We just returned from our first hunting trip in South Africa! My wife and children joined me (23 month old twin boys included) as did my brother.
The hunt was part of a fundraiser auction for the California Deer Association. The 6 day, 7 night hunt was donated by Shane from The Modern Savage, and would be led by Jaco Wessels, owner of Wesco Safaris. We stayed at the Hesuta hunting lodge, located near Douglas in the northern cape. If memory serves we are the first American clients to stay at the lodge. Andre (owner and host) was phenomenal, and his wife and daughter cooked amazing meals, and were so kind to us and especially our boys who loved playing with them.
Cutting to the chase, we didn't have huge lists to fill, but definitely wanted to bag a few things and enjoy our first visit to Africa. Gemsbok and Springbok were my top two, my brother wanted Impala, springbok and warthog(which he swapped for a blesbok), and my wife just wanted something as she has never hunted before. Impala was suggested, but on the last day we decided to be open minded for her as long as it was a mature specimen just about anything would do.
The camp is home to 20 species of plains game and also buffalo, as well as the transient primates and predators (jackals and caracals).
I was informed the first afternoon that predators had been hammering the Springbok there and it might be difficult to take one. I kept that in mind and also opened up to the idea of black wildebeest. While not on this particular property, Jaco was able to track some down for me.
The first day was exciting going out and seeing everything. No game taken on the first day, but my brother did take a shot(clean miss) at a blesbok.
Day 2 started out with 3 gemsbok stalks, the 3rd resulting in a really nice bull for me. Was an awesome experience stalking through the bush and trying not to spook Hartmans Zebra, blue wildebeest and buffalo. One shot put him down within about 50 yards. I was told he taped at 36.6". The evening hunt of day 2 resulted in a nice blesbok for my brother.
Day 3 we split up leaving my brother with Andre at the ranch and Jaco and I heading out for black wildebeest. We got a text around 820 that my brother had his Impala! Jaco and I found a large group of black wildebeest, and after a couple hours of staking and sneaking I was able to shoot the herd bull at about 285 yards from a prone position! What fun that was! Apparently he's a really good bull? Hard for me to tell haha! Before we got back to Hesuta, my brother had his Springbok and was done hunting for the trip!
Day 4 proceeded with several stalks on blesbok and springbok, but our efforts were in vain. We weren't seeing impala which was troubling for my wife. That evening we decided to see what the Bush would give us on day 5.
On day 5 my brother and I stayed behind with the twins while my wife went out hunting. We heard on the radio she took what she thought was a good shot at a nice blesbok, but after several hours of tracking with multiple people and dogs, no signs of an animal or blood so they told her she must have missed. In her mind she was worried she had wounded an animal and it was suffering needlessly. Andre and one of the trackers (Lorenzo) helped to put her mind at ease. During the evening hunt on day 5 we spotted a group of blue wildebeest early into our session. After a short stalk I heard the "boom-whack" associated with a solid hit. She indeed had made a perfect shot on a great bull, breaking his shoulder and going through his heart! Tears of joy and hugs for everyone!
Due to a scheduling mistake, our 6 day 7 night hunt was shortened to 5 days and 6 nights; something I hadn't realized til we got to the lodge. Honestly it was a great time, and there were no hard feelings.
Jaco was an excellent PH, knowing how to cater to everyone's specific needs, and had a vast knowledge of the plant and animal life! Andre apart from being our host at the lodge provided his skills as a PH as well helping my wife bag her very first big game animal. His lodge is beautiful, well maintained and everyone is so friendly and caring.
While Andre can guide as well as host at his property near Douglas, Jaco guides all over, and can put a package together that can fit your desires as well as your budget. Even though this was my first time, we are already in talks with planning to return next year with Jaco and Andre.
Thanks all for reading and for all the content here that definitely helped us plan for an amazing trip!
The hunt was part of a fundraiser auction for the California Deer Association. The 6 day, 7 night hunt was donated by Shane from The Modern Savage, and would be led by Jaco Wessels, owner of Wesco Safaris. We stayed at the Hesuta hunting lodge, located near Douglas in the northern cape. If memory serves we are the first American clients to stay at the lodge. Andre (owner and host) was phenomenal, and his wife and daughter cooked amazing meals, and were so kind to us and especially our boys who loved playing with them.
Cutting to the chase, we didn't have huge lists to fill, but definitely wanted to bag a few things and enjoy our first visit to Africa. Gemsbok and Springbok were my top two, my brother wanted Impala, springbok and warthog(which he swapped for a blesbok), and my wife just wanted something as she has never hunted before. Impala was suggested, but on the last day we decided to be open minded for her as long as it was a mature specimen just about anything would do.
The camp is home to 20 species of plains game and also buffalo, as well as the transient primates and predators (jackals and caracals).
I was informed the first afternoon that predators had been hammering the Springbok there and it might be difficult to take one. I kept that in mind and also opened up to the idea of black wildebeest. While not on this particular property, Jaco was able to track some down for me.
The first day was exciting going out and seeing everything. No game taken on the first day, but my brother did take a shot(clean miss) at a blesbok.
Day 2 started out with 3 gemsbok stalks, the 3rd resulting in a really nice bull for me. Was an awesome experience stalking through the bush and trying not to spook Hartmans Zebra, blue wildebeest and buffalo. One shot put him down within about 50 yards. I was told he taped at 36.6". The evening hunt of day 2 resulted in a nice blesbok for my brother.
Day 3 we split up leaving my brother with Andre at the ranch and Jaco and I heading out for black wildebeest. We got a text around 820 that my brother had his Impala! Jaco and I found a large group of black wildebeest, and after a couple hours of staking and sneaking I was able to shoot the herd bull at about 285 yards from a prone position! What fun that was! Apparently he's a really good bull? Hard for me to tell haha! Before we got back to Hesuta, my brother had his Springbok and was done hunting for the trip!
Day 4 proceeded with several stalks on blesbok and springbok, but our efforts were in vain. We weren't seeing impala which was troubling for my wife. That evening we decided to see what the Bush would give us on day 5.
On day 5 my brother and I stayed behind with the twins while my wife went out hunting. We heard on the radio she took what she thought was a good shot at a nice blesbok, but after several hours of tracking with multiple people and dogs, no signs of an animal or blood so they told her she must have missed. In her mind she was worried she had wounded an animal and it was suffering needlessly. Andre and one of the trackers (Lorenzo) helped to put her mind at ease. During the evening hunt on day 5 we spotted a group of blue wildebeest early into our session. After a short stalk I heard the "boom-whack" associated with a solid hit. She indeed had made a perfect shot on a great bull, breaking his shoulder and going through his heart! Tears of joy and hugs for everyone!
Due to a scheduling mistake, our 6 day 7 night hunt was shortened to 5 days and 6 nights; something I hadn't realized til we got to the lodge. Honestly it was a great time, and there were no hard feelings.
Jaco was an excellent PH, knowing how to cater to everyone's specific needs, and had a vast knowledge of the plant and animal life! Andre apart from being our host at the lodge provided his skills as a PH as well helping my wife bag her very first big game animal. His lodge is beautiful, well maintained and everyone is so friendly and caring.
While Andre can guide as well as host at his property near Douglas, Jaco guides all over, and can put a package together that can fit your desires as well as your budget. Even though this was my first time, we are already in talks with planning to return next year with Jaco and Andre.
Thanks all for reading and for all the content here that definitely helped us plan for an amazing trip!
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