I haen't had time to write up a full hunting report as of now. I will post more details when I get a chance.

I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy my first African safari with one of my best friends Ivan, his wife and parents, and my mom. We hunted with Samaria Safaris in the Limpopo Providance, near Musina the last 7 days of May.

The first day I hunted with Benji while Ivan and his dad hunted with Quinton my focus was on Kudu as many stories I have read lead me to believe this would be the hardest trophy to find. After glassing from a few different spots we were moving to another vantage point when we spotted a heard of Impala with one nice ram. Impala was on my list, so we took off after them. After a couple of stock attempts we had success.

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He measured 23-3/8"

The next morning while hunting Kudu we came across a very nice Warthog. However, we were not able to get in position to take him. So we left the area and decided to have another go at him that afternoon. We found the group less than 100 yards from where we left them that morning. This time our approach gave us the upper-hand and we took advantage of it.

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His right tusk is 13-1/2" and the left is 13".

The third afternoon we got into the Kudu. After several stock attempts with out sucess, we spotted one as we were heading to another area to glass. A short stock later and I had a Kudu.

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He is 51"

The evening of the fourth day I got a Bushbuck, an other animal I've heard stories of people having dificulty in finding. We hunted the river bottom and jumped a few, but never saw one. Even the one that ran by us at ten feet! That evening we hunted the edges of the oarnge grove. We saw some more nice warthog and some smaller bushbuck, but there was no doubt when we saw this one.

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He measured 15-3/4" and was perfectly symmetrical.

After this I was pretty much done hunting and was able to watch my friends take some very nice animals. I'm sure Ivan will post his pictures when he gets a chance.

All and all it was a great trip. I was able to take the animals I wanted and was lucky enough to get some great trophies that exceeded my hopes.

Excellent trophies! That bushbuck looks thick! Great Wartie!
You did GOOD.

Lots of smiles in those photos, with good reason. Looks like a great safari.
Jeff

Those are some outstanding animals! Congrats again. Do you have any more pictures of that pig? He's a monster.

What kind of rifle did you use, bullets, distances, etc? How about bullet performance?

I need to finish my write up...

Beautiful images ihanson, I have a healthy envy supuesteo yourself and your safari. I am glad that you've managed to reduce very good trophies. And you remember what they say, who goes to Africa once he returned.

A greeting from Spain,

Oscar.

I shot the Impala, Warthog, and Kudu with my Rem. 700 30-06. This is the first rifle my dad bought me when I started hunting at the age of 12. I was using 180 grain Accubonds, which performed supurbly. I hit the impala 3-4" behind the shoulder and it exited between the last two ribs, not the best shot placement and it required a follow-up which entered in about the exact place and exited throught the opposite shoulder. This time he dropped at the impact.

The Warthog was hit a couple of inches behind the shoulder and the bullet was under the hide on the opposite shoulder. I didn't think to ask the skinners to save the bullet for me. He went ~40 yards.

The Kudu was an interesting story. Benji and I spotted him about the same time. I looked at Benji and he told me to take him. He was about 200 yards walking away, stopping to look back at us. I told Benji I didn't have a shot. He said "Texas heart-shot". After a few back and forth exchanges to make sure he was serious, I followed his directions. We ran up the trail to where he was standing and saw him standing about 100 yards up the hill. I put another bullet about 1/3 the way up his chest and right behind the front leg. He didn't make it far and was spraying blood the whole way. This bullet lodged under his hide on the opposite side. This time I made sure to ask for the bullet. It was in a nice mushroom shape, however, I left it in my pocket that night and it never made it back from the laundary so I can't tell you the retained weight.

The Bushbuck I shot with Ivan's 280 rem. I think he had it loaded with 140 grain accubonds. The bushbuck I hit through both of the front shoulders, he ran 30-40 yards before going down.

Here are a couple of pitcures. I snapped the one as they are loading the Kudu, you can see the placement of the first shot.

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BTW, I was using sharing the use of Ivan's 280 because Ivan's wife decided she like my 30-06 better. So I figured let her use it.

Congratulation on your trophies, they are indeed special. (Love that hog) Looks like a great time was had by all. The wife and I leave 8/13 for our first safari also in Limpopo. It is reports like this that has been giving me sleepless nights in anticipation.

Those are quality trophies, and I love the shape of your kudu.

Can you tell us how far the bullet penetrated on the THS?

Thanks for all of the comments. I never imagined I'd be lucky enough to take so many great trophies.

Boghossian, I didn't even think to ask or look.

Outstanding animals for your first trip to Africa. Congratulations on your successful hunt.