May 2008 - Botswana Kalahari Experience
Mid May Karl and I left Seattle on our way to Botswana with my dad, Tim
P., for a 10 day plains game safari in the Kalahari. The planned
hunt was for Karl and I to focus on plains game while my dad hunted leopard
and plains game before he moved on to the Chobe area for Elephant.
Unfortunately when we reached Zurich we got notice that my grandma’s health
was not good and my dad had to turn back to the states and reschedule his
hunt. Karl and I continued on without him for an amazing hunt, but
still saddened by our missed experience.
Karl and I met up with Doug Scandrol and Russell Tarr with Swanepoel &
Scandrol when we landed in Maun, Botswana and quickly boarded a small plane
to go onto our final destination in the Kalahari. Word of my dad’s
return to the states had only just reached them so the camp was prepared and
ready for an exciting Leopard hunt that would have to be postponed until mid
June. Apparently a large male had even come near the chalet Karl and I
would be staying in, although we never saw any sign of it once we were in
camp. When we arrived at camp late in the afternoon, we realized what
a relaxing and wonderful 10 days this would be. The camp was beautiful
with our chalet about 50 feet from a large water hole which was home to a
bull Hippo, two cows and a calf which we shot many photos of throughout our
stay. Over all the camp was extremely comfortable, the Bushmen
who had a camp next to ours and worked for the ranch owner were very
friendly and fun, and the weather was tolerable and mild. Mosquitoes
and bugs were very few, and we only saw a few snakes… a few snakes too many
really!
First morning out Karl and I saw how many animals were around, and realized
the quality of what was available in this area. It started out great
with Karl shooting a very nice Blue Wildebeest in the morning and a lovely
Kudu that afternoon. And the luck and fun never stopped, every day was
a success. Not always an easy hunt, since a few of the animals took
some extra effort and good sneaking, but still we had great success and a
lot of fun. Those Eland are a challenge and it took many days and
miles of tracking to get close enough to a nice bull, but well worth it when
you see the photo of Karl’s trophy. Of course there were “the ones
that got away” experiences as well, but it IS called hunting and I have
already erased those images from my memory. Well, except the Kudu….
Darn it that would have been beautiful in my living room, and bigger than
Karl’s Kudu!
We were able to get some very nice trophies, and saw many more that didn’t
stand still long enough for a shot. Karl’s list included an Eland,
Blue Wildebeest, Red Cape Hartebeest, Springbuck, and Kudu. My list
included a Jackal, Waterbuck, Wildebeest, Springbuck, Steenbok, and a
Gemsbok. All were fantastic trophies and great stories that we’ll be
able to share for a long time.
We want to thank my dad for helping us have this wonderful experience.
We’re looking forward to his hunt report when he returns mid July!
~|Amy K.|~