OUTFITTER & PH: TREVOR LAKE
COMPANY: LAKE SAFARIS
E mail: lakesafaris@telkomsa.net
Web: www.lakesafaris.co.za
Location: Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa
Trophy Hunted: Nyala. Free Range Territory
Rifle: Ruger M77 .338 Win Mag
Ammo: Barnes 225gr

Hunting was a little tougher that normal as we had hot dry weather which is not the best for Nyala hunting according to Trevor , as they tend to stick to the deep gorge bottoms and forests. When it is cool and moist they move out more into the upper open slopes which gives the hunter better opportunities. The more Nyala you can see the better the chances of big Bulls. Due to weather we were limited to early mornings and late evenings for the best results.

I would estimate that we spotted about 15 mature Nyala Bull’s a day on this hunt. Over and above were a mixture of Ewes and younger Bulls. Most mature Bulls were your typical Nyala in the 25 to 27 inch class which is still better than many areas I have researched contrary to what everyone believes. This is a FREE RANGE area with some excellent hunting available and Trevor knows it like the back of his hand. He also knows exactly how to hunt this area which on first impression is very intimidating with steep gorges and thick bush. I was surprised with the number of animals that we actually got to see once my eyes had adjusted to what we were looking for.

Camp: Nice rustic camp. Cabin has two bedrooms with twin beds. Fresh linen, hot showers and flushing toilet. Great home cooked food and lots of stories around the campfire. Unique to this camp of Lakes is the interaction with the local rural Zulu community.

It should be noted that changing political conditions in South Africa are on us and locations like this are getting more difficult to find. The main reason behind this is the Government’s Policy of Land Redistribution. Established game areas tend to track nothing short of disastrous results where prime habitat and hunting is reduced to tribal subsistence farming where rampant poaching wipes out all the wildlife in a short space of time. I suggest that any hunter wanting Free Range hunting should consider this opportunity while it is available.

Day 1: After we unloaded our gear and supplies we were getting situated in the Nyala Camp. I checked my rifle to make sure nothing had shifted and after a few minor adjustments all good to go. Trevor has 3 anti-poaching members on his payroll for this area and they do double duty as our Trackers and Skinners when his hunters are in camp. The more eyes the better, I have found out.

Trevor’s FREE RANGE Nyala hunting grounds reminded me of hunting in Alaska, the hills had steep grades for making approaches and for getting close to looking at potential trophy quality. We were glassing for animals on the far side hills and when a Nyala showed potential we moved in closer to take a better look. Trevor uses 2 way radios to communicate with his trackers. As we dropped the trackers off at different viewing points we continued on. Therefore the more eyes we had looking from different locations the better for spotting potential game. The Nyala was usually spotted from 500 to 800 yards away. The first afternoon we spotted about 12 Nyala bulls in one valley, with 6 to 8 bulls needing a second look for trophy quality.

We made a few approaches and Trevor pointed out what he considered 3 shootible Bulls, however they were not in the class he was looking for and we still had time on our schedule. A few of the Bulls that we tried to approach just vanished in the thick bush and we were unable to assess them.

We spend some time (hours) walking drainages, looking for “traffic” along the creek bed, and we have the trackers out walking other valleys at the same time. Trevor wants to know where the largest concentration of Nyala Bulls is so that we have a good starting point for the next day.

Day 2: We are up at 5 AM having coffee and breakfast. Today we will drive into a different valley and look to see what we can find. Again we do the dropping off of trackers and perform the glassing of the far side mountains. Toward 10 AM we move to the other side and glass the hill side we were on. About 12 Nyala bulls were spotted in this valley with 2 Bulls requiring a second look. These Bulls were estimated to be in the 26 to 27 inch range which is nice but neither had the right shape or specifications that Trevor wanted to get for me. We head back to camp for lunch.

About 3 PM in the afternoon we head back to the 1st valley where we had noted a large amount of “Nyala traffic”. We were in luck, the trackers spotted a large Nyala bull and now we have to get closer for a better view. We close in to about 400 yards and are looking to get closer. At about 350 yards the Bull is starting to move up the hill side and the distance turns to 400 yards and climbing. That bugger just kept on walking until it was about 800 yards away and started feeding again. From what Trevor had seen this would have been the Nyala that he wanted me to take. Little did we know that would be the last time we would find him on this hunt!

We are spread out looking again glassing the slopes and a big Nyala Bull with 2 younger side guards walks into the valley. The tracker is picking a path to get us closer to have a look at this Bull. This one is old and the tips are worn and the mass of the horns from the bases up is evident, and it is very different than my first Nyala taken in 2011. Trevor likes this Bull and we go into action.

We close the gap to 276 meters and that is as close as we can get. We glass this Bull again and Trevor asks me to get ready to shoot from the shooting sticks. He is very particular in doing his best to find the best set up possible under the circumstances. So, we find a place for me to sit down and place the shooting sticks to allow me a direct line of sight with the Nyala Bull, and to be able to shoot from the sitting position. Once I am set up Trevor asks me if I can make the shot and I tell him I feel steady and good to do this. Now we have to wait for the Nyala to move out from behind a bush to take the shot. Trevor is letting me know the direction the Nyala bull is facing, where he is at and what he is doing. This is a huge help as Nyala are not easy to see to the untrained eye. This goes on for about 30 minutes before he walks out into the open again and stands broadside.

At the shot the Nyala take 2 leaps and lays down out of sight. The two Nyala side guards run off uphill. Plans are quickly implemented for recovery process in this rugged terrain and light is fading! The plan is for Trevor and the 2 trackers to walk over and see what conditions we have and find the Nyala. Trevor does not trust Nyala unless he can see them dead on the ground. One tracker and I stay at the shot site and guide them to the animal. Thirsty minutes later Trevor and the trackers are nearing the Nyala location. When they are about 10 yards from the Nyala, it busts out of its hiding spot and runs about 40 yards downslope to the deepest part of the donga (canyon) where it dies. So recovery is now even more challenging and the dirty bugger had the last laugh. A path now had to be cut to move and recover the Nyala from the donga and then 5 guys busted themselves to carry it uphill to the nearest trail. Night-fall was fast approaching, little did I know that this would be a norm on this safari 
Picture of 28 “ 1st Nyala Bull


Trevor and I had been e- mailing back and forth for months prior to our safari and he had asked me if I was open to taking a second Nyala if his quota allowed it on this safari. I was the 6th hunter in camp this year and there would only be one more hunter a few weeks after I leave. There is one open Nyala tag. Trevor manages this area for trophy quality and has set a limit of 8 Nyala Bulls a year only. Therefore a second tag was available and I was looking at taking it.

Day 3: Up at 5 AM we are out the door after coffee and breakfast. We are trying to locate the big Bull that walked away from us the first day. We are out pounding the bush looking for this big guy. With four sets of eyes in the field we spot many Bulls, however none are the one Trevor is after. About noon we are heading back to camp for lunch. As we round a curve in the trail a Bull is spotted about 500 yards off. The vehicle is stopped for a better view. Out of the truck we go, shooting sticks and gun in hand. Downhill we go looking for a better view of the Nyala. Trevor is getting all excited with this “new Bull” and has the sticks set up and beckons for me to get ready. We are about 300 yards off and I am asked if I can make the shot. I could not sit and did not feel stable so I asked to see if we can get closer. So we continue down the hill at high speed as the Bull is only visible in a small opening and soon will be across it never to be seen again. At about 220 yards this is our nearest point without losing a line of sight with the Nyala. Up the sticks go and I am all set. Trevor asks if I can make the shot and I tell him I can. At the shot the Nyala lunges forward about 10 yards and lays down in some thick cover. The vehicle drives down to us and we develop a plan to approach and recover the Nyala. I am on guard duty to shoot if it gets up, as again it is out of sight. Don’t trust an Nyala that is out of sight! 

Meanwhile, Trevor and 2 trackers head down and across the ravine to find the Nyala. The trackers spot the tips of the Nyala’s horns in the thick brush and they are still moving around a little, but clearly the animal is down. Trevor sends 1 tracker to retrieve me so that I can make the finishing shot if needed. As I near where Trevor is, the Nyala burst out of the cover on a dead run. We have very little blood to follow on his new running trail, but lots of blood where the Bull was lying down. Trevor was confident he would go down again and we commenced a slow and silent follow up. The trackers do their skills and 150 yards away we find the Bull dead under a bush in mid-stride.
This Bull was a magnificent animal touching 29 inches with the classic Nyala shape!

After celebrations we make another path to cut and carry the Nyala to the vehicle! What a hunt!!
Picture of 29“2nd Nyala

…….more to follow on this safari hunt, stay tuned!


Trevor Lake - and both sets of Nyala horns.

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