It was absolutely incredible - no doubt. Long flight then I got to camp and tuned up the muzzleloader. I was hunting with Cruiser Safaris in Limpopo Province. I had 45 mintes until dark, so we went for a drive to take some photos. I ended up seeing, stalking and shooting a 10.5" warthog! I only saw one bigger the whole trip, and didn't get him.




The next morning we went for impala. We got in the thick brush with a herd of rams and stayed within about 70-80 yrads, but couldn't sort them out. They were headed toward water, so we went ahead and hid in a brush pile near the water. After about 40 minutes, they showed, and I took the largest ram, 23.5" at 72 yards.




The next day we hunted Kudu in the mountains. After an intense stalk, I missed a 70 yard neck shot on a monsterous 56-57" Kudu! I was sick.




Hunted in the mountains the whole next day, and I ended up getting a great 52" Kudu right before dark. We hunted our butts off for Kudu in the mountains, and it was great. They are like elk, that don't bugle.




Next day we hunted Gemsbok. Stalks all day, and we passed up many animals. Late in the afternoon we got on a herd and stayed with them for about 1.5 hours. I finally got a good shot and took it - animal down. We were a little disappointed in the size, as we had passed up a few bigger bulls, but it was a super exciting hunt and the experience was awesome.



We saw a big wildebeast bull on the way out, and my outfitter told me if I could load the muzzleloader, and stalk the animal on my own, I could shoot him. Loaded quickly, off I went. I got to about 60-65 yards, and hammered him. he went about 100 yards and piled up. They are tough and weigh about 550.




Went out late that night for a night drive with spotlight. I shot this nice genet with a 12 ga at about 50 yards. Very nice bonus...




Next day I hunted for a really big blesbok. I never got a shot at a trophy, but had many exciting stalks in the brush. I passed up several decent animals, but ended up with 0. It was still a blast.



I though I was done as my plane left the next day. The outfitter said we would go out for 2 hours the next morning after aother impala. We came up on a waterhole and spooked off a small herd with one good looking ram. I wanted a wide one this time. We stalked in the thick brush fr a bout 30 minutes and got parallel to 2 good rams. They were headed to cross in front of me, so I got ready. I let the first one walk through an opening and then cocked the hammer. When the wide one stepped out at 35 yards, I blew him down. It was a great way to end my trip. He wasn't quite as long as the 1st impala I shot, but he still made the record book, and had the look I liked.



The accomodations were incredible, as was the food. The people were really super as well. Spot and stalking is just phenomenal, and the way those guys can track a given animal on dry ground is unbelievable. It is so surprising to me, but you can go to Africa and shoot 5 good animals for the price of a decent elk hunt or a good mulie hunt here in the U.S.


I sure hope to go back one day. Shooting a muzzleloader made the hunt a real challenge. You could get to 200-250 yards from the animals pretty easily, but closing to 60-80 or even 100 was tough. It made it a lot f fun, and I felt like it was harder than sitting at a waterhole in a blind with a bow. I know this has been really long, so I will quit now.

Thanks for the great report and excellent pictures. Sounds like you had a challenging and rewarding hunt the hard way.

Congratulations on a great trip, and a nice report. Great pics too.

Looks like a great hunt, and some great scenery! I like those mountains!
Wonderful trophies and pictures..
Congratulations!

Tim: Sounds like a great hunt and those are some nice animals. Would you have felt seriously handicapped hunting with a traditional muzzleloader with iron sights? Were you able to use BP for a propellant, or did you have to go with Pyro or 777?

Looks like you had a great hunt. Any problems bringing powder with you? What did you use? Any special forms to be filled out, rules, or guidelines to bring it with you or did you purchase it over there?

I used Triple 7 and didn't have any problem getting it there, although I may have not been supposed to travel with it! I would have certainly felt more handicapped with a sidelock and open sights, but it would be fun. It is a cool way to hunt over there...

Congratulations on a great hunt. I hunted with Cruiser Safaris last year and had an outstanding time. The whole operation is finely tuned, and is truly one of the great values in the RSA. http://www.cruisersafaris.com

Excellant Job, Tim! Thanks for the report!

I totally agree about stalking game! Africa is where you can stalk and "hunt". Well done, sir!

Good job Tim!

Bull1

Looks like this narrows down my field of potential outfitters. They look really good and I have heard nothing but great things about these guys. Just wish I could get a Cape in while I was there.

Nice trophies and pictures. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Way to go!!!

Looks like you had a great trip. I told you Pieter and his staff were great. I look forward to returning there very soon. How was the mountain area. We did not go there on my trip in May and I was a little disapointed but the game was plentiful in there other concessions. Congratulations on a good hunt.

Great trophies and photos.

Thanks for sharing.

Great report and fantastic trophies. Though I've never hunted with a muzzleloader, your report has me asking myself "why not"! Looks like a neat way to add some additional challenges to an African adventure. Congratulations!

Great hunt! Looks like a great place for a hunt. Good to see some other smoke pole fans getting after em. Well done! So, did you have a backup plan for the powder? How about caps and solvent? I have a trip booked to Namibia, and I very much want to take the front stuffer and maybe even the 12 ga. flamer along for the ride. Plenty of time on the logistics for the required components, just wondering on how you got it done. Mike

No problem with solvent or primers. Feel free to e-mail me, I have a few tricks for that as well, but they weren't needed on this trip.

Marty, the Mountains were the highlight of the trip. Lots of Kudu, tough terrain and great sceenery. Make sure you go there for at least a day or two next time...

excellent photos, thanks for sharing them.

Neat, and great pics! Thanks for posting.

Qucik Q: what kind of shotty load did you use for your cat? Tough to say in a pic, but if I were to wager a guess, they look like 2.75" shells. #4 buck load, maybe?

Tim,

Great trophies and a nice report

John

Fantastic pictures + report!
That last impala is magnificent, regardless of score!

Congratulations on a great hunt! The pictures are great also.
Jerry

Kamo - I used 2 3/4" #1's. I shot it at about 50 yards and killed it stone dead. When my PH handed me an old A-5 Browning, I had to just grin. I grew up hunting ruffed grouse with an A-5, and it was too natural.

Neat! Thanks for the reply.