Forums.NitroExpress.com

That afternoon two Americans arrived in camp. Seemed to be good blokes. The following couple of days were spent looking for animals the Americans were after. Fred and I then flew to Windhoek and traveled to a Game Ranch about an hour West of Windhoek. This place covers about 55,000 hectares and is covered by rugged hilly terrain and has almost 1000kms of tracks on it.

I did most of my shooting from the high seats in the Cruiser tray. Not worried as the price was dirt cheap as all the game I shot were culls for Ranch food/baits. Some of the hills were that steep you go down them as a 4x4 won’t get up them. First day out I missed two Gemsbok that I called as good shots. Then we happened on the unluckiest animal in Africa. A Blue Wildebeest, about a 250 mt shot and he dropped, then I could not hit a smaller one with a broken leg. I then checked the scope to make sure it was on tight. Mounts and all were swinging in the breeze, only the front screw was holding it on. That meant back to using the 416 Rigby. The stuffed up rifle is an M17 converted to 358/338RUM The scope a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10X32. The screw holes I had made to 8X40. The mid screw sheered off. The one remaining screw looked like it was shorter. This will be going back to the gunsmith that built it after Christmas.

Now you know why that Wildebeest was the unluckiest animal in Africa. I had hit him in the spine, so I put a finisher shot into him from 2 meters. Not bad for a cull as its horns were bigger than the head the Ranch had mounted in the dinning room.

Myself, Johannes our tour guide and Fred

After lunch we were back out looking for Gemsbok. About 1930hrs several were seen about 2 kilometers away. We shortened the distance in the Landcruiser then put in a 200 mt stalk on a Gemsbok. Quartering front shot about 200 mts. He ran and fell about 50mts bullet, a 410 grain Woodleigh Weldcore Soft was found back near its rump when the staff were cutting it up.

The Gemsbok.

Gives you an idea how steep the place was.

The Weldcore.

Following day out after Zebra. Due to high wind most animals skittish. Final found some Mountain Zebra’s in a valley. 270mt shot on a steep down hill angle. I was pushing back on the shooting platform rails so I didn’t fall forward. Bad placed shot a bit too far low and broke the front leg. The Zebra ran up hill a short distance and stopped my next shot about 350mts was a little too far back (I didn’t allow enough hold over) and she ran downhill. She did not reappear so we went looking for her. This how we found her. Finished her run and tumbled down to stop in this allegiant pose.

A Mountain Zebra, note the herring bone pattern of the stripes on its rear.

Thanks for reading. Yes although this was my third trip to Namibia it was certainly my most exciting and rewarding.

Edited by Rule303 (24/12/25 08:43 AM)

Post Extras