Newsletter - 2012 What a fantastic year it has been for World Safari Xpeditions. A record number of hunters and safaris in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Argentina, New Zealand and at home in Australia. TSHIPISE SAFARIS - South Africa A small selection of photos of World Safari Xpeditions' clients hunting out of Sigonde Camp, Tshipise Safaris, South Africa: Andrew Hepner takes a nice buffalo in September. Above Graham Williams was not feeling 'at his best' but managed to take a couple good trophies with his bow whilst on safari with Andrew Hepner. "I recently returned from my first African hunting trip. Initially, I tried to deal directly using the internet & phone with various hunting businesses in Africa but found it difficult. Some wanted $US cash and others spoke in telephone numbers with a dollar sign in front and yet others in South African Rand which was confusing. Ian Head from World Safari Xpeditions was recommended by a friend. I felt at ease dealing with an Australian (Frankston Vic.), paying in Aussie Dollars, and not have worry that promises made over the phone by foreigners that gave no guarantees. Ian and his assistant Chris Coles organised all my paperwork including firearms permits and made my trip problem free. Ian & Chris booked me with professional Safari operators with modern reliable vehicles and fantastic amenities. The hunt was real with PH s and trackers working hard to find and select world class trophies. Ian Head s business helped me all the way and has given me memories of a well organised trip that will last my life time." Andrew N. Hepner. Page 1
A very fast departure from Australia by Beau Bugter to deal with a PAC Leopard. He managed a Sable and a couple of Warthogs along the way. 2. Mark and Vicki Jones combined a hunt with Tshipise Safaris with some relaxing time at &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge. Mark's large 'wish list' included a Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Zebra, Waterbuck, Nyala, Duiker and Bushbuck. Page 2
Following on from another hunt in Zimbabwe, the Condon Family had a very quick hunt at Tshipise Safaris and then spent some classic Safari time at the thatched cottages of &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge. A hunting group of three mates and two of their sons Jeff and Jayme Scammell, Roy and Anthony Baker and Jason Flower - hunted in both the Kalahari and at Sigonde Camp. Brian Watson and his Letchwe and Black Wildebeest taken in the Kalahari. Page 3
Congratulations Leanne Conwell on your first hunt, first animal - a beautiful Sable taken in the Kalahari. Rod Conwell took this great Buff and a bevy of other trophies. Daughter Rochelle and friend Robert also came along for a wonderful family hunting safari in the Kalahari, Limpopo area of South Africa, and ending up at the fabulous &Beyond Safari Lodge. "After a 2008 plains game hunt at a couple of places in South Africa Ian and his team s attention to detail could not be questioned. When it came to organizing my 2012 Cape buffalo hunt he did not disappoint, it was all I could have hoped for. Accommodation, food, PHs, Camp staff, all first class from 6 star lodges to amazing bush camps with nothing left to chance. Looking forward to next time. Thanks again Ian and Chris." Rod Conwell Page 4
Terry and Joy Linke made the most of their first trip overseas - a hunt and tour of South Africa including the Kalahari, Botswana, Victoria Falls, Tshipise Safaris and &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge. A surprise 70th Birthday for Terry was celebrated at Ngala Safari Lodge. Dean and Rose Winterton took their children on a combined shoot and tour which included the Kalahari, Sigonde Camp and a three day stay at &Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge. Daniel took a fantastic Waterbuck at Sigonde on the last day of the hunt. Page 5
JOHN X SAFARIS - South Africa John X Safaris another new Outfitter for us this year. Hunting out of Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Vince and John Vaina. Snow in July! It was all about numbers - a cull hunt - Blue Wildebeest 12, Black Wildebeest 14, Common Springbuck 17, Blesbuck 12 and Baboon - just too many to count - 70 plus, and also Mountain Reedbuck, Warthog, Zebra and Jackal. ARGENTINA SAFARIS - Argentina Peter Avison and Glen Pitchard in Argentina - July, 2012. Page 6
Paul Holt and Mark Rogers hunted with Argentina Safaris in May this year. "Bird shooting was excellent, we shot pigeons, doves, partridge, ducks and geese. One morning Mark Rogers, myself and two other elderly American gentlemen shot 92 geese. The trip was so well organised, the shooting was more than I expected, the guides were very helpful even though the language was a bit of a problem. The accommodation was very good, the food was great. Mark Rogers shot 5,000 cartridges, I shot 3,000. He is quite bit younger and fitter than me." Paul Holt. HIGH PHEASANT HUNTS - Australia Our first year of sending clients to High Pheasant Hunts was a huge success. Five groups enjoyed some wonderful and challenging pheasant hunting with Outfitter Tim Reeve in the north of Victoria. Dates for 2013 will be available in December - you will need to book early for these hunts! Teams of eight a must. Below, Ian Head's group of eight guns and the 'piglet' lunch. Page 7
Tiger McMasters' group make the most of the day at High Pheasant Shoots. "Thank you for arranging a terrific shoot for us yesterday. The whole day ran like clockwork and the BBQ at day's end is a MUST. The shearing shed, about 10kl from where we shot was brilliant with lots of ambience and style and the food delicious and wholesome". Tiger McMasters MUCKADILLA SAFARIS - Australia Paul Collis above left and Jerry Giddings above right hunting in far north Australia with Outfitter Glenn Giffin. A group of eight led by Mickey Gubas hunted with Muckadilla Safaris in October. Around 123 pigs and 30 donkies and brumbies. Mickey's dad took 6 trophy boars in only a couple of minutes - 100-115 lb. Great hunting. Page 8
WHITESWAN LAKE OUTFITTERS - Canada Two Elk hunts to British Columbia this year - only one successful due to unseasonable hot weather. Plus we have a Cougar hunt booked for late December. A very happy Leo Tutic was given this hunt with Whiteswan Lake as a 60th Birthday gift from his three sons. With the help of his wife Lily (who also went on the hunt) it was a complete surprise until three days prior to departure - an amazing effort! AFRICAN SAFARI TRAILS - Namibia We were extremely pleased to offer Namibia as a new hunting destination for World Safari Expeditions in 2012. Outfitter Gerrit Utz of African Safari Trails has two hunting areas - Kashjuna Lodge out of Windhoek and Damaraland eight hours drive to the north. Big and wild Damaraland is one million acres of unfenced hunting - and Gerrit has the sole hunting rights. Below Ian Head with another tuckless cow Elephant to add to his trophy list. 9. Page 9
Geoff Wise hunted in both Damaraland and at Kushjuna Lodge taking a Zebra, huge Springbuck, Spotted Hyena, African Wild Cat and Porcupine. Debbie and Wayne Griffiths added a tour of Etosha National Park to their hunt with African Safari Trials - Kashjuna Lodge. Page 10
"I hunted South Africa with Tshipise Safari's in 2009 through Ian Head's World Safari Xpeditions. After making the booking there was nothing else to do except wait, Chris Coles, Ian's personal assistant had taken care of everything. The time to depart finally arrived but like all good things it was over far too soon. We had a fabulous Safari I took some great Trophies and came home with memories I will never forget. So, when my partner Debbie and I decided that 'once just wasn't enough', we didn't hesitate to book through WSX again for our trip to Namibia. Once again all went smooth as silk - WSX staff bend over backwards to get everything spot on. Namibia is a wonderful country with a very diverse landscape and it reminded me very much of the centre of Australia. The people are very helpful and courteous and the Safari was everything I had hoped for. I came home with some top Trophies. In a few years I intend to return to Africa, this time after a Cape Buffalo and I most definitely will put my trust in Ian and his wonderful staff." Wayne (Griffo) Griffiths PRO SAFARIS AFRICA - Zimbabwe The wild hunting of Zimbabwe is attracting more and more clients each year. Three hunts booked - a wealth of dangerous game - Elephants, Buffalo, Lioness and Hippo. Left, Ian Head on his fourth elephant hunt - a non trophy bull taken at 16 paces with a frontal brain shot. Below, John Pearson adds a Zimbabwe Buffalo to his collection, plus a Hippo, tuskless cow Elephant and Hyena Page 11
"The best hunting trip I ve ever been on! Spike and Louie certainly know their stuff!!. Tinney wasn t too bad either. Hyena baiting is a Poor Man s Leopard hunt. Everything you need to do to shoot one of these critters is the same as you need to do to bag a Leopard, but without the price tag. On our second visit to the bait, after I had already shot a Hyena, we watched a leopard feeding for 20 minutes - and I had him in my scope for at least four killing shots. I will never forget the two Hyena s that I shot on this trip. I could, and probably will write a couple of magazine articles about that trip, as there is too much to say about it in this short comment. I went to the trouble of taking two rifles on this hunt - my.375 Dakota, and my Remington.458 Lott. I probably could have shot every animal with the.375, but the.458 Lott is my favourite heavy rifle and I wanted to use it for something big. I am extremely pleased with the performance of both rifles and cannot make up my mind which one to take next time." John Pearson. Good clients, and regular hunters with WSX had one of their best hunts ever with Pro Safaris Africa taking a bag of trophies - Hippo, Lioness and a huge 200lb plus Hyena. The Lioness hunt was extremely exciting with a huge pride being quite aggressive. Page 12
Brian Watson with his big non-trophy Bull Elephant and another tuskless cow Elephant. "Two elephants hunted this year, both with a Westley Richards 500NE. First, only hours from our arrival to camp was a nasty little non-trophy bull that was just coming out of musth and gave us a serious charge but we were protected by a steep embankment that he could not negotiate. On racing up the slope to intercept he again made two more less serious charges before I was able to dispatch him. Second beast was a very old tuskless cow tracked into the bush and we were lucky to catch up with the herd before they got into the real thick jesse. She was standing side on. I was well positioned for the shot only to have her detect my presence and suddenly wheel forward to face me. A frontal brain shot decided the outcome. Extremely satisfying to watch the effect of a classical brain shot, with the back legs collapsing and trunk thrown high into the air. Can't wait for next year." Brian Watson. Special mentions: Congratulations to Leanne Conwell who went on her first safari and shot her first animal - a lovely Sable taken in the Kalahari. Also congratulations to Daniel Winterton who went on his first hunt with his own PH, Peet Bezuidenhout of Tshipise Safaris. He took a magnificent Waterbuck... his father did say he could shoot whatever trophy he wanted - it just happened to be an expensive one! Last but definitely not least, congratulations to our friend and client Brian 'Wato' Watson on achieving his Big Five! A wonderful achievement and the first of our clients to do so. Thanks also from Chris for allowing her to share the moment. Well that's the end of another hunting year for World Safari Xpeditions. I hope that you were all inspired by the Tutic brothers' gift to their dad - perhaps you would like to do the same for a loved one. Thank you one and all for your support this year - WSX would not exist without you. Page 13
Some events to look forward to in the New Year. Safaris coming up: South African Group Bird Hunt - May 30-June 08. Book you place now. Namibian Group Bird Hunt - October 01-10. Book your place now. Shows we are attending: SCI Tamworth - February 16 and 17. Muswellbrook Hunt, Fish & 4WD Show - April 12,13 and14. SSAA Shot Show - Melbourne May 25 and 25. Rockhampton Hunt, Fish & 4WD Show - July 19,20 and 21. Pam, Christine and I wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year. We hope to meet up with you again at one of the 2013 hunting Expos where we will have all the latest news from SCI Reno. Kind regards, and safe hunting Ian Head Page 14 & Beyond Ngala Safari Lodge - South Africa