Hi guys,

Kathi emailed me today and asked if I could post these pictures from her and Rick's hunt to Ethiopia with Nassos Roussos of Ethiopian Rift Valley (set up by Rich Elliot). Kathi said she would follow-up with a Hunt Report as soon as she can.

CLICK HERE for Kathi's post with live updates from the hunt.

















Well done Kathi & Rick!

Wow... too cool!

Great pics!

Love the pics and can't wait for the rest of the story.

Congrats,

Outstanding!

Great Pictures and wonderful Nyala, congratulations.

Awesome!

Goodness--what a Nyala!

"awesome" doesn't begin to cover this

Amazing country, great pictures and the Nyala is awesome!! Good job Rick!

Bill C. THANK YOU for posting the photos.


Location: Damaro Ethiopia

Outfitter: Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris

PH: Nassos Roussos

Rifle: Ruger 338 Win. Mag, 225 grain Swift-A-Frame, Zeiss 1.5 x 4.5 Diavari scope

Game sought: Mountain Nyala, spotted hyena

Game seen: Mountain Nyala, hyena, reedbuck, bushbuck,bushpig, warthog, Colobus monkeys

Airline: United from Chicago to Washington, then Ethiopian Airlines from Washington to Addis Ababa (stopover in Rome for refueling).

We left Chicago on October 7th. After arriving in Addis Ababa in the evening of October 8th, we cleared immigration and were met by ERVS representative "Gatoncho" (I am not sure I spelled his name correctly). He literally had us processed through customs in a matter of minutes. After exiting the airport we were met by Nassos and another PH Nicos, who drove us to our hotel for the night.

At approximately 5:10 a.m. blaring over the loud speakers was the "call to prayer". I believe this is what makes international travel so fascinating, when you experience other cultures and customs that you do not find at home.

Nassos and the Federal Game Scout picked us up at the hotel and we began the 10 hour drive to camp. Ethiopia was nothing like I expected. There were planted fields of barley and wheat as far as the eye could see. Beautiful mountains, villages with cattle, goats and horse/mule drawn wagons. Ethiopia is so green it is really hard to describe.As we entered Bale National Park we began to see Mountain Nyala feeding near the road.

The camp was tented under a metal roof. After settling in to our tent, we went to the dining area. I have to say, that the food we ate on this trip was the best we ever had on a hunt.

The next morning, after sighting in his rifle, the hunt began. The strategy is to glass from very high vantage points into small openings in the forest of the valley and other ridges. Several Mountain Nyala were seen every morning and afternoon.

The problem was sometimes fog would roll in and completely obscure any hope of spotting game.

On the third morning, one of the trackers spotted the Mountain Nyala that Rick eventually shot in a small opening. Nassos thought the bull would come into a different opening and had Rick ready for the shot (the picture of where Nassos is glassing is where Rick shot from). The Mountain Nyala stepped into the opening and Rick shot. The Nyala stood there for a second and then bolted. Three of the trackers climbed down to the base of the cliff and jumped the bedded Nyala. They also found a blood trail. Nassos, Rick and the rest of the crew went down and followed the blood trail, finding the Nyala bedded down, Rick finished him. Everyone was very happy and excited, especially Rick. The Nyala was eventually skinned out and packed back to camp.

The hunt for the hyena was really a lot of fun. The trackers placed a warthog carcass into a large grassy field and we went there after dark. Hyena, warthog, bushpigs,bushbuck,were everywhere in this field.Nassos got a hyena's curiosity with a mouth predator call, and Rick shot him.

We went driving around for a few days and eventually drove back to Addis Ababa. On the last day, we went shopping, to the zoo to see the Barbary Lions, and had dinner at the Greek Club with Nassos. Nassos took us to the airport and Gatoncho literally had security take us to the front of the line. After boarding the flight for home, the jet experienced engine trouble. The pilot announced he could not get engine #3 started. So we went back to the gate for repairs. We were supposed to leave Addis Ababa at 10:15 p.m., but due to the mechanical problems we left at 1:15 a.m. and missed our connecting flight to Chicago,but we eventually made it home.

Rick and I are of the opinion that this was our best hunting trip ever. The amount of game seen was staggering. The people of Ethiopia were so friendly and the country is so beautiful we cannot wait to return.

AWESOME!

Wonderfull!
Congratulations

What spectacular scenery in those photos! And what a great mt. nyala - they are such beautiful animals.

Congratulations, and thanks for posting this report.

Excellent pictures of a great hunt. Congratulations again.

Man that country is green.

Very nice report, glad to see Rick had a successful hunt!

Wow Kathi, truly a lifetime trophy! jorge

Absolutely fascinating Kathi. Really enjoyed the on-the-scene reporting and the pictures are amazing.

You did it!!! Congratulations Rick. Job well done. That is a beauty of a mountain nyala!

Now Kathi, you didn't take anything this trip after taking such a nice ibex in Tajikistan? You're letting the women hunters down...

That's great to hear Ethiopia was such a nice trip. Don't hear too much about that country but it sounds like one heck of a destination for a future safari.

Again, excellent trophies and good to hear you had a good time and returned safely.

WOW is all I can say!!!

What a trophy....congratulations !!!

WOWWW!! Beautiful pics, excellent Nyala and that hyena with the glowing eyes! Stunning!

Thanks Kathi-you have successfully moved Ethiopia up to the top of my bucket list

Regards,
Scott

Thank you for all your kind comments,they are greatly appreciated.

Kathi;

Your adventure was/is amazing! I want to go!!!!

Regards, Darin

I'm envious!!!
Congratulations!!

Ethiopia Ethiopia...there is still a dreamland left in the world for hunting.

Thanks for sharing Kathy..

Well done...

Unbelievable how green it is and that is one awesome Nyala!

Fabulous trophy, Rick! Congratulations! Thanks for the pictures and the on the spot reporting Kathi. I'm so happy for the two of you to have such a wonderful hunt and experience. I can't wait for the first hand details.

Paul from Colorado

Thanks for the great reports and photos, and congratulations on the trip of a lifetime.

Great story and fantastic photos. I'm so very glad Ethiopia has recovered. It was a very different place when I was there during the drought, famine and war of 1987/88.
Would love to hunt the place. You never know...

Nice stuff, Kathi!!...congrats to you and Rick.

Gary
DRSS
NRA Lifer
SCI
DSC

Congratulations, what an incredible adventure amongst stunning scenery.

Regards
Aziz

Beautiful country.

Received notification that the trophies arrived in San Francisco.

Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris is an absolute first class operation.

Our sincere thanks to Rich, Jason and Nassos for making this such a great experience.

Excellent Kathi & Rick

Outstanding hunt congratulations.

I want to go there! Congratulations Kathi and Rick!

I am beyond jealous.

Well done (betaam tiru!)