Hi guys, just watched a documentary film about eland in Drakensberge (Dragon mountains) - gosh that place is stunning - and I wondered is there any hunting in that place or nearby with similar amphitheatre?

For those not aware:

I have no idea, but that sure looks like vaal rhebok and mt. reedbuck territory as well.
How's the alltitude on these mountains?

Well those elands looked just plain majestic on that mountains - alt is up to 3000m I believe

Some more :

http://www.dailymotion.com/vid...erg-mountains_travel

We hunted there in 2000 with Peter harris of Ntshonalanga Safaris.

Peter is a great PH, and runs an absolutely first class outfit.

We went up the mountain on horse back. We had to climb through the clouds, and wait for the cloud cover to clear before we wewe able to see any game.

Found a large herd of eland bulls, and managed to shoot one at 500 yards.

Hunted there again in 2002 but did not see any eland.

Thanks Saed - just found your report: http://www.accuratereloading.com/sa2000.html

Looks like demanding hunt with long shots.

I have traveled through them and hunted in areas close by. They are absolutely beautiful.

Simply breathtaking, and I live near some pretty spectacular real estate myself.

Who hunts this area? What outfitters?

Some of the lower slopes have great common reedbuck hunting too.

Saeed
Just an update on Peter Harris and Ntshonalanga.
Peter sold his share and has now decided to help his son Dirk to set up his own safari company.
I saw them both last week at their new lodge on the outskirts of pretoria. Dirk is going to continue where his father left off together with Peters brother in law Tom. As soon as I mentioned I had spent time in Dubai your name was mentioned along with some of the stories of the hunts, sounds like you guys had a great time.

If anyone is looking for a great place to overnight away from Joburg and wants a great lodge atmosphere and nice people, i suggest you go and take a look at their site.

I was so impressed with the place that we have decided to use them for all of our clients coming in through ABS.

They handle all the pick ups, and rifle clearance etc too so its a great service and a truly awesome location.
Look at www.ndlovulodge.com for more info.
Good hunting
Ian

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Who hunts this area? What outfitters?

Anyone have a comment?

We can arrange a hunt in this area. I will get in contact with landowner. Vlam should also be able to help?!

These Eland are free roaming as I understand it.
I have not hunted there myself, but a very good friend that fish with me lives down there (or up there)

PM me for details

Charl is right. These Eland are free range and take a lot of hard work to get. Months of planning and monitoring before hand and then a stroke of luck during the hunt. The best areas are the foothills of the drakensberg during the harder winter months when the herds come down to graze the pasture areas on the slopes.
You have two options, one is to spend a lot of time watching and then try and get in ahead of the movement of the herd for a final short range shot. The other is to try and take the high ground, get in behind them and go for long shot down hill. Either way you better be fit and healthy and be ready to get cold.

The bushmen believed the eland to be the spirits of the mountains and treated them with respect earned due to their hardy nature and ability to survive in these extremely harsh but beautiful places.

One thing you can be sure of is that you will only get one chance to make a good shot, once they start to run they don't often stop to look back.

The hunt if the permits are approved will take a lot of planning and preparation, but I can tell you that you will never forget it. Hunting 20 000 ha of farm land and mountain peaks is not to be sneezed at.

If anyone is serious about making an attempt at some of these Eland then they should speak up early. Remember, these are not the tame eland eating pasture 10km outside of Underberg, these are mountain eland living the way they have for the last 2000 years, the same way they lived when the bushmen painted them, the rock art across the area stands as testament to that.

Ian

A paradise for jumpers.

Vlam,
Email sent.

I do know it snows in the Drakenberge's and the highest peak is 11,000 + feet...

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Vlam:
Saeed
Just an update on Peter Harris and Ntshonalanga.
Peter sold his share and has now decided to help his son Dirk to set up his own safari company.
I saw them both last week at their new lodge on the outskirts of pretoria. Dirk is going to continue where his father left off together with Peters brother in law Tom. As soon as I mentioned I had spent time in Dubai your name was mentioned along with some of the stories of the hunts, sounds like you guys had a great time.

If anyone is looking for a great place to overnight away from Joburg and wants a great lodge atmosphere and nice people, i suggest you go and take a look at their site.

I was so impressed with the place that we have decided to use them for all of our clients coming in through ABS.

They handle all the pick ups, and rifle clearance etc too so its a great service and a truly awesome location.
Look at www.ndlovulodge.com for more info.
Good hunting
Ian

I can second that!!!!

Awesome lodge to brake away or use as a pit stop.

Peter is a great host with almost 29 years of PH experience and lots of stories to keep you captivated.

I don't know if this is what Mouse saw, but there has been an excellent documentary airing on PBS this last week called "Drakensberg: Barrier of Spears".

One can buy the DVD, or it can also be watched online for FREE:

CLICK HERE

It's good, and there are a few nice old mop-headed bulls too! (Part 2, 10:25 thru)

Those of you into trout (lake and small-stream) will also be spoiled in the 'berg' we call it!

Lovely place.

thanks for the link BillC

I saw part of that documentary. It was amazing to say the least. That kind of a hunt would be a blast.

Brett

Absolutely beautiful!

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Who hunts this area? What outfitters?

Anyone have a comment?

I would talk to my friends Pierre van Tonder or Richard Lemmer.
They lives close and know the aerea. PM me for phonenumbers. I beleve Saeed knows them.

Heres a pic from Rics place.

Those are my boyhood stomping grounds. Spent a good part of my life in Rosetta and at school nearby in Balgowan, and fished (trout and bass) and hiked this area. My family had a farm in the "foothills". Back then, there wasn't much big game. Reedbuck, Duiker at lower elevations. Some Bushbuck. There are Eland in the 'berg but not a lot. You will find Bushman paintings in some places depicting Eland and other species. Back in the early days, there was plenty of game in this area, even Red Hartebeest according to the early explorers. I find this very strange but it's documented. Some farms have stocked game more recently behind high fences. Frankly, I think it's still a better bet for birds and trout than big game. Unlike the USA, most big game hunting in South Africa is done at lower elevations, specifically the Limpopo Drainage, Zululand, and more recently the E. Cape. Behind those mountains lies Lesotho, the "Switzerland of Africa". Tiny landlocked country with a distinct culture and traditions. The "Basotho" people are known for wearing blankets (it gets darn cold up there) and riding their sure-footed ponies. Sadly, a lot of soil erosion on that side due to ignorant farming practices.

That looks like the view from my dormitory at school in Mooiriver. It sure brings back memories.

Cheers
Allan

Hi Allan.

I guess you have seen theese mountains a few times. Mooiriver isnt more than a couple of "long rifleshots" from Champagne walley and Winterton.

Do you have some pics taken from your place?

And could you see Giant Castle or Champagne castle from your place?

And Russ. I beleve you might know these places as well? Rosetta isnt that far away...

I went to Weston Agricultural college which is on the Greytown road,so the view we had was of the Giants Castle region. Unfortunately I don't have any photo's, but I am really enjoying those posted.

Regards
Allan