My girlfriend and I have been talking about Africa ever since we first met, and last year we finally decided to turn that dream into reality. After speaking with friends, reading posts on this forum, and getting in touch with several outfitters, we chose @HENRY GRIFFITHS SAFARIS in South Africa.
Our main objective was culling, but we also wanted to bring home a couple of trophies as lasting memories of the trip. Henry was very flexible in tailoring the two packages we had originally booked to suit our wishes.
The camp, The Wild Goose Lodge, was set in a stunning location. There were no lights or sounds from civilization in any direction—only the sights and sounds of nature.
All hunting was done on foot from camp, exactly the way we like it. We covered many kilometers on every outing, and game sightings were constant throughout the hunt.
My trophy wish was a blue wildebeest, and by pure coincidence it also became my very first African game animal. After walking only about two kilometers on the first morning, we spotted him at relatively close range after we had accidentally bumped a herd in dense bush. One well-placed shot at close distance, followed by a second when he stopped again at around 170 meters, and we were finally underway.
My girlfriend's trophy animal was an impala. We kept looking for the right ram throughout the trip, and as the days passed she culled three impala ewes along the way. On the fifth and final hunting day, Henry took us to another property a short drive away. There, we saw black wildebeest for the first time, along with many of the other species we had already become familiar with.
After several hours of walking, my girlfriend spotted a group of impala ewes in thick cover, and the stalk began. We managed to get within 50–60 meters and sat down to study the animals through our binoculars, hoping there was a mature ram with the group. We waited for quite some time before the ram finally appeared, and even longer before he stepped clear of the branches and gave her a shot opportunity—using Henry's knee as a shooting rest.
The ram reacted well to the shot, and we found him dead not far from where he had been standing. Henry estimated him to be six or seven years old, and the scars on his chest and neck told the story of many hard-fought battles. At that moment, the trip felt complete, and the excitement gave way to tears of joy and big smiles.
Later that same day, Henry also shot a very old impala ram that he had been talking about around the campfire the night before. By pure chance, we happened to come across him. It was an unexpected but very enjoyable experience for us to witness.
During five days of hunting, in addition to the animals already mentioned, we shot two blue wildebeest cows, one golden wildebeest cow, a trophy blesbok, one female blesbok, three impala ewes, one female warthog, and one jackal.
We thoroughly enjoyed the seven days we spent with them. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, and the relaxed ambiance all came together to make the experience truly special. What we appreciated most was how intimate, welcoming, and cozy the entire stay felt.
A huge thank you to Henry and Tanya for an unforgettable week in South Africa.
Our main objective was culling, but we also wanted to bring home a couple of trophies as lasting memories of the trip. Henry was very flexible in tailoring the two packages we had originally booked to suit our wishes.
The camp, The Wild Goose Lodge, was set in a stunning location. There were no lights or sounds from civilization in any direction—only the sights and sounds of nature.
All hunting was done on foot from camp, exactly the way we like it. We covered many kilometers on every outing, and game sightings were constant throughout the hunt.
My trophy wish was a blue wildebeest, and by pure coincidence it also became my very first African game animal. After walking only about two kilometers on the first morning, we spotted him at relatively close range after we had accidentally bumped a herd in dense bush. One well-placed shot at close distance, followed by a second when he stopped again at around 170 meters, and we were finally underway.
My girlfriend's trophy animal was an impala. We kept looking for the right ram throughout the trip, and as the days passed she culled three impala ewes along the way. On the fifth and final hunting day, Henry took us to another property a short drive away. There, we saw black wildebeest for the first time, along with many of the other species we had already become familiar with.
After several hours of walking, my girlfriend spotted a group of impala ewes in thick cover, and the stalk began. We managed to get within 50–60 meters and sat down to study the animals through our binoculars, hoping there was a mature ram with the group. We waited for quite some time before the ram finally appeared, and even longer before he stepped clear of the branches and gave her a shot opportunity—using Henry's knee as a shooting rest.
The ram reacted well to the shot, and we found him dead not far from where he had been standing. Henry estimated him to be six or seven years old, and the scars on his chest and neck told the story of many hard-fought battles. At that moment, the trip felt complete, and the excitement gave way to tears of joy and big smiles.
Later that same day, Henry also shot a very old impala ram that he had been talking about around the campfire the night before. By pure chance, we happened to come across him. It was an unexpected but very enjoyable experience for us to witness.
During five days of hunting, in addition to the animals already mentioned, we shot two blue wildebeest cows, one golden wildebeest cow, a trophy blesbok, one female blesbok, three impala ewes, one female warthog, and one jackal.
We thoroughly enjoyed the seven days we spent with them. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, and the relaxed ambiance all came together to make the experience truly special. What we appreciated most was how intimate, welcoming, and cozy the entire stay felt.
A huge thank you to Henry and Tanya for an unforgettable week in South Africa.
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