The East Cape, Our Safari starts!!.

We arrived at our destination early in the afternoon and our host, PH Chris Bolton was there to meet us as we pulled up in a cloud of dust and barking dogs. After a round of introductions we were shown our rooms, the Dining facilities and the general lay out of the Camp. We quickly unloaded and changed before having something to eat and drink and discussing the plans for the afternoon. Chris wanted to make sure we could safely handle a rifle and see how good we could shoot so our first point of call was his rifle range. He had a great bench set up and two targets set at 100 and 200mts, we were to be using a .300wsm fitted with a suppressor. I had never used a supressed rifle before and now I have I can honestly say, the reduction in muzzle blast and recoil was amazing. I was even able to use the .300wsm comfortably without any hearing protection. We fired 5 shots each and once Chris was happy we packed up the shooting gear and Chris gave us a tour of some of the property. He has a wonderful place set in the mountains slightly East of a prominent formation known as the Cocks Comb.

The view of Cock's Comb just after sunset from a hill on the concession.

The mountain country of the East Cape we hunted.

 After our tour we returned to the Lodge where Chris and Toni treated us to pre dinner drinks and appetizers straight from the Brai, followed by a dinner fit for a king complete with the freshest organic produce grown on the farm. Chris and Toni are passionate about growing their own fruit and vegetables and serve only the best, they also have their own brand of Honey. In fact they take their environment so seriously they ask that you only use the Eco friendly toiletries they supply to ensure that no chemicals are introduced into the local ecosystem. This care is evident by the number of frogs and birds present around the lodge.

The Brai and Bar area at the Lodge.

Chris told us he had been watching an old Red Lechwe Bull for some time and he wanted me to try and take it as my first Trophy the following morning.  He explained how we would hunt the area, it was very thickly covered in parts and very hilly, so we would use a glass and stalk method. After dinner and a couple of drinks we all retired to bed eager to start out hunt first thing in the morning. It did not take long before I drifted off to a restful sleep listening to the relaxing soft croaking of frogs.

A group of Lechwe Bulls grazing.

We were up early for a light breakfast of Toast, Coffee and Rusk's before loading our gear into the vehicle ready to start our hunt, we were joined by Chris's tracker Lionel and his dog Chester. We drove for a while to a prominent ridge that ran North South and began glassing the valley floor below, looking for any game animals. Chris soon spotted the Lechwe grazing alone about 2 kilometers away, he pointed it out and we had a quick chat about how we would stalk the Bull. We decided to walk along behind the ridge for a couple of hundred meters then cross and drop down into the head of a gully and into the base of a watercourse that ran to within 200 meters of where the Lechwe was grazing. From there it was going to be a bush to bush stalk until we got to within shooting range. Lionel would stay on the ridge with Chester and watch the stalk, he would then join us when we had hopefully been successful.

On The Ridge getting ready to set up to glass the valley below.

The view from the ridge with the Watercourse cutting through the center of the picture.

We set off heading South behind the ridge and after about 300 meters we reached a low saddle, we crossed the ridge in cover and dropped into the watercourse heading West.  We stalked our way down the watercourse climbing over and under all manner of branches and exposed tree roots. At one stage almost treading in an underground Bee hive. About 40 minutes later things started to flatten out as we neared the point we would have to stalk bush to bush, Chris went a little ahead and called us forward one at a time, we soon found ourselves in a small depression surrounded by bush.
Chris quietly informed us the Lechwe was only a hundred or so meters away in a clearing on the other side of the bush. He indicated a position on the side of the depression where he thought was the best place to take a shot from. We crawled to the spot and as quietly as possible set up the sticks and camera gear, once everything was in place Chris motioned for me to get set to take the shot.

Set up for the shot on the Lechwe Bull with Richard from ITZ Productions filming the action.

 As I rested the rifle over the sticks I could see that the Lechwe knew something was up, he was nervously looking around trying to make out what was wrong. I had just settled the cross hairs on his chest and began to take up the trigger when he suddenly stared strait at us. At that instant I noticed him shift his weight and knew he was about to bolt, I took the shot right then knowing I would not get another chance. The Lechwe collapsed as the bullet hit and did not move it was a text book shot and we were all very relieved after such a long stalk with a camera crew.

I took the shot from bushes behind the small clear area on the left, the Ridge we glassed from is in the background.

No one was more relieved than Chris and I, Chris had just successful guided a hunter his son and a 3 man camera crew to within 80 meters of an animal and got the film crew set up without getting busted, and I had just taken the shot on film, any mistakes on our part would have blown the footage. The Camera crew were also amazing and managed to do their part without getting spotted either, all up we could not have asked for a better result, I had my first Trophy and Richard, Greg and Jacu had captured some amazing footage and Photographs.

Just about to run, time to take the shot.

The Shot.

He's Down.

As Chris and I slowly approached the Lechwe I pulled some grass from the ground to place in his mouth, a hunters tradition of providing the animal with a last meal out of respect.

The Lechwe Bull where he fell.

Myself, my Son Jack and PH Chris Bolton with my Lechwe.

As we posed for Jacu to take more photographs and waited for Lionel to arrive with a vehicle Chris explained a little about Red Lechwe and why he had chosen this animal for me to take. He showed me the plants it was browsing and I noticed they were all small succulents. He then told me this was because the Bull was very old and had worn away all his teeth, he could not chew the coarser browse plants and would likely starve over the coming summer. We looked in his mouth and sure enough he had no teeth just raw gums where they had been worn away, I was pleased to have been able to give him a much more dignified end than slow starvation would have.
Once Lionel arrived we loaded the Lechwe into the Bakkie and began the drive back to the Lodge, Lionel would take care of the caping and skinning of the animal while we had a bite to eat and some coffee. We also took the opportunity and backed up and went over the footage and photos we had taken to make sure we had made no mistakes.

Chris then told us he would like us to try and stalk a Waterbuck as our next animal and asked if I was comfortable taking a long shot over 200 meters if needed, I said I was and would let him know if I felt the shot was too long. Chris went and checked with Lionel to see how he was going then returned to tell us to be ready to leave in about half an hour. We relaxed  in the bar area and discussed the type of footage we would like to shoot and future hunts we would like to undertake as we waited.

Chester eager to get out hunting as always.

Within a few minutes of Lionel and Chester arriving we once again jumped in the Bakkie and headed off this time to try and stalk a Waterbuck, we passed the ridge we had glassed from earlier and crossed a flowing creek, then crossed another small ridge before dropping down into a wide shallow valley. Chris pointed out that a number of creeks flowed through this area and it was a good spot to look for Waterbuck as they do not like to be too far from a water source.
With this in mind and with the temperature starting to get up a bit we figured that it would not be too long and the Waterbuck would be coming down from the hillsides to get a drink. We set up in the shade and started glassing the surrounding hillsides for movement, and it didn't take too long for Lionel to spot a group of 3 big Waterbuck Bulls making their way down the hillside. Lionel pointed them out to Chris and he had a look and confirmed they were all good Bulls over 30 inches. Chris said we must hurry as they would cross the creek some 500 meters from us quickly drink, and then head off into the thick scrub to rest during the heat of the day.

One of the Group of Waterbuck we were stalking having a quick look in our direction, luckily he didn't see us.

Luckily the wind was in our favor and we used the creek line as cover to quickly close in on the group or a better look. We crossed the creek numerous times back and forth through the thorn bushes that grew on the banks. All the while Chris was somehow keeping an eye on the Waterbuck as they continued to move toward high ground. We finally had to leave the cover of the creek and stalked for 300 or so meters bush to bush before covering the last 100 meters crawling. The Waterbuck were standing in the shade getting ready to bed down so we did not have long.
Richard and Greg got set up as quickly and quietly as possible, while at the same time Chris set up the sticks. The distance was just over 200 meters so I decided to take a sitting shot for better stability, I slowly and carefully shuffled myself from behind a bush to behind the sticks, all the while watching the Waterbuck.
When I was ready I told Chris and he quietly confirmed which animal I was to take and to take the shot when I was ready. I took a few deep breaths and let the crosshairs settle on the Waterbuck's shoulder as I slowly squeezed the trigger. As soon as the trigger broke I knew the shot was good and I heard the sound of a solid hit come back, the Waterbuck bunched up and jumped at the hit and ran a few meters before falling over in the open between two trees. Chris watched for a few minutes through the binoculars before turning to congratulate me on a good shot and another trophy animal. Once again Richard, Greg and Jacu had captured the entire stalk without me even noticing them being there.

Waterbuck Bull in the shade ready to bed down for the day

A good solid hit

Landing and trying to run.

The Waterbuck goes down less than 10 meters from the shot.

My Trophy Waterbuck, later measured at 33 inches. 

We Called Lionel on the radio and he was quickly on his way. It was starting to get hot so we had to take the trophy photographs quickly and get the Waterbuck out of the sun and into the cool room at the lodge as quickly as possible to prevent the meat spoiling. Once Jacu had taken the photos we all loaded the Waterbuck into the Bakkie and headed off back to the lodge, Lionel would then cape and skin the Waterbuck in the cool-room while we had some lunch and a rest. As we drove through the bush on the way I found it hard to believe what we had just achieved, two trophy animals and it was only the first day!!! what surprises would the afternoon hunt bring?

We ate a wonderful lunch and had a rest for a few hours before gearing up and heading out for an afternoon hunt. Lionel once again picked us up and we set off for the mountains to the West of the lodge. Chris had told us of a herd of Black Wildebeest living in a high basin that he wanted to cull and had offered to let my son Jack take one as his first game animal.

The view of the track leading to the Mountains where Jack hunted Black Wildebeest while shrouded in cloud.

Jack was very eager to hunt his first game animal and as we climbed higher into the mountains the temperature started to drop and the wind picked up. When we reached one of the highest points we stopped and glassed the surrounding hillsides and basins for game. Chris spotted the Wildebeest in a basin well over a kilometer away to the North and we set about stalking them, we crossed a small depression and as we topped a small rise we could see that we could get no closer from this angle.

The Wildebeest were in the center of the picture in open ground making an approach from this angle impossible, so we backed off and stalked in through a gully out of frame to the right.

We then backed off behind the rise and circled to the West to approach with the late afternoon sun behind us, Chris told us they were very unlikely to look into the sun so they should not see us even though we would be exposed for about the last 200 meters of the stalk. As we slowly stalked closer a huge bank of cloud began to roll over the mountain tops and the temperature dropped even further, I was glad I had decided to bring a jacket.

Circling around to approach the wildebeest from the West the small gully we used as cover in the background.

The wind was howling by now and I was getting a little worried about Jack making the shot in these conditions. The Wildebeest were starting to get a little unsettled by the wind and started milling around nervously, Chris quietly reassured us they would not leave the basin unless they saw or scented us as it was the best shelter for a few kilometers. We continued slowly over now open ground all the while keeping low with the sun behind us to a point some 250 meters from the herd.

Jack and Chris Bolton in the gully with the cloud bank just about to roll over the mountain tops.

Chris suggested that this was about as close as we were going to get in the current conditions and asked if Jack was ok to take a shot, he replied he was and Chris quickly set up the sticks. Jack settled behind the sticks with Chris at his side and they quickly identified the correct animal and Chris gave his ok to shoot. The wind was still buffeting us from the side and just as Jack took the shot a particularly strong gust hit and caused him to shoot wide, the bullet striking a rock in front of the Wildebeest.  The rock then hit the animal on the hoof making it jump and run in a circle, luckily the wind was strong enough to muffle the sound of the shot and the Wildebeest stood still looking at the offending rock long enough for Jack to take another shot.

Chris coaching Jack through the set up and his first Game Animal a nice Black Wildebeest.

His second shot was perfect and hit the Wildebeest squarely on the shoulder, the animal turned and tried to run before falling down less than 30 meters from where it stood. Jack made up for his first shot with a perfect double lung shot in very difficult conditions. Chris shook Jack's hand and congratulated him on not only his first ever Game Animal but his first African Game Animal. Once again the crew had set up the cameras and recorded the whole stalk from start to shot without being noticed or getting in the way and we had some amazing footage to view later back at the lodge.

Jack looking very pleased with his first African Game Animal a Black Wildebeest.

Lionel was quickly on the scene and we all pitched in to carry the animal a short distance to a point where we could gain access with the Bakkie, Lionel then retrieved the vehicle and we loaded the Wildebeest into the back. The journey back to the lodge was spectacular with the sun setting behind the mountains giving us a postcard view of the Cocks Comb in the distance. I was extremely happy to have been able to share the days events with my son and to have him take a fine trophy on his first day of the hunt was amazing.

The late afternoon sun behind the Cocks Comb.

Back at the Lodge we packed away all our gear, backed up our footage, put the camera batteries on charge and quickly showered before meeting up in the dining area for pre dinner drinks and appetizers. We discussed the days events and made jokes about Jack shooting a rock which he took well telling us it was all planned to distract the Wildebeest. We were than treated to another wonderful dinner of Kudu steaks and fresh vegetables followed by desert. We talked for a short time before the days activity caught up with us and sent us all off to bed, tired but contented I once again drifted off to sleep with the sounds of the the frogs helping me on my way.
We could not have asked for a better end to our first day of hunting, what a way to start our African adventure.