My 07' Africa Trip (pics)

[Muleyslyr]

OK....so I'm finally gettin' around to posting some pics of my trip to Namibia in October.  I know some people don't really get their kicks lookin' at Africa animals....but some do.  Something different now that the seasons around here are almost over.

I spent two and a half weeks back there with my father-in-law who has been there several times, but for me it was my first.  Have to say that if anyone has ever thought about going back there it is a must.  So hard to try and explain to someone until they actually do it.  I was no different.  But now that I've been, it was unbelievable what an experience it was.

I won't bore you guys with a bunch of stories, but if anyone is at all interested in going over there I'd be more than willing to help out.  The outfit I went with was awesome.  Did anything and everything to make sure we had a good trip.  Would highly recommend them to anyone.

Anyway....here's some pics in order of when I got em.....

Female Gemsbok.  Felt good to just get that first one under my belt.  Was a little surreal seeing that in my scope when your used to seeing Deer or Elk.



Kudu....In my opinion the most beatiful animal over there.  I called them the African version of a bull Elk.  Very majestic animal.



Male Gemsbok.  If you notice the horns on the Males are generally shorter than on females, but are noticably thicker.  This was a good Male.  He'll go on a pedestal.



Then we took a three hour drive and spent 3 days over in the Kalahari Desert.  What an unbelievable place that is.  Nothing like I expected.  Better.

First animal I got over there was this Springbuck.  Much like "our" Antelope over here.  Very elusive critter.



Blesbuck.  Also a very elusive critter.  Probably one of the harder ones to hunt.



Black Wildebeest.  They call this the poor man's Cape Buffalo.  It's got horns like a Cape, but obviously is a cousin to the Blue Wildebeest.



Blue Wildebeest.  Tough animal.  Not really the smartest critter walkin' the Desert, but they get in herds and can be pretty difficult at times to get close to em' with all those eyes.



Then came back and hunted the area we orginally started.  I was pretty much done with all the larger game animals I was gonna get so I took out the .22 Hornet.  Was hoping to get a Jackel which is their version of the Coyote but you usually only catch flashes of em' as they're flying across a dryed up river bed or something.

Anyway I did get this Steenbok.  Cute little things.  I would see quite a few of them, but they're usually bouncing through the thorn bushes and trees.  I'm actually gettin' a full body mount on this dude.  That'll look cool.



So I didn't exactly get everything I was going for, but that's a good thing.  Leaves me something to go back for.  I'm hoping to go back in 09'.  Only a couple weeks earlier so I don't miss deer season over here. 

Like I said.....Awesome trip and would say if you have the slightest chance or have the slightest urge to go.....do it!

[jackelope]

awesome pics. sounds like a great trip.
a friend of my step dad just came back from somewhere over there...he got a sable antelope and a cape buffalo. i'm waiting for the pics.

[Michelle_Nelson]

   Looks like you had a great time over their.  Congrats on taking some fine looking animals.

[saylean]

Great pics...how much on "trophy fees" did you rack up?! What a blast you must of had. My dad is harping at me to get him over there! Thanks for sharing.

[huntingnut]

Sounds like some great memories and those are great looking animals, congrats.

[Cascade]

Awesome pics!  Thanks for sharing those.  That had to have been a blast.  I tried picking up cheap trip over there a couple years ago at an SCI banquest. Of course, when the bidding started above what I had, it crushed those dreams in a hurry.

[arrowflinger]

Great pictures and thanks for sharing...............One day that will be me.

[addicted]

how much does one of those trips cost ya these days. nice animals. dream hunt

[Muleyslyr]

Thanks for the compliments guys, and gals.  Definately was a dream trip.

saylean....addicted....it really isn't as expensive as some might think.  All things relative of course.  But for my animals it was right around $4000 in trophy fees.  You figure that's maybe a decent Elk hunt....maybe.  That's for ONE animal.  But, it was roughly another $1900 in daily rates.  So you can figure on a good hunt for 10 days you can easily do for around $6000.  That's like the average cost of a guided hunt to WY. or somewhere.  Of course it all depends on what and how many animals you want to hunt too.

Then of course you gotta pay for airfare.  Gotta be honest not sure what that was, Father-in-law took care of that back in March.    But figure anywhere between $1000-1500.  It costs me at least half, if not three quarters that much in fuel when I drive from here to Eastern MT. or WY. and back every year.  So for a little more your in another Country hunting critters you only see in magazines and T.V.  It's worth the little bit of extra money if you ask me.

Just like any other vacation or hunt, gotta save for it.

[bucklucky]

Looks like your taxidermy bill will be about as much as the whole safari!
Nice job and great pics.

[Slider]

Awesome Animals!!! I'm going next June to RSA!!! Bowhunting with Teshepe. I figure with 6 animals about $14,000. Gulp LOL

[addicted]

they are also good photos for the photo of the month contest. its trophy moth

[cohoho]

Too cool, one of these days (years), I will go there..... 

[GoldTip]

Congrats on some dandy critters.  that is a great looking Kudu. 

[hogsniper]

Awesome pics and what a diverse group of animals...just awesome...someday i will do it...just gotta keep savin them pennies....congrats on all those trophies...Justin

[Muleyslyr]

Looks like your taxidermy bill will be about as much as the whole safari!
Nice job and great pics.

No doubt!!  Haven't tallied it yet.  My wife's mounts should be here within a week or so from her trip last year.  I would like to get some of mine done to off-set hers.

Awesome Animals!!! I'm going next June to RSA!!! Bowhunting with Teshepe. I figure with 6 animals about $14,000. Gulp LOL

Now that sounds like a blast!  You must be goin' after things like Eland, Sable, Cape Buffalo, etc.....to rack up that kinda bill. 

Thanks again for all the kudos guys.....

[Slider]

Muleyslyr Thats all inclusive. From the time I fly out of Wenatchee and return home. And the dip and ship and the Taxi bill!!!

[Idabooner]

Those are great trophies, congrats, that kudu is super

[WAmuleyHunter]

congrats on a great trip, love the pictures and the quality of the animals. I would say your taxi bill might surpass your hunt bill.  Congrats again.  I have a family member that has been over there several several times, and i think he has killed just about everything, you name it, he has got it. I could only image what the real bill is from all of his hunts and taxi work. Oh and the addition on his house for his african trophy room.

[Muleyslyr]

Oh and the addition on his house for his african trophy room.

I hear ya there!  I just got my Moose back last week....still in a crate in the garage.  We got 8 heads due here within a week or so from my wife's trip last year.  Now I got 8 more coming plus a deer.  We're already thinking addition.    Those are the kindsa problems I like. 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Your thinking addition?  I'd be thinking build another house, LOL.  Yeah I'd have to say the taxi bill is more than likely going to surpass the hunt cost.

African animals are quite a bit harder to mount.  Their realy short hair makes it alot harder to hide stiches.  I love getting in animals with manes.  Those are a LOT easier when it comes to hiding stiches!  It's a challenge and I love it!

[Slider]

I purchased my plane tickets 8 months in advance. Wentchee to Sea-Tac, Sea-Tac to Atlanta. Atlanta to Dakar. Dakar to Johannesburg and back. $2433.00. From Seattle to South Africa round trip would have been $2312.00!!! Just to ship and dip the animals South africa to Seattle will be $1000.00 +. If you don't have a Taxi that will get them through Customs you will have to pay for that also!!! $14,000 is a good estimate if you are hunting for 10 days thats 12 days in Africa. A 7 day hunt is $1000.00 dollors less. Good Luck

[couesbitten]

Hey Muleyslyr, great pic's. I can't wait to do that one of these days. But when I do, I want to take the whole family. That's not an experience the average person will ever have. My son and I could do the hunting, and the ladies could stay back and relax. From my research, I think Namibia is definately the place to go.

Couple of questions for you. What caliber rifle did you shoot your bigger animals with, and what was the name of the outfit that you hunte with?  Thanks, Scott

[Muleyslyr]

couesbitten.....sent ya a PM.

[Intruder]

Very NICE!

I'm working on a trip to SA August 08.   
Where did you hunt?
You doing your heads over there or in the states.... any particular reason you chose to do it here/there?
Would be interested in pickin your brain sometime on the whole experience.

Again.... very nice critters!

[Hunting Cowboy]

Good gawd! You filled a whole room with all those trophies! Great pics. Looks like a really great trip. Congratulations on all them critters and thanks for posting up the pics!

[actionshooter]

Awesome trip!! For years I have said I have no desire to hunt Africa, till my buddy went last year. I saw his pics and now I've been having 2nd thoughts. No doubt its a value compared to Alaska or Canada for 1 or 2 animals.

 I do have to warn some people who are thinking about it. My buddy had a great trip, outfitter was great and everything else while he was there. He had the taxidermy done there to be shipped to him. They contacted him with pictures of his mounts and ....... they weren't his. He had a 60" kudu that shrunk to 48" and so on. He is working with the outfitter to figure out some resolution. I would be PISSED   

[Smokepole]

Awesome pics!  I never thought you could hunt so many species in one trip.  I could get fired up over some of those trophies.  What do you do with all the meat?  Do you get to keep it, and does it taste good?

[hunterofelk]

Actionshooter, the same thing happened to me.  My Kudu, Gemsbok and Springbok got switched with someone else's.  I figured they ended up in Alaska, but those hunters were very uncooperative, so I had to give up and chalk it up to experience.  The taxidermy isn't that great either, so if anyone is going over there my advice is to have the work done here and have the least number of hands touch your trophies.

[WDFW-SUX]

The two things in africa that I want to shoot are a Hippo and A lion.  Given the cost of those hunts I think I will just buy some Elk and muley conservation/ landowner tags instead.   

[Michelle_Nelson]

It really doesn't matter if you have the taxidermy work done over their or have the hides just shipped to the States.  Either way their is plenty of opportunity for hides, capes, and horns to be stolen or swapped out for less appealing specimens. 

The care a lot of these guys in Africa take on animals absolutely SUX!  Most look like they have been skinned out with a hatchet or a machete.  I've seen capes come in that had no eye's, lips completely cut off, tails missing.  The skin's have either been flint dryed, air dryed or had rock salt put on them.  Basicly they use what ever is or is not lying around to dry your skins for shipment.  I've seen a lot where they don't even split the ears, turn the nose, turn the lips, or flesh them.  I've also seen hides come in with big bald spots on them from improper field care causing slippage.

If you go to Africa find a GOOD outfitter.  Get referals and ask for referances.  Whats the point of going if what you get back isn't yours or is absolutly unmountable?

[actionshooter]

It really doesn't matter if you have the taxidermy work done over their or have the hides just shipped to the States.  Either way their is plenty of opportunity for hides, capes, and horns to be stolen or swapped out for less appealing specimens. 

 That could be but when your here and the critters are overseas you can't do anything about it. At the same time I have heard of some really good taxis in Africa, guess you have to do as much research on that as the outfitter.

[Muleyslyr]

So much talk about the taxi work over there while waiting for mine and my wife's stuff makes me a little nervous.  I've seen the work done from the taxidermist I have my animals with, but there is still always a chance of something happening.

When I original posted this, we were waiting for my wifes heads to come back from her trip last year.  As seems like always the case, there was some confusion on when they were actually completed and payment actually recieved.....so here it is middle of Feb. and we haven't gotten them back yet.  Spoke with them directly last week and supposedly they have been shipped.  We'll see.  Really makes me nervous about my stuff.

I will post pics....good or bad.....of my wife's heads when we get em' back and hung up.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Muleyslyr, Love all the pictures. What a great tip!

I can't speak to your particular situation or taxidermist and such, and I don't pretend to know anything at all here, but it often seems like it is usually the case when dealing with shippments, taxidermy, tanning and the like. I always get a little nervous too as time marchess on especially when it seems like it is taking longer than it should. Give some time though, I'm sure everything is fine.

[Buckshot Bill]

Just curious Muleyslyr, did any of your animals make it in the Rowland Ward record books?  My parents went on a safari back in the late 60's I think it was and shot many of the same as you.  They had a great experience.  Thanks for sharing your pics and story.

[Michelle_Nelson]

It really doesn't matter if you have the taxidermy work done over their or have the hides just shipped to the States.  Either way their is plenty of opportunity for hides, capes, and horns to be stolen or swapped out for less appealing specimens. 

 That could be but when your here and the critters are overseas you can't do anything about it. At the same time I have heard of some really good taxis in Africa, guess you have to do as much research on that as the outfitter.

They don't just ship your hides to the states over night it can take months!  I'm talking 4 months and longer.  They haved to go through a process befor they can even enter the U.S.A.

I am sure their are good taxidermists over their like any where else.  

I do know this that African capes are some of the worst capes.  Ears tore off.  Eyes cut out, no lip skin, Shoulder Capes instead of Life Size Capes, slippage, Flint dried, etc.  You have to realy do your home work. 

[Muleyslyr]

And as you probably know Michelle, a lot of the capes and hides on the animals are bad to begin with.  Those animals live in some of the toughest conditions and country I've ever set foot in.  Thorn bushes like you wouldn't believe.  Like I was saying somewhere before, it's actually amazing some of em' come out as good as they do.  My wife shot a beatiful Kudu and the hide was hammered beyond repair.  She unfortunately had a Euro done on it.

Buckshot.....as far as the Rowland Ward goes, I honestly don't know.  I know they have Bronze, Silver, and Gold standards for scoring and I did have all mine scored in which I think 5 were Gold, two Silvers, and I believe my Springbok was a Bronze.