We knew Ubathi in Kimberly South Africa would do an outstanding job. Travis and Danielle, Leann and I bought the Ubathi hunt for 4 hunters, 4 observers for 2009 at the Alamo SCI Banquet. Top notch hunt, we racked up 18 or so animals all together.
Bill Coffey in turn bought the hunt at our October Gala, he was looking for a family hunt. Bill and his wife, Marti, were concerned having second thoughts: would 8 year old Melody like it? He knew his sons would enjoy the hunt, but what about the rest of the family. Danielle and I walked him through it, sent introductory emails for this fantastic hunt down to Renee and Johan in South Africa. As the year progressed, the arrangements moved forward. Some friends joined, a nice group went – what to expect? I talked to Bill right before he left, still a tad bit apprehensive.
Who can figure? Why be worried, he had made a simple little upgrade – to a lion! With a bow! Bill – family in tow – arrived in South Africa in the crazy World Cup – things were exciting. Bill decided to focus on the lion hunt first, crossing SA, and hunted at the Botswana border. The hunt stretched over two critical days as the lion hit a local donkey the night before. Johan, Bill and the trackers headed out at 3:00 am in the morning. The hunt involved heavy tracking, crossing the arid area, following tracks away from the kill. As time progressed, things lagged into a numbed state, walking walking, searching, wondering if you were going to get a lion at all.
The day stretched into afternoon, everyone was getting tired. It had been real hunting, miles of miles of tracking and stalking. They knew they were close, but a lion is elusive in his natural element. Happenstance, a thorn bush dragged along the trackers leg, pulling his shoe strings loose, as he bent down to tie the knots, he glanced up: there crouched, tensed, ready to launch, was the lion – a three yards away – paces, mere paces. Eye contact – the lion exploded up, and away, rocketing through the bush – then sudden stillness. Everyone was wired, they knew the lion was readying a charge, setting an ambush. PH Johan Botes, gripped his rifle, the tracking became deadly serious. Everyone knew the lion could charge any moment.
As they rounded a thorn bush, the lion was there, momentarily looking a different direction, Bill had a chance for a snap shot with his bow, aiming, let fly. The shot took the lion on the shoulder quartering away, the worse possible bow shot, against the worse possible beast. The arrow sped true, luckily crushing the shoulder, through the chest and exited the other side. The lion spun and had only 40 more good yards left in him before piling up, dead. Johan, patting Bill on the back “thank God you shot, I was fixing to pull the trigger, bad business shooting before the client” – when it’s that close not much else you can do.
The hunt wasn’t over, Bill and his family spent another ten days with Renee and Johan at their warm and friendly lodge. Great food, lots of young animals to play with including baby baboons and monkeys. Both Bill’s boys hunted, his 12 year old took a Kudu with a bow, and the other a gemsbok. All of the family took animals. Bill took a an impressive kudu, some other great trophies as well. All together they racked up an impressive 13 animals. Bill found his 308 Weatherby sub MOA to be spot on in Kimberly for the longer shots.
What did the Coffey’s take away from Ubathi, the warm family environment of Renee and Johan, the incredible lodges – very authentic, real hunting without the fu-fu; great food, bbq’d over open flames, hearty farm meals, and flowing drinks around the boma. The animals are stellar, and the PH’s spot on – it’s real hunting. Oh yea, what about little 8 year old Melody? After playing with the lion cubs, baby baboons and monkeys, seeing Africa as it was 100 years ago, wild and beautiful – she cried when she finally had to leave. Families that hunt together… well you know the rest.
Johan and Renee Botes are great supporters, http://www.ubathi.co.za,
