My first safari to Africa was to the Gras Ranch, Namibia in June 2002. Outfitter was Wendell Reich, owner of Hunter's Quest International (refers to himself as "Buffalobwana" in the AR forums). His link is:

http://www.huntersquest.com/

I have absolutely nothing even close to bad to say about this hunt! Christian Ranch owners (Jannie and Enri Spangenberg) and Christian PH (Errol Lambrechts) worked their hearts out to make my lifelong dream come true. The PH's link is at:

http://www.zingelasafaris.com/

The ranch is 94,000 acres (that's 140 square miles, sports fans!) and I literally saw thousands of animals over 7 days of hunting. I took Wildebeest, 2 Hartmann's Zebra, Kudu, 2 Springbok, Caracal, Gemsbok, Giraffe, Warthog, and Impala. 4 Animals were gold medal. I also took a Spotted Genet, 2 Baboon, and 2 extra "meat" springbok all at no charge.

The food was fantastic - gourmet meals! My wife and I gained weight!. Accomodations were superb! We even had a large garden tub in the bath.

I had researched numerous hunts in Namibia and RSA before choosing this one and finally decided on this one by recommendation of a couple of friends who had been there. Surprisingly, this one was by far the least expensive of any of the hunts.

I have a link that shows photos and tells the stories of my hunts. It's at:

http://users.htcomp.net/jds/safari.html

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

JDS

[ 07-23-2002, 07:33: Message edited by: jds ]

JDS:
I've hunted at Gras for the past 3 years and I'm going back in October this year. I can fully confirm everything you said. Nothing is too much trouble for Janni, Anri or Errol.
Did you know Anri is now a mother? 8lb boy on the 23rd of this month.

I love reading these reports about Gras Ranch. My wife and I are going there in April '03. I just hope you guys leave some game there for me!

GEORGE!!!! BUDDY!!!! CAN I GO BACK WITH YOU????

You will LOVE it!!! Those folks are fantastic!

If you're wanting to take a little something for them, Janni and Anri like CD's of contemporary Christian music. They also like for clients to bring a CD of the type of music that is their favorite so that they (Janni and Anri) and hear the different types of music that is here.

Errol LOVES Big Red chewing gum . . . Take a couple of bags of 10 packs and he'll be your friend for life!

Good luck and check with me just before you leave.

JDS

Silwane,

Yes I did hear that Anri had a baby. Janni is probably still floating in the clouds because he really wanted a boy!

I'm putting a few things together to send over to them later this week.

Give them my best when you see them.

JDS

JDS,
Do you want to stow-away in my rifle case or my clothing bag?

I don't think they'd really like the type of music that I do. My tastes run toward the "heavy" side of rock and metal. 80's hair-bands, too. But I'll certainly bring them a cd they will like.

Big Red gum, eh? Do you give him a stick when he spots something nice for you and maybe a pack when he set's you up on a whopper?

George,

Buddy, to go back I would stow away in your DIRTY clothes bag!!!

You will become friends with these folks very quickly!

Janni and his wife Anri are the ranch owners. It will surprise you because they are so young to own a ranch and home of this type. I think they are in their early 30's. Anri is very proper about how she conducts herself. At all meals she insists that you help yourself first because you are the guest of the ranch. I tried and tried to get her to go first (that "ladies first" thing I was taught growing up) but she would not have it!

Janni is still a kid! He loves to have fun and has a great sense of humor (enjoy the "ass juice!).

Errol used to work for Mercedes Benz and was a part time PH for awhile. His brother was in good health and got bitten by a tick in South Africa and caught some type of a fever. He died in just a few days. Errol decided that he wanted to enjoy his life rather than be tied to the job at Mercedes so he quit and started hunting. It definitely shows that he enjoys what he does! He's about as easy going of a person that I've ever seen.

Don't worry about them running out of animals - there are TONS of them there!! You'll be amazed how when you stop for lunch you can see for miles with no apparant animals in sight. When you pick up the binoculars, though, there are animals everywhere!

You have no idea how much you're gonna enjoy this!!

Did you go look at the website I put up after my hunt?

JDS

JDS,
Oh yea, I saw your site. Excellent animals!

I'd like a giraffe, but I have no where to put it. I was planing to have my animals mounted and display them at work, I work at a Gander Mountain. I've since decieded to just do skull mounts and hang them at home. If I get a huge Kudu or Eland, I'll get a chest mount, but it would have to be big.

I'd rather spend the money on my next safari! Cape Buff, '05.

JDS

After reading your posts and receiving your e mails on your recent hunt, I am thrilled the time has finally come for me to go too. I checked the zero on my .270 Weatherby two days ago and am all set.

I leave for Gras Ranch on Wednesday of this week.

Thanks for all of your help. I'll post a report when I return.

Wayne Nish

JDS, I am packing as we speak will head out Sunday evening. Still won't belive it till I get there. I am taking Thurday and Friday off to go over everything, First thing my wife , bless her heart did when she found out was to start on a "honey do " list, for those two days. I told her NOT TILL I GET BACK. got two cameras and 40 rolls of film. Plus my .416 Rigby and my 30-06.will try to be shooting "something" all the time I'm there. But plan on taking some 'none picture" memories. I always remember a vacation where all I remember of it , was thru the lense of a camera. There can be such a thing as too many photos. And not enough memories. I plan on making LOTS OF MEMORIES. I too went thru Wendell and he was everything I had read about an booking agent was suppposed to be. Per PHC and Richard Conrad and Boddington . Never felt like I had something to contribute to this forum though I love reading it. now maybe I can. Got my sack of peppermints!

Mike and Wayne!!

I take it from your posts that you will both be there at the same time . . .

You're killing me! I would LOVE to go back! You are going to have so much fun!!! You're gonna see a zillion animals - not just "animals" but "QUALITY ANIMALS"!

I can hear Janni now . . . "Wayne - Mike, It is a goot wun . . . SHOOT!"

Ask Errol what the record time is for sitting on an anthill after cutting off the top!

Make sure Anri has the cook prepare the cinnamon squash . . . it's food for kings!!!

Their kudu casserole is good enough to kill for!

Take at least one day and have them take you to the Kalahari desert . . . the sand is unbelievable!

Ask them what a "4 by 4" bug is!

You guys don't have a clue as to how much fun you're gonna have!!!!

OK, now go to bed and try to get some sleep

Best of luck to both of you . . . say your prayers and thank God for the opportunity to go!

JDS

ARRRRG, April seems so far away! This is worse than being 6 years old and waiting for Christmas!

You guys have a blast. We expect pictures and detailed stories.

Good Luck!

[ 08-07-2002, 09:50: Message edited by: GeorgeInNePa ]