Safari report 1-10 May 2009

Company: Wild Footprint Safaris
www.wildfootprintsafaris.com

PH: Pieter-Louis Le Roux
Rifle: Browning A Bolt SS Stalker.
Caliber: 375 H&H Mag
Rounds: Federal Power-Shok 270 gr Soft Points

Country RSA - Free State and Limpopo

I will have to force myself to be brief. It would be very easy to turn this into a novel. Let’s see how I do.

After a lifetime of dreaming about Africa, We were finally on the way. The flight on SAA from Dulles to Johannesburg was long but uneventful. I had hired Air2000 to handle the rifle permits as well as provide a "meet & greet" Let me tell you, which was money well spent. The representatives were waiting for us when we arrived in the terminal. We were escorted to passport control, then baggage and gun claim. Next the SAPS office to finish the permit process. Pieter-Louis was waiting for us there. Moments later we were out the door. NO ISSUES. Just the way I like it.

We headed SW from Jburg for about 2 hours into Free State arrived in camp around 7:00pm. Greeted by Pieter’s lovely wife and family. Ate and off to bed. I actually slept well. No jet lag. Up at 5:00am. After breakfast and sighting in guns, we were ready to hunt.

Gemsbok was the primary animal. With opportunity animals taken as they came. Spotted Gemsbok started a stalk.

Pieter spotted 3 Impala bedded. After several minutes, I was finally able to see them. Pieter evaluated them and told me we could do much better. Me being me, decided that I wanted to take one. Hey they all looked good to me. Pieter got me into position on the sticks. When Impala stood up 75 yards away, I had harvested my first African animal. I was thrilled to pieces. As we approached the Impala, Pieter pointed out a very good Impala off in the distance. I now know what a very good Impala looks like! None the less, I was excited. More important to me was that I made a good shot.

After the truck arrived and the picture taking, we continued looking for Gemsbok
Closed to within 250 yards of the Gemsbok, PH asked if I could make that shot. The grass was too high to get in a prone position, but I was able to get into a sitting position. Locked in and felt very steady. At the shot, the Gemsbok fell forward 1 step and was down. 270gr SP exited out the opposite shoulder.

Next was Springbok. Funny story with this was that I am always concerned with Gun Safety. I never had a round in the chamber unless I was getting ready to shoot. When we came up on the Springbok, It happened so fast. I was on the sticks, squeezed the trigger and CLICK. In the excitement, I forgot to chamber a round. I was so flustered; I quickly cycled the bolt and proceeded to shoot under it. Springbok took a few steps and made the mistake of stopping. My only defense is that a Springbok at 160 yards is not a very big target:)

Blesbok was the last animal I harvested in the Free State. Shot was 100 yards; it was as I call it, "a good miss". I pulled the shot left and shot it through the neck. Same result as the other animals, but to me I don't like hitting where I am not aiming.

Off to Limpopo and a camp called Alpetra http://www.alpetraranch.co.za/
What a fantastic place!!!!!
Target animals were Kudu and Blue Wildebeest.
It was very wet there. Roads had been washed out. 4x4 was a must much of the time.
I now know why Kudu is called the "Grey Ghost of Africa" we spent 4 days looking for "Big" Kudu. All I can say is close, but no cigar.

On one stalk, we walked right into 2 big Buffalo that were laying down for a morning nap 30 yards away. How does something that big not be seen until you are that close.Needless to say, they were not impressed with us. The PH backed us out of there in a hurry. One of the Buffs decided that we required further incentive to leave and followed us down a game trail. I was watching the back trail and we proceeded to walk right into a sleeping Giraffe. It exploded out of the brush and my heart exploded out of my chest. Unfortunately, I got no pictures of the buffalo that we encountered. I will say that the Cows with calves are the most aggressive. We encountered a herd while driving. One of the cows charged the truck. The one thing I noticed was that as they ran away, they hooked every bush near them. Is that a defensive/offensive thing? Do they figure there has to be a predator in every bush, so you might as well get a blow in while you can?
I have to go Buffalo hunting!!!!!!
Found many Leopard tracks in the dirt. Looked like a big Kitty to me. You be the judge. (Shell is a 375 H&H)

Anyway, found my Blue Wildebeest. The bush was so thick. I was kneeling down in the mud to see under the bush. The Wildebeest was standing 75 yards at an acute quarter towards us. Pieter told me to aim at the junction of the neck and shoulder. At the shot, the Wildebeest dropped.

We never got a quality shot opportunity at a big Kudu, we saw many, but Pieter and I had agreed that there was no reason to shoot a small one just to say you shot one.

As I am sure is always the case, there are a thousand little stories within stories and I have plenty. If I don't stop here, I will never get this posted. Let me wrap this up by saying we had a Wonderful adventure. The PH and his family were fantastic. There were no unwelcome surprises, we always felt safe and Pieter always was in control of situations. He is a gracious host and a gentleman. My wife could not have enjoyed her self more.

My friend Bryan, harvested a Gemsbok,Impala,Springbok,Blesbok and elected to shoot a Black Wildebeest instead of a Blue.

We have over 4000 pictures and great memories. The only bad part about going to Africa is leaving.
A couple of things I learned,
1) Never to go to Africa thinking that you only are going to shoot a certain animal. I made that mistake and when Pieter put me on the sticks with a Duiker with 6-7 inch horns, I passed on it. Boy was that a mistake. I realized it after it was gone. Same was true for a Zebra and Warthog. Have a couple of primary target animals in mind and if the PH says "Boy that is a nice animal" Shoot and worry about the cost later.

2) Always listen to what the PH says. I found that little of my hunting knowledge from North America really applies in Africa.

3) Shoot the biggest caliber gun you can effectively shoot. I certainly was not over gunned with the 375 H&H. Every animal dropped in its tracks. Plus it was nice to have when encountering the Buffalo in the bush.

4) Relax and Enjoy.

5) Sunsets in Africa are spectacular! Especially when there is rain in the area.

Thanks to this forum and all that replied to my questions. I went to Africa well prepared and benefited from it immensely.