I met Mike Birch this past January, at the Africa Hunting Show in Saskatoon. I was impressed and their outfit made my short list. His nephew was also at the booth and stated that they have 75% client return rate, so I think you will have a good hunt. Please write a hunting report!
I'm home and it would appear that my worry prior to leaving was not without justification. My experience in South Africa, well let me put it this way - when I left Namibia last year all I could think of was getting back to Africa. When I left the North Cape last month I didn't care if I
ever went back! About the only good thing I can think of to say about the North Cape part of my South Africa hunt was the diversity of species. I saw several animals that I have never seen before, very cool. On the other hand, here is what I found in the North Cape:
Accommodations were sub standard. Non reliable power and water (often in the main lodge there was no hot water in the bathroom, not just no hot water, NO WATER at all). Inadequate space to put stuff in the bungalow. All the toilet seats didn't fit the toilets and were broken (handling a toilet seat to get it back together is no high of my list of desirable activities). The WiFi quota ran out after only a handful of days and we didn't stream video per direction (this was a significant issue as it was my wife's connection to the world and she loathed her time in the North Cape so WiFi was her escape). The food was OK, the the cook was just that, a cook - not a chef. She cooked the meals because she was compelled to do so.
Service was sub standard. In talking to the cook, my wife had some information passed along about a previous customers list of desired food. When she asked the cook 'what did my husband write', the cook said "I don't know, I haven't read it yet". This was several days into the hunt. My wife (a paying customer) would go to the main lodge daily after we had left to hunt, and EVERY DAY had to ask for a place setting and for coffee. On several occasions she had to make her own coffee. One would think that sort of thing would be figured out after a week of the
very same request! The laundry was not completed on a timely basis and the clothes were often still damp. When we were introduced to the outfitter and his family we exchanged names and they (the outfitter and his family) promptly returned to speaking Afrikaans. My wife and I exchanged a glance an a shrug. It was uncomfortable to say the least. The outfitter
never once asked how my hunt was going!
Hunting was sub standard. In their defense, the weather for the first few days was bad. Cold and windy. African critters don't like the cold or the wind. On the other hand, there were two (2, a pair) of blinds to hunt out of (I'm a bow hunter). The 'better' of the two blinds had been hunted a sufficient amount that the animals would not come in until after dark (I specifically selected the dates around the dark of the moon to avoid this). I took two animals in 7 days, a nice duiker and an also ran springbuck. When the springbuck came in, I was so ecstatic at for the opportunity I jumped on it. Oop, I stand corrected, there were three blinds. The springbuck was taken out of a tree stand that was recently constructed. Nice hide. There had been NO temporary blinds placed prior to my arrival. At one point my PH verbalized that he didn't know why other PH's had not put up pop-up blinds where we did (in the course of the hunt, not exactly the best time to do so - we never even got a shot out of the blinds we put up) when they were hunting with the previous clients, also bow hunters. A reasonable question. However, the more poignant question in my mind to my PH was 'why didn't you put up blinds in preparation for my arrival, regardless of what other PH's did or didn't do?' My PH was a nice guy, quite pleasant actually. However, he read a LOT while on stand. I appreciate sitting in a blind can be boring, but being vigilant while on stand in a PH's job!
The animals that were not virtually impossible to hunt were not even wild. Several of the species were hand fed daily (cape buffalo, water buck, red lechwe - the lone sable, singular, was not hand fed daily, but he was not wild either). The tsessebe were not exactly wild, but not exactly tame either. Not sufficiently wild be be considered a challenge. They came to the alfalfa every day. Harvesting one of these animals would not, in my estimation, be considered a hunt. A striking contrast in animal behavior between the wild (crazy wild) and the virtually tame critters. Trophy quality, C-.
To say the least, the North Cape lodge, in my estimation, is no more a $400/day facility than fly to the moon. I will
never, ever go back there!
Off to the East Cape. This was a
totally different experience. The facilities were excellent. The service was excellent. The hospitality was excellent. The food was excellent. A truly wonderful place to be. My wife and I enjoyed our time there very much, my wife in particular. In retrospect, I wish that we had spent a LOT more time in the East Cape. Some of the animals here were 'normal'. For example, the springbuck and kudu were wild animals. They were huntable, but attention to wind direction, movement, blind placement, noise, etc. had to be in order to harvest one of them. What I would consider 'normal'. A few species here were not wild, but what I would consider 'planted'. For example, if the zebra numbers are low - buy a few more - like stocking a pond with fish. Again, harvesting one of these animals would not, in my estimation, be considered hunting. I would go back to the East Cape facility (called the Royal Karoo) again but not until hunting here can be arranged
without any involvement with Hunt the Sun!
Off to Namibia. Again a wonderful experience. Accommodations, food, service - excellent. Trophy quality and animal density, exceptional. My PH had prepared for my arrival
well in advance. Blinds, quite a few of them, were located at scouted water holes. My PH
never, ever, not even for one minute, read while on stand. When action slowed down to an unacceptable level he (my PH) would say 'we are wasting precious time' so we would relocate to a different stand. The huntable species there are truly wild (springbuck and blesbok can not be hunted as their populations are not stabilized). ANY of the huntable species there can be hunted with a clear conscience. There was not 'baiting' done in Namibia, at least no alfalfa, oranges or pellets were used. For some reason I find a difference in hunting over water/salt and hunting over a pile of alfalfa and oranges.
While in Namibla I was able to harvest 25 animals on a 10 day hunt. This being done in spite of a full moon and some days with unfavorable weather conditions (cold and wind). Lord only knows what would have happened if the timing had been better with respect to the moon... I LOVED every minute of my time in Namibia and have every intention of returning. Similar to my experience there last year, after leaving there all I can think of is going back to Africa!
In addition to the cull animals taken in Namibia, I got a few non culls. Pics attached.
On my hunts I seem to be packing all night right before leaving for the airport... Wishing I ahd practiced shooting more and remembering what I forgot to do... I don't recall ever worrying to much about what the PH was doing. 
