Introduction
As I stared through the airplane window, about to land in Johannesburg on this beautiful sunny morning on 8 May 2025, I tried as best as possible to guess, anticipate or imagine how this hunt would pan out. How it would feel meeting the person at the other side of the hemisphere. What was expected of me as a rookie. Albeit having handled handguns or over-under shotguns a few times at skeet ranges, knowing how gun powder smells when one pulls the trigger, a hunting rifle remained foreign to my hands.
It all began a short time ago in January, when I got in touch with Johan Van Wyk from EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA. After countless hours, days of research on various websites, I finally came across his business page. But frankly, it all began long before. Years back when, as a child, I avidly listened to my father and grandfather’s hunting stories of the 1970s-80s in the Congo (DRC). Since then, I knew I would one day experience the thrill and excitement as well. And so I did, 20+ odd years later.
Arrival - 8 May 2025
Walking into the arrivals hall, I could not miss them. There they stood, Johan and Johannes, dressed in the classic khakis as one would expect. Finally, the adventure could begin, the dream becoming reality…Realization #1!
In true fashion, we got into the land cruiser. The first day would be spent at their home, meeting the family, resting after a long flight, and most importantly, target shooting and adjustment in the PM.
The hunt - 9 to 13 May 2025
The following day, bright and early we packed the truck and hit the road. Destination: hunting grounds.
We arrive, we unpack. As we are settling in the location where we would be hunting for the next days, Johan approaches me and asks if I am ready, instructs me what to gather, and that we would start hunting without any delay. Oh my, reality check, so it begins… Realization #2!
From day one I felt reassured, and introduced to the SOPs: Johannes in the driver seat, Johan and myself in the back, tracking “spoor” and game. Rifle always on safe, aim only at the indicated target, and only shoot when confident. Safe to say the rides where an optimal opportunity to take in the landscape, sights, and that particular smell that one only gets in Afric -after all, I was on holiday!
After several hop off/ons, we tracked some spoors on foot. Then we heard it, the grunt of a male impala. We crept up mound, cautiously crouching and silent, Johan leading and I following in his steps. There it was in the distance, standing straight, staring at us, silent. Johan indicates where to place the shot. I try as best as possible to stabilise my breathing. I confirm I am good to go, he nods. One pull of the trigger. One bullet. One down. Thirty or so meters away from where it stood, there it lay, its beige/brown coat glistening in the sun.
—-
It is only several weeks after I returned to Belgium that I truly felt the thrill and satisfaction of that first kill. As that day, all I could think of was about my shot placement, despite feeling certain I aimed true, or how far the impala went, and if it was a clean kill. But oh what a feeling, that jittery, often elusive antelope, that first strike…Realization #3!
—-
From then on, I grew in confidence, and I began to truly understand and appreciate the facets of the hunt. The track, the observation, the careful movements, and most importantly: the evening braai, swapping stories around the bright warming fire.
The impala was the first in a successful series during the next afternoon and days, as a Nyala, a wildebeest, a zebra, and two more impalas followed suit.
Take aways
This hunting trip ticked all the boxes I could have thought as far as an introduction to hunting is concerned, with regards to the scenery, variety in game encountered, and also the learning curve. This is true to any context in which you spend time with a person who is an expert at his craft, so much that it is second nature to them.
On two occasions we started the hunt on foot from camp, and those were the most memorable hunts. The one misty morning where we stumbled upon the herd of blue wildebeest, or the two hour or so track for the last impala on my last day, zigzagging through various terrain with Johannes -Johan’s son, young experienced PH - to finally spot it and discharge that last round.
Finally, why Executive Hunt Africa, one might ask. As said in the introductory words, countless hours went to firstly understanding what to google for if wishing to hunt. South Africa became an obvious choice for a start, half owed to the easy logistics when flying in from Belgium.
I was looking for an adventure that would be as human as it could get. That is, being able to spend time with the person running the outfit, someone who dedicates 200% of his time to it and eager to share it with the client. And finally, I was looking for someone who would not discard what I wished to experience, with the sole aim of upselling. And with that said, and with my first messages exchanged with Johan I knew we were on the right track.
Conclusion
I initially began drafting this report in a day to day format. Reading about various hunting accounts out there, I realised I wished to put something out there that someone in a similar situation than I was might find more useful. I admit I drowned in the plethora of information on the web and also the forum. And finally, what matters most when searching for the right information is to align it with what one aims to achieve.
This is why my last words can only be dedicated to the people themselves, the team that you can find on the website - should you not know them (yet)
:
As I stared through the airplane window, about to land in Johannesburg on this beautiful sunny morning on 8 May 2025, I tried as best as possible to guess, anticipate or imagine how this hunt would pan out. How it would feel meeting the person at the other side of the hemisphere. What was expected of me as a rookie. Albeit having handled handguns or over-under shotguns a few times at skeet ranges, knowing how gun powder smells when one pulls the trigger, a hunting rifle remained foreign to my hands.
It all began a short time ago in January, when I got in touch with Johan Van Wyk from EXECUTIVE HUNT AFRICA. After countless hours, days of research on various websites, I finally came across his business page. But frankly, it all began long before. Years back when, as a child, I avidly listened to my father and grandfather’s hunting stories of the 1970s-80s in the Congo (DRC). Since then, I knew I would one day experience the thrill and excitement as well. And so I did, 20+ odd years later.
Arrival - 8 May 2025
Walking into the arrivals hall, I could not miss them. There they stood, Johan and Johannes, dressed in the classic khakis as one would expect. Finally, the adventure could begin, the dream becoming reality…Realization #1!
In true fashion, we got into the land cruiser. The first day would be spent at their home, meeting the family, resting after a long flight, and most importantly, target shooting and adjustment in the PM.
The hunt - 9 to 13 May 2025
The following day, bright and early we packed the truck and hit the road. Destination: hunting grounds.
We arrive, we unpack. As we are settling in the location where we would be hunting for the next days, Johan approaches me and asks if I am ready, instructs me what to gather, and that we would start hunting without any delay. Oh my, reality check, so it begins… Realization #2!
From day one I felt reassured, and introduced to the SOPs: Johannes in the driver seat, Johan and myself in the back, tracking “spoor” and game. Rifle always on safe, aim only at the indicated target, and only shoot when confident. Safe to say the rides where an optimal opportunity to take in the landscape, sights, and that particular smell that one only gets in Afric -after all, I was on holiday!
After several hop off/ons, we tracked some spoors on foot. Then we heard it, the grunt of a male impala. We crept up mound, cautiously crouching and silent, Johan leading and I following in his steps. There it was in the distance, standing straight, staring at us, silent. Johan indicates where to place the shot. I try as best as possible to stabilise my breathing. I confirm I am good to go, he nods. One pull of the trigger. One bullet. One down. Thirty or so meters away from where it stood, there it lay, its beige/brown coat glistening in the sun.
—-
It is only several weeks after I returned to Belgium that I truly felt the thrill and satisfaction of that first kill. As that day, all I could think of was about my shot placement, despite feeling certain I aimed true, or how far the impala went, and if it was a clean kill. But oh what a feeling, that jittery, often elusive antelope, that first strike…Realization #3!
—-
From then on, I grew in confidence, and I began to truly understand and appreciate the facets of the hunt. The track, the observation, the careful movements, and most importantly: the evening braai, swapping stories around the bright warming fire.
The impala was the first in a successful series during the next afternoon and days, as a Nyala, a wildebeest, a zebra, and two more impalas followed suit.
Take aways
This hunting trip ticked all the boxes I could have thought as far as an introduction to hunting is concerned, with regards to the scenery, variety in game encountered, and also the learning curve. This is true to any context in which you spend time with a person who is an expert at his craft, so much that it is second nature to them.
On two occasions we started the hunt on foot from camp, and those were the most memorable hunts. The one misty morning where we stumbled upon the herd of blue wildebeest, or the two hour or so track for the last impala on my last day, zigzagging through various terrain with Johannes -Johan’s son, young experienced PH - to finally spot it and discharge that last round.
Finally, why Executive Hunt Africa, one might ask. As said in the introductory words, countless hours went to firstly understanding what to google for if wishing to hunt. South Africa became an obvious choice for a start, half owed to the easy logistics when flying in from Belgium.
I was looking for an adventure that would be as human as it could get. That is, being able to spend time with the person running the outfit, someone who dedicates 200% of his time to it and eager to share it with the client. And finally, I was looking for someone who would not discard what I wished to experience, with the sole aim of upselling. And with that said, and with my first messages exchanged with Johan I knew we were on the right track.
Conclusion
I initially began drafting this report in a day to day format. Reading about various hunting accounts out there, I realised I wished to put something out there that someone in a similar situation than I was might find more useful. I admit I drowned in the plethora of information on the web and also the forum. And finally, what matters most when searching for the right information is to align it with what one aims to achieve.
This is why my last words can only be dedicated to the people themselves, the team that you can find on the website - should you not know them (yet)
:- To Johan, you’re the man. Forever grateful for your time dedicated to introduce me to hunting and your profession. Your honest approach and integrity in how you run your business.
- Henlomi, caring and attentive, possible the most gifted person in cookery out there.
- Johannes, young PH, but yet so experienced. Looking forward to sharing a new adventure of spot and stalk.
- And finally to the rest of the family, whom I met, as my trip coincided with Johan’s birthday.
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