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My Awsome African Adventure
31 May 2011, 08:45
alabama edMy Awsome African Adventure
Finally have time to get all the information together on my Awesome African Adventure.
Date of hunt: Began hunting 8 May and stopped hunting 16 May 2011.
The Details as follows:
Booking Agent: Phil Swearingen of
www.juistzoosafaris.com Phone Number: 334)332-4631.
Phil does an excellent job book and outfitting. He is very thorough and stays in contact and answers all questions.
Outfitter: Daan Mostert of
www.safariwildafrica.co.za Let me say that Daan put on a super safari and I give him credit for being persistent in finding my Blue Wildebeest.
PH Roaf Jordan. Roaf is the Crocodile Dundee of PHs, a very good people person and a great chef as well. Much credit for my success is credited to him.
Equipment as follows:
SAKO A7 S in 308 Win with Leopold VXII 3-9x40 with Federal 165gr TSX
TIKKA T3 Lite in 270 Win with Leupold FX 6x36 with handloads of 150gr Horn
Leupold binos
Browning Double rifle Travel Case (Bruiser)
Travel Insurance by Cabelas Travel
Firearms Insurance from NRA
Airlines: SAA from Dulles to Johannesburg RSA and Return
Meet and greet and firearms storage and SAPS licensing by Hunters Support (Air2000)
After hunt over nights at Afton House Johannesburg.
My wife and I departed our residence in North Alabama on 7 May and drove to near Dulles and the next day checked in at the SAA counter about 1:30PM. No problem with firearms or ammo. SAA flight was long and we were well fed. We were met at the Airport by a kind young man from Hunters Support and proceeded to the SAPS Office where we were met by Phil Swearingen, Daan Mostert and Roaf Jordan. A short trip followed to a guest house in Pretoria. The next morning after breakfast we picked up a chef (Bert), food and drove about 3 hours NW of Pretoria (I think).
After arrival at the hunting camp (a very comfortable and luxurious compound with chalets and very nice eating, cooking and relaxing accommodations) we checked the rifles for impact (no changes to either of my rifles were made. The SAKO in 308 was used for all trophies taken. No bullets were recovered as all were complete pass through.
We loaded into the back of the truck and soon to the delight of my wife had a close encounter with three giraffes. Soon thereafter several Kudu cows were spotted to the left and this big boy made the mistake of standing still long enough for a 60yd shot. Took two more shots to finalize the deal.
The nest morning after coffee and Rusks we left for the morning hunt only to soon spot three Zebras including this old stallion. After another 60yd shot, he went about 20 yds and collapsed.
Later that afternoon this very nice Impala showed up at 140 yds and was taken off the sticks.
The next day was a close encounter with two wildebeest at 60yds, but no deal. But then on Thursday at about noon the wildebeest were found at a water hole. A short 40 yd shot and the large wildebeest bolted to the left, but was not located until Sunday Morning dead and partially eaten by the Jackals. Much thanks to PH Daan Mostert and Phil Swearingen for searching for 3 days.
On one evening while returning from hunting this critter showed up in the grass at about 30 yds. What you see is the nice side.
On Saturday afternoon late while sitting in a high hide over a waterhole waiting for a warthog, this old and very nice critter showed up.
Early on Monday and the last day of my AAA this nice little Impala was taken at about 120 yds.
Later that afternoon there were four of us sitting at a waterhole watching an array of animals and hoping a nice Warthog would show himself. We were treated to monkeys, impala, gemsbock, kudu, waterbuck, giraffes and many female and young warthogs, many at mere feet away. Then at almost the last minute this guy showed up, trotting in at very short range. A quick running shot and he went down.
NRA
SCI & DSC
9.3x62
375 H&H
300 H&H
450 Nitro 3.25
Looks like you had a fine safari. Nice kudu and warthog, too! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your adventure with us.
Kim
Merkel Double .470 NE
Whitworth Express .375 H&H
Griffin & Howe .275 Rigby
Winchester M70 (pre-64) .30-06 & .270
"Cogito ergo venor" René Descartes on African Safari
Welcome to AR Ed,
Great report, and by the looks of things, you had a great hunt.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
31 May 2011, 15:30
Tim Heraldcongrats on a great trip...
Good Hunting,
Tim Herald
Worldwide Trophy Adventures
tim@trophyadventures.com
31 May 2011, 16:36
ghostbirdCongratulations Ed... nicely done.
Thanks for sharing your safari.
Andy
--------------------------------------------
National Rifle Association - Life Member
National Wild Turkey Federation - Diamond Life Sponsor
Pope & Young Club - Associate Member
Well done!!
Congratulations
31 May 2011, 19:44
Dave FulsonLooks like a very enjoyable adventure ! Nice post.
Dave Fulson
31 May 2011, 20:41
safari-lawyerWell done and welcome home.
BTW, where in North Alabama?
Will J. Parks, III
That kudu has very heavy horns and love the warthog. Thanks for sharing.
DRSS
Searcy 470 NE
31 May 2011, 21:49
MolepololeEd,
You must be the quiet type - only 15 posts in 8 years! All of your animals are splendid. Samir is right, that's a very heavy-horned kudu. I also love the look of your gemsbok, zebra, warthog, everything! Thanks for posting the report, and thanks for posting those beautiful full-screen photos of your animals. Outstanding!
Glen
01 June 2011, 01:24
retreeverEd,very nice and good shooting. Memories forever.
Mike
Michael Podwika... DRSS bigbores and hunting
www.pvt.co.za " MAKE THE SHOT " 450#2 Famars
01 June 2011, 01:48
FrostbitNice report. Thanks
01 June 2011, 02:31
Vince HazenCongratulations. When are you going back?
01 June 2011, 05:35
RSIMMONSGreat hunt and report!
01 June 2011, 05:52
SGraves155Lots of shooting in just over a week! Nice critters, too. Congratulations!
Very nice warthog and wildebeest.

Looks like a great time.
I love the wartie.
01 June 2011, 06:10
RidgemanNice post Ed. Looks like you both had a great time and took some nice trophies. Welcome to AR. Hope we hear from you again soon.
Very nice Ed, thanks for posting.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
Great hunt. Thanks for sharing, I love the Warthog!
.
01 June 2011, 09:00
JohnCrightonGreat looking animals - very well done! And you, sir, chose very proper rifles!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt
01 June 2011, 09:16
cjfosterGreat pics and hunt report!!
01 June 2011, 09:52
NicholosiI think the wildebeest will look great as a skull mount. Nice report looks like you had a good time.
John
Life Member Second Amendment Foundation
Life Member NRA
DRSS
01 June 2011, 17:21
bwanamrmWell done. That wildebeest skull looks like a Spanish fighting bull! Nice trophies...
On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.
01 June 2011, 17:26
JerseyJoeVery nice trip..Thanks for sharing..
01 June 2011, 18:17
Die Ou JagterNice hunt and nice trophies, cheers.
02 June 2011, 00:48
Use Enough GunOutstanding!

And, you spent it with your wife which makes it even better!

02 June 2011, 05:00
AmmoloaderWell done Ed, that is a beautiful Kudu and Warthog and impressive Wildebeast. Thank you for sharing your pictures and congratulations!
Cliff
NRA Life Member
CMP Distinguished Rifleman
NRA Master, Short and Long Range
02 June 2011, 09:04
steve_robinsonWell done! Gotta love that hog!
Steve(NOT Shakari)Robinson
NRA Life Member
SCI Life Member
DRSS
03 June 2011, 02:18
GraftonVery nice trophies and report.
lots of mass to that kudu. Great wildebeest and warthog. All good! Congrats.
03 June 2011, 03:06
GhubertWelcome Ed!
Great hunt and equally great report sir, well done!.
Regards,
GH
Congratulations on a great hunt. Excellent photos!
John
06 July 2011, 02:20
dlroxbyLooks like you and yours had a great time. If you get up to Huntsville come by and let's share experiences.
08 July 2011, 10:27
Big Game HunterCongrats on a great trip.
Where in North Alabama?
Keith O'Neal
Trophy Collectors Consultants
Po Box 3908
Oxford, AL. 36203
256-310-4424
TCChunts@gmail.com
All of your desires can be found on the other side of your fears.