SOUTH AFRICA: Spear Safaris - Greater Kruger / North Limpopo

Hunt anything said:

Great impala and a beautiful kudu! That to me is the perfect shaped kudu, I like the more narrow horns.

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Tucketed said:

Eddie
What a hunt for you and your sons. So tremendous, this will be imprinted in all off your memories. As you know one of my sons and I repeat this hunt with Ernest in August and we can’t wait. Thanks so much for the well written report and hats off to you for making your “boys” trip happen. Having 5 kids of my own I understand how important these trips to the outdoors are and more importantly to us as fathers.

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Flipper Dude said:

If you’re gonna hunt with Ernest, ya better like popcorn.

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MontanaPat said:

Congratulations on a very successful hunt so far, love that you and your sons were able to do this hunt together. My son has accompanied me once and it has been my favorite hunt experience so far. you guys have taken some very nice animals. Great pictures in your hunt report, they really make the experience real for those of us following along.

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etsonaut said:

Zebras Everywhere
6/20/2026

We are back at the Zebra pursuit this morning. However, we did change things up. Sam went with Dean, still in search of Zebra. Colton was now with Ernest and me and the focus would be on Eland.

But, as we know, sometimes nature has other plans.

As soon as we arrived in “Eland Country”, we immediately found Zebra. We parked quickly and got Colton set up as the herd moved through the bush. A few short moments passed and a beautiful stallion presented a shot and one well placed 375 put him down and a quick follow up made certain he stayed down. Photos were taken, the stallion was loaded and we began a quick loop around the block to our West as we headed back to camp with the Zebra.

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While making that loop, I spotted Eland on a hillside just off the road. We parked the Land Cruiser and I got out and on the sticks. As the Eland began to cross the road, my excitement was building. First Eland…cow. Second….cow. Third….. cow. Fourth… cow. And just like that, they were gone. No bull among them.

As we were returning to camp, we learned that Sam and Dean had taken a nice Zebra in one of the dry riverbeds. Sam made a perfect quartering to shot with his Blaser 375 and Barnes TSX did things as designed. Zebra down. In the aftermath, the remainder of the herd almost ran Dean and Sam over but luckily peeled off to the side just short of them.

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In the late afternoon we went in search of basically whatever with me as the shooter. Eventually a surprise Bushbuck showed himself. One bad shot in tall grass through the “back shoulder”(as Dean and Ernest call it) followed by a pursuit and eventually a good follow up shot through the front shoulder as darkness set in finished the job. One after dark recovery drag and I had my Bushbuck, bound for a perfect place on the wall in my gun room.

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Saturday was an eventful day! Tomorrow is Father's Day.

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Stephen Ausband said:

Wonderful write-up and great pictures as well. My nephew and I hunted with Ernest in 2024, and we will be going back in '27. Your post brings back very pleasant memories, as we also hunted the Greater Kruger for buffalo (seeing lions frequently and listening to them in the evenings), and hunting plains game in the same camp near Musina. Thanks for sharing your story.

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etsonaut said:

JoBerg to Camp One
6/12/2026

The Africa Sky breakfast was exactly like dinner. Excellent.

Following breakfast, I gathered my bags, moved them to the lobby and took a few pictures of the lodge as we waited for the arrival of our driver. As a side note, Africa Sky keeps your firearms and any other baggage you request locked in a safe during your stay. I can highly recommend the services provided by Africa Sky. We utilized their overnight lodging, airport VIP arrival and their firearm permitting service. Well worth the money, especially for African rookies such as us.

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We departed Africa Sky at 8:00 AM sharp driven by a very kind and knowledgeable gentleman named Mark. This transport was arranged through our outfitter Spear Safaris.

Let me have a sidebar here for a brief moment. As a first timer on safari, Ernest and Marita of Spear Safaris and Dawn of Africa Sky have been amazing all the way from the beginning stages of planning right up until now. The communication has been informative and timely and has made what seemed a daunting planning process quite simple. So far, I would highly recommend both.

We had the option of a short connecting flight Hoedspruit where we would met by Ernest and taken to camp or a 5.5 hour ride with a private driver. I opted for the drive thinking that my sons and I would have the opportunity to see more of the country this way.

Along the way, the conversation with our driver Mark was polite, informative, engaging and just enough.

Here are my observations from the drive and the perspective of someone who has no experience or real knowledge of South Africa as a country:

I was shocked by how many people are walking/hitchhiking along the roads in a difficult effort to move through the country. They generally have no fear of or respect for traffic flow. We almost hit a man crossing what I would call an interstate in the darkness last night between the airport and Africa Sky.

As an American car dealer, seeing the many different brands and models of vehicles sold and driven in South Africa was entertaining. My feeling is that many of these would be tremendously successful in the US if they were available. The most notable examples being the Toyota Hilux, all of the Land Cruiser variations and the VW Amarock pickup. It also is apparent that Ford does very well with the South African version of the Ranger.

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Coal is king in South Africa. The power plants on the landscape are many and enormous. The double-trailer coal hauler trucks that keep the plants running own the roads.

The further you get from Johannesburg, the more beautiful the countryside becomes. It reminded me of many different parts of the US in its diversity. Out my window I saw landscapes reminiscent of the Midwest, the Great Plains, Northern Arizona and the Southeast with rolling hills adorned with corn fields and woodlots, planted pine forests, beautiful mountains, flowing rivers, mountain trout streams, massive citrus groves and an incredible, rugged mountain range as we neared Greater Kruger.

I was most surprised by the mountain landscape. We made a stop in a quaint mountain village called Dullstroom. It is a beautiful little place with a deep rooted trout fishing culture and a wealth of fishing lodges. I could have spent significant time there had we not had buffalo to chase.

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The landscape around Johannesberg is devoid of large game outside of fenced private properties. As a US resident I am very accustomed to viewing wildlife along the roadside and seeing the roadkill related to free roaming wildlife. We saw none. Zero. This didn’t change until the last 10 minutes of the trip with the exception of a couple zebras in a small enclosure and an ostrich behind a high fence and hour or so before arrival at our destination.

The roads are generally horrible. Our driver, Mark, was quite serious about dodging every pothole along the route, regardless of speed or traffic. I was not surprised by the aggression shown on the roads as this seems to be commonplace in most other countries except the US. US drivers are amateurs at aggressive driving by comparison. I like to complain about the road conditions in my home state of Tennessee. As I was taught at a young age, complaining is not a positive change strategy. Following this half day journey, I have decided that I will try to be better. At least in this respect.

When we made our final turn onto the road where this (driving) adventure would end and a new adventure would begin, Sam saw our first wild African wildlife. Two giraffes, towering above the landscape behind the roadside fences of Timbavati. I missed them somehow but did see a Warthog sow and two piglets shortly thereafter along the road and outside the fence. Africa was real now.

Mark delivered us to Ernest and his other PH, Dean, just outside the Klaserie gate weary of travel but on time and unscathed. We moved our gear, said goodbye to Mark and began the short drive to camp. Along the way we saw hippos, elephants and numerous plains game species. Ernest filled me in on the details of the reserve and pointed out the woodland carnage caused by elephants. The boys rode with Dean and got the same.

Upon arrival at camp, we were greeted by Marita, Frank and the camp staff with the traditional and refreshing citrus welcome drink. We also met Robin, a Klaserie Ranger who would be with us this evening in camp.

After settling in the unexpected and shockingly beautiful and luxurious private Camp Elgin, we went out to shoot the rifles and take a sundowner drive.

I am happy to report that the Buffalo rifles survived the travel with only one small adjustment needed on Sam’s gun. So far, so good.

The sundowner drive was nothing short of amazing for a group of lifelong Tennessee boys. We saw Impala, Giraffes, Elephants, Kudu, Monkeys, a Jackal, Bushbuck and most importantly Buffalo. Specifically two lone bulls in the Klaserie river bottom. After glassing them individually and extensively it was decided that the first one was exactly what we are looking for and the other, although quite big, was not of the age class we are hunting. Further sightings of the second bull revealed the reason for his solitary existence while still in the prime age class of his life. He was nursing a broken left front leg.

The decision was made to return to that area in the coming morning and try to find the first bull.
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The drive back to camp in the fading light was magical. The property was alive. Game was everywhere. Africa is real and this is real Africa as I imagined.

Upon arrival back at camp, we freshened up and went to the main lodge building where we did the one thing which had prompted the most anticipation for me. We sat around an African campfire and took in the evening sounds prior to dinner. The hustle of travel washed away.

Cecelia is the cook for Spear Safaris. If tonight is any indication, dinners will be amazing. Now, back to that campfire for a bit and off to bed.
Tomorrow the hunt begins.

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etsonaut said:

New Territory - New Shooter
6/14/2026

Sam connected yesterday with an amazing bull. Colton is up today.

It is exceptionally calm this AM. Even last night around the fire was eerily quiet. The forecast today calls for calmer, cooler weather. My forecast calls for Buffalo.

We are headed for new country in the Northeastern block of Klaserie.

After the customary Baobab Tree photo in route to the new area, we began to see everything but buffalo. Elephant, Impala, Kudu, Steenbok, Hyena x2. , Snake Eagle, Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Warthog, Crocodile and Hippos. Everything but Buffalo.

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Around 10:00 our luck changed. A lone bull in a Donga. Stalk-able. Or so we thought. Killable. Colton grabbed his rifle and away we went.

As we moved in on the bull, we realized that he was one of a herd of 80+. Eyes and noses everywhere. Swirling winds. We were close. They moved. We moved in close again they moved. This cat and mouse took place for two hours when the decision was made by Ernest to pull away, have lunch and let them settle.

Lunch took about 45 minutes and we were off again. We picked up the trail again, got the wind right and sent our tracker in front. We caught up to them after 45 minutes of brisk walking. Unfortunately, we bumped them, again. But gently. This went on over and over again for the next two hours with literal miles being covered as we tracked and followed the cloud of dust.

During this time Colton was on the sticks 3-4 times. The call not to shoot either made by him, the bulls, the PH or the Klaserie Ranger.

Finally just before 3:00, a shooter, the shooter, turned to face his pursuers. Colton took a frontal shot just as the bull turned away. The pursuit was short and the finishing shot was taken. Another Klaserie trophy bull down. Two days. Two bulls.

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After the long ride back to camp, we had an amazing dinner featuring chicken fried Zebra cutlets.

Now it’s off to bed for much needed rest before my Buffalo hunt begins tomorrow.

Two beautiful Klaserie bulls in the salt in two days. Tomorrow morning we are off to Umbabat to begin my hunt.

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etsonaut said:

Umbabat
6/15/2026

After listening to Hyenas through my screen doors during the night, I am up early. Today feels different to me. With both sons tagged out on amazing old Klaserie Buffalo bulls, I am no longer observer. I am behind the gun today.

We are loading the Land Cruisers for the hour long drive to Umbabat. Umbabat is much smaller and less populated than Klaserie. There are no commercial lodges. There are private homes but most are well hidden. It feels much quieter and more remote than Klaserie.

It is also thick. Very thick. Mopané thickets are everywhere. A Buffalo rodeo can happen in the bat of an eye. As you will soon see.

Throughout the day we saw 4-5 beautiful Bull Elephants. The ever present Zebra, Giraffe, Impala and Wildebeest. Two Warthogs and the not so common, Rhino, Hippo, Puff Adder and Reedbuck.

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Around 9:00AM we found a large herd of Buffalo at one of the many waterholes.

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The perfect bull was among them. A short sneak later I was on the sticks looking through the scope at the rump of a Cape Buffalo bull. As the herd began to sense something and move away, my bull turned to his right slightly quartering. I touched off the shot just behind the front leg without feeling the recoil or hearing the shot.

I believed the shot to be good.

The herd erupted up the hill through the Mopané, my wounded bull among them. Ernest quickly led me on a sprint around the lower end of the waterhole and into a clearing. There were Buffalo everywhere. While Ernest and the reserve representative glassed the hill trying to pick out the bull, I saw one bull turn back down the hill into the thicket. We determined it must be him. Over the next few minutes, we pursued him through and along the thicket fully expecting a charge. But, he was sick. Very sick. Over those next few minutes, five shots were fired, each as he would stop in the thicket long enough for us to catch up and add to his weight 300 grains at a time. The 4th being a Barnes solid just under the right eye. Not ideal but you take the shot you have at that point. He dropped and the 5th was insurance in the spine. Game over.

As the dust settled, I realized I had my first African animal. A beautiful, old, heavily bossed, proper Cape Buffalo bull.

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This tops off an unbelievable three days of Buffalo hunting in Greater Kruger with Ernest Dyason of Spear Safaris.

After a dry riverside lunch, we decided that we would spend the balance of the day looking for lions. As tourists do.

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On route back to camp from Umbabat, Ernest heard from another Klaserie Ranger that there were lions around the remains from the hunter harvested Elephant we had seen on Saturday afternoon. We quickly dropped off our things at camp, loaded back into the bland Cruiser and set out hopeful that this might be our best opportunity to see lions.

After the 40 minute drive, we approached the site slowly. Vultures were in trees by the dozens. This seemed like a good sign. Something was keeping them from being actually on the remains.

As the view opened up, there was only one lion. But, what a lion he was! He was spectacular and lazy from a full belly.

We watched him from the vehicle at less than 20 yards for nearly 30 minutes before he stood and trotted off into the cover adjacent to the kill site.

He is an absolutely magnificent creature. His kind has held a special place in the primal part of me since childhood. To see him up close in person stirred things deep inside of me that I can’t actually explain.

Let me share him with you.

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I cannot imagine having a better day afield than today. A successful first Buffalo hunt and actually seeing 4 of the Big 5 in the same day. Amazing.

The past three days have been among the best in my adult life. To share this trip with my two sons is a blessing beyond belief.

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Tomorrow we depart the camp in Klaserie that has been so good to us to travel to Ernest’s North Limpopo concession for plains game.

One chapter must end for the next to begin.

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Rare Breed said:

I had the absolute pleasure to meet Eddie and his two sons when we did a transaction with each other with rifles. You will not find a nicer group of men anywhere! There excitement planning this hunt was obvious and as we all know Africa never gets old for any of us! Congratulations on an outstanding hunt, experience and write up my friend!!!! I know you will be back!!!!

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