SOUTH AFRICA: First South African Hunt With KMG Hunting Safaris

[Emkull]

First off huge thank you to AH this forum made planning my first trip an excellent experience..

I started down the path of looking into hunting Africa and that brought me to this site, After reading and reading then reading more I started emailing a couple outfitters we were looking for a plains game hunt and starting with kudu as our main focus That lead me to @KMG Hunting Safaris and after reading all the great reviews on here we sent our deposit and booked for April 15 2026.
Trying to get from Vancouver island British Columbia to South Africa is a bit of a pain but it all worked out booked klm flights going to through Amsterdam to Johannesburg then Air France through Paris returning home both trips worked out great it’s just a long way with a couple layovers ( If anyone knows a better way that would be great)

Went a day early to leave some time on the start figured better to stay an extra night than give up a hunting day booked the Afton safari lodge for this it worked out great was met at the airport stayed 2 nights had a few beer and great food then back to the airport to east London where we were met by Marius.

Off to the lodge on the way to the lodge Marius informed me that I drew the short straw and would be hunting with him 1x1 and the other two guys would be hunting with Nick as a 2x1, Arrived at the lodge in the afternoon went and checked the rifles we would just be renting rifles on this trip didn’t want to complicate things for the first time and was able to pack enough gear in just a carry on this made everything simple and having laundry done daily made this easy couple beer and dinner then off to bed to start DAY 1

Day one started bit foggy seen a couple young kudu and a few other animals in the morning then back to the lodge for lunch Marius wanted to focus on kudu in the mornings and evening we were a bit early the bush is thick and the rut hasn’t got really going yet So mid day we went looking for impala and after spotting a bunch of rams together the stalk was on up a draw used the grass and some bush to get within 120yds waiting for him to be clear and broadside took some time but first African animal in the salt.

 

[Mekaniks]

Excellent! Looking forward to the rest

 

[Emkull]

Day 2 started off looking for kudu with seeing a few cows and younger bulls we were discussing about what other animals were on my list I had kudu impala gemsbok lechwe when I started but after seeing different animals and we were moving to a place for the lechwe that also had black wildebeest I asked if I could swap that and add a couple cheaper animals Marius didn’t have any problems with that this was in the evening and we just got finished discussing this when I asked what is that, Marius right away was grabbing the spotting scope that’s a bushbuck ram!!
It was a bit to far to get a good look then the ram moved out of sight we were headed that direction anyway so we started a stalk the ram had come back out when looked back to where he was and now being close Marius asked if I wanted a bushbuck and that was a nobrainer.

 

[SilverPigeon]

Nice bushbuck! Spent days searching for a mature male last year with no luck . Maybe I need to try the eastern cape. Looking forward to the rest of the report

 

[Pheroze]

Day 2 started off looking for kudu with seeing a few cows and younger bulls we were discussing about what other animals were on my list I had kudu impala gemsbok lechwe when I started but after seeing different animals and we were moving to a place for the lechwe that also had black wildebeest I asked if I could swap that and add a couple cheaper animals Marius didn’t have any problems with that this was in the evening and we just got finished discussing this when I asked what is that, Marius right away was grabbing the spotting scope that’s a bushbuck ram!!
It was a bit to far to get a good look then the ram moved out of sight we were headed that direction anyway so we started a stalk the ram had come back out when looked back to where he was and now being close Marius asked if I wanted a bushbuck and that was a nobrainer.View attachment 761807

Gorgeous ram!

 

[Tintin]

Great start. Well done.

 

[Nevada Wapati]

I'm enjoying your hunt report. It takes me back a couple years. You chose a great outfitter, with Marius.

 

[Andrew62]

I’m loving your hunt report, that’s a beauty of a bushbuck!

 

[Emkull]

Day 3 started with a move to a different property, so up early and on the road, A few hour drive and we were picking up a local tracker with kudu, gemsbok, and black wildebeest on the list for the next couple days, Seeing a couple young kudu bulls with cows was a good sign. then spotted a gemsbok bull after a closer look, Marius said too short, let’s keep looking, Around a couple more ridges and we spotted a kudu bull with cows that looked good so the stalk was on.
They had fed over the ridge so we moved to the same elevation as the bull to get the wind better and worked across popping up where we last saw the bull.
He didn’t go far he was just in the bottom of the draw at 120yds but behind some thick bush as they moved away from us I was already on the sticks as soon as the bull cleared Marius gave a whistle the bull stopped kudu down.
This wasn’t in the most friendly spot. Marius went back to drive the vehicle to the bottom I was staying with the trackers to start the drag out. This was quite the experience for me after only ever doing DIY hunts and the trackers saying no we will drag it. It was pretty humbling seeing how hard they worked getting the bull.
They did let me take their binoculars and a jacket.
After dropping their stuff at the truck, I headed back up the trail that they were coming down. There was a rock that I figured I would roll out of their way. I quickly remembered I am not at home anymore as when I looked down there was a scorpion on the bottom of the rock, right beside my fingers.

We got the bull back to the skinning shed and stopped for lunch

 

[TwoTracks]

Outstanding! Great animals, thanks for sharing. Hard to imagine two better guys (Marius and Nick) to introduce someone to hunting in Africa.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Great success for the first 3 days. Getting me pumped for my trip this summer with KMG. Bushbuck is awesome.

 

[MontanaPat]

Great bushbuck and kudu, not a bad impala either. Sounds like you had a great trip, thanks for sharing a report

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Love the bushbuck! Keep it coming.

 

[Emkull]

After I ate way too much for lunch we headed out looking for black wildebeest,
After the drive up to the flat on top of the mountain we parked and proceeded to what we thought was going to be a long hike,
Peeking over the first ridge we spotted a lone bull way off in the distance looking at where the bull was and thinking of a game plan our local tracker said to look over the hill to our right with the wind absolutely howling there was a hole over the ridge he wanted to check and sure enough there was two different herds in the little valley out of the wind.
This is where I figured out I ate way to much lunch we started the stalk what turned into crawling and crawling we crawled so far I think I need to buy Marius some new clothes he could see through the knees of his pants and has holes in his elbows but he is extremely good at what he does he had us in position set up on the bipod at 290yds waiting for the bull to stand, When he finally stood a herd of blesbok had moved behind the bull so it was the waiting game for a clear shot

Still not sure what would of been easier the hike to the far bull or the crawl I am currently still picking spear grass slivers out and it has been over a week.

 

[Emkull]

The wind was not letting up and was getting worse for the next So still wanting a gemsbok but realizing this was going to be a challenge I enquired about swamping it out for either a Nyala or a waterbuck back at the main lodge not a problem Marius replied we will hunt the morning tomorrow and if we don’t connect we will head back after lunch tomorrow at this point this has been way more than I expected wanting to just get my feet wet in Africa and thinking 4 animals on my list was going to be great for an 8 day hunt and end of day 3 I already had 4 in the salt.

When Marius picked us up at the airport he had his two tracking dogs with him one going into semi-retirement the other a young up and comer it didn’t take rigby long to figure me out started with a head scratch to him bumping my arm when he wanted to be pet to avoiding the subtle tactics to just finding his place I started calling him co-pilot by the end of the trip,

To the next client that Marius has I apologize now but you will probably have a travel companion

 

[Emkull]

The next morning started out looking for gemsbok and on the way up the hill we spotted one that needed a closer look had a couple other on lookers while glassing for gemsbok

We got above the gemsbok and worked are way down to where it was it new something was up and moved down the hill so down we went after slipping half way down the mountain we found it bedded and were within 150yds and trying to figure out if it’s a bull or a cow it would move its head one way it looks like a bull the other way it looks like a cow so our only option was wait till it stands laying in the howling wind for what seemed like forever it finally stood and was a cow, That took up the morning so back to the main lodge to look for waterbuck.

 

[Emkull]

The morning of day five found us looking over a basin where Marius had previously seen some good waterbuck bulls and It didn’t take us long to locate a few with one looking really good so around the valley we went got above the bull and wind was in our favour so the stalk down the hill started, trying to move between all the other animals is challenging waterbuck here read buck there with the cover and the wind we were 200yds from the bull set up and waiting for him to stand

 

[AZDAVE]

Marius is a great guy to hunt with(I drew the short straw twice)

Your bushbuck is awesome.

 

[Emkull]

So now with 5 animals down and my budget starting to dwindle We opted on looking for a warthog and trying to find the last kudu for our group,
Now apparently the warthog is going to be the one that would give me the slip after looking over a pile of sow’s with piglets we could not find a boar worth shooting now I realize why everyone says if you see a big pig you shoot the big pig,
On the final day we were glassing and spotted a good bushbuck ram me and the tracker were glassing one spot and marius had went around the corner to look down the valley when a second ram walked out I moved around the corner and was telling marius about what the ram looked like and it is probably a good thing he wasn’t there or I might of been coming home with a second bushbuck, So if anyone hunting with him in the next bit needs a bushbuck I bet I can guess where you are going to look after no boars made an appearance we started back to the lodge through where we had seen a lot of blesbok and couldn’t pass up the chance at a ram.

I have read a lot of comments about people planning there second safari on the plane ride home but I got a bit ahead of myself on that one and was planning a second one on about day three,
So when I was paying the bill at the end I left a deposit for 2028 need to find that warthog.
Hopefully I draw the short straw again but with meeting marius and his crew I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them the stories and the laughter around the dinner table just added more to an already great experience.

Thank you again to AH members to be able to just spend time on this site and book a hunt on the other side of the world and not have any problems was a great experience

Thanks again to KMG safaris looking forward to 2028

 

[Nyati]

Great hunt, congrats !