Free State Province

[sjones42347]

I have booked a hunt for 2025 in the Free State Province, outside of Kimberley. Obviously very different terrain from when I hunted eatern cape, so does anyone have any feedback on that area? Also trying to decide on what to pursue. Definitely going after black wildebeest, but what other animals are native to that area?

 

[Nyati]

Kimberley is in the Northern Cape Province.

Who are you hunting with ?

 

[sjones42347]

Kimberley is in the Northern Cape Province.

Who are you hunting with ?

grootvallei. it is east of kimberly by boshof

 

[Piet Brood]

The Free State border is less than 10km outside of Kimberley. I grew up there. There are a lot more hunting farms and game in the area now than when I was at school there twenty years ago. Lots of beautiful hunting areas in the vicinity with a wide variety of game. I would say Red Hartebeest and Oryx are essential animals to take in that area. Lots of other species abound like Impala, Wildebeest, Warthog, Kudu, Eland, Springbuck and Blesbuck.

 

[sjones42347]

The Free State border is less than 10km outside of Kimberley. I grew up there. There are a lot more hunting farms and game in the area now than when I was at school there twenty years ago. Lots of beautiful hunting areas in the vicinity with a wide variety of game. I would say Red Hartebeest and Oryx are essential animals to take in that area. Lots of other species abound like Impala, Wildebeest, Warthog, Kudu, Eland, Springbuck and Blesbuck.

Good to know!! Black wildebeest is a definite on my list with oryx and red hartebeest being likely as well!

 

[HuntingFreak]

I returned from an 8 day hunt in the Free State with my wife last August. (I still need to gather my notes from my journal and write a report/review) It was an absolutely fantastic time filled with great animals and even better company! We really enjoyed the varied terrain. We hunted lower bush-veld type terrain and then even up to mountainous terrain along with plains all at the same location. Due to the variety, we really noticed how different each hunt felt and the species were plentiful and healthy. I plan on going back in 2027. Overall we loved spending our time there and will likely always go back for at least a few days when we return. We ended up harvesting the following:
2 Kudu
1 Nyala
1 Lechwe
1 Waterbuck
1 Mountain Reedbuck
1 Red Hartebeest
1 Black Wildebeest
1 Common Springbok
1 Warthog

 

[sjones42347]

I returned from an 8 day hunt in the Free State with my wife last August. (I still need to gather my notes from my journal and write a report/review) It was an absolutely fantastic time filled with great animals and even better company! We really enjoyed the varied terrain. We hunted lower bush-veld type terrain and then even up to mountainous terrain along with plains all at the same location. Due to the variety, we really noticed how different each hunt felt and the species were plentiful and healthy. I plan on going back in 2027. Overall we loved spending our time there and will likely always go back for at least a few days when we return. We ended up harvesting the following:
2 Kudu
1 Nyala
1 Lechwe
1 Waterbuck
1 Mountain Reedbuck
1 Red Hartebeest
1 Black Wildebeest
1 Common Springbok
1 Warthog
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Thats awesome and beautiful animals!! What part of the free state were you hunting?

 

[HuntingFreak]

Thats awesome and beautiful animals!! What part of the free state were you hunting?

I would call it southwest.

 

[Nyati]

Reedbuck hunted in Lebenstraum Farm, Free State

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Isn't golden wildebeest native to that area?

 

[JimmyJack54]

I hunted Free State just S/SE of Boshof, approx. 15-30 miles, back in 2021. Nice experience, good trophies. I’d recommend some of the following:
Springbuck, Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Gemsbuck. Always plan on being opportunistic for “whatever the bush gives you”. I learned that lesson the hard way after my first safari. Here are my trophies from my Free State Safari that was unexpectedly cut short:

All were fine trophies but the Sable, Mt. Reedbuck and one warthog made RW.

 

[matt vejar]

Blesbok and Serval are abundant and Blesbok grow big there as do Black wildebeest. They would be my top 3 animals from the Free State.

 

[matt vejar]

Bird hunting is also a big draw in the Free State. Doves and Pigeons.

 

[sjones42347]

I hunted Free State just S/SE of Boshof, approx. 15-30 miles, back in 2021. Nice experience, good trophies. I’d recommend some of the following:
Springbuck, Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Gemsbuck. Always plan on being opportunistic for “whatever the bush gives you”. I learned that lesson the hard way after my first safari. Here are my trophies from my Free State Safari that was unexpectedly cut short:
View attachment 615275
All were fine trophies but the Sable, Mt. Reedbuck and one warthog made RW.

Awesome animals! I do have black wildebeest on top of my list! Along with waterbuck

 

[sjones42347]

Blesbok and Serval are abundant and Blesbok grow big there as do Black wildebeest. They would be my top 3 animals from the Free State.

Blesbok and wildebeest are on the list for sure!! Hadn’t even considered a serval but I will now!