Christensen African Hunting Adventure

Part 2 of 4

Editor’s Note: In the previous issue the Christensen family began their family vacation with Marupa Safaris. We pick up their vacation on day six of the trip.

The next morning was still fairly windy, but the temperatures were better, in the mid-forties. Not far from the lodge a group of red hartebeest were spotted. We watched as they made their way up a different koppie (rocky hill/mountain). When they made their way out of our sight Reinardt, Ivan and I climbed the koppie in an attempt to cut them off and get a shot. When we reached the top the hartebeest were nowhere to be found. It was like they vanished, but they had not. There was a small depression or valley to our right and as we slowly made our way toward it, the small herd was at the bottom. They saw us as we saw them and vacated the area quickly. Although it was a failed stalk it was an enjoyable start to the day.

Once back to the truck we drove some of the roads for another fifteen minutes or so before coming across a decent impala who was standing about fifty yards off the road. We continued past the impala about another 200 yards until we were out of sight and stopped the truck. Reinardt, Ivan and I got out to make the stalk. Reinardt did an excellent job of getting us to within 120 yards before he set up the sticks. Ivan took his time and made a shot that dropped the impala. He had his second animal of the trip.

After pictures and loading the impala in the truck, we continued looking for animals we were pursuing. We came across a decent springbok and Ivan attempted to harvest him, but missed the shot. I could tell he was a bit dejected, but I reassured him we all miss at some point and I had missed animals more than I’d like to admit. That seemed to bring him out of his funk.

The sunset on the way out to jackal hunt.jpg

We dropped Ivan’s impala at the skinner shack and then proceeded to part of the property where waterbuck hang out. Elijah was hoping to take one of these large animals if he was presented with an opportunity. As we were driving toward the area we spotted a small group of waterbuck. Reinardt stopped the truck and he and Elijah got out, but before the shooting sticks could be set up the waterbuck took off into the thick brush. In this group were four females and two good males. Elijah and Reinardt tried to follow them up into the bush, but it was a failed attempt as the group went deeper into the bush.

When Elijah and Reinardt returned to the truck we proceeded to drive very slowly through the thicker area of bush. We drove for a while before I swore I saw a rock on the ground that looked like a waterbuck head. I tapped the top of the truck and Reinardt stopped. I put my binoculars up and there laying in the thick vegetation 120 yards away was a waterbuck. He was in the shade making his head appear to be a dark colored rock. The bull was laying at an angle that would afford a tough shot. Reinardt was attempting to explain to Elijah where to shoot, when another waterbuck materialized next to the first one we saw. He was standing there the whole time, but blended in so well we couldn’t see him. This one was standing up and facing us.

I directed Reinardt’s attention to the second bull and Reinardt decided they were both good bulls, but the one stand facing us was a better shot opportunity. The rifle was adjusted to switch from the laying waterbuck to the one standing. The waterbuck was slightly angled in his stance so Reinardt instructed Elijah to shoot under the white spot on his chest/neck area and a little to the right. At the report of the rifle the animal dropped before jumping back up and taking off. Reinardt did an excellent job of following the animal up through the thick thorny bush and 100 yards later found Elijah’s animal. I didn’t realize how big these animals were until we walked up on him. He was quite a large animal and Elijah was very pleased with him.

After loading the waterbuck and taking him to the skinning shack we started heading back to the lodge for lunch when we ran into a group of springbok that was mingling with a group of red hartebeest. Both of these animals were on Ivan’s list still. We stopped and were able to look them over from a distance of a couple hundred yards, before spotting a very nice red hartebeest bull at the back of the herd. They were straight out ahead of us and Ivan tried to set up for a shot, but the bull moved forward into the rest of the herd of hartebeest making it too difficult to shoot.

Then the herd started moving from straight out in front of us to our right. They weren’t spooked by us and were quite calm, so we continued to watch them, moving our position slightly to see what would happen next. We watched as the herd passed by through an opening at 180 yards. Ivan was set up to shoot in the opening waiting for his opportunity when a large hartebeest, the bull we saw just minutes ago walked into the opening and stopped to graze. Ivan got him in the crosshairs and squeezed the trigger. We could hear the thump of the shot hitting the bull as the animals ran off into the thicker cover. Ivan had his second animal of the day.

We went back to the lodge for lunch and to relax for a while before heading back out for the afternoon hunt. When we went back out, we went to the area where Elijah shot his waterbuck. Sara decided she would like to also harvest one of these unique animals. We were able to find the group again and Reinardt and Sara were able to make a stalk, but the females in the group took off taking the male with them.

As we continued to drive around the area Reinardt spotted a group of springbok in some thick bush. He stopped the truck and got out, taking Ivan with him. They stalked into the bush. From the truck I could see some springbok, but not all of them. Then there was a shot. I didn’t see what happened, but learned later Ivan had a good shooting window at around 80 yards. At his shot, the springbok dropped. It was a great springbok and Ivan was very pleased with the experience.

After dinner that evening Pieter asked if we would like to try for jackal again. Of course I said yes. Along the drive to the koppie where Ivan shot his gemsbok the day before we came across a nice duiker. Ivan set up for the shot and collected his fourth animal of the day and the last animal for him on the trip. Ivan’s excitement over his awesome day of hunting lasted several days as he would bring up each stalk several times.

In an attempt to get a jackal we sat atop the koppie for an hour and a half calling from time to time, but no jackals would cooperate so we called it a night. We did have a great view of all of the stars the southern hemisphere has to offer which added to the hunt and overall vacation experience.