HUNTING REPORT

CLIENT: Fred and Margaret Gordon
This was our first (heavy on the first) African hunting Safari. We are already planning on returning. That gives you a big hint on our overall experience. Fred as the hunter and Margaret as an observer.

BOOKING AGENT: Ann Horsman / Aspen Hill Adventures
Ann put me on the exact hunt I was looking for, stayed on top of our itinerary, our packing lists, and reviewed our paperwork to make sure all was in order.

OUTFITTER: Mukiwa Safari Company
PH: Rod Cockerill
The communications prior to the Safari was excellent. I don’t think it could have been improved. I knew what was going to happen when and my paperwork for entry into RSA was perfect. The hunt WAS as advertised.

LOCATION: Republic of South Africa, Limpopo Region, Vivo – Chinaka Lodge
If you don’t want to see a fence at all during your hunt, this is not for you. It was an 18,000-acre concession of which probably 14,000 were huntable. Absolutely fair chase but more about that later.

WEATHER: Start of their winter. Prediction was mid 40’s to mid 60’s. It was unseasonably warm with a low in the high 50’s and high in the mid 80’s.

SAFARI BOOKED: All inclusive 7-day plains game.
Package hunt to include Greater Kudu, Impala, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, and Warthog. As advertised. 1st class accommodations, 5 star food, all transportation from and to JoBerg PLUS some extra duty running us around in JoBerg following the hunt to visit some knife makers’ shops. Pictures downloaded and a slide show prepared for us prior to departure by the PH. Margaret was kept involved in every aspect by the PH and was thrilled being included.

GUESTHOUSE in JOHANNESBURG: Afton House (Enough Said A++)

AIRLINES: KLM as the primary with SAA for a hop from Cape Town to JoBerg.
I flew entirely on Frequent Flyer points and was at the mercy of the airlines on routing. The KLM route was long and I have never been on such tight and uncomfortable seats. SAA was courteous, helpful, and worked on getting us into an exit row.

IMMIGRATION/SAP/CUSTOMS: Thanks to Ann, Rod and ALL of the crew from AR there weren’t any problems encountered at any point of the trip. We WERE prepared.

TOPOGRAPHY: Mostly flat with either heavy scrub or more open Savannah. This was five ranches that were purchased and most of the fencing torn down for free ranging of the game between farms. You can go all day without running into a fence but it is not unusual to see one (actually part of one) still standing. The owner wants hunting to pay for the removal of the remaining fence instead of tearing it down to encourage hunting.

RIFLE/AMMO: Tikka .338 Winmag, Kahles 3-9 scope using Federal Premium 250 grain Nosler Partition. The rifle performed magnificently. The shots all were pass through with the exception of the Kudu and Wildebeest. The Kudu was a 100-yard straight on chest shot with very little expansion. In the Wildebeest we only recovered shredding/splintering of the bullet.

THE HUNT: My overall goal was to have a fair chase hunt for Greater Kudu and that is how we spent most of time. The hunt was walk and stalk. We were on our feet 7 – 9 hours per day. Twice we had made stalks to within 30-40 yards of a large bull that would never clear the scrub for an open shot. Twice we made stalks on a group of Kudu and it turned out the bull was marginal. Finally on the last day we harvested a bull that we may have passed on the first day. The PH gave advice but it was always my decision.

One morning we spent the entire time on a stalk of a large bull to come within 30 yards but he would never clear the brush. That afternoon we set out in a more open Savannah. It was the hottest day of the hunt, the only time we encountered insects of any significance, (sweat bees were swarming constantly around all of us), the first time we had gone for two hours without seeing wildlife of some kind, and everyone was a little frustrated from the failure that morning. After a couple of hours out, we turned to work our way back towards the bakkie. Thirty minutes later we rounded a bend and there stood an excellent Red Hartebeest. “Hurry, Shoot Quick!†It was the best shot I made the entire trip. All were one shot kills shots but not all were instant kill shots. Shooting more by instinct or luck rather than trying to out think myself I took out the top of the heart. It was a very good Hartebeest. The Hartebeest and Impala were dropped in their tracks, the Warthog ran about 10 yards, the Wildebeest maybe 40 yards, and the Kudu gave us a 100 yard chase before giving up.

For the Wildebeest we had a decent herd to follow. I missed a “Bloody Good Bull†as I wouldn’t shoot because it was in a crowd. Duh – I was looking at the wrong one. During the Wildebeest Hunt was the only time the PH took his rifle from the tracker and put one in the chamber, when we came across fresh Cape Buffalo spoor. Twice we made stalks to within 10 yards of Warthogs but they had very small tusks. The winning Warthog was taken over a waterhole. We were there during the Impala rut and got to see two Rams fighting. The Ram that was harvested was following his harem by 30 –40 yards, similar to how a White Tail Buck may follow a doe during the rut in the United States.

HORN LENGTHS WET: Kudu – 53â€, Impala – 23â€, Warthog – 10â€, Wildebeest – 27â€, and Hartebeest – 27’. Obviously these are wet measurements and the longer of the two horns/tusks. Kudu, Warthog, and Hartebeest has one tip missing slightly. Absolutely great character and they are trophies to me. I was not going to enter the Hartebeest, as it will score silver, but my PH convinced me it was to his benefit also. Still thinking about it.

TOURIST STUFF: Recommended - The Lesedi tour of the traditional native lore and dancing in Johannesburg was educational and fun. Food was only fair. Afton House has the details. The wine country tour in Stellenbosch (Cape Town area) was fantastic. Of course by the end of the tour I was buying wines that I wouldn’t have at the beginning (hic). Shopping at Cabano’s in Johannesburg can be arranged by Afton House. They do have everything and reasonable in prices. Shipping IS expensive.

THANKS: My wife – Margaret, Saeed, Rod Cockerill of Mukiwa Safaris, Ann Horsman of Aspen Hill Adventures, Terry Blawkamp and Terry Carr for making their information available, and all of the contributors at AR. Everyone had a hand in making this safari successful. Planning on returning May of 2008 and taking the granddaughter.

Great report! I look forward to seeing the pictures.

Thanks for the excellent report.

Thank you for the report.

Info like that is great for folks like me that have never been to africa. It helps me know what to expect when I go. That sounds like a great hunt. I would rather really have to hunt than see them from the road.

Thank You

Riodot

Glad you had a great trip.

Very nice report!!!!

Phil

Nice report, AAA Ann, Afton House, A.R.

Thanks for the great report! Glad everything went so well for you, and I'm really looking forward to some photos.

Fred

Glad you had a perfect trip.Nice report too.
I want to congratulate you on your "walk and stalk 7-9 hours a day" since this is the ultimate way to experience and enjoy the hunt and environment!
Looking forward to the pictures.

Jan Botha

Great report, look forward to seeing your photos.

Fred, glad to hear you had an excellent trip!!

Hey Fred! Great report! I will phone you on Monday, I can help you get your photos up, they deserve to be shown.

Rod runs a top notch hunt and that is why I work with him.

Thanks for the pics.!! Well done.

Hey Fred,

Congats on a great hunt! That is one of the best hunt reports I have seen yet!

Good Hunting,

Bob

Great report!I love to hear when a trip gose so
well.I am planing my first and have learned much from these reports. Thanks and the potos are great.

cheers for a great report.

nice hartebeest, good thick horns all the way down. very nice kudu and worth the effort i'm sure.

well done. tm

excellent kudu i want to hunt in namibia and south africa soon ,thanks for sharing your safari with us .juan pablo pozzi md

Great report! Very well aranged.
A 27" hartebeest!? Isn`t that a very big one? I shot a 23" last year, which also is the RW minimum...

Well done report. Looks like you had a great time.

Anders,

The PH claims it to be the largest Hartebeest he or one of his clients have ever taken. He was very excited about it. I don't know how much of that was just pumping up the client, but I enjoyed it.

I am no expert but have been told after drying it would score silver with SCI.

Fred

It sure looks great!
No expert either, but I thought that would be better than silver, no matter what the bases measures.
Anyway, it`s a great trophy! Trophies are more than medals and measurements.
I know what you mean with "ph`s pumping up the client".. But that sure is a BIG hartebeest...

Great report. And a great trip, by the sound of it. Congratulations.

Bill