The Burchell’s zebra Equus burchelli, is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It differs from that zebra by a number of features, most prominent being shadow stripes which are overlaid on the white stripes on the African zebra’s hindquarters. The dewlap that is common on other zebras is missing. Burchell’s zebra stands around 52 inches at the shoulder and stallions will weigh between 550 to 600 pounds. Each Burchell’s zebra has a unique stripe pattern. When seen at a distance the stripes run together and the animal appears light brown.
Wow Africa Safaris
Burchell’s zebra has the longest migration pattern of any land animal in Africa. They travel from the Chobe River in Namibia to Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana – a distance of 160 miles each way. Its habitat is open woodlands and grass-filled savannah close to water and has to drink regularly while grazing. Usually they travel in small herds of 10 animals consisting of the stallion and a number of mares and foals. Excess males are booted out of the herd and form bachelor herds. A single 12-15 pound foal is born between November and January after a gestation period of approximately one year. Foals are weaned at 11 months.
Burchell’s zebra mother and foal in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa
Stallions and mares are almost the same size, so determining sex can be difficult. Listen to your PH as he’s had a lot of experience doing this. More than one hunter has shot a stallion only to see a sex change before reaching the animal.
Their major predators include lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs and hyenas. During migration, Nile crocodiles will hunt them during river crossings. Sometimes baboons will take a foal – however adults are safe from them. The Burchell’s zebra is a very formidable fighter with a nasty bite and a kick that can kill predators. They will stand their ground with smaller predators, but will try to outrun the larger ones.
Burchell’s zebra herds mix with other species such as wildebeest. They act as early warning devices for the highly skittish wildebeest. At night they will relocate to open grassy areas where visibility is good. While the herd sleeps, one zebra will be on guard, barking or snorting if danger is detected.
Burchell’s zebra drinking at a waterhole at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Hunting Burchell’s zebra in Africa will require patience and skill as they have incredible eyesight and will run if they sense danger. Their eyesight is excellent and whole the herd watches their surroundings. Approaching a herd without being seen requires the hunter to only move when there are no eyes on him. Even then, hunting Burchell’s zebra means you have to outwit them. As difficult as sex determination is, there are some hints as to which one is the stallion. When grazing, it will stay away from the herd. When moving, the mare will lead and the stallion will take up the rear guard.
Should the herd be spooked and run, watch for the stallion to run for a bit, then stop and look back. There will be a few seconds when a shot can be made. Depending on what kind of trophy is preferred, different types could be hunted. The herd stallion’s hide will show battle scars and be worn. The young stallion or mare will make a better rug.
As with other large plains game, the .30 caliber guns with good bullets of 170-200 grains work well. However, there’s been a number of them hunted with the .30s that decided to run instead of go down. They gave the hunter a number of hours to appreciate the African scenery while tracking the wounded animal. A better choice would be the trusty .375 with 270 or 300-grain bullets.
Burchell’s zebra running in grassland, Khwai concession, Okavango delta, Botswana
Seven Burchell’s Zebra Facts
Scientific name: Equus burchelli
Male weight: 550-600 pounds
Male height: 52 inches at shoulder
Shooting distance: 80-200 yards
Mating: year round
Gestation: one year
Life span: 20-22 years
Mountain Zebra in Namibia
The Namibian Hartmann’s mountain zebra Equus zebra hartmannae, is one of two species of mountain zebra. The other is the Cape mountain zebra found in provinces of Western and Eastern Cape in South Africa. The Hartmann’s is located in Namibia and Angola. Specifically, its habitat is the broken terrain east of the Namib Desert and the western parts of Etosha National Park.
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
It has black and white stripes on every part of its body except the belly. Mountain zebra hooves are hard, but wear fast on the rocky terrain, but grow rapidly to compensate for the extreme wear. On the Hartmann’s mountain zebra the white stripes are wide and the black between is narrow, just the opposite of the Burchell’s zebra. The mountain zebra is the smallest of the various species. Stallions stand three to four feet at the shoulder, and weigh anywhere from 500 to 750 pounds. Females are larger than the males.
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
Hartmann’s mountain zebras are grazers and consume leaves, bark, roots, grasses, fruits and similar. Their water intake is quite high, so they stay near sources of liquid. They use their hooves to dig for water when necessary. Should the food supply dwindle, or water become scarce, they will migrate to find what is needed. They usually don’t form large herds, except near water where it’s not uncommon to see 200-250 zebras gathered together.
Herds number four to six animals: stallion, mares and foals. Mountain zebras sleep standing up with one of the herd always on guard duty. If bothered, they will run, capable of speeds over 40 miles per hour. They try to lose a predator by dodging through the rocks, or climbing which they are very good at, even up at high altitudes.
The average lifespan of a Hartmann’s mountain zebra is 23-25 years. Mares mature after two years; stallions usually take six years. The mare produces one foal after a year’s gestation. Foals can stand and run shortly after birth. The male foal is weaned away from the herd after 10 months, staying alone, or joining a bachelor herd.
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra
To hunt the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, the hunter has to be in excellent shape. The terrain is rough, walking is difficult, and air can get a bit thin. The best chance to hunt one is to go along well-travelled paths to water holes early in the morning, or at last light. During the day the zebra will melt into in the shade and be difficult to find.
As with other zebras, the Hartmann’s mountain zebra is a tough animal. Minimum caliber recommended is .30, with preference to the Magnums and 180-200-grain bullets. Larger calibers are better at anchoring a large male. Something in the .338 family, say a .338 Winchester Magnum whose 250-grain bullet is still cooking along over 2,000 feet per second at 300 yards, should put the zebra in the salt. The rifle should be zeroed to 200 yards. Mountain zebras have excellent senses and closing on one to a sub-100 yard range is very hard. Here, shot placement is all-important. Considering the terrain, doing a tail chase on a wounded zebra would be a great way to check out your heart’s stamina.
For a frontal shot, place the cross hairs in the middle of the neck equidistant from the forelegs. Side shots need to be placed one-third up the body and behind the foreleg. Any higher than that could produce a wound, but not a fatal result.
As the UK parliament consider bans on hunting trophy imports, community leaders representing millions of rural Africans have launched an official complaint against one of the key players in the campaign against trophy hunting. Representatives from communities of six southern African nations are accusing celebrity-backed animal charity the Born Free Foundation of waging a campaign of disinformation against trophy hunting that will damage African conservation activities, and undermine their human rights and livelihoods.
The complaint to the Charity Commission for England and Wales focusses on the Born Free Foundation’s continued assertion that hunting “does not support conservation or local livelihoods”. Community leaders from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, all of which have trophy hunting as a significant part of their successful conservation strategies, state that the Born Free Foundation’s assertions that trophy hunting doesn’t support local communities or conservation are “demonstrably false” and “misleading”.
Angered at continued efforts to undermine their conservation achievements, and right to sustainably manage wildlife, the leaders’ (who represent several million people) complaint states that “the actions of this Charity serve to undermine the human rights and livelihoods of several million people living in our communities, as well as threaten the continuing success of our globally recognised conservation programmes.”
Further, they point out that by requesting donations to support their campaign, the Born Free Foundation is raising revenue on the basis of demonstrably false information. This is in direct contravention of the Charity Commissions Fundraising Code, which states “fundraising materials must not mislead anyone, or be likely to mislead anyone, either by leaving out information, or by being inaccurate or ambiguous or by exaggerating details”.
So far, despite requests for updates, the complaint has gone unaddressed and the charity continues its activities. “Whilst UK charities no doubt have the right to campaign for the rights of African animals, this right cannot come at the expense of African people’s rights to sustainably manage the resources on which our livelihoods rely or at the expense of the truth, science and fact. The Born Free Foundation’s continued distortion of the facts jeopardises conservation and our livelihoods and they should not be allowed to continue to campaign and raise money through disinformation campaigns.
It is disappointing that the Charity Commission has to date not acted upon our complaint in a manner which produces results” said Maxi Pia Louis, Chair of the Community Leaders Network.
Trophy hunting is recognised by the IUCN (World Conservation Union), on the basis of strong scientific support, as a conservation tool that “can – and does – positively contribute to conservation and local livelihoods in the face of intense competing pressures on wildlife habitat and widespread poaching”.
The Community Leaders Network is a collaborative grouping of rural representatives from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its vision is socially and economically resilient rural southern African people whose livelihoods are grounded in their rights to sustainably use their natural resources supported by international respect for their existing governance systems. https://resourceafrica.net/stories-voices/#community-voices.
Dr John Ledger is a past Director of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, now a consultant, writer and teacher on the environment, energy and wildlife; he is a columnist for the African Hunting Gazette. He lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. John.Ledger@wol.co.za
It starts like most adventures start – a thought in the back of your mind, a vision of adventure, the experience of a new culture, new people, and a different perspective of a sunset in a remote continent and different hemisphere.
Such was the case when I began thinking and dreaming of an African hunt. I had always dreamed of such an adventure, but could I make it a reality? The expense, the travel complications, firearm permits, work responsibilities, locating an outfitter and an area to hunt -the list of excuses can be endless.
When I finally came to terms with the excuses, I began to talk to myself and communicate with others, with a feeling that this could happen. The planning and researching phase of the adventure can be overwhelming, but luckily it took little effort to convince two of my close friends and former work colleagues to join forces and make it happen. As luck would have it, my friends were both already veterans of several previous trips to Africa which decreased my anxiety and gave me confidence. The pathway to my first African adventure had begun!
Kudu
The next step was to stick a flag in the ground and propose a date. At that time we could not have possibly imagined that a global pandemic had a different trajectory. Unfortunately, the flag we placed in the ground was squarely in the middle of that trajectory. We assumed there would be obstacles and barriers to overcome, but this was beyond our expectations.
Having decided on dates, we searched for an outfitter, but with so many options, who to choose? In the end, even with my two companions with previous African experience, we employed a professional booking agent, the best which turned out to be an ideal solution.
After several months of evaluating many possibilities, we were all finally in agreement with the outfitter, dates, and targeted species. We made the final decision, signed our hunt contracts, and paid a deposit to secure the schedule. The professional booking agent did his job, the dates were secure. The hunt, still 12 months away, we went off to make our flight reservations. All major obstacles and barriers appeared to be in our rear-view mirror. What could go wrong at this point!
We have all lived through the pandemic and subsequent Covid restrictions, so I will not re-hash the obvious, except to say our May 2020 hunt was cancelled and re-booked a year later. The frustrations, sadness and disappointments extend far beyond a pre-scheduled African hunt.
Kudu
But nearly two years and eight months from the initial vision of my Africa adventure, I found myself sitting on an airplane with a three-letter destination airport on my ticket – JNB (Johannesburg, South Africa)! It seemed nearly impossible to believe, but we were on our way.
I will not even attempt to sugarcoat the travel frustrations in a world that was trying to recover from a pandemic: The frustrations with rifle permits, covid testing requirements and ever-changing flights were now behind us as we sat on the first leg of our journey.
Arriving in Johannesburg after 36+ hours of travel we were exhausted. Thankfully, and as recommended by my hunting companions, we had already decided to spend two nights at the Afton Safari Lodge in Johannesburg to give us adequate recovery time before traveling on to our destination. The additional time even allowed the opportunity to tour the city which was a real bonus. The Afton Safari Lodge not only turned out to be a bit of an oasis, they also handled all our rifle permits, met us at the airport and walked us right through the customs process.
Witfontein Safaris
The area we intended to hunt was in the northeast province of Limpopo, and the four-hour drive to Witfontein Safaris gave us ample opportunity to take in the countryside.
Upon arrival were greeted by our host and our PH. After a quick introduction, a review of our hunting strategy and schedule, we were off to dinner and bed. The next morning we were to be cast into the wilds on our adventure! We were up at sunrise, and after a quick breakfast, zero checking our rifles at the range, we teamed up with our assigned PHs and were off for the day.
My PH, Herman, was a retired South African police officer and had decades of experience guiding all over southern Africa. I was immediately impressed and in awe of his depth of experience and local knowledge. I felt incredibly lucky to have been teamed up with such a skilled professional. Unlike in most American big-game hunting, one of the most compelling aspects of hunting in Africa is the targeting of many species on a single hunt. This was my first trip to this beautiful, game-rich land, so after months of revisions I had finally decided on four: kudu, sable, nyala and oryx.
Nyala
I quickly learned on my first day out that South Africa is about opportunity, which forces the hunter to be flexible and ready. We could be hunting kudu when a nyala unexpectedly steps out of the brush. This is exactly what happened many times, which is all part of the excitement of South Africa. After four days of hiking, glassing, and passing on a few animals, in the end, I took my sable and kudu within a few hours of each other.
The nyala was next on the list if there was an opportunity. The nyala, a cousin to the kudu, which is often referred to as the Gray Ghost, proved just as elusive. Even with the rut in full swing, these animals prefer heavy thick brush and have little interest in venturing out of their comfort zone. Finally, on the second-last day of the hunt and after exhausting multiple tactics, I took a beautiful nyala bull as we sneaked our way through the brush.
Witfontein Safaris
This adventure had already become epic – the culture, endless wildlife, and the sunsets are what hunting novels are written about, and I was living it. Time was running out, as it always seems to do. The idea of still having an opportunity at an oryx with only one day remaining seemed unrealistic. I had only seen one oryx, and it was running ass over tea kettle as they say, in the other direction. Herman, my ever confident PH, seemed to have no worries. He simply grinned and looked at me like a tenured professor would eye an unconfident student.
“I have a plan, now let’s get a good night’s rest and we will attack this in the morning.”
After a somewhat restless night, sunrise of the last day finally came, and after a quick breakfast I was anxious to hear “the plan” as we headed out for the last day in the field.
Witfontein Safaris
We started the morning by glassing a large expanse where Herman had previously located a small herd, hoping they would still be in the area. It was not long before we had our first glimpse of these amazing animals. Not unlike the pronghorns of the west, they are also equipped with amazing eyesight and being herd animals, there were lots of eyes to be concerned about. I was excited, but a few minutes later we were spotted, and they quickly turned and disappeared over the ridgeline. My heart sank as I tried not to look at my watch in desperation as the day clicked forward. Unshaken, Herman with his same confident professor expression, simply said, “Alright let’s go get ‘em,” as if the disappearance over the far ridge was part of the plan.
We quickly got off the top of the truck, shouldered the shooting sticks, and off we went on foot. Samuel, our highly experienced and trusty tracker went off in another direction, obviously part of some plan that at this point I no longer questioned. After about an hour of tracking and worming our way through the trees and underbrush, I was becoming slightly lost when Herman once again looked over at me intently as he quietly deployed the sticks.
“OK, get ready, and take the one on the right.” Right? How far out is he? I had not yet spotted anything, let alone the one on the right. After calming my nerves and getting organized I was on the sticks and finally spotted the oryx. At the same time Herman whispered, this time with a bit more anxiety in his voice, “Hit him now – he is at 142.” I squeezed off the .308 and the unmistakable sound of the thump echoed back at us. I knew he was hit good, and after a short track (thank you, Samuel) we had him, and I was immediately overcome with emotion. It was now the afternoon of my last day of hunting and I had taken all four of my target species and participated in one of the most incredible experiences of my life.
Sable
As we gathered around the fire that last evening enjoying a drink, I had an opportunity to reflect. It is interesting how the mind works: The covid frustrations, scheduling trauma and unending flight changes seemed irrelevant as the warm glow of the final sunset disappeared behind the hills. I had just experienced a culture and an adventure that many dream of, but only a small percentage have realized. I was incredibly grateful.
If I have learned anything about this experience it can be summed up about perseverance and long-term planning. Too often we subject ourselves to the daily frustrations and struggles within our own professional and personal life, not allowing ourselves to dream big – in the end a decade will slip by, and our experiences remain routine. This trip had dozens of opportunities to fail, or for any of us to simply say – “not now, this is too hard”. But we did not. As this trip fades into photos and long-distant memories, I will always be grateful for not giving up and making this incredible and epic adventure a reality.
What is your next adventure? Make it happen!
About the author Dave Irvin is a commercial backcountry pilot, avid hunter, aviation and outdoor writer and wilderness enthusiast. He currently calls Western Montana home where he and his family reside on their small ranch.
Suspicions arose when my French representative took me aside at Ouamou, our hunting camp in eastern Burkina Faso, strongly advising me to keep my firearm within reach at all times. I had just arrived with my last group of hunters after two months of back-to-back safaris in Burkina Faso (formally known as Upper Volta). Some background. Terrorist attacks escalated during the past few years in Burkina Faso. On 2 March 2018, at least eight heavily armed militants launched an assault on key locations throughout Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. Targets included the French Embassy and the headquarters of Burkina Faso’s military. ISIS fighters infiltrated the Sahel region (northern Burkina Faso, western Niger and southern Mali) from the north and established strongholds in this arid and religious-diverse area. The Sahel region forms the southern frontier of the Sahara Desert.
Colourful garments decorate the road between the camp and the hunting zone
Splinter ISIS groups moved into the countryside of eastern Burkina Faso – directly into our beloved hunting grounds. For nearly a decade, African Echo has conducted successful hunting safaris in association with our local partner during the months of January through to the end of March. In Singou, not far from where I was busy hunting savannah buffalo with an American client, a French outfitter and his hunting clients spotted two armed men at a distance who immediately opened fire on the French group, but luckily no-one was hit (very bad shots). The French picked up 34 AK-47 cases after the two men ran off. The news spread like a veldfire among the camp staff, and we were all on high alert. Not initially wanting to alarm the clients, we started hunting more to the south in the concession and added a few extra armed scouts to our party. We all spoke French, except my clients.
We added a few extra armed scouts to our party
My tracker Oually normally goes off on his own just before arrival at our lunch-time picnic spot, to shoot a few guinea fowl which very tastefully paired with our packed pasta, Moroccan sardines and a few cold ones.
After the first shot from his old Russian single-barrel shotgun, and very much to his surprise, he was surrounded by half of Burkina Faso’s armed forces. Luckily the heavily armed convoy was led by Michel, a good friend and local hunting guide, showing the military where the previous attack took place. I remember being quite proud as Michel was wearing his African Echo hunting cap (he often helped me out when I had double bookings). By now the clients realised that this was not a standard anti-poaching exercise.
Fighting ISIS in the beautiful hunting blocks of Burkina Faso
We had a meeting back in camp and decided to stop all hunting. The plan was to wait for the military to clear the area. After sitting in camp for two days and slowly running out of hunting days, I contacted my local partner in Ouagadougou and he organised another concession in the Pama region, very close to the Benin border. This was my last safari that season – little did I know that it sadly would also be my last safari since then. We quickly packed, and after lunch the whole crew drove down to Pama, roughly 200 km southwest by road. Trust me, 200km is not a two-hour drive in West Africa. We arrived at last light, regrouped and settled in.
Arriving at last light, African Echo crew move camp 200 km southwest towards the Benin border
After losing a few hunting days and confronted by a whole new area, we were very fortunate to obtain most of the animals on the clients’ wish list. We were all on the same Air France flight from Ouagadougou to Paris from where my clients caught their connecting flight back to the States, and I flew back to South Africa. Saying our last good-byes at Charles De Gaulle Airport, I sensed a mutual awareness of what just happened to us. It was more than just a hunt. The past ten days of compact and intense adventure will provide a lifetime of memories.
A Proud Member of Craig Boddington Endorsed Outfitters.
Registered ACP (Confirmé) & PHASA. SCI member & Global Rescue partner.
Please contact us if you are interested in hunting West and Central Africa (Chad & Central African Republic) or Southern Africa (Mozambique, Zambia & South Africa). www.africanecho.co.za glaeser@africanecho.co.za
Mobile: +27-83 456 1934
An African Dawn is the promise of a new day. The first rays and warmth of sunshine, with the sounds of Africa’s bushveld coming alive.
So, if you are reading this and dreaming of your next (or first) African safari, there is no time like the present to plan.
And here is something to think about. A collection of what we call the African Dawn Outfitters to select from, spread across the continent.
A group of established and reputable outfitters which, should you book, will give you peace of mind.
We accepted a limited number to join this exclusive club.
African Hunting Gazette started this for two reasons:
To promote hunting in Africa WITH these outfitters and
To aggressively promote the African Dawn outfitters
12 months, 52 weeks and ultimately every day of the year, to existing and new markets.
This is their Catalogue, and we hope you enjoy reading through it.
We invite you to contact the outfitters directly, or visit our website or theirs, to find out more. And if you need anything – you know where to contact us.
It’s to do with not enough understanding what the second half requires. When extreme fatigue sets in, not enough understanding of how this, along with problems faced turn to tragedy – and too much focus on summitting.
With hunting, the focus is too much on getting the trophy – but then after that?
The African bushbuck is divided into twospecies, the kewel (Tragelaphus scriptus) and the imbabala (Tragelaphus sylvaticus) The kewel’s distribution includes Senegal Ethiopia,Eritrea, and south to Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The imbabala, which is larger than the kewel, is found from the Cape in SouthAfricato Angola and Zambia in the west, and up East Africa to Ethiopia and Somalia.
Roland Wards Records of Big Gamelisteight different species of African bushbuck as doesSafariClub International. For descriptive purposes andhuntinginformation, only the above two will be mentioned. The kewel is more related to the nyala, while the imbabala shares traits with the bongo and the sitatunga.
Bushbuck ram (Tragelaphus sylvaticus ornatus) with world record horns, Zimbabwe
Bushbuck ram (Tragelaphus sylvaticus sylvaticus), Addo Elephant National Park
Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus roualeyni), Kruger National Park
The bull bushbuck stands about three feet at the shoulder and weighs between 100 pounds and 130 pounds. Ewes are considerably smaller at sixty to eighty pounds. The ram is the only sex to have horns. Horns continue to grow throughout the bushbuck’s life. A large set of horns will measure 16-17 inches. Coloration of males and females run from reddish brown to almost black brown with the male being darker than the female. Its legs and flank are white. These colors work well to camouflage the bushbuck. When in danger, the African bushbuck will lie down and not move, making it very hard to spot. Its warning call sounds like the bark of a small dog.
An impressive, not yet fully mature Masai bushbuck ram in excellent condition in Arusha National Park, Tanzania, where the living is relatively easy due to the lack of large predators. McCallum Safaris (Photo Courtesy of Karen Seginak)Menelik’s bushbuck
African bushbuck prefer living in thick bush along river banks where they can stay well hidden. Cover and fresh water are the main requirements of the bushbuck. They are browsers, but will consume most any other vegetation they can reach. Bushbuck are active around the clock, except when they are near human settlements where they become nocturnal. The ewe will give birth to a single lamb between October and January. For the first sixteen to eighteen weeks of life, the lamb is hidden by its mother until it’s strong enough to survive.
African bushbuck are solitary by nature, the adult males work at staying away from each other. Sometimes a buck and a ewe are seen together during breeding season. There have been sightings of small family groups consisting of a female with a young faun and an immature male, although this isn’t very common. African bushbuck live within an area of about 60,000 square yards and it is very uncommon for them to move out of that area.
Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus roualeyni,) Kruger National Park
Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus ornatus), Chobe
Mature African bushbucks are prey to lion, leopard, caracal, wild dogs, and hyena. The young are hunted by pythons. The greatest danger to bushbucks is snaring and hunting with dogs. Habitat destruction also contributes to their decline. African bushbuck come out of their bushy daytime layup during the cooler hours of the morning, and browse along the edges. However, the slightest noise, or movement, will send them back into the shrubbery barking furiously while disappearing from sight.
Hunting the African bushbuck can be a real challenge as it is such a solitary, evasive antelope. The traits necessary to hunt deer in the United States will work well when hunting the African bushbuck. When tracks are found one way to hunt would be to set up a blind along the trail. A hunt can happen quite rapidly as the bushbuck can seem to just appear and disappear, so the hunter must be ready and react instantly.
Sometimes the African bushbuck can be found out in an open spot in the morning trying to shake off the cold night by basking in the warmth of the sun. Hunt along a river bank during early evening while there’s still good shooting light, or in the morning’s first light, and if you are quiet, careful and lucky – very lucky – you might get a shot. The evening is the best time as the African bushbuck is very active at that time.
The most common, and most successful method of African bushbuck hunting is by the stalk. For this, a very good pair of binoculars is a necessity. Binoculars by Zeiss, Leica, Nikon, Swarovski, Doctor and others, in 8X42 or similar are usually the best. Stronger powers, like 10x, reduces the field of vision and are harder to stabilize.
Pick a hill with a good field of view, and check feeding spots. Again, early morning or late afternoon are the best times. Shots will tend to be long, so an accurate rifle in a flat-shooting caliber is best. The .30 magnums like the 300 Weatherby, 300 Winchester Magnum, 300RemingtonUltra Magnum, or any of many similar calibers can reach out 300 yards if the hunter does his part.
One caveat about African bushbuck hunting. This little antelope can be extremely dangerous. Wound him and he will become quite aggressive, with a charge possible. Those foot and a half long horns are very sharp at the pointed end, and more than one careless hunter has had the dubious pleasure of meeting a pair at a high rate of speed. When you shoot, aim for the chest cavity. If he runs, give him a fair amount of time to stiffen up before doing a follow up.
Seven Bushbuck Facts
Scientific name:Tragelaphus sylvaticus
Male weight: 100-130 pounds
Male shoulder height: three feet
Male horn size: 11-17 inches
Gestation: 180 days
Hunting: April – October
Territory: 60,000 square yards
Spear Safaris – Decent harnessed bushbuck from Burkino Faso
Spear Safaris – A pending SCI no 5, harnessed bushbuck from Burkino Faso
From what I remember and that which has been told to me by my parents and grand parents, it is obvious to me that my love for nature, the wilderness and the outdoor life is based on being raised on what would be defined as a very remote farm. We had limited access or need to go to town as we were largely self-sufficient, so our livelihood and entertainment was from our farm, surrounding forests, lakes and rivers and the odd community get together.
Unsurprisingly, my chosen career path was forestry. I met my future wife, was married and entered forestry training at the provincial technology institute. My first job landed us in a remote (one road in and out) community where we quickly found our place camping, hunting, fishing and trapping as recreation. Our daughter was exposed from birth to the wilderness activities, and to this day lives in a rural community and enjoys fishing and hunting too. My wife is a nurse and now we are retired, each with over 40 years in our respective careers.
Growing up on a subsistence style of farming ones realises the realities of raising animals for food and supplementing that with wild game. We were taught respect and humane practices. As soon as I could carry a firearm, I was accompanying my dad or uncle on hunting excursions, pellet gun or .22 in hand. While success was limited, I could not get enough of the sneaking around, stalking and trekking through the woods.
As with most families, a job, mortgage, raising a kid and other distractions limited the hunting opportunities to that of my home province. We had 10 different big-game species to hunt, more than time allotted. Eventually I was able to book some hunts in the territories and also enjoy the fantastic fishing those areas provide. But my dream was to get to Africa.
I attended several outdoor and sportsman shows and soon focused on some of the African PHs that had displays there. I was very ignorant of the opportunities, species or processes of getting to and from Africa. After three years of chatting with one particular PH, I finally decided to get serious. Eldre from Lucca African Safaris, a likable young man, convinced me to take the leap. This would be a trip including a hunting safari and touring some of the highlights of South Africa as well as a few days in Livingstone (Victoria Falls), a month-long adventure for my wife and me. (By the way, my wife does not hunt!) While I was trying to decide over the safari package and stay within a budget, Eldre just asked for our flight itinerary! No deposit! Just get there, we can decide once we are there and work out the payments then, and he set up all the after-hunt tours as well.
Black Springbok at Sunset
With Eldre setting up the entire adventure, I wanted to keep it simple, so just rented his .375 H&H and 7X57. On the drive to the Limpopo area, I asked a lot of questions. In spite of google research, until you actually are there and drive and see, it is hard to grasp the reality of Africa. Eldre was entertaining and at one point he openly stated, “Kelly – I can see now you will be back!” We had a fantastic time with Eldre, Marley and the trackers and totally enjoyed the “overlanding tour” of Kruger, Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrim’s Rest and the guided tours in Pretoria. I’m a geology and history buff, and seeing the history and culture is what travelling is about.
And Eldre was true to his word. My second trip (a solo) with Eldre had me hunting in the mountains of the Eastern Cape, touring the Port Elizabeth, Addo Elephant Park and Jeffreys Bay areas. From there I flew to Windhoek, picked up my camp car, and spent 10 days touring Namibia. Trip 3 was again with my wife, hunting in the Kalahari region and again an extended camp car tour of Namibia.
Cape Kudu in the thick
As for firearms, I relate to a book I read years ago with the statement, “use enough gun!”. Hunt 2 and 3 were in terrain that dictated longer-range shooting, so I brought my own trusted .300 Win Mag – a Blazer R8. As for a favorite animal to hunt, well that is hard to determine. I like to walk and stalk, and my strongest memories of the hunt are of those animals for which we walked great distances; crawled through the thick; busted a leopard; cut my knees on sharp stones, and had thorns stuck in my legs and shoulders just to get into position or to retrieve an animal. All good!
On my last hunt I was after lion. Now that the price was within my budget and we can still import, I figured it was time – now or never! As we tracked a maned male and zigzagged through the bushveld with very limited visibility, my PH put a halt to our progress. “No! We are not going ahead, too thick, too close and he knows we are on him.” We backed up a bit, called for the tracker to bring in the bakkie. After a brief wait, we clambered into the back of the farm truck and leaned up against the cab, me in the center, my PH on my right and the tracker on my left. We drove ahead maybe 20 meters when we spotted the cat crouched under a bush right in front of us and tapped on the hood to stop. We did, but were screened by the bush, so my PH told the driver to back up. A jerk backwards and quick stop had all three of us on our butts on the floor of the bakkie. I sat up to see the lion starting to move, and quickly shouldered and fired. Well, the shot was good and the scope kiss left a mark. All good!
Impala taken in Limpopo, South Africa
Whether you are a hard-core hunter or more relaxed, Africa has a lot to offer. Spend time talking to your PHs and if possible, meeting their families. A hunt means spending a lot of time with that person or family, and if you don’t click then it can make the trip difficult. We have been lucky, and for us it is more about the PH family, trackers, skinners and help. We have found them to be dedicated and easy to be with.
Setting a budget: Consider a long-term stay. Travelling that far is hard so set aside two days of travel each way. We go for at least a month so we can enjoy the hunt – transfers are easy – and see the country and culture in a more relaxed mode. Prior to the trip shoot your rifle a lot! Or, if you are going to rent/borrow, then shoot a lot at home to get used to recoil and handling. You do not want to make the trip only to miss shots or lose a wounded animal!
Castle time
My wife tells me we can go back to Africa. This Covid thing needs to end! But she also said that I can’t hunt anymore because there is no more room for mounts. Hmmm. My eland is still on the floor. Guess she is right about the room! As for the trip, well, I will look after the arrangements! Ha ha!
This article is not intended to offend anyone, but is merely an offer to inform – and possibly improve – the safari experience for clients, outfitters and professional hunters. I’ll begin by admitting that I am not an expert on anything other than my likes and dislikes I base my observations on five trips to Southern Africa hunting with five different outfitters and three professional hunters for a total of 101 days. The areas I hunted in South Africa are Limpopo, Thabazimbi and Barberton. I have also hunted in Namibia near Otjiwarngo and Okahandja.
The first thing I would like to mention is communication. Before my first trip in 2009 I read somewhere that a safari had three parts: There is the anticipation, the actual hunt, and the reliving it when your trophies arrive. Each phase should be enjoyable.
Outfitters are busy taking care of the hunters on site, responding to potential clients, dealing with business promotion and daily routines. However, you the outfitter, and the PH, should consider your hunter. Stay off your phone or computer when you are with the hunter. I expect all attention to be with me while I am hunting with you. When you talk with others in Afrikaans and I am present, please, translate for me so I am not left out of the conversation. I consider it rude for anyone to talk in a language that others don’t understand without explaining what the conversation is about. The other issue with communication is with emails or messages between clients and outfitters. We are aware of all the things outfitters have to deal with, but please read the entire message and answer promptly and completely. I have waited over a week to get a response from outfitters, and then when I asked four questions only one or two were answered. This wastes my time and yours, as I have to ask again.
Communicate with your clients (especially first-time hunters). Ask if they will be bringing anyone else with them – a son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor? Plant the idea. Many US people do not realize that young people can hunt in Africa. Sharing the hunt makes it that much better, and it’s an opportunity to introduce someone to hunting. I brought my 10-year-old grandson to Africa where he killed his first animal – an impala. It was the best safari I have been on, and something he and I will share forever. The outfitter applied special rates for my grandson, appreciating the chance to build a relationship with a future client.
My 10-year-old grandson Pierce painted with blood after his first kill
Hunters need to communicate with their outfitter and PH. Make sure you explain how you want to hunt. If you want to spot and stalk make sure you maintain that attitude. Some outfitters will push you to shoot as
many animals in any way possible. More animals = more money. Also state what type of trophy you are looking for. Do you want a record animal or a good representative specimen? We will all shoot a record trophy if the opportunity presents, but do we want to hold out and come away with nothing? As they say: “Don’t pass up on Monday what you’ll shoot on Friday.” Inform your PH of your wish list, but also let the PH know if you might add or substitute another species if a great trophy appears.
On my second safari we were stalking hartebeest that were mixed in with some zebra. Following behind the PH I noticed a duiker that I thought was a rather large specimen. I thought that if the duiker bolted he might spook the hartebeest and zebras so I got the PH’s attention and pointed out the duiker. He waved his hand to let me know that we were not interested in duiker, but we were after hartebeest! A few days later in conversation, I said that I might be interested in a duiker if we found a nice one. The PH replied: “You should have shot that one we saw the other day. That was the biggest duiker I have ever seen.” Now there was a time that the PH should have considered the trophy animal presenting itself and informed the hunter (me) that it was a very nice specimen and given me the choice to shoot or pass. Communication!
The manner of hunting in Africa where you do not purchase a license for a particular species in advance is a concept completely foreign to US hunters. In the US you need a license for every big game animal you wish to hunt. Each state has its own regulations and fees associated with each license, and a license is not a guarantee of success. African Outfitters and PHs need to make sure the client understands the trophy fee system, and that a client can shoot any species he finds acceptable – as long as he has the money to pay for it.
HEAT. What is it with no heat in Africa? Hunters from the US and Europe leave the heat of summer to hunt Africa in the winter. Our bodies cannot adapt to the temperature change overnight. I do not mind putting on layers of clothes to go out hunting but I do not want to wear those same clothes to bed in order to keep warm. But taking a shower in a room that is just slightly above freezing is NOT enjoyable. My wife will never travel to Africa again after freezing for 10 days on a concession that had no heat in our bungalow or in the main lodge. Any future trips for me will include the understanding that my accommodations will have heat. I have seen mornings when the dog’s water dish was frozen solid, the staff were bundled in woolen hats, scarves and coats, but the windows are wide open while they cook breakfast. Why? Is it some macho standard that makes a warm room unacceptable? I slept on plank floors in a lean-to during the dead of winter when I was a young man, but I am well past that now. Think about your client’s comfort.
Understand your client’s overall interests. Some clients’ only interest is killing animals, while some are interested in the entire experience. I find each trip as a means of learning something about a culture, the geography, the politics, the flora and the fauna. My favorite PH is great at spotting game, identifying tracks and getting me on the sticks for a shot. He is also knowledgeable about the flora and native culture which enhances my experience and leaves me with something more than a trophy on the wall.
Make all-inclusive the standard for your clients. There may always be some ‘extras’ that require additional compensation, like side trips or even special diets. Transport from the airport? How else would they get there? Your promoted low price tag may attract their attention, but the add-ons can sour the relationship when you hand them the bill. Believe it or not, not everybody reads the fine print. Don’t forget what they have to spend just to set foot on the continent.
My experiences in Africa have given me a great many positive memories and very few negative ones. Much of that has to do with my bonding with a PH that I trust and enjoy being with. Spending time with him is now more important than just another trophy. Build relationships. Consider your client as more than a paycheck and they will keep coming back. Often the quality of the finished product is in the details.
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