SOUTH AFRICA: 3 Generation Plains Game Safari With GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS

I've hunted since I was 10 and have been on one African safari (Kowas Adventures in Namibia 2022), my father @K-man is well traveled; however, my brother-in-law, nephew, and son have about 3-4 years of whitetail hunting experience. Everyone was in for a real treat.

Plans began years ago but came to fruition in late 2025 as we solidified our dates and location for a grandfather, son, son-in-law, and grandsons (ages 12 and 13) hunt at Game 4 Africa.

Hunt Dates: July 10-17

PHs: Don Laaks and Jonathan (John-a)

Trackers: Simon and Sia

Outfitter: @GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS south camp (Woodvale and Mountain Top)

Our trip started at DFW to Heathrow to O. R. Tambo and finally to Port Elizabeth where we landed around noon on July 10th. Don and Jonathan greeted us with warm smiles and enthusiasm as the five of us were excited to be done traveling. We quickly loaded up and began the 2-hour ride back to Game 4 Africa lodge at Woodvale the countryside was still lush and green from the ample moisture that had fallen this year. Flowers still blooming and grasses still growing. Roads were a little worse for the wear as the rains had degraded some of the roads creating washboards and exposing rocks that had once been covered.

Arriving around 2 pm we're greeting by the vervet monkeys, warthogs, and nyalas grazing the plain just inside the gate and below the lodge. We dropped our gear, knocked off the haze from the airplanes and headed to the range to check the zeros on the Sako 7mm rem mags that we would use during the week. The boys were shooting well and everyone felt comfortable with their setups. The PHs did well talking the boys through the proper shooting scenarios and techniques. All of us had been practicing prior to the safari, but it helps to hear it again from the professionals.

Guns checked, left us time for a quick game drive. Letting us get the lay of the land around Woodvale, work on game spotting, and seeing these Africa plains game animals on the hoof instead of in pictures and videos.

Jonathan was the PH for my son and I, while Don was the PH for my BIL and nephew. K-man alternated between groups each day.

My son and I's dream list of animals were kudu (x2), blesbuck (x2), impala (x2), a black wildebeest and Burchells zebra for my son. Initially I had thought a waterbuck would be a great hunt, but after the game drive the first night my mind quickly drifted to eland. . .

Day 1 - had both groups traveling to Mountain Top which was ~1 hour drive. We pull into the property and just over the first rise is a small bachelor group of blesbuck's and 2 bull black wildebeest grazing not far from a watering hole. Jonathan rolls to a quick stop, backs up behind a group of trees and off the truck we go for our first stalk. First opportunity goes to my son for a black wildebeest as begin to stalk. I carry the rifle on all stalks so he can concentrate on the PHs commands and being quiet. We've stalked about 200 yards and I realized that in the haste of getting out of the vehicle I had neglected to chamber a round into the rifle and we were getting ever closer to the wildebeest. I attempted to quietly chamber a round which drew a strong side eye from Jonathan, but I thought it was better now than when the rifle when on the sticks lol. The blesbuck and wildebeest definitely knew something was up, but didn't run just more nervous. We stalked another 100 yards or so and the sticks went up for my son. It took a moment to get settled and ensure the correct animal was in the scope, but the wildebeest cooperated and stood broadside at about 120 yards. The shot rang out with a satisfying thud indicating a good hit. A follow up was attempted, but not needed as it was a solid heart shot. Minutes into our safari and my son's first animal is a BLACK WILDEBEEST!! Big smiles and handshakes and hugs flying around everywhere.

After loading up the wildebeest we push deeper into the property where the terrain gets steep and thick, kudu country. On our way to a glassing spot, Simon spots a kudu down in a ravine just 250 yards away. It's a good one. Jonathan gets out and I get on the sticks immediately, but the kudu is essentially facing directly away from me casually chewing its cud and looking around. The kudu was calm and remained almost motionless for seemingly 5 mins. Jonathan decides to put down a bean bag to keep me steady and help with the steep angle shot down into the ravine. In the process of setting the bean bag down he disturbs some dirt and rocks on the edge of the road. I lay down and the kudu still doesn't move. Minutes pass, giving the ants time to find me, my hands, my hat, the scope, the gun . . . everywhere. I wasn't being actively bitten but the constant tickling, distraction, and crawling across the scope lens was enough to make me tell Jonathan this isn't working, we have to move.

We get back to the sticks about 80 yards down the road and off the edge, changing the angle of the shot. I was able to get enough shoulder, still quartering away, to feel comfortable with a shot. 212 yard shot, and I pulled it. I hit it high on the shank, not good. It didn't run far and just stepped inside the thick brush. What ensued was an almost 2 hour cat n mouse game to find it again. We caught up to it just 350 yards from my initial shot and I was able to shoot it two more times, once was a gut-shot on the run which was enough to slow it down and the last was a neck shot anchoring it. It wasn't pretty and I vowed to do better.

Lunch was just a 1/4 mile away from my kudu a top a beautiful hut overlooking the concession. Eland burgers (delicious)

After a nice relaxing and filling lunch we continued the hunt for a kudu, this time for my son. We had several stalks, but the shots were too far (300+ yards) or immature bulls.

In the last hour of the day we returned to the area where the blesbucks were partnered with the black wildebeest to find another bachelor group hanging out. Light was fading, so we quickly moved up behind some brush and glassed the largest ram in the group. My son got on the rifle made a nice shot to fill the bed of the Hylux for a great trip back to the lodge.

Day 2 - began with a trip back to Mountain Top, again in pursuit of kudu and blesbuck. Mountain Top is a large concession consisting of thick mountainous terrain with some open grasslands/plateaus around the rim. The morning was a bit slower due to weather conditions (rainy/foggy/cool). As the mist burned off and the sun peaking a nice old bull was sunning itself a few ridges over. This began a slow, steep stalk over the ridge and down the hillside attempting to evade the eyes and ears of over a dozen kudu on the opposite canyon. We reached an opening where we waited over 30 tense minutes for the old bull to step back out into an opening. Finally, he steps out near the bottom of the valley presenting a steep 220 yard shot. My son was able to take his time as all the kudu were relaxed. My son shot and the kudu stumbled down into the thick brush below in the creek bed. The PH marked the spot and we began the descent. It was a great shot and the kudu only ran about 30-40 yards, but locating him after he fell off a trail and into a tree below with minimal blood (high double lung impact, no pass through). Eventually, we get him out of the thicket and to the road for pictures. A great old bull.

The afternoon was nice and warm, sending us back to the plateaus search for a blesbuck for me. We drove a healthy portion of the property before locating a group of grazing rams several hundred yards ahead of us. Jonathan and I slipped out of the truck leaving everyone else behind. We snuck behind a group of trees and were able to glass the whole herd waiting for them to separate enough to be judged and present a shot. After about 15 mins everything was ideal leading a 160 yard shot and an immediate drop.

We called it for the day and ended just a little early and headed back to the lodge.

Outstanding start to the hunt!

Day 3 - we were at Woodvale in pursuit of zebra for my son. The zebra here are quite cagey and a tough hunt. One of the trackers made an incredible spot on a herd of 5 zebras from over a half mile without binos. This lead to a great plan since the wind was in our favor, but it was going to be a long stalk. The total stalk was close to a mile as we wove our way through thick rocky hillside. Eventually, a tracker and myself had to hang back as four people stalking was too much noise. My son and the PH edged up. They stalked within 50 yards of the zebra and remained that close for over 10 mins. A few shots were presented but my son wasn't quick enough. Then they'd edge up and get settled again. Eventually it all came together and my son made a great 60 yard shot. The zebra went maybe 50 yards. I'm so glad my son got to experience a successful, tough stalk like this. Giving appreciation to the excellence of the trackers, the PH, and intense focus it takes to be successful in Africa. He took an old dry mare with teeth worn down to her gums. A wonderful anmal to take a memory he won't forget.

The afternoon of Day 4 began the pursuit of a eland bull of me. Again, eland was initially on my list but after our early success and seeing some on the property I knew I needed to try. Knowing from K-Man's experience pursing eland can be a strenuous multi-day affair, but I was up for it. . . or so I thought. This led us from hilltop to hilltop glassing for eland in the valleys below and opposite hillside. A helpful hint from the other PH Don from earlier that day lead us to the corner of the property. When the truck crested a small hill, the eland bull was already onto us and bolted. He headed for some of the steepest canyons on the property. Eventually we caught up to him partially hidden deep in a ravine over a mile away from where we first spotted him. We couldn't make a stalk on him where he was so a tracker crept down the ravine and gentled pushed/bumped him to come up the hillside and present a shot. The Sako .375 300 grain triple shock settled a little behind the shoulder (quartered hard away) and the shit sounded good. We watched as the eland ran straight away about 60 yards and piled up just off a trail.

We immediately pursued hustling to get over there and drop in on top of him in the thick terrain. The PH was within 5 yards and me just a few steps behind him when the bull jumped up and ran. The PH and I took off up the hill to try and get elevation to get a follow-up shot. I was able to get another shot in him (entered behind last rib and exited mid-gut) not the best shot but two .375 hits is better than one. Unfortunately, he was still under power and fueled by adrenaline. We had lost light and the blood trail was thin at best. The blood was confusing as it was 6 feet high on brush, but only minimal dots on the ground.

Long pursuit short . . . we found him the next day about 500 yards from the initial shot. One lung, liver, and gut shot. The blood high up on the leaves was the lung blood coming out of his nose and he had double backed on us. Tough, tough animals. The size of eland is still difficult to comprehend. Massive bodies, huge hooves and unofficially mine was 36.5".

After the eland was loaded and headed to the skinning shed, everyone was more relaxed and moods elevated. Our remaining quarry was an impala for myself and son. The evening drive started with a busted stalk on a beautiful ram. We left the area and the herd to look elsewhere thinking if we gave them time to settle down we could re-visit later. That held true. With 30 mins of light left we came upon one of the many open grass fields at Woodvale with a group of impala grazing below. We slipped out for a short stalk and son was on the stick with the same ram from earlier the afternoon at 150 yards. Unfortunately, the ram spotted us and barked/snorted. Trotting nervously and not presenting a shot my son came off the sticks and stepped up. The ram paused for a look back at 275 yards and I sent the shot. A 10 ring bullseye hand him down in 20 yards.

Day 4 - had us pursuing an impala for my son at Woodvale. Covering the likely locations and searching the brush heavily we spotted many but were also spotted. A few blown stalks and one clean miss had my son questioning himself. The mental side of hunting was taking its toll on my son. The PH and I gave encouragement and kept his spirits up. It's all apart of hunting but experiencing repeated failures and missed opportunities is a mental game we face at some point. Fortunately, it was on impala which were plentiful. Staying positive and ready for the next opportunity is imperative.

After lunch and reset we headed out. Moving to a different side of the property from the morning's stalks, the tracker made a nice spot on a small herd of impalas in a nice bowl. The wind and sun were in our favor. A quick stalk, sticks went up, and the shot presented was a hard quartering to shot. My son felt solid and PH talked him through perfect shot placement. The herd erupted at the shot and left the bowl without the ram. A wonderful specimen we estimate at 24" (we think mine was 23").

This hunt capped off our safari. Full of smiles, hugs, and deep overflowing joy for a successful safari. The ideal safari with the right amount of physical and mental effort for our group. The patience of the PH and staff with inexperienced hunters was terrific. The positive moods and enthusiasm by everyone was perfect. Nine wonderful trophies that are excellent representations of the respective species. Countless memories made with three generations.

Day 5 of our safari we spent taking a game drive through Amakhala Game Safari where we were able to see, up close, elephants, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hartebeest, springbok, gemsbok, rhinos, and lions. We were able to get up close on a few occasions to cape buffalo at Game 4 Africa so this covered the rest of the animals that one would want to see while visiting.

Day 6 for me was spent on a last ditch effort to see if I could connect with a bush buck. There had been some sighted and my BIL was lucky enough to come across a few, and harvest one. When everything else on your wish list is checked off you have to add a little more. I had a beautiful 15" ram at the bottom of a canyon that didn't hold still long enough. He kept moving through the opening and began drinking in the creek below under the cover of trees. We watched him for 15 mins and he never presented a shot.

Day 6 and 7 for K-man are his story to tell . . . as they were a thrilling 36 hours to finish the trip.

Huge congrats!! I just returned from bringing my 11 yo son on his first African hunt. Nothing better!

Well done!

This report has covered much of the hunt. As he said, I split my days riding along with grandsons and son / son-in-law. My request when booking with Wik was to possibly take a caracal with dogs. He explained that they have a gentleman who runs his dogs daily on different ranches to maintain/control the caracal population. If he cuts a fresh track the call will come in for me to join them on the hunt, so I am on standby every morning. On day 2 the trackers came across an impala ewe killed by a caracal on the ranch. If anyone has hunted predators this is one of the best possible situations as the predator almost always returns to their kill. Amazing this one was 100 yards from an existing elevated blind. More to come on that….
As we traveled with Don we spotted a small herd of black wildebeest that moved away as we got closer. Then one stood up less than 100 yds away, old with a broken horn. Usually that doesn’t get me going but this one struggled to walk and bedded down again. Then wobbled to his feet and then bedded again. I’ve hunted enough to know this was unusual and timing was critical. Don agreed this was a cull animal and I jumped at the chance to practice real conservation. On shot and this old warrior was finished.

So each morning we were on standby but the caracal with dogs was not to be. We sat in the blind three nights waiting for the caracal to return to his kill but we never had an opportunity. Had an absolute blast being an observer on many stalks. I’m usually the hunter so it’s a different mindset preparing someone else for a stalk. As each hunter filled their “wish” list then added a couple I was looking forward to our tour of Amakala game ranch.

As the hunt was winding down on the last evening in camp we had been seeing a very old eland cow that was offered as a cull. I jumped at the chance and just before dark we got close enough to the herd and one shot with the .375 and a 300 grain tsx and down. The ridges were worn off the horns but the length of the horns on this old cow were fantastic.
After getting it loaded and back to camp I cleaned up and prepared for the fire/dinner time. Then the skinner came to camp and announced an old bushpig was snacking on orange peels just outside the skinning shed. Wik offered and I jumped at the chance. We stalked to about 80 yards and I could just see it in the yard light. I guessed at anatomy and put a single bullet down range. The pig gave a squeal and fell 10 yards away in the dark
A very old almost white warrior that was blind in his right eye. Bonus animals are the most fun. I have already hunted a great nyala with game4Africa in 2017 but they are quite beautiful and hard to pass up. Early at sunrise the day we were leaving I went out with Don and X and I spotted an old nyala with ivory tips going up the hillside to catch the morning sun. We hurried around and found a path he should cross as he climbed up for the morning sun. He obviously read the script and appeared in the path about 15 minutes later. A single shot and he was down within ten yards
For some reason my trophy picture won’t load but this shows him as he fell. Just a couple hours before leaving camp and I have a fourth animal as an “observer”. Many thanks to Wik, Don, X and the crew of skinners, camp staff who made everyone feel at ease and comfortable. Especially the way they were patient and supportive of the “new” hunters.

That’s some fantastic memories! Congratulations to all.
@GAME 4 AFRICA SAFARIS is a wonderful place run by some of the best people you will ever know!

A great trip all around but that bush pig makes me incredibly jealous! I’ve spent hours outside that shed with my camera and that’s still an animal I have yet to see in Africa. Congrats to you all, I enjoyed the pictures and report-

Awesome family trip! Glad it all worked out for y’all!

Love it when young boys come to hunt just look at the smiles.

Sounds like a fantastic trip!! Don is a great PH!

I’m also very jealous of that old bushpig!!

I should add, my brother-in-law and nephew also had a very successful safari. BIL shot zebra, kudu, impala, blesbuck, and bushbuck while my nephew shot a blue wildebeest, kudu, blesbuck, and impala. All very impressive animals.