I went on my first African safari in late June of 03 with 5 other guys.

The hunt was put together by Jack Palwak; owner of Linn Creek Safaris

(1-573-363-9927) here is central Missouri. We all linked up in

Atlanta,including Jack; to take the same Atlanta to Johannesburg flight

together. Jack, and his wife Jane; made all of the arrangements to

include shipping the trophies back and Jack did the taxidermy work. Jack

specializes in African game but also does all other game. The entire trip

went without any problems. Numzaan Sarfari representives were there to

meet up. They loaded up our gear and we were off to the first camp

located somewhere a little North of Pretoria. This was a beautiful camp

with golf course like grass and French doors to the rooms. This camp does

not belong to Numzaan and I think we were there for our bow hunters. We

arrived in time for lunch and then it was off to the range where we

checked our rifles. I used a Savage in 308 with a S&B 1.5x6 scope and

165grain Trophy Bonded HE loads from Federal. Then we all went on our

first hunt. My hunt was a 7 day package hunt that included

Kudu-Gemsbuck-Impala-Warthog-Blue Wildebeast and a couple of other

animals plus I had added a Zebra. Well, I drew first blood; shooting a

nice Red Hartebeast. Dropped him in his tracks with one shot at 70 yards.

Next, we spot some Zebras and the chase is on. They were hard to get

close to as we had several stalks that we got busted on. Finally, we get

everything right and I take the shot but I was to far back only wounding

him. I try for a second shot but my gun jams(I later determined the jam

was caused by a dirty detachable magazine. I had not cleaned the oil off

back in the states). I finally get another round in him and he is down

for the count. We take pictures of him with my first African sunset in

the back ground. What a first day of hunting. Next day I get a very nice

Impala with one shot and he runs about 40 yards. After lunch, I go after

a Blue Wildebeast. This is my first set back as I make a routine shot

from 50 yards off the sticks and he runs off. Well, we track him for the

rest of the day with no luck. I think I may have hit him a little high.

Next day we are moving to the main camp of Numzaan which is located in

Limpopo near Koedoeskop. However, I get to go on a hunt for my Kudu

before I leave. After several hours, we spot a big bull just as he spots

us and I get off a quick free hand shot to his left front shoulder and he

only goes about 40 yards. This is a free ranging bull that measures 55"

and scores 134+. It is only midday of my first offical hunting day and I

have shot 5 animals. At this rate I will need a bank loan just to go

home. During the next six days I shoot a Blesbuck, 2 Warthogs and 2

Gemsbuck. One was free. My PH for all of this excitement was Johann

Combrink. A young PH; he is the brother in law of Stef Swanepoel, owner

of Numzaan Safaris. I had a great time with him as have several other

posters to this Web Site.Other game seen while hunting include:

Rhino-Waterbuck-Jackal Ostrich-Tsessebe-Giraffe and Baboon.
A web site address will be posted after part 2 to view photos.

Part 2: 2005
In Feb 05 Jean-Louis Viljoen of Numzaan Safaris was visiting Linn Creek

Safaris as one of the guest speakers. He offered a free 5 day hunt to

someone in attendance. The first 2 winners elected not to take the trip

as they had been for the past two years. The third winner later elected

not to go so I was offered the hunt. I extended the hunt to 10 days and

went in mid Sept. My flight was on Northwest and KLM. My route was Kansas

City Detroit Amsterdam Johannesburg. I can highly recommend this route as

you have some breaks to walk around and their were only two hunters on

the flight to clear JHB. Jean-Louis was there to greet me and we were off

to camp; arriving around midnight. I told Jean-Louis I wanted to try for

a good Limpopo Bushbuck, a Zebra,and a good Warthog plus my wife ordered

a Porcupine. I did not get the Porcupine so I must go back and try

again. Anything else would just be gravy and would depend on what we came

across. On the first day we went to the range and I checked my weapons

for zero. I was using the same 308 from two years before and I had a new

376 Steyr on a Montana Rifleman barreled action and put together by

Serengeti Rifles. Later we made several stalks on a herd of Blue

Wildebeast but could not get a shot.On the way back to the truck we saw

some Gembucks but did not get a shot. I really did not want to shoot one

on this trip. After lunch and a nap we went to a different location to

hunt a Bushbuck. I got a chance at a good one and took him with the 308.

After that hunt I used the 376 for the rest of my hunts. The next day we

made some more stalks on Wildebeast with no success. On the way back to

our truck we saw a herd of Zebra and I blew a routine 100 yard shot off

the sticks by pulling my shot to the right and nicking him in the left

shoulder. After much searching the trackers found a little blood but no

Zebra. One $900 trophy fee gone. For the next few days we hunted two

other nearby hunting areas that were so large that that I did not see a

fence except when entering and leaving the hunting area. The areas had

not been hunted for several years and Numzaan Safaris was the only

company hunting them. They were full of game and one of my favorite

pictures of a herd of Zebra is included in my picture posting. On one

stalk I could not take a shot because there were so many animals of

different types that to shoot would have wounded others. On our next

stalk of a waterhole we were nearly busted by several Elands that walked

pass at less than 100 feet as we lay face down in the dirt,thorns and

droppings. Finally, I get a shot at a Zebra off of John-Louis's shoulder

as we still sat on the ground. I connect on the Zebra but I shot him

again and he went down. One of my two recovered 270 grain A-Frame bullets

is from this Zebra and is still 267 grains.After lunch and a nap we went

back out to the same location and put a most exciting stalk on a big lone

Blue Wildebeast.I finally got a 4 oclock to 10 oclock shot at 90 yards.

He ran 40 yards and fell dead. His left shoulder and leg were broken and

the bullet was in the loose folds of his neck. It weight 237 grains. For

the next several days we spent a lot of time in shooting stands over

looking water holes in hopes of finding a really good Warthog.We saw lots

of animals: Warthogs Wildebeast Blesbucks Impala Elands but not what we

wanted. We also hunted for Waterbuck after I saw the one in a swimming

pool. He could not get out of the pool. The Vet finally came and he

darted him and we relocated him to another area.That was one of several

late nights. He measured 28/1/2. The story goes that a bigger one ran him

into the pool.The vet said it was a common thing for Waterbucks to go in

water when threaten. I wanted his big brother. We finally spotted a good

one and I took a hurried shot at him. We found no blood or skin but I was

assured that I had hit him and we would keep looking. The manager of the

property said he found him a day or two later on his 4 wheeler but did

not have his rifle. The nice home with the grass roof is the manager's

home. So much for having a rich Italian Uncle. He said he looked gut shot

and if they found him they would send him to me. We spent the next

several days and evenings looking for him with no success. I finally got

my chance at a nice Warthog as we sat in a huge stand that was 30 feet in

the air. This old Warthog was looking up as he approached the stand.

Markus, the property manager was on the right; I was on the left(remember

I am left-handed) and my PH was in the middle.Markus spotted him first

coming from right to left. I took him in his tracks, with the 376 at

about 80 yards..I just returned from Saint Louis where I picked up my

Trophies. The shipment has my wounded Zebra and Waterbuck. I think this

says a lot about Numzaan Safaris. My Waterbuck measured 27.5" with good

bases when we opened the crate at my Taxidermist. I was hoping for 30"

but I am glad to have him. While in camp, I was joined by to other

hunters and their wives. One was Dave from Ohio. Dave has been hunting

Cape Buffalo, Sable, and Leopard with Stef Swanepoel in another country.

After shooting all three he joined us in camp where he hunted many plans

games animals. I think Dave told me in an E-mail that he got a total of

17 animals. Dave and him wife are fun people and I would enjoy sharing a

camp with them again.See the pictures of my hunt at

http://photos.yahoo.com/bauhauscont

Thanks for the report. Sounds as if you had two great trips, now let's see the pics! I met Johann this past Saturday night at the Greater Atlanta SCI banquet I spent quite a bit of time chatting with him and looking at his videos and photos. He certainly seems like a gentleman who would be fun to hunt with and spend time in camp with.

George

Try clicking on the yahoo address at the end of my story. If if does not work let me know.

My mistake, I'm so use to seeing personal web links at the bottom of posts, I overlooked it.

Great pics. I especially like your the photo of your first zebra, kudu and impala. Interesting black markings on the impala's face.

I also like the photos of your left handed firearms being a lefty shooter myself. You are going to have a hard time convincing me that one of the top two is a Savage.

No that is not a Savage. That is a Winchester custom shop limited addition in 300WSM. Those picture were for a private message for 333OKH, but I don't always get everything right on the computer. The other bolt action is my 376 Steyr on a Montana Rifleman Action put together by Serengeti Rifles and Stocks. This is the one I had in Africa on the 05 trip. The Savage I had in Africa is a plain old wood stock 15 year old model but it had a custom trigger and some action work. The single shot is a Dakota Model 10 that I have owned for about 13 years. Sorry about the gun pictures to all that see them. I will remove them as soon as 333OKH sees them.

Spectacular photos and very good report thank you Juan