Hello everyone,

This hunt report is long overdue. My cousin, Kevin Oetken, and I hunted with Johan Strasheim of Bahati Adventures in June of this year and wanted to share this awesome adventure with you all. This was my first trip to Africa and it was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable and life-changing events I have experienced my entire life. I booked my hunt through Ken Moody and was extremely pleased with how he handled all communications to and through Bahati Adventures. It was very easy having Ken here in the US as I could just pick up the phone and call when I had questions.

The hunt started with the routine flight to J'Burg and then we drove up to Pretoria for an overnight stay. From there we jumped in a bush plane and headed for Polokwane. Then it was on to Beira, MZB. After Beira, we had a short flight to Coutada 10. Sensory overload set in about now as we landed on the airstrip. The country is just plain awesome.

On our first morning, we went after my twelve year dream of cape buffalo. After reading all the books I had about buffalo (Ruark, Capstick, etc), I was not sure how I would react. Walking through the tall grass that morning literally took my breath away when I first heard a low roar and then saw their black outlines. Our PH, Marius Verster (also assisted by PH Coert Jansen Van Rensburg) got very excited when he saw the bull I eventually would shoot. I shot him at about 50 yards one time with my 416 Rigby. The herd exploded and actually ended up running right at us. Talk about nut shrink. After the herd moved off, we walked forward and I heard the death bellow. Marius asked me to shoot him one more time through the back but he was already dead. A dream come true-



Later that day, Kevin made a great shot on this old boy running through the grass. I am no expert on warthogs, but I knew he was a monster when I firsst saw him:



The next day, I was able to take this very nice warthog. Mine looked like junior next to Kevin's. They sure are good eating!



Over the next few days, we also got to take two awesome waterbucks. Man, are they tough. It took three shots from my 416 to bring mine down and three shots from Kevin's 375 to bring his down. Beautiful and elegant animals:

Here is Kevin's:



And here is mine:



Over the days, we were able to see thousands of animals. Huge, massive herds of sable. What regal animals God created there! Thousands and thousands of waterbuck. Warthogs galore. We also saw many oribi, suni, red duikers, hartebeast, reedbuck (Kevin shot a nice one!), bushpig (again, Kevin shot a nice one!). We loved every minute Mozambique could give us. On the last day in the last half hour of the safari, Kevin shot this very nice bushbuck:



All told, we took fifteen animals. I finally got my baboon on the last day. Some say this photo is proof of evolution:



In addition to the hunting, we were able to do some exploring too. Marius took us to this village where the children had never encountered white people before. And believe me, I am white. It was like stepping back in time 200 years or so:



This village made me realize how fortunate we are here in the US.

I could go on and on with how happy Kevin and I were with Bahati Adventures. They far exceeded our expectations. Johan is an honest and sincere man who earned our respect and trust completely. He will do everything to make sure you have the adventure you desire. Marius and Koert, our PHs, were professional with a capital P. All of the trackers and staff are friendly and the food, although not cuisine, is excellent (you won't get fat on this hunt but you will eat well). Back straps of cape buffalo is about the best tasting meat in the world!!

As you can read, I had an experience in Mozambique that I will cherish forever. It was humbling to see God's wonderful creation on full display. It has, in fact, been difficult to adjust back to life here in Iowa. Kevin and I are already planning a return trip.......

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my experience. God bless.

Monte

It sounds like this trip would be hard to top! I think you should expand your report with details on the other animals with pictures.

2009 is now the target year for my second safari and first for buffalo, I hope to have as good of time as you did.

Chris

Very nice. Congratulations on a successful hunt and great report.

Monte, super Buff, congratulations. Mozambique is a great hunting destination.

Monte,

Congrats on a great adventure and safari. I hope to hunt with Johan myself in'09 and I greatly look forward to it.

Mark

Beautiful, Buff, capehunter. Very nice, indeed!
Dave

Great report and some excellent trophies. Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like a fantastic trip with a good hunting partner. Congrats to both of you. I would really like to see coutada 10 myself.

So, what is next for you?

That buff is a great trophy, nice pics.

Well done Monte! Like the others have said, that is one fine buff! Kevin's wartie is no slouch either!!

John

Great trophies!

Nice Report, Wonderfull pictures, Congratulations and thanks for sharing .

Enjoyed the report and photos, looks and sounds like some very good memories.
Thanks
Jeff

Hello Monte: Thanks for a super report on Bahati! I am scheduled to leave Atlanta this July 29,2008 and hunt with Johan and his crew. (10 days in Mozambique and 5 in SA.) - My hunt list includes Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Waterbuck, Eland and Kudu. - With luck I might get a shot at most on this list.

I met Johan at the 2007 SCI Convention in Reno, and booked the hunt.- - Reading your positive commentary about Johan, the PHs, and the Coutada 10 hunting area makes me even more confident of a wonderful hunt.

My hunt experience covers much of the USA, Canada, and two trips to Argentina (red stag and Asiatic buffalo), but this is my first trip to Africa.

I hope I can post a great report/photos (like yours), when I return...

--Bill
And I say to myself,
"what a wonderful world."

wow what great trophies
Thanks for sharing

Fantastic Buff!

I have never seen a hunt report on Bahati where the trophies wern't superb.

Congratulations on a great hunt.

Sound's like you guys had a bang-up time, great photo's and very nice trophies, your buddies pig is a brute anywhere in Africa.

Dirk

Capehunter 1,

What could you tell about the quality of the sable? You mentioned seeing herds, but did you try for one?

Mozambique sounds like what a lot us want to do after having been on a plainsgame hunt or two.

There were herds of sable everywhere. I did not try for one ($$$$) but I could have shot a monster on several occassions. Next time............ Let me know if you have any other questions.

Monte

sept 25 i am headed there. i hadn't seen this report before and it sure gets the blood pumping!!

Damn good warthog.