Holly and I are home again after a wonderful 21 day trip to the Eastern Cape. We hunted for 10 days with our PH friend, Darren Baker of Coenraad Vermaak Safaris in three areas of the Eastern Cape. The rest of the time we were sightseeing and relaxing in East London and Port Elizabeth.

Photos and a description of the hunt are online at the SCI Low Country Chapter website.

Great link to great recaps and pics.

It is great that you shared those experiences with your wife!

Mark and Holly, looks like you had another great trip to Africa...All pics super...

Mike

Very nice!!

Wonderful

Wow, nice presentation...

Wow, beautiful animals!! Congrats!

riodot

What wonderful photos and memories. I know you both had a great time in the Eastern Cape.

Nice Rehbok!

Wasn't it Blue Duiker you hunted at Kikuyu not Natal Red. It was good to see the lodge at Kikuyu with the sod in place and growing nicely. I hunted and stayed there in Oct of 01 and I was the 8th hunter to use the facalities. Now that you have hunted the Blue Duiker you know why (in my opinion) they are one great trophy and taking a female is not a bad thing as sexing them is just about well it is impossible prior to the kill. I also took a nice Cape Bushbuck and a very nice Cape Grysbok on that property.

I hope to get my other Grysbok - Sharpes in Sept in Zim.

Really nice trophies, Mark! Looks like you both were in some beautiful places. I enjoyed all of the photos.

Looks like you had an absolutely lovely trip

Thanks for taking the time to share it with us all. My best to you and Holly!

Congratulations on a great hunt! I envy you those trophies. That`s for sure!
I have thought of hunting the Eastern Cape myself. Cape grysbok, vhal rhebok and the cape bushbuck is indeed fine animals!

Very nice Mark. Thanks for sharing. You guys got some really nice animals. The Cape Bushbuck is really COOL!!



John

Mark,

Glad you had a great hunt and a super holiday. I love reports like yours because it shows the deversity of hunting in RSA. We've had great hunting there and am booked again. You need to look beyond the kudu, zebra, warthog etc. to see what is really available and not behind any high fence. I love the South African experince.

Regards,

Mark

Thanks Die Ou Jagter, you're right, I've corrected the typo!

Kikuyu Lodge is truly a first-class operation. The Managers and the head PH were terrific people. Thankfully the PH loaned me his .22 Hornet to shoot my Cape Grysbok. I took my .300 Jarrett and a .30/06 for backup. Either one of them would probably have turned the Grysbok inside out.

At about 40 yards, the .22 Hornet only made a tiny hole going in and didn't exit. I'm going to mount it life size, just like the one I photographed in the Lodge.

Great report and nice trophies, Mark. The areas you hunted truly are unique because of their flora, fauna and history! Molteno was a fun stop for us and great mountain hunting! Reminded me of New Mexico or west Texas!

By the way, I hunted the Save Valley on a block owned by some South Carolinians last month. Warm and very gracious people, they were perfect hosts, as most southerners are!
What impressed me the most was the conservation efforts they extended to create an African paradise out of an old cattle ranch. If you know the Schenk's, tell them hello for me when they get back home!

Again, excellent hunt! The Vaal Rheebuk is one of my favorite South African animals!

Mark, who is managing the property now? I shot my Grysbok with my 338 with x's (by mistake wanted to use solids) but the exit hole was not much bigger than the entry hole. I think the little guys don't make them open. I shot my Blue Duiker with 16ga. buck.

A husband and wife team are the Lodge Managers. I only met the husband very briefly, but his wife is a charming blonde lady who was very pleasant and hospitable; unfortunately I don't remember her name. We were not guests at Kikuyu Lodge, we drove there in the morning to hunt and returned to the Kat River Lodge at night.

Having to use dial up $ucks with a web page that has 170 images.

Hog Killer