ranger92xi
AH member
I thought this time I would put together a more detailed write-up of my latest safari, in the hopes that readers of this forum might find it interesting and informative.
Having hunted with Juan and Lauren Stander of LJ Safaris in April and September last year, we had spent the past few months planning our third safari together. I am starting to run out of new species to hunt in South Africa, and so our focus shifted to some of those trickier and less-recognisable species endemic to the Eastern Cape.
We put together a list including Cape grysbok, blue duiker, Cape genet, bushpig, and Eastern Cape kudu, as well as bontebok and a couple of targets of opportunity. Due to work commitments, I could only spare six days for this hunt, and we knew going in that hunting every animal on this list, whilst adhering to my high standards for trophy quality, and commitment to fair chase and ethical practices, was in no way guaranteed, but that we would do our best. Happy with the results of our previous hunts, I had confidence that Lauren and Juan could get this done.
After arriving at the lodge near Grahamstown, we set out to check the rifles we would be using for the hunt (a 300 Win-Mag, a .243 for the smaller trophies, and an O-U shotgun for the blue duiker, before setting off for an afternoon hunt.
Juan had told me about a special EC kudu bull he had seen a few times, but only ever in fleeting glimpses. Having shot Southern Greater Kudu in Namibia, I wanted a ‘true’ East Cape bull with all the defining features, a dark face and body, nice mane and good colouration, and would prioritise this over an inch or two in horn length. That evening, just before sunset, we saw that bull, several hundred metres away walking through thick bush on the horizon. We repositioned, and whilst we caught another glimpse at last light, no shot was possible.
The next morning was dedicated to bontebok. I know many international hunters don’t hunt the species due to difficulty in exporting them, but in my case, getting the trophy back home is possible. The story of the bontebok’s recovery, from a relict population of 17 animals, to the thousands that reside in South Africa today, and the role that hunters played in that resurgence is a testament to our part in conservation, and I knew the trophy fee paid would continue to support that.
That said, this would likely be the only bontebok that I will hunt, and so we wanted the best we could find. We arrived at a concession which abounds with these animals, and having looked over several dozen rams, many of which were in the 13-14 inch range and thus were very respectable trophies, we closed the distance on what we felt was the best one, and he fell at the shot. With the white rump and legs and purple and burgundy colours, they are, in my opinion, a more beautiful and striking antelope than their more abundant cousins, the blesbok. Our ram measured 15 3/8 inches, with heavy 6 ½ inch bases, which will easily clear the threshold for both Rowland Ward and SCI gold, and with a very typical coat and bright white markings, it is a truly stunning representation of a species which would have been lost without commitment and investment from people like us.
That afternoon was spent in fruitless search of that kudu, walking the same ridges where we saw him travel the previous evening.
The following morning involved a short drive to the coast, where the focus was on blue duiker, South Africa’s smallest antelope. We set up at a few different sites, waiting patiently and without luck. I am not a good one for waiting in blinds, I get fidgety, but persevered, and having spent the day staring into narrow channels through the coastal forests, our prize came in a most unlikely location. Juan knew of a pothole on a dirt road which held water, and where duiker tracks were plentiful. We checked the spot and it was clear that recent levels of activity were high, so we set up and waited. At around 5pm, a lone ram came to the pothole, crossing the road before settling to drink. After non-verbally confirming that he was what we were looking for, I took the shot.
One of the most curious of the antelope species, with its small pointed nose, tiny stature, and shy mannerisms, the blue duiker makes for a hard-earned and prized trophy for any hunter, and this ram, old and heavy with horns just below 2 inches in length, will again surpass both RW and SCI gold standards.
Day three was spent on Juan and Lauren’s property, in search of kudu, southern bush duiker, and anything else which might be of interest. Whilst we saw both species, nothing stood out, but from a distance, we spotted a nice impala ram in a spot which we knew would make for a fun stalk. Crossing an open plateau, and shooting from about 250m over a shallow valley, the ram, though not the longest, presented with beautiful shape and a deep curve in his horns, making for an excellent trophy.
That evening, we drove towards the coast again, ready for a night hunt for the nocturnal Cape grysbok, another lesser-known resident of the Eastern Cape province, and the slightly larger relative of the more widely-spread Sharpe’s grysbok. Early signs were promising, seeing several in the first hour of driving, including a couple of rams which would tempt many hunters and PHs, in and around the 2-2.5inch range, but again, this would likely be the only representative of the species that I hunt, and we wanted better.
Then, the wind and rain came, cold and bitter, and sitting exposed on the top of the vehicle, with a wet rifle and lamplight obscured by falling rain made for a less than pleasant experience. We persevered, cognisant that we would see fewer and fewer grysbok as these small antelope retired to the bush and sheltered from the elements, but in time, the weather relented just long enough for us to spend a final hour searching. Grysbok started appearing again, and at around 1am, as we started making our return to the gate, we saw an old, large-bodied ram with what looked in the dark to be a broken horn.
Closer inspection revealed that he in fact had two horns, both long and thick, but one bent backwards so it lay parallel to his back, whilst the other stood typically upright, likely the result of an injury in his youth. To find a 3-inch grysbok nowadays is not easy, but to get one with this thickness, and this character, makes for a once-in-a-lifetime specimen, and as he fell at the close-range shot, the relief was palpable.
Day four passed much like day three, scanning large valleys, slopes, and thickets for kudu, and again, bulls were seen, just not ‘that’ bull. This is the problem with setting sights on a specific animal early in the trip. You start to compare others against that standard, you build a picture of what you want in your mind, and you become focused on that particular animal. It has happened to many of us before, and it drives you to keep checking what is round the next bend, or over the next hill. That evening, we sat for bushpig. Trail cameras showed that we had two large boars on bait, but swirling wind led us to abandon the hide and return early.
By day five, pressure had begun to set in, with just two days left and a long list of trophies yet to find. The weather had turned, with cold Easterly winds coming in off the Indian Ocean heralding a drop in temperature and on-and-off rainfall. We persisted, but without great expectations. The game was not moving, and so both morning and afternoon hunts were cut short. That said, the one consistent thing over the past couple of days had been the regular feeding of bushpigs at our bait sites, and so we decided to take our chance, and sit at a site near water, regularly refreshed with pineapples, where cameras had shown a large boar feeding with a sow and young.
Settling in just before sunset, we sat and waited. Porcupines arrived just after dark, drawn to the freshly replenished bait, and at around 7pm, the bushpigs arrived, first the sow, then the smaller pigs, and finally the boar, which circled the site for about 10 minutes, before committing to feed. The pigs were lined up at the bait, as is common, but a clean and ethical shot took time to present itself. Eventually the boar, identifiable even in the faint spotlight by the prominent warts on his snout, stepped forward enough to present a neck shot, at which he fell instantly. Once the others had scattered, we approached the boar, which was exactly what we had hoped him to be, uncommonly large at over 80kg in gross weight, and in possession of a long white mane, prominent warts, and outstanding tusks. With bushpig, I feel tusks are secondary to overall size and appearance, but it really is a bonus when you get both, and whilst we will not know for sure until the skull is boiled, it is likely that he will again clear the threshold for RW and contend for higher SCI medals.
The pressure having been lifted somewhat, we knew that we still had work to do on our final day, still chasing our elusive kudu as well as one or two other animals to round out the bag. Standing on the balcony at sunrise, we were greeted by warmth, and a clear, still morning, a change we hoped would lead to increased levels of movement and activity in the bush. That morning, we saw a duiker which could not be passed up. The most abundant of the duikers, the Southern bush duiker (also known as the common, or grey duiker), is nevertheless a challenge to hunt in its own right, especially in the tall grass and thick bush which typified this landscape. They say that a duiker with horns level with its ears is worth assessing more closely, and a duiker with horns around an inch longer than the ear line is a true trophy. This ram exceeded that and more. Having closed the distance to about 200m, a tricky uphill shot was made with the .300, and a duiker with horns of just under 5 ½ inches, and very solid 2 ¼ inch bases was taken, again clearing both SCI gold and RW minimums with ease.
After our final lunch at the lodge, a decision needed to be made, spend one final afternoon searching for this kudu, or abandon our pursuit in search of easier alternatives. We had a list when we planned the hunt, we had stuck to it, we had found success, and we agreed that we needed to try and finish the job, and so we went back into the hills and valleys for one final search.
We had combed the large hunting area over the past few days, without luck, but one small valley remained untouched. It was a distance from where we had last seen the bull, but it was dark, thick, and sheltered from the elements, the perfect spot to harbour an old and clearly tenacious bull. We took up a high position and watched and waited, and eventually, he showed himself, by which I mean we caught a glimpse of one ear, one horn tip, and a thin stripe of white against a dark backdrop as he hid in the bush. We waited, hoping he would step out, but as is so common with kudu, he sat tight. Eventually, we decided that if he would not move, we would, and so we crept down from our vantage point, around and up the next hill, and into a position where, if the bull was still where he stood when we last saw him, a clear shot would be presented. This came to pass, and as we crested the hill, there he stood, offering a 200m frontal shot. A well-placed bullet to the base of the neck, a lethal shot if well-executed, resulted in a quick passing after a 40-yard final dash.
Getting down to the bull in the densely overgrown hillside was a challenge in itself, but when we found him, it was clear that the waiting, passing up of other bulls, and perseverance had paid off. The bull had everything, a dark, dark face, prominent white stripes across his dark grey body, a pronounced dewlap, and long, symmetrical horns, with thick bases, and beautiful ivory tips, the very embodiment of a true Eastern Cape kudu bull, and one which will qualify for an SCI silver medal. Then came the challenge of dragging the 300kg bull up the hill to the nearest road.
Having unloaded the rifles and on our final drive back to the lodge, one final and unexpected opportunity presented itself. A group of duikers were coming out to feed, and a particular ram, large in body but with a broken horn, stood out. A danger to other duikers, which spar regularly, Juan asked me to take him, and a quick shot was made. Funnily enough, the one full horn he still possessed qualified for Rowland Ward at just over 4 ½ inches, and his well-aged and very thick bases qualified him for an SCI bronze medal despite the loss of almost 3 inches of length on one side. This is a good example of why I feel horn circumference should be prioritised a bit more, or broken horns compensated for, within scoring systems, in order to truly reward age and character in older animals who might have damaged or worn their horn tips over the course of their full lives.
I set out on this hunt with big ambitions but managed expectations. Most of the animals on our list are truly wild and in their natural habitats, animals which cannot be bought and sold. There was no ‘put and take’, and no small hunting camps. Six days is not a long time, bad weather can cost time, and animals like blue duiker can involve days of sitting and waiting for a chance, but Juan and Lauren delivered as always.
Juan’s hunter’s instinct is acutely keen. He predicts where animals will move and how, even in the most unlikely places. His company is informed and engaging, his priority is delivering a successful hunt for every client, and his focus is unbreakable. I respect his skill and tenacity as a PH and him and I have become friends over the weeks we have spent together in the bush.
Lauren’s attention to detail has a massive impact on a hunt, the right things are always where they need to be at the right time. Her videography skills provide us with a lifelong memento of the hunt, and a way of reliving special memories. She is a qualified PH in her own right, and her company is every bit as engaging.
The lodge we used for this hunt is beautiful, the food excellent and plentiful, and the game abundant. A special note of thanks has to be given to Zwakie, the tracker with whom we shared this hunt. I have worked with many trackers over the years and this man is the best of them, by some margin. He is instinctive, hardworking and relentless, his spotting skills are second-to-none, and his handling of our trophies was skilful and respectful. I picked up some very modest Xhosa from him along the way, and though we fortunately did not require this particular service during the hunt, I am informed that his blood tracking skills are equally competent.
Lauren and Juan understand why I hunt – to pursue top-quality, mature animals in expansive terrain, to contribute to conservation and provide meat to communities which need it, and to challenge myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. They share my love for wildlife, as a custodian of nature, and my profound respect for the animals I hunt. When I place grass in an animal’s mouth, so that on its final journey, it has something to eat, they respect that tradition. When I ask to carry my own animals back to the vehicle, they know why. When I decide not to pull the trigger, for whatever reason, they do not try to cajole or convince, they respect that choice.
This hunt was altogether a different experience. Less walking and stalking, more waiting and wondering. We took our time, demonstrated patience, and hunted a collection of top-tier animals once again. The experience was fulfilling, in a strange way spiritual, in a deeper way to previous hunts. I am not really sure why yet, but it was. I suppose sitting and staring gives you the freedom to reflect in a manner which constantly walking and spotting cannot provide. It clears the mind. Perhaps I should do it more often.
Juan and I are already planning our 2026 hunt together, in new places for new trophies, and revisiting some animals previously hunted, to improve on trophies taken with other outfitters.
This is my fourteenth African hunt, and I have seen and learned a lot along the way. Through that experience, and what I hope is an informed opinion, I would strongly encourage anyone looking for a true Eastern Cape hunting experience to reach out to LJ Safaris. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
Having hunted with Juan and Lauren Stander of LJ Safaris in April and September last year, we had spent the past few months planning our third safari together. I am starting to run out of new species to hunt in South Africa, and so our focus shifted to some of those trickier and less-recognisable species endemic to the Eastern Cape.
We put together a list including Cape grysbok, blue duiker, Cape genet, bushpig, and Eastern Cape kudu, as well as bontebok and a couple of targets of opportunity. Due to work commitments, I could only spare six days for this hunt, and we knew going in that hunting every animal on this list, whilst adhering to my high standards for trophy quality, and commitment to fair chase and ethical practices, was in no way guaranteed, but that we would do our best. Happy with the results of our previous hunts, I had confidence that Lauren and Juan could get this done.
After arriving at the lodge near Grahamstown, we set out to check the rifles we would be using for the hunt (a 300 Win-Mag, a .243 for the smaller trophies, and an O-U shotgun for the blue duiker, before setting off for an afternoon hunt.
Juan had told me about a special EC kudu bull he had seen a few times, but only ever in fleeting glimpses. Having shot Southern Greater Kudu in Namibia, I wanted a ‘true’ East Cape bull with all the defining features, a dark face and body, nice mane and good colouration, and would prioritise this over an inch or two in horn length. That evening, just before sunset, we saw that bull, several hundred metres away walking through thick bush on the horizon. We repositioned, and whilst we caught another glimpse at last light, no shot was possible.
The next morning was dedicated to bontebok. I know many international hunters don’t hunt the species due to difficulty in exporting them, but in my case, getting the trophy back home is possible. The story of the bontebok’s recovery, from a relict population of 17 animals, to the thousands that reside in South Africa today, and the role that hunters played in that resurgence is a testament to our part in conservation, and I knew the trophy fee paid would continue to support that.
That said, this would likely be the only bontebok that I will hunt, and so we wanted the best we could find. We arrived at a concession which abounds with these animals, and having looked over several dozen rams, many of which were in the 13-14 inch range and thus were very respectable trophies, we closed the distance on what we felt was the best one, and he fell at the shot. With the white rump and legs and purple and burgundy colours, they are, in my opinion, a more beautiful and striking antelope than their more abundant cousins, the blesbok. Our ram measured 15 3/8 inches, with heavy 6 ½ inch bases, which will easily clear the threshold for both Rowland Ward and SCI gold, and with a very typical coat and bright white markings, it is a truly stunning representation of a species which would have been lost without commitment and investment from people like us.
That afternoon was spent in fruitless search of that kudu, walking the same ridges where we saw him travel the previous evening.
The following morning involved a short drive to the coast, where the focus was on blue duiker, South Africa’s smallest antelope. We set up at a few different sites, waiting patiently and without luck. I am not a good one for waiting in blinds, I get fidgety, but persevered, and having spent the day staring into narrow channels through the coastal forests, our prize came in a most unlikely location. Juan knew of a pothole on a dirt road which held water, and where duiker tracks were plentiful. We checked the spot and it was clear that recent levels of activity were high, so we set up and waited. At around 5pm, a lone ram came to the pothole, crossing the road before settling to drink. After non-verbally confirming that he was what we were looking for, I took the shot.
One of the most curious of the antelope species, with its small pointed nose, tiny stature, and shy mannerisms, the blue duiker makes for a hard-earned and prized trophy for any hunter, and this ram, old and heavy with horns just below 2 inches in length, will again surpass both RW and SCI gold standards.
Day three was spent on Juan and Lauren’s property, in search of kudu, southern bush duiker, and anything else which might be of interest. Whilst we saw both species, nothing stood out, but from a distance, we spotted a nice impala ram in a spot which we knew would make for a fun stalk. Crossing an open plateau, and shooting from about 250m over a shallow valley, the ram, though not the longest, presented with beautiful shape and a deep curve in his horns, making for an excellent trophy.
That evening, we drove towards the coast again, ready for a night hunt for the nocturnal Cape grysbok, another lesser-known resident of the Eastern Cape province, and the slightly larger relative of the more widely-spread Sharpe’s grysbok. Early signs were promising, seeing several in the first hour of driving, including a couple of rams which would tempt many hunters and PHs, in and around the 2-2.5inch range, but again, this would likely be the only representative of the species that I hunt, and we wanted better.
Then, the wind and rain came, cold and bitter, and sitting exposed on the top of the vehicle, with a wet rifle and lamplight obscured by falling rain made for a less than pleasant experience. We persevered, cognisant that we would see fewer and fewer grysbok as these small antelope retired to the bush and sheltered from the elements, but in time, the weather relented just long enough for us to spend a final hour searching. Grysbok started appearing again, and at around 1am, as we started making our return to the gate, we saw an old, large-bodied ram with what looked in the dark to be a broken horn.
Closer inspection revealed that he in fact had two horns, both long and thick, but one bent backwards so it lay parallel to his back, whilst the other stood typically upright, likely the result of an injury in his youth. To find a 3-inch grysbok nowadays is not easy, but to get one with this thickness, and this character, makes for a once-in-a-lifetime specimen, and as he fell at the close-range shot, the relief was palpable.
Day four passed much like day three, scanning large valleys, slopes, and thickets for kudu, and again, bulls were seen, just not ‘that’ bull. This is the problem with setting sights on a specific animal early in the trip. You start to compare others against that standard, you build a picture of what you want in your mind, and you become focused on that particular animal. It has happened to many of us before, and it drives you to keep checking what is round the next bend, or over the next hill. That evening, we sat for bushpig. Trail cameras showed that we had two large boars on bait, but swirling wind led us to abandon the hide and return early.
By day five, pressure had begun to set in, with just two days left and a long list of trophies yet to find. The weather had turned, with cold Easterly winds coming in off the Indian Ocean heralding a drop in temperature and on-and-off rainfall. We persisted, but without great expectations. The game was not moving, and so both morning and afternoon hunts were cut short. That said, the one consistent thing over the past couple of days had been the regular feeding of bushpigs at our bait sites, and so we decided to take our chance, and sit at a site near water, regularly refreshed with pineapples, where cameras had shown a large boar feeding with a sow and young.
Settling in just before sunset, we sat and waited. Porcupines arrived just after dark, drawn to the freshly replenished bait, and at around 7pm, the bushpigs arrived, first the sow, then the smaller pigs, and finally the boar, which circled the site for about 10 minutes, before committing to feed. The pigs were lined up at the bait, as is common, but a clean and ethical shot took time to present itself. Eventually the boar, identifiable even in the faint spotlight by the prominent warts on his snout, stepped forward enough to present a neck shot, at which he fell instantly. Once the others had scattered, we approached the boar, which was exactly what we had hoped him to be, uncommonly large at over 80kg in gross weight, and in possession of a long white mane, prominent warts, and outstanding tusks. With bushpig, I feel tusks are secondary to overall size and appearance, but it really is a bonus when you get both, and whilst we will not know for sure until the skull is boiled, it is likely that he will again clear the threshold for RW and contend for higher SCI medals.
The pressure having been lifted somewhat, we knew that we still had work to do on our final day, still chasing our elusive kudu as well as one or two other animals to round out the bag. Standing on the balcony at sunrise, we were greeted by warmth, and a clear, still morning, a change we hoped would lead to increased levels of movement and activity in the bush. That morning, we saw a duiker which could not be passed up. The most abundant of the duikers, the Southern bush duiker (also known as the common, or grey duiker), is nevertheless a challenge to hunt in its own right, especially in the tall grass and thick bush which typified this landscape. They say that a duiker with horns level with its ears is worth assessing more closely, and a duiker with horns around an inch longer than the ear line is a true trophy. This ram exceeded that and more. Having closed the distance to about 200m, a tricky uphill shot was made with the .300, and a duiker with horns of just under 5 ½ inches, and very solid 2 ¼ inch bases was taken, again clearing both SCI gold and RW minimums with ease.
After our final lunch at the lodge, a decision needed to be made, spend one final afternoon searching for this kudu, or abandon our pursuit in search of easier alternatives. We had a list when we planned the hunt, we had stuck to it, we had found success, and we agreed that we needed to try and finish the job, and so we went back into the hills and valleys for one final search.
We had combed the large hunting area over the past few days, without luck, but one small valley remained untouched. It was a distance from where we had last seen the bull, but it was dark, thick, and sheltered from the elements, the perfect spot to harbour an old and clearly tenacious bull. We took up a high position and watched and waited, and eventually, he showed himself, by which I mean we caught a glimpse of one ear, one horn tip, and a thin stripe of white against a dark backdrop as he hid in the bush. We waited, hoping he would step out, but as is so common with kudu, he sat tight. Eventually, we decided that if he would not move, we would, and so we crept down from our vantage point, around and up the next hill, and into a position where, if the bull was still where he stood when we last saw him, a clear shot would be presented. This came to pass, and as we crested the hill, there he stood, offering a 200m frontal shot. A well-placed bullet to the base of the neck, a lethal shot if well-executed, resulted in a quick passing after a 40-yard final dash.
Getting down to the bull in the densely overgrown hillside was a challenge in itself, but when we found him, it was clear that the waiting, passing up of other bulls, and perseverance had paid off. The bull had everything, a dark, dark face, prominent white stripes across his dark grey body, a pronounced dewlap, and long, symmetrical horns, with thick bases, and beautiful ivory tips, the very embodiment of a true Eastern Cape kudu bull, and one which will qualify for an SCI silver medal. Then came the challenge of dragging the 300kg bull up the hill to the nearest road.
Having unloaded the rifles and on our final drive back to the lodge, one final and unexpected opportunity presented itself. A group of duikers were coming out to feed, and a particular ram, large in body but with a broken horn, stood out. A danger to other duikers, which spar regularly, Juan asked me to take him, and a quick shot was made. Funnily enough, the one full horn he still possessed qualified for Rowland Ward at just over 4 ½ inches, and his well-aged and very thick bases qualified him for an SCI bronze medal despite the loss of almost 3 inches of length on one side. This is a good example of why I feel horn circumference should be prioritised a bit more, or broken horns compensated for, within scoring systems, in order to truly reward age and character in older animals who might have damaged or worn their horn tips over the course of their full lives.
I set out on this hunt with big ambitions but managed expectations. Most of the animals on our list are truly wild and in their natural habitats, animals which cannot be bought and sold. There was no ‘put and take’, and no small hunting camps. Six days is not a long time, bad weather can cost time, and animals like blue duiker can involve days of sitting and waiting for a chance, but Juan and Lauren delivered as always.
Juan’s hunter’s instinct is acutely keen. He predicts where animals will move and how, even in the most unlikely places. His company is informed and engaging, his priority is delivering a successful hunt for every client, and his focus is unbreakable. I respect his skill and tenacity as a PH and him and I have become friends over the weeks we have spent together in the bush.
Lauren’s attention to detail has a massive impact on a hunt, the right things are always where they need to be at the right time. Her videography skills provide us with a lifelong memento of the hunt, and a way of reliving special memories. She is a qualified PH in her own right, and her company is every bit as engaging.
The lodge we used for this hunt is beautiful, the food excellent and plentiful, and the game abundant. A special note of thanks has to be given to Zwakie, the tracker with whom we shared this hunt. I have worked with many trackers over the years and this man is the best of them, by some margin. He is instinctive, hardworking and relentless, his spotting skills are second-to-none, and his handling of our trophies was skilful and respectful. I picked up some very modest Xhosa from him along the way, and though we fortunately did not require this particular service during the hunt, I am informed that his blood tracking skills are equally competent.
Lauren and Juan understand why I hunt – to pursue top-quality, mature animals in expansive terrain, to contribute to conservation and provide meat to communities which need it, and to challenge myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. They share my love for wildlife, as a custodian of nature, and my profound respect for the animals I hunt. When I place grass in an animal’s mouth, so that on its final journey, it has something to eat, they respect that tradition. When I ask to carry my own animals back to the vehicle, they know why. When I decide not to pull the trigger, for whatever reason, they do not try to cajole or convince, they respect that choice.
This hunt was altogether a different experience. Less walking and stalking, more waiting and wondering. We took our time, demonstrated patience, and hunted a collection of top-tier animals once again. The experience was fulfilling, in a strange way spiritual, in a deeper way to previous hunts. I am not really sure why yet, but it was. I suppose sitting and staring gives you the freedom to reflect in a manner which constantly walking and spotting cannot provide. It clears the mind. Perhaps I should do it more often.
Juan and I are already planning our 2026 hunt together, in new places for new trophies, and revisiting some animals previously hunted, to improve on trophies taken with other outfitters.
This is my fourteenth African hunt, and I have seen and learned a lot along the way. Through that experience, and what I hope is an informed opinion, I would strongly encourage anyone looking for a true Eastern Cape hunting experience to reach out to LJ Safaris. I assure you that you will not be disappointed.
