More pictures.


Day 2 - We were actually stalking a blesbuck for about three hours when the PH noticed this little guy trying to sneak past through some bushes on our right about 75 yards away. Although screened by lots of brush, I found a small opening and dropped him where he stood with a lucky shot. We continued the stalk on the blesbuck but I muffed the shot (a little too far back - we would later collect the blesbuck with a second shot right through the boiler room) then came back for the duiker. You can see where the shot entered just behind the shoulder.



DAY 1 of hunt - my first African animal. We were actually looking at some animals in a small herd off to our right when this solitary bull wandered in from the left - I saw it just before the PH did. We backed up quickly, dumped out of the truck while one of the skinners drove the vehicle back down the road we just came up. We then ran up a low hill while stooped over low and crawled the last ten feet to look over the top. The other herd spooked but the bull just stood there watching them run away. My first shot (75 yards) was on the mark but we ended up putting two more into him because he kept trying to get up - he was stubborn just like me.



This was the crowning moment of Day 2 - we had stalked this herd for over a mile running, crouching, crawling and slithering over rocks (you know the routine) but could not get close enough for a shot (they stayed about 600 to 700 yards ahead of us). Time for Plan B - we ran back and took the vehicle to where we thought they were headed. After dumping out behind a bush, the skinner drove the truck away and we just waited for about 45 minutes. Finally we heard them coming up the hill - just ambling along slowly while grazing. This guy was the biggest bull in a herd of about 30. However, there was no clear shot because of the other animals around him. They kept coming closer and closer and soon we would be spotted and they would spook. It got so bad keeping absolutely frozen my legs actually fell asleep because of how I was kneeling and I couldn't feel them. I just gritted my teeth, kept the scope on him and waited for my opportunity. It finally came when they were only 170 yards from us and I dropped him where he stood with another lucky shot. In his death throws, he actually stabbed himself on his right flank with his right horn. When the PH got up to congratulate me on a great shot I just fell over on my side and had to wait for a minute or so until the pins and needles stopped and I could stand again. He had a good chuckle over that one. What a way to end the day!


Day 3 - it actually rained this afternoon. We spotted this guy feeding in an alfalfa field across a ravine and river from where we were. Since there was no way to get closer, I attempted the shot at about 250 yards. My shot drifted back a bit so I took a second shot but missed by over-correcting and shooting too far ahead. Before I could get a third shot in he was in the brush along the river. Time for a stalk on a wounded bushbuck - I never saw a tracker look scared before (he probably reflected the same look that was on my face). The PH quickly got JACK, his Jack Russell Terrier and the fun was on. We kicked the buck out of some TALL reeds but the PH slipped and fell on his back side on the steep slope as we were both about to shoot. Needless to say there was no shot! Oh Boy! Was this fun or what! We crossed the river and put JACK to work again. He caught up with the bushbuck and the fight was on. The buck actually picked up JACK with his horns and threw him about 11 yards then decided to settle accounts with the PH, trackers, skinners, et al. But before he could complete his mission, JACK was back in the fight. When the opportunity presented itself, two shots were fired in rapid succession. The buck, with JACK in tow, ran to the river and two splashes were heard. JACK was just swimming in this little circle in the middle of the river. My PH stripped to his skivvies and dived down 11 feet in this ice cold water three times before he came up with the buck (my honest offer to dive in myself was - thankfully - rejected: I would have probably looked like an albino hippo anyway and scared all the animals for miles around). At least it wasn't a very boring afternoon. We later found out from the rancher that there were three bushbucks lost that year by the same tactic of diving into the river after being mortally wounded. Of course, no other PH (was crazy enough to have) dove into the river to retrieve the others. I made sure my tip reflected my gratitude.



This is the blesbok I told you about. The second stalk after I wounded him was crouched down and running from ant hill to ant hill. Finally collected him at about 190 yards. Whew! I was starting to have a confidence crisis - I HATE wounding an animal. You see, the day before (my first day) I wounded a springbuck in the afternoon and he disappeared into a gully - we searched for FIVE HOURS and looked over about 500 animals but did not find him - and he had the left front leg dangling where I broke it (shot at 250 yards and was VERY windy - shot went low and drifted downwind to the right - not one of my favorite memories). The next day the ranch owner was doing his annual helicopter survey but they did not spot it either. The PH and staff were concerned that I would lose my confidence because I was so tough on myself, but later congratulated me for working through it and making some great shots this second day.

I have hunted at Bethaven and my hunting partner has hunted there twice and I would go back in instant. Owen Smith, his family and the PH's have an excellent operation and treat you like family. You get a personalized hunt and you won't feel like a number.

Check out www.bethavensafaris.com A beautiful ranch run by quality people.

RCG

Sorry it took so long to get this out. Had an absolutely spectacular trip to the East Cape with Bethaven African Safaris at the end of August. The trip was filled with highs and lows and lots of tough stalks - loved every minute. Nary a day went by when I was not pulling thorns out of my hide or emptying game "pellets" out of my shirt that I acquired while crawling on a stalk. There is so much to tell that I'm writing a log which may turn into a small book. I have acquired a new respect for the title "Professional Hunter" and have learned much from my PH "Pallie". We began most days about 6:30 AM and hunted to about 6:00 PM. The ability of both Pallie and my trackers Mbuti and Anderson to spot game was phenomenal. It seemed like a pattern developed - I would have one tough day with little luck and then one great day when it all came together. The toughest day was the one I fell and shattered the distal end of my right radius at the wrist about two thirds of the way through the safari. Talk about fracturing your pride. We had climbed this God-awful mountain slope three times that day after a herd of Eland. As we were getting in position for our first shot at 50 yards a duiker bolted from under the bush in front of us and spooked the whole herd. It was an ill omen. We finally got a shot at them toward the end of the day and I drew blood on a big old bull. We weren't able to follow the blood spoor because the sun was setting fast and we had to get off the mountain (by the way, why do they call it plains game when there were so many hills to climb?). It was a very steep slope with loose rock and I came down most of it on my back side. By the time we got to the bottom it was dark but a beautiful full moon was lighting up the landscape. When we got to the vehicle, I decided to go to the back of the truck to get a drink of water. That's when I stepped into a small ditch I didn't see, fell, and karate-chopped a rock on the other side with my right wrist. STUPID EH! Since I spent 10 years in fire-rescue as a paramedic, I immediately knew it was either dislocated or broken. I grabbed my wrist with my left hand, supplied traction, set the break, then got into the truck. As we started to drive back to camp, Palle remarked that we would have to change our plans for the next day since we had to go back to get the Eland instead of hunting Kudu. I told Palle we would have to change plans even more because my wrist was broken and I would have to go to the hospital - I hid the break so well he didn't even know about it and couldn't believe it when I showed him. The local hospital splinted the break and the next day I was transported by Palle's wife to Port Elizabeth (about 2 1/2 hours away) where I was admitted to a private hospital by the orthopedic surgeon who surgically reduced the fracture that evening. I have to add that in the scuffle I did not have my trip insurance info or credit cards with me. In my need, Bethaven immediately wired two-thousand dollars from their corporate account into the hospital account to make sure I got the best of care. They told me not to worry and that we could settle up later. It was more important to them that I got the best treatment possible. I will always be grateful for that. I was discharged the next day and still had two days and three animals left to hunt before the safari was over. Palle and I went out the next day to see if I could shoot. He set up his tripod and I proved I was able to squeeze off a shot by holding the scope of the rifle with my left hand, jamming the butt into my shoulder, and pinching the trigger between the thumb and forefinger sticking out of the cast. However, I was unable to work the bolt. He said don't worry, we'll work as a team. Although we hunted hard, we did not get a decent shot at an animal that day. The final day arrived and I was still upbeat - this was it! We left at 6:30 AM and 20 minutes later Mbuti spotted a lone bull kudu about 200 yards down a steep slope below us. One shot later and we were taking pictures. One down, two to go. At 10 AM we spotted a small herd of Impala above us with one nice buck. After a short stalk, I got a shot off but Palle thought I missed because he saw dirt go up behind the buck. I told him I was pretty sure of the shot and didn't think I missed. He glassed at the departing herd long and hard and said something was wrong - the buck was missing. We started looking for the buck. When we finally found him he was standing on a slope above us about 305 yards away (laser measured). Since there was no way to get closer without spooking him. Palle asked if I wanted to try. I said sure so we set up the tripod and I gently "pinched" the shot off. The Impala collapsed where he stood. We found the first shot had drifted slightly back but the second shot took out his lungs and both shoulders. It was my longest shot of the whole trip. Wow! 10:30 AM and two down. Now, if we could only find a nice Nyala! We took a siesta mid-day and started out again at 3:00 PM. At 3:15 PM, we spotted a lone Nyala bull at about 220 yards. Once again we set up and I pinched the shot off. The Nyala fell where he stood, kicked twice, and my safari was over. What a way to end the trip - three animals on the last day with four shots and a broken arm. All together I was able to collect 14 beautiful animals including a bushbuck that dove into a river after he was shot - Palle stripped down to his skivvies and dived down 11 feet in freezing water three times before he finally came up with the buck. Talk about being a professional. By the way, the whole Bethaven team searched for and recovered the Eland the next day and I'm told it will make Roland and Ward. I know that 14 animals is a lot but we hunted long and hard and all the walking, crawling, and slithering payed off. Incidentally, I also had a caracal on my list but had to cancel that hunt because of the two days I spent in the hospital. All in all, it was a very memorable and enjoyable hunt and I look forward to going back to Africa. Guess I got bit by the Africa bug after all. Many thanks to all the fine folks at Bethaven - they are tops in my book!

Congrats on what sounds like a wonderful hunt! Hope you will be able to post some photos - is the wrist giving you fits now?

For folks that haven't been to Africa, it seems the question is when are you going. For the folks that have been to Africa, it seems the question is when are you going back.

Thanks for the remarks. My comment would be "Perseverance Hell - it's just pure stubborness." BTW, got a nice doe for the freezer yesterday. (I know you probably won't believe this but the "doe" had both male and female sex organs-my hunting buddy, an outdoor writer with his own tv show, couldn't believe it either but will swear to it after checking it out - I'm not sure whether to call it a b-oe or a d-uck). Go figure!

Terry - thanks for the offer to post. I sent you five pics but not sure if they got through. If you would like, I'll send a few more. Altogether I got 14 animals:
Day 1 - Red Hartebeast
Day 2 - Common Duiker, Blesbuck, Gemsbuck
Day 3 - Cape Bushbuck
Day 4 - Black Wildebeast, Mountain Reedbuck, Cape Springbuck
Day 5 - Steenbuck
Day 6 - Bontebuck, Cape Eland
Day 7 & 8 - Hospital in Port Elizabeth
Day 9 - No opportunities for a decent shot.
Day 10 - Cape Kudu, Impala, Nyala

On Day 2, I got the Duiker while stalking the Blesbuck (had both within 20 minutes)
On Day 4, I got the Black Wildebeast and Mountain Reedbuck within 60 seconds of each other - while walking to where the BW went down we spotted the MR and quickly took the shot.
Of all the animals, the Steenbok gave me the worst fits - took a total of five shots to get him - he was laying in tall grass and refused to get up and run until I shot into the ground in front of him - did this to me twice - First shot put him up, wounded him with the second shot - missed with the third - he layed down again - fourth shot put him up again and collected him with the fifth - sheesh!