SOUTH AFRICA: Great South Africa Hunt With Bushman's Quiver Safaris

[RichD]

I got back home a few days ago from my very good hunt with Bushman's Quiver. PH Stephan is one excellent PH, professional and persevering. He met me at Port Elizabeth airport and we drove to the to the first concession about 20 miles west of Grahamstown. After a bite to eat, a short rest, wonderful meal by Chef Gift, we headed to the range to sight in. Stephan included rifles and ammo. We used a Ruger No 1 in 7mm with a Burris Eliminator 6 for plains game. DG rifle was a Mauser 98 in 375H&H. Both rifles shot in the black. We spotted a good looking nyala across the river below us, several hundred yards away. We drove the Land Cruiser to a point where we could cross the river and started a stalk. Because the most direct line had almost no cover, we made our way the last 200 yards through thick stands of thornbushes. At about 150 yards we could see both male and female nyala bedded down and looking awar from us. I put the Ruger on sticks just as the female stoid up. A few seconds later the bull stood up, Stephan identified it as a good one, and my shot hit the make. He ran about 25 yards and dropped. Here's a pic of the nyala. This was a very good start to this trip.

I'll post more info and pics shortly.

 

[RichD]

The second morning of our day in the eastern cape was pretty uneventful. Nothing really seen as we drove the property, so late morning we went back to camp for lunch. After lunch we headed out again and soon came across a herd of zebra. As we tried to get closer, a group of about 8 - 10 mares ran ahead of us about 75 yards. There were bushes left and right providing good cover. But, we saw movement behind the large bush on the right. Stephan had me get up on sticks aiming at the opening between the growth. Within seconds, a stallion came from behind the bush, stopped, and turned facing me head-on. I instantly fired the Ruger at his chest, 1/3 the way up. He reared up and dropped on the spot. The PH said he'd never seen such an instant kill. I was floored, and relieved it ended so quickly. In 2023 I shot a zebra in Botswana with a low gut shot. We tracked it for several miles for hours, with a couple more poorly placed shots, before it finally dropped. I had never felt so guilty and sad for putting an animal through such pain. That has haunted me still. This Burchells zebra with such a good quick kill shot was a relief.

 

[RichD]

After taking pics of the zebra, we drove back towards camp. As we drove, Stephan wanted to take a look for any other game at a spot overlooking the Kariega river. We walked to a weather worn plywood platform and laid down while glassing the other side. We saw a group of monkeys running on a dirt path on the other side as well as several impala a long ways off and running. After 20 minutes or so, we saw a bushbuck a long ways off, but making his way towards us on a game trail along the far side of the river. I settled the rifle on Stephan's backpack and watched as he approached. At about 160 yards I fired and heard solid impact. He ran about 25 yards and went down in a cactus patch. He was so close to the dirt road, we stayed on the platform amd guided the trackers in the Land Cruiser right to the spot. In Botswana, I shot my eland and hudu bulls. The nyala and bushbuck finished my spiral slam.

 

[Adipose]

Some very nice animals and a great report so far. Thats a busy first 2 days. Whats the story with the magazine?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Congrats Rich! Nice hunt report and animals taken.

 

[RichD]

Some very nice animals and a great report so far. Thats a busy first 2 days. Whats the story with the magazine?

Oh, yes...the magazine "Bugle" is from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. I've been a member for many years. The magazine has a monthly piece called "Where do you Bugle", members send in pics with the magazine. So I thought to send one in.

 

[RichD]

Congrats Rich! Nice hunt report and animals taken.

Thank you. More to follow.

 

[RichD]

When we left the East Cape camp we drove to Stephan's home and spent the night there. He has the most wonderful family. His wife, Nakkie, is one of the most endearing people. They embrace you not as a client, but as a friend and family- and I mean family you really like and feel comfortable with. Their daughters round out this great group and son-in-law Andrew is an up and coming PH in his own right. I had the pleasure of meeting the group when they were in Denver for the International Sportsman's Expo in January 2025 and again at the Mile High Hunt Fish Expo in April. They held an oen house after the second Expo with over 50 attendees, including several friends of mine who hunted with Bushman's multiple times. Stephan and his family took so much time answering questions that I decided to seal the deal right then. Not one regret at all. At their home, Nakkie made a dinner that I'd never had until my hunt in Botswana - oxtails. Incredible! They remembered that I mentioned that in passing during our earlier conversation. They are a very Christian family as well. Grace is said before every meal, something we don't always do in our family, but we will do more of now. We need to count the blessings of what we have. But, I digress. More to follow on the hunting part of the trip.

 

[RichD]

Our next camp was in Western Cape near Oudtshoorn, a 65 square mile property with very diverse terrain. The area varied from flat, very open to hilly. It reminded me hunting at home in Northwest Colorado. The camp itself was very comfortable with a nice community lodge and well appointed lodges. The firepit and braai area overlooked a nearby pond which attracted a variety of game including several groups of Cape buffalo- no hunting is allowed in the area right by camp, which makes sense. We added a new member to our group - Chef Chris. This gentleman is so talented he could win Chopped, Master Chef, Next Level Chef, etc. Every meal was 5 Star in taste, variety, and presentation. I think I took more pictures of our meals than game. In my family we joke that "it's all about the food".

But we actually push away from the table and hunted. We came across a group of Springbok, which was on my list. We got to within about 240 yards and saw a small group. The ram was running with a small group of ewes. We watched and waited a few minutes until he settled down. He laid down and I got the Ruger on sticks. After a few minutes he stood up and I got on him, fired, and he went down right there.

You might notice the Leica binos in a few pics. My friend is a field rep for Leica sport optics and has loaned me their use during my trip to Botswana and this SA trip. Thanks, Toby, they are excellent optics!

 

[RichD]

When we returned to camp for lunch, this guy came walking up from a pond in camp. He was about 50 feet from us when this pic was taken. We looked at each other before he decided to calmly walk away...thankfully as our rifles were cased.

 

[RichD]

The next day, October 1, we drove around the property really spending time exploring the terrain and looking for more game. We came across many impala. They were very wary, so we had to approach carefully and look for a good ram. There were several that I was ready to take, but Stephan held out until he found one he determined to be a good one. We got to within a couple hundred yards and this ram went down with one shot.

 

[RichD]

The next day we went looking for a cow cape buffalo. This hunt was somewhat price limited as my wife and I had taken a trip to Italy earlier in the year and the travel budget was getting smaller. We saw a group of approximately 20-25 buffalo, the majority of which had passed by us. But there were 2 buffs trailing the group and heading towards us, a bull followed by a cow. I put the 375H&H on sticks and waited as they came closer. Stephan had a .450 Watts backup and his friend, Charles, also had a large caliber, I believe a .416. I shot the cow at about 65-70 yards and she dropped in a few seconds.

 

[RichD]

The video won't come through, just this pic.

 

[RichD]

The morning of October 3 found us looking for the last 2 animals on my package, a blesbok and black wildebeest. Early on we found another group of blesbok. I was haunted by an earlier clean miss, twice, on blesbok. Both misses were high. I was using a Burris Eliminator 6 on the Ruger. This trip was my first time using the scope. On 10x, the scope red dot was 1 dot down from center. On higher power, the dot was 2 down from center, showing a higher aimpoint. The 3rd time on blesbok I read the yardage, bit disregarded the red dot, holding just a bit above halfway at 200 yards. The result was a clean one shot hit. Third time was the charm and my blesbok curse was lifted. In this pic with me were PH Stephan and trackers Sailas and Pungi.

 

[RichD]

At this point we had 7 of 8 critters in the salt. Black wildebeest was the last one on the list. We spotted a herd and butt crawled across the hardpack almost 75 yards, keeping as low as possible. After another high miss, the herd bolted away, stopping for a few seconds 700 yards away before running farther around a distant hill into a draw. One of the trackers, Pungi, radioed that he saw them and we decided to try to intercept them. This time we saw 5 of the larger group break off and head directly our way. There was no cover at all between us and them. As they ran by, I picked the lead and shot, 45-50 yards, and hit the jugular just forward of the shoulder. It dropped within a few yards. That was the last critter on the list.

 

[RichD]

Last thoughts: I want to thank the entire Bushman's Quiver family for making this one of the best hunting experiences ever. The locations, accommodations, animals, meals, and especially the great people did everything and more to make every aspect of this hunt a true pleasure. I'm hoping to go back with BQ in 2026 or 2027, at 73 years old probably sooner rather than later.
Stephan is most likely not going to attend the Denver ISE show, but has asked myself and another friend or two to rep his booth. If you get to the expo, please be sure to stop by and say hello.

 

[Nyati]

Congrats on your hunt and thanks fod sharing !

 

[DieJager]

Waidmannsheil! Thanks for sharing and hopefully your next trips will be just as successful.

 

[patr]

Thank you Rich it was wonderful hosting you at Bushman’s Quiver Safaris. We really enjoyed our time with you. Thanks for your support and friendship. Patrick@bqsafaris.com

 

[RichD]

Waidmannsheil! Thanks for sharing and hopefully your next trips will be just as successful.

Waidsmanndank!!