Post by darrellh on Jun 7, 2024 12:44:58 GMT -5
Both of my Kiddos recently graduated from college so I wanted to take them on an out of the ordinary trip; something that they will hopefully remember for the rest of their lives. I took them to one of my favorite places in Africa; Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Klaserie is a private "free-range" reserve located next to Kruger National Park. Klaserie, Kruger, and several other adjoining private reserves have no fences between them and the animals come and go as they please. We saw a host of animals including lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, hippo, crocodile, buffalo, and a myriad of plains game. Even though it was "all about the kids" I just happened to take a big-bore lever gun along for the trip just in case we were attacked by cape buffalo. 
A typical day on this safari consisted of my PH and I getting up early and hunting buffalo until lunchtime, then heading back to the lodge for lunch with my lazy crew. We would then all head out for a game drive every afternoon until evening when we parked the vehicle at a scenic spot and watched the sun go down while enjoying a "Sundowner." On the morning of day 5, my PH (John Luyt) and I (along with Piet, the Klaserie representative that accompanied us on the hunt) snuck up to a group of bedded bulls. After waiting seemingly forever for him to stand, I shot this buffalo at 30 yards or so, facing me, quartering slightly to the left. The bull reacted to the shot well and ran to my left about 30 yards into the bush and stopped. He stood for a few minutes, then lay down and bellowed. We thought he was finished when all of a sudden he jumped up and moved about 20 yards to our right. I was able to get a follow up shot through the brush and I hit him high in his left shoulder. Due to the thick brush I couldn't see him well enough to shoot again but it was just as well because after a few more minutes he expired.
The 45-90 was loaded with 400 grain Lever Gun Solids from Cutting Edge Bullets. The first shot penetrated from the chest and was recovered poking through the hide just in front of his right hind quarter. The recovered bullet had only rifling marks, it looked like it could have been loaded and shot again otherwise. The second bullet was not recovered.
It was a grand adventure. I can't wait to get back.
A typical day on this safari consisted of my PH and I getting up early and hunting buffalo until lunchtime, then heading back to the lodge for lunch with my lazy crew. We would then all head out for a game drive every afternoon until evening when we parked the vehicle at a scenic spot and watched the sun go down while enjoying a "Sundowner." On the morning of day 5, my PH (John Luyt) and I (along with Piet, the Klaserie representative that accompanied us on the hunt) snuck up to a group of bedded bulls. After waiting seemingly forever for him to stand, I shot this buffalo at 30 yards or so, facing me, quartering slightly to the left. The bull reacted to the shot well and ran to my left about 30 yards into the bush and stopped. He stood for a few minutes, then lay down and bellowed. We thought he was finished when all of a sudden he jumped up and moved about 20 yards to our right. I was able to get a follow up shot through the brush and I hit him high in his left shoulder. Due to the thick brush I couldn't see him well enough to shoot again but it was just as well because after a few more minutes he expired.
The 45-90 was loaded with 400 grain Lever Gun Solids from Cutting Edge Bullets. The first shot penetrated from the chest and was recovered poking through the hide just in front of his right hind quarter. The recovered bullet had only rifling marks, it looked like it could have been loaded and shot again otherwise. The second bullet was not recovered.
It was a grand adventure. I can't wait to get back.
