Page 9 - Day 7, Last Hunting Day

After a good breakfast, we started out to a place that Hennie said had some really good impala the last time he was there. This was another of the places he could hunt because he knew the landowner and none of the other PH's that worked at Kubusi could use. What an advantage to have, our own "private game area." On the way over, Hennie told me if I say, "Come. That means right now. There are rhino in this area and a client I was hunting with did not come until almost too late. He turned and saw the rhino and almost had a heart attack." I determined that was not going to happen to me, besides I didn't bring another set of pants with me. <grin>

When we arrived, we began seeing lots of impala and bontebuck mixed together in herds. I looked carefully, but saw no rhinos yet. After looking over several herds, Hennie spotted what he was looking for... an impala with a nice set of horns. We got out of the pickup and started up a hill toward the herd of bontebuck and impala. As we approached, the herd moved off to the right and just over the top of the hill. We pursued. They went just over another crest of the hill and we kept after them. I was not in as good shape as the animals or our PH. I was breathing very heavily when the herd came into view again. This time a couple of large rocks were between us and the herd and we were able to stay behind the rocks as we stalked the big impala. Finally at one of the rocks, I was able to rest the rifle on it and wait until the impala walked clear of the other animals. This also gave me time to somewhat catch my breath. I dropped the impala and we went up the hill to the animal. Hennie got there about 15 yards ahead of me and said, "Do you know where you hit him?" I said, "Right where I was aiming <grin>." Hennie said, "You got him in the head." I thought, "Well at least it wasn't another knee shot."

Milt and impala (note head wound)
guess I was trying to get
a head start on the skull mount

Hennie carrying my impala back to the pickup
The tracker Thimbihile and I follow

On the way back to the landowners house to skin the impala, we saw the following animals.

The Hippo mom with calf in front

Mom moves to get between us and calf
and we started backing up the vehicle

I recalled Hennie talking about the previous
client's experience and was glad we didn't
see Mom while retrieving my impala.

After the impala was skinned, we headed back to Kubusi for lunch. Then we spent the next hour or so doing all the paper work associated with the hunt. Listing all the animals, who had taken them, what taxidermy work was required, cost of the taxidermy work, shipping address, etc.

Then back to our home away from home tent where we got cleaned up. After freshening up, we went back to the clubhouse where we had soft drinks and Hennie had beer. Dinner was ready pretty quickly and after dinner, the PH broke out a bottle of brandy he had purchased for just this occasion and we had a good time talking about our hunting trip, reflecting on everything, laughing, bragging, joking and drinking juice and soft drinks while Hennie polished off his brandy.