The pull and passion had been within for many years but the belief it would ever happen stayed at the back of his mind. Until he was introduced to a good friend of mine in a restaurant over a fine steak. From this evening on the plans were put into place and reality moved in. He was going to Africa on his first safari but had little knowledge of what to expect.
YouTube video’s were watched and an assortment of animals considered. But then reality kicked in and after a number of emails and WhatsApp’s, a list was put together.
Impala, Eastern Cape kudu, gemsbok (oryx), warthog were listed, but the number one for the trip would be the prince of Africa the regal Sable. The long sweeping back horns and black cape would have to go back to North Carolina.
The safari started with a bit of a hiccup, due to airlines once again. But this was not going to slow us down or ruin the experience. Bill arrived in Port Elizabeth a day late, so we had our work cut out. We headed straight to the lodge, only an hour North of the airport. We dropped off the bags and headed to the range. A couple of shots to get used to the rifle and see everything was working we prepared to head out.
Joined by our cameraman and field staff we took a twenty-minute drive to one of the hunting areas. With sable being high on the list we thought we would try to locate a bull which had been seen with some cows a couple of weeks before. We drove to a high point and glassed and eventually spotted him. Standing alone on the opposite mountain looking at us. He had noticed us and before we knew it, he started his move. Moving down the mountain and across the open plain giving us no chance to get in on him. He was gone. Assuring Bill that we would get one we headed back to the lodge as it was starting to get late.
The following morning and after good night’s sleep, we stuck to an area by the lodge. This area was teaming with game in every direction and Bill was like a kid in a candy store. Common impala, black impala, nyala, kudu were everywhere. Bill laid his eyes on his first nyala and from that moment on he wanted one. I explained that we would first get an impala in the bag and move on from there.
We sat on a rocky and observed the beautiful array of animals below us. We then noticed a fantastic common impala ram. Big in body and an amazing set of horns on top of his head. Wider than the tips of his ears kicking nicely back and having an outward flare at the points which is rare to find. This would be our ram.
We slowly made our way down from our lookout point and using every bit of cover available we got into shooting range. Bill sat and we got the shooting sticks set up for a sitting shot. We had plenty of time as we had not been noticed on our stalk in. Bill put the rifle on the sticks and made himself ready. Our cameraman got him in frame,and I picked him up in my binoculars.
“Whenever you are ready Bill”.
The shot rang out and the familiar sound of a hit was heard by all. The ram jumped and ran behind a bush. We checked the footage on the camera, and we saw the shot was slightly back. Leaving the tracker at the shooting spot we moved down to sort out any issue if needed. The impala did jump up, but Bill was ready and a second, backup shot ensured that this magnificent specimen would go into the salt that evening. Photographs were taken and celebrations had having broken the seal on African soil.
We loaded the ram and headed back to camp for the field preparation to continue. While the guys skinned and got the cape into the salt we discussed the part of the day.
Bill then surprised both myself and Arold (Owner, Outfitter and PH of African Select Hunting Safaris) by saying his list had changed and a black impala and nyala were now to be added.
We ate lunch and during this time Arnold explained that if Bill was serious about a nyala he knew of a spot where he had seen a stunning old bull. He was past his prime but had magnificent horns with ivory tips.
Bill said he wasn’t joking and thought they were amazing animals.
After lunch we headed out again with this bull in mind. We arrived in the area where he had been seen and once again started our search. All of a sudden, our tracker clicked his fingers. We looked him and he pointed to a small thicket below us. There he was. All on his own and unaware of our presence. We were all ready in a shootable range so got Bill on the sticks. The bull was slowly moving from right to left and heading towards an open area. Bill steadied himself and concentrated on the open patch. The bull walked, still unaware of us straight into the open area. He wasn’t going to stop though, and Bill took a shot. The bull jumped and darted forward to the edge of the clearing. The shot had taken out both lungs and he was dead on his feet. He stopped, stumbled to the right and fell. His day had come, and Bill had his second animal to take home.
Photographs were taken and back to the skinning shed we headed. Celebrations around the open fire were had that evening and everyone was in high spirits.
The following morning, we rose early as we were heading to the Northen concession up in the mountains. This is where we would look for a gemsbok and anything else which would give us a chance.
The weather was closing in, but we still had time so headed straight out for the gemsbok. A lone gemsbok had been seen, and this was the one we would target. The main herd were up in the mountains, but the loner was down on the flats. After a short time, we located our gemsbok and the stalk began. We would use an erosion gully to our advantage and close the gap. The gemsbok was about a kilometre away which we could close with this gully. We made our way, stopping and peering over the edge to see our progress. Eventually we were close. But from the gully we couldn’t get a shot. We climbed out and using the small bushes we moved forward. Un knowing to us the gemsbok had laid down behind a bush in a slight hollow. We had to get higher. Using the wind, we made our way around where we thought our intended target would be. There it was, lying down facing away from us. We didn’t want to take this shot, so we slowly sat and readied ourselves. It was an old animal and past breeding. We would wait. Suddenly it stood up and turned straight towards us. No wind change, no noise but a sixth sense is amazing in wild animals. Bill readied himself and as soon as the bull turned, he pulled the trigger putting in a perfect heart shot. The gemsbok ran no more than eighty meters and dropped.
We then headed for a blesbok where we stalked up another gully leading us closer to them. The herd was about forty in number with a couple of nice rams. We looked through them and a ram with a slightly worn off horn was selected. This ram decided to walk straight towards us as they are known to be inquisitive. Bill put in a perfect frontal shot which dropped the ram in his tracks.
This hunt was going very well so far.
The mountain hunt had finished, and we headed back to the Southern camp.
Our intended quarry now was the last remaining animals on the wish list. Sable, black impala and kudu. If a warthog showed himself, we would take him but these other three were now a priority.
We headed back to the area where we had been successful with the first impala. We glassed again and eventually saw a black impala ram. Long straight horns and a beautiful black cape.
To get into a shooting range we would have to move back from our vantage point, drop into a valley below and then climb to another rocky outcrop above the ram. We started our move. Arnold once again joined us and lead the way. We moved cautiously so not be detected by the many eyes around us. We got to the top of the outcrop and got into position. The ram walked slowly from left to right. Arnold got bill on the sticks and ranged the distance. The scope was quickly dialled and Arnold said to just take him on the shoulder. The shot went and the ram dropped but before anyone could celebrate a magnificent kudu bull jumped out. As though the God’s were watching over us that day. He was the only animal that stood still after the initial shot on the impala. The sticks were quickly turned,and the instruction was given.
“Take him”.
Bill didn’t waist any time. The shot was true, and the bull was down. Now celebrations could begin. In total both shots were taken within two minutes of each other. Never has something like this happened to either myself or Arnold in our many years of guiding.
Now there was just one more special animal to go for. Bill’s number one. Arnold headed back to the same area where we had seen the bull on the first day. Once again, he was eventually located at the top of a mountain. There was no chance of getting him up there, especially as he had joined up with a herd of sable cows and another younger bull. Aplan was made and the bull with his herd made their way down to an area which for starters would be more friendly to stalk in on but also a lot easier to load if the shot was made. Arnold and Bill made their way around a small hill and positioned themselves about three hundred meters away. Again, the scope was dialled and Arnold said to place the bullet behind the shoulder. The shot was once again on the dot. The bull hardly went thirty meters. He stood, looked around and dropped.
The safari was a huge success and well done to all involved. Arnold and Chelly for running such a great operation at African Select Hunting Safaris, Bill for shooting so well and all the team that work together to make a dream come true.
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