Father and Son Safari

kraftiest1 · #1 07-30-2015, 03:11 PM

This spring, my father and i hunted in South Africa for 14 days with Lucca African Safaris. We hunted in the Eastern Cape for plains game, and in the Norhtwest province for Lion, Buffalo, and Greater Kudu. Here are some pics, and we did very well, so there is alot of them....

kraftiest1 · #2 07-30-2015, 03:41 PM

diamonddave · #3 07-30-2015, 03:46 PM

Wow Nice!!! Love the Lion!!!! That's pretty impressive, I hope you have a mansion to put all those trophies!!

whitetail Junkie · #4 07-30-2015, 03:48 PM

Nice critters,the lion looks very impressive.

Torkdiesel · #5 07-30-2015, 03:51 PM

Thanks for sharing Krafti, and congrats on a great hunt.

I've been meaning to ask you about the lion in your avatar.

I love Africa very much, I can't wait to go back

kraftiest1 · #6 07-30-2015, 03:58 PM

Thanks guys!

The lion is my dads, and yes he is very impressive. We tracked him in the Kalahari, and shot him at 18 yds. I have to say, things felt a little more intense when my rangefinder flashed the 18 yds as we maneuvered to get a shot.

I love Africa very much as well Tork! As does my father. He hunted in Zim last year, and I'm hoping to head to Mozambique or Namibia in a couple years. Nobody ever goes just once!

Gilly · #7 07-31-2015, 07:20 AM

Absolutely awesome safari. Congrats to you and your father on some beautiful trophies. I will post my safari pics once I get all my phs pics.

Cheers

Gilly.

SugarCreek · #8 07-31-2015, 07:52 AM

Congrats on an outstanding adventure for you and your dad....memories for a lifetime. Great job on the field photos as well. Congrats once again......Marco

gitrdun · #9 07-31-2015, 07:57 AM

Wow, nice pictures. Your PH looks familiar, I may have met him in Calgary at a show sometime in the past.

Caza80 · #10 07-31-2015, 08:14 AM

Nice!!

bosshog · #11 07-31-2015, 09:14 AM

Very nice. Great animals. Love the lion. 18yards?!? That will get the heart racing a wee bit! Congrats.

SammyIam · #12 07-31-2015, 09:49 AM

Great job with all the poses and taking good pics.

kraftiest1 · #13 07-31-2015, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Wow, nice pictures. Your PH looks familiar, I may have met him in Calgary at a show sometime in the past.

Our PH is Eldre Hattingh. I'm sure you did meet him, as he has been coming to shows in Alberta for about 15 years. We met him at the Edmonton Boat and Sportsman Show years ago. He's a great guy, and he runs a very good outfit. I highly recommend him if looking at going.

bpk1982 · #14 07-31-2015, 09:57 AM

Now that looks like it was a fun trip! Congrats! Although I'd hate to be on the hook for this taxi bill lol.

kraftiest1 · #15 07-31-2015, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosshog

Very nice. Great animals. Love the lion. 18yards?!? That will get the heart racing a wee bit! Congrats.

Yes it sure does. Eldre kept telling us when we were on the lion tracks "don't be surprised if he's 25 yds from us when we find him." Good thing it was in the heat of mid-day, and he was trying to bed down, so he was probably a little more reluctant to come out of the little bush he was bedded in. It is amazing how well a lion that big can blend in to the habitat when they want.

We almost walked right into a pride of lions while chasing Kudu another day, but they let us know in a hurry with alot of roaring. We figured they had a kill in the area, as a herd of blesbok had spooked for seemingly now reason. Needless to say, we had 3 guns in the group, and we felt rather shy on the fire power when that pride started roaring...

kraftiest1 · #16 07-31-2015, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SugarCreek

Congrats on an outstanding adventure for you and your dad....memories for a lifetime. Great job on the field photos as well. Congrats once again......Marco

Thanks Marco, definitely memories for a lifetime. Hopefully things go well this fall and I have a nice Mule buck to bring in to you!

Ryry4 · #17 07-31-2015, 12:42 PM

Great pics to go along with a great safari. Congrats to you and your dad!

slopeshunter · #18 07-31-2015, 01:08 PM

Great pictures thanks for sharing. Lots of great memories there for you and your dad.

JonBoy · #19 07-31-2015, 03:30 PM

Fantastic photos and amazing animals. Quite the variety there. What an experience!

trophyhunter_79 · #20 07-31-2015, 03:47 PM

That is a great Lion, you shot some nice animals. I have hunted with Lucca and Eldre twice. Both times were great.

Bearbreath · #21 07-31-2015, 04:26 PM

Awesome pictures!! That's one hell of a trip. Congrats!

kraftiest1 · #22 07-31-2015, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trophyhunter_79

That is a great Lion, you shot some nice animals. I have hunted with Lucca and Eldre twice. Both times were great.

I will definitely be hunting with him again. We had a great time, and I think it says a lot about a PH when clients return to hunt with them again.

north american hunter · #23 07-31-2015, 04:54 PM

Beautiful lion, congrats

Don K · #24 07-31-2015, 10:38 PM

Nice animals!

Steve W · #25 08-01-2015, 07:58 AM

Thanks for the great pictures. Looks like a memorable trip.

58thecat · #26 08-01-2015, 08:16 AM

Pictures look awesome and the smiles tell the rest. Got a question though regarding the meat, does it go to the locals? There is a lot of meat on some of those critters

rottie · #27 08-01-2015, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraftiest1

I will definitely be hunting with him again. We had a great time, and I think it says a lot about a PH when clients return to hunt with them again.

Having hunted with Eldre once, if I can ever save the money and find a partner to go. It will be with Eldre again. He ran a great camp and put us onto everything he said he would

kraftiest1 · #28 08-01-2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 58thecat

Pictures look awesome and the smiles tell the rest. Got a question though regarding the meat, does it go to the locals? There is a lot of meat on some of those critters

Thanks 58! As far as the meat, in South Africa the landowners own the wildlife. In Limpopo province in the North, the outfitter keeps the meat and will typically give some to his workers, trackers, sinners, and families, and sell the rest to a game meat market to be processed and sold to local people. In the Eastern Cape it is a bit different, and it depends on the deal the outfitter has with the landowner. Some the landowner keeps the meat, and some they do half and half. The landowners always have local people that live on their properties and maintain them, and alot of the time meat will be given to them as well. We did try various kinds of venison for meals when we were there. Kudu back straps, Wildebeest ribs, Gemsbok. My favourite was Eland, and springbuck a close second.

kraftiest1 · #29 08-01-2015, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rottie

Having hunted with Eldre once, if I can ever save the money and find a partner to go. It will be with Eldre again. He ran a great camp and put us onto everything he said he would

Yes, Eldre works very hard for his clients, and truly enjoys it. As well, his camp staff really take care of everyone. Elsa is a great cook, and her husband Philip is a great host with great conversation around the fire.

Needless to say, I will be hunting with Eldre again!

rottie · #30 08-01-2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kraftiest1

Yes, Eldre works very hard for his clients, and truly enjoys it. As well, his camp staff really take care of everyone. Elsa is a great cook, and her husband Philip is a great host with great conversation around the fire.

Needless to say, I will be hunting with Eldre again!

The camp food is amazing, and as you say Philip is a good man to have around. Was Boii working for the camp, he was when we were there, again he was a hard working man, and a wealth of knowledge on the country