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Little blast from the past.....
During 2013, the US army and US Marines were sent to South Africa to assist our local soldiers with some training. The US soldiers were entrusted in teaching our local boys a couple of tricks. As not many of you might know the South African army, use to be one of the most feared armies in the world.At one stage, they were ranked 3rd best Army in the world, behind USA and Israel.
Sadly, those days are past now, with compulsory service no longer being enforced. Being a soldier has now become a job, simply another means of income, instead of the respect and honor of serving your country that use to be the drive behind these men.
The US army and Marines were each granted one day’s leave during the training exercises. They were given a couple of options on how they wished to spend their rest day. Hunting was one of these options.
KMG Hunting Safaris were entrusted in making this happen, and ended up guiding 68 hunters over a space of 3 days. The 68 hunters were split over 13 PH’s, over the 3 days, each going in different directions.
I have to say, and as all who have hunted with us know, I still guide myself and will for many more years, but guiding this hunt, must have been one of the most challenging 3 days that I have ever experienced in all of my years in hunting.
Starting at 5a.m in the morning, we would collect our soldiers who were allocated to us during the previous night. The organization from the CO’s was exemplary and we have to commend them for that. Without them, our job would have been a nightmare. They grouped the soldiers together as per species, so we could know exactly who was hunting what. This made it simple to allocate each group of soldiers to a PH and also know exactly which area they would be hunting the next day. The soldiers conducted themselves exceptionally well, and formed great teams with their PH’s. I think the discipline and respect that gets demanded from them daily and that gets drilled into them, really showed. They were always willing to learn about what we do, why we do things in certain ways, and were just a pleasure to guide and spend time with.
After each day’s hunt, we hosted a traditional “braai” or BBQ as most know them, treating the soldiers to some of the local foods and a brew or two.
Our day would usually end around 12a.m, after completing the PH registers, taxidermy forms and paperwork, ready to start the next day for the next group of hunters. Here are the five men that hunted with me personally over three days.
Crack! Thump! Set up for photo. Offload animal with my tracker to skin. Carry on hunting…..
During 2013, the US army and US Marines were sent to South Africa to assist our local soldiers with some training. The US soldiers were entrusted in teaching our local boys a couple of tricks. As not many of you might know the South African army, use to be one of the most feared armies in the world.At one stage, they were ranked 3rd best Army in the world, behind USA and Israel.
Sadly, those days are past now, with compulsory service no longer being enforced. Being a soldier has now become a job, simply another means of income, instead of the respect and honor of serving your country that use to be the drive behind these men.
The US army and Marines were each granted one day’s leave during the training exercises. They were given a couple of options on how they wished to spend their rest day. Hunting was one of these options.
KMG Hunting Safaris were entrusted in making this happen, and ended up guiding 68 hunters over a space of 3 days. The 68 hunters were split over 13 PH’s, over the 3 days, each going in different directions.
I have to say, and as all who have hunted with us know, I still guide myself and will for many more years, but guiding this hunt, must have been one of the most challenging 3 days that I have ever experienced in all of my years in hunting.
Starting at 5a.m in the morning, we would collect our soldiers who were allocated to us during the previous night. The organization from the CO’s was exemplary and we have to commend them for that. Without them, our job would have been a nightmare. They grouped the soldiers together as per species, so we could know exactly who was hunting what. This made it simple to allocate each group of soldiers to a PH and also know exactly which area they would be hunting the next day. The soldiers conducted themselves exceptionally well, and formed great teams with their PH’s. I think the discipline and respect that gets demanded from them daily and that gets drilled into them, really showed. They were always willing to learn about what we do, why we do things in certain ways, and were just a pleasure to guide and spend time with.
After each day’s hunt, we hosted a traditional “braai” or BBQ as most know them, treating the soldiers to some of the local foods and a brew or two.
Our day would usually end around 12a.m, after completing the PH registers, taxidermy forms and paperwork, ready to start the next day for the next group of hunters. Here are the five men that hunted with me personally over three days.
Crack! Thump! Set up for photo. Offload animal with my tracker to skin. Carry on hunting…..
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) Completely overwhelming! Quite a bit of healthy competition between the Army and Marines... 
