Friday 31 October 2014

Truly Fantastic by Tim Macmanus

 

Tim with his Bushpig
Nkulu here. Can’t say enough good things about our trip. It was truly fantastic. Clayton does a phenomenal job as a PH, host, driver, fire maker, guinea drive manager, Dad and husband.
 
Tim with his Zebra
 
 
 
 
 
We had great fun with him and he did a fabulous job. Bob and Roger are very, very, very happy with their trip.
Tim with his Impala

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Here are a few photos of yours truly from the trip. That bush pig thing is really a spectacularly ridiculous stupid event. WOW!!!!! My adrenaline gets going just when I see the photo or think about it.
Tim with his Blue Wildebeest

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Love u guys and I am officially recruiting Liam for Texas A&M University and the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. He would make a fantastic Fightin’ Texas Aggie like his Uncle Tim and Mark.

 
 
 
 
Bob, Roger and Tim with Rogers Buffalo
 
 
Enjoyed it all. Wish I could do it every year!
My Best,
Tim
Safari Time Hunting Adventures

Friday 24 October 2014

Unforgettable Lifetime Memory by Aaron Martins

 
 
 
What Can I say....from the moment i stepped off that plane,  the service was top notch.  Such professionalism!  
 
Aaron with his Kudu
 
We were completely catered to and I have never met such a great group of people who truly made my first African hunt an unforgettable lifetime memory.
 
Aaron with his Red Hartebeest
It was such a pleasure and a great learning experience to hunt with Umdende  Hunting Safaris. I had the time of my life along with some exceptional trophies to take back home. Thank you Clayton and Garth for  everything.  We will see you next year my friends.
Aaron Martin
Red Deer, AB, Canada

Wednesday 8 October 2014

Am i really in Africa by Jonathan Williams

 
 
 
John and Jonathan Williams
Up at 7am , Frost in the morning "Am I really in Africa? ", it's our first days hunting at the magnificent hunting estate, 2000 Hectares of rolling hills ,valleys , dry river beds, vast areas of woodland and grasslands. This was Jonathan's and my first trip to SA and first trip Shooting game.
 
Checking out the view
On landing we were met by our 2 PH'S who loaded our gear and a short time later we entered the enormous estate which would be our home for the next 8 days.
 
The lodge is impressive, a roaring log fire outside surrounded by comfortable chairs burns 24 hours a day, and I was soon shown my large bedroom with swimming pool bath. I was unpacked within minutes and booted up we went to the firing range to check our sights and a sensible chat on safety. This was fun and got us all in a relaxed mood for dinner. None of that Michelin stuff !!
Father and Son relaxing before going hunting


 
Jonathan with his Warthog
Good tuck which over 8 days included curries ,steaks, Roasts, chops, greens, roast potatoes and all that makes one feel well and truly fed. Great starters and the puddings to die for.

My PH was Garth Lee , been a Pro for 12 years. Jonathan had his first kill that day a magnificent Warthog. I was in bed by 9.30 each evening as stalking these hills made us all tired and ready for an early night.

That evening we also met Clayton Comins who runs the very successful Umdende Hunting Safaris Company , Clayton employs Garth and Rudolf and the three travel the world to various game shows presenting the various hunting lodges and farms they represent throughout Africa.
John, Garth (PH), Clayton (Outfitter), Jonathan, Sean, Rudolph(PH)

These guys enjoy enormous knowledge of their quarry and will organise trips in Namibia ,Botswana in fact wherever you wish to find your trophy. Each evening over dinner we would discuss our day and plan the next, these PH's really know their business and ensure you are completely at ease.
 
 
 
 
Jonathan with his Bufffalo
 
They are competitive with each other and measurement of horns and a good bit of teasing was par for the course. The next morning was to be Jonathan's big day, Cape Buffalo had been seen and it wasn't long before we were all loaded up. Wow it was an amazing moment when Jonathan took his Buff and I could only imagine what was going through his mind. A magnificent beast, probably 19 years old with the scars of battle on his horn bosses.

 
 
Jonathan and Rudolph with good Kudu
We took numerous other species over the week, then guns were cleaned, lunch taken and with great sadness we bade farewell to our new friends at Umdende Hunting Safaris. They had done us proud and given us the most amazing, exciting trip of our lives, I have to say that hunting in Africa was never something I felt I had missed but now I want to return to this magnificent countryside , and I will and see our new friends again.
By Jonathan Williams
Jonathan and Rudolph with a good Red Hartebeest
 

Thursday 2 October 2014

Exceeded all expectations by John Huckabay

 
 
John with his bag of pigeons
I have just finished my fourth year of hunting with Umdende. Garth and Clayton have again done a very good job of presenting fair chase game.
John, Kevin and Dan with their bag of Ducks
 
 
The birds were very active for the most part. Blinds and hunts were set up to maximize the opportunities. Weather hindered one day but there is nothing that they could have done to improve this. Even with this they made changes to the plans to maximize the chances. I really like that all of the hunts are close to the lodge, very little wasted time driving.
Kevin, John and Dan with their bag of Geese

This is a family operation with Debbie and Tenneil assisting. The lodge and food exceeded all expectations. I appreciate that we were eating the game that was taken.

I am already looking forward to a return trip next year.

Regards
John
USA