• Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
Saunders Group - Bruce,Ryker,Shane,Steven and Karen.
The Saunders group arrived in our Limpopo camp just before midnight on Monday 15 June and after having a meal they went to bed in the early morning hours. The first morning was spent in camp and after discussing the basic plans for the hunting safari and sighting rifles and bows they went hunting yesterday afternoon.
They saw a lot of animals to start their first day of hunting in Africa and Steven hunted and killed a big beautiful Blue Wildebeest bull with a double lung shot from his bow. The shooting distance was 20 yards and the bull went down after about 120 yards. The trophy quality of this big bull is very unique with the horns going backwards against the skull and then curling down. Steven’s wife Karen accompanied him on the hunt and took a few pictures of other animals the saw from the blind.
They all went hunting early this morning of 17th and we will wait and see what the day brings.
Steven with Trophy Blue Wildebeest
Success came on our first true day of hunting. The day before, we went out to merely get a feel of the surrounding landscape, but reaped the benefits of much more. Basically in the backyard of the lodge, there is a whole variety of different species of game such as the blue wildebeest, zebra, blesbuck, red hartebeest, kudu, and waterbuck. It’s an experience of a life time knowing that the lodge has its own personal safari in its backyard. The morning of the oryx kill, we drove to a 5,000 acre farm only about 10 minutes from the camp. We saw rhinos, giraffes, and a variety of other species. The lodge’s professional tracker and African guide helped locate the oryx on a hillside about 250 yards away. We stalked the oryx another 50 yards before I prepared to shoot. When the oryxwentdown, Jacob, our African guide, went back to the game reserve to gather some more help. His three other friends, the PH, my father, and I went up the cliff to harvest the animal. For helping us dress the animal, the locals got to keep some of the meat from the animal. After a good lunch and a power nap we went back to the bush. The drive to all the hunting spots is full a game sightings. We ride in the back of the truck with cameras to catch the action. After photographing several animals the tracker spotted several waterbucks. Phillip our PH confirmed it was of trophy size and the hunt was on. We were in the savanna without much cover. As we moved so did the waterbucks. A long distance shot had to be made. Dad sat up on the shooting sticks. We could hardly see the animals due to the high grass. Dad’s 300 Weatherby was true to the mark. The big buck went down, a 410 yard shot. As we moved toward the animal. and could see the size and we knew our PH had done well. A 600 pound waterbuck and a 400 pound oryx makes for a good day.
Ryker and Bruce
- Ryker and Bruce
Yesterday I went out bowhunting in the blind overlooking a water hole. There was a great number of different game including warthogs, blesbok, kudu, impala, and other species. Due to the successful game management of the World of Africa Outfitters, there were many trophy-sized kudurangingfrom a rack length of 46-50 inches seen in just one day. Today due to the superb location of many different hunting blinds, there were many opportunities to shoot big game. I shot at a trophy impala, but still after a fatal shot and the blood covered arrow to prove it, we still couldn’t find the animal, but since the World of Africa Outfitters has many different hunting spots, I bagged an even bigger one that evening. Not a bad start for the first full day of hunting.
Shane with Trophy Impala
With one of my trophy’s taken, next on the list was a 50″ or better Kudu. This has animal is the main reason I want to come to Africa. After seeing several Kudu’s the trophy I had been waiting on finally showed himself. Patience is key to bow hunting. My guide also confirmed the same thing “be patience is the key to success” When my 53″ bull came close enough, the shot was good enough to drop to 600 pound bull in 40 yards. A life time of memories under the African Skies.
Shane with Kudu
On my second day of full hunting the 18th of June in Africa, I scored on the animal I wanted most, a Greater Kudu. It was a late afternoon hunt, I had seen this Kudu before but he never gave me a shot. This time was different, at a range of 20 yards my shot was true. It has been a dream of a life time to come Africa, after three days two animals down and 2 to go.
Steven and his Kudu trophy
My good luck continued when I hunted a huge 30″+ Trophy Waterbuck bull on Saturday. This is a truly magnificent once in a lifetime trophy and will score very high in the record books.
Shane with Trophy Waterbuck
On Monday Steven finally got a good Zebra Stallion, he always wanted to hunt this African Trophy. The shot was a bit back, but the Zebra went down after 300 yards.
Steven with Zebra
I went out the afternoon of our last hunting day and shot a old Trophy Blesbuck Ram. This was the final animal hunted on my first Africa Hunting Safari.
Shane with Blesbuck
After three hard days of Kudu hunting and passing up several smaller bull we keep searching for that Kudu bull that was going to be our show piece back home. After passing on a couple of 48″ bulls we were head off the mountain and ran into the 4th animal on our list. It was luck more the skill, I wanted the Kudu so dad took the Nyala, not much of a shot for him but he was thrilled with the 300 pound bull. We took the next day off the ride the elephants ( it’s like straddling a VW bug) and to the game park. We saw two leopards. Day six of our hunting trip brought highs and lows. The Kudu I had been hunting the past three days showed himself with two other bulls. The PH got everything setup in the heavy bush. It was the longest shot I had ever taken 250 yards. The shot was true but the big Kudu did not go down. We tracked it for a mile in the bush. At one time we had 9 people looking for my Kudu. Night came and we had to leave. We had no luck the next day as we searched the 14,000 acres. Still no luck. We called it a day and left the farm. Another farmer had ask us to shoot a wild hog or the baboons that was getting into his feeders. So after the 5 days of hard Kudu hunting, some easier hunting was needed. This baboon came off the mountian to the farmers feeder. The baboon was making making a gluten of himself until my 270 put an end to the raiding. We got 3 of our 4 animals we came for but lost our Kudu.
Ryker,Bruce and Phillip
Hello, my name is Ryker and I’m a 17 year old from Nashville, Tennessee. The lodge is only one step shy from a resort, and being in the northern part of South Africa makes that seem fantastic. There is no real way to express how nice and caring the staff is. The PH’s always ask if you need anything during a meal, always congratulate you after your kill, and always have a warm welcoming smile even at 5 in the morning. The hunting is fantastic, there was plenty of game and there will always be a PH to fit your specific hunting style. You will always have a tracker/skinner with you and your PH, and never underestimate your tracker because he is worth his weight in gold. I wounded a kudu this trip, and we searched the mountain high and low. Not only did my tracker Jacob walk up and down the mountain countless times, but also went to the effort to get 4 extra trackers from the nearest village to help us. After your hunt, you return to camp right after dark to find yourself welcomed by a nice cozy fire with dinner almost prepared. The dinner was centralized around the local foods of South Africa, but still a gourmet meal nonetheless. There is no other word to describe the experience other than addicting. At the end of this trip, we already have decided to make a second trip. Again I say, I’m a 17 year old. I have been from Europe to Alaska and this safari ranks at the top of my list of things I have done. I strongly suggest that you buy that plane ticket and share your safari experience with World to Africa Hunting.
Ryker and Friend
The Saunders group are leaving in the morning to visit a Wildlife centre and interaction with African Predators like cheetah and wild dogs. They are then going to the airport to get a flight back home. We really enjoyed their company and will have memories to last a life time!! Thank you for your friendship and we hope to meet soon around a camp fire under the African Sky. From all the staff at World to Africa Hunting we hope you have a good trip home.
Sunday, 21. June 2009
A way to go SON (Shane)
Monday, 22. June 2009
Wow, Im impressed. Looks like yall are having a great time.
Tuesday, 23. June 2009
I Know You Are So Happy ( Your Aunt Wanda )
Tuesday, 23. June 2009
WISH I WAS THERE, WITH YOU YOU,GET ONE FOR ME HAVE A SAFE TRIP BACK HOME
Tuesday, 23. June 2009
See you when You get back home ,did You get the other one that You wanted?
Tuesday, 23. June 2009
Wish I was there with you,get one for me have a safe trip bach home cant wait to see them