I've just returned from my first ever safari in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Huntershill Safaris was the outfitter of choice after several recommendations from guys I sort of knew through the African Safari forum, Stalking Directory and mutual friends.
I had very little experience of high power rifles, the majority of the shooting I carried out was shotgun bird shooting and rimfire pest control. I own a .308 but had only recently moved into deer stalking.
I read up on the protocol and on what clothing and equipment to take. Early on I decided not to take my .308 and use the PH's rifle, a wise choice.
I packed way too much clothing, the daily laundry service meant I could have easily travelled with just hand luggage. Footwear was light hiking boots but the leather'Jim Green' type tracking boot would have been a better choice.
The cull package I agreed on, through a UK agent, Neil Jones, covered Impala, Springbuck, 2 Blesbuck, Blue Wildebeest, and 4 warthogs, an added bonus for me was a night hunt carrying out pest control - more familiar to me.
The flights from the UK were sorted via Joburg to East London.
On arrival I was met by my PH, James, a young man who turned out to be very knowledgeable on animals, tracking and rifle accuracy as well as an exceptional off road driver. As soon as we arrived at the Huntershill lodge I was impressed with the set up. Big thatched bar, dining room and conservatory area, tastefully decorated in old leather suites and trophies on the walls, big log fires in every room and a open bar serving as much to drink as you could want.
My own lodge was perfect, everything I needed, cleaned and made up daily
After sorting paperwork (hunting licence etc which took no time) we headed to the range. The Howa 1500 in 7mm Magnum with custom stock was easy to shoot off the bag, 3/3 centre target shots and we were ready to hunt. James introduced me to the trackers Henry and Peace and I was impressed with James's fluency in the local language.
After a trip up a mountain track, strewn with rocks baboons had rolled there looking for grubs, the trackers spotted an Impala Ewe. Leaving the vehicle quietly we stalked up hill to manage a shot, I soon realised how heavy the 7mm Mag was, must have been 10kg (22lbs). James placed the quad sticks in position and one shot (double lung) at 100 yards was enough, the Impala was located quickly about 40 yards away dead.
Back to the lodge for dinner which was roasted lamb on the outdoor spit, fantastic.
Breakfast was at 7am, I couldn't eat a full breakfast ever morning, but the kitchen was very good at preparing just eggs and toast for me. Off we went on a mission, first full day and 8 animals to find. My shooting on day 2 varied from 1 shot efficiency on a Blue Wildebeest, 1 shot on a Blesbuck then a complete mess up. I dropped a warthog at 160m and moved the sticks onto a 2nd, the first warthog then got up and I lost composure, I couldn't hit the wounded hog and felt as though I had the worst case of buck fever ever. After 2 more shots James took the rifle to reload and I asked him to despatch the hog, which he did with one shot. Not my finest hour but it then played on my mind.
More good food for lunch before adding a 220m warthog in the prone position off a bag.
Next day we made 3 good stalks up the mountain for a Blesbuck & a springbuck. Unfortunately after a classic stalk I shot too high on a Blesbuck and missed cleanly, the buck fever had struck again. After lunch we headed out and the trackers spotted a springbuck, a young male but with issues. We stalked to 100yards before I put in a rubbish shot off the quad sticks, about 12 inches back from the shoulder. The Springbok wasn't going anywhere but it needed 2 more shots to despatch it, this animal ended up as lion food, on inspection the young male had a badly broken foot and was a perfect cull animal.
By now my confidence off the quad sticks wasn't good, despite using them religiously in the UK on pest control.
Heading out the next day we completed a good stalk and 1 shot on my second Blesbuck, although this shot was off a bag after a stalk and crawl. Heading to the lodge we spotted a white Blesbuck that didn't look in great condition. During lunch a second PH confirmed the white Blesbuck looked very poor. I was asked if I would hunt the white Blesbuck and it would be a freebie outside my contract. The Blesbuck was located not too far from we'd last seen it, a short stalk in the lower mountains and a single shot at 110 yards pole axed the animal. A very good decision as the Blesbuck was emaciated and blind in one eye.
With only 2 warthog left a plan was made to spend the next day on a neighbour's concession/ farm to walk and stalk. Some of the mountain stalks I'd suffered breathlessness not realising the altitude, we were at 1350m (400 m higher than England's highest mountain) I realised I should have trained for the trip.
Next days stalking was through classic lowland acacia bushes for hogs, the swirling wind was not helping. Suddenly Henry motioned to a group of hogs close by. I put the rifle in the sticks and the warthog came trotting towards me, at 38 yards, head on, I unbelievably missed high. The hogs and everything else disappeared. We had walked/stalked over 2.5 miles and I'd messed up, no excuses. I felt bad for James and Henry (and sorry for myself). As we drove back to the lodge I was given a chance to redeem myself. A shot off the sticks at 260 yards. 1 shot behind the shoulder dropped the hog on the spot. We drove to the animal and was amazed when it was still alive, and was dispatched at close range. My shot was confirmed as been on the money but the hog showed what a tough animal they are
My final hog was another 260 yard shot, off an escarpment across a river. The hog was quartering away but this time was dropped where it stood.
With my contract fulfilled I chose not to add on extra animals, I was happy with 8/10 of the shots I'd taken and happy that my shakes had calmed down. The Friday night was spent lamping with a Sako .223 off the pickup. Definitely in my comfort zone and hopefully the alphalpha farmer was happy with the porcupine removed. Saturday, before the Springboks v All Blacks 2nd test we had a look for baboon, I managed to miss one at 560 yards, as I then found out James hadn't finished dialling in the range. My final shot was a target at 800 yards which required a near 14 foot hold over, I managed the shot first attempt which showed the awesome ability of the 7mm Mag.
Overall I can only recommend Huntershill Safaris, I haven't mentioned the Giraffe, Zebra, Rhino, Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Gemsbok, Sable, Eland, Nyala and many other animals I encountered.
Thanks for bearing with me.
Lewis.
Huntershill Safaris was the outfitter of choice after several recommendations from guys I sort of knew through the African Safari forum, Stalking Directory and mutual friends.
I had very little experience of high power rifles, the majority of the shooting I carried out was shotgun bird shooting and rimfire pest control. I own a .308 but had only recently moved into deer stalking.
I read up on the protocol and on what clothing and equipment to take. Early on I decided not to take my .308 and use the PH's rifle, a wise choice.
I packed way too much clothing, the daily laundry service meant I could have easily travelled with just hand luggage. Footwear was light hiking boots but the leather'Jim Green' type tracking boot would have been a better choice.
The cull package I agreed on, through a UK agent, Neil Jones, covered Impala, Springbuck, 2 Blesbuck, Blue Wildebeest, and 4 warthogs, an added bonus for me was a night hunt carrying out pest control - more familiar to me.
The flights from the UK were sorted via Joburg to East London.
On arrival I was met by my PH, James, a young man who turned out to be very knowledgeable on animals, tracking and rifle accuracy as well as an exceptional off road driver. As soon as we arrived at the Huntershill lodge I was impressed with the set up. Big thatched bar, dining room and conservatory area, tastefully decorated in old leather suites and trophies on the walls, big log fires in every room and a open bar serving as much to drink as you could want.
My own lodge was perfect, everything I needed, cleaned and made up daily
After sorting paperwork (hunting licence etc which took no time) we headed to the range. The Howa 1500 in 7mm Magnum with custom stock was easy to shoot off the bag, 3/3 centre target shots and we were ready to hunt. James introduced me to the trackers Henry and Peace and I was impressed with James's fluency in the local language.
After a trip up a mountain track, strewn with rocks baboons had rolled there looking for grubs, the trackers spotted an Impala Ewe. Leaving the vehicle quietly we stalked up hill to manage a shot, I soon realised how heavy the 7mm Mag was, must have been 10kg (22lbs). James placed the quad sticks in position and one shot (double lung) at 100 yards was enough, the Impala was located quickly about 40 yards away dead.
Back to the lodge for dinner which was roasted lamb on the outdoor spit, fantastic.
Breakfast was at 7am, I couldn't eat a full breakfast ever morning, but the kitchen was very good at preparing just eggs and toast for me. Off we went on a mission, first full day and 8 animals to find. My shooting on day 2 varied from 1 shot efficiency on a Blue Wildebeest, 1 shot on a Blesbuck then a complete mess up. I dropped a warthog at 160m and moved the sticks onto a 2nd, the first warthog then got up and I lost composure, I couldn't hit the wounded hog and felt as though I had the worst case of buck fever ever. After 2 more shots James took the rifle to reload and I asked him to despatch the hog, which he did with one shot. Not my finest hour but it then played on my mind.
More good food for lunch before adding a 220m warthog in the prone position off a bag.
Next day we made 3 good stalks up the mountain for a Blesbuck & a springbuck. Unfortunately after a classic stalk I shot too high on a Blesbuck and missed cleanly, the buck fever had struck again. After lunch we headed out and the trackers spotted a springbuck, a young male but with issues. We stalked to 100yards before I put in a rubbish shot off the quad sticks, about 12 inches back from the shoulder. The Springbok wasn't going anywhere but it needed 2 more shots to despatch it, this animal ended up as lion food, on inspection the young male had a badly broken foot and was a perfect cull animal.
By now my confidence off the quad sticks wasn't good, despite using them religiously in the UK on pest control.
Heading out the next day we completed a good stalk and 1 shot on my second Blesbuck, although this shot was off a bag after a stalk and crawl. Heading to the lodge we spotted a white Blesbuck that didn't look in great condition. During lunch a second PH confirmed the white Blesbuck looked very poor. I was asked if I would hunt the white Blesbuck and it would be a freebie outside my contract. The Blesbuck was located not too far from we'd last seen it, a short stalk in the lower mountains and a single shot at 110 yards pole axed the animal. A very good decision as the Blesbuck was emaciated and blind in one eye.
With only 2 warthog left a plan was made to spend the next day on a neighbour's concession/ farm to walk and stalk. Some of the mountain stalks I'd suffered breathlessness not realising the altitude, we were at 1350m (400 m higher than England's highest mountain) I realised I should have trained for the trip.
Next days stalking was through classic lowland acacia bushes for hogs, the swirling wind was not helping. Suddenly Henry motioned to a group of hogs close by. I put the rifle in the sticks and the warthog came trotting towards me, at 38 yards, head on, I unbelievably missed high. The hogs and everything else disappeared. We had walked/stalked over 2.5 miles and I'd messed up, no excuses. I felt bad for James and Henry (and sorry for myself). As we drove back to the lodge I was given a chance to redeem myself. A shot off the sticks at 260 yards. 1 shot behind the shoulder dropped the hog on the spot. We drove to the animal and was amazed when it was still alive, and was dispatched at close range. My shot was confirmed as been on the money but the hog showed what a tough animal they are
My final hog was another 260 yard shot, off an escarpment across a river. The hog was quartering away but this time was dropped where it stood.
With my contract fulfilled I chose not to add on extra animals, I was happy with 8/10 of the shots I'd taken and happy that my shakes had calmed down. The Friday night was spent lamping with a Sako .223 off the pickup. Definitely in my comfort zone and hopefully the alphalpha farmer was happy with the porcupine removed. Saturday, before the Springboks v All Blacks 2nd test we had a look for baboon, I managed to miss one at 560 yards, as I then found out James hadn't finished dialling in the range. My final shot was a target at 800 yards which required a near 14 foot hold over, I managed the shot first attempt which showed the awesome ability of the 7mm Mag.
Overall I can only recommend Huntershill Safaris, I haven't mentioned the Giraffe, Zebra, Rhino, Hippo, Cape Buffalo, Gemsbok, Sable, Eland, Nyala and many other animals I encountered.
Thanks for bearing with me.
Lewis.
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