SOUTH AFRICA: BWH 2.0 Official Report

[BWH]

As promised.....

The Prelude:

The adventure starts in January of 2015 at the Dallas Safari Club Convention, following my first safari with @Hartzview Hunting Safaris in May of 2014. I meet up with my friends Jacques, Ruan & @PHOENIX PHIL to discuss another trip over. My first trip was highly successful with the typical plains game (i.e. 9 animals) from their headquartered ranch, The Hartzhootge. I expressed that I was interested in a different experience...... Free range Nyala, Bushbuck, Bush pig & Eland. They told me they have just the "places".... in Kwazulu- Natal, where these animals are naturally endemic. This was going to be very new for me. I was not familiar at all with that area or what it had in store for me. This was not their "backyard" either..... So they did not have a ton of details to share. Being the obsessive type by nature, obviously I wanted/needed more intel... but I just had to have faith in my team, as I consider these guys friends. Over the last 4 years or so, a great relationship as been formed. So, the stage was set, we booked the Free Range Spiral Horn hunt for May 1-11, 2016. Deposit made.... now we wait, a long 15+/- months.

 

[CAustin]

Looking forward to the full report and pictures!

 

[BWH]

Day 1: Sunday May 1st, 2016

The day had finally come.... Excited, nervous, etc.... You know the drill. I am leaving behind my wife, daughter (8), son (10) & my business. It is very difficult for me for a multitude of reasons. Off to DFW International Airport where at 12:00pm, I will fly Emirates #222 to DXB then #765 to JNB. Flights & layover were good.... uneventful. Movies, dinner, sleep, repeat.... for 24 hours.

My son, Sullivan... my purpose. My daughter, Sloane... my heart. Rebecca, my soul (not pictured)... LOL, taking the pic.

 

[BWH]

Day 2: Monday May 2, 2016

Arrive at JNB.... So far no bogeys. Quick off the plane, quick to baggage... one of the first bags off. Hustled to the exit where I was met by Gilbert with Africa Sky Guesthouse. They also handled my gun permit. He remembered me/my face & I his.... no sign was needed. We hugged it up, hand shake.... off to gun counter. I was the only one waiting. Within an hour I was checked into my room.

 

[CAustin]

Nice Digs at the guest house.

 

[BWH]

Day 3: Tuesday May 3rd, 2016

Finally, The @Hartzview Hunting Safaris crew (Jacques, Ruan & Johannes) arrived to pick me up to begin our safari. At 10:30am, we depart, headed South into KZN. First stop, the Midlands. Closest town is Nottingham Road. About 20 miles away. It was about a 5 hour drive.... As you get out of the city, man the landscape.... so vast & so different. Enjoyable drive. Our destination was gorgeous. Like something out of the Hobbit or New Zealand, I would venture to guess. Climate is quite cool. Very fertile area. Rich in agriculture... cattle, goats, sheep, pork, etc.

So by the time we got to camp, unloaded. Really all we had time for was to go sight in the 30.06. with 4 shots down range, it was an inch high at 100 & in or near the 10 ring each time, with no adjustments needed.

 

[CAustin]

Wow so it took you two full days before you even got to the hunt area! I hope you got what you went after!

 

[BWH]

Day 4: Wednesday May 4th, 2016

Cold morning. Ground had frost. We were off to chase Eland at a near by farm. These are Drakensberg Eland. Free range. They don't have specific home.... they migrate summer/winter. I would presume it would be like what the American Bison was like centuries ago. We saw many, very nice by my standard.... however, Jacques & Ruan said. If we won't shoot it, then we will NOT let you shoot it. So, as the story goes.... we saw one really nice one. That gave us a 5 mile on foot hike/hunt. He won. That afternoon we went to a different ranch.... looking for Vaalies, Reedbuck, etc. We saw a bunch of Oribi's.... can't shoot them, damnit! But we located this big boy. 250 yards away. Stiff wind, 4:30pm. He was squatting & quartering away. Pinched him in front of hindquarter, exited through the opposite shoulder. Barnes TTSX 168 gr. performed flawlessly.

 

[BWH]

Day 5: Thursday May 5th, 2016

Another cold morning.... around 3 Celsius. We headed to a different ranch. This is a serious cattle operation. They have a lot of game. We are back after Eland. The landowner, a super cool guy sad that they should be at the TOP of the Mountains.... 8000' up. Took over an hour in the bakkie to get up there. He said there could be as many as 500-700. Once we got up there..... only 6. 5 cows & 1 young bull. Also, saw very nice Vaalies... however could never get within 500+ yards.

Back to camp to load up for a 3+ hour drive to the nearest town of Eshowe to hunt Bush Pig. Big rough country. This is home to Sugar Cane & Timber..... You are either the landowner & are very wealthy or the hand labor & very poor.

We met up with a local that has a passion for pigs. It is not his "job", just his obsession. That night we got on bait. 30-40 yards way, in a tree, pitch back, with the bush making every noise you can imagine. Bush Babies climbing the tree throwing "stuff" at me. 7:30pm, we heard the snapping of branches & the cracking of nuts. Pigs of bait.... BOOM!

 

[BWH]

Beautiful country..... This is were we are hunting Bushbuck & bush pig..... Plenty of places to hide.

 

[BWH]

Day 6: Friday May 6th

Got up early with the Pig Man.....awesome dude. Loaded up with his team & pack of hounds. Off to the cane fields to chase pigs. Talk about a WILD experience. Safety first..... You got 8 guys, 10 dogs, narrow roads, cane 10' tall, can't see 1 foot into the cane. After 20 kilometers of chasing them, most exhausting & exhilarating experience. Another pig down. This one went to the local school kids in Ntumeni.

That afternoon of for the Bushbucks, again..... Man can they hide. Jacques keen eye spotted this guy.

After 2 crazy days..... Time for some ice cold Castle Lites & game on the Braai

 

[BWH]

Day 7: Saturday May 7th

We hit the road.... to the coast of the Indian Ocean, then headed North to Hluhluwe. Made a stop near Richard's Bay, so Johannes could experience the ocean. He was able to bottle sand & water for his family & church to experience. really cool to watch.

More driving..... Now the rain starts. This area has been affected by drought. Apparently, I am a drought buster. Durban... 13"s of rain over the weekend. Devastating... people were killed/drowned/washed away. Tragic..... also, a real monkey wrench in hunt conditions.

 

[BWH]

Day 8: Sunday May 8th

Weather breaks..... start hunting hard for the elusive Nyala. We get within 250 yards, uphill, tons of thick brush.... surrounded by Wildebeest. Very, very difficult shot. I let it fly. He is hit.... but low. The wildebeest & he take off. We follow for literally miles. No dice. Walk up on this dude.

African Rock Python.... they are protected or I would have shot his ass......

The sick, sinking feeling is setting in on the Nyala.... we know he is their, just got to locate. Near dark, we located him up high on a mountain..... fog, clouds & rain set back in. Got to call it a night.

 

[billc]

That is an amazing looking area you got to hunt. I can not even think of what 500 plus eland would look like at one place. That would have made for a great picture if they were there.

Glad your hunt went so well so far even with all the rain.

 

[BWH]

Day 9: Monday May 9th

Pouring rain all night.... still raining. Ranch road conditions are impossible..... If we aren't getting stuck.... we are having a flat tire on the sharp exposed rocks. Literally, 2 flats in 24 hours. We take to time while it is raining to run into town, repair the tires. The rain breaks..... we hunt hard all morning & afternoon. At 4:30pm we find in in thick brush with about 8 females about 50 yards away.

As you maybe picking up.... time ain't exactly on our side. Besides all of the travel, the weather & some bad luck has slowed down the hunting & my departure date is rapidly approaching. Oh yeah, and remember, I still have a date with that damn Eland. So, now we head back to camp, back up, clean up & hit the road about 7pm..... we have a 4 hour drive ahead of us. However, going through the mountains with super dense fog that turned into 5 hours. We arrive at our next camp at 1:30 am!!!! Ugh.....

 

[BWH]

Day 10: Tuesday May 10th

Final day to hunt. Today.... just Eland. Let's finish this. We get on top of a mountain..... nothing. We ask the local driver/tracker, Wonder/Wander is his name. "Eland".... he takes us to another range. 1000 yards away we spot a nice one at a dam. Rain is starting again.... winds are howling. Not good. We stalk up to dam, we are within 50 yards of 5 monster eland bulls. Only problem it is so thick all you can see is from their knees down. No shots. We try to get into position..... Then we loose them. We circle back with Johannes, the @Hartzview Hunting Safaris tracker. We make a new plan.... try & locate these guys.... for hours no avail. As we are in the bakkie heading to a new location. Wander says Eland running..... and yes running. I cannot believe how these monster bulls can run up & down a mountain at full speed, through thick brush, jump a fence & never loose stride. This was our last chance...... they are moving at a good clip, we have now bumped red hartebeest, wildebeest & impala. So needless to say it is a real $#it show... hoping for something to offer a shot. Jacques insistent that it is this one in particular bull. How, I do not know.... they were constantly changing positions. On the run.... 200 yards.... BOOM! He is hit, but not stopping. BOOM! Hit again, slowing, but not stopping.... as he went through the next opening.... BOOM! Knocked him down. As we approached, he was still alive. Once last one & he expired. Shot 1, just under the heart & a little forward. 2 was back leg, 3 was high lung.... 4th in boiler room. Wasn't pretty or how we drew it up..... But it happened. Magnificent 38" Drakensberg Blue Bull Eland. 5 of us and a pulley system & winch.... hour later loaded... 3:30pm on last afternoon. Sundown is 5:30pm. It was complete.

 

[BWH]

Day 11: May 11th

Up early.... 5 hour drive to JNB for a 2pm local time flight. We get there on time. Give our goodbyes & hugs. My 2nd hunt is in the books.

Conclusion:

I discussed with Jacques & Ruan in depth about this. They wanted me to give the full report.... the good, bad & ugly. Unfiltered. At times, I was like what did I sign up for..... Logistics, at times I was like what are we doing. Conditioning..... I work out regularly.... still not enough. This is an emotionally & physically demanding experience. Highs & lows, disappointment, frustration, exuberance, in awe, wonder, taxing, sleep deprived, missed meals, etc.

Was it worth it? Hell yes!
Am I glad I did? Hell yes!
Would I do it for my first safari? Hell no
Would I do it again? Maybe
Would I go back? Hell yes
What for? Cape Buffalo

I want to give special thanks to:

1) God
2) My family
3) My employees
4) Jacques @AAA Africa Serapa Safaris & Ruan @Hartzview Hunting Safaris
5) @PHOENIX PHIL
6) This forum.... @AfricaHunting.com

I hope you have enjoyed. Thank you for allowing me to share my experience. Take care!

BWH

 

[CAustin]

Wow so it took you two full days before you even got to the hunt area! I hope you got what you went after!

I'll say this..... GREAT Report! I think you got what you went after!

 

[BWH]

Thank you @CAustin! Yes, it wasn't exactly how it was planned. However, it's not how, it's how many.

 

[CAustin]

Thank you @CAustin! Yes, it wasn't exactly how it was planned. However, it's not how, it's how many.

When you are hunting plans get busted all the time!
How did you like Emirates Airlines??