Once in a lifetime………or so I thought.
by Mark Reilly - Team Camp Stories
My wife summed it up perfectly in our annual holiday letter this year when she wrote in the “What I learned in
2006” section - “don’t ever let your husband go on a once in a lifetime hunting trip in his mid thirties because it
won’t be a one time thing. Yes, plans are already being made for a return trip in 2008.” While her statement is
accurate how was I supposed to know that Africa would cast its spell on me like it has on so many other
unsuspecting hunters. Looking back now, I can pinpoint the exact moment I made the decision that this would
not be my first and only visit to South Africa. Evening number one as I set perched in the owl blind overlooking
the most inviting water hole in all of Africa.
Rewind - We were met at the Johannesburg Airport by Stef and Lannette Swanepoel and various members of
their Numzaan Safaris staff. With 15 hunters a small army of help was need to get all our gear loaded and
headed towards camp. 2.5 hour later and who knows how many bumps, we finally arrive at Numzaan. I quickly
unpacked and got my gear organized, there was three hours of daylight left and I wasn’t about to stay in camp
to rest. After grabbing my Alpine, 5 arrows and a bottle of water I was at the range letting a few practice arrows
fly. I’m ready, where is Javier? I quickly tracked down my Ph (Javier) and let him know I was ready to go. “I
think we’ll just put you below camp for the evening, it is a great blind and you should see a good variety of
animals”. My first thought was great, first evening in Africa and I’m getting stuck in the “most convenient” blind,
translation, I’m not going to see a thing. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong, as it turns out the “Owl Blind” be
one of the most productive blinds all week.
As I closed the door to the blind I was scared to death by an awful hissing noise. My first thought of course was
Black Mamba, I have no idea if they even make noise but that was what entered my mind. As I looked behind
the door I was relieved to find out I was sharing the blind with two young Barn Owls that had not yet decided to
leave the nest. The turf war was decided quickly as I decided to keep to the front of the blind while they hissed
from the back rear corner. Off in the distance I could still make out the sound of Javier’s Toyota and couldn’t
help but think he was getting a good laugh at my expense when the first animal cautiously approached the
water hole for a drink. This was not only the start of a constant parade of animals that would last the entire
week, but more importantly it marked the official planning phase of my return to Africa.
As I watched the small warthog approach I could barely contain my excitement, what would happen when a real
shooter appeared broadside in bow range, would I be able to hold it together? Well it only took about an hour
to find out. Out of the right shooting window appeared a beautiful warthog. As the pig circled the waterhole I
readied the video camera and grabbed Denali. Finally, broadside at 27 yards I had what I wanted. My arrow
flew true and I was able to watch my first African animal expire just 30 yards from where it was standing, a
perfect heart shot. Unable to contain my excitement I decided to hit rewind and watch the footage before I
attempted to call Javier for a pick up and pictures. What a start, I hadn’t been in South Africa 6 hours and my
first trophy was being loaded in the truck!
As the guys started returning to camp at the end of the evening it was clear that this was going to be a special
week. Seven days would pass and our group of 15 hunters would take whopping 109 animals with both rifle
and bow. I archery hunted exclusively, using my Alpine taking a monster 55 inch Kudu, two Impala that taped
out at 23 and 25 inches, a 30-inch Gemsbok and a 10-inch Warthog. Needless to say I could not have asked
for more. Stef and Lanette run a flawless operation that I would recommend to anyone interested in a South
Africa plains game hunt. Their attention to detail all but ensures a great experience. I will return to Numzaan in
2008 because of the service and the many trophies that I have yet to cross off my list. An added bonus of
course will be what my wife writes in the 2008 Holiday letter. I imagine it will go something like this……..”Mark
is two years older and no wiser. He still believes these amazing trips are “once in a lifetime” saying little for his
intelligence. We will be seeking help for him in 2009!” Yes, there is no doubt they are once in a lifetime trips
but that doesn’t mean they have to occur only once in a lifetime.
| Ordinary Guys Making Extraordinary Memories |
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