I wanted to take a moment to share some feedback regarding our experience at Koringkoppie Safaris in 2023. Although I can’t comment on the specifics of other hunts, I felt it was important to speak on behalf of myself and my family.
Our journey began when we met Jacques at the Minnesota Pheasant Fest in the winter of 2022. At that time, I had no plans to book an African hunt. As an avid pheasant hunter in Minnesota and South Dakota, as well as a white-tail hunter in Wisconsin and an elk hunter in Montana, a trip to Africa was not on my radar. However, after visiting the Koringkoppie booth, discussing the available hunts, and learning about the various species on the property, we decided to explore the possibility. My wife had shown interest in visiting Africa as a family and after several emails with Jacques, we booked a hunt for myself and my two 13-year-old sons. My wife and 10-year-old daughter joined us as spectators for sightseeing and photos.
I hunted with a bow, while my sons used a rifle we brought from the U.S. We were successful in taking the animals we had planned: the boys each shot an impala and a warthog with the rifle, and I shot a kudu, gemsbuck, and an impala.
The accommodations were excellent, and we were consistently impressed by the hospitality from Jacques, his family, and all the staff. Our days typically began around 6:00 am with Jacques preparing coffee and a light breakfast. We enjoyed a variety of cereals, fruits, and yogurt each morning. This was sufficient for us, as we would then head out for early morning trail walks and animal stalking until around 9:00-9:30 am. We would return to camp for a hearty breakfast prepared by Jacque’s father, which typically included eggs and different sausages that varied each day.
After breakfast, I would head out to hunt, often with Jacques and one of my sons in different blinds around the property. We had sack lunches provided, but after the second day, we opted to forego them as we were full from breakfast. The late afternoons were spent stalking animals, with Jacques leading the way, and the evenings were a wonderful mix of successful hunts and excellent dinners. Jacques prepared different meats cooked over the fire, and sides prepared and brought by his mother. The meals were perfectly done, and I especially enjoyed sitting by the fire with a local beer while stargazing.
Jacques and his staff were wonderful with my wife and daughter. Whenever we took an animal, they were informed and brought out to see the animals and be part of the photos. My wife, being a photographer, appreciated the effort Jacques made to arrange drives around the property for her, my daughter, and our son that wasn’t hunting. There were endless opportunities to see wildlife.
I did notice the crew on the property cutting wood, but it didn’t bother us, and we didn’t interact with them. Having grown up in western Wisconsin, where cutting firewood is a common activity, the sound of a chainsaw in the distance was familiar and unobtrusive.
We also had the pleasure of meeting Yolanda, Jacques’s wife, and seeing her work as a taxidermist. She is very professional and took her work seriously. For us, having everything managed in one place was ideal and greatly reduced the hassle of dealing with taxidermy separately.
Overall, our experience at Koringkoppie Safaris was memorable and thoroughly enjoyable. We have booked another hunt for the summer of 2025, and my daughter who is now 12 and has taken hunter safety in the U.S., is looking forward to being part of the hunt.
