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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Articles > A Country Boy Goes on Safari - Part 4 of a Series
A Country Boy Goes on Safari - Part 4 of a Series
Brad Swadley - JHO ProStaff
- Dallas, TX
February 06, 2008
Roughing It
The tents were not quite the same as Selous and Hemingway may have used, but they were comfortable. |
We were arriving there on a Sunday afternoon, which would allow plenty of time to sight in the rifles and my bow. I had brought my Mathews LX with me, and was prepared to take my first African plains game with it.
When we arrived, the first order of business was to choose our lodging. I preferred the safari lodge, but they soon talked me into the tented safari. “Just like the old timers,” Johan said.
It was like going back in time. I guess going back in time meant they had cement floors and tin roofs over their tents as well! Okay, probably not, but I bought into the fact that it was more appropriate to the old times and also what the rest of the group wanted to try, so I gave in. I asked Johan to sleep in the same tent as I so in case the hyenas were to get hungry late at night, they would have a choice.
We unpacked and the talk soon turned to the lodge that they had just built at the ranch. It was a magnificent building, with a rustic tin roof with the dull brown mixing with a hint of reddish-brown rust, natural logs for the front porch bracing, and local stone used to cover the exterior walls. Sitting on the porch you had a grand view of the Drakensburg mountain range, adding to the allure of the whole experience. Inside were a cape buffalo and kudu mounts, as well as a beautiful kitchen that we would use while there. The boma area looked nice and comfortable with dark wooden chairs covered in a dark green canvas. These were neatly arranged around the fire pit, and the brai was sitting close by.
We then turned our efforts into sighting in our equipment. First up were the rifles. We made a temporary target out of a piece of paper and chambered a round. Johan was first to go and had to do a minor adjustment. I had two touching the bullseye so it was determined that the adjustment was just fine. We finished that up then headed for an archery target Japie used. Japie is a fine bow hunter as well, and participated in my warm up maneuvers. My first arrow flew low below the target. Either due to nerves or just not having shot the bow in about the past three weeks, the arrow launched into the African sky never to be found, at least not while we were there. I tweaked in the site and got settled into my routine. After taking a few shots at forty yards and hitting the bullseye, I felt ready to go. We hurriedly headed towards the camp and changed clothes. We then launched out into the ranch, leaving nothing but a dust trail.
Immediately, we started to see animals. In fact, a nice kudu jumped out of the bush just before we got to the pit blind used for bow hunting. It didn’t stop, so we didn’t pursue. But it was quite breathtaking to be close to that majestic beast. It was the reason Johan and I had come to South Africa on safari. It was Johan’s dream animal, and ranked second to me behind the gemsbok. We motored down the road about another one hundred and fifty yards and Japie and I got out and climbed down into the pit ground blind. The others were headed out to drive around to see what other animals were on the property.
Off to a good start
This leg of the hunt began with a hefty blue wildebeest. |
We sat in the blind for about forty minutes with no activity. A round short cement water trough protruded from the ground about twenty yards in front of us. A few thin stalks of green cane type grass could be seen, as well as an old gray log lying in the trough. Finally I spotted a small steenbok grazing around us. Another quickly followed and they lazily fed for several minutes. That is until the baboons came in. A posse of baboons came into the water hole to drink. A first, a few of the younger ones came into take a quick sip. Then the lead male came in. At first, it was just amazing to see them come in. But the big male soon took control. At one point, he got up on the log to admonish the youngsters playing around him. As he bared his fangs, growled and went after the young ones around him, I was quite intimidated! Japie asked if I would like to shoot a baboon, but to be quite honest, it was not something I really wanted to do. Furthermore, if I had not taken that big boy out with the first shot, it looked like he could do some damage. So with that, we just watched until they took off.
One thing to note was that the blind had two-way glass in the front. One little baboon came right up to the window where I was and tapped on the glass. It was quite funny, as when I tapped back he went racing off. All the while the big male sat by the water trough glaring at the blind and looking for an excuse to come in and visit. They finally left and we saw some giraffe come into drink, as well as some zebra go wandering by. It really left me wanting more and anxious to hear about what the others had seen while out on the property scouting about. As we were driving back in, we saw a nice herd of impala, and Johan decided to take a nice ram. It was a good move, as we had our first taste of impala tenderloin for supper that night.
Nightfall found us around the campfire drinking our cares away and reaching out to the outside world via the internet. Gus, Johan’s brother-in-law, had brought his laptop along which included a wireless internet card. We were able to send emails and share the experience in real time with others. If I had remembered to bring a card reader, I could have shared more pictures at the time. But unfortunately, I forgot so that would have to wait until we got back to the states. I was able to post some updates on the Jesse’s Hunting and Outdoors website, so I was thankful for that.
We took some nice hot showers and went to bed. There was a chill in the air, but the soft bed with the warm blankets made me doze off to sleep rather quickly. I only briefly woke up once upon hearing the hyenas outside in the distance, noting to myself that Johan was sleeping quite soundly.
The next morning found us driving around to see what else we could spot. After about thirty minutes of driving around, we came across a nice herd of blue wildebeest. Japie caught a glimpse of a nice old bull and suggested we track after them. So he and I hopped out of the truck and started to track. We decided for this hunt to use my .375 H&H Magnum rifle.
We had quietly stalked several hundred yards into the bush when he motioned me to stop. He then summoned me up and pointed in front of us. I could just make out a few of the herd, but you could also hear them moving around. He glassed for a few minutes more and saw the one. We crept a little further along, careful not to spook them. Japie reached a spot and setup the shooting sticks for me. He told me in a low hushed voice to place the rifle on the sticks and look through the scope. The old bull would be the one in front.
I did as I was told, and sure enough, there he was. There was another wildebeest in front and Japie said to take the shot as soon as the other one cleared. I only had about a twelve inch diameter opening to shoot through, with the wildebeest looking at us but quartering away partially to my right. Japie said to put the shot on his shoulder. It was about a one hundred yard shot through some tight brush. Once the other wildebeest cleared, I squeezed the trigger. The wildebeest jumped up then took off to our left trailing the herd. I asked Japie and he said it looked like a good shot, and that I had hit him well.
It was hard to tell the way the wildebeest was running off that it was a good, solid hit, but I trusted Japie’s judgment. He asked me to wait and he took off after the wildebeest. He got to just on the edge of my sight and motioned for me to come forward. I did and then we started to track. He didn’t find but a little blood, but did find the spore of the wildebeest with the hooves somewhat splayed apart. Japie explained to me that it was a sign that the old bull was dying. Sure enough, about twenty yards ahead of us, we saw him. I was pumped and he was a grand old bull! We took several pictures and I really admired the gleam of blue on the animals hide. It was quite a start to the day.
We finished the rest of the day looking and watching for that elusive gray ghost, the kudu. We sat at a water hole blind that afternoon and had another wildebeest come into drink. This time I had my bow, but somehow managed to miss at thirty five yards. Be it nerves or just being nervous shooting out of the blind, I missed low and thankfully did no damage to the animal. About thirty minutes later I got another chance at an impala, but alas, this arrow flew quite high above its shoulders. We saw some warthogs come into drink as well, but couldn’t get a clear shot at them.
We went in that evening and enjoyed some nice wildebeest tenderloins. We also braiied some nice gemsbok back strap we had brought from the first hunt. It was fork tender and melted in your mouth. Nothing wild tasting about this meat! After a nice relaxing shower, it was off to bed again. It had been a long enjoyable day, and we had yet to see a nice mature kudu to shoot. The next day we would concentrate on bow hunting.
We headed out and got in the blind about nine in the morning. Prime hunting time according to Japie was between the hours of nine in the morning and two in the afternoon. We had our lunch and settled in for a long day in the blind. We saw lots of monkeys, a monitor lizard and some small groups of warthogs come to the watering hole. Young nyala and kudu also made some brief nervous visits. One instance in particular, we had a trophy bushbuck come to the watering hole. Unfortunately, it was in the midst of my restroom break and by the time I got prepared, he had moved on.
First Africa Archery Kill
The author with his impala ram. Despite the broken horn, the ram was a true trophy to him. |
We sat for another hour or so and Japie noticed a nice impala ram wanting to come in to drink. He mentioned that it looked like one horn was broken off, but it was a good size ram. I told Japie that was fine by me, I was ready to get over my nerves. The impala ram came straight to the hole. I lined up my pin, and let the arrow fly. The arrow found its mark and the impala only made it about thirty yards from where it was shot. I danced for joy for my first African bow kill, while the others just looked on like I was a crazy man. We took several pictures and headed in for the evening. We again ate impala tenderloins, and I savored every delicious morsel. Little was I to know what would await me the next day.
The next day found us in the same routine from the first morning. We drove to see if we saw anything to stalk, and when we didn’t, Japie and I headed for a blind. It was somewhat windy that morning and the blind we had selected had some black sheet plastic to block the vision of the animals coming into drink. Unfortunately, with all the wind, it was making too much noise. So Japie decided to move us to another blind. He called for the truck and they came to pick us up. Along the way, we spotted a nice kudu and gave chase on foot. Right after that, we spotted a nice waterbuck, and gave chase on foot again. No luck, but it was nice to see so many different animals. We then headed to the blind and settled in about nine thirty that morning. Japie suggested taking the rifle with us just in case we saw a nice trophy. The first hour and a half was very uneventful, with me munching on snacks and taking pictures, and Japie enjoying a book. I was beginning to wonder if this waterhole would produce.
As I was daydreaming about what the next day would hold, Japie looked out the small two way window and whispered, “kudu.”
I was somewhat excited, but we had seen some young ones come into the watering hole the day before so thought nothing of it. He briefly went back to reading his book and then glanced out the window again. “Kudu bull,” he proclaimed.
Now he had my attention. I was looking at my bow and getting ready to pull it down when he whispered, “get the gun!”
I knew at that point it was a trophy kudu! He whispered that he wasn’t coming in to 
Nice Kudu Bull
The author with his trophy kudu. |
After about five minutes, Japie said he couldn’t take it any longer and we left the blind in search of the kudu. We went to where he was standing when I shot him and realized that we wouldn’t have a hard time at all tracking him. Blood spots were all over the area and we tracked about thirty yards and there he lay. We waited for the others to show up and then we went up to him. He rough measured about 54 ½ inches in the field. I was so proud, and was excited for our group that we had finally taken a trophy kudu bull.
One of the owners, Piet along with his wife, joined us in our glee over the kill. The skinners and trackers were excited as well and had their picture taken with the big bull. Isaac was a great help during the hunt, as well as Julius and Isaac. It was a great day and one I will never forget. I was also able to harvest a nice trophy impala ram that afternoon, and was sorry the hunt would be over after the next day. The next day would be dedicated to Johan trying to realize his dream of shooting a trophy kudu. That night we enjoyed some good food and drink, while I also celebrated with a nice Cuban cigar. It was hard to imagine a finer day of hunting than this.
The next day found us driving most of the day as on the ranch, it was quite brushy. It reminded me very much like the hill country back in Texas. We would spot several nice animals that day, but to no avail. Johan finally took a warthog later that evening, but that was to be it. I felt bad for Johan as he was really looking forward to getting a shot at a trophy kudu, but it wasn’t meant to be on this trip. We headed in for the evening and gorged ourselves on fresh gemsbok and kudu steaks. We washed it down with some fine South African spirits and celebrated in the past day’s hunt.
The next day we passed out gifts to everyone, and thanked them for a great hunt. Japie vowed to get me back soon and try as I might, I couldn’t find a good argument against it. The road back to Middleburg was long and winding, and seemed to be quite the final touch. We flew back the following day, during which I was cramped up in a small seat and the air conditioning wasn’t working in our section. Hot and sweaty most of the trip, I was glad once we finally made it back to Dallas. We did have a problem at Dulles airport as we missed our United flight because of a delay in leaving South Africa. We parted with our luggage and flew back on American Airlines as United couldn’t get us home until the next day. Fortunately, the entire luggage arrived safe and sound, with everything still intact.
It was a trip I will never forget, such as the people I encountered, the culture that was quite different to ours, and the food that I sorely miss (and which I find impossible to find in the States). These are what make the lasting memories I enjoy, as well as the occasional emails I receive from my adopted families in South Africa. I am still struggling to figure out a good way to afford going back in 2009, and with God’s help, maybe I will find a way.
I wish I could have shared this with my grandparents, as they all encouraged me to hunt and for me to be me. They have all passed on now, but I believe they were there every step of the journey with me. My family back home in Bois D’ Arc has enjoyed the stories and indulged me in my repetitive tales. This country boy’s life has been changed permanently, and from Bois D’ Arc to Boshof, I shall stay attached to these places in my heart forever.
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