Since I am going for my second hunt in South Africa on november first I thought I would post my first (too short) hunt that got me started/hooked. The reason why I am going again this year is the revelation I had on those 3 short days. I have been spending countless hours everyday planning to come back. I am going for a seven day hunt with KMG safaris and Marius Goosen in the Eastern Cape. Also spending a week with friends for some beers and braai!!

Here goes:
I have visited South Africa and the Eastern Cape 3 times before and have a lot friends there. So I always come back there. After getting voted travel leader for a trip to Kenya and South Africa with my girlfriend, friend from childhood and his girlfriend I started entertaining the idea of fulfilling a dream I had yet to experience, hunting in South Africa. Since my friend also was hunting in Norway I asked him and he said yes at once. I started searching for outfitters in the Eastern Cape, and after about 50 outfitters and a lot of research on AfricaHunting.com I found one. KMG safaris with Marius Goosen. He had good prices and was active on africahunting.com. The reports I found was positive and the prices seemed good. Since we had our princesses along for the trip it was imoprtant that they would have a good time as well. So I sent him a mail and I wouldn`t regret it Since me and my friend where very new to hunting bigger animals than bird, he helped me along with every question.

After 8 days in Kenya with a great photo safari we where ready for the hunting safari. We landed in Port Elizabeth at about 1000 and Marius met us at the airport. Since the girls where tired we drove straight to the camp, which was beautiful. Since we had such a short time hunting, the guys wanted to go for a afternoon hunt. We where hunting 2 to 1, but we where lucky enough to have 2 private hunters since Tertius (PH nr 2) also came along. After shooting in the rifle we where borrowing. A custom built .308 on a Mauser action with a suppressor. The riflescope was a Leupold VX-R 4-12x40. Ammunition was PMP 150gr. This was Marius private rifle so I knew it was good. Marius also went through the shoot placement for warthog and impala, which was the trophies we where going for. I was both trying for a meat warthog, trophy warthog and trophy impala. My friend had the same except the meat animal.

Let the hunting begn. We drove off and had agreed that I was going first. At this point I was getting excitingly nervous. But felt I was in good hands. The second stalk we had we saw 4 warthogs at a distance and started to go for them. We saw that 3 of them could be a great meat pigs. In the stalk we walked and froze a couple of times since the pig was looking at us. We got within 50 yards, not sure since my adrenalin was pumping quit hard now. Marius put up the standing shooting sticks and I started to aim. Since there where more pigs together I had to wait a while. Suddenly Marius told me to take the shot then I saw the broadside and took the shoot. The pig went straight down! After a while we went up to the pig and it was finished. Everyone congraulated me and it was a great feeling, but also a strange feeling of respect for the animal. I was so glad that the shoot was good. My first animal was in the salt A perfect first day.




The meat was also very good We had a spiit braai with all my friends in port Elizabeth. Everyone thought it as great!. Before and after picture.
The second day my friend started out hunting because of my success the day before. He got a good chance on a trophy pig, but used a bit much time before shooting and another pig suddenly ran out just 5 meters in front of them.
[URL=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTR28cDlhr4 ]Surprise warthog[/URL]

We took lunch and decided that I was going to try after lunch. After a couple of stalks we saw an impala. It looked straight at us and we where worried that it had seen us- Marius and me went around to the left through some bush and in a short while we could just see through some bushes. It was a narrow field of vision but Marius put the shootings sticks right. It was quartering towards us. Luckily Marius had explained me how to take down a quartering animal. At this point I stopped thinking and felt the sight go the right place and took the shoot. It was a difficult shoot for a beginner and the animal jumped and went away from the our line of vision. I was nervous at this point, but when we went around the bushes it was laying 10 yards from where it got shot. I was happy yet again.

Now it was my friends turned again and it would seem that our luck had turned. Within an hour he was doing a stalk through a lot of bushes against an open field. There was a lot of animals there. Zebra, blesbok, springbuck and of course some Impalas. This was probably the most difficult stalk and they where on hands an knees a lot. We where waiting a long while, but suddenly the shoot rang. He took the shoot at about 80-90 yards. It went straight down. 2 animals in 2 hours. A good day!

The third day it was getting really warm. I think about 35 degrees in the shade, but of course we where in the sun. We took turns hunting and had some really good stalks, but the big pigs where eating at night now, so it was mostly sows with kids and younger males. Even though we didn`t get any animals we had a great day. Hunting in Norway is completely different from this. I have been on weekend hunts where I didn稚 se any of the right animals. Here we saw probably 25 different species. Magic. Like the last day where I was stalking on some pigs and suddenly had 2 white rhinos about 50 yards away from me. Amazing experience. Me and my friend with the rhinos in the middle.

The last half day we split up to higher our chance for some trophy pigs. This was the warmest day. 38 degrees in the shade and we where also getting quite hot. Luckily my friend got a chance and took it. He got a pig from 80 yards and it went straight down. He was happy we had now 4 animals in 3 days of hunting.

I have not mentioned the girls much. They have no interest for hunting, but where extremey happy with our hunting days. They got catered in every possible way. Pancake breakfast when they got up. 2 game drives 2 different places and a trip to nearby Grahamstown. If they had a request, they got it. We had some magic lunches and dinners with them. Marius and Tertius was with us every step of the way. With great food and todays stories. It wil be something I will never forget, but have to do again. This was awesome 3 days, but I am already planning my next trip in my mind. Next time will be longer and more animals. I have also have no doubt who I will hunt with the next time. KMG safaris with Marius and Tertius.

Sorry for a long report, but it could have been longer Magical experience!

It`s not the longest hunt or with the rarest animals, but it was my first and it got me hooked bad

Animals seen in RSA:
Warthog
Impala
Ardvark
White rhino
Blesbuck
Giraffe
Gemsbuck
Eland
Burchell sebra
Red hartebeest
Jackal
Baboon
Kudu
Springbuck
Ostrich
Tortoise
Bontebuck
Blue wildebeest

I will be in RSA from 1-18 november. Try to get a report done before christmas

Other pictures:








Some of the nice "trophies" we saw in Kenya:

Some great pictures. Nice report. Congratulations

Congrats...Well done

Beautiful pictures. That buff in the second picture is something special.

Congratulations for your hunt and some very nice pictures!

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Beautiful pictures. That buff in the second picture is something special.

There where so many of those kind of buffalos. It was in Lake Nakuru national park. Anyone have a guesstimate of the size of that buffalo. I would of taken the first one as well any day

Thanks for the comments Only 3 days left until i board the plane again!!

Good luck on your hunt!
I am sure you will have a great time with Marius

Thanks fore sharing, and have an nice trip on the next(not jealous, not at all)

Thanks NW and Dr B
Marius will take care of me for sure, just to wake up and go straight into the bush. I love it I am doing som other stuff thats also quite exciting. When you cant afford DG hunts, you have to improvise

Svinejakt.

Thank you for your report on how it all started and how you got infected with the African fever. Fine report and very nice pictures.

I wish you the very best of luck on your upcoming hunt.

Jytte

Thanks Jytte

Glad you enjoyed it Thanks for the wishes. Still don`t understand that I am going tomorrow already. A ton of work before I go, but wheels up at 1500 friday anyways

Gleder meg til en kald afrikansk bayer

Svinejakt,

Your smile above the impala says it all.

Have a great safari.

Thanks Jack Wheels up in a couple of hours!

Ringnes på Gardermoen ??

God tur