Category: African Hunting

You know, one thing leads to another, and a year later, Thomas and I are on an airplane for my African hunt. Wild! My first Africa hunting trip.

First, Teresa and I were invited by our good friends, Mark and Dianne, to stay a week in the mountains of Colorado in my Dad’s favorite town, Pagosa Springs. Having just traded correspondence with my half-brother Thomas, also of Pagosa Springs, it seemed the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives in the clear, clean mountain air. And so it was.

Once, we settled into the beautiful condo on the lake, hosted by Mark and Di. We were invited to dinner by Thomas. Sister Donna was as gracious as ever and cooked a fabulous feast for the whole tribe, and everyone had a good time.

While touring their quaint log home–Teresa wants one–Thomas showed us the African trophies he and Donna had taken on their 2010 safari. You know one thing leads to another, and a year later, Thomas and I are on an airplane to Africa. Wild!

Since Thomas had already been, it was an excellent opportunity to go with an old hand arranging hunting dates with the professional hunter (PH), clothes, flights, customs, cartridges, and a whole lot more.

Ten days was just a perfect-plan

Ten days was the perfect plan for spending two weeks with shooting, packing, travel, jet lag, etc.

Then there is the list of animals we could harvest. It is daunting. They run from small-hard to see and hit to huge-easy to see and harder to kill. The diversity of habitats in the East Cape of South Africa is astonishing, from the low, dark river bottom to high baldy mountain tops within an hour’s drive.

Our host, Nick Bowker, and his brother Rob, rugged 5th generation South African “farmers” of English descent, were most gracious and met us at the “Oliver Tambo” airport in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape. A small airport on the order of Colorado Springs or Corpus Christi. Guns, ammo, and luggage are all right there, and a great relief after a nearly 24-hour flight from Minneapolis, Houston, Atlanta, Johannesburg, and finally, Port Elizabeth.

It took about two hours to the lodgings in a new Toyota Land Cruiser. The main road was under construction, so we went through a more residential area. A government shantytown was peculiar with the one-room shacks and hydro-solar water heaters atop nearly everyone. The garbage along the road exiting the Port Elizabeth area was everywhere, but the further from town we went, the cleaner the road and surrounding area.

Finally, we approached the farmstead over a seemingly endless series of “speed bumps” engineered to divert the seldom but heavy rain away from the unpaved gravel road. Up and down we went; after about a mile, Thomas noted there were 20 in all!

A couple of hours to the hunting lodge

The charming old single-story farmhouse could have been in Wisconsin was our lodgings for our African hunt.
After getting everything sorted out and having a light lunch, we went to find a warthog. As we drove down around the farm, the trackers, riding in the bed of the land cruiser, noticed some kudu cows but no shooters, and then a friendly warthog showed up on a distant hillside.

Would you like a warthog?

Would you like a warthog?” the PH, Nick, asked. Yes, said I. We pulled off the gravel road and through a gate onto a service trail, working our way closer to the hog. Finally, pulling over, the shooting sticks went up. “215yds,” he says. BOOM, the reassuring thud, and a good shot called out.

But wait. Where did that pig go with my tusks? Up the steep hill, we went looking for blood. We followed a good blood trail as the trusty Mr. Russell, Jack, was on the track. It seems he has a real affinity for pork. It took a while for Jack to find my pig but not long to get our attention with a sharp bark. One of our trackers said something in his soft native Xhosa, “fumene igazi,” interpreted by our Professional Hunter as “he’s got blood.”

As we quickly followed the barking, the dog and boar came into view. The dog slowed down the pig with remarkable courage and technique… something about nipping off the family jewels gets them all kinds of excited.

I followed the dog looking for a second shot–busting brush like only a properly raised bramble-busting hillbilly can do-I heard the P.H. behind me; don’t shoot the dog! Never considered it, but it was our first hunt together, and as he said, I was in a zone. I suppose the way I walked through thorns must have given him an impression.

Finally, the boar turns to fight.

Finally, the boar turns to fight and then to run: SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT, the P.H. yells from behind, BANG another round into the boar’s left flank, quartering away. Two solid hits from the 280, and that son-of-a-pork-rind trotted off again, but Jack was on him like he owed him money!

Twenty yards farther and down, he went with the Jack on top.

My first pig ever and my first trophy on my African hunt, and hunting over that fearless terrier reminded me why people hunt with dogs! Fantastic.

Tune in later for the next edition of “A Plumber in Africa.”

African plains game in the area is abundant

Rob asked why we Americans are so keen on taxidermy. Well, you know it is fun to share your adventures with your family and make your friends jealous. OK, two friends well, one is related, yes, well, my one friend is jealous. You know who you are, I hope.

We were fortunate to see many exotic animals, including a puff adder -on the road- Giraffe, Impala, springbuck, tortoise Zebra, wildebeest, baboons, and mongoose.

By the way, no malaria, dengue, or tsetse flies to fight, so vaccination is unnecessary. T.B. and HIV run rampant in specific native communities, but that is a whole other matter.

I would like to point out that seeing these animals “in the wild” is much more interesting than any zoo and undoubtedly better for the animals.

The animals were, in fact, residents of the “farms” we hunted: some transients and some more permanent, depending on the particular traits of the animals in question.

Naturally, they compete with the farmer’s livestock but are tolerated and protected for the value of the hunter’s store in them. It is more likely a tasty sheep is poached than any exotic plains game animal living in the East Cape.

Ownership of the land is mostly private, so most fences were quite familiar, four-string barbed wire, with some for cattle and others for the many Merino sheep on the place. Few were over 4 feet tall, and none could keep any of the wild animals we saw. Going over barbed wire took me back…

It reminded me of New Mexico.

It reminded me of any high-mountain plain and made me homesick for New Mexico, but the seemingly endless termite mounds on a good part of the dry rolling plains. Think of an anthill, some 2 feet tall and hard as a baseball. At least half are dug out by nocturnal visit of the local aardvark (Afrikaans for anteater.) A termite hill can make an excellent rifle rest, though I missed the first shot at my Waterbuck with a perfect rest on such a construct. The closer you get to the ground, you will likely hit twigs, grass, and such. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. And Speaking of sticks, you will need to practice using them. I had great difficulty and frankly might have shot better off-hand, free hand in Africa, following many years of shooting silhouette.

Now the ranch/farm next door did have the 10′ electrified monster fence you always hear about and over-grazed fields from lack of proper management. It seems a Texan owns it. Go figure.

African plains game in the area is abundant, and most are available to any hunter willing to pay for the privilege. Each animal has a price according to supply and demand. Generally, the bigger they are, the more they cost. South African hunting packages offer a wide variety of trophies. You will see the amount of work involved as we go along.

Firearms

There is a lot of speculation about the firearms one needs for a plains game African hunting safari. Naturally, you can take mine to the bank. First, let’s start with getting them to Africa and back.

Next, we spotted and stalked a beautiful Impala just a few miles from the farm. Many watchful eyes in his harem still got close enough for a good clean miss on two different stalks! I took the rock wall rest instead of the sticks.

I had shot off the sticks at home but hard to practice on moving game. Complained that the animals should be tied AND hobbled! It did seem to get better after that. The following day, I stopped at the range and checked the zero on the 280AI…maybe a bit high.

Boots

Before leaving for Africa, I read a lot about what to expect. Many insisted on special “quiet” boots only made in South Africa. After checking the price and availability, I opted for a pair of low Clarks, all leather, relaxed, and comfortable.

Good to have an extra pair, so I took a boot I used when shooting down at the Whittington Centre in Raton, NM. I could have gotten by with any non-insulated boots with some ankle protection.

The P.H.? I found him wearing a low Danner made in the USA! And, of course, the trademark gators I could only see at Midway. Perfect for keeping sharp flora out of the footwear.

As for the thorns, burrs, and such, I found the combination of low boot and gators quite comfortable. April being their fall made for perfect weather, sunny 72 and 60 at night for a good hike and sound sleep. Hunting in a T-shirt and shorts was an odd experience on my African hunt.

My African Hunt – Nyala Hunt

Next on down the road to stalk the beautiful Nyala. It wasn’t long before our trusty trackers spotted an old bull halfway up a dark hillside. Fortunately, the male is quite distinct from the female, and another 200-yard shot off the sticks.

A solid hit in the high center, not taking any chances after the Impala fiasco. A quick follow-up shot off-hand (freehand in S.A.) in the vitals, and all was good. Suitable for the farmer and the hunter to harvest old animals fed for years and save from old age’s ravages.

The Eastern Cape

We left off in the East Cape of South Africa, a place with a long history…

From the early colonization by the Dutch in 1652, the British takeover in 1806, and their defeat of the Dutch Boers in 1902 to the end of Apartheid Africa in 1994, South Africa has never been dull.

When an American thinks of Africa, especially one of my generation, he can’t help but imagine Tarzan’s Africa with friendly elephants, silly chimpanzees, and ferocious but manageable lions at every turn. Then, there is the jungle with convenient vine-to-vine transportation and a liberal dress code.

Then there is UNICEF Africa with starving children, enormous heaps of trash, and malaria everywhere.

My African Hunt

Wanting to be fully prepared, I read a lot about Africa and decided malaria would be an excellent place to start. But alas, malaria has been all but eradicated from the Cape. No worries there, but for the environmentalist trying the save the planet (ban DDT), human cost be damned.

The South Africans (S.A.) have a nasty tick, but who doesn’t? At any rate, spending most of our time on the lake or down by the river on the farm, ticks, and mosquitoes-Spanish for “little fly”-are everywhere. I likely have Deet in my blood and no Lyme disease yet. In fact, we suffered from no bugs to speak of, but we were there in the dry season.

This leads me to another idea I had about Gin and Tonic. Being one of my standby cocktails and part of my English heritage-on my mother’s side coming from Adams, Smiths, Light foots, and the like–wouldn’t it be great if a “medicinal” G&T would stop all threat from these various tiny marauders? No such luck. It seems the FDA finds quinine too dangerous for 21st Century man, so the allowed dose in anyone, or ten, G&T’s is just too low to inoculate even a suitably imbibed individual.

My African Hunt – Gin and Tonic

As for drinking while hunting. Yes. After each hunt, we started with wine and local beer–both great–served in the old powerhouse, which used to house a Lister diesel generator. Miles of wind-driven generators across the windy planes stretch out to the northern hills. Power can be unreliable, so a small Honda keeps the lights on when necessary.

The old powerhouse is quaint, seating four comfortably at the bar with a fantastic veranda and outdoor fireplace. A zebra rug underfoot.

After a few nights, I thought gin and tonic would be nice, even if they offered no protection. When I ordered one before dinner, our host, Nick Bowker, seemed quite surprised volunteering that it is a popular local drink. He and his tribe are English, but few American visitors requested it on their African hunts. I have to say it is tonic that makes a great G&T.

Dinner was the back-strap from a Mountain Spring Buck. Excellent. And what is any meal without a sweet dessert? Never disappointed.

Oh yes, and the hunting.

My African Hunt – Kudu Hunting

The Kudu was on my list. He likes heavy cover, and the first afternoon out, we drove up a trail and stopped for a moment in dense brush. As I looked out the window of the Land Cruiser and the “Grey Ghost” was looking back at me, not 20 yards away. That didn’t last, but after a long day hunting, Nick found another down by the river in dense brush.

We stalked afoot for a mile or two until within 200 yards or so. I threw up the 280 Ackley stoked with 160 grain Nosler Accubonds at 2800 fps. I had difficulty getting the rifle to settle down, and he decided he couldn’t wait.

Another quarter-mile hike, and he was curious again. This time was standing dead still and looking right at us. In an instant, Nick had the tripod shooting sticks set up, perfect height and direction. Through up again and waited for him to turn for a nice broadside shot. No luck. I swear Kudo must play a lot of poker.

Finally, with some anxiety, I decided to drop one under his chin.

Finally, with some anxiety, I decided to drop one under his chin. Not ideal, but at 230 yards or so, it should’ve worked. Well, you could hear the solid “thud,” and all seemed happy. I thanked God, prematurely, at about a half-a-squeeze, but wouldn’t you know it, that damned Kudu didn’t know he was supposed to roll over. Instead, he turned into that “Grey Ghost” they talked about and alluded our P.H., two savvy trackers, and Mr. Russell to spite a good blood trail for a couple of miles. Perhaps the tried-and-true Nosler Partition would have done the job?

It was getting dark; we retired and started the next morning again. A day spent tracking over hill-and-dale with the trail running out, and reality sets in. I had shot and lost my first big game animal. It is the ultimate dishonor for a hunter to lose such a beautiful beast to poor judgment. My impatience cost me the biggest and most beautiful antelope and a real two-turn beauty at that. Of course, the “you shoot ‘them, you bought them policy” on an African hunt was in effect, so we all pay for our mistakes, as it should be.

Even the dog wasn’t talking to me

The next morning we went after the Nyala, last reported, and I felt better about life in general and hunting in particular. Thank you, Thomas, for helping me get the order right. 

Next installment; Land of the Eland…

My African Hunt – Eland Hunt

Brother Thomas had come to fill out his previous 10-animal African hunt and wanted an Eland in the worst way. I hadn’t decided on an Eland but pulled out the old 358 Norma Mag. This old bolt action was sporterized back in the ’60s on a 1903-A3 Springfield action, sitting in lovely walnut furniture with a custom, deep-blued barrel and express sights. I added a vintage 2 3/4 power “post and wire” scope, anticipating some heavy brush hunting.

After our morning hunt, followed by a light lunch and requisite afternoon nap, under the watchful eye of a lovely Blesbok, we proceeded to a friend’s sizable farm in the mountains about an hour away, going northeast, past Adelaide.

After much driving up the steep, rocky roads-much as Colorado-we arrived at a high-country farm at the base of an enormous box canyon. Then up an even rougher road, every rock enhanced by the durable but unforgiving straight axles on our indestructible Land Cruiser, we gained a commanding view of most of the canyon and cultivated farm at its base.

After some serious glassing, my ancient Leica 8—35 binoculars were of little use in such a big country, so the smart guys used their 10—50 binoculars built by Zeiss and Swarovski, all laser rangefinder equipped.

Finding animals several miles off is an acquired skill

Finding animals several miles off is an acquired skill, and prairie dog hunting doesn’t count. A bit like elk hunting without the snow. I did see many animals, including Black Wildebeest, Baboons, and Zebra, but few before the others had already dismissed them.

Finally, we were ready to have a stalk on these enormous beasts.

There was a herd of more than a dozen bulls and a good number of cows separated by a few dozen yards opposite the hillside we were glassing from a couple of miles away. The plan was to go back down to the valley bottom, have a leisurely lunch, and then send the two trackers, with Mr. Russell, to drive the bulls back to us on the opposite side.

We dropped the trackers off to the canyon’s east side and drove over the west for a half-mile hike setting up a hundred yards or so above the canyon floor. Then we waited and glassed, watching the trackers deftly cut the cows from the bulls, pushing them down and away while the bulls came around the bottom rim of the box canyon at a leisurely pace, as if it were their idea.

After an hour or so, we noticed the sizeable herd of wildebeest milling around several hundred yards to the north and between the eland and us being driven our way. They seemed to be always moving, and when the eland approached, they began to get all excited, moving our way and then reversing back to the north.

Comical honking, jumping, and general hysteria

It wasn’t long before the comical honking, jumping, and general hysteria brought both wildebeest and eland running right at us, then splitting this way and that. One wildebeest, then one eland, then three wildebeest, and so on, going up and down around us until I couldn’t tell where they had all gone.

Our Professional Hunter signaled silence and for us to stay put while he gingerly walked 10 yards north of our stand and stopped cold. After a minute, he back up slowly, indicating the eland was just in from of him a few yards away. The wind was right, and we set up just behind our position as the bulls worked their way below us and began to run back up the hill.

Nick had his sticks up, and Thomas was in position with his new Model 700 Remington in the traditional .375 H&H at the ready. Just then, several bulls came pounding up the hill, trying to get around us and back up the mountain to heavy cover. They were less than 50 yards from us and made quite an impression as they pounded away.

My African Hunt – “No time for sticks.”

There was no time for sticks as I watched Thomas smoothly follow and touch off a .375 at what looked like a Brahma bull. As the huge bull rolled over at the crack of thunder from Thomas’s compensated 375, the P.H. turned to me, saying: Do you want one?

Sure. I stepped up. Which one? The second. As the first bull cleared, up came the second and my vintage Norma Mag. Finally, a running shot in the hill country, just like home. The 2 3/4 power Lyman with post and cross-wire couldn’t have been better as I shot the beast quartering away uphill. The 250 grain Nosler partition drove through his hip and stuck in his hide opposite his lungs as he instantly rolled over, feet kicking in the air.

Two bulls shot about 20 seconds, and as many feet apart were both DRT, dead right there. Incredible!

My brother John saw the picture of the four-wire fence we traversed on our way out and joked that they almost made it. The fact is they say a 1-ton eland can jump a ten-foot wall. I don’t know if our animal weighed a ton, but it did take eight locals, a Professional Hunter, and a less than average-sized plumber to get one on the back of the Land Cruiser!

Both animals were typical in size, with the Professional Hunter pointing out Thomas’s likely older with a broad “brush” and wide base for horns a bit shorter than mine. Diplomatic all the time that Nick. 

More fun than any human should be allowed to have.

My African Hunt – Brother Thomas and his Warthog

Thomas was stalking his Warthog on the other side of the ridge we were hunting. When the Kudu bulls took off, we hiked over to help.

The trackers had the animal spotted but couldn’t see where he went exactly. Finally, Thomas and our Professional Hunter, Nick, decided to kick the bushes and see if the pig would move. Yet, with all eyes on the spot, they had to nearly step on him in the middle of his favorite afternoon napping place.

We all watched as Thomas swung his 257 Weatherby dropping the running hog between us with one clean shot. Perfect follow-through.

Jack was pleased claiming the pig as he always does.

Buy the way, I know a few of you are card-carrying members of Sierra Club, but here’s some real-world information on hunting for the bleeding-heart relatives we all suffer with. 

My African hunt – Waterbuck hunt

The night before, Nick asked if I would like another crack at that big Waterbuck, adding that it is getting kind of personal. I agreed, and the next morning off, we went betting he would still be with his cows.

After glassing a bit from afar hillside, we saw them just where we left them a couple of days earlier.

The stalk would be a long one, down into the valley below and up the other side. Nick, one of our trackers, and Mr. Russell left the others to keep an eye out and give a call on the radio if anything came up.

We were following a sheep fence on the way up the other side when a sow and piglet ran up along the other side. I was sure they would alert our bull, but just as they got up the hill, a hundred yards or so ahead of us, down came a Waterbuck with the bigger of the two right on his heels.

“I don’t know whose eyes were bigger?”

As Nick said, “I don’t know whose eyes were bigger?” as the first buck saw us and veered off to the left, leaving the bigger of the two crashing down within 20 yards of us and then following the first one.

I raised my gun, and both Professional Hunter and tracker ducked as the 280 swung over the fence. I could see what I thought was the buck’s front shoulder, but with my 4-12x set at 8x, I could only see a scope full of hair. In another second, both Waterbuck disappeared along with my second chance for a beautiful trophy.

All the same, it was an exciting hunt, and on the way back, Thomas spotted a native of Indonesia standing under a tall acacia. We were able to flank that old Fallow Deer, and Thomas took a cameo shot through the bush, facilitated by a monster Leopold scope mounted on the 257…DRT.

I have passed up many opportunities to hunt and fish over the years

I lost one of my oldest friends to prostate/bone cancer last year. It profoundly affected me and reminded me of my father’s recurrent warning to go hunting, fishing, and trapping while still young?

Ignoring my father’s good advice for most of my life, I have passed up many opportunities to hunt and fish over the years, pursuing various careers instead until I found myself no longer young.

So, I felt more than fortunate to hunt Africa and lucky that the hunting did not include much mountain climbing, fording of rivers, or deep jungle excursions. In fact, on the last day of our 10-day hunt, cloudy weather turned into a light steady rain. Since we were south of the equator in April, the weather was cool, dry, and calm.

My African Hunt – Cape Bushbuck

Brother Thomas lamented that the forecast did not bode well for our last day as he was still short one Cape Bushbuck, having given up an earlier chance, which I took for him :-). But the following day, after a good sleep and quick breakfast, we all loaded into the truck for a short trip around the farm.

It wasn’t long before we heard a tap on the roof and a soft voice telling Nick my Mountain Reedbuck was waiting for me right up the hill. Sure enough, with his laser vision, Nick spotted the small herd of Reedbuck just north of the road and high up on the hill. It took a minute more for him to find the buck lying down in the perfect cover of rock and veld.

“Reedbuck,” Nick says while sliding out of the driver’s seat.

“Reedbuck,” Nick says while sliding out of the driver’s seat. Binoculars in hand, he whispers, “Nice one,” my cue to get armed and ready. In another second, the dreaded “sticks” were up. As I mounted the 280, Ackley asking out of the corner of my mouth, “how far,” Nick relayed, “190”.

In the two minutes it took us to set up, the lovely little, 50lb buck had gotten up from his “comfortable” bed and slowly walked up the hill, just cresting it for a perfect silhouette in the overcast drizzle, and then it happened.

Without my usual pause and seemingly endless “aiming,” I found the relatively small shoulder and squeezed that trigger like Adam finally touched God. I knew when the buck’s head reared up, and his hind legs slipped out from under him that the 160 grain Nosler Accubond hand worked as advertised. Nick could not hide his surprise, but he did smile. Back to the farm for a nice lunch, a requisite nap, and on to the afternoon hunt!

Perfect start to a great day! Stay tuned for the Final Chapter of our African hunt.

The final chapter

There had been very little rain; we couldn’t begrudge them the little moisture we were getting on our last hunting African hunt day. As the cold drizzle kept the dust and the animals down, I found some clouds, and rain made for a great little nap. After a perfect lunch, Nick asked if I would like to take a shot at the White Blesbok I commented on earlier in the week.

Having slept under the nice shoulder mount in my room for a week, I found him one of the ugliest animals I ever saw. “Bles” (Afrikaans for blaze) refers to the white patch typical of the standard animal or the white patch commonly found on a pony.

I did note that the Blesbok looks better in all-white

I think the only antelope hit by an uglier stick is the Hartebeest. But I did note that the Blesbok looks better in all-white, which seemed to entertain the typically stoic Professional Hunter.

Off we went then, up and down the gravel road almost to the rock fence denoting the entrance to the farm, and a hard left through fields covered with sheep, finally to a large bowl about a mile round filled with Springbok and Blesbok in several herds with singles interspersed.

We had driven past these herds several times on various hunts, and Nick’s brother Rob had culled a lame Springbok not far from our current stalk. But this was the first serious look at a Blesbok trophy.

Nick seemed relieved to find a lovely “white” Blesbok lying comfortably in his bed. Like us, these plains game animals like to lounge around when it is raining.

We jumped out the Land Cruiser at a half-mile or so. As had been my habit, I followed Nick lock-step about a yard behind, reading somewhere that two appear as one animal when so configured. He likely thought me gay at first but did note that I loaded my gun, before the stalk, instead of racking one in behind him, as he recalled one of his clients doing.

My African Hunt – White Blesbok

As we slowly but deliberated, walked straight at the Blesbok, Nick reading his mood, stopping every 100 yards or so to glass the beast. Ever closer, I wondered just how close we would get in this now gently rolling terrain in plain sight of our target. After 20 minutes or so, the buck reluctantly got up from his wet bed to take a closer look at this 4-legged man.

Nick turned to me and asked if I wanted to shoot from the sticks or the ground? Ha! I went for the ground without answering, wet or not. We had discussed the strategy the night before, and Nick agreed to lend me his suppressed Remington 700 in 7mm magnum for what would surely be a long shot.

I have asked if I would like the Swarovski reticle illuminated or straight. “Straight,” I said straight, thinking I wouldn’t know what to do with an illuminated crosshair.

As I nestled in behind the familiar furniture of his Remington 700 7mag–identical to 280AI, but for a bit more powder behind a 162grain Hornady SST, the suppressor and handy little bipod–the whole thing felt like home.

How far? “425 yards,”; says Nick.

Now prone with the standard rifle and spectacular glass, I was cold as the rain gently covering everything. Fortunately, I have used a bipod and had only to find my target, still curious about the now dismembered 4-legged farmer. As I settled in and pulled the rifle gently back into my shoulder, take the slack out of the bipod.

How far? “425 yards,”; says Nick.

Knowing the seven mag shoots a bit faster than my old 280, I held just at the top of the shoulder and let the gas out of that 7mag. A second and a half later, the Blesbok took the same attitude as the Reedbuck earlier that day. As he went down, Nick started trotting toward him. I didn’t need to ask as I already had a fresh round in the chamber and followed him toward the badly hurt but still moving animal.

As we approached at 150 yards or so, the buck noticed our approach-from a different angle–and tried to get up. Nick said, “Shoot him again.” Something about adrenaline seems to make my off-hand better than my rested shooting, and the second round was straight in the boiler room, lights out for a nice white Blesbok.

Naturally, I was elated, but Nick was excited–since he had his prayers answered–and made a gesture to give me a high-5, which I mostly missed, but just the same, I was happy for both of us.

My African Hunt – “All’s well that ends well.”

As W.S. once said, “All’s well that ends well.” And so did our African hunt adventure. Not the grand safari I read about in my youth, conducted by the intrepid, if murderous, hunters like Karamoja at the turn of the century. Still, most of the animals taken back then are always available and sustainable through the mutual interest of avid hunters and capable animal husbandry practiced by my new friends in the East Cape.

I want to thank my gracious host, his brother Rob and their crew. Not forgetting my brother John who recommended the guns, I took note of the similarity of my Mauser 358NM and Bell’s 257Rigby– and Dan, who gave much insight from his time working in the new Medupi power station northwest of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, to the locals. And, of course, brother Thomas started the whole thing by wistfully recounting the trip he and the lovely Donna first made in 2010 while I admired the beautiful mounts hanging on the walls of his study.

Finally, I would like to thank my fans, without which none of this would have been possible. OK, my fan. OK, Teresa, my one and only.

It was a great time, and yes, I would go back in a heartbeat, plus 24 hours of air time, figure two days travel, little sleep, and a severe backache for your South African hunt.

Thank you all for tuning in. I hope you all enjoyed this short epistle and will endeavor to bring you a new and exciting hunting adventure soon.

Until then, keep that fan mail coming!

It was seven years since our last South African hunting trip to the Eastern Cape with Nick Bowker.

I was with my buddy for our second trip with Nick. In addition, we wanted to go after some different animals this time.

We also wanted to hunt a few of the same animals as our first time in South Africa. We had previously had fantastic Kudu hunting with Nick.

In 2012, we took a Kudu, Mountain Reedbuck, Springbok, Impala, Warthog, and Blesbok. Nick has very appealing hunting packages available for South African Plains Game.

Day 1 Arrival in South Africa

We arrived in Port Elizabeth mid-morning and were greeted at the airport by Nick Bowker and his brother Rob Bowker.

And made the 90-minute trip to OliveFountain Ranch, Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where we stayed for the following week.

We unpacked and dialed in our rifles at the range on the property.

This day was a bit misty and rainy, but that didn’t stop us from going for a great walk in the hills and valleys.

Even though the weather this day wasn’t the best, we still saw so many animals of trophy quality. But we decided against shooting any animals; we would have seven days of hunting. And given the number of animals we saw, we felt very comfortable passing on some quality animals. Knowing we would have more opportunities.

Returning to the lodge, we enjoyed a fantastic steak dinner, outstanding South African wine, and a few beers/cocktails.

We sat by the fire, reminiscing about our 2012 trip and catching up on the seven years since last being together.

Day 2 Gemsbok hunt

Zebra was the top animal on our list this year for our hunt in Africa, and we started the day going after these.

We spotted three separate herds of Zebra this morning.

They all proved skittish and jumpy, remaining on the high-ground running with Blesbuck, Springbuck, and Waterbuck.

A quality shot never did present itself on a lovely stallion but was an exciting start to this day. Late morning, we headed back to the lodge for brunch.

Our mid-afternoon hunt focused on another new animal for us, the beautiful Gemsbok. We quickly spotted a large herd of about 70 animals on the high plains.

Like the Zebra, they were very aware and loved to cover vast areas in a short period. This is where Nick’s expertise and knowledge came into play.

Rob and the trackers drove the Gemsbok into a valley. Nick set us up in an area he was confident they would eventually make their way through.

Our African Hunting Trip

After waiting them out, the herd began to cross back into the highlands between 200-250 yards out. Nick spotted a very impressive bull that presented itself broadside at 220 yards.

A shot of the sticks through the shoulder put the animal down in its track, and we had our 1st of 15 trophies of this trip.

We went after Kudu, Nyala, and Warthog for the evening hunt. We spotted hundreds of animals within a few square miles.

And saw numerous Nyala (including 8 Nyala bulls) feeding out in a field.

After a stalk on the animals, Nick was able to get us close to get a great look at these magnificent animals.

An extremely impressive Nyala presented itself broadside within 100 yards, where it went down, again with a shot off the sticks.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner, dessert, and drinks back at the lodge as we discussed day three plans.

Day 3 Impala hunt

We began the day by going higher in the mountains near Bedford as we pursued Kudu. The drive up in these mountains is breathtaking. Rob showed his excellent driving skills high in these mountains with amazing views.

Again, we located numerous animals but decided against going after any. We enjoyed lunch in the field and then moved to an area closer to OliveFountain Ranch, where we had a lot of success in 2012.

We shot a trophy Impala ram off the sticks from about 225 yards; again, the area did not disappoint. This shot was a little far back in the Impala, and this is where the trackers and the two Jack Russell Terriers proved their skills.

Blackjack, a two-year-old Jack Russell, quickly found the ram a couple of hundred yards from the point of impact. Watching these dogs’ work is impressive. Their energy, instincts, and love of the hunt are so remarkable.

Our South African Hunting Trip

In the evening, we spent about an hour glassing over a vast land area. Like the evening before, the Nyala bulls were out in astounding numbers.

Near the exact location the night before, we spotted 15 Nyala bulls in a field and numerous Kudu & Nyala cows. We put in a long stalk as the wind and sun were in our favor and could closed in within 100 yards of many of these animals.

Nick’s ability to differentiate a very nice Nyala from a “Proper Nyala bull” was evident again. We continued to move down the field using large thorn trees as cover to identify the best animal.

We stayed until we finally got busted by some young Nyala hanging around in the thick brush as we came within 30 yards of them.

While we didn’t get anything this evening, the stalk of these animals was so impressive and rewarding in itself that we went back to the lodge with zero disappointment.

Day 4 Nyala hunt

We started the morning by returning to the area where we shot the Impala the day before. As we were glassing from the top of a high ridge, we spotted several Kudu, Warthog & Impala.

A very impressive Impala came out at 270 yards and shot using the elevation to our advantage.

Following brunch, we were back on the Zebra. Again, they were very wary and covered miles of highland. Nick put us on a hillside where he felt they would eventually move.

After watching the Zebra for over an hour, they moved into a comfortable range. A shot was taken at a beautiful stallion but was missed just below 350 yards.

We decided to let the Zebra settle down after this and left the area. Free-range hunting in Africa is like nowhere else in the world.

This evening we again went on to stalk the Nyala bulls in the same location they have been hanging out.

At last light, Nick spotted a beautiful shooter bull where we moved in on the unaware animal and closed the distance to within 150 yards.

A 2nd trophy, a nyala bull, was shot, and we returned to the lodge after another great day of hunting.

Day 5 Zebra hunt

This was a fantastic day hunting in Africa. We spotted a beautiful Kudu in the morning among several Kudu cows.

We again went on the stalk. As we closed the distance, the valley came alive with the number of animals moving and startled the Kudu as they moved away from us.

The big bull stopped broadside from looking back on the valley, and I dropped him in his tracks at 330 yards.

We dropped the Kudu off at the lodge for caping and headed back after the Zebra.

This time, they weren’t as active as the previous days, and we shot a beautiful Zebra that stood broadside at 347 yards.

Our South African Hunting Trip

We brought the Zebra back to the lodge. Because of the heat, we thought it best to have the animal skinned and placed in the cold room.

And went back into the field, chasing another herd of Zebra about an hour later.

Nick set us up in an area he felt the herd would be moving through. An opportunity at the lead stallion presented itself at 548 yards.

I placed a shot just in front of the shoulder from a prone position, and this Zebra went down on the spot.

We were thrilled that both of us had our No 1 animal successfully taken in a 3-hour time frame.

That evening we glassed a huge Warthog with impressive ivory….again, the stalk was on.

We moved into the area of the giant pig; he came out at 215 yards and was knocked down in the spot off the sticks.

We are not sure the trackers were thrilled with our success as they had their work cut out for them having to cape/skin all those trophies in a day, but we were undoubtedly thrilled.

What a day! And to top, it all, South African hunting trip prices are very reasonable.

Day 6 The Kudu stalk

Gemsbok was the first thing on the menu for day 6. Returning to the same area where we had previous Gemsbok success, the herd was actively running about in the high plains.

After making several unsuccessful stalks due to the outstanding eyesight of these animals, we were able to position ourselves under a thick thorn bush to conceal ourselves.

Rob and the trackers could move behind the herd and redirect them back in our direction. As the herd began to settle down, they crossed in front of us single file at 180 yards.

Again, Nick picked out a beautiful bull among the large herd, and another trophy was down in its tracks after a long wait for the proper Gemsbok to come through.

Our South African Hunting Trip

We did not take any other animals that day, but it certainly wasn’t from a lack of seeing quality animals. By this time in the hunt, we have seen at least 10,000 different animals of numerous species.

One of the coolest things happened late this afternoon. While looking for a big Warthog, we spotted a nice Kudu that will be a shooter in another year or two.

We were within 300 yards of this, and it didn’t have a clue we were there. Just for the fun of it, we decided to stalk it to see how close we could get while the Kudu was busy eating off some tree.

We slowly walked towards him, going into the wind, and got to within 35-40 yards of him before he finally spotted us. We have this stalk on video; it was a moment we will never forget.

You could see the “Oh Shit” expression on the Kudu’s face before bolting off.

I included a snip from a screenshot of the video so you can see how close we moved in on this impressive animal (sorry, this clarity isn’t the best due to pausing a video).

Day 7 Blue Wildebeest hunt

Again, we headed back into the mountain region near Bedford, going after another new species, the Blue Wildebeest.

After another impressive drive through the mountainside, a herd of about a dozen Wildebeest was spotted.

We stalked into a position getting an advantage from an elevated position. We shot a great bull from a prone position off a cliff at 315 yards.

What an impressive creature this animal is!!

We went after a Red Lechwe in a new area on a sweltering afternoon. After spotting the herd in a thick thorn bush area, we were able to put in a long stalk and get ourselves into a position to get a shot as the herd moved through the thick brush.

Two “proper” Red Lechwe came through the opening, and Nick quickly identified the better one. A shot off the sticks put the Lechwe down at 230 yards.

Day 8 Warthog hunt

The only animal left on our list was another big warthog. The warthog was the focus of our final day of African hunting.

We succeeded within 90 minutes of sunrise as we spotted a few shooters.

A successful stalk quickly followed up one unsuccessful stalk on a big pig on a different pig, which was downed from 210 yards. Warthogs….. are so ugly they are beautiful!!!

Since we still had most of the day remaining to hunt, we decided to test our long-range hunting skills on the active and elusive White Blesbok.

Our African Hunting Trip

These animals love to run and can cover great distances in such a short period. Like many of the other species we went after, they are challenging because they run in such large herds.

Nick put us in position and identified a big shooter that stopped broadside at 608 yards. After using the G7BR2 rangefinder and setting the MOA on the Nightforce scope, this White Blesbuck was hit just in front of the shoulder and dropped in its tracks.

After gutting this animal and putting it in the shade, it was round 2 with the White Blesbuck.

Again, we set ourselves up in a similar location, and finally, the herd moved in front of us, and another trophy was hit hard behind the shoulder as it was strolling at 378 yards.

What a way to end a fantastic African hunt. Two 18″ White Blesbuck were taken within a couple of hours of each other.

Finally, a few recommendations I would highly recommend for your South African hunting trip

• Give yourself a MINIMUM of 3-4 hours for a layover between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. We were delayed out of PLZ and barely made the plane back to the States. You will need all that time for gun transfer, International check-in, etc.

• Follow the recommended packing list Nick provides. On both trips I over-packed. You only need two sets of hunting stuff as they will wash and clean your clothes each day used the previous day.

• Bring an excellent collection of optics! The eyesight of Nick and his crew is astonishing. They see stuff with their naked eye that is difficult to pick up with good binoculars. Great binoculars will make your experience much better with the amount of glassing you will be doing.

• The majority of your shooting will be standing off of sticks. The first time I went over, I didn’t realize how much shooting would be done this way. Practice A LOT, and be prepared to get a quality shot off in the standing position off sticks quickly.

Finally, a few recommendations

• Anchoring an animal with one good shot makes everything so much better. You want to spend less than half a day or more tracking a trophy.

• Bring quality bullets and know your ballistics. This will be valuable in preventing frustrating circumstances.

• Listen to your Professional Hunter. Nick can quickly judge an excellent African animal from a great one. After two trips, every decent Kudu bull still looks enormous to me…he will promptly be able to tell you what is a shooter and what is…trust their judgment.

• Start planning your next trip after you experience your first trip, as this is such an addicting experience.

Rob Bowker collected us from the Port Elizabeth airport for Andre’s first Africa hunting Safari. I was returning for my second hunting Safari in South Africa with Nick Bowker.

Having had an excellent previous experience with Nick. I was keen to bring my friend Andre for free-range hunting in South Africa.

Nick is an Outfitter with more than 25 years of professional experience. Both Andre and I were taking Nick’s seven animal packages.

In addition to the hunting Safari, we were combining our trip to the Mountain Zebra Park and the Addo Elephant national parks.

Day one visit to Mountain Zebra Park – start our African Safari.

We set off for the Mountain Zebra National Park for game viewing before beginning our African Safari. The accommodation is basic but very comfortable.

The first morning we set off for some cheetah tracking. One of the male cheetahs has a collar, and one of the female cheetahs. Initially, we tried to find the male, but the ranger could not get a signal for four hours later. The cheetah probably was on the move and avoiding our efforts.

We changed tactics and tried to find the female. We quickly located the signal and set off on foot to try and locate her. After about a 5km walk, we saw the female cheetah with her half-grown cub. They had recently made a kill, and at about 10 meters, we could still see the blood on them.

A short photo opportunity, and then the ranger asked us to back out so as not to be too intrusive.

We thought we had bumped into a black rhino on the way back to the vehicle.

The ranger was a bit unsettled, explaining that he had recently had a bad experience while cheetah tracking with a black rhino. We made an extensive birth and returned to the vehicle.

We returned to camp for a late brunch. I rested for a few hours and then did a self-drive around the park.

We completed a 4×4 trail in the park, which was a lot of fun.

We Saw some very impressive Eland amongst the typical array of Plains Game. Springbok, Gemsbok, Black Wildebeest, and Red Hartebeest were plentiful. Just before sunset, we saw several Buffalo feeding in the thick brush close to the camp.

A great ending to the first day of our African Safari.

Day two Springbok hunt -African Hunting Safari

Lions on the Savanna

The following day we checked out of the camp to make our way back to Olivefountain ranch to begin our African hunting safari. But first, to try and find the lions.

We had heard the lions roaring early in the morning from a great distance. Having determined the direction, we set off to try and find them. We drove to the park’s northern end and found a pride of 15 lions, which had just finished drinking.

The pride made their way across the African savanna and parallel the road for about 5km, and we followed them – what a great siting. We then exited the park and drove to Cradock for brunch.

On arrival at Olivefountain ranch, I found the lodge recently upgraded with very comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms. We settled in and began shooting with rifles. We used Nick’s 7mm Remington Magnum.

Andre had never used a sporting rifle.

Andre had never used a sporting rifle or shot an animal, although he had completed some military service early in life. Nick first had Andre on the bench with some dry firing and going through the necessary procedures.

After this, some live firing off the bench, followed by firing off shooting sticks (Tripods). Most African hunting is done off sticks because of the terrain. We set off for an evening hunt with Andre feeling good about the rifle and the basics mastered.

After a 20-minute drive to mixed scrub and savanna areas where Impala and Springbuck are in great numbers, we began walking up a low valley and soon spotted a springbuck trophy ram.

We stalked the ram, and Andre made his shot a little low. We spent a few hours following the trail, and Andre finished his Springbuck ram off his first African Trophy. We returned to camp for dinner next to a blazing fire with a pleased first-time hunter.

Day Two Day Three Impala hunt

Up early for coffee, and we set off just after the first light. This time it was my turn.

We returned to the Savanna area, parked on a flat ridge overlooking a valley, and began walking along the crest of the ridge, glassing for animals.

This area has larger amounts of Impala. We soon spotted a suitable ram and started a stalk down the valley. I set up on the tripods and was successful – a beautiful impala ram.

We continued our walk, this time up the bottom of the long valley. Andre held the rifle, and again, not long before, we spotted another good Impala. Andre took his shot and success.

A great morning. Two fantastic Impala Rams, and we set off back to camp for brunch.

We went a little further afield in the afternoon along a long ridge interspersed with thickly bushed valleys. We were on the lookout for a good Kudu Bull.

We drove along the ridge, glassing into the valleys – lots of Kudu but no big Kudu bulls. About an hour before the last light, we spotted a good bull.

We started a long walk over the ridge and, at some point, lost sight of him as he slipped into the thick brush. We never saw him again. Not called the grey ghost for nothing.

Day Four Kudu hunt

We continued our quest for Kudu and headed up to a mountainous area about a 45-minute drive away.

This area was vast, with deep valleys stretching up the mountainside of a huge box canyon.

As we drove up the bottom of the valley, we would stop every few miles and glass the big valleys running up the side of the mountain.

There were plenty of Kudu to be seen. The bulls we spotted were too high up to launch a stalk without being spotted.

The 4×4 tracks through the valleys and mountains were thrilling. We enjoyed a packed lunch high up in the mountain overlooking a deep valley. But no luck, and we set off home.

Hunting Africa’s most elusive trophy is never easy. We enjoyed venison back straps from a Mountain Reedbuck over a blazing fire.

Day five Warthog hunt

Up early as usual and continued our quest for the elusive Kudu. There was no luck in the morning hunt for Kudu, but Andre had managed to shoot a good Warthog.

Andre held the rifle, and we moved into an area we had not previously visited.

We began a slow walk down a creek, glassing as we went. Midway down the creek, we spotted a Kudu bull and started stalking him.

We got to about three hundred yards, and Andre took his shot. The familiar thud, and Andre made his first shot count.

The Kudu, however, did not go down, and a second shot and Andre had his Kudu and were delighted.

We began the task of loading the Kudu and getting it back to camp. Finally, I arrived at camp just before nightfall – success at last hunting Africa’s most elusive trophy.

Day Six Black Wildebeest hunt

The day was again; looking for Kudu this time, I held the rifle. We spotted Kudu in a deep Valley not far from camp. We started a stalk, but some cows between us and the bull set him off down the valley.

On the way down the valley, we saw some Mountain Reedbuck. I had already shot a Mountain Reedbuck earlier, so Andre began a stalk with Nick and was successful.

That afternoon we went up higher to the plains to look for Black Wildebeest. At first, we were unsuccessful, with several ambushes not working out.

Towards evening we set up an ambush in a shallow valley. Andre and I both shot a Black Wildebeest quickly in the late afternoon.

Day Seven Blesbok hunt

We needed to shoot two White Blesbuck as part of our hunting package.

The Blesbuck are on the open plains and often require longer shots. So, we decided to use Nicks 300 Sako Winchester Magnum.

Mounted on the 300 are a Swarovski digital range finder and an automatic holdover for the required distance.

First, some practice at targets using the range finder. All went well with our long-range shooting practice.

We drove out onto the plains, where there was a large herd of common and white Blesbuck.

Late that afternoon, I stalked and shot a Springbuck on our African Safari. We set up an ambush. Andre and I successfully shot a white Blesbok at around the six-hundred-yard range.

Day Eight of our African Safari

My only outstanding animal in the package was a Kudu. Nick offers very competitive all-inclusive packages.

The cost of an all-inclusive seven-animal trophy hunt is comparable to shooting one Elk in the United States.

We spotted three Kudu Bulls against the hillside. On the sticks and I took my shot. Hit but not down.

We moved forward and set up an ambush alongside a ravine where we saw the Kudu bull enter.

The trackers began walking through, looking for blood. But quite suddenly, the Kudu came out against a steep embankment, and I was able to finish the job, a fantastic end to our hunting safari in Africa.

Day nine of our African Safari

We spent Sunday in the Addo Elephant Park with magnificent sightings of elephants, lions, and Buffalo before our departure to Europe.

 

Armando was back with his wife Roberta for their fifth Safari hunting in Africa. Previously Armando had made hunting trips to Namibia, the Limpopo region, and the Eastern Cape.

Armando was looking for high-quality Lechwe, Nyala, Waterbuck, and Bushbuck trophies in a free-range environment.

I was on hand to meet Armando and Roberta at the Port Elizabeth airport after their long trip from Italy to South Africa.

We made the one-hour trip back to Olivefountain lodge, where Armando and Roberta settled in. We had the traditional dinner around the fire, discussing the coming hunting in Africa.

Day one Lechwe

We set off on a cold misty September morning to a neighboring property higher up on the escarpment, about a 20-minute drive away.

Upon arrival, we walked to a high point, began glassing and located three Lechwe bulls down in the valley.

However, the mist was thick, and they melted away into the bush behind the fog.

The trackers stayed behind to try and locate the three bulls. We drove to the next valley, moved ourselves to a high point, and began glassing again.

We spotted a herd of Lechwe, but there was no trophy bull in the herd.

The trackers radioed to say they had found the three bulls from early in the morning at around noon.

We joined up with the trackers and made about a mile-long stalk. The older bull was lying behind a tree, so we had to wait around an hour before he moved.

We got into position, and Armando made a one-shot kill.

In the late afternoon, we went to look for a Bushbuck and spent the afternoon walking slowly down a river bed.

We encountered several females and young rams but no older rams.

Before the last light, we found a good ram, but darkness descended before we could get into position, and we had to abandon the hunt and make our way home.

As always, we spent the evening in front of the fire discussing the hunt and making plans for the following day.

Day 2 Nyala hunting in Africa

We left early and returned to the river bed searching for the previous evening’s Bushbuck, but he was nowhere to be seen. We then went to try for a White Blesbok out on the plains. Conditions were, however, windy, and we did not manage to get closer enough for a shot.

On the way back, we spotted a big Nyala bull heading into a thicket at the bottom of a big valley. After glassing him at some length, we decided to leave the Nyala and return in the evening.

Later that evening, we returned to look for the Nyala at the bottom of the valley below a big dam.

We hid in a dry creek to see if we could spot him. After some time, we found the Nyala bull just below the dam wall, and we mounted a stalk.

Midway through the stalk, some kudu cows got in between the Nyala and us, and we had to wait until the kudu moved off. We finally got into shooting range, and Armando hit a little far back.

The follow-up shot was high on the front leg. The Nyala dashed the dam embankment, and his momentum took him straight into the water, where he collapsed. A great trophy while hunting in Africa.

Day three African Waterbuck

In the morning, we descended into a deep valley in search of Waterbuck. Around mid-day, we spotted two Waterbuck bulls, with one being an excellent bull. We mounted a stalk.

Halfway into the stalk, we stumbled upon a sleeping Duiker, which alerted the Waterbuck bulls, and we returned to camp for brunch.

In the afternoon, we went into a new area and spotted a herd of Waterbuck with a nice bull. Armando hit him high in the front leg. Again, we mounted a long stalk.

The Waterbuck bull went over a hill, but a good blood trail was evident.

We let Black Jack, the long-haired terrier, go, pictured below catching an impala from our last hunt.

BlackJack is fitted with a GPS transmitter, also pictured below. Somebody can see his position on a handheld device showing the direction and how many yards away from you he is.

After 20 minutes, the transmitter showed Black Jack as stationary about a mile away. As we began getting closer, we could hear here BlackJack barking.

We arrived to find Black Jack having bayed the Waterbuck, which was exhausted. A well-placed shot finished the hunt.

Day 4 African Bushbuck hunt

We spent the morning looking for a Warthog. After some driving and glassing, we found an enormous boar having a mud bath. However, he up and moved shortly after we began our stalk.

We decided to move back to where we saw the large Bushbuck. Waiting patiently while carefully glassing the area, he stepped out about 100 yards to our left.

A well-placed shot from Armando, and we had a fantastic trophy. This was the last animal Armando needed to complete his hunting in Africa.

Armando, a master SCI measurer, was delighted as all his trophies made the SCI qualification with ease. I explained that this does not always happen.

On the final day, Armando and Roberta relaxed at Olivefountain lodge. They also accompanied me to the Great Fish river, about half an hour’s drive from the lodge. A rogue hippo was in one of the farmer’s lands, and I was setting up camera traps to ascertain the movements of the hippo. Join us for some hunting in Africa.

My wife and I decided to take our honeymoon to South Africa for two weeks and were considering a first time African Hunt. We stumbled across Nick’s website while planning.

He was one of few Outfitters offering single-day hunting outside of other excellent packages he had advertised.

We decided to take the first few days of our honeymoon for a first-time African hunt.

Nick and his brother greeted us at the airport, and we took a short 1.5-hour drive to his family farm. While I was after Kudu, my wife had never shot a rifle outside two rounds at a target range a decade ago.

Over the two days we were there, we finally convinced her to try some target practice with a .243 that Nick had.

After building confidence in shooting sticks at the lodge, Nick took her on a bush hike to find Impala.

Nick could perfectly place my wife in a position to make her first kill. She looked like a natural with the shot from 143 yards.

Nick was there by her side to guide her and keep her calm an unreal experience to be an observer and not a hunter on that day.

First Time African Hunt with Nick Bowker

His staff and accommodations were top-notch, and his fees were reasonable and competitive.

My wife and I were very impressed with Nick’s hospitality and attention to detail, especially when it came time to eat.

Our lodging was comfortable and cozy. Our food was excellent and plentiful. Wildlife on the property was abundant (no high fences either)!

I already pre-booked for an 8-day hunt in 2021 to go back. And have ample time to do a 7-animal package that Nick is assisting me with customizing, and I would highly recommend this Outfitter to first-timers and seasoned African hunters alike.

His glassing and stalking knowledge, coupled with the crew skills and knowledge of our hunting area, made for an exciting two days of hunting in South Africa on our first African hunt.

Return to Nick Bowker after my Honeymoon Hunting Trip

Travel and Covid Testing for the first time African hunt

I returned to hunt with Nick Bowker after my first African hunt while on my honeymoon.

After arriving home from my 6-day hunt in South Africa last night, I couldn’t wait to post this report while catching up on work and fighting through jet lag!  

COVID Related: We had a negative test taken before we left from Charlotte, NC – they glazed over the page in Cape Town with no issues. We took a PCR test through a private company (AMPATH) in Grahamstown to leave.

The results were back the next day. Qatar Airways reps looked over it intently, along with some scans attached to my check-in reservation for my departing flight. Nobody in the U.S. asked or required us to show a negative test.

SET-UP: We landed in Port Elizabeth last Wednesday, the 2nd. We hunted through Tuesday, the 8th. My buddy and I got to experience the excitement of big plains game hunting. We took a short trip north to capitalize on a relatively unhunted property.

Hunting package & Taxidermy

I chose the Big Game Package Nick and worked out, including a Black Wildebeest, Nyala, Kudu, Waterbuck, and Gemsbuck. Nick got me within 400 yards of each trophy for great shots through fantastic planning and stalking techniques on our first-time African hunt.

I am pleased to say I have five trophies being transferred to African Wildlife Artistry for taxidermy work. Please check out Austin Greenwood’s report. He and I hunted together. Our Kudu was shot on the same day, around 5 hours apart. On his first African hunt, he took a seven-trophy package, including a blesbok.

After seeing some amazing Sable and Eland while over there, adding them to the list! A truly unforgettable trip. I will be booking a follow-up trip in a few years. Please get in touch with Nick Bowker via his website for any follow-up if you are considering a first-time African hunt.

He offers all-inclusive and ala carte options for any trip type you could imagine for the first-time African hunt or repeat African hunters. He and his team made this trip the highlight of my year and something I will never forget.

 

My first African Hunting Safari, the stories of vast lands and the variety of many animals. In 2019, my friends invited me on a trip to South Africa.

A trip I am glad to have been a part of. Nick Bowker runs a quality operation. Laid back, easy-going, friendly accommodation, and great food.

From Day 1, it was Hakuna Matata. Morning coffee, to scanning the ever-changing landscape for trophies.

After a grand brunch, a good nap, and great company, back to surveying the countryside for more trophies on my first hunting safari.

My firsts African Hunting Safari

A Bless Buck at 550 yards to a Warthog at 40 yards. Sneaking on a trophy Nyala only to be busted at 50 yards, to get a bigger one later. Stalking a springbuck to be spooked by pigs that came out of nowhere.

Wide-open spaces, areas with thousands of termite mounds, rolling hills, brushy valleys, and rocky cliffs, and every bush has stickers.

Nick and his PHs are knowledgeable about every animal and country; they work hard to find a good trophy and are also great teachers.

I learned a lot about the rich history of South Africa, and the different qualities of each animal.

To top it off with stories and tall tales of the daily adventures, wine and dine and start all over the next day.

For having a routine, each day brought new adventures on my first hunting safari.

The trackers worked extremely hard to raise the success level and make my first hunting safari more enjoyable.

I cannot thank Nick, his PHs, and the staff enough for the incredible experience and memories of my first African Hunting Safari.

I ended up with one more trophy than stated, for a total of eight incredible animals. A lot of self-preservation, for I would have broken the bank with the variety of available animals. I figure it all for another trip.

 

African cull hunting offers the opportunity to shoot many animals at a very attractive price. We offer two very reasonably priced Africa hunting cull packages in South Africa as well as standard trophy hunting safaris.

• South African Plains Game Cull Hunting
• Cull Hunting Packages
• South African Client Cull Hunt Experience
• What is Cull Hunting in Africa
• Review of Nick Bowker Cull Hunt

South African Plains Game Cull Hunting

African Cull hunting in South Africa is required to keep the number of animals in check to avoid overgrazing. This stems from animals having no natural predators in many parts of South Africa. Predators include lions, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs.

Cull Hunting Packages in South Africa

30 Animal African Cull Hunt Package

1 Hunter $7500

Eight days of hunting are all-inclusive for the following 30 animals. No day fee & inclusive of accommodation and meals

• 4 Kudu Bulls
  (All Non-Trophy)
• 4 Impala Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 12 Springbok Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 4 Warthog Boars
  (1 Trophy Boar)
• 4 Common Blesbok Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 2 Mountain Reedbuck Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• Add any Trophy Animals from our Trophy Fees Price List

20 Animal South African Cull Hunt Package

1 Hunter $6000

Eight days of hunting are all-inclusive for the following 20 animals. No day fee & inclusive of accommodation and meals

• 4 Impala Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 6Springbok Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 4 Warthog Boars
  (1 Trophy Boar)
• 4 Blesbok Rams
  (1 Trophy Ram)
• 2 Mountain Reedbuck Rams – 1 Trophy
• Add any Kudu Bulls at $400 per cull
  (All Non-Trophy)
• Add any Trophy Animals from our Trophy Fees Price List

South African Cull Hunt Client Experience

Introduction

I saw a posting on another website for an African Cull Hunt for twenty animals. The cull hunting in South Africa was five trophies and fifteen culls for Springbuck, Impala, Blesbok, Mountain Reedbuck, and Warthog.

I did not care about the trophies. I could not figure out how to work it into my schedule, but my wife suggested I add it to the end of our Vic Falls trip, saving airfare money and a few days of travel.

Sometime before the hunt, Nick contacted me and asked if I was open to having other hunters in camp. I do not mind, but mostly since they were in the Army, I was okay with it.

Rifle Used

Nicks Remington 700 in 7mm Remington Magnum, a Swarovski 3-18 x 50 red dot scope, and a tactical turret.

Animals saw: Springbucks, Warthog, Impala, Kudu, Blesbok (by order of quantity), Mountain Reedbuck, Nyala, Duiker, Steenbok, and Sable. Also, I saw a yellow mongoose and rock hyrax. I could have forgotten a few.

I have previously been to Limpopo and Zambia and have never been satisfied with my shooting, so I thought cull hunting in South Africa would be a great experience.

What is an African Cull Hunt about?

What to Expect?

I didn’t know what to expect from cull or management hunting in South Africa. Once on TV, I saw a cull hunt where someone had a portable shooting bench, and the TV made it look like a shoot and stack them up.

I got the impression that it was a “lesser” form of hunting, which turned out to be the same as hunting anywhere else, except you have multiple tags, and your “trophy” has different characteristics.

We hunted by getting on the high ground and glassing and stalking and stalking down a valley when bush was thick, Setting up on an elevated rocky outcrop looking for a shot or having the trackers conduct a drive for us.

The weather was 30-40 degrees cooler than Vic Falls. You could see for miles on the open terrain, which contained valleys, hills, and draws.

I cannot share every stalk because many stalks were unsuccessful: animals spooking at 400+ yards.

Some of the South African Cull Hunt Highlights

Some days, we had so much wind I could not get stable on the sticks. So, I will share some of the highlights of the hunts.

One chilly morning we sat in a valley with three rims of the canyon six to seven hundred yards away.

The wind was gusting too much, and the sticks were impractical. We got prone on an earthen dam above the vegetation.

You could see a dust cloud where the 75 to 100 Springbok and fifty or so Blesbok were running. The animals were an impressive sight as they crossed the valley rim.

We waited until they drifted down into range and stopped running. I have no idea why these animals were running. I think they ran more than they stopped.

Nick also offers a 30-animal cull-hunting South Africa package.

What Happens on an African Cull Hunt

Nick told me to shoot a Blesbok outside of the herd. There was a very strong crosswind. Nick told me to aim almost to the butt of the Blesbok in front of it. I assume an 18-24-inch gap between the two animals.

Nick set the range on the scope, and the buck dropped in his tracks when I fired. Nick said it was at 357 yards. I thanked Nick for the guidance on the wind, and he thanked me for listening to him because most hunters would second-guess him.

We finished that morning by shooting two other Blesboks from the prone position.

Previously in Zambia, my PH Charlie Harvey talked about hunting being freedom. I felt that release on this trip. It was a state of inner peace and tranquillity. All I thought about was the hunt: I didn’t worry about bills, family, or business. All I did was hunt, shoot, eat, and sleep.

On another occasion, we were on some high ground, and the sticks were not stable enough with the wind. The floor was covered with stones with sharp edges- larger than bricks.

African Cull Hunt

I got into an uncomfortable position, and Nick built up stones to rest. I shot an Impala at 281 yards and ran about twenty yards into the brush.

The trackers and dogs went around to drive it out of the brush or see if it was dead. The Impala shot from the brush. As I was about to shoot him, I saw the long-legged Jack Russel terrier named Blackjack in my scope.

Blackjack grabbed hold of the nose of that Impala and was wrestling him, stirring up a cloud of dust. Blackjack wrestled him for only a minute or so, but it was enough to wring the life out of the Impala.

There were a few occasions where I wish I had a phone scope or filmed the hunt. Blackjack wrestled a total of five animals during that week.

While out and about hunting, we saw a herd of Sables. There was a male about 44-45″. He looked phenomenal and was all I could think of for the next day.

I did not want to turn this into a trophy hunt because I would like to take more home than just the Sable, but I could not stop thinking of him until I saw a Nyala.

One-horned Nyala hunt

On our way to another area of glass, we saw a one-horned Nyala, of which I stopped and took some pictures.

On our return trip, the Nyala was still there. Nick explained that he has been messing with people for over ten years.

People would see his one horn, get excited, and then turn disappointed when they saw the other horn was missing.

Nick mentioned that he was fifteen years old and would not make it another year. I asked Nick, and he agreed to us hunting it the following day.

Returning to the area the following day, there was no sign of the Nyala. We spent the morning glassing and stalking with no success. We returned and saw him in the afternoon.

I set up on the sticks, but he never stopped running. We went back up on the high ground and walked down to the area we saw him enter.

He was visible through a break in the brush. There was a wire sheep fence in front of us.

African Cull Hunt

I know the probability of hitting a wire may be slim, but I hit a wire previously, so I did not want to take a chance.

I only fear the Internal Revenue Service and shooting through brush or wire fences.

We decided to work closer to the wire fence’s other side. In the open, some cow Nyala spooked, which was the end of the hunt for that evening.

We went back out in force the following day. One PH and a hunter were hunting for a trophy Nyala down the Nyala Valley, as I had named it.

Another PH (short for professional hunter) and hunter were done and out scouting for both of us. We did not see the one-horned Nyala, but Clinton, the other hunter, took a nice Nyala. We did not expect to see him again.

Back out in the afternoon, and there he was, standing 323 yards away in the open. I set up on the truck’s hood fired, and he ran ten yards—a great conclusion to some beautiful African cull hunting.

Data on Shots

• Shots Fired: 41
• Misses: 10

Most of my misses were slightly high, especially over 500 yards. I am guessing that I am still breathing.

• Number of Animals Shot: 30 (Can purchase extra animals)
• Number of Animals shot twice: 1
• Animals wounded and not found: 1 (tracker and dogs tracked for 2 miles; re-joined the herd)
• Trackers had to finish off three animals

Range to animals shot

Average distance to animal shot: 293 yards (previously, in Limpopo, my average was 60 yards)

• Farthest Shot: 504 yards
• 100 yards or less: 3. Closest shot 72 yards
• 101 yards to 200 yards: 3
• 201 yards to 300 yards: 6
• 301 yards to 400 yards, 15
• 401 yards to 500 yards, 2
• 500+ yards 1

Results

• Nineteen out of thirty animals dropped where they were shot
• One animal needed a second shot
• Nine animals ran an average of twenty yards once they were shot (Excluding the one wounded who got away)

Shooting Positions

• I used the prone position to shoot three animals.
• I used the sitting position to shoot one animal.
• Sticks to shoot seven animals.
• The hood of the Land Cruiser to shoot nineteen animals. The hood of the Land Cruiser was my preferred position because of the stability in the wind.

Animals Taken

• Blesbok 3
• Impala: 8
• Mountain Reedbuck 2
• Nyala 1
• Springbok 12
• Warthog 4

Nick had phenomenal eye sites and could locate animals without his 10 x 42 Swarovski binoculars. He was a personable, knowledgeable PH with the patience to listen to my lying hunting stories.

I became conditioned when Nick’s binoculars went to his face; my binoculars went to my face to find what he was looking at on the hill.

I don’t know if everyone does this, but I play a game and try to find an animal before the PH. He finds 99/100, but it is a small thrill to see one before he does.

With many additions, the Nicks family homestead from the 1800s was our base camp. The bedroom was large and comfortable, and we all had our bathrooms. The water was hot, and the water pressure was excellent.

The food was excellent and plentiful no shortage of beverages. Hospitality was superb. Equipment was in great shape, including a brand-new Land Cruiser.

Review of Nick Bowker South African Cull Hunting

Mark and I highly recommend Nick’s venue for any first-timer wishing to get an excellent hunt for a fair price or those who have already hunted the Dark Continent.

Arrival

I’m just back from our African hunting (Cull hunting trip) in South Africa with Nick Bowker. Hunting at Olive Fountain Ranch, south of Bedford, South Africa, with my good friend, Africa Hunters member, and hunting partner Mark.

Arriving on Saturday afternoon in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, we had time to check the rifles and make any necessary adjustments. Nick’s bench is only a few steps from the sleeping quarters, and we were good to go after a few shots. We took the two on one twenty animal South African cull hunt and trophy package each.

In the truck and down the farm lanes, the first day was whatever opportunity arose. If it were in the package, we’d “make a plan.” Six o’clock came quickly, and after coffee and some cereal, we were set for a six forty-five departure time. 

After observing the terrain and the heavier bush than what our previous trips to the Northern Cape presented, we were both somewhat skeptical about taking the list in the allotted time frame. That fear was quickly alleviated when a springbok was spotted sneaking down a hillside of acacias within the first hour. Nick suggested we circle and see if we could get in position with the sticks for a fairly close shot.

First Animal on our South African Cull hunt

We walked a few hundred meters down a hillside slowly, and we were in position. I just got the rifle settled in the Rudolph sticks, waiting for it to appear from behind an acacia bush. I see its rear quarter drop as it decides it’s time to lie down.

The acacia partially obscured it at about ninety meters. I gently lifted the sticks, repositioned them, looked back at Nick, and asked if I could take a shot. Scope set at the low power. I zoomed in to see if there were any obstructions. There was nothing in the way for a shoulder shot, I pulled the trigger, and the first animal was down. High fives, a call to the trackers, and back on the truck, stopping and glassing along the way until another potential shot was spotted.

Daily Routine for Cull Hunting Packages South Africa

Nick’s routine for cull hunting in South Africa is to hunt until eleven or so, then head back to the ranch for morning brunch, a two-hour break, then back out to another hunting area in the afternoon. With a power nap, this worked out well for both of us. I finished the day with an impala, and Mark took a springbok, mountain reedbuck, and a warthog. On occasion, for whatever reason, one of us will defer to the other, but on this hunt, we were never more than one or two animals apart.

Daily Routine and Meals

At the end of each day’s hunt, it was back to the ranch for a shower with a fresh towel, catching up on any communications via wi-fi or phone, and then over to the dining hall for some appetizers, libations, and then dinner and dessert. Laundry was done daily and returned after the afternoon hunt. Clothes were pressed, folded, and on the bed.

Except for two evenings, all barbecue-cooked dinners with venison of various stripes, lamb chops, leg of lamb, pork, and beef were served. The fallow deer backstrap shishkabobs were supreme. The meat was done to order by Master Chef Nick. Homemade desserts made by Nick’s lovely wife topped off the meal. If one went hungry here, it’d be their fault.

Side note, I’m a kombucha drinker, and with Nick’s wife making a trip to Grahamstown, I asked her if she could get some. That evening in the fridge, there were two bottles she found at a fresh market in town.

Cull Animals shot

I kept a log for each day, and my final tally was seven springboks, four mountain reedbuck, four blesbok, four impala, and three warthogs. Most animals killed in a day were four, and the least, one. The extra springbok were common rams in with the variant herd. We took them on the last two evenings. Mark was overweighted on warthogs but got twenty animals at the package price.

For both of us, we had the most fun spotting warthogs from the truck, getting out and stalking them to within a hundred meters or closer, setting up on the sticks, and taking the shot. Sometimes, we put in a reasonable amount of time and distance only to be given the slip by these wily beasts, but in the end, the 28 Noslers made short work of the unlucky ones.

Last but not least, we cannot leave out their two tenacious hunting dogs, Blackjack and Bella, who, if necessary, we’re ready to track and bring down any runners who didn’t know they were on their way to animal heaven.

Mark and I highly recommend Nicks’s venue for any first-timer wishing to get an excellent hunt for a fair price or those who have already hunted the Dark Continent.

Travel Advice

We flew Qatar through Doha, and let’s say, no comparison with Delta, and the extra money for the business Qsuites is worth it. There is a long time in the air, and if taking firearms, the additional paperwork and time to check in but other than that, no issues, smooth sailing on both ends. 

Philly was an hour and a half from when I arrived at the airport until I was through security and at the gate. I know others that didn’t have the detailed check-in, but I wouldn’t count on it. The entire process is constantly in flux, and the protocol is random, so it’s more difficult to game the system. 

We were fortunate to have short layovers, four hours in Doha, and an hour and twenty minutes returning. With two security checkpoints/scans before boarding, we cut it short on the return as they were starting to board when we got to the gate at Doha for the second leg to Philly. 

COVID Test

We got our kungfu tests in Grahamstown the morning of the day before departure and had our results by seven o’clock that evening via their app and email, which cost 850Rand or 61.13U.S.D paid with a credit card. The only other expense was getting dinged for an extra bag by Airlink, which cost $41.13 each way. 

Traveling with Qatar

One caveat with Qatar in Joberg (usual disclaimer, this ain’t Kansas, Toto) is taking firearms to allow plenty of time for check-in and all your paperwork (4457s, copy of passport, firearm surrender form, and test results. They took photos of everything, and check-in is by committee. I don’t know about other agencies, but using Bid Air through Gracy Travel, and dependent on the time of day, you may have to stand in LONG security lines. We blew through the assisted passenger line in about ten minutes versus who knows how long in the other queue. 

Arriving in Philly, a Qatar rep had our guns on a cart and met us at the baggage carousel almost when we arrived, then wheeled them over to Customs for check-in and then to the elevator for ground transportation. Overall, a pleasant and efficient experience with all Customs and TSA personnel in Philly.