African Safari 2012 - The update thread

[Elkstuffer]

just got back from SA and had a great time that exceeded every promise

This post sucks....  We need a full report with photos!

lhrbull just picked up his dall sheep from me today and I got to see his pictures (yes, they do exist). He said he'd get them up as soon as he could figure out how

[Rob]

email them to me and I'll resize them so they can be posted!

[Rob]

only 5 more saturdays!!!

Ahhhh

[lhrbull]

Rob thank you so much for posting the pictures of my trip to Africa. Has your group all decided on their animal priority. it really made a difference to my PH and where we were going to hunt first on his game farm or the other one we used. Now don"t get me wrong when we came upon the blue wildebeest first there was no question that we were going to stalk and take your chances there first even thou the nyala was the highest priority. good luck on your hunt and best of luck filling your dreams.

[Rob]

That's what makes Africa so cool.  The chance to start the day after one animal, and end up with twos trophies - neither of which were the ones you started out after!

For dad and I , the #1for priority is cape buff.  Then dad wants an Nyala and a waterbuck.  For me,  after the buff I really don't care.  I am interested in waterbuck, giraffe, and crocodile.  Crocodile may not be a go given our change in venue.


The other guys are looking for Kudu, warthog, impala and zebra.

Time is ticking away!

[lhrbull]

After buffalo, sable the nyala was my first choose but when you see them in person they all have an appeal we didn't find a mature waterbuck that we could get close to which was also very high on my list. so it was disappointing to not come home with one but the trip was so fabulous that it was easy to put that one disappointment it the back of my mind. my next least will start with waterbuck,gemsbok,black wilderbeest and a buf if i can save that kind of money also a blessbok my wife really thought they were beautiful.

[fvh40]

 





And Bushbuck

[Rob]

Not finding a waterbuck is a good thing.  My buddy likes to call that "unfinished business".  And we all know that business cannot be left unfinished!

only 3 more Saturday's till I leave.  Zim continues to freefall.  Hopefully we will get our trip in before it totally implodes!

[lhrbull]

do you still get to hunt in the SAVE or are hunting eles where now that buffalo hunt will be an adrenilin rush for sure from what little i have heard great luck

[Rob]

All the land in the SAVE was taken from the current operators and given to Mugabe’s military leaders in an indigenization effort.  The only exception is a German operator who evidently was spared having his lease canceled due to having no ties to colonialization

The SAVE operators who were removed from their land, are making good on booked hunts and making alternative plans for their futures and families.

Our hunt with Terry Anders (the first operator to have lost his land/lease) found us an alternative hunt along the southern border with South Africa (Limpopo region) at a place called Sentinal.  Looks like an outstanding area to hunt and we are:
-Excited for our hunt
-Grateful that Terry found us a good alternative
-Sad that Terry and his fellow SAVE operators have lost their hunting leases on the SAVE.

[h20hunter]

Only three more saturdays.....having trouble sleeping yet? Having bizarre hunting dreams? I get very strange in the head as I get closer to big hunts.

[Rob]

I am strange enough in the head already so I am not noticing much of a difference.

I am very excited to get on the plane and start the trip – this has been nearly 2 years in planning! 

All the big things are done, but I have what seems to be an endless list of small things that need to be done before I get out of here!

[gramps]

Good Luck !!


off topic...are you gonna be at boomershoot next spring?

[Rob]

Yes sir! 

Our group picked up three slots this year so we can get a bit larger spread.  I just got my 338 Lapua shipped to me and took it out to the range this last weekend to start load development.  I should be able to have her up and running before boomer starts.

[h20hunter]

Rob.....how long until you are hunting. Not on a plane, not on the ground.....in the bush with rounds loaded...