2009 & 2010 South Africa Hunting Reports with Intrepid Safaris
Hunt dates: May 27- June 9, 2009 & May 28- June 8, 2010
PH: Phillip DuPlessis
Outfitter: Phillip DuPlessis, Intrepid Safaris, Alldays RSA; www.intrepidsafaris.co.za
Hunt locations: 2009: Limpopo, Bela Bela area; 2010: Limpopo, Alldays area
Game taken: Kudu, Sable, Waterbuck, Gemsbok, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbok, Steenbok, Duiker
Rifle used: Dakota M76 in 330 Dakota with 250 gr Swift Aframes, handloads

This report will be a little different than the usual as it centers on a specific request I made of my outfitter, Phillip DuPlessis of Intrepid Safaris, and only two species.
In earlier hunts with Phillip, I’ve been lucky to have taken some great representative plains game trophies…kudu, eland, impala, gemsbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, blesbok, and waterbuck. I’ve also taken buff with Phillip on the edge of Kruger on one of his DG concessions. In all, I’ve had three safaris with Phillip and the Intrepid staff.
In those evening discussions around the fire, Phillip had indicated that he was always on the search for new Limpopo concessions particularly those that had been abandoned or dormant for several years. I commented that in the US, many of us also try to find those types of properties, believing that perhaps we would stumble upon a “honey hole”, especially for whitetail or elk.
So, I asked Phillip that if he found the opportunity, I certainly would sign on as his first client to “test the water”. Many old hands believe your gambling a lot by going into an unproven area, but just as I’ve tried to find pockets here at home, you go in open minded. Besides in RSA it’s hard not to find game in the Limpopo province.
Well in 2009 I got the call from Phillip that he had lined up a property that he scouted that had some older Kudu bulls. On May 28th, Phillip and I started our hunt on a ranch northeast of Bela Bela that had not been hunted for 8 years. We started seeing game immediately… red hartebeest, impala, and kudu were there and very calm, all stood staring at us as we scouted in the cruiser, almost like a national park tour.
The terrain was flat grazing land, but overgrown heavily in thorn bush islands and grasses, with scattered mopane trees. It was obvious the land had not been worked for some time.
At some distance, Phillip spotted a bull that showed enough horn to start a stalk. I didn’t get view but Phillip was sure the bull was above average. He started off at his usual rugby pace, but my 68yr old knees don’t work like that anymore. After several hundred yds, Phillip slowed and glassed as I caught up. Excitedly he put up the sticks, pointed the bull out in some thin brush along with several cows. The distance was about 125 yds, but before I shot I asked the dumb question: was he big enough as my view of the horns was limited…..Phillip only responded “SHOOT”. The shot was good, angling forward through the chest to the opposite leg…we heard the hit as the bull jumped. Another 100 yds and he was down….and no ground shrink here….IT WAS A MONSTER. Phillip was more excited than I as he hand measured close to 60”, and gawked at those basketball size curls, WOW…..back at the truck the bull field measured 62” and 61 ¾”….WHAT A PRIZE,THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME KUDU !!
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The remainder of the hunt was great but a little anticlimactic, as we relived the Kudu stalk and shot numerous times around the fire.
I again told Phillip that if new, dormant properties came up, call me.
Well, in the spring of 2010 the call came again. Phillip had just acquired another property, close to his lodge, south of Alldays along the Brak River. His scouting revealed a good concentration of Kudu and Waterbuck. The property was fairly flat and extremely overgrown with thorn bush along the river. Very few trails had been cut as this ranch had also been idle and essentially unhunted for a decade.
Almost to the day from my 2009 hunt, I was on this ranch making a scouting run after just arriving from Jo’burg that afternoon. Just getting the jetlag cobwebs out of my brain, I wasn’t prepared to doing any serious hunting.
Following a rough two track, our driver slammed the cruiser to halt, as Phillip jumped off the truck and motioned for me to do the same. I hadn’t seen anything but Phillip whispered “big waterbuck”. We moved off into the brush after I remembered to chamber a round, I still hadn’t seen anything but followed behind Phillip for some distance. He pulled up abruptly and pointing to an opening in the thorn about 75 yds away. A really big bodied Waterbuck slowly appeared broadside looking at us, I quickly got on him for an offhand shot (not my favorite), as Phillip whispered “shoot”. The shot was good, in the lungs. We heard the bullet slap as the bull bolted.
After a run of about 50 yds, the bull still was standing, so I took a finishing shot to the neck.
Walking up on the bull revealed a huge body and horns that went on forever…..hand measured indicated over 30”. After the truck made its way to us, a field taping showed a matched horn set of 33” each.
Phillip is not a big fan of tapes, but when the trophies are really big, out comes the tape. Both of us were astounded….WHAT A BULL !!
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This hunt included other great memories, but that jet-lag Waterbuck will never be forgotten.
Needless to say, I’m waiting for the next call from Phillip….hope it comes for my June 2011 aspirations.

Bob

I'm going back to school to get smarter on these pics....have patience

Sorry guys, us old hunters need need 4 or 5 strikes to get a hit.
Bob

Amazing trophies Bob. Congratulations! Nice photos too.

Wow, Bob!

I love that waterbuck, congratulations!

nice trophies Bob, congrats!

WTG, Bob! Congratulations!

Fantastic trophies!

Wonderfull trophies Bob, way to go!. Love that Kudu.

Magnificent.

Absolutely fantastic animals!!!

Congratulations on some very remarkable trophies.

Good work to find such 'honey holes' by Phillip too!

Andrew McLaren

Those are some darn nice trophies! Congrats!

Very, very nice animals there. Congrats!

Fantastic kudu!

HOLY SHEIT, Batman!!! Great Trophies!

Gents.....thanks for the great comments, these two trophies will not be forgotten.

Though the real hunt began with my outfitter, Phillip DuPlessis, staying on his plan to find these dormant ranches and either buy them or lease them. I reaped the benefit of his scouting and diligence. That's what great oufitters do.

I'm waiting for the next call from Phillip.

Bob

If he calls with a Suni, refer him to me!!! Magnificent trophies!