I just got back last Thursday from ten days with Infinito Safaris, hunting with both Charl van Rooyen and Frederik Cocquyt.

Lewis50 contacted me in late April, saying that he was taking advantage of Infinito's "Recession Buster Deal" and asked if I would like to join him. After a few days of financial discussions with my wife (heck, she told me to quit wasting time and go!), some research, and confirmation with Infinito, I sent my deposit and booked the plane ticket. This "special" put Africa into my price range, about seven years ahead of schedule..

This was my first trip to Africa, and it was spectacular. The accommodations were wonderful, the food was great, and the hunting was tough, just like I wanted it to be. Erika, the cook, was fantastic at her job, and shot her first warthog with her bow while we were there!

Frederick met us at the airport and walked us through the SAPS office process to get our rifles into the country as part of the hunt. It was quick and painless.

My taxidermist spoke with me before I left, and said I needed to add more animals to my list because with 10 days of hunting, I'd be done with my list with time to spare. I'll just say that the hunting was not that easy.

My primary interest was to hunt Nyala or Bushbuck, preferably Nyala. Charl let me know that there were some nice Nyala on the property, but that the hunt would be tough and that there would be no guarantees, prophetic words.

On day one, we chased a mature Nyala and a younger bull up, down, and across the side of a mountain. I never got a real good look at the entire mature animal, despite getting close several times. Frederik and Lewis50 got to see it standing in the open, but it seemed to hide in the bush for me. I also decided that Charl must be part mountain goat, I was amazed at his ability to move quickly up the hillside, watching for game, while not stepping on a loose stone or even crunching a dry leaf. I finally learned that to keep up with him and not sound like a herd of wildebeest running behind him, I had to just watch the ground in front of me and try to keep up.

We caught up to the Nyala on day two, and stalked within 30 yards of him in some thick brush. I'm amazed how the grey animals can simply disappear into that stuff. Charl set up the sticks, and I finally found him in the scope. I could see the tip of his snout, then a tree blocked my view of his neck. I could see from his entire shoulder back. Charl asked if I could shoot him in the neck, I told him no, but that I had a good shoulder shot. I took the shot, and the Nyala tears off into the brush. I see him again at about 100 yards, and take a Hail Mary shot since he was still on his feet.

We go down to check for blood, and find spots of blood and some flesh. The blood trail looks good for a while, but quickly peters out to small drips. I have seen this before on a poorly hit whitetail deer, and my heart sank. Charl and his trackers do a great job, and would find a drop of blood the size of a bb 100 yards from the last location. Also, he found tracks that showed that he was dragging his left hind leg. This immediately shook my confidence. I knew I had the steadiest rest I'd ever had on a game animal, the shot was one I could have made offhand, and somehow I manage to miss my aiming point by about three feet. A later test showed that the rifle was dead on at 50 yards.

Now at this point Charl had his trophy fee. He could have looked for a few hours and given up. But he didn't. He worked his ass off searching for that Nyala. Frederik also helped out several times when Charl and I were out of touch and the trackers had sign. He and I both had trouble sleeping that night, we looked hard the next morning, and the trackers actually had him in sight, but we lost him again. Finally, the next afternoon, Solly spotted him, and we did a drive through the brush he was in. He let us pass within about 20 yards, but Solly kept his eye on him and directed us back to him. Charl saw him, and got a shot in his shoulder. He ran by me and fell, then started to get up again, so I shot him in the chest, a bit low, but it was enough to keep him down for good. When we examined him, we found that my first shot did hit his hindquarter, but the entrance wound was the silhouette of the bullet. I apparently hit some brush that deflected my shot and sent the bullet tumbling.
I was totally impressed by Charl's devotion to getting a wounded animal. He was also dedicated to making sure a bit of bad luck did not ruin my hunt.



The next day Charl and I sat in a hide, and after a long wait had 9 Mountain Reedbuck file by, with a nice ram bringing up the rear. He was not on my list, but once I saw him my plans changed.


I also hunted with Frederick for the last part of the hunt. Frederick is also a pleasure to hunt with, and was dedicated to helping me get the animals on my "wish list" We executed a stalk planned by Frederick on a group of about 10 Impala in the thick brush. We played the wind, circled ahead, and stalked within 25 yards of a mature ram. He was not the biggest ram I saw during the trip, but the stalk was a perfect hunt and execution of a plan. Frederick also put me on two Warthogs, a Limpopo Bushbuck, and a Blesbok. I really made Frederick hunt, as my mere presence can clear a valley of game, but through hard work and perseverance, we got some nice trophies.



This old fighter Bushbuck was chasing a ewe just like a whitetail chases a doe. They ran past us at about 70 yards and into some thick bush. Frederik said just to wait and they would be back, while I thought that my chance had just run by. About 20 minutes later, they came easing back through, a lot more relaxed than they had been before and I got my chance.


We went to Mount Sheba for Blesbok, Eland and Black Wildebeest on the last full day. I was after Blesbok, as I was quickly approaching the end of my money. Blesbok was low on my list until I saw them, and wow, they are truly beautiful animals. Mount Sheba is Highveld, and completely different hunting than the rest of the trip. If they give you an opportunity to go, it is well worth the trip.


This was a "discounted" safari, but at no time did I feel that I was getting a second class trip. I had a chance at several very nice Kudu, one estimated at 58 inches, and never felt that they were trying to "save" these animals for a full fee client. (I trust both Charl's and Frederik's estimates, because every time they estimated the size of one of my animals, they were within an inch of the measurement, but on the conservative side. I will never be able to field judge like they can) Kudu was not on my list, but I was encouraged to take them if I wanted to change my mind.

Your smile in the pictures tells the story. Looks like you had a great trip.

Congrats; Great Pictures from a Great Hunt. I re-lived my Hunt while I was reading about yours. Mt. Sheba is quite a place. Worth the trip up there for sure.
Larry

congratulations with a great hunt.

infinito really delivers the goods again.

i cant help but sitting here with a sour taste in my mouth with a busted knee and seeing all MY pigs being shot by all you other great hunters

best

peter

Crowkiller, the first African safari memories will always be with you. If you are like me, you will never forget even the most insignificant details, even years and many safaris later. And trust me, there will be more.

Very nice! Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for sharing the wonderful pictures! Those nyala and bushbuck sure are beautiful animals.

Way to go!
so when you going back?

Congrats on a great hunt Crowkiller. Your Nyala and Bushbuck are fine trophies, and two of my all time African favorites! They will make beautiful mounts.
Good hunting,
David

Crowkiller.
Great write up and great trophies.
I like the nyala, that´s a beauty.

By the way...now you´r hooked
Guess you have already started to plan the next safari

Congratulations on a fantastic hunt and trophies! As others have said, your smile tells it all!

My husband and I will be hunting with Infinito in late August and it was great to hear your very, very positive comments.

Good hunting, D. Nelson

I love the wild eyed smile on the first warthog picture! You were clearly having more fun than you could handle. Good for you!

Brett

Very nice trophies Crowkiller, with a excellent report.
On Monday the 3rd, i will be flying down to South Africa (Limpopo) for trophy Nyala, Bushbuck, Kudu and Warthog.
If i can get trophies like yours......i will be a very happy man.

Well done........

Love the Nyala. He tops my wish list of PG

Von Gruff.

Thank you very much Matt for the nice report. You are a very lucky man to have gotten 3 difficult and sought after trophies on your first trip. And above it all all 3 of them are excellent trophies as well your Nyala, mountain reedbuck and bushbuck are all top class. Some more pictures below.


This warthog was ancient very, very old and the granpappa to many many pigs we hope.

Fantastic Safari and outstanding trophies!

DNelson, you have made a good choice. I didn't know much about Infinito when I went over, and felt like I was taking a chance. I left feeling like part of the family, much more like a friend than a client.You are going to have a blast!
I am already dying to go back. I have an elk hunt in the Bob Marshall Wilderness scheduled in a couple of years that I am seriously considering canceling to go back to Africa with Infinito. I've got a whole new list now that I have been over there!

The wild eyes on the first warthog are probably because I waited in a hide with her in sight for what felt like 20 minutes for a shot. She walked within 3 yards of Frederick coming by us! She was within 20 yards the whole time, but the best shot I had was at her head, and I wanted the skull. I get a touch of "buck fever in situations like that (and when I quit reacting like that I'm quitting hunting), and my heart was racing and my respiration had quickened and deepened. Frederick said I was about to shake the blind apart. She FINALLY gave me a shot at her chest so I wouldn't have a heart attack.

I've wanted to go to Africa for about 25 years, after seeing a full mount Nyala in a family friend's trophy room. The taxidermy bill on my full mount Nyala may delay my return for a short while, but I will be back.

It is funny how suddenly every expense now is translated into trophy fees. I found my self saying to my long suffering wife: "You know honey, the money we just spent on groceries would pay for a nice duiker".

Thanks for those extra photos Frederik! I'm kicking myself for not getting them all while I was there.

quote:

Originally posted by Crowkiller:
It is funny how suddenly every expense now is translated into trophy fees. I found my self saying to my long suffering wife: "You know honey, the money we just spent on groceries would pay for a nice duiker"..

I know, I know...that means you are really hooked

Nowhere do you say what part of the African continent you hunted. Not even what country. Am I the only one wondering where all these critters were taken?

WOW, I'm sorry for that oversight. I was hunting in the Mpumalanga Provence of the Republic of South Africa. We were close to the border with the Limpopo Provence, but the closest town was Lydenburg.

We hunted both from Mugaba Game Lodge and Mount Sheba.

Crowkiller;

Your posting certainly confirms Infinito is a top notch outfit. I can't wait.

What were the temperatures like?

Regards, D. Nelson

We had ice on the trees one morning, where a sprinkler had been running. I'd say it was 30-75 degrees F every day. I took some long underwear and a windproof fleece jacket and was comfortable. I wore the long underwear only to Mount Sheba and while hunting bushpig (unsuccessful, due to some bad luck and lack of true dedication on my part) at night. It was cool for the morning ride in the back of the hunting vehicle, and one day was cool all day, but tolerable even for a thin blooded Georgia boy.

A little tip, if Charl is wearing pants rather than shorts, put on your long underwear.

quote:

A little tip, if Charl is wearing pants rather than shorts, put on your long underwear.

Got it!!! We're from Bakersfield, California where it cooled down to 100 F today!!! I thought we might be in for a bit of a switch.

Thanks for the info.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Terrific, I am glad that Recession Buster hunt was great
Maybe I'll be fast enough to cash in if he does it again

Great hunt. I am glad you had a good time with Infinto. I corresponded briefly with Frederik about hunting, but an associate of mine booked a trip to the Limpopo area with Askari Safaris.

Nice Nyala and Blesbok. I hope this is not your last trip.