Trad Gang

Just a quick note to let you all know I am back in the states   :confused:   Not quite sure if this is a good thing or not but after 22 hours on planes, lost luggage, and storm delays I really ain't sure about much at all at the momment.  It will be 2 more days before I get to my Home home and probably 2 more after that before I get some pictures and story posted.  Quick run down is;
-12 arrows shot at animals
-4 complete misses
-1 minor flesh wound not recovered
-6 animals harvested
Now I know your saying that total doesn't add up but it will all become clear when I get the story on here.  Hopefully I will be able to get it all in one setting after I get my pictures loaded in Photobucket.  Not trying to be dramatic, just strung out and have a lot of things to do in the next 2 days including getting back to work to cover my cost overrun!  Joseph

Can't wait to hear the story!

Sounds like a great hunt. Can't wait to hear the details.

Oh boy!

Killdeer  :wavey:

Good to have ya back brother,take your time.We'll be here.Congrats on what sounds like a fine hunt!!  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Glad ya made it home safe Bud!  :thumbsup:

Drumming fingertips.    ;)

was going to email to see if you had survived the trip .glad you are almost home . waiting , waiting, waiting ,not pushing mind you   :D  .all the best --- herb

Glad your back safely.  Can hardly wait for the stories and pics.

Welcome back...looking forward to all the details  :D

glad your journey was safe. I know how much you were looking forward to this trip. Congratulations. We can wait, not too long, for the story and pics.

Welcome back!  Can't wait to hear the story... oh yeah, and see them pics!

Hope the trip was everything you dreamt it would be. Sounds like you did plenty of arrow flinging!   :D

Yep!! Stories and pics please! OH yea, welcome back   :D

Glad yer back home safe...we are all impatiently waiting   :bigsmyl:  

P.S. - I would think that added up if you hit one harvested animal twice?

Welcome back Joseph!  Glad to hear you are safe and sound and well if a bit tired.  I can't wait to hear your stories!

I was also asking about you yesterday! starting to worry a bit. Talking to Troy about Africa has made me realize it is a lot more dangerous than I thought!

welcome home!

Joseph~

Congrats on what sounds like a heck of an adventure..............no lets get the story!

Welcome back from what sounds like a exciting hunt.

Forget all the other stuff...work can wait...we need pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad ytou made it back safe

Great to have ya back!  Now let's get busy with the stories and pics for those of us less fortunate who live vicariously through you!

Lee  :saywhat:

Joseph

Welcome back!  Glad you made it back with all the probs I'm hearing about with SAA.

Hmmm, 6 animals and you are over-spent.  With the amount of cash you had for trophy fees you either went hog-wild on the expensive stuff or you had one heck of a bash somewhere else!

Congrats on the trophies and I'm looking forward to seeing some pics and hearing about it.

Ryan

Joseph,
good to hear you are back safe and sound.
That is a looooong plane ride isn't it.

Glad to hear you made it home safe and had good luck Bro. Now, I have a cold 12 in the fridg and I'd love to have a good story to go with it. Pictures too.................

Great!! New stories and pics  :D    :D  .....Van

:thumbsup:

Glad you had a great time. Can't wait to see your photos!

Ok, you have led us along quite long enough,LOL. we want pics and the full story.

Danny

Hmmmmmmm????    where????????

Okay, sorry it took me a little while to get this done but to put things in perspective, if you leave your watch on local time for hunting camp when you leave and don't change it as you cross time zones you will get home 40-44 hours after you wake up! When flying east you are going ahead of the sun if you change your watch as you cross time zones it will only be 24 hours according to the watch but your body is running like it has been going for the 40 hours.  Anyways, the flight over wasn't bad at all and went off without a hitch. I got picked up by Nathalia Visser the next day and she took me to Pilanesburg National Park.  I spent 2.5 days there then she came back and got me and it was off to Citadel, the main hunting lodge for Dries Visser Safaris.  I got there in the afternoon and spent the rest of that day shooting my bow and just settling in.  The next morning it was coffee at 0700 and then off to my first day in the blind primarily looking for Impala and Waterbuck.  My PH for the day was Hien and we had just been in the blind probably 40 minutes when I looked out the window and saw something so I asked him what it was?  It was a common Duiker and he got very excited saying " You must shoot this, it is huge!"  Now for those of you that don't know a common Duiker is body size smaller than the average lab and huge horns on one are about 4.5 inches.  The whole time he is telling me what a rare oppurtunity this is and how nice this one is I am thinking to myself that I don't have one of these on my list.  All of this talking is occuring at a barely audible whisper because the duiker is only 12 yards away.  Well his excitement must have been infectious because all of the sudden the idea pops into my head that this would be a great animal to shoot with the rivercane arrow that I put one og the Obsidian points on.  As soon as I decided I wanted to shoot it I started shaking, almost to the point of the arrow bouncing on the shelf.  Having told myself that I would not shoot at anything that wasn't trying to commit suicide unknowingly I waited until it was broadside and had been drinking long enough that it finally loosened up about as much as anything does over here, I concentrated on my spot, drew back and proceded to shoot a foot over his back!  Not a very good start to my adventure.  It wasn't 2 much longer when the Impala showed up.  There were about 16 of them and they were at the water for close to 30 minutes I never had a clear shot at the ram.  They mill about constantly.  One of the things I had been told was to never shoot if there was an animal behind the one I was shooting at because if the arrow did a pass through and hit the animal in the back I would have to pay for it also.  After the Impala left the Vervet monkeys showed up and then we started seeing waterbuck cows through the brush.  Over the next hour they came and went and just kind of stood around.  Eventually the bull made his apperance which caused more shaking on my part.  When he came in to drink he gave me a beautifal broadside shot at 10 yards.  Only problem was that there was 2 calves and 2 cows lined up right behind him that were also drinking.  He drank his fill and walked off without ever giving me a clear shot.  Once all of the cows had left also Hien asked me why I hadn't shot when he was broadside at only 10 yards away and I said "you told me not to shoot at anything with animals standing behind them" to which he replies, "You would have been okay, I don't think your bow would shoot through him."  The next few hours were uneventful, nothing came in to drink again until a quarter to 4 at which time the Red Hartebeest showed up!  They walked right in and weren't near as paranoid as the animals I had been watching all day.  When the bull showed up last in line Hien again said that it was a very good one.  I wasn't planning on shooting a Hartebeest originally but as I had suspected, my wish list didn't hold to much sway over me when a shot presented itself.  It only took 15 minutes before I was presented with a 16 yard quartering away shot.  The arrow hit just a little more than half way back on my side and came out roughly 1 inch behind the crease of the shoulder on the oppisite side.  It actully blew threw him with enough speed left to roll the tip when it hit a rock!  The Hartebeest takes off and we watch him go 60 yards and tip over.  I lost it, I started jumping up and down and almost let out a war hoop but Hien reminded me that it was only 4PM and I stil might get a shot at something else before it got dark, He also commented that it was a good thing I hadn't shot the waterbuck.  I was using Zephyr Sausquatch broadheads and he didn't think they would penetrate that well.  I tried to settle down but that was pretty much a lost cause and finally begged him to call the truck at 5:30 so I could go and see my first African bow kill!  The truck showed up and we got out of the blind to go see him.  We walked up within 10 yards of the Hartebeest and looked him over.  He looked dead to both of us so Hien set his dog down( a Jack Russell) and Jock ran over to the Hartebeest and proceeded to bite into his sensitive family parts.  Much to my suprise the Hartebeest jumped up when this occurred which really amazed me like to the point of standing there with a dumb look on my face and my mouth hanging open       :scared:        The Hartebeest wasn't going anywhere in a hurry and we where ablr to get the dog to come back to us.  We followed him at a distance for 150 yards and he bedded down so we backed out and went back to the lodge for supper.  I was pretty much dumbstruck by what had happened but I was told that this wasn't the first time this had happened.  We went back out at 8PM and find him dead in his bed       :thumbsup:       Unfortunately I only have pictures of him on film because my camera bag, with the digital camera, got left in Nathalia's van when she dropped me off and I didn't realize it until she was gone. Since I promised pictures I will jump ahead a few days.  Went to a blind that was just a half mile behind the camp early in the morning.  At 0845 some Impala started coming in.  It was 2 rams and both were shooters.  One of them had a black face which was something I hadn't seen before and I decided that is the one I wanted.  I had read and been told to shoot low at the bottom of the chest due to their string jumping speed.  When I shot the arrow spun right towards him and he barely moved.  It passed just under his brisquet without touching him.  Fortunately it was only 10 more minutes before another one showed up and this time the arrow went right thru the back edge of his shoulder at the point where the go from a darker to a lighter tan at the midline of the body
    (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/Jody1.jpg).  80 yards and fell over dead, really dead, no suprises on this one.  He did jumped hard enough as the arrow was passing through him to crack the shft at the cresting.  This story telling takes longer than I thought, I will get some more here in a little while.  I also need to consult with my journal and get my days straight.  Joseph

Cool, Saw a Duiker on a TV show once itty bitty thing. I would have been whooping too.

Great picture, what was your bow, arrow set up?

:bigsmyl:

That is cool Joseph, good photo too.  Can't wait for more.


David

That is a great story so far! More, more!!!!

I'm enjoying your hunt.  No need to rush the story-telling.  Take your time.  We ain't going no where.

Very nice!  Can't wait to hear all of it.

-Terry

Awesome stuff Joseph, can't wait for more.

Gave your PH a new respect for the power of trad bows huh?

Joseph, This is a great read   :thumbsup:  

Thanks for taking the time to share.

:wavey:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Okay back at home after work and I have the journal which as several of you have said is priceless.  I can't thank HooDoo arrow enough for giving it to me!   :bigsmyl:  
Day 4 - Back in a blind trying for Waterbuck.  They were very regular about the time they came into the waterholes and this one showed up like clock work.  This one looked different than the ones we had been seeing.  Instead of being gray he was a dark brown, almost black on the face and it really made his white highlights stand out.  He also had the longest horns of any that we had seen yet and they were perfectly symetrical.  Hien figured he was pushing or just over 27".  It was another day of swirling winds but they held long enough for him and his cows to come in.  He procedes to either stand facing straight at or straight away from the blind and was so relaxed he was nodding off until the sound of a plane flying spooked the whole herd.  That was dissapointing.

Day 4 continued - after leaving the blind in the morning whe headed about 30 minutes up the road to a different property that had Nyala on it.  Got settled in the blind at 1530 and didn't see a thing until 1630 when not one but 2 Nyala bulls walk in to the waterhole from oppisite directions!  Both were nice but the one that walked in from my right was huge.  I didn.t even have to ask which one to shoot because it was blatantly obviuos even 2 me.  Hien had told me on the way in that Nyala were incredibly fast string jumpers even more so than Impala.  He wasn't kidding!!  It took almost 20 minutes to get the shot I was looking for which didn't do anything for my nerves.  He was broadside at 13 yards when I shot and all I saw was a wave of hair moving like a cheerleaders pom pom.  We played back the video a frame at a time and I got to watch what was a not bad shot but not perfect either turn into a hit high in the neck just in front of the shoulders.            Now I feel like I am going to puke!  He ran about 40 yards and stopped and actually started coming back in but then turned around halfway back and walked into the thorn brush.  My little lapse in concentration just cost me $2250.00.  It wasn't just the money because it is only money, I don't like screwing up.  The upside is that it was obviously not fatal and he would recover.  As I was sitting there feeling like crying which was because of the money a little ray of hope shines down on me!  Hien didn't think he was spooked to bad and inspite of getting bit he thought I would get another chance at him if I put in the time.  This is where the SAA strike worked in my favor because I was the only hunter in camp at this time so no one else would be coming here.  Fast forward to day 7.  Back at the same blind hoping for a second chance encounter with mister Nyala.  Sat from 1500 till dark with no Joy.       :(      
Fast forward again to day 11.  Went to the Nyala blind at 0730 prepared to make a day of it.  I had been watching a parade of them when at 1400 I saw another one and the heart started racing again.  After 10 minutes of carefull study with the 10x binoculars at less than 15 yards I satisfied my self that this was the right one because I could see the almost healed entrance and exit wounds on his neck.  I really wanted to make sure because if I shot the wrong one I would be up to $4500.00 just on Nyala.  This time I shot better, although what started out as broadside became a quartering towards shot as the arrow passed through.  Exit was 3 inches behind the entrance but it worked.     (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/Jody5.jpg)  I had my Nyala and was extremely lucky to say the least!  For those that are wondering he is 28 1/2 on one side and 28 3/8 on the other with 7 1/8th and 7 1/4 bases.  It's a really big Nyala and he is going to immortalized as a walking half mount with his head in sneak posistion turned slightly to the right!

:notworthy:    :notworthy:    :notworthy:    :notworthy:  

Thanks for shareing Joseph, and congratulations!
looking forward to some more....

Paul

Lets see here, I guess that would put us at day 5 - Sitting in a blind, had good wind all day long and was surrounded all day long by animals that I can't shoot.  Good for pictures though.  I must say that Sable are the most noble looking animal I think I have ever seen but I won't ever have the money to shoot one unless I win the lottery.  Also after the novelty of seeing them weres off and they spend all day running off other animals and not letting them drink then they are a nusince.
Day 6 - Another long day of no shots.  :rolleyes:  The animals are neet to watch but I didn't come here so I could just look at them!
Day 7 - This is the previosly mentioned and shown Impala's day to die in the morning.  Tried for Kudu in the afternoon without luck.  You wouldn't believe how slight of a noise will scare these animals.
Stopping for here for now .  I need some sleep.  Will continue during my break at work tonight, thanks for the kind words and for letting me share.    :thumbsup:   Joseph

Come on Joseph!!!  Your email's got me absolutely wired for a kudu story.  Sleep fast bud.

Great so far! Ever notice how some guys can really drag out a story?  :readit:   You better know Im kidding!  :bigsmyl:  CK

enough work, already!  Get on w/the Tradgang Verbal Vision (TVV)

Hey Joseph sure glad to be reading your adventures .always figured a wish list would last me about 2 sec. after seeing an animal i didn't have on it .
see you go for the expensive ones water buck and Nyla LOL figured i could get 10 impala for one water buck LOL
Man oh man what a trip --- herb  :thumbsup:

:notworthy:    :notworthy:

Great story Joseph. Makes me want to go back real bad. It is a unique experience without compare. You can read and plan for months but it all pales in comparison to the reality of being there. How very fortunate to get another chance at the same Nyala.

Great story, so far!  

Appreciate you sharing it!   :)

Frank B

Day 8 - We left at 0600 to go to a different property that was about 40 miles away.  We were going to this place because there are suppose to be a lot of Zebras. We got settled in the blind and started the waiting game.  At just a little after 0900 I looked up from the book I was reading and saw some long graceful corkscrews reflecting the morning sun back in the brush.  It was a herd of Kudu bulls and several of them were good enough for me!  As they worked in to the waterhole I noticed that one of them was picking up it's left rear foot like a person whereing swim fins does when he walked.  I remembered Antonie talking about seeing this one here several times and nice he was.  He turned broadside to me at 0915 and I took the shot.  Antonie had told me to shoot just in front of the second stripe on the horizontal midline of the body.  I hit just in back of it but on the midline.  As he turned to run we could see the arrow hanging out the oppisite side by the feathers.  It was an Easton Axis arrow that is one of a half dozen that HooDoo Arrow donated to the TBM last February.  I put nylon cord in the center and had a 160 gr Magnus 1 on a long adapter on the front end.  Again the PH had to about sit on me but after an hour we called the truck and got out of the blind to follow the track and bloodtrail.  There was good blood and we found the arrow about 50 yards into the trail.  Another 50 yards past that the tracker saw the Kudu standing in the thorn brush about 50 yards away, watching us.  He didn't run while we were standing there and we eventually turned down a road and left him alone.  2 more hours in the blind yielded some Eland cow sightings and then it was time to move to a different blind.  Before we did that we went back to where we had last seen the bull and he was dead where we had last seen him standing.    :D       (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/Jody2.jpg)
You can see in the picture why he was walking funny, the back hooves on the left side had grown out like a banana.  It didn't seem to slow him down after the arrow had hit him though.  It is suppose to be in with the rest of my shipment when it gets to the states.  Looked like good limb tip material to me!  I was amazed that he had still been standing when we first saw him because there was blood runnung down his side and out his nose so Antonie instructed his tracker to see exactly what the broadhead had hit when he opened it up.  The arrow went through him right at the diaphragm and cut the liver, spleen, and the back of both lungs and he was still on his feet for 2 hours after the shot but he wasn't going anywhere.  If I had hit just in front of the second stripe it would have gotten the lungs better and been a faster killing shot.  These are real tough critters.  Based on my limited experience so far and seeing that penetration was not a problem I am glad I used as big a BH as I did and think a 160 Snuffer or the 2" wide Simmons might have been even better.  The same shot on the deer around my house would have had one on the ground in about 1 minute.  We didn't measure him before I left camp but all of the PH's guessed he was 48 - 49".  They are amazingly accurate when estimating the size of an animals horns and I never saw them overestimate the length on anything.  If they weren't dead on with their estimate it would be on the low side every time. Seeing as how I am on my break at work I should probably go get ready to look busy.  Joseph

Great read!!  These animals are beautiful.  Thanks for sharing.

Joseph , from what i have read it is hard for us in North America to get the shot far enough forward as we are used to shooting just back of the shoulder and the vitals are farther forward on animals from the old world . beautiful Kudu .always wondered about the size of the walls a person neeeds to put them on --  :D  -- herb

PURE DEAD BRILLIANT!!  :thumbsup:

Thankyou all and Herb you are correct.  The vitals are not only farther forward but also higher within the chest cavity.  The lungs start almost half way up the side of the animal.  One of the animals I shot the arrow went through the meaty part of the shoulder in front of the crease maybe an inch below the horizontal midline and it went throught the top of the animals heart but it never touched the lungs!  My biggest problem with shooting them was getting a case of buck fever so bad every time I saw something I wanted to shoot.  When an animal I wanted to shoot would be standing around the water hole for a couple of hours I would get muscle fatigue from shaking so much.  My nerves were definetly affecting my shooting.  I am going to work on that a lot more before my 2007 return which I am already planning.  :bigsmyl:   Joseph

Congratulations Joseph!  What a fantastic trip and story.  I'm looking forward to hearing more about it in person.  Looks like you might have a couple of PBS photo entries there...
You sure smile alot, LOL!  
Kevin Bahr

Oooff! Good on ya, Joseph. Memories for the rest of your life.

Great stuff Joseph. Looks like first you will have to build a high ceilinged den to display all the giant horned mounts, then start saving for the return trip. If you did not get buck fever it would hardly be worth the effort - gotta love the thrill. Thanks for the ongoing report and pics.

Congratulations Joseph, awesome trophies you got.

I sure have enjoyed reading your accounts of your safari. You are doing a great job of telling us about it. Not likely I will ever go on safari to Africa, so I appreciate it all the more you taking me there with your reports.

I, of course, realize that primitve equipment has been used for eons to bring down huge beasts, but I am still in awe of the fact that a simple arrow shot from a simple bow does the trick. This especially comes home to me looking at your trophy Kudu.

Thanks,

Al

Thanks again for another great story. Wondering if the camp cook has grilled up any back straps off those buggers. If so, which animal has the best flavor?
Dat Kudu looks pretty tastey.


 :D

Great story Joseph and wonderful photos.

Been watching since you were just talking about the trip and now you're back sharing with us. Good job bud!!!

I can't imagine the pressure... those can be some expensive "misses"!

The Kudu is my favorite, though the Nyala is right up there with it.

Hey Joseph, I was just telling the wife yesterday that you should be home.  Been lookin forward to talkin to ya.  I havent checked in since last Monday on the trad gang....sorry I'm late but I just got caught-up.  Awesome man.  Cant wait to hear all the long versions of your trip stories.  And pics too.  Man I'm realy enjoying this.  That kudu is awesome.  They are definitely my favorite.  Congrats buddy, I'll try and call this eve before you head off to work.

:wavey:    :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Lovin this Joseph. Man those African critters are HUGE! (nad pretty)

Welcome back Brother (From another Mother...!  :)  ) I'm happy for you mate that you had a top trip. I'll send through an email at a later date for a chat.

Again mate well done!


Kind regards from Oz, Alan.


As my Platoon SGT once said...  " Are you in pain Cpl Kidner? "

Me: "Why no sarge, why?".

Sgt: "Well you just must be cause I'm standing on your hair from all the way over here!"

Thanks for this story.  Nice animals.

WOW!,...Just awesome!

>>>--->

Joseph,
Thanks for sharing your hunts. The animals are beautiful!! It's also nice to put a face to the name. Congrats on your success.

WOW---Neat story--Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You all are welcome, I am just trying to return the favor.  I have gotten a lot of entertainment from reading about others hunts on here.  Now where did we leave off? Oh ya, I had just got the Kudu.That afternoon after getting the Kudu loaded in the truck and seeing some Eland cows we moved to a different blind on the same property still looking for Zebra and now possibly Gemsbuck.  By the end of the day there were still no Zebra sightings and only 1 Gemsbuck that just didn't trust that funny looking termite mound with the black squares on it.  She was a smart cookie.
Day 9 - On the road again at 0600 going back to the place I had shot my Kudu still in hopes of seeing a Zebra.  This morning a bunch of Eland cows came in and had been there for probably 30 minutes when I start hearing this click, click, click, click sound.  Antonie looks at me and says the bulls are coming.  I wasn't planning on shooting one so I pick up my video camera and get ready to do a little videography.  All of those thoughts lasted for about 3 seconds after I laid eyes upon that first bull that walked in.  Then it was drop the camera, grab the bow, and load up one of my special arrows.  A footed Hexpine 90-95 pound spine with a 200 gr Doug Campbell Damascus trade point.  The PH was looking at me a little funny and finally asked me if I was going to shoot this Eland.  I'm sure that this was because of my earlier statement about not wanting to get one.  I replied in the affirmative and said he better get the camera on quick.  It was 15 more minutes before I got a nice, clear 12 yard shot and for once I wasn't fighting the shakes as I drew my bow.  I was tuned in to that little spot on his shoulder and that is right where the arrow went.  The Eland scatter, he runs roughly forty yards and then stops and starts looking around like he is wondering what just happened.  When he first took off there was about 10 inches of arrow sticking out of the near side shoulder, now there is nothing but a little trickle of blod coming from the entrance wound.  He just stood there for a couple of minutes while I was holding my breath then he did a big whole body shudder and went over on to his side!       :thumbsup:       The cows started coming back in almost as soon as he fell and since we knew he was down and out we called the truck right away      (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/Jody3.jpg)
Notice the spiffy attire I was wearing for the photo session.  The shot hit on the midline of the body about 2 inches in front of the crease of the shoulder and while it was very effective and my best shot yet we were wondering why there wasn't any blood coming out of his nose.  He had conveniently fell down on the side of a road which helped with the loading.  After he was caped out (which was done with the caping knife that came with the St. Judes quiver/bracer combo) and opened up it was dicovered that the arrow had gone through the meaty part of the shoulder, the near side ribs, the heart, the far side ribs, and into the oppisite shoulder for about 18 inches of total penetration.  This is the only animal I shot where I didn't have an exit wound.  The rest of the afternoon passed uneventfully a we returnd to the Citadel about 2000.  Just to give you and idea of the size of this critter, I am 6' tall and wiegh 300 pounds.  The arrows in my quiver are 32 inches from the bottom of the string groove to the tip of the BH, and my bow is 58" long. The carcass weight hanging on the rail was just shy of 700# and they told me that they have have gotten them as big as 980# carcass hanging on the rail.  They estimated mine at 1500# live weight.  Joseph

Man that eland is a big critter. Sounds like you had the hunt of a lifetime, Joseph

Joseph, I am really enjoying these stories.
And the pictures are awesome!!
Congratulations on a great hunting adventure.
  :thumbsup:

Joseph, great stories and pics. Looks like you did well.

Danny

Congratulations on a great hunt Joseph, and thank you for sharing the pics and story.

One of these days, when the kids are older and if the good Lord let's me, I'm going there myself.

Super hunt!   :thumbsup:      :notworthy:

Wow Bud, that Eland is awesome.  Huge.  I think I'd have done the same thing you did deciding to try for one.  Cant wait to see if you get the zebra,  thats one of my favorite too!  Congrats so far.  Anymore action comin.  Something tells me there just might be.

Dang Buddy, that's just too cool!! Can't get most of the pics for some reason right now though. Maybe later.

Congrats again!!!
:thumbsup:    :thumbsup:

Doug  you need to see the pics . that pic of the Eland if very fine .
Joseph a suggestion would have some 8x10 pics  made up and put near each mount as they go on the wall .thanks for the stories .-- herb

when the pictures came up both Hailey and I yelled...HOLY!!!!!! them dudes is HUGE!!!!

good shooting, good story!!! making me want to there you guys!!!!

 :wavey:

When you have the time, I would like to see pic's of the arrows and heads that brought them down, especially that trade point.

Thanks,

Al

Great story telling Joseph. Good pictures too. Thanks for sharing.

Great pics and stories!  Thanks for sharing.

Sounds like an awesome trip.  Can't wait to hear the rest of it.  Also would love to see some video.

Herb, I was going to do that as I get them mounted, I have the arrows that I shot them with also and I was going to put the broadhead with each one.
Al, I will put a picture of them in here on my next days off which are Tues - Thurs.
Meathook, I have all of the shots on film except #2 on the Nyala and one other yet to be revealed.  Shortly in the future I was going to get all of my video burned onto a DVD.  When I do that I was going to put them on a DVD also and send it to Tom.
Calvin, the bow you and C-biz gave me was a big hit!
I will see if I can get this little adventure wrapped up tonight or tonight and tomorrow morning.  This is the most writing I have done since I was college and I haven't been there since 1998.  Thanks again everyone.  Joseph

Quote: "This is the most writing I have done since I was college and I haven't been there since 1998."    :D    :D    

Take your time Joseph, I don't want this story to end.   ;)

:wavey:    :wavey:  Good reading....Thanks  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:  .....Van

Joseph, what did the africans (PH) think of your stone & trade points? I know you were wondering if they'd even let you shoot the stone over there.

Awesome story and pics....one of these days, one of these days...lol

Doug, they were very interested in the stone points.  Unfortunately one of the Obsidian points was broke when I got there.  The other Osidian point and the fercylinite point where both lost to misses and I brought the Missouri Flint head back to use here.  They were impressed with the trade point because it really did a number on the Eland and was still sharp when they took it out of him. I will bring the pictures and video with me when I come down for the next Buffalo.
Day 10 - Antonie asked me if I would mind sitting alone for part of the day because he still had a lot of paperwork to do from the previous hunters.  That was fine with me and we left the next morning at 0800 to go to a blind.  It took 45 minutes to drive there and we never left the main property, it's a big place.  I got settled in and after about an hour I notice some movement back through the brush so I grab the binos and start looking.  It took a little while to figure out what I was looking at but I finally figured out that it was Cape Buffalo coming in to drink.  I am standing there thinking this is cool!  They told me when I first arrived that there was now a heard of Buffalo on the place at which time I replied that it would be col to see them because I had not seen any in the park.  They just kind of strolled in and started drinking and messing around in the water hole.  One of them kept sticking his nose under the water and blowing bubbles!  After 30 minutes of this they just start laying down in any available shade so now I have 9 buffalo bedded down around my blind and I start thinking that this isn't that great because nothing will come drink while they are hovering around the waterhole so I really dove into my book.  Along about noon as the sun had shifted the buffalo had lost there shade so they got up and moved 20 yards away to get back in it.  As soon as they moved a little ways away the monkey's showed up which is always encouraging.  At 1205 I notice 2 waterbuck cows coming in to the waterhole.  I was trying to look behind them to see if a bull was following when out stepped a Zebra from behind the big tree at the back edge of the waterhole.  They were just there all of the sudden which was kind of startling.  It ended up being  a stallion, 3 mares and a foal and they just sauntered right on in and started drinking.  Since I was by myself I have to run the camera to and I got it zoomed in as good as I could without having to move it then I took the shot.  Things got a little confusing then because everything stampeded away from the blind and 5 zebra and 9 buffalo can make a pretty good racket.  As the dust was settling all I could remember seeing was most of the arrow sticking out of the oppiste side.  A quick review of the tape shows that the shot was about 10 inches behind the shoulder crease and about 2/3's of the way up the side.  Not my best work but the penetration was good so I force myself to waite an hour to call.  Once I start calling it takes an hour for me to get someone on the radio and for them to show up.  While I was sitting waiting I heard Zebra's calling from back behind the waterhole in the direction that mine had ran.  When we went to where he had been standing the was good blood immediately and within 10 yards we found the front 22 inches of arrow laying on the ground completely covered with blood.  The most encourageing sign to me though is the fact that the blood we are finding hasn't run down the Zebra's side and drippeed off, it has been sprayed out side ways on to everything!  At this point they just take off on a fast walk, weaving through the thorn brush until, I'm guessing 400 yards later we round a bush and see this! The arrow went through the back of both lungs and cut the aortic artery that runs along the underside of the spine.
       (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Jody5/Jody4.jpg)
Now I did jump up and down and start yelling.  Everything I had read and been told by people who have a lot more experience at this than I do was to never count on getting a Zebra because they are one of the hardest critters there are to get a shot at with a bow.  I just take this as another sign that the Lord loves me and I must be doing something right in my life.       :knothead:        Either way I am not going to complain.  The rest of my day was spent watching drivers trying to push Warthogs past shooters in a section where they are trying to eliminate the pigs.  At the end of 3 pushes 4 pigs had been killed and 5 more had escaped.  It was kind of entertaining.  All I had left to look for now was a Warthog so later tonight I will let you know how that went and also go back to day 3 that i skipped over earlier.  Joseph

i Think we should make a new rule that if a story takes more than two days to tell, the member gets BANNED!!! Joseph, man your killing me. I can't wait to read the rest..

Chad do you work nights also?  It really wasn't my intention to drag this out but I don't type that fast and since I am doing this during lull's at work it has taken a little while.  I thought I was doing pretty good though seeing as how I have covered 9 days worth of trip in only 3 days of telling.  If I was Charlie or JSOG I would still be back on day 3 or 4    I'm going as fast as I can I still haven't even unpacked my bags except to do the dirty laundry and get the necessary toiletries.  Joseph

Joseph, you take your time, I am loving this. One day I hope to go to Africa.

Danny

Joseph, you are doing great. Almost feel like I've been to Africa now. Keep going at your own pace. Nice zebra!

Joseph, Your doing fine i was just giving ya a hard time. Yeah i work nights also.

Don't you worry about that Jones fella... he gets all hyper thinkin about huntin... great story and will end way too soon.  :thumbsup:

Heck, if you could tell one story a day until deer season I'd be a happy man.
Love it!

Joseph~
Great story telling and congrats on all those fine animals! YOU DA MAN!!!  :notworthy:

Joseph thank you , really enjoying this .what breed of Zebra . is it the ones that have the shadow lines in the strip ? looking at the coloration .
when you get time why don't you sit down and write it all out and maybe it could be put in the articals section so we and relive it a few more times .-- herb

by the way... I'm leaving tomorrow and will be out of town hunting for the next month and a half.
Got 5 big game tags and have opportunity at several species of small game.... you think Joe is taking a long time with this? Just wait!!   :D

Charlie you have fun .learned a while ago on your hunting posts to wait at least a week after they start to start reading then it only takes a couple more weeks before i get the whole story    :D    :D  . hard to wait that long but there is more than one way to skin a cat--- herb

Hey, Joseph

Thank you for the telling! Your stories have revitalized those dreams I have of one day going to Africa.

Thank you,
Rich

Also, is there a way we can mark this post to go back and read it at a later date? I will start hunting soon and don't want to miss anything!

Joseph:
After hearing talk of DVD and more pics and all, you are formally required to get your butt down here next month to hunt elk.  You bring your DVD and I will find a way to get a tv, gen-set and what ever you play those DV thingy's on to camp.  I will also volunteer to bring the bottle(s).

OH great now Charlie is gonna go on a big hunt. It'll take him till march to finish the stories. Sure will be fun to read em though. Good luck Charlie and have fun!

Really enjoying this Joseph, Great pics and love the grin  :thumbsup:  Congrats on a great trip.

Herb, he is a Burchells Zebra.  They are the ones with the shadow stripes and are the most common.  Leo, all of the video will be put on a VHS tape tonight and possibly burned onto a DVD Thursday night.  I can bring the VHS tape for the elk hunt.  It might be easier to get set up.
Also someone asked way back at the begining what I was shooting.  It was my Robertson Gozhawk 58" long, 64# @ 29".  Everything except for the Kudu was shot with arrows made from footed hexpine shafts I got from Bob Burton.  The Kudu was shot with a Easton Axis shaft made into an arrow by HooDoo Arrow.  For broadheads I used a Doug Cambell damascus steel trade point on the Eland, a Pearson Deadhead on the Nyala, and a Magnus I on the Kudu.  The rest were shot with Zephyr Sausquatch broadheads.
Day 11 - as mentioned previously this was the day I got my second chance at the Nyala and after collecting him that was enough for me.
Day 12 - Now I am down to Warthog that I am trying to get.  Sat all day in a blind by myself and managed to missed the first Warthog that I have seen with decent tusk.  They had a very large die off 2 years ago due to a drought and now there are a lot of pigs but not very many big ones.  I filmed a female bushbuck that came in twice during the day and when I get back that night and I am telling them what I say I get to her and the look at me like I am nuts until I show them the film.  There weren't suppose to be any bushbuck in where I was setting.  This was the second time that I had seen animals in places where they weren't suppose to be.  The fences while they look impressive, are not actually game proof if the animals really want to go to the other side.  
Day 13 - Another long day in the same blind as yesterday.  I had seen the most pigs here of any place I had sat previously.  At about 1430 2 warthogs came in to drink and the one on the left side was the biggest boar I had seen to date so when he knelt down to get a drink I did some serious concentrating and took my shot!  Now what my serious concentrating was going into I don't know but it appearently wasn't going into making this shot.  The pig was kneelling on the cement edge of the waterhole and my arrow hit the concrete about 3 inches infront of his leg, skidded along the surface and stuck through the skin on the front of his leg.     :help:   He didn't hang around to see what may have caused the disturbance and was never seen or heard from again.  My broken arrow was lying on the ground about 20 yards away.  The silver lining in this little cloud was, if you are going to pay for an unrecovered animals it is always best for it to be a cheap one and at $200.00 Warthogs are cheap.
Day 14 - The last day.  I had come to the conclusion that me and warthogs just weren't ment to be on this trip so I decided to spend my last day at a waterhole where the PH's had seen the Black Faced Impala the most.  They move all over but this seemed to be the area of the most sightings.  This turned out to be the longest day of my trip because I sat for 11 hours and hardly saw a thing and only 1 wildebeest bull came in to drink all day until right before dark when about 20 of his friends showed up.  Only problem was I didn't want one of those.  Now all tat's left is to go back to day 3 that I skipped over and that will happen tomorrow folks.  I have to go make like a nurse now.  Joseph

Can't wait for day 3!!! I have a feeling it is gonna be good.  :bigsmyl:

I held off reading this but just couldn't wait any longer!

Way to go Joseph! Very happy to hear you were blessed with such a successful and game rich hunt. Makes me hunger for Africa again....and this time with an outfit like Dries Vesser. Now the only question is, there or Austrailia   :bigsmyl:

Great hunt Joseph! Brings back many great memories, I have been over three times now. That is one beutiful nyala you got yourself, they are the pretiest animal in Africa in my opinion. Thanks for sharing your trip.

Wow...that's about all I can say Joseph.   Thanks so much for sharing the pics and stories.  Congrats on your hunt...glad you're back safe.

Great stuff Joseph.  Now just stuff 'em full of sedatives and get back to the 'puter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joseph was it a blue or black ? in around 1960 there were only 1000 blackwildebeast left on earth and now because of the game ranches there are thousands and only in RSA  -- herb

Joseph- Thanks for allowing me to relive my trip to South Africa last year with Biggie. Your descriptions are very well written, you took me right back there. I hope to return there in 07 and I hope I enjoy it as much the second time around. Don't know how one wouldn't. Congrats on your animals and great photo's!! Really enjoyed Hein too!!

Well it's 12:40 am. Joseph should be here in a lil bit for the rest of the story. Can't wait to read it.

Day 3, Day 3, Day 3 please?

awesome hunt. one thing is for sure this is getting me even more excited about my africa hunt next year. i'm glad i'm reading everything i can about hunting africa and the game but dang if it's not making me crazy. just 311 days to go.  >~rob~>

Okay, I am back.  I had some really important stuff to do.  Our Archery Antelope season has already been open for 3 days and I haven't even been hunting yet.  I went out today to a new ranch and got the tour so tomorrow it will be legwork time and get a blind set up so I can go out next week on my days off and give things a try!  Herb the one that came in the last day was a Blue Wildebeest which I don't want to shoot but Vissers have a very nice herd of Black Wildebeest which I had to stay away from for fear of going even more over budget!  I saw 2 bulls while we were driving around that were absolutely huge.  Bigger than any picture I have ever seen of one!
Marty, are you planning on going back with Gene? Let me know will you.  I am going back in 2007 also but I haven't decided exactly when.
Terry, that is an awesome bull you got at Doug's!  I am going back this fall to try my bow again.  Last year I hit mine in the elbow with my first shot and he just wasn't real cooperative after that.  He ended up with an acute case of lead poisoning unfortunately but he still ate mighty fine.
Okay, Day 3 - A little background first.  When I arrived in camp the only other hunters were Kipp Kerr, his dad Ken Sr, and son Kenny.  They are from Cincinatti (I hope I spelled that right) OH.  Kerr construction or Kerr custom homes.  They were wonderful people and it was a real pleasure to get to spend some time in camp with them.  This was the first time that all 3 generations had been hunting togethor.  Anyways, one of the things Kipp was after was a Lepoard and after seeing Dries Jr in action I would have to say if you want spots he is the guy to talk to.  When me and Hien got back to the lodge at the end of a very long day 2 ( see previous post) we heard on the radio that Kipp had shot a Lepoard!  With a forecast for another day of shifting winds I asked Hien if we could go along the next day to recover the cat, silly me!  You ever hear the saying be careful for what you wish for?  Kipp and Dries Jr got back about an hour later and we spent almost another hour going over the video frame by frame.  The first cat that came in he had shot underneath between it and the branch.  This one was real easy to see because of the lighted nock.  Not to long after that another one appeared on the branch and Kipp took the shot which resulted in a hit but we were unable to determine exactly where on the cat it was.  It turned out what we were seeing on the video was the shadow of the arrow.  The bait site was about an hour and a half drive away and when we got there we started looking for sign.  Having spent a good deal of time reading about African hunting for several years I had a good idea just how dangerous wounded leapoards could be so I was sutibly armed at this point with a Tikka 30-06.  The tracks were confusing for a while because it ended up that there had been 3 different cats at the bait in one night.  It also turned out that the first cat that they thought had been missed had been cut across the back of it's forearm buy the first shot.  This area was still heavily brushed but there were also taller trees and hardly any thorns.  We were in the Waterburg mountains and just about everything was granite.  Any  soil between boulders supported 2-4 foot high grass.  For 4 hours we worked at sorting out the criss crossing lepoard trails with 2 of the 3 bleeding.  Eventually we discovered where the male and the female, both of which were bleeding had gone under a fence onto the adjoining property.  We needed to contact this landowner and get permission to follow onto their place so while that was being done we returned to the truck to get some more water.  I had come to the conclussion in my mind that we were barking up an empty tree and being very tired when we got to the truck I put the rifle I was carrying back into the gun rack.  This was one of the days when the temperature rose into the high 80's.  Now you should be able to tell from my pictures that I am not very well adapted to heat.  My nice comfortable temp for personal comfort is about 50 degrees.  Eventually permission was obtained and we went back to the fence crossing.  This is were my Army training started coming in handy.  Very big guy sqeezes under game proof fence.  This was the first indication to me that the game proof fences weren't really so.  The 2 lepoards that had been hit by arrows had been travelling togethor up to this point but not very far on the other side of the fence they split up.  It was determined from the blood sign that the female only had a minor flesh wound and would be okay but that the male was seriously wounded.  Did I say that the trackers were amazing!  This is the day that the dogs really amazed me also!!  The trail eventually lead to the base of a cliff that was about 60 feet high but we could clearly see blood going up it.  The little voice in my mind is saying " there is no way this cat would be going up this cliff if it was seriously wounded" and I silently congratulated my self for having the foresight to leave the rifle back in the truck instead of dragging it along on this folly.  More Army training comes in handy now, Repelling and Mountainerring School, as we go up the cliff.  Jack Russells can jump really high but we had to hand them up the cliff to each other as we climbed to get them up to the top.  We got to the top of the cliff and the ground opened up a little bit and we picked up the blood trail and the dogs set off.  We had been going for about 5 1/2 hours at this point.  We crested the ridge and the trail turned to the left.  We were going along the ridge when we reached the end of it and it started dropping off.  As tthe hill dropped off the grass suddenly got thicker and there was a large patch of brush just downhill to our left.  We had 3 Jack Russells with us to start.  At this point one had run ahead out of sight, one was with us, and the other one was being taken to a waterhole to get cooled off.  Kenzo(the dog) suddenly went on point and started growling.  Not being ones to ignore a sign we stopped for a rest and water replenishment.  The other dogs were taken for a dunk in the waterhole and we all drank a bunch of water.  30 minutes later when we had refocused ourselves and the dogs indicated that it was safe we proceeded forward.  25 yards from where Kenzo warned us we found where the cat had bedded and there was a lot of fresh, bright red, liquid blood.  We were close!  At this point the thought crossed my mind, why am I out here in grass 3 feet tall looking for a wounded lepoard without a gun?  Oh ya, because I asked to be here and I left the gun in the truck 2 1/2 hours ago.  Occasionally I have been accussed of not thinking things all of the way through, go figure.  I almost forgot to mention, as soon as we found the fresh blood after the dog's alert the PH's told me and Kipp to close up and we recieved our instructions incase of a close kitty encounter.  EVERYONE jump on the cat if it gets ahold of somebody!  A lepoard can kill one person that is alone but it can't kill 4 people.  I new there was some reason why I had bought that Medical Emergency/Evacuation insurance!  Oh well, on we pressed and crossed a road after which the grass and brush opened up alot.  We also heard a barking fit from the one dog that had run ahead.  Ever since we had jumped the cat from his bed he had been bleeding good.  Dries Jr and Hien, the PH's with the Guns were in front.  I was 10 yards behind them, and Kipp was 10 yards behind me.  I was really dragging at this time.  We had been going for almost 7 hours and close to a mile from the bait tree with several emotional highs and lows and me being just a wee little bit out of shape.  150 yards after we crossed the road the dogs went on point again and Dries and Hien froze and up came the guns.  I kept walking towards them wanting to see what they were seeing when I see this gold dappled streak come up off the ground 15 yards in front of them and turn away.  It was gunfight at the O.K. corral for about 3 seconds, barking, growling dogs, and lots of Adrenolin!!!
All of this happened in an instant and then there was a lot of celebrating because anytime a wounded lepoard is succecssfully delt with and no one is injured it is a good day!  Kipp's shot hit mid body just behind the diaphram.  Dries Jr. said it was 3" to far back.  Close but almost not close enough.  It took me close to an hour to calm down.  I hadn't been this wound up since I was in that garden spot, southern Iraq, getting shot at in 1991.  Big party back at the lodge that night and a suprise when the skinners started on the cat.  He didn't have full range of motion in his right elbow and there was a large lump there.  When the skin was removed we could see the back of a broadhead so out came the saw.  It turned out to be a Shkote Broadhead with the tip rolled over and one edge sheared off.  It was encased it bone that had grown around it. It was put there the previous year by another of Dries Jr's hunters who was trying to get a lepoard.  You can see the shot on the video, Africa's Best Bowhunts Vol. 3.  It is the very last shot before the end of the video and even though the guy was using a 95# bow and a sturdy BH it didn't make it through the elbow.  It hadn't slowed down the cat very much either because the original bait that drew this cat in was a good sized Hartebeest, about 350#, that it had killed.  Dries Jr. found it and moved it to a tree where they could get a shot at it.  This concludes my adventure.  If you have any questions feel free to ask either here or privately and I will answer them to the best of my ability and thanks for reading along.  Joseph

I also want to thank everyone for their kind words and now I see my picture at the top of the screen!  Also if you want to see Kipp's trophies they are on the Bowsite African thread titled "who's back from Africa this year"  he posted them under the handle Ultrtec.  Joseph

Hey Joseph
 Thank you for the story, I know it isnt easy to type that much but you did a great job. I have been checking and reading everyday since your return. Good Hunt.

                            Shoot Straight
                                 DEA

Great story Joseph!  :thumbsup:   I felt like i was right there with you.

Joseph, awesome bro..thanks for taking us along...  :thumbsup:    :thumbsup:    :notworthy:

Joseph......man that was the trip of a lifetime.  I am happy for you....What a great collection of memories and trophies!!!

Looking forward to seeing you again at PBS in Salt Lake....

Congrats again.....

58 inch bow? I thought it was longer looking at the pics....

Congratulations again...

Dante

Dang, its over. Now I gotta get back on the plane for the long ride back to the States, no wait, it was just a story. Thanks so much Joseph for taking the time and planting the seed for a trip that is gonna cost me a small fortune. Every one jump on the leopard, that was good.

PS, just does not seem fair that now you are getting ready to hunt elk and antelope. You must be doing something right. Keep it up. Good Hunting!

thank you Joseph .you sure got some fantastic memories and had a wonderful trip . i am with your PH you were very luckey . lots go to Africa with rifles and don't come back with the tropheys you did .the archery gods sure smiled on you and hope this season at home is as good -- herb

All I can say is, "WOW!"  

Thanks for taking so much time to type all this out and for sharing the pictures with us.  
Congratulations on a great hunt!
Goose

Hot Dog! That was a great story!  Very well told Joseph.

Thanks everyone!  Shaun, you don't want the plane ride home.  Screaming kids with snot running out of there nose's and parent's that smelled like goat's.  9 hours of it were very unpleasent.  Dante, I will be in SL for sure!  Joseph

Hmmm, I think I rode on that plane once.  But don't keep that from letting you go back.  Just another story to tell.
Thanks again Joseph!
Goose

Awesome trip and awesome story - thanks for sharing it. Absolutley inspiring.
I just made up a new penny jar that has "Africa" written on the side in big letters (prolly gonna need a bigger jar....)

Joeseph, You did good.

Thanks, I enjoyed the trip.

WOW!!!

I put off reading this at first not knowing what it was but since it ended up having all these pages I figured out it must be a good thread.  Sure wasn't dissapointed!  And I even got to read the whole thing without having for Joseph to finish it!

Thanks for sharing.  I'd love to do that some day.

Yeah, ditto, thanks for sharing. I love that stuff especially Africa. I'm wondering however did the hunter have to pay for the other Leopard that was wounded too?

Great stoy Joseph although I have to admit I am feeling a  bit for the leopard hunter.  I assume he ends up paying for two cats and the one he tries to kill with a bow gets killed with a gun

Actually he was pretty lucky in that respect and only had to pay for the second one, as far as i know, because Dries Jr, the PH, thought the second cat was the first one returning and told him to shoot again.  The land owner was also happy that one cat had been harvested and let it go at that.  Besides, as long as that female hangs around she will keep attracting males and he will keep making money.  Joseph

You had my dream trip Joseph.  Now I'm more fired up than ever about going to Africa.  Your stories are really well written; maybe being published is in your future?

I will never go to Africa, but really enjoyed the stories.  Thanks for sharing.

Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and gives me goose bumps on my arms.....made for great reading.

Joseph,  I am emotionally drained by your storytelling.  Thank you very much.  I may never make it to africa but hearing your story sure helps.

thanks

Congrats Joseph,great hunt, story and pics.

I never really overly cared one way or the other about going to Africa, but I must say after you and Dtalas trip, It is on the list.

I want a gemsbock.  :)

Oh, and a baboon! mebbe one of them little tiny deer critters too!

Baboon is on my list for the next trip to.  They are part of the reason I am going to go later in the season.  Joseph

Joseph,

Thanks for sharing your trip with us I really enjoyed reading your stories.  You don't have any other pictures you took while on your trip you would share with us?

Mickey Russell

Congratulations on a tremendous trip Joseph.Thanks for sharing your tales.  John in N.S.

Congrats on a successful trip!  Thanks for sharing your stories and pics!

Just got around to reading all of this. Well done. Excellent.  :notworthy:

Yeh but he still needs a hair cut...lol

I haven't been ignoring you all and thankyou for the kind words.  Had to go hunting for Antelope for 4 days, lots of time on the prairie with really strong winds.  Randy was up from Bozeman.  Lots of fun but no animals collected.  I will get some more pictures posted soon I hope.
Alan, I was just figuring that in 9 months my hair will be at least 2 inches longer than it is now   :bigsmyl:  Should be a hit with the ladies down under  :thumbsup:  Joseph

Hit.... hmmmmmm. Just don't tell em about your rubber fetish!.LAMO!

awesome trip, hard to believe a person could get all those experiences in a couple of weeks or so, amazing.

btw, you never mentioned eating any of the game. I'd be curious to know if/how it was prepared, tasted etc. I would think savoring some of the meat would be a meaningful part of the experience. - eric

Aside from fish 2 nights and chicken 1 night everything else we ate was a wild four legged critter or ostrich.  As far as what I know for sure that I ate the list is; Eland, Kudu, Gemsbuck, Impala, Warthog, and Ostrich.  It was cooked just about every way you can think of.  The ostrich was always cut up and used in a stew or a big Ostrich pot pie cooked in a cast iron pot.  Kudu roast and steaks, Impala steaks, stew meat, and liver with eggs for breakfast, Gemsbuck steaks and hamburger, Warthog sausage, and the last night I was there we had Eland T-bone steaks cooked on the grill!  The one they slapped on my  plate was 9" across the top of the T and 12" down and cooked rare over a thorn wood fire.  :thumbsup:  The best description I have heard about how good the critters over there taste was put forth by Rosey Roseland.  He said "If deer and elk tasted half as good as the stuff in Africa there wouldn't be any left because they would have all been shot by now!"  That is a better desciption than I could give and very true.  Joseph

wow, just finished reading....awesome...now I wanna go lol !