Outfitter: Garry Kelly Safaris
Booking Agent: Safari Outfitters
Cameraman: Jeremiah Bennett
Area: Mkuze Game Reserve
Rifle: Ruger .375ruger with a Trijicon scope (250 grain Hornady GMX bullets)
Game Taken: Nyala, Zebra, Impala

I saw a thread in another portion of the website a couple of weeks ago discussing the most desired South African free range species, a common answer seemed to be the Nyala. Exceptional free range Nyala hunting is not easy to come by in todays Africa and the prospect of these bucks is what brought me to hunt with Garry. Just a little intel the Mkuze Controlled Hunting Area (25,000 arcres, fenced on 3 sides) is part of the Mkuze Game Reserve (roughly 80,000 acres, fenced 3 sides open to Mozambique) in the Natal portion of South Africa.

Day 1

After a quick three-hour drive from Durban we entered the Mkuze controlled hunting area. On the road to camp we saw a few Nyala, which definitely got me excited. Once arriving in camp Garry gave us a quick tour of the four deluxe tents which all had two beds and en suite shower facilities. The dining area is an open thatch area that has ample room with a lounge area and bar that provided a good place to relax.

We headed out around three that afternoon to begin the hunt. Not five minutes after leaving we spotted a White Rhino bull and were able to stop and get some video/pictures. Seeing Rhino in this free range area was quite a unique opportunity. Throughout the afternoon we spotted well over 50 Nyala bucks some pushing that 29 inch mark. We also spotted numerous Wildebeest, warthog and Impala.


Day 2

We again spent the morning and afternoon walking and glassing over Nyala. I would estimate we laid eyes on well over 50 bucks throughout the day without one meeting Garry’s stringent qualifications. We had a mid day sit at a water hole looking over lots of Plains Game including a number of Red Duiker and a White Rhino. The highlight of the day was seeing an extremely large Black Rhino bull which I never took a picture of. Jeremiah got some good video but I completely forgot the pictures I guess I got lost in the moment.



Day 3

We opened our eyes to a stiff wind that we all knew would have the game tucked in for the day. Garry had a plan of checking some of the tighter cover areas where the bucks would look for shelter. We immediately looked over two bucks that morning pushing the 28 inch mark by Garry’s account, one not being more the 15 yards away.
We continued to walk our way down a creek bottom that would eventually pop out at a small waterhole. Once we neared the water Garry stopped to glass a buck. As we were all looking him over another buck come out from the brush roughly 80 yards away. Garry had not looked at him for more that 10 seconds when he firmly announced we need to take him. The inflection and promptness in his voice was a telling sign this was a big buck. The sticks went up and Jeremiah and I moved into position. Once I received the go ahead that Jeremiah had gotten the pre-roll footage and was on him I took the shot. The buck ran around 30 yards and fell over. Upon walking up to my Nyala I realized what a trophy we had in front of us. We had taken a free range 30 ¼ inch Nyala buck!!!

With a fine Nyala down we turned our attention to a Zebra for the afternoon. We drove up into the hills where a fire had burned earlier this year and had just started really growing back sucking the game up to the new green grasses. Once in the hills we began spotting large groups of Wildebeest and Impala along with two old buffalo bulls. About an hour into driving and glassing we saw a small herd of Zebra mixed in with a large herd of wildebeest which had the Zebra quite wound up. The topography gave us a quick approach to within shooting distance and I was on the sticks. Between the Zebra spooking the Wildebeest and the Wildebeest spooking the Zebra we were forced to continually reposition. We moved position six times before we finally got the angle on a good stallion. I was able to take a shot and we had a stallion down.


Day 4

We again headed up into the hills and immediately found a group of impala rams that provided us with a short game of cat and mouse before we took a nice old ram.


That afternoon we went up to a high cliff to do a little glassing and enjoy the sunset. It was one of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen in Africa. Watching the fever trees turn shades with the sunset was a great way to spend our last afternoon.

The quality and numbers of Nyala in Mkuze truly made this a hunt one I won't soon forget.

Erik,

Super nice nyala. I've hunted right there with Garry myself. Nothing like Mkuze for big nyala and nobody does it better than Garry. He may be the best professional hunter I've ever hunted with.

Mark

Congratulations on a MONSTER Nyala! Well done.

Wonderful!

Lovely bull Nyala!

Congrats! I love the areas of Kwa Zulu Natal! Brings back a flood of memories for me as well, especially that last pic with all of the African Fever Trees! A cranker Nyala Bull!

Very nice trophies, excellent pictures

Well done. I wasn't far from you on my recent safari.

Very nice trophies!

Great trophies Erick. Nyala are such am amazing species. Well done. Look forward to chatting with you.

Wonderful nyala, and great pics of all the rest.

Congratulations!

Love the Nyala.

Congrats on a super Nyala. I also hunted a Nyala in Mkuze in 2010 that measured a tad over 31" !! We can as South African citizen hunters tender for hunts in Mkuze. I was very lucky, in 2008 i was successful and got a 28" Nyala and in 2010 the 31". Really a great place to hunt.

He's a MONSTER!!!
All beautiful trophies...Well done

Roland

Thanks guys, Kallie404 31 is out of this world!Congratulations

Congrats on a great hunt, looks really fun. Congrats to you!

My nemsis nyala. Fantastic.

Mike

Eric,That is a Great Nyala Bull!!
Congratulations

Wonderful bull Eric, as good as it gets my friend! Talked to Big J and he said you guys had a fantastic time and your trophies speak for themselves. VERY well done!

Fantastic Nyala Eric ! congratulations . Send me an e mail some time.

Awesome Nyala and a really nice 'trophy photo'.

Well done

Fantastic Nyala!

.

Sweet

Eric,

Good jib my friend, well done.

Nice bull

Great bull!

Very nice trophies , well done.

Superb trophies, well done! stunning Nyala.