NAMIBIA: SOUTH AFRICA: Otavi & Leeukop Safaris KZN (The Whole Tale)

[BRICKBURN]

After the theory of preparation and the trip to the taxidermist it was time for the test.
I would have loved to have done this for the classmates on the Impala, but that story has been told.

You were to bring your own knife on this course and I most certainly did so.
I always have my Leatherman along on my belt but for caping it always falls to my Havalon.

I got these knives before there was ever a dealer in Canada.
These are not meant for tough twisting or hacking work. Think surgical blade doing Gall bladder surgery and you get it.
These tools take any kind of surgical blade as they are all disposable and RAZOR SHARP. If you screw up and cut yourself, you won't know until you see the blood. You just can't feel a cut from a blade this sharp.
I use the large variety blades that are meant for autopsies.

I can break down and entire elk with one blade as long as you do not twist the blade sideways. If you do, it will break off.

This was going to be a caping test and we were to be graded on this.

The most readily available specimens in quantity are sheep heads.

(This is a stock photo. I had zero time and no desire to get grunge on my camera)

Each student gets one and they can have all the time in the world to get the job done.
I had never split a nose, lips or cheeks or done ears before, and although not required, this was my quest to even the playing field with my classmates. (This was something I always left to the taxidermist at home)
Most of the class had never caped anything before.
I was done, in short order with my cape tagged and in the brine.

I went on to help everyone I could. I touched one classmates head and I heard the shout from David. I was not allowed to "do" anything on the capes.

Ensuring I had no knife in my hand I tried to show them how to peal and slice and go around all the obvious traps. Glands, eye lids, ear bases, lips, ear tips, cheeks, nose.

I had great fun helping out.

Any cuts or holes that made the cape un-useable were failed. Quite a few failed.

I had managed to cut the very tiniest of holes in my trophies face. I told David there was an error and he searched for it and could not find it. After not finding it, I showed him and he shrugged and said it was nothing.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Bore sighting and how to sight in a rifle were presented in theory. Eventual a verbal test was presented for each student.

Shooting qualifications.

I had no idea what I was in for with this one. We were to bring our own rifles or one could be rented. My rifle was still at home and I was about to use a rifle for qualification that I had never touched before. No pressure.

The entire class gathered as David sighted the rifle at 100 yards/meters.
Other students started shooting their rifles in other directions to determine their zero. This evoked some strong words about neighbouring houses, etc. Not a happy instructor.

Then it was each student in turn for the "practice session" on an Impala target. If I would have known our designated shooter better he would have had some severe ribbing.
You could tell most of the class were very nervous about this. They did not want to screw up with an audience.

I won the coveted first chair. Lovely.
I had already looked at the target closely to see where the scoring areas were. At least I knew where to aim.
We were provided a set of sticks. Which was actually a tripod for shooting from a sitting position.
I dug the feet into the hard soil and made sure it was set and adjusted to my height. That really means, I adjusted myself to it.

Three of my classmates at it with the borrowed rifle.

Martin

Sonja

Virushka

After I shot my "practice round", we went down to the target and had a look. No spotting scopes here. It was then announced to me that this was actually the test. David just "fibbed" to get the class to calm down a bit.


Honest, I got 15/15.

I was relieved.

The next portion of the shooting test was going to be a lot more interesting.
A timed event with three shots at three different distances shooting at a 4 inch square. This was to simulate a charge.
Now that I have seen mechanical Lions on pully systems racing at you in other contests I can only imagine how much fun that would be.
Accuracy matters and time is just a factor. Miss and poof.
Gun down, safety on and you got the word to go.

(A stock picture)
That little dot sure looks small.


Some of us made it, some of did not. I managed to qualify.

It was interesting to see the cartridges rolled on an oil pad beforehand.
I had never seen this one.
Apparently it would help feeding. For myself, I would never do this in the field. I can only see it gumming up with works.

The pressure was off on this section.


Back to the Campus and
More studying......

 

[BRICKBURN]

The next two days would be for examinations.
This morning was a last review and then the afternoon saw the Trophy Judging Exam.


There was another section being added to the buildings and it was interesting to watch the construction process and how much supervision is required. The drain for the laundry was almost buried beneath the rock fill in the center of this building. NO thought to the drainage required. No wonder David was a little stressed.

The trophy judging exam was the same format as all the practice sessions, just more tense. A random selection of trophies and you had the usual thirty seconds. No pictures of this one, I was not going to waste judging time on photos.

We went over the scores in the classroom and Hooray, I passed.
Kudu are the nemesis. I never believed a 60 inch Kudu would be in a pile of discarded horns. It looked like a perfect 54.5 to me. Man was that one blown.
I told David that trophy should never be in this pile and it deserved much better treatment. He agreed.

My dream Kudu in the dining room.

64 inches.



One last chance to sit around the fire with my classmates that night.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Exam day.

Without belabouring the process.
I passed, others did not.
Impressively, to me, I got 82% on the laws. Yeah.
Can you imagine, I got an "A" in hunting. I would have never thought that as a kid.

David had asked me earlier; "Why are you attending this course?" My simple honest reply was that I wanted to learn and also know how to hunt and not just shoot things. His reply was a great compliment: "You'd make a good South African."


Virushka got the highest mark ever on her official exams. BY that I mean that was for the entire province of Limpopo, not just the school. Thank goodness she was my friend and tutor. She has since graduated and is now about to enter law school. (Not a shock)

Classmates, Instructor and Examiners.

I made some good friends that I am still in touch with to this day.
Some were already in the industry and some others are now active PH's in Limpopo and one other is guiding full time.

It was a pleasure to meet, live and study with each one of these people.

Sutherland Hunting Academy is still going great guns and there are classes still provided in English. The Campus is now finished and much more highly decorated than when I attended.

There were two schools suggested to me one was David Sutherland and the other was Ian Goss. You will learn plenty from either. Sutherland worked best for my schedule and thus my attendance.


Final scrambles to get transport to Joburg and final goodbyes and paying the bar bill. I owed for a bottle of Klipdrift Premium. My introduction to "Klippies and Coke". We did have some fun in between study session.

I was about to find out just how generous my new friends were going to be. I had time between my departure from school and my wife and Canadian hunting buddies arrival two days hence.

I was expecting to stay in a hotel and bum around Joburg on my own. There would be none of that.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Off to Sandton we go. A suburb of Johannesburg 22 Km west of OR TAMBO

Sonia introduced me to her two small maniacs. Flower and Jasmine.

I enjoyed some Sunshine with Flower on the back porch.

The next morning I return to my room and find my clothing all clean and folded on my bed. I am not used to having servants.

 

[BRICKBURN]

The following morning I was treated to a tour of Joburg by people who knew and loved their city. What a difference it makes.

Going for lunch in Soweto and hanging out in a very nice restaurant that no tourist would ever encounter.

I also got first hand impressions and reactions to events that occurred from someone who was actually on the spot at the time. Willie was a very humble and gracious host on this day trip around his home town.

Joburg is a big city.

Local Tire shop.

Bungee Jump

The Soccer Stadium in Soweto.

Downtown Joburg they had fires going.

Constitutional Hill Prison

One of the entrance doors.

Mark Pieterson Memorial

A Muffler shop

Still getting used to this driving on the left stuff.

Townships

The reality of home ownership here.

All of my gracious hosts.

I was off to OR TAMBO to meet and greet the entire crew that was showing up. We will be off for the long transfer tomorrow. We decided to overnight at the City Lodge.
https://clhg.com/hotels/152/city-lodge-hotel-or-tambo-international-airport

I am an old hand at ORTAMBO now.

My Bow was still nowhere to be found.

In the case of SAA I may be convinced otherwise.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Everyone arrives on schedule and we are on the mobile phones immediately.
From memory I am remotely directing traffic inside Customs and Baggage claims for my friends.
I have the two guys claiming guns booking it to the SAPS while the other folks are grabbing everyones luggage. This was to avoid the potential line up if the plane was packed with hunters.

Everyone has their paperwork completed except the required signature to be completed in front of the officer.

It turns out our logistical coup was not required. They were the only firearms on the plane through Amsterdam. Oh well, it was not a bad idea.

Everyone is out and we all head for the long walk through the parkade to our rooms at the City Lodge Hotel.

It's good to see everyone and they are tired but excited to be here. I have been on the ground now for just over thee weeks and it is all new to these guys.

We will be heading to KZN using a professional driver with a van and trailer large enough to accommodate the entire hoard.

It turns out that the van we have hired is THE favourite target for thefts. They are commandeered and used as "Black Taxi's". Our vehicle has been broken into and damaged, not stolen thankfully. It will take some time this morning to get it fixed and ready to go. The driver is on top of it and we are kept up to date.

We are soon loaded into the van with all our belongings at the same entrance I was pickup from to head to school. I know it well now.

We are off for out drive at a very safe speed taking the scenic route as the N2 is under construction. This adds a distance to our travel but it beats being in lines waiting on a dusty road.

We make stops along the way for fuel, meals and breaks as required throughout the day.

The countryside is not that much unlike home. Flat sections with crops and then into rolling foothills.

Balfour, Standerton Newcastle, Vryheid.
At this point our driver gets a little turned around and starts heading south. I catch it and we readjust our course to head to Pongola.
It's been a long day.

We pass the Ithala Game reserve up along the Mkuze River.
Zululand is beautiful.

My compatriots are fading in and out as required along the way. It will take some time to get over the jet lag.



Then into the Sugar cane areas as we get closer to Pongola.

Finally we hit the town of Pongola and are back on the N2 and we will be at the Pongola Game Reserve and Leeukop Safaris base in 25 minutes.


This is the proof that we are not home anymore.
The warning sign.

Elephant, Hippo, Crocodiles, Buffalo, Rhino (Black and White) and Leopard are all free ranging on this huge property. Exactly what type of place I wanted to hunt.

 

[Neale]

More please. Almost last year since last post. I am looking forward to your report in KZN

 

[BRICKBURN]

I'm working on it.

 

[Roan]

Great report!

I have hunted Leeukop a bunch of times and its always amazing there.

The Landman's has one of the best setups around.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Great report!

I have hunted Leeukop a bunch of times and its always amazing there.

The Landman's has one of the best setups around.

It is impressive. What have you hunted there?

 

[Roan]

We try to hunt there at least once a year.

I have shot most of the plains game species.

Only critter that is clearly smarter then I am is the Red Duiker. Haven't gotten close in all the trips there to get one.

I once saw a HUGE Reedbuck close to the dam there, would have been top 10 for sure. But I was to slow and he vanished into the bush.

 

[Tony Baker]

Bloody excellent post mate.

 

[Bobpuckett]

I'm working on it.

You can fill me in, in Vegas Bro Your First Beer is on Me!

 

[BRICKBURN]

...............

Only critter that is clearly smarter then I am is the Red Duiker. Haven't gotten close in all the trips there to get one.
........

For the right price I'll tell you where to find one! LOL

 

[BRICKBURN]

You can fill me in, in Vegas Bro Your First Beer is on Me!

It will be good to see you there Bob.

I'm at page 34 at this point in this little venture.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Bloody excellent post mate.

Thank you and I'm glad you are enjoying it Tony.

 

[Roan]

For the right price I'll tell you where to find one! LOL

Haha I will gladly pay a beer bribe for info on those little buggers.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Haha I will gladly pay a beer bribe for info on those little buggers.

How many years you been trying to find these little guys?
My buddy hunted them for days and never saw one....

I on the other hand did manage to find one. That is a tale for the next hunt report. I can't jump ahead two years now.

Suffice to say, I attract the little devils for some reason. Every property I have entered in Zululand they have scattered before me. If I could only have the same luck with Suni I'd be happier still.

When you are ready to head out to hunt one of these guys I'll tell you the secret. I will collect on the favour though.

 

[BRICKBURN]

More please. Almost last year since last post. I am looking forward to your report in KZN

Here is the next instalment, as requested.

I crack myself up sometimes.