Mossel Bay

On Friday morning we were picked up early in camp by our driver for our GARDEN TOUR route to Cape Town.  It's a two day drive and we spent the night in Mossel Bay on the Southern Coast.  Below are some of the photos of the Indian Ocean.  Notice the large waves coming in.  We were fortunate to be here during the Full Moon Phase which gave me wonderful scenes to work with.

Last Days In Camp

This post will wrap up our last days in camp.  We had an outstanding hunt.  We saw lots of game, many different species, and my restraint at not shooting more is commendable.  I was very, very tempted. However, one of the ladies on our trip, Margaret Hornady, who was on her first trip to South Africa managed to take several very nice trophies.  I haven't posted any of her photos because she wanted to keep it a surprise until she got back to Nebraska. But she couldn't wait any longer and gave me permission to post these photos on my blog on the trophies she hunted. 

Margi worked really hard for this beautiful Zebra. Climbing loose rocks to the top of a mountain isn't easy, but with a trophy like this; it's worth it.

Graham and Beans are wonder Professional Hunters. Margi took this White Spring Buck on the final days of our Safari. 

She also took a Blue Wildebeest and a Black Wildebeest but photos are on another SD card that I haven't downloaded and the connection is REALLY slow here at the hotel so those photos will have to wait.

South African Views

Here are some of the views we see every day as we go out hunting. . . .

Tollie's Goats

 Tollie Jordan and his family have raised goats for generations.  In fact, his great grandfather established the Boer Goats in South Africa. Several years ago, Tollie contracted with a rancher in Texas and sent 500 Boer Goats to Texas.  So now, every Boer Goat in Texas is a direct lineage to Tollies line of goats here in  South Africa.  (The Boer Goats have the white body and brown/red head.)

Now Tollie is raising the Kalahari Red Goat Breed which he established and is selling worldwide.
We saw little baby goats everywhere and they are so cute. 

The Kalahari Red is prized for it's meat value.

Could The Days Get Any Better?

I haven't mentioned anything about the wonderful meals that are being presented to us each evening.  Appetizers, salads, desserts, the main entrees all prepared by Karen that are as good as a five star in our opinion. The salads are all fresh and freshest vegetables. The first night our main entree was Nyala steak with a cheddar/peppercorn sauce; Glazed chicken pieces, Roast Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, And Green Beans.

The next night we arrived at dinner to a place marker with our photo of our game taken that day. The menu that night Crumbed blesbuck Strips, Lamb Chops with potatoes, Rice, Mixed Grilled Vegetables.  And last night we had Kudu Schnitzels, Chicken Schnitzels topped with bacon, cheese and mushroom sauce, Pumpkin cakes, Cauliflower and broccoli with cheese sauce, Potatoes in herb sauce. 

Every meal  is served with wonderful wine, horde ouvres, and desserts.

As always the hunting is wonderful. Cyndi and I both took Black Springbucks with Graham. I didn't want one until I saw how pretty the one was that Cyndi shot. 

Beth likes trophies with screwed up horns.  So this Nyala was perfect for what she was looking for.  She got him early in the morning.

This is "Ears" , the pet Nyala that was raised from a baby at Tollies.  He loves being around people and whenever people are over at Tollies, he comes up to be petted.  He also likes to drink out of a glass.  The funniest is when he feels ignored and tries to get attention by doing his Nyala dance.

If you look closely, you'll see the head of a Cobra in the grass. We ran across this fella one day when we were out stalking for a Kudu.  The PH said when his head is up, he means business.  If it hadn't been for the photo, the PH's would have thought we were kidding when we said we say a snake.  

Another Day In Paradise

The days are kind of running together now.  We really don't care what day it is. Each day is as good or better than the day before. We see animals in the wild, we see vistas that go on forever, we see plants and flowers that cause us to revel in their beauty and we are surrounded by people that are gracious, generous, funny and truly appreciate the bounty they have here on this glorious spot of God's earth.

 These are some of the pets that hang around Tollie and Karen's place.  They are really friendly and come up every evening to say "hello".

 Beth and Cyndi each got a white Springbuck, same morning, different hunters.

Just a beautiful evening

 Beth shot this really  nice impala with Graham.

The three young bulls were doing a lot of posturing. They wanted to make sure we knew they were bulls.

 Charla was incredibly happy with this beautiful Blue Wildebeest. Her first ever African animal, thanks to Graham, her PH.

 I really worked for this nice zebra. Graham made me climb a mountain.  No really!! It was a mountain. But the good news was, when I shot it; the zebra ran down the mountain and died close to the truck. The zebra got down the mountain a lot quicker than I did.

 Beth and Graham with her Copper Springbuck

I have a better photo of Charla and Graham and her Kudu that does have my leg in the lower part of the photo, but it takes so long to download photos; I didn't want to take the time to load another one. As you can see, she got a beautiful Kudu.

We're at Hunting Camp

We have been so busy since landing in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, I haven't had time to post anything about our trip.  It has been wonderful!  We were met at PE airport by two of our Professional Hunters, Beans and Graham.  Between the five us, we filled up their two trucks with luggage.

It took a couple of hours to get to our lodge where we are staying.  We have an entire guest house for the five of us.  Each one of us has our own bedroom and bath.  There is the Inyati Spa also on the premises, as well as a swimming pool and. .. . well, I'll just let the photos show you our "hunting camp".

This is our outdoor social area. On the 2nd night,
we had a chef and wine expert present different South African wines to us along with a specially prepared meal. Served to us in this area.

This is an outdoor "focal point" that I thought was interesting .

Cyndi, Beth, Becky & Margi

We're at the "range" where we all took sight in shots on the guns that we were going to use to hunt with.  None of us brought guns so therefore we are using the PH's guns.  Works out great.

Beans is helping Margi sight in and shoot off the shooting sticks.  Getting her ready to take her first African trophies.

Cyndi and Beans stalking for her White Springbuck.
Notice the thorns on the tree in the foreground. Those trees are everywhere! As well as cactus--the kind that jumps out and attaches itself to you.  

Cyndi got a beautiful White Springbuck!
It was a really good day!