Finally...

[404Boar]

So the date has finally arrived... We are off to Africa on Sunday after two Covid cancellations since 2020.

We are heading to the Eastern Cape, we are flying from Newcastle via Dubai with Emirates to Johannesburg. We are staying over there one night then flying on to Port Elizabeth where we get picked up for a four hour daylight drive to our hunting base.

We are carrying rifles and ammunition, we have been requested to provide passport, FAC, temporary export licences, Covid vaccination passport, Invite Letter, Intent Letter, International flight tickets, internal S.A. flight tickets, Airline approval documents and finally SAPS520.

I hope it is all in order!

We are away for twelve days, we are hunting for eight. We are hunting non trophy plains game plus a couple of 'specials' should the opportunity arise.

Hopefully I will be able to provide a report on our trip that makes interesting reading on my return!

 

[Sampo]

Enjoy the trip and look forward to some writeups on your return. Have a good time.

 

[bfltd0]

Sounds like you will have an excellent time.

Looking forward to the detail on your return - plus plenty of pics, of course.

 

[shakey jake]

hope you get there smoothly and have a great trip

 

[Koenig]

Do let us know how you get on, I last went in 2028 and am getting the itch to go again now CV-19 restrictions have eased. I wasn’t hugely impressed with Virgin last time and understand SA and BA are both grief to deal with now for various reasons leaving Emirates as another option.

 

[Dickie]

I‘ve been twice with virgin and had no issues and a pleasant trip, though I’ve not flown there with anyone else and previously only flown with very low budget airline.

 

[404Boar]

Thanks guys, good stuff, I have checked and rechecked everything, I hope it all goes smoothly, I will post a summary on the return with some pictures.

 

[shotguntom]

Good luck! Im off next weekend.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Very envious! Hope you have a fantastic time and look forward to seeing the photos!

 

[bfltd0]

Do let us know how you get on, I last went in 2028 and am getting the itch to go again now CV-19 restrictions have eased. I wasn’t hugely impressed with Virgin last time and understand SA and BA are both grief to deal with now for various reasons leaving Emirates as another option.

Blimey mate, that must be a great time machine you've got there.

You couldn't give me a cabbie in it, could you? There's a couple of Euromillions tickets I'd like to try again...............

 

[Koenig]

I can assure you it’s nothing more ‘magical’ than the ‘fat fingers meets iPhone screen’ effect…decidedly pedestrian I am afraid….for a modest fee I can cock all your entries on here too

 

[404Boar]

Can’t believe our trip was nearly three months ago! I promised a report and some pics, apologies it took so long....

The whole trip was good, we got what it said on the tin, I would do it again tomorrow.

Our initial flight from the UK (Newcastle to Dubai with Emirates) was delayed which meant we missed our connections and got there a day late but no major issue... and we got a free overnight stay in Dubai!

Emirates check in and rifle handling throughout the whole trip was easy and without issue.

Paperwork was all fine, we were met at the airport in Johannesburg and having had our SAPS520 pre-approved via The Afton Guest House and Mr X it took no more than ten minutes to clear with no issues whatsoever... both ways in and out.

The hunt was cull/management, no trophies. There was no shooting from vehicles, no shooting from blinds or at waterholes. We spotted and stalked & sat and waited. We were out dawn to dusk every day. It was pretty cold until the sun rose then hot until the lights went out.

We shot over seven days, we ate shot game every night and had a game dealer pick up the meat for processing.

We took Eland, water buck, hartebeast, wildebeast, zebra, ostrich, Blesbuck, mountain reedbuck, springbuck.

I think I might have the bug now.

 

[404Boar]

 

[404Boar]

 

[404Boar]

 

[404Boar]

 

[404Boar]

 

[mchughcb]

Nice, but did I see a Blaser R93 there with a moderator?

 

[404Boar]

Yes you did, 7mm magnum.