Bob's 2005 South African Safari

Travel from Kansas City

Our flight left Kansas City at 5:45 AM. We got up at 3:00 AM.  I picked up my friend Bob at 3:45 AM and Chris at 4:00 AM.  I dropped off the guns and luggage and parked the car. I was ready to board the flight after TSA and security hassles with only 10 minutes to spare. The flight to Atlanta was uneventful.  It was an 8 hour flight to Sal Island in the Cape Verde islands.  I watched 2 movies and talked to Bob and Chris.

None of us got off the plane in Cape Verde.  There was a change of crew and the plane was refueled.  The flight to Johannesburg took another 8 hours.  In the Johannesburg airport we dealt with gun importation.  It turns out that our papers from Sand River Safaris completed by Johann Wolvaardt were all we needed and we did not need to stand in line.  Very cool! 

In Johannesburg we showed our guns with ammo then boarded a prop plane to Petersburg.  Sadly our guns did not leave Johannesburg with us.  Johann our professional hunter picked us up in Petersburg and we drove to camp after filling out missing luggage papers. The camp was beautiful and well appointed.  It sits on a cliff overlooking the Sand River.  The Sand River was teaming with wildlife of all African kind from Kudu, to Warthog to Wildebeest. Additionally, we regularly could see and hear baboons from the bar area overlooking the river. Also, Bushbuck and Waterbuck were evident.

The lifestyle there was very accommodating.  You could ask the staff for anything and they tried their best to accommodate you.  We were introduced to Sammy from Zimbabwe only 11 Kilometers from our camp.  He was our camp cook.  Really, Sammy was a master chief.  He made the best meals.  Wow!  This man knew how to cook game.  We also met our main trackers.  The oldest and most experienced was Simone.  He was a bushman.  Obed was also quite experienced. He was perhaps 20 years old but very capable.  Finally, Villane was often with us and was clearly in training.  Finally there was Johan’s assistant and neighbor Martinus.  He was very experienced with all the animals and knew them intimately.  Martinus worked hard for us and planned most of the hunting.

Travel from Kansas City
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Days Nine, Ten, Eleven