15 July 2009, 07:04
remington270Kalahari hunt 2008
Been following this forums for some time so thought it was time i posted some of my hunts.lets hope it works.It all started with a trip back to south africa in june 2008 for my grandmas 80th and whats a trip to africa without a hunt?So a plan was made to hunt the Kalahari as none of us had ever been in the area before.We usually hunt the limpopo area.We made some calls and found a local guy that only really deals with meat hunters but came highly recommended by a friend so that would have to do for us.
We landed in jo burg and hit the road the next moring early on our way to upington.When we arrived in upington we met one of dads friends at the local airport that had flown in from NZ to come for his 3rd hunt in africa with us.A futher 2 hours north we saw salt pans and intresting birds nests.
We arrived in askam close to the botswana border.
We booked into the molopo lodge for the evening planning to travel another 30 miles to the hunting property.
The accommodation was fantastic and we were treated to a great sunset over the red dunes.That night we feasted on springbok and gemsbok steaks with a few local beers to wash it down with.
We hit the road the next morning on our way to the hunting grounds.you could see the excitment in peoples eyes.the farm was located right on the edge of the south africa and botswana border with only a gravel road and stock fence seperating the two countries.
Botswana on the left SA on the right.
When we arrived the farmer told us how things would work and a little about his operation.
The property we would be hunting was 5000 hec with some stock on it and fences to control stock movement only.the game had very little regard for these fences.The property hadnt been hunted in 6 months so game would be plenty full and not too spooked. he informed us he had 8 other areas he had rights to hunt all around the 5000 hec mark.He mentioned he also culled red hartebees that cross the botswana border and sells them for meat. this was one weeks cull
Our accommodation
We took a trip to the range to make sure the borrowed rifle was shooting were it should be. then it was off for the hunt.
we headed out to the area with springbok and gemsbok the targets.
The property gate
It didnt take long before we started seeing game and after a couple of missed shots a shot connected a nice springbok ram in the eye.
Handshakes and smiles all round as we had one on the ground.we carried on through the dunes onto a lone eland bull and a herd of springbok not far behind. It took two shots to put the ram down with the first hitting in the gut. but a nice ram was down and the guy from Nz had his springbok.
we were all alittle suprised with the shooting so far but put it down to not being familier with the gun.the tracker explained of a large herd of gemsbok that lived in the area and we should try for them before sundown.an hour or so and we had foound them under the shade of some thornbushes but they were alert and moved into the open towards the next dune.
Ranged at 180 and the gun was sighted for 200 i aimed low on the shoulder and the rifle barked. as the head took of we moved in to find blood but the trackers said i hit high in the shoulder.after tracking for a wile we found the heard again. it wasnt hard to find my bull as he had a line of blood down one side.At the shot he dropped and as we got close no one wanted to slit its throat so one more in the neck and it was down for good.
It was a great bull and i was stoked. My dad also managed to take a gemsbok later that day that turned out to be a cow.the first shot droped it clean only to have it jump up and bolt to be found lying down later on.
the eye brows were being raised at some of the shooting after a couple of misses and some poor shots,until the farmer informed us that occasionaly the rifle may throw a slightly wild shot out because of the worn barrel. it didnt matter however a great day of hunting and it was back to camp for the eveing beers and some bbq foods.
All animals were dropped of to the skinners to be delt with.
the evening we walked up to one of the many red dunes close to camp for a few sun downers.the farmer later joined us with his truck
As the sun set we reflected what a great day it was with botswana in the distance before returning to the camp fire and some well earned sleep.
the next morning we resumed our hunting and it wasnt long before we played cat and mouse with a herd of clever red hartebees who just wouldnt offer a shot up. in the prosess i came across a lone springbok ram and got my second animal of the trip.
The sun was starting to heat up but me did manage to catch up with a nice hartebees bull before lunch.
The country we were hunting was all red dunes running east to west with large basins between them were the animals fed and rested.
On the way back to camp i connected with a nice steenbok ram which i was very happy about.what a great little animal
That afternoon we scored two great gemsboks.one a really old warrior and one a record book cow.
The shooting had improved a great deal but these animals were tough to kill.Dad managed a shot on a good springbok ram trotting down one of the fenceline.the shot connected at 270 yards only to have the ram pop through the fence and trot 50 yards before to fall over.
with all the animals taken we decided to call it a day but couldnt resist one last springbok on the way back to camp.
Some more fotos from the skinners
Another night of sundowners on the hill and we found this guy
we had 5 days of hunting booked but secured all the animals we wanted and more in only two days.it was great to see areas well managed and given breaks from hunters to grow a healthy population of quality animals.
We decided to book into a lodge closer to the kalahari national park and go view some game for the remaining days.
On the way we decided to do some border jumping in botswana who said you need a passport
standing in botswana
No mans land between the two countries only a stock fence as the border
the lodge we stayed.
Theres always a camp fire in africa and steaks a cheap and plenty full!
the dinner setting
Some pictures from the kalahari national park
large bird nests in this part of the world
Springbok were everywere
whiteface
It was a great trip.food accommodation and hunting was all above expectations.hopefully will make it back there some time soon.
Dreghorn game ranch and molopo lodge both offer hunting as well and can be viewed at
http://www.upington.com/Towns/...%20Accommodation.htm
hope you enjoy the post
