jim junior passed up on very wide but not full;y mature buff to take these old boys , well done jim and jim , cudos to you ..


also thanks for all the attention to detail and practice , when we get folks who know what to expect and have the right gear and RIGHT ATTITUDE who want to hunt hard , our job is awesome ....

Not at all Dan. The mounts are unbelievable. My Dad has the trophy room all put together. He won't take pictures of it with the mounts in it until I come home for Christmas. I can hardly stand it. It will be exciting to see. I will do a trophy room report post over Christmas when I am home and will take lots of great pictures.

Ivan, Our time hunting with you was an amazing experience. One of the best experiences of my life. You helped prepare us well. Klippy (Dad)says he has more wall space in the trophy room and wants to "talk" at the Dallas show.

great first trip. Specially with your dad.Thats what its all about

Great pictures and it looks like you had a fantastic hunt. Doug filmed my hunt in Zimbabwe where I took our oldest son. We had a great hunt and Doug did an awesome job.