Dates: May 26-30
Location: Western Cape, South Africa, Nuweveld Mountains, Karoo
US Booking Agent: Alan Kelly; www.kellysafrica.com
Outfitter: Dwyka Safaris
PH: Bennie Blom

I was asked to go on a business trip to Hong Kong, last minute, and when my boss found out the price of direct round-trip airfare, it didn't take long to for him to persuade me to take a few days of vacation and take advantage of an "around-the world" discount. A quick call to Alan, and within hours, I had a 5-day plains game safari booked for the Western Cape. My primary interests were vaal rhebuck and klipspringer, secondaries were steenbuck, duiker and springbuck.

Hong Kong and business went well, and on the 25th I landed in Cape Town on schedule. Bennie, as well as his cousin Dewald and Dewald's son Dawie, were right in the arrivals hall with big smiles. We chatted the 4 to 5 hours drive north to Sutherland like long lost friends.

I stayed in a farmhouse on a property called Kromkolk, which was very comfortable, and am now an adopted member of an Afrikaans sheep farming family, the Blom's. Bennie’s mom and dad, Annette and Danie were there to cook and take care of any accommodations issues, and to say those two were a delight is a vast understatement. Bennie was my dream PH, being possessed of a patience and quiet determination that fit me to a “Tâ€. Dewald and Dawie were along to help with photos, trophy care and all around good cheer. It was evident from first meeting in the airport to the last goodbyes that all were totally committed to seeing to it I had the most memorable experience possible. I simply can’t say enough good about these people. I will go out of my way to visit them again when I return to South Africa whether I am hunting or not.

The hunting area and quality of the hunt were like nothing I imagined. It was high altitude (4K-5K feet), tree-less steppes and the coldest part of the continent, an unbelievably unique environment not generally associated with Africa. Vaal rhebuck are amazing animals, and a challenge of the highest order – now my favorite pursuit in Africa. South Africa often gets a bad rap as not being “real African hunting†because of the types of places that stock game into small high-fenced enclosures, but I would challenge anyone to go on this hunt and not come away with a very high level of appreciation of what must be one of the best that Africa as a whole, not just South Africa, can offer. At the risk of sounding like a salesman (disclaimer: I've no financial interest whatsoever in anything or anybody at all in Africa or in the US associated with Africa), I was in Zimbabwe for my first African hunt, and while I wouldn't change a thing about that one, there is no question that this one was more authentic, and more fulfilling.

I've attached photos of the results of the hunting.













Bennie was pretty sure the steenbuck and duiker were Rowland Ward qualifiers, there is no question about the vaal. There are mountains in the area that haven't been hunted in 10-20 years, if at all. I can't imagine what must inhabit them - in fact, my training program to get into good enough shape to access them starts tomorrow as I intend to find out. I also understand that there are some properties in the Eastern Cape that Bennie hunts, that are not, I repeat not, the types of properties too often associated with stocking, put-and-take, etc.

While I am not the most experienced safari-goer on the planet (this being my second), I'm old enough and experienced enough in hunting to know an authentic, fair-chase hunt when I find one. Add to same the unique nature of this hunt, and you've got a world-class experience on your hands. In short, there are some that will try and dissuade someone from RSA, citing the bad apples in the bunch, but bottom line is that I found out there are those like Bennie who offer a venue that is every bit as good as anything else on the continent, if not better.

Congrats on a very succesful hunt. Beautiful Trophies..... And that Vaal Rhebok... WOW!

Great report on a highland hunt in SA.. people often forget about that part of SA.. great looking trophies. That Rhebok is a monster!! Everytime I see one of those, I still think they look like they belong in the Andes of South America instead of Africa.. they remind me of a Guenaco(relative of camels) with horns..
That is a big 'ol baboon as well!!

jhrod,

Congratulations on a great safari and some very nice trophies. This type of safari you were on is where I think RSA really shines.

We are going back this year to try a second time for a rhebok plus a few others and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Mark

Excellent safari! I think someday I would like to take a similar safari with just the little guys in mind.

Congrats,

Wow! Great hunt!! Love the Baboon. What caliber rifle? What bullet?

John

Thanks for sharing!
I hunted Vaal Rhebok this march and I must agree with you. What a challenge! Mine was smaller than yours, but we worked hard and he will be a priced fullmount.. Great pics!

Many thanks gentlemen. The vaal is certainly going to be the pride of my trophy display. I've several modifications to existing forms that I have in mind for my taxidermist - I really should film his reaction when I start explaining what I have in mind.

Mark - best of luck on your upcoming adventure. I personally can't wait to get back to the Karoo. I had to laugh a little earlier, I saw a post on the "African Travel" board where one bloke remarked about RSA, "why anyone continues to go hunting there is beyond me". Those of you who have experienced the Karoo know very well why.

30ott6 - given that this was a last minute deal, and my visit to HK on business, I couldn't take my own rifle and used one of Bennie's. It was a BRNO/CZ in .223, and my apologies for not remembering the model - but it had a set/hair trigger set-up and detachable box magazine. It wore a well-used 6X fixed power scope of unrecognizable vintage, and I was provided Remington 55 grain FMJ ammo. As an Iowan who doesn't get much chance to shoot long range, or at moving targets with a rifle, I had my work cut out for me. On those animals where I did my job, it was plenty up to the task at hand.

I'll spare everyone a lament on my poor marksmanship for a couple days until I got used to the gun, and must compliment Bennie on his "discretion" after a few misses. But I can't complain - while not all were the one-shot kills we strive for, I had no hit and unrecovered animals. For anyone doing this hunt, my one piece of advice would be to practice some long-range shooting from a box that is too high for a firm prone rest, yet too short to get a firm kneeling rest. It seemed like every shot I had was resting on the wrong sized rock where one is somewhere between prone and kneeling.

Best,
Jeff

Looks like the grass wasn't too tall... Good for you!!

The region I hunted had an unusually wet late summer, leading to grass that nearly hid springbucks... much less the tiny critters.

It looks like you had a lot of fun!

Dan

Congrats on your Rheebuk...I'm still after one of those myself. They are a very worthy advesary in their mountain habitat and I will second your vote of completely fair chase! Good show!

quote:

Mark - best of luck on your upcoming adventure. I personally can't wait to get back to the Karoo. I had to laugh a little earlier, I saw a post on the "African Travel" board where one bloke remarked about RSA, "why anyone continues to go hunting there is beyond me". Those of you who have experienced the Karoo know very well why.

If you take the time to learn about it, the Karroo is an incredible place, the ecology is facinating and its downright beautiful...