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- South Africa (North West, Limpopo & Greater Kruger), Mozambique Save River Region, BC Canada, Alaska and Lower 48 U.S.
@DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS - Umbabat Buffalo & Hyena 2026
Location
Greater Kruger, Umbabat APNR
South Africa | October 20–30, 2026
Equipment
Hat: Dorfman Men’s Outback Hat ($55, Amazon). I really liked this hat. It’s an oiled canvas, bendable and crushable hat that can be reshaped and returned to its original form. I packed it in my checked duffel bag without needing a special hat carrier.
Footwear: Two pair. Colombia Newton Ridge Plus II Waterproof hiking boots. Very quiet and durable. Cost about $89. Russell Traveling Sportsman Chukka. These I got from another AH member, very nice all purpose hiking/hunting low cut chukka boots I wore for travel and as backup boots.
Daypack: Military surplus camouflage daypack. I use this as my carry-on, and it doubles as a rugged, uncomplicated field pack. I kept a couple of shirts, shorts, socks, shaving kit, and other essentials inside. Having enough clothing to hunt for a day or two came in handy when my checked bag didn’t arrive until the following day.
Binoculars: Swarovski SLC 8x30. I’ve owned these for more than 30 years. From the banks of the Save River in Mozambique to the Chulitna River in Alaska, they’ve served me well. I would feel naked without them. I’ve never used a special harness or carrier, simply slipping them over my head and underneath my left arm, keeping them out of the way until needed.
Rifle: Heym Express by Martini, chambered in .416 Rigby, topped with a Leupold Patrol 6HD 30mm 1-6x FireDot scope and Talley 19mm quick-detach rings. My favorite dangerous-game rifle of all time.
Prior to leaving, a treated all the metal with Renaissance Wax. Knowing there would be lots of dust traveling in the Land Cruiser plus tracking on foot, you don’t want oil on the rifle outside of the rifle which dust will stick to. Also in case of rain it provides protection from water. I brought a small tin of wax to reapply if needed and a cleaning kit.
Cartridge Belt: Simply Rugged Safari Cartridge Belt. Second Safari with this belt. Quality is excellent. Best $200 Safari cartridge belt made IMO.
Sling: Coyote Brown Blue Force hunting sling ($44, Amazon), made from Cordura webbing. Comfortable and quick to adjust.
Ammunition: Three boxes of Barnes 400-grain TSX, with 10 rounds being banded solids. The rifle was sighted in 1/2 inch high at 50 yards.
I later obtained one box of Federal Premium .416 Rigby 400-grain Swift A-Frames. More about this later!
Clothing: A combination of older Cabela’s safari shirts (two short-sleeve and two long-sleeve), a few pairs of shorts, and one pair of pants.
The Plan
After successfully hunting elephant and buffalo in the Greater Kruger last year with Derian Koekemoer Safaris (DKS) in Balule, I wanted to experience a different APNR. When Derian obtained quota to hunt Umbabat, I jumped at the opportunity.
I consider Derian and his wife Johlene and their two boys friends and family. This would be my third consecutive hunt with Derian. I really enjoy hunting with him. He is honest, ethical and hardworking and we really get along well.
I booked a combination hunt consisting of a management buffalo, 36 inches or less, with the option to upgrade to a trophy-class bull in the 39-inch category, along with a hyena hunt at a nearby private reserve.
Umbabat is bordered by Kruger National Park to the north and east, with Klaserie and Timbavati to the south and west. Wildlife moves freely across these boundaries, making this an enormous, unfenced wilderness.
The terrain differed from what we’d experienced in Balule. That area had more elevation in places and considerably more thornbush. Umbabat, on the other hand, reminded me somewhat of Mozambique, with extensive Mopane woodland.
My hunt was scheduled for October 20–30. I booked through my usual agent at Gracy Travel, Shawn Kennedy, flying Delta Comfort+ from Oklahoma City to Atlanta and then directly to Johannesburg.
The flight was uneventful. I departed Oklahoma City on October 18 and slept most of the way to Johannesburg, arriving October 19 at 7:20 p.m.
That’s when things got interesting.
Location
Greater Kruger, Umbabat APNR
South Africa | October 20–30, 2026
Equipment
Hat: Dorfman Men’s Outback Hat ($55, Amazon). I really liked this hat. It’s an oiled canvas, bendable and crushable hat that can be reshaped and returned to its original form. I packed it in my checked duffel bag without needing a special hat carrier.
Footwear: Two pair. Colombia Newton Ridge Plus II Waterproof hiking boots. Very quiet and durable. Cost about $89. Russell Traveling Sportsman Chukka. These I got from another AH member, very nice all purpose hiking/hunting low cut chukka boots I wore for travel and as backup boots.
Daypack: Military surplus camouflage daypack. I use this as my carry-on, and it doubles as a rugged, uncomplicated field pack. I kept a couple of shirts, shorts, socks, shaving kit, and other essentials inside. Having enough clothing to hunt for a day or two came in handy when my checked bag didn’t arrive until the following day.
Binoculars: Swarovski SLC 8x30. I’ve owned these for more than 30 years. From the banks of the Save River in Mozambique to the Chulitna River in Alaska, they’ve served me well. I would feel naked without them. I’ve never used a special harness or carrier, simply slipping them over my head and underneath my left arm, keeping them out of the way until needed.
Rifle: Heym Express by Martini, chambered in .416 Rigby, topped with a Leupold Patrol 6HD 30mm 1-6x FireDot scope and Talley 19mm quick-detach rings. My favorite dangerous-game rifle of all time.
Prior to leaving, a treated all the metal with Renaissance Wax. Knowing there would be lots of dust traveling in the Land Cruiser plus tracking on foot, you don’t want oil on the rifle outside of the rifle which dust will stick to. Also in case of rain it provides protection from water. I brought a small tin of wax to reapply if needed and a cleaning kit.
Cartridge Belt: Simply Rugged Safari Cartridge Belt. Second Safari with this belt. Quality is excellent. Best $200 Safari cartridge belt made IMO.
Sling: Coyote Brown Blue Force hunting sling ($44, Amazon), made from Cordura webbing. Comfortable and quick to adjust.
Ammunition: Three boxes of Barnes 400-grain TSX, with 10 rounds being banded solids. The rifle was sighted in 1/2 inch high at 50 yards.
I later obtained one box of Federal Premium .416 Rigby 400-grain Swift A-Frames. More about this later!
Clothing: A combination of older Cabela’s safari shirts (two short-sleeve and two long-sleeve), a few pairs of shorts, and one pair of pants.
The Plan
After successfully hunting elephant and buffalo in the Greater Kruger last year with Derian Koekemoer Safaris (DKS) in Balule, I wanted to experience a different APNR. When Derian obtained quota to hunt Umbabat, I jumped at the opportunity.
I consider Derian and his wife Johlene and their two boys friends and family. This would be my third consecutive hunt with Derian. I really enjoy hunting with him. He is honest, ethical and hardworking and we really get along well.
I booked a combination hunt consisting of a management buffalo, 36 inches or less, with the option to upgrade to a trophy-class bull in the 39-inch category, along with a hyena hunt at a nearby private reserve.
Umbabat is bordered by Kruger National Park to the north and east, with Klaserie and Timbavati to the south and west. Wildlife moves freely across these boundaries, making this an enormous, unfenced wilderness.
The terrain differed from what we’d experienced in Balule. That area had more elevation in places and considerably more thornbush. Umbabat, on the other hand, reminded me somewhat of Mozambique, with extensive Mopane woodland.
My hunt was scheduled for October 20–30. I booked through my usual agent at Gracy Travel, Shawn Kennedy, flying Delta Comfort+ from Oklahoma City to Atlanta and then directly to Johannesburg.
The flight was uneventful. I departed Oklahoma City on October 18 and slept most of the way to Johannesburg, arriving October 19 at 7:20 p.m.
That’s when things got interesting.
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