By Jim Thorn
Just got back from a hunt with PH’s Ross Hare and Johnathan Rademeyer at Monterra Safaris. The goal was to complete the Black/Gold package, and I had the surprise of being able to complete the spiral horn slam, along with a couple of other extraordinary plains-game specimens.
We started off the hunt looking for a golden wildebeest, the “gold” of the black/gold package. So, taking what the bush gives you I also took a very nice gemsbok.
We were able to silently stalk to within about 30 yards of the resting gemsbok before the wind changed and it stood up to look at us. The frontal shot was true and it didn’t run far. I hoped the golden animal would happen the next day.
The following day we began our search for it. True to form and true to taking what the bush gives you, with another frontal shot at about 40 yards I had the black part of the black/gold package, a very nice sable!
Again we were off to find a golden. A new tradition was now established on this hunt – “We take what the bush gives us.” So, when we said we were going for a golden, instead we were given a monster bushbuck!
With this beauty in the salt, we decided that the next day we would go for anything except the golden wildebeest.
You guessed it! We finally got an absolutely beautiful golden. Besides the gorgeous shimmering coat this guy also had really wide horns.
The black/gold package was complete! Unfortunately for my budget, while we were roaming around in the bush we had seen an exceptional blesbok so we decided to try for it too. We found the right group standing and lying around under some trees and when the right one decided to stand up and walk clear of his companions my shot was true and we had this beautiful blesbok.
I now considered my hunt a complete success and was very happy with the results. The guys at Monterra, however, had other plans. Ross and Johnathan decided that since three species of the spiral horn antelopes had all been taken at Monterra (this was my third safari with them) that I simply couldn’t go home needing an eland to complete the slam without at least trying for it. They made me an offer I couldn’t refuse and will be forever grateful for, so on the last day we tried for the eland and with very little time to spare, the shot was true at about 80 yards and the spiral horn slam was complete. My gosh I am one fortunate fellow!
The green scores we measured at Monterra are unofficial but educated. Truly exceptional.
Needless to say, I can’t speak highly enough of the crew at Monterra. My wife accompanied me this time and they took exceptional care of her as she is not a hunter but loved birding with knowledgeable people, seeing the animals on game drives, and they had a spa day to boot. So, all in all a truly wonderful nine days in the Limpopo Province on the Limpopo River with Monterra.
