The reason for going to South Africa....




Killed the lioness with the .375 RUM and 300 gr Nosler Partitions. The shot was at 25 yards.

Blesbok...


The blesbok was killed withe .375 H&H using the 270 gr Swift A-Frame. The horns and skin will be coming home.

Springbok...




Springbok was killed using the same load as the Blesbok.

Blue Wildebeest....




The wildebeest was shot with the same load as the springbok and blesbok.

Oryx...




Oryx was killed with the same load that was used on the blesbok.

Ken, Good job that must of been a real thrill. Rio7

Random pics...

Thanks Blue... It was a thrill! Going back for eland and sable. Taking my wife next time,she will enjoy it!

Welcome back! great pics and hunt!

Thanks Jorge.

There will be more pics as soon as photo bucket uploads them all,most likely tomorrow.

So please bear with me.

Welcome home, glad it was successful and you got back safely.. Life is good..

Nice. I'm jealous.

Thanks WCH.

This is what I like to see.

NICE WORK!

Thanks T_Inman!

Nice critters all around, but that blesbok looks outstanding.

Having only killed one myself, what did the guide say about it? Was it exceptionally sized or just a normal mature animal?

The lion I am sure was the crown jewel. That must have been a rush!

Looks like you had a very successful trip,beautiful critters

The blesbok was an old bull,the ridges were worn almost smooth. As far as the size,I don't know,was just wanting an old bull and this one fit the bill.

Didn't worry about inches,just looking for over the hill critters.

I rarely look at inches either...in fact only once have I scored one animal.

He just looks exceptionally long, but like I said, I have only killed one so don't really know.

Great work regardless.

Nice critters all around! Congrats on the lion! Should make a really nice rug!

Love the pics elkhunter. Very nice animals you got there. Who did you hunt with if you don't mind? Congrats and thanks for sharing.

Very cool 'elks.

Congrats.

Molopo Kalahari Safaris. The food was excellent,the PH was top notch and they spoiled me beyond belief. The companies rep lives in Las Cruces,about 15 minutes away from me.

Ingwe,as of right now US Fish & Wildlife banned the importation of lions from South Africa. I found that out about 3 weeks before my hunt. Will get the dewclaws and floating bones made into jewelry for the wife and daughter. Most likely will not see skull and hide for awhile.

Thats a load of crap!

Earlier safari I had my animals scored,now I just don't care. Cause inches does not translate into the hunting of that animal.

Elks, was gonna say you're trigger happy, then saw all the stuff you left standing. You ought be careful consorting with strange pusse'...they can't be trusted.

Yup,I told the rep the only way I was not going to hunt lioness was if there was an outright ban of lion hunting.

With trump in office that may change,but,right now no lioness hide and skull.

She was too old for me....

'Elks, stupid question but do they eat lion?

I only ask cause mountain lion is some of the best wild game I've ever ate.

Dandy safari, indeed. Thanks for sharing.

Ken.... You shot a lion.... Okay, a lioness. At 25 yards...

AWESOME!

Everything else is gravy. Really good gravy. Congrats on a great hunt!

Guy

Congratulations on an excellent safari Ken! Some dandy animals you got there.

Hell of a job Elk!!!!!, many congrats buddy, nice animals and all shots looked to be placed correctly.

You are now scheming on a return, no? ;]

Nope,the springbok I hit through the back legs after missing it about 20 minutes earlier. The shot you see is the finisher.

The oryx I hit in the guts just in front of the hindquater,the next shot I called it in the shoulder,it went high above the spine. That's sweat on my shirt as we followed it for an hour at a fast walk. When dusk arrived,finally got some more shots into it. Overall I hit 4 times and the PH hit it twice when it was all over. Animals are tough when you muck up the first shot.

Yes,going back for eland and sable in 2-3 years.

SLM,yes some do eat lion.After she was skinned she was put in a cooler. No meat is wasted from any animal killed.

Figured after I killed the lioness the PH would take it easy on me,but NOOO,still got up at 5 am and left camp at 5:30.

Took 3.5 days of hunting before I killed the oryx.

Photo bucket did not load up all the pics,so tonight will try again and hopefully tomorrow will post some more.

Please bear with me.

Outstanding, Ken! Green with envy!!!

RM

Congrats, Ken. Nice animals and style points for that lion.

Frikken awesome Ken !!

Glad you're going back & taking Mrs Elk !

Memories, they're best made together.

Congrats, NMDude.
Nice animals.

Thanks fellas.

Well done, Ken !

....hope you can bring home that hide soon, my friend.

GTC

Thanks Greg.

Great animals Ken!!! Well done!!!

Nice animals, Ken. Glad you had much success and that the hunt went off without a hitch.

Congrats on the great hunt and safe return, Elks.

Nice pics.

That kitty is exhausted. How long did she chase you through the brush before she just layed down and gave up?.

Rule #1 for African Safari: "CARDIO".......(same as for Zombies)

Jealous here. Id like to tip over one of them bizarre azz hyenas and get it mounted some day.
And shoot me a crocodilly.
But then, how would I feel if I was just sunnin' myself, and some foreigner bus'ed me in the noggin?

...not good at all.

Funny you mention that. I shot my gemsbok right where I meant to...only to have it still on its feet 10 minutes later.
It was the only shot I had after 3 full days of chasing them.
Crazy tough animals!

Congrats on a great hunt buddy! That big ole grin your wearing in all of the pictures says it all! Glad you made it back to the good ole USA safely too,

Point A: Ya need ta be wearin' your trademark hat under all that summer sun!

Point B: I don't know how you got out without Judy - 'd bet you know how THAT little escapade would go down if I tried it on "The Warden"

He!! - she'd probably leave ME at home!

Some more lioness pics.....




The thicket she was in.

Another view of the thicket. The brush was broken so she could be pulled out as can be seen by the drag marks.


Random pics.



Jackal.

Head chef in camp.


Kudu bulls around the watering next to the lodge.


A young giraffe.

For some reason oryx give me "buck fever." Was 25 yds away from the lioness,I was calm,cool,collected,but oryx give me the shakes. Go figure.

Say so because Friday morning,we got on a herd and after getting on the sticks the PH decided to get closer. Well,while getting closer my hands started shaking uncontrollably. I tapped the PH on the shoulder and showed him my shaking hands. He just smiled. The evening before I missed another oryx at the range of 70 yds or so. Shot right over it. Which is why the PH wanted to get closer to the oryx on Friday morning.

While chasing the wounded oryx I decided that hunting oryx will be out of a while. I can do without "buck fever."

I know the feeling.

Even after killing 15 or so elk, I still get the shakes every time one is in my sights. Deer, antelope and other critters get me excited, but elk are on a different level.

One can say that I am obsessed.

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼. Did your PH bitch about packing your couch around for you. 😂 great work thanks for sharing.

Nope,the trackers did that for me. Gave them a dollar tip each.

LOL, You got the fever, glad I fall to crap after shooting, also happy you were able to recover all animals.

I'm kicking the stall doors wanting to go back, BAD! it's an affliction.

More like an addiction,with no known cure.

Yes, either or, affliction...........suffering, distress, sorrow and torment.

True.

Now all I'll hear from my wife is "Can't buy that cause we are saving money to go back to Africa."

Ken,

You say that, like it's a bad thing !

Odd you mention that Oryx give you a dose of buck fever. They affect my wife the same way. She has shot four of them I think, and we had a follow up and finish off on each one. Everything else she pointed at in Africa succumbed immediately!

Always have an eye out for a rifle and I can just hear say that.

Ingwe,I've killed two oryx here in New Mexico and remember a little bit of "buck fever" but geez,never had it like that before.

Woo Hoo! Good for you buddy!

Glad the RUM proved to be enough gun at 25 yards

Thanks.

Me too!

elk, enjoyed the new photos.. Great job.. I love that place.. Thought when I retired I might move there for a few years.. My wife would have none of it..

The thing that keeps me from a return trip is the long plaine ride both ways.. If I ever could afford more than coach, I would go.. Looking forward to the next pics.

LOL, I've decided on going back in the fall of '17 to complete my spiral horn five, that Kudu bull I was lucky enough to kill has to be accompanied by his other four spiral horned comrades.

Wifey has a dang 16' long suspended canning cabinet that the backside will be a perfect mounting piece for all five facing off out into my room of the house, saddles and tack, guns and animal heads, knives, fireplace and wood with cigars and scotch, that's my spot!

I'm going back for eland and sable. Did see two huge impala that wearing on the mind and just maybe a black wildebeest.

We shall see.

Wife is going to take her .280 Rem,so something for her to shoot at.

Will see the company rep Saturday to pay what I still owe and discuss the next trip.

Understand,it's a PITA.

Which four Gunner? I can only think of bushbuck,Nyala, and eland...unless of course you're saving big for bongo!

The price of sable is coming back down! Eland will give you a walk,impalas are always cool,but FWIW I was kinda disappointed in the black wildebeest....like his blue cousin they struck me as a bit scatter brained.

My PH described it as "A bee in the bonnet." While stalking the blue wildebeest,for some reason they just took off. Wind and sun were in our favor,but they just took off. He said the black wildebeest was the same way.

The outfitter made an offer on sable that I cannot refuse. Going to hunt for an "over the hill" "past his prime" bull.

Half the time wildebeest will run a couple hundred yards, stare at each other and run back...

An over the hill sable would be skookum!

Yes it would be,along with an over the hill eland bull.

You picked some nice animals. Like you I've only been over once, but I didn't even know I wanted a Blesbuck until I saw one over there.

Actually,this is my second safari in South Africa. The first was in October 1995.

That'll work Elk.

No Bongo Poobs, 35K is outrageous, blame the four instead of five on my excited oldtimers disease.

Nice job. I can't wait until my next trip to the Dark Continent.

Thanks Tmc0304.

Can't wait either to get back.

great pics and

Chief,

Well ain't that just dandy. Goin huntin' for "over the hill" "past his prime" type critters. I'm guessin' those PH's just aren't into lettin' the poor guys retire in comfort to live out their days?

Sheesh, maybe that's what they're waitin' for me to do, get past my prime so's they can harvest me, before I can retire in comfort.

Anyhooo, excellente mi amigo! When I say the kitty taking a dirt nap on the other thread I figured you had a good time. Probably an understatement, eh?

Thanks for the pics.

Geno

PS, I didn't see any reference to any game shot with that lil' ol' jackrabbit gun, she didn't go along for the ride?

No,the .460 Wby did not make it to South Africa..... in due time it will.

Well, I'm sure when it gets there with you it'll find something "large" enough to use it's substantial authority on.

Perhaps this critter. I hear they are hella tough when enraged by humans!



Again, really enjoyed the pics.

Enjoy your winter dreaming of the next trip.

Geno

Yup,seen those while driving to the area to call jackals. Seen a couple of bat-eared fox too.

It looks like it was a fine adventure, Ken, and the photos are most enjoyable. I'm happy for you, and thanks for sharing this.

It was and you're welcome.