12 July 2009, 08:31
Cat57Plains Game Hunt in Limpopo with Mafigeni Safaris
After a wonderful experience with Claude & Jill at Mafigeni Safaris in 2006, we returned once again. We departed Seattle on June 23 and returned on July 9th. It was a family and friends affair. Dad, Mom and 14 year old son as well as two friends of Dad were on this trip. We pvernighted at Afton House and had prearranged for our permits. We were out of the airport in record time. After a great steak dinner, it was off to bed. We split up on Thursday with Dad and friends heading to Nelspruit to do a little hunting on the Highveld with Gerrie Van Zyl. We hunted with him and 2006 and think very highly of him. The group took two blesbok, a springbok and black wildebeest. Dad’s Black Wildebeest:
Mom and Son headed for Victoria Falls for two days of sightseeing with Jill Kleynhans before heading to Ichingo Lodge in Namibia for some Tiger fishing.
Victoria Falls from the air:
And from the ground:
Our stay at Ichingo Lodge was an incredible experience. The lodge is situated on the Chobe River and we had an opportunity to fish both the Chobe and the Zambezi. Son caught the larger fish. We were able to try drift fishing and trolling and Mom got a lesson in fly fishing from Ralph, the owner of the lodge. Landing the tigers was tough and it was some of the best fishing I have ever experienced. If you are considering fishing while in Africa, I highly recommend Ichingo.
First fish of the day:
Last fish caught:
Our three days at Ichingo went by quickly and we flew to Phalaborwa to make the one hour drive to Mafigeni’s home ranch to meet up with Dad and his friends to begin our hunt.
During the ten remaining days our family hunted with Claude Kleynhans as well as Logan Van Zyl (Gerrie’s son). Eric and Gerrie were the PH’s for our friends. Dad & Son had a chance to watch Mom take her first animal. Claude’s patience with a first time hunter was appreciated.
Mom was only planning to take the Nyala, but realized that this hunting thing was great fun and decided that an impala would look good on the wall next to the one’s that Dad and Son took in 2006.
The fellows stayed busy with gemsbok, eland, kudu, warthog, wildebeest, zebra and impala. A waterbuck, bushbuck and bush pig were all on the wish list, but we came up empty handed.
Son’s wildebeest, a scarred up fellow.
When we last went to Africa, Son was 11 and shooting 30.06. Now at 14, he brought his .375 with him and he really shot well.
Son’s warthog:
Dad’s warthog:
The Grey Ghost:
The eland that took all day:
As always, the hospitality that Claude and Jill extend to their guests was outstanding. The chalet’s are clean and very comfortable, the service and food is always first rate. The entire staff does all that they can to make each guest’s experience the best it can be. Leaving to come home is always bittersweet.
