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Vaal Rhebok country in the Stormberg Mountains
During June and July of 2005, Holly and I hunted the Eastern Cape region of
South Africa with
Coenraad Vermaak Safaris and PH Darren Baker. 10 days of our 21
day stay in South Africa were devoted to hunting and the remainder sightseeing
in East London and Port Elizabeth.
The Eastern Cape is a beautiful region that offers magnificent scenery and
abundant game. We hunted in several areas for a variety of indigenous game
species and were fortunate to take some very nice trophies.
We chased Vaal Rhebok at over 8,000 ft. in extremely cold and windy
conditions for two days before I was rewarded with a fine Vaal Rhebok ram after
an arduous stalk and a long shot in strong winds. In contrast, I hunted
two days in the coastal jungles near the Indian Ocean for Blue Duiker and had
just two fleeting glimpses, and no shot, at Blue Duikers as they raced through
the thick cover ahead of a yapping pack of Jack Russell terriers!
I shot a very good Black Springbok in his bed after a long, careful stalk,
and on a night hunt, I was fortunate to take an excellent Cape Grysbok in the
spotlight with a .22 Hornet. Cape Grysbok are exclusively nocturnal, and
they are the only antelope species that can be legally hunted in South Africa at
night with the aid of artificial light.
On the last day of our hunt I shot a very old Cape Bushbuck ram at over 300
yards and dropped him in his tracks; it was a fine way to finish the hunt!
Holly made an excellent shot on a beautiful White Springbok. She also
shot an exceptional White Blesbok after a long afternoon of chasing a very
spooky herd around and around the top of a mountain. At sunset one
afternoon, she cleanly took a terrific Cape Bushbuck with a long and difficult
shot through thick brush. Darren led her to a good Mountain Reedbuck, and
later the same afternoon, a magnificent Black Wildebeest that measured over 60"
tip to tip.
The accommodations and food were uniformly wonderful. We stayed in
Branstone Lodge in the Stormberg Mountains near Molteno while hunting the high
country for Vaal Rhebok. Branstone Lodge is an old farm house that has
been remodeled as a very comfortable hunting lodge. Gourmet meals are
served by candlelight in the beautifully furnished dining room. Our guest
room was very comfortable with heat, electric blankets and plenty of hot water
for a welcome shower at the end of a long day in the wind and cold at 8,000
feet.
A fine collection of game and waterfowl mounts decorate the living room and
bar area, among them, the #3 SCI Vaal Rhebok, shot by one of the Lodge owners.
We enjoyed cocktails, snacks and conversation each evening before dinner in
front of a warm fire in the large stone fireplace; returning for cigars and
brandy after dinner.
On two days, we drove to Kikuyu Lodge outside Grahamstown to hunt Blue Duiker
and Cape Grysbok. Kikuyu Lodge is owned by two Americans, and they have
spared no expense in building a magnificent hunting lodge in the middle of their
large Game Reserve. I enjoyed photographing their magnificent succulent
garden planted with native species gathered from around the Game Reserve.
The Duikers are hunted in extremely thick cover.
Beaters go into the cover with their Jack Russell terriers and crawl
through the thick brush and vines, up and down the steep terrain. Hunters
are placed either inside the thick cover watching game trails or outside the
cover along cleared lanes through the brush. Shotguns and buckshot are the
weapons of choice. If you get a shot, it will be a quick one. In two
days of hunting, 10 or 12 drives altogether, I glimpsed Duikers twice, but never
fired a shot! A lucky hunter from Belgium missed a Duiker, then several
drives later, shot a female as it crossed the cleared lane in front of him.
Our final hunting days were spent at rustic Nxakwe Lodge on the Kat River
outside of Fort Beaufort. Thatched roof client bungalows are connected to
the fire pit area, kitchen, bar and dining room by boardwalks along the Kat
River. There is no electricity in the camp, and much of the cooking is
done over the wood fire. The boardwalks are illuminated by fuel oil
torches and kerosene lanterns. The comfortable bungalows each contain a
propane lantern and a paraffin hurricane lamp. Ample hot water is supplied
by a wood-burning boiler.
Our host and hostess, Murry and Yvette Danckwerts greeted us with hor-d'oeuvres
and cocktails each evening in the cheery bar where we enjoyed recounting the
day's adventures in front of a roaring fire. They prepared excellent
gourmet meals, served in the rustic, candlelit dining room above the bar.
As an example, here is the dinner menu for Thursday, June 30th:
Biltong and Blue Cheese Soup with Cheese Straws
Pot Roasted Ginger Nut Duiker Leg
Creamy Garlic Potato Bake
Baked Mushrooms
Blanched Green Beans
Maple Syrup Waffles and Ice-Cream
Trophy Photos
Click the photos to enlarge the images.
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Vaal Rhebok
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Black Springbok
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Mountain Reedbuck
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Black Wildebeest
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Cape Bushbuck
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White Springbok
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White Blesbok
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Cape Grysbok
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Cape Bushbuck
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After our hunt was over, we spent 4 days and 3 nights relaxing
at the Woodall
Country House in Addo. Woodall was the perfect place to relax
after a strenuous 10 days of hunting. The accommodations are superb, the
grounds are beautifully landscaped and the chef creates the most amazing 5
course dinners that we have ever been served! To complete the experience,
they have a wonderful wine cellar, full of great South African vintages.
Holly was especially pleased to discover that they have a
complete Spa and Exercise Facility on the grounds. The day after we
arrived she treated herself to a much deserved, and appreciated, massage.
She convinced me to have one the next day, and I must admit, it was a VERY
pleasant experience! On our last night at Woodall the staff surprised us
with a complimentary hydro-massage and aroma therapy treatment, complete with
wine and candlelight!
We spent one day touring the Addo Elephant National Park and
another day touring in Port Elizabeth before heading home via Johannesburg,
Paris, Cincinnati and Savannah.
The Eastern Cape offers a great variety of game, beautiful
scenery and tremendously varied hunting opportunities. There are also many
interesting historical and cultural activities available to entertain family
members and/or a non-hunting spouse.
Branstone Lodge, Kikuyu Lodge and Kat River Lodge Photos
Click the photos to enlarge the images
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Field lunch.
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Branstone Lodge
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Vaal Rhebok country!
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Branstone Lodge staff.
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Searching for game among the flowering aloes.
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Aloes in full bloom.
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Where did the damn Blesbok go?
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Trackers enjoy a break.
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Field lunch in the shade.
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Midday break.
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African sunset.
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Wildflowers
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Blue Duiker country!
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Kikuyu Lodge Rhino mount.
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Caracal mount.
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Sable mount.
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Kikuyu Lodge
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Kikuyu Lodge
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Kikuyu Lodge
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Kikuyu Lodge pool.
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Kikuyu Lodge view.
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Kikuyu Lodge
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Kikuyu Lodge
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Cape Grysbok
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Worn out Caracal hounds.
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Magnificent African sunset.
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Midday break with a view.
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Bushbuck country.
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Karoo acacia thorn.
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Wildflowers
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Safari Holly takes a break.
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PH Darren Baker and Holly.
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Kat River Lodge bar.
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Kat River Lodge bar.
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Kat River Lodge bar.
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Kat River Lodge bar.
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Kat River Lodge dining room.
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Breakfast on the deck.
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Kat River Lodge fire pit area and kitchen.
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Lamb shanks for lunch!
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Steenbok mount.
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Woodall Country House & Port Elizabeth Photos
Click the photos to enlarge the images
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