Africa 2026

[Salmonchaser]

I just returned from my trip to The Eastern Cape, RSA. Hunted last time and this with Crusader Safaris. They have three primary ranches spread from near Durban down to 100 miles north of Port Elizabeth. These three comprise right at 1 million acres of free range hunting. They have been working at expanding their holdings and have been adding ranches the last four years. One of those is a fenced operation encompassing 250,000 acres. Near New London. While I was there my PH took advantage of my enthusiasm for the hunt and walking. On five of the seven days I hunted we went to one property or another that was being considered by my outfitter for either leasing or outright purchase. These were all working ranches, low fence with reasonable game populations. Ranged in size from about 10K to 55K hilly to mountainous. Each had only limited hunting history. To get a good feel for the ground we would leave the rig and take a 5 to 8 mile hike. Just to be neighborly my PH would ask the owner if they needed any bush meat. Got to take a few extra impala, wart hogs and the like. Saw plenty of most of the other species too. It was great fun.
Day one of my hunt started with four rounds from my 300 HH Ruger #1 that P-ham had worked over. First shot on paper confirmed zero 1 1/2 at 100. Banged plates at 200 300 and 400. With out adjusting the scope. PH liked that. Given time, sure I’ll adjust but with little time I’ll just shoot as long as we’re inside 400.
We had driven about a mile from the range when the tracker banged on the top of the Hilex. Lechwe. We dropped into a draw that would allow us to cover the 1200 or so yards putting us close if he stayed put. After a while PH said we should be with in 300, let’s sneak up and have a look. He was still there, quartering too and looking like he was going to take off but only 120 yards away. Broke his neck at the spine shoulder junction. We didn’t have to drag him far, got him loaded in the truck and headed back to the lodge.
After taking care of the Lechwe my PH said let’s go up there I’ve been seeing a real good waterbuck. Saw just about everything in the way of plains game on the way. Looked at a couple of waterbok but was told we can do better. We did a lot of walking that afternoon and finally came up with the big waterbok. Started working closer but he and his cows moved off before we could get in range. Hiked around some passed on several shooter Kudu that didn’t match or better my previous Kudu, saw about 15 different species before making it back to the truck.
Day 2 we went after the big waterbok. Parked a little over a mile form where we had seen him and worked our way closer using the terrain to get in on him. Bunched a herd of eland that ran right at him, poof, gone again.
We used most of the rest of the day making a big loop from on top of the mountain. Saw a ton of game including several decent waterbok but my PH thought we needed to give the big one a little more time. Late that afternoon we wandered back in to have a look but could not locate the waterbok we were after. On the way there we stopped to look at some blue Wildebeast. Mark, PH, pointed out two bulls. I know those aren’t on your list but both those guys will go in the book easy.
On the way back to the truck with just a little daylight we crested a ridge and had the herd of Blue Wildebeast out in front about 200 yards. Mark described how much wider he was than his ears, how heavy his bosses were and the horns swept back noticeably. Ok you talked me into it. Bang flop, 180gr accubond does it again. Green score puts him into the sci book safely.

Day three found us trying to locate the big waterbok. By 0800 or so we had glassed up several but had failed to locate the big one. The tracker came up with him first. The bull was working his way up a ridge about a mile from where we sat. PH and I hustled out of there and had just about accessed the top of the ridge when the tracker called on the radio. Looks like he is getting ready to dive into the thick stuff. We hit the top of the ridge and immediately see the bull. Mark whispers 262 in my ear. Several of his cows had already dropped off the ridge into the thick stuff. Just as he turned to follow his cows I held for a high shoulder and tapped the trigger, He managed one long jump and collapsed.
Minimum score for sci is 67 inches. He green scored 79.

 

[MTpubliclander]

Awesome!!! Keep it coming!!!!!

 

[fishing4sanity]

Lekker! I hope there's a lot more to come. You're sure making me miss the uniqueness and beauty of Africa.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Mark, my PH, was really surprised on the size of the waterbok. This animal is huge, he said. Don’t think I’ve ever taken one with as big a body. The three of us, got him rolled around got some photos and then waited on 6 or 8 guys who were working in the area to show up and get the bull off the mountain. The guys showed up, rolled him onto a 6x4 tarp with handles sewn on and off they went. Later learned he was right at 450 pounds gutted.
I am not a good photographer and struggle to remember to take photos, particularly landscapes. The ground we were hunting on was roughly 450,000 acres. I figured in three days I had seen only a few thousand. It is steep and very rocky ground, the slopes are covered to varying degrees with wild olive and acacia. The tops of these ridges often form flats and benches that are open grasslands. The game is everywhere. Kudu in the thick stuff, Wildebeast on top kind of thing. Buffalo seam to like both.
Mark had a plan for the rest of the morning. We literally saw 100s of impala, blesbok, blue and black wildebeast, Lechwe, sable, eland, mt. Reedbuck, springbok and a few cow gemsbok over the course of a three mile drive. Seemed like every little basin we found there was game.
Simms our tracker shouted in Zulu. We stopped abruptly, Mark bails so I do too. Nothing exciting but a punctured tire. There is no spare. Mark is apoplectic, Simms tells him one of the other PH had a flat yesterday so took Marks spare this morning. Don’t know what it is about guides but I had the same thing happen to me when I was guiding in Oregon and Alaska. It’s universal I guess.
There are 1/2 dozen hunters in camp, in three days I haven’t seen any of them in the field but it’s been a good morning. Anyone who could bring us a tire is involved in recovering or tracking animals. I suggest we hunt instead of walking the two track back to camp, looks to be about 5 miles.
Over the next two hours or so I pass on 1/2 dozen Kudu that are shooters but not any more spectacular than the one have on the wall. Kudu not on my list this time but I’ve kinda decided I’ll shoot a really good one should I get the opportunity. We see quite a few other potential targets, Look at a couple of eland bulls, even three giraffes. The hike does get pretty rough, kind of ground you sweat walking down hill. We pop out of the Acacia thorn Forrest at the lodge. You look a little worse for wear Don. It was a great adventure I said. After a shower and a long lunch and a tic picking session we spent the afternoon checking out a property the outfitter was thinking to acquire. It was well stocked with cattle, sheep and game. We had seen an exceptional Impala that bolted immediately on seeing the truck. Spent the afternoon trying to get a shot at him to no avail. Hell of a bunch of fun.

Day four a plan was hatched to go find a good Gemsbok. Not uncommon for outfits to shoot cows or bulls but my PH told me we would only target bulls. Had good intel from one of the other PHs where they had seen a decent herd with a couple of good bulls the day before. We got into the area just after daylight, Mark figured we were a mile or so from where the herd had been. We grabbed our day packs, I shouldered my rifle, took ten steps and walked right into Mark. The herd is 700 yards away, standing in the morning sun. Unbelievable. We had just started stalking towards them when we bump into a gigantic warthog. Mark points I raised the 300HH and we look at each other and start laughing. I”m about to shoot a true trophy warthog instead of shooting a Gemsbok. Mark offers we are more likely to find the warthog later. So we are back on the Gemsbok, but we both look back at the pig.

We dump into a wash that gets us pretty close to them, just a little over 300 yards. Finally two bulls separate out a little. Mark whispering, the one to the left, head down no looking back, 325. He drops instantly kicks a couple of times, I’m reloading. The dam thing is up and running. I can see the blood as he careens through the Acacia getting close, fast. As he crosses the two track just in front of us I fold him with a good hit on his shoulder. I’m flabbergasted. My first shot had just clipped the lower edge of the spine, there was lung in the exit hole, lots of blood and he probably wouldn’t have gone far but I was disappointed he hadn’t stayed down.

Spent a couple hours after taking care of the gemsbok looking for the warthog with out success. Hell of a fun day.