2002 Hunt in South Africa with

by Eric Ching

Overview

View of Bush Africa Safaris's Property

Introduction

White Rhino at Zuka Ranch (Ceratotherium simum)

This hunt was the final commemorative event of my turning 50 in August 2001. Its primary objectives were to finish hunting the common spiral horn antelopes (bushbuck, nyala, and eland) and to hunt my first and possibly only Cape buffalo. I also wanted to improve on my performance of five years ago, in which we had lengthy tracks of three of my animals after I wounded them (blesbok, kudu, and wildebeest), and I needed back-up shots from the PHs on my zebra. I only took my impala, warthog, and gemsbok cleanly with one shot.

I was also looking forward to seeing more parts of South Africa (Zululand, eastern Transvaal, Limpopo River, and points in-between); hunting with the .376 Steyr Scout and testing my 300-grain handloads for it on game; hunting a Cape buffalo (my first dangerous game) and taking it with a Merkel .470 NE double rifle; and seeing Schalk's wifeTerina again, and their children Cara (3-1/2 yrs. old) and Andries (5 mo. old) for the first time.

Weather and Environment

Aloe-type Plants at Zuka Ranch

The weather during our stay was a bit colder and definitely windier than on our first trip. They had just had one of the coldest winter spells in history prior to our arrival, and two more cold fronts passed through while we were there. Morning temperatures were generally in the low 40s, though most days warmed up to the low 70s. I generally took off my jacket by 9 or 9:30am and hunted in shirtsleeves thereafter until dark. The skies were usually clear, though during the cold fronts they were overcast.

"Kenya" at Zuka Ranch

We got to see and briefly experience several of the climate zones in South Africa as we drove around. Zululand is in the lowveld and was definitely warmer than elsewhere. Zuka Ranch, where we hunted, was where the movie "I Dreamed of Africa" with Kim Basinger was filmed, because it has areas of grassland that resemble Kenya. There were also some unusual aloe-type plants that grew a dozen feet high. They made me think of alien monsters from old science fiction movies, like "Day of the Triffids." One of the treats of the trip was being able to see giraffe and white rhino in the wild on this ranch. We saw more giraffe on Zimshoek Ranch as well.

Giraffe at Zuka Ranch (Giraffa camelopardalis)

We stayed a night in Ermelo, the heart of the highveld, on the way to Bush Africa Safaris from Zululand. It was much colder there; I would not be surprised if it got down into the high 30s that night. Schalk and I drove through Pietersburg on the way to Boston Ranch near Kruger. Because its elevation was higher than Ellisras, the temperatures were also several degrees lower and it was windier as well, being in a flat area between mountain ranges.

We hunted several days along the Limpopo River an hour northeast of the main camp. The famous Tuli Block of Botswana was across the river from us, and the vegetation fringing the river was different from what we had seen elsewhere. There were thick beds of reeds in the water, too, and the variety and number of birds was incredible. I became very familiar with the "go-away" call of the Gray Lurie, the bane of hunters because its call warns other animals of their presence. We saw fish eagles, vultures, and dozens of other birds I could not even begin to recognize. We ran across some hippo tracks once, and Schalk and I watched a crocodile swim up almost beside us before spotting us through the reeds and diving with a big splash. Greg saw the tail of a python as it slithered away into the brush.

Limpopo River with Tuli Block, Botswana, on far side

Perhaps most interesting to me was the area around Tzaneen. The rolling hills suggested an alpine terrain, but the climate was definitely sub-tropical. We passed tea, banana, papaya, orange, and tree plantations, and there was lush vegetation and somewhat higher humidity, which reminded me a bit of Hawaii. The view of the Drakensburg Mountains was also spectacular.

Changes at Bush Africa Safaris

Schalk and Terina van Heerden with their daughter Cara

It was my impression that the game population on Schalk's property had improved. We were able to see much more game than I remember from our first trip, although part of that is no doubt due to our more experienced eyes. On a typical morning drive around the ranch, it was not unusual to see impala, warthog, blesbok, wildebeest, kudu, gemsbok, eland, and sometimes zebra. An occasional duiker and steenbok would make an appearance, as well as jackal and African wild cat. At the end of our trip we were shown a brown hyena den on top of a rocky bluff, what they called "the mountain." Skulls, bones, and skins everywhere!

In the five years since our first hunt with them, Schalk and Terina have made significant improvements to their base camp. To begin with, they've built an attractive new entrance gate. Rita and I had stayed in the upstairs room in the building next to the lappa, while the others had stayed in two small chalets outside the game fence that shared a detached bathroom chalet between them. This trip Greg and I were put up in a new two-unit chalet in that same cluster that had en suite bathrooms.

The new Chalet

The lappa (a walled enclosure with a firepit) has also been improved. Where a wall existed before they now have a raised dining area covered with a thatched roof across the lappa from the house, and two different built-in braais (barbecues), one for charcoal and another fired with gas. Next to the charcoal braai is a serving counter with cabinets below for dishes, mugs, and such, and electrical outlets for a coffee maker and hot plates.

New Dining Area

They now have a brick garage for the hunting vehicles with a utility room attached. Behind the skinning frame is a butchering building with screened windows where the meat can be weighed and left to hang. The back side of the building is a trophy drying room, where the salted skulls, capes, and hides are stored until they are taken to the taxidermist. Schalk and Terina also have a separate office building next to the swimming pool that includes an equipment storage area and work benches.

Schalk and Terina have a completely new staff. Dirk is the other PH on staff; he took Greg under his wing for the duration of the trip while Schalk worked with me. Jaco (short for Jacobus) had passed the PH examinations, and was apprenticing with them. Terina now has an assistant in the kitchen, Fransisca, who also helps out occasionally with child care for the two van Heerden children: Cara, a very lively and self-assured three-and-a-half-year-old; and Andries, just five months old. Four tracker/skinners (Stoffel, Jan, Simon, and Hans) and two household workers (Bettie and Mieta) rounded out the staff.

The friendly, casual atmosphere, however, had not changed, and visiting Bush Africa Safaris again felt a lot like coming home.

The Bush Africa Safaris Staff