We got home last week from our first trip to SA. A few years ago I signed up for my first hunt with Jim Hackiewicz. Jim's partners with Authentic African Adventures in the Limpopo region of SA.

My wife tagged along for the ride. The trip began with 3 days in Cape Town. This was a great way to start the trip. We got the jet lag out of us, saw the Jackass Penguins, Cape of Good Hope, the town and a cage dive with the Great Whites. That was totally amazing and I would highly suggest that if you had time.

We were picked up by our PH and spend the next 10 days hunting and sightseeing. The trophy quality was great, accommodations perfect, the food superb and great PH's and trackers.

I intended to hunt for 7 days and sightsee for 3 days. If need be I could hunt more if needed. The staff at AAA were over the top accommodating and allowed us to decide on the fly what we wanted to do. They are associated with Shelanti Game Reserve, which has many activities for the non hunter and located only a short drive away.

My trophy list consisted of Nyala, Kudu, Impala, Eland, and possibly a Warthog. The first day we sighted in the rifle and my .338 RUM, shooting 300 grain SMK's was dead on. We went on a couple of stalks and saw a lot of animals but no shooters. I had a blast and a lot of great memories on this day.

Day 2 we went to a neighboring ranch for Eland. We picked up a couple of extra hands from that ranch that helped us look. After a couple of hrs we was 3 nice Eland but they took off and disappeared pretty quickly. We were off tracking them and the tracker said there was a big bull in the crowd. We hopped back on the bakkie to head them off. After a short drive we had caught up to them. There were 2 cows off to the rt and 1 big bull on the left. I confirmed with the PH we were on the same animal and the APS (Allen Precision Shooting) barked.

The Eland were about 75 yards off the road but I had a clear shot between all the trees. I had decided to take the shot off the truck if need be or off of sticks, it just depended on the opportunity and I wasn't picky. So I shot from the truck and couldn't tell if the animal was hit. As I worked the action I took my eye off the Eland for a split second, when I heard the casing hit the truck. Not sure why but it was a distraction. I quickly saw a loan Eland running to the rt and shot again.

I wear ear protection that amplifies sound but blocks off the bark of the gun because of the muzzle break. I never heard the PH or tracker say anything after my first shot. Figuring that a large animal is still moving I better put some more lead in him. Well, this is a mistake if there are more than 1 animal in the heard. I'm a pretty darn good shot at short ranges and a steady rest (like most). I should have known to trust my shot. Well, you probably all know where this is heading.

After the 2nd shot I couldn't see the Eland any longer so I stopped shooting. The PH and tracker said I had a good hit and congratulated me. We started tracking and found an Eland. However the tracker also found additional blood going in a different direction. The Eland we had found was down but needed an additional shot to put her down quickly. I was confused on what was going on and asked the PH what we were doing. I asked if I had shot 2 animals and he said he thought I did. Another 20 yards and we found the large bull. He needed another shot to put down quickly as well.

My first shot, on the big bull, was a perfect hit. He only traveled 40 yards and was down. On the shot, the cow broke to the right as well and when I was distracted by the cartridge I had not realized the cow was following the bull. Coming from the line of, continue shooting if the animal is up, I had shot the back legs of the cow on the 2nd shot. I had a sickening feeling in my stomach but nothing goes to waste.

The bull was a big bull and measured 33 6/8". He had the nice gray look from being mature. We estimated he was 1200-1300lbs and was amazing to see up close. I've never shot an animal that large. After a picture session we loaded the bull and took him to camp. We quickly went back out and got the cow back to get her skinned out.





AAA was great about my mistake. They worked it out with the other ranch owner and I got a smoking deal on the cow. They treated me really fairly on my mistake and I really appreciated it.

The evening hunt we saw a great Kudu but he was very narrow and had a very tight curl. I'm sure he would have went over 55" but I don't like the look of a narrow KudouThe next day, or day 3, we spent the morning looking for Kudo and Impala. We weren't having much luck and were heading back to the lodge for lunc when we found a nice Kudu with a couple of cows. One shot from the APS and he went down in his tracks. He measured 50.5" and had the look I was looking for. A very nice Kudu that I was really happy with.



The evening hunt we went to a neighboring ranch to look for Impala and Nyala. After 45 minutes or so we ran across a heard of Impala that had a nice ram. He made the mistake of stopping and looking back at us. The tracker and PH said to take him and the APS barked again. He ran the farthest of all the animals, probably 45 yards and was done. A very nice 22 6/8" Impala.



We were off looking for Nyala after the photo session. We were loosing light fast but ran across a nice Nyala about 100 yards off. The PH said to take him but I couldn't see the horns and he was walking behind the bush so I held off. We got out and started tracking but could never catch up to him. That ended the day for us.



Day 4 was spent watching a large group of vulchers devour some carcasses. They have a thing they call the vulcher restaurant twice a week. They have a blind and set out carcasses. After about an hour a vulcher will land, then 2, then 3, etc. Finally one will start to eat and the rest follow suit. Talk about a site to see. It was totally amazing. When done there was nothing but bones scattered around. They actually tag the birds and have similar setups around SA. The birds are tracked and have been found to travel hundred of miles.

That evening we went to a different ranch looking for Nyala and did not find what we were looking for.

Day 5 was spent going to a facility that had Lions, Leopards, and Hyenas. Even though it was a facility, that had them in captivity, it was great to see them up close. We also visited a huge Boabab tree. This was also our anniversary day and the AAA staff had a great meal set up for us and some champagne. They had a nice gift basket for us as well.

Day 6 had us traveling 1.5 hrs to another ranch for a Nyala. This time we had a 26" Nyala in our sights within the first 10 minutes of the hunt. He traveled about 10 yards and was down in his tracks. He was an older bull that was absolutely beautiful.



This concluded the shooting for the trip. I did take a shot at a big Warthog. He was probably 100 yards and moving away from me. I had him in my sights and when he stopped he never turned broadside. He turned his head/neck and I took the shot at his neck and missed slightly to the lt. A clean miss. I could have taken a Texas Bulls Eye shot but didn't think that was very prudent. He was a big Warthog but it was the neck, broadside shot or no shot at all.

One day we went to Musina National Park with the PH and his girlfriend. It was a great, couples get away. The rest of the days we did game drives and sat in some blinds with wine watching the animals. We were stared down by a Cape Buffalo and was amazed by it. We were in a high blind and the bull couldn't see us but he knew we were there. My wife was amazed by this.



Tips that I learned from my first safari:
-Make sure you have a communication strategy set up with the PH prior to hunting. I had this set up for making sure we were on the same animal but I wish we talked about a 2nd shot. When I shot the 2 Eland I told them I was shooting once and not again unless they told me to shoot again.
-Be patient and enjoy the trip. I was a little up tight at first wanting to get the first animal on the ground. After that I relaxed a lot more.
-Make sure the folks you sign up with have access to other facilities to get the trophy you are looking for.
-Take in some sightseeing and make sure you have enough hard drive space on your computer. I filled up my HD and now need a new HD or maybe it's time for a new computer. How do you manage 1200 pictures and a number of short videos??
-My wife doesn't hunt but loved the trip. I was worried about his but it all worked out for the best. So don't be afraid to take a non hunter. They will get SA bug and love every minute of it. We are planning our next trip back in 2015 or 16 at the latest.
-Take a game camera. I have some great pictures of Giraffes drinking and Zebra chasing each other around. Along with a number of other animals. Over 800 or so pictures taken over 3 different watering holes.

I can easily recommend Jim or his Partner, Hanno and Authentic African Adventures if you are looking at a hunt in SA. We will be heading back in a few years.

Congrats on your first safari.

Mike

How well I remember my first trip to Africa. I'm sure you are still smiling. Great times! Congratulations.

Ski+3

Congrats and well done. Already have your next trip planned? It's hard to get out of your system

Good stuff!
Congratulations

Mike,

Awesome trip. Thanks for the post!

Looks like you had a great time.

When you going back?


.

Great report thx for sharing

Great safari and pictures. That Nyala bull is very handsome indeed.

Congratulations on some great adventures!

Congrats looks like you had a great time. How was the non hunting tours with the wife?

quote:

Originally posted by Brian Clark:
Congrats looks like you had a great time. How was the non hunting tours with the wife?

The non hunting tours were great. We went to Musina National Park one day, did a lot of game drives, sat in a blind watching the animals come to drink and sipping on wine and beer, a candlelight dinner on top of a mountain, and watching the vulchers devour some meat.

She ended up coming on the hunts as well and enjoyed trying to spot the animals before the PH. Well, you know how hard that is. But she loved it.

That's awesome. My wife is a non hunter so I'm trying to find things for her to do so I can convince her to tag along some time.

Cool Nyala! Love taking old worn down animals.

Waidmannsheil!

Good write and thanks for being so candid about doubling on the Eland, both of them are excellent trophies as is the Nyala (I like the old Bruisers, too!).

Glad you and Mrs. Mike enjoyed yourselves.

Prior to my first trip I waited for a couple of years saving scratch; knowing an African Safari was what I desired. I also explained that I really wanted my non-hunter wife to accompany me to share the experience. We had 2 weeks touring and 2 weeks hunting, the trip was superb and Mrs. Gerry loved every second of it.

Oh, Yeah, since then my wife's no longer a non-hunter, on day 12 of the Safari the PH simply stated at lunch, "Irene, you're up this afternoon; meet me at the range when you are washed up and ready to go."

I almost fell off my chair! Woulda bet $10,000.00 at the begining of the Safari she would never even considered hunting. At this point she'd had one shot outa my .30/06 Sprg. in her entire life and after that handed it back to me with a curt, terse, "No Thanks."

3 X-rings after the sight-in target with the PH's .308 Winchester, one Impala, two Warthogs & 1 Baboon later we completed the most amazing afternoon I've ever had together with my Mrs. in the field!

Now I just have to bide my time and be patient, Irene's the one who suggests every 18 months-2 years that we need to make another Safari.

Congrats on a great safari and trophies. Great old nyala!

Torbjorn

great photos, looks like you had an awesome time, very jealous!! very nice nyala