Firebird
AH legend
This is my first safari so obviously my first hunt report. I'll start with a basic summary for those of you who just want to see the horns so to speak and for those of you who want to savor the whole trophy, I'll write out the rest of the experience with lots of pictures thereafter.
My brother Mike joined me on the hunt and I couldn't have pulled it off without his assistance. Since he is not a member here, I will tell his story from my perspective as best I can, and there are a couple other stories along the way that should be told.
We hunted with @Game 4 Africa Safaris in the eastern cape of South Africa from July 20-28, 2018 on one of their 7 day minimum of 10 animal, stay free packages. This is not a package with required animals, it is a menu of animals that are available to those patient and willing to work a bit. Our ph and the only person I communicated with was Wik Coetzee (the w is pronounced V) and all our interration was by e mail. We shared one rifle, my .300 win mag with 200 grain trophy bonded bear claw ammunition. I used Gracie travel for our travel arrangements and was pleased with the service. I used hunters permits africa to get gun permits handled and get us in and out of the airport. This was the biggest mistake I made and cannot recommend them nor would I use them again. Bruce from Gracie travel saved the day and next time they will provide all my services.
We created nearly identical wish list that included kudu, nyala, waterbuck, zebra, impala and blesbok. Mike wanted bushbuck and I wanted the wildebeests and a red hartebeest. We also considered springbok if we had time. We achieved our lists but with some give and take along the way-keep in mind that you should always be prepared to take what Africa offers! Trophy quality was excellent across the board. Keep in mind these are eastern cape kudu. I'll discuss gemsbuck more when I get to that point but that was a disappointment and something I still don't understand. It was the only animal we took that we consider sub par.
In additon to the list animals (there were many more available but we chose not to actively pursue them) we did see steenbuck, scimitar horned oryx, bontebok, baboon, ostrich, buffalo, giraffe, eland (I had considered hunting eland and we had a day we could have done it but fate intervened) cape zebra, fallow deer, color variations of springbok and an aardwolf and a bat eared fox. We recognize we were very fortunate to see these in broad daylight as well as a couple species of mongooses we saw along the way. We are bird guys at heart and I kept a lengthy list of birds we saw but did not hunt.
Lodging was excellent, we each had our own chalet with en suite bathroom, mini fridge and plenty of places to unpack and store your things, even a safe should you require one. They have a main lodge where you can eat meals, enjoy nightly outdoor fires and an indoor bar\trophy room. You can dine indoor or out and food was prepared indoors and over open fire outdoors. Those Coetzee boys can cook and I've never met anyone who cares for meat bette than they do, from field prep to plate-top notch!
We had an extra day and opted to go to Pumba game reserve on a photographic safari which was wonderful. I took over 1000 photos and would take more if I could go back. I also took hundreds of photos on Coetzee's property but the animals at the park are numb to humans and could be well photographed with a 35 mm pocket camera. We considered a tour of bushman art areas but alas, all time ends before we will it to do so.
Addo elephant park is also an option and there is a cheetah rehab facility which both intrigue me, next time!
We rode in four different vehicles, all well maintained and solid hunting vehicles with racks in the back for firearm storage and an elevated seat to view from. We never had so much as a flat tire and believe me, they take those trucks everywhere. Typically we were in the cab where we benefited from Wik's game spotting brilliance while the trackers stayed in back and tapped the cab when something big and wonderful was spotted. I'll talk more about trackers later on but I need to mention the dogs. The Coetzee family live and work together on the hunting property and at their "butchery" in nearby Grahamstown. There is John the father and ph, Amanda the mom and the two "boys" Colin and Wikus. I say boys as I am 20 years senior to both of them but they are both licensed ph's and outstanding hunting partners. They get along like brothers should and were professional at all times. You cannot mention the family without mentioning the jack russels. I forget the names of all of them but will mention them in my stories and they are very much part of every conversation and hunting event that happens. Mike and I each owe them credit for finding wounded animals and they were moslty wonderful to have at work and at the house.
The remainder of my report is intended to be respectful and appreciative to the entire Coetzee household as they gave us the trip of a lifetime and they have my eternal gratitude!
My brother Mike joined me on the hunt and I couldn't have pulled it off without his assistance. Since he is not a member here, I will tell his story from my perspective as best I can, and there are a couple other stories along the way that should be told.
We hunted with @Game 4 Africa Safaris in the eastern cape of South Africa from July 20-28, 2018 on one of their 7 day minimum of 10 animal, stay free packages. This is not a package with required animals, it is a menu of animals that are available to those patient and willing to work a bit. Our ph and the only person I communicated with was Wik Coetzee (the w is pronounced V) and all our interration was by e mail. We shared one rifle, my .300 win mag with 200 grain trophy bonded bear claw ammunition. I used Gracie travel for our travel arrangements and was pleased with the service. I used hunters permits africa to get gun permits handled and get us in and out of the airport. This was the biggest mistake I made and cannot recommend them nor would I use them again. Bruce from Gracie travel saved the day and next time they will provide all my services.
We created nearly identical wish list that included kudu, nyala, waterbuck, zebra, impala and blesbok. Mike wanted bushbuck and I wanted the wildebeests and a red hartebeest. We also considered springbok if we had time. We achieved our lists but with some give and take along the way-keep in mind that you should always be prepared to take what Africa offers! Trophy quality was excellent across the board. Keep in mind these are eastern cape kudu. I'll discuss gemsbuck more when I get to that point but that was a disappointment and something I still don't understand. It was the only animal we took that we consider sub par.
In additon to the list animals (there were many more available but we chose not to actively pursue them) we did see steenbuck, scimitar horned oryx, bontebok, baboon, ostrich, buffalo, giraffe, eland (I had considered hunting eland and we had a day we could have done it but fate intervened) cape zebra, fallow deer, color variations of springbok and an aardwolf and a bat eared fox. We recognize we were very fortunate to see these in broad daylight as well as a couple species of mongooses we saw along the way. We are bird guys at heart and I kept a lengthy list of birds we saw but did not hunt.
Lodging was excellent, we each had our own chalet with en suite bathroom, mini fridge and plenty of places to unpack and store your things, even a safe should you require one. They have a main lodge where you can eat meals, enjoy nightly outdoor fires and an indoor bar\trophy room. You can dine indoor or out and food was prepared indoors and over open fire outdoors. Those Coetzee boys can cook and I've never met anyone who cares for meat bette than they do, from field prep to plate-top notch!
We had an extra day and opted to go to Pumba game reserve on a photographic safari which was wonderful. I took over 1000 photos and would take more if I could go back. I also took hundreds of photos on Coetzee's property but the animals at the park are numb to humans and could be well photographed with a 35 mm pocket camera. We considered a tour of bushman art areas but alas, all time ends before we will it to do so.
Addo elephant park is also an option and there is a cheetah rehab facility which both intrigue me, next time!
We rode in four different vehicles, all well maintained and solid hunting vehicles with racks in the back for firearm storage and an elevated seat to view from. We never had so much as a flat tire and believe me, they take those trucks everywhere. Typically we were in the cab where we benefited from Wik's game spotting brilliance while the trackers stayed in back and tapped the cab when something big and wonderful was spotted. I'll talk more about trackers later on but I need to mention the dogs. The Coetzee family live and work together on the hunting property and at their "butchery" in nearby Grahamstown. There is John the father and ph, Amanda the mom and the two "boys" Colin and Wikus. I say boys as I am 20 years senior to both of them but they are both licensed ph's and outstanding hunting partners. They get along like brothers should and were professional at all times. You cannot mention the family without mentioning the jack russels. I forget the names of all of them but will mention them in my stories and they are very much part of every conversation and hunting event that happens. Mike and I each owe them credit for finding wounded animals and they were moslty wonderful to have at work and at the house.
The remainder of my report is intended to be respectful and appreciative to the entire Coetzee household as they gave us the trip of a lifetime and they have my eternal gratitude!