I just returned from a hunt for the small antelopes of Southern Africa. I first hunted in South Africa for a week and then went to Namibia to join my brother on his hunt and also try for a Damara Dik Dik and Klipspringer and to look for a trophy Kudu.

Hunt Duration in South Africa: May 1 through May 6
Outfitter: Toby Cilliers of Born To Hunt Safaris
Web Site: http://bornhunt.co.za

I flew to Johannesburg from Dulles on South African Airways. Toby had already obtained my rifle license and mailed it to me via DHL two weeks prior to my departure. An important thing to remember is that after you collect your bags you have to go to the baggage claim hall where they bring all the firearms. You have to point out your gun case to the person there and he will fill in your information including your passport number in a register which you then sign. You then proceed to the Police Firearms office and if you have your license in hand it took me 10 minutes to have my rifle checked and released.

I then flew to Durban where Toby picked me up. We then drove about 2 1/2 hours north of Durban and on May 1 hunted for the Red Duiker. The hunting is done on foot, slowly walking through the thick undergrowth looking for the Duiker.



The first day we walked about 8-10 miles but only saw 3 female Red Duikers and a lot of Nyala.




Around 5 PM Toby saw a Sunni in the thick undergrowth hiding under a bush and I was able to get it with a 12 gauge shotgun. This was a surprise to everyone as the area being hunted is at the extreme outer range for Sunni. I was later told that they only see a Sunni once every 3-4 months in this area.





The next morning we started hunting at first light and after walking 4 miles or so decided to have breakfast by a small water hole in the middle of the thick bush, as we were opening the boxes Toby noticed a Red Duiker moving through the forest at the edge of the waterhole. It was confirmed to be a male and I was able to get it with my .223. The hunt was over by 9 AM.








We then drove south and spent the night about 150 Km north of Port Elizabeth. The following day I hunted Blue Duiker. The hunting is in forested areas with thick cover and dogs and beaters are used to drive the Duikers towards the hunter. I saw two Duikers both were too fast for me to hit even with a shotgun. I know I would have gotten one if I could spend another day or two but did not have the time.



The next stop was about a 100 Km south of Port Elizabeth to hunt Vaal Rhebok. The terrain was open hills and the shooting was long range.




I also hunted the Cape Grysbok in the Eastern Cape. Toby used a predator call to call in the Grysboks but we only succeeded in calling in 3 different females. I ultimately shot a nice male in the evening





The last day of my hunt was spent in pursuit of the Bushpig with a group of local Bushpig experts who hunt different areas with their pack of dogs. The hunt was in a large dense forest and I was able to shoot a large pig at 10 paces while he was fighting with the dogs.








Hunt Area: Okanduka Seibe Hunting Farm, Namibia
Hosts: Dirk & Rita
Wed Site: http://www.huntingnamibia.de



I flew to Windhoek on May 7, to hunt for 10 days there with my brother. I hunted with Dirk and Rita. They are outstanding hosts. The hunting was excellent. The food and presentation the best I have had in Africa.

I shot a Klipspringer on the fourth day; this was by design as my brother was hunting Leopard. He will write his own report when he comes back on May 26.






The Kudu population was very good and I was able to get a 54 ½ inch Kudu on the 6th day.






The Damara Dik Dik was the most difficult to find, but after 4 days of hunting I was able to shoot a good male on the last evening of my hunt.









Regards
Aziz

Great to see someone specialize in the smaller antelope.

How will you mount them?

Hello Palmer

It will be full mounts for everything except the Kudu and the Vaal Rhebok.

Regards
Aziz

You gotta smile for some of those pictures!

It looked like a great hunt, thanks for posting and congratulations.

Aziz,

Congratulations and thanks for the report and photos.

Regards,

Terry

Very nice Vaal Rehbok. How big was he?

Excellent critters! That's what I'd like to do, what a great safari!

Congrats!

Aziz
Great Report! It's good hear you had a good hunt with Dirk and Rita. Lots of AR members have booked hunts with Drik. With good reports from Attius, Reddy and you I am sure they feel a little better. For the money I think they run one of the best plains game hunts in all of africa! I hope your brother gets his Leopard..

What a great report! I`ve always had a special interest in the tiny ones, and have been fortunate to take several of them. They`ve played a major role on all of my African hunts. I still haven`t hunted the Suni or Red Duiker, but that`s probably what I`ll do the next time around! How many days would you recommend to be pretty sure of success? I`m thinking KwaZulu-Natal or maybe Mozembique..
Thanks for sharing, Aziz!

Aziz, Sounds like another great hunt, congratulations and thanks for the pictures and informative recap. It sounds like your PH in South Africa was very organized and the trip well thought out, right down to the bushpig hunt with dogs. And it is good to read of another favorable experience with the fine folks in Namibia. Bill

Great Report and Great Hunt. Congrats!

Great post! You bagged some great trophys.. I particularly like the Damara Dik-Dik.. My next African hunt (after the one next month, of course) will be to Namibia, and that specie will be trophy numero uno on my list.. I think they are just about the neatest of all the small antelope species.. Beautiful animals..
Again, congrats on a wonderful safari and great post and pics as well..
(now ya need a Cordeaux Dik-Dik that are found up in Ethiopia and Tanzania!!)

Congratulations on a successful hunt and thanks for the report and photos.

Thank you all, RM007 the Vaal Rehbok was 7 1/2 inches.
Anders the best place to hunt the Suni and Red Duiker are KwaZulu Natal. The Red Duiker should take a day or two but the Suni is more difficult and most people recommend a total of 4-5 days for those two.

Robert I agree with you,for the money Dirk & Rita do have one of the best plains game hunts in Africa.


Regards
Aziz

Aziz,

Thanks for the great report.

Thanks for the great report and pictures. It sounds like you were very busy while you were there, and quite successful.

Aziz,

Thanks for the great report from both places. My family and I are booked with Dirk for 14 days in late June / early July of '07 and I'm really getting getting ancy. I can't wait! Thanks again, beautiful Kudu.

thanks for the report !, I've been putting off doing a report for my first trip to S.A., I'm a 2 finger typer

Very nice. Craig Boddington wrote a nice article on the miniatures recently in Sports Afield.

Congratulations Aziz on a great collection of trophies! I hope your brother scores on his Leopard. Your report has me smiling on this Monday Morning. I'll spend the rest of the day thinking about my hunt last September with Dirk and Rita. Unfortunately, it will be a few years until I can get back.

Great report and photos. Sounds like a really wonderful hunt, congrats.

Thanks,

JPK

Hi Aziz,
I am scheduled with Dirk & Rita the second half of May 2007. I suspect that Dirk/Rita gave you a Namibia information package to mail to me? (to Anchorage, AK)? Anyway, it sounds like you had a great time. I am in the process of trying to nail down my flight and figure out what to do regarding shipping trophies home and where to get the taxidermy done. I'd appreciate any info you have to share. Feel free to PM me if you would like. Thanks.

Great report Aziz! Thanks for sharing.

I'd never seen a good photo of a sunni - thanks for posting that photo. great hunt report, thanks you for letting us in on your success.

Aziz it's time for your brothers report and pictures! ( It not nice to keep us waiting )
Azia did you see any sign of rabies on Driks ranch?

Hello Robert

I told my lazy brother to move his limbs and post.

There is no evidence of rabies on Dirks ranch.

Regards
Aziz

Neat hunt. I have 5 of the "Tiny 10" and plan on returning for a specialty hunt for some of the others when my son is old enough to go. Nice trophies!

Congratulations on some very nice animals.