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We had planned 3 weeks in RSA - a week in Johannesburg playing with the Landys, visiting friends, Braais and great red wines, then a week at the Cape in Stellenbosch with friends and my Goddaughter and then a week hunting with Marius and his team from KMG. I am after a blue duiker. However, before we even thought about packing our suitcases business interfered - as it sometimes does - and three weeks became two.

A few WhatsApps with Marius and we agreed to postpone the blue duiker hunt til October, when I shall be back in RSA, and we adjusted the dates in Stellenbosch. That left us with 4 days to try and squeeze in a hunt somewhere not too far from Johannesburg.

I called Matt Van Vuren of Likhulu Safaris and asked if he could accommodate us for 3 or 4 days for a short hunt. We have know Matt for close to twenty years. In fact, we hunted with Matt's father in RSA some 25 years ago! “Yes”, he could take us. A short bush hunt on his 8.000 rifle concession north of Thabazimbi and about 50 kms from the Botswana border. He also has a 3.000 h concession exclusively for bow hunting. We would do a simple hunt - pigs, impala, zebra, wildebeest and maybe a kudu. We would see what Diana offers us!

Flights were KLM via Amsterdam into Johannesburg. The plane was half empty in Economy, so we could spread out and relax. An easy day flight arriving in Joburg early evening and we were met by Lucky, the same driver we have been using for close to 20 years whenever we travel into or out of Johannesburg. Thirty minutes after landing we were drinking a cold beer and Anja a wine on our terrace at the start of our two week SA vacation! Life is good.

The Land Rover 110 started first time after reconnecting the battery and after washing 6 months dust off of her we were ready to go again!





We agreed with Matt that we would help with the meals and we would bring our own wines and so we got in a PicknPay shop and some great SA reds - La Motte, Chocolate Block, Constantia, Warwick First Lady - and the next morning we were on the road to Thabazimbi at 05.00 a.m. With a stop in Brits at Deon's meat market to buy 500 gramme T-Bones and a bag of biltong, we made good time and drove into the Lodge at 10.00 a.m..








Now rather than day by day accounts or diary entries, allow me to write up a few paragraphs of things that happened or that I think are worth a mention and may be of interest and we can go from there …


Thabazimbi




For those that do not know it, Thabazimbi (mountain of iron) is a bushveld area north north west of Joburg and just below the Zim and Bots borders. Thick bushveld is the style of hunting and it is typically a great area for kudu, wildebeest, impala and warthog. We love hunting the Thabazimbi area and it is always exciting when you see the mountains as you are coming into the town of Thabazimbi!






Camp Rifles





Not planning to hunt DG or any birds or specific plains game, we opted to use Matt’s camp rifles - a Browning .30-06, a Howa in .308 and another Howa in .300 WM, all topped with Leupold glass and all in great working order. Matt did not charge for using his camp rifles. I gave him a box of Hornady .30-06 ammo in exchange for the ammo that we shot. We were at the range within an hour of arrival and were shooting 1 inch high at 100 m. Good to go.






Impala





I do not think one can ever get enough of impala. They are to Southern Africa what the white tail is in the US or the roe is in Europe. Anja shot a nice old ram off the sticks after a good stalk on day one and it dropped after a 10 meter dash. We laughed after the shot as Anja was on the sticks and sighted onto the ram and squeezed the trigger two or three times hissing at Matt “It’s not working! It’s not working!” when Matt then reached over and pushed the ‘safety’ forward to fire and Anja was able to get the shot off. One of those moments!





I too shot an impala, but hit him a hand’s breadth back behind the shoulder and we spent 3 house tracking him before we had to admit defeat. Single specks of blood 30-40 meters apart and tracks crossing other tracks. One for the jackals and caracal, sadly. I hate it when that happens.






Pigs





We spent a couple of mornings sitting in a blind at a neighbouring cattle farm where pigs, impala and kudu came in to pilfer the cattle fodder. On the second morning a troop of twenty plus vervet monkeys came in but did not know what to make of us and scampered nervously around the blind the whole time.











I shot a couple of pigs for camp meat and an old sow with big tusks for the collection. I shot her just behind the shoulder with the .308 at about 35 meters and despite an exit wound the size of a quarter she ran over 200 m pumping lung blood all the way. African animals are tough!





One afternoon walking in to an open grass area we spotted two young pigs feeding on the short sweet grass. I urged Anja to shoot one. Matt suggested we get closer and see whether any other game was on the burn. I again pushed saying ‘a bird in the hand etc’. Anja shot the pig and at the shot four more pigs ran across the opening right to left with the last one sporting a huge set of trophy tusks! Moral of the story is ‘Listen to you PH and not your spouse!‘ We all laughed at that one!



Zebra





Anja shot a nice zebra mare. Also with the Howa .308. One shot on the shoulder and the mare dropped. A perfect shot.





She nearly got a second mare the same evening, but the wind swirled, an impala snorter danger and the impala and zebra bolted! Next time.



The Camp





It was a nice camp - individual chalets and a large braai area and camp fire with a separate bar and dining area. We enjoyed the camp and braaied every evening.






Skilpaekies








The literal translation from Afrikaans to English is ‘baby turtles’ but the ‘braai term’ is lambs livers encased in the net fat off the lambs stomachs. I bought a pack of skilpaekies at Deon’s Meat Market in Brits on the way up to Thabazimbi, and Matt BBQ’d them to perfection on the first evening. We ate them as an appetizer around the fire - words cannot describe how delicious they are! If you like liver you must try them on your next trip to RSA!



Ticks & Snakes







It was warm, despite it officially being winter. The days were 25 degree Celsius and the nights some 10 to 12. The bush was crawling with ticks, so Matt warned us to spray and spray again. We did. Nevertheless, Anja got chowed by ‘pepper ticks’.





With it still being so warm, the snakes had not yet decided to disappear for the winter and we saw a number of large puff adders out and about. But no harm done. We were just careful to close the chalet doors and windows all the time.



Walk & Stalk




Other than the two mornings sitting in the blind for pigs, most of the hunt was ‘walk and stalk’. We drove to the area where we wanted to hunt and then climbed down off the Cruiser and walked and stalked. Matt does not like shooting off any vehicle unless a client is physically unable to walk and stalk.



Bush











It was tough hunting with the bush still very green and thick with good late rains. We saw a lot of game from impala and pigs to sable and kudu and great nyala. I was tempted on one kudu bull but opted to carry on after wildebeest and zebra. 8.000 hectares is a big camp and we walked a lot!



.30-06 Springfield vs .308 Win

Matt has both in camp and we hunted with both. In fact this was the first time I have ever fired / hunted with a .308 - an interesting round and equally interesting case length. I shot the first warthog with the .30-06 and the second and third with the .308. The .308 knocked a big exit wound out of the old sow that I shot, with little meat damage. Impressive results. No flies on either caliber and ideal for the thick bush veld like Thabazimbi!

Long live the .30-06 vs .308 debate. In my book they seem to be one and the same!



Courtney boots & PMP ammo





I have had my boots now some 5 years and they have done a lot of mileage. Safari & Outdoor is selling them at R 5.000 to R 6.000 depending on the model. Great support and very comfortable plus the ‘Safari look’! I love them and enjoy wearing them.

PMP ammo is getting scarce with stocks low and low production runs. I would not want to try and guess how many antelope and pigs have been taken with PMP ammo in Southern Africa over the years. Used it in the .30-06 and the .308 with great results. No flies on PMP ammo in my opinion.



Binos & Stuff





With the bush so thick and the distances at the blind under 50 m we hardly used or needed our binos on this trip. Usually an essential piece of kit but on this trip not the case.





I always carry a small flashlight, a Leatherman, a knife and ammo on my belt. Unlike the binos, I used them all many times over this short trip.


At the end of our short and very happy trip, we settled our bill and after a brunch in Thabazimbi we were back in Johannesburg late afternoon.



Load Shedding





RSA’s power utility, Eskom, is a fuck up, to put it mildly. Excuse my French. Corruption and a total lack of planned investment has left RSA with a power industry that is in need of a total and radical overhaul. De Ruyter tried to fix it as CEO but could not beat the ANC Government and the corruption and as a result RSA is faced with rolling blackouts. Eskom announces on-line what areas will be cut off and at what times, which is good of them and allows Joe Public to plan ahead as best as possible, unlike many African countries where the power just randomly goes off. People are making do with solar, inverters, generators and back-up lighting. We did not think it was as bad as many made out. But then again we lived in Nigeria for 15 years! The down side is that it is hitting industry and in turn production which will further weaken an already faltering economy. Interest rates are up and the Rand is weak!


Monday, I took the skulls and hides to Andre van Rooyen Taxidermy, in Roodeport, 30 minutes drive from our place. They will ready by the next time we visit.


FlySafair

And in the evening we flew FlySafair to Cape Town and spent three wonderful days with some very close friends in Stellenbosch. FlySafair is one of RSA’s budget airlines - cheap flights, on time and comfortable seating. They get my vote.





Wine tastings at Delheims and lunch at Jordans winery, a morning at Safari & Outdoor - where I picked up a Swarovski Z3 scope in 3 - 9 x 36 for USD 800,- with the Rand trading at 20 to the USD - and a visit to Ivan Els leather goods, who supplies Rigby with slings, belts and other items busied our days. We had a great time and as my friend shoots Bisley for the national team RSA, we spent a lot of time in his gun room talking ballistics and doing some reloading. As I said before ‘life is good’.














Swan Lake at Montecasino in Sandton and an excellent curry in Bryanston rounded off the trip in Joburg and then it was KLM back to Europe, with lots of photographs, happy memories and some great RSA red wines from the Duty Free.

A big thanks to Matt and his wife Jackie of Likhulu Safaris for taking us in at such short notice and looking after us so well. Thanks also to Marius of KMG for postponing the originally booked hunt with him. October is just around the corner.

Likhulu Safaris and Matt’s concession is an ideal place for a first timer to RSA looking for a good bush hunt - rifle and or bow. Plenty of animals, a great camp, super good, tough hunting and great hosts.





We will hunt birds with Matt next year for 5 days, he has good working GSP’s and enjoys wingshooting as much as we do. Waterfowl in the mornings and pointed Greywing and francolin in the afternoons! What shotguns to take?


Another wonderful trip to South Africa comes to an end, albeit cut short due to business commitments. The Landy is now bedded down again until the next trip.

Thanks for all AR readers that came along on this report. Happy days !!





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Thanks Charlie for the excellent report! I managed to arrange a business trip to Cape Town in August with a 6-day plains game safari in the Eastern Cape beforehand. We're flying FlySafair between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, so good to hear your experience.

It sounds like a visit to Safari & Outdoor would be worthwhile if I can figure out how to get there.

Jeff

Sounds like you had a great hunt! Congratulations.

Thanks for the fun report and photos. You look like a good bunch having a fine trip. My wife usually comes hunting with me too. It means a lot, we are fortunate. Brian

I really enjoyed your report.

It’s interesting you mentioned the .308. On my last trip to RSA, I borrowed my PH’s .308. I really liked it and shot a sable, kudu, and other plains game with great results. I also used the South African ammo.

I liked the .308 so much I actually bought an auto Remington in this caliber. I’m currently sitting in my bear blind, Hoping to use it on a bear!

Thank you for the great report!

What a great laid-back safari, Charlie. Congrats to you and your wife! Lamb liver encased in the net fat off the lambs stomach along with a nice South African wine sounds delicious.

Well done Charlie... I hunted around the "Mountain of Iron" a number of years ago with my parents in tow. Still a special memory and an excellent safari area. Looks like you guys had a great time.

Thank you for sharing. I always enjoy your interesting reports!

JCHB

Nice trip Charlie