Hunt dates: July 24-30th
Country: South Africa
Outfitter: Neil Bernard NB Safaris
PH: Samson
Guns: Ruger .375, Ruger .300 Win Mag
Animals taken: Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Eland, Blesbuck, Kudu, Zebra, Waterbuck.
Animals seen and not taken: Giraffe, Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Klipspringer, Duiker, Cape Buffalo, Reedbuck, Steenbuck, Jackal, Warthog, Baboon, Nyala, Tessebe, Sable.

As I embarked on the long journey from the Central Coast of California to South Africa I was nervous and filled with anticipation and what-ifs. I was taking my wife, who had never been a big game hunter or been on any of my previous hunts, with me for our first trip to Africa to celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary. What if she didn’t like the hunting, the weather, the food, or the people? What if I didn’t see any animals or what if I couldn’t shoot straight?
Well, it didn’t take long to put to rest all of my what if’s. This trip could only be described as the most amazing week of hunting that I have ever experienced. From great food, excellent accommodations, first-rate drinking partners and of course unsurpassed hunting conditions, Neil Bernard and his team at NB Safaris took care of everything for us.

We even managed to turn my wife into a big game hunter with only a pesky tree limb coming between her and her first big game animal, a Zebra. (Of course, her being the great woman that she is, she asked me to take over the Zebra hunting as the trip was winding down and I was only so happy to oblige). Now she even wants to come along on my next Elk hunt, we might have created a monster!

But enough of my blabbing, here are the pictures.

My first African animal was a Blue Wildebeest taken just before lunch time on Day 1. One shot from the .375 Ruger at 175 yards and he was down.



Day 2 started off well with a 50 yard shot on a nice old Impala ram.



And to top Day 2 off, I pulled off a 300 plus yard, one shot kill on a nice Eland with the .375 Ruger.






I started off the morning of Day 3 with a 200 yard shot with the .300 Win Mag on a good Blesbuck.



We spent the rest of Day 3 and all of Day 4 tracking Zebra and having several close encounters with the local Cape Buffalo herd. Finally just before dark we found the right one and I was able to get a good shot into the front shoulder of a Zebra. Two shots later and he was down for good. I was amazed with the tenacity of the Zebra and had a lot of fun tracking them all around the ranch.



Day 5 was spent looking for Kudu unsuccessfully, but on the morning of Day 6 my Kudu was finally spotted. One shot from the .375 Ruger and he was mine.



On Day 7 I had already taken everything off my list so I was looking for targets of opportunity. Samson spotted a nice waterbuck and the chase was on. We jumped him several times and tried to track him down unsuccessfully. After getting back in the Land Cruiser to try to circle around the waterbuck, he was spotted again and I was able to get a good shot into him. A couple finishers later and he was mine.



We even got the chance to finish off Day 7 with some bird hunting on a local farm !

I can’t recommend NB Safaris enough, they really go the extra mile to make your experience a memorable one. I had my cousin and two other friends that went on the trip with me and they all had a similar experience. Between the three of them an additional 20 animals were taken. I can’t wait for my next trip as I discovered a bunch of new animals I want to hunt now!



If anybody has questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Jon Fleming

Congratulations on bringing another hunter into the fold. Glad you had a good trip and obviously some nice trophies.

Wow, looks like you had the time of your life and came away with some fantastic animals too boot. I have always wanted an eland exactly like the one you got ( jealous ). Were you using Hornady factory amo? What grain?

Thanks

Well done!

That kudu is a real old boy with blunt horn tips - a worthy trophy!

Glad you and your wife both enjoyed your first South African hunt. We need more clients like you. [True also that we need more Hunting Outfitters to be like Niel!]

Enjoy planning for the next one!

Mighty fine trophies!
It's a shame that you can have only 1 first safari.

AR Man,

Yes I was using 270 grain factory Hornady's and they worked very well. They are real accurate in my rifle also.

It is amazing the size of those Eland.

Wonderful trophies. Really like that ancient kudu bull!

Looks like you and the wife had a great time and congratulations on the trophies...I did the same thing in June with wonderful results...I noticed that you are MUCH younger than I am and I was glad to see that, it gives you more "go back time" than I have...I am ,like I would think that you are, already planning my next trip...the planning before the trip and the waiting/planning for your treasures after the trip is sheer joy.....again congratulations

Congrats Jon. Very nice... now you are hooked.

Congratulations You took some very fine Trophies!!

Outstanding!

My wifes first hunt was in the East Cape of South Africa........now I can't escape!


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CONGRATS, YOU GOT THE FEVER NOW...

OUTSTANDING!!!
Congratulations

Great Job, Jon. Sweet impala! I love hunting impala....

outstanding first safari. Great trophies and pics. Congrats!

Way to go.

The broomed off Kudu is my favorite.

Thanks guys for all the kind words. I don't post much but I check these forums often and have learned a bunch from the veterans over the years. I definitely have the bug now.

Nice kudu