O’Gary
I’ll try to work up a hunt report. I learned lots about
Wednesday, May 01, 2019, 06:53

stalking. Until then here are a few pics and observations from the many miles of walking done on the property.

The bird on the sign is the Secretary Bird. They stand 2+ feet tall and are named for the quills on their head that look like pens a secretary may have put in their hair.

They put out the flag of the country of hunters they host

The place was an active sheep farm until around 2015 (if I recall correctly). The main lodge has a musuem showing some of the history and activities done at the lodge.

During one of our walks and stalks we ran across a few farm relics while going after Gemsbok. Here is an old sheep collar and bell. The bell works. We left it on top of a termite mound.

We found an old Springbok skull. Interesting enough the animals over there have horns not antlers - they don’t shed the horns. I asked why the one “horn” was off the skull. My PH said there is a skin type layer between the bone and horn. He noted that if a skull was bad for a mount then the “horns” could be put on a duplicate skull.

They have about 400 water tanks on the property, with windmills to provide water to the animals on property.

There used to be an old diamond mine on the place and a diamond trading shed. The property was a diamond exchange on the trail between Capetown and Johannesburg.

On Saturday, they provided lunch under some shade trees by a natural spring on the property. The spring has dried up in the last couple of years but relief from the sun was welcome.

After lunch we could tour some Bush People rock paintings marked on the hillside. Here are just a few....

Some pics of the local terrain. Some slight rolling plains, a few hills, and a rocky nob that looks like a moonscape.

We got busted on one of our stalks because the giraffe looked “down” on us and took off. Typically when one animal runs, they all run. If you think fight or flight, evrything there choses flight. Springbok eat at 40 mph and run even faster.

We had a dung beetle fly in as we were wrapping up some field dressing. The interesting tidbit there is they will take the seed from the grass in the stomach and propogate grass growth by moving the grasses throughout the terrain. They sound alot like a bumblebee buzzing when they fly by.

A Tseseebe’s hoof. Each side of the hoof can atriculate rather than act as a single unit like a horse.

Definitely watch out for the ant eater holes or porpupine holes while driving, walking or stalking, Falling into one may be hazardous ( you feeling better Deb and Jon? )

Back at the lodge our PHs gather to discuss the day’s activities


The well mainted fleet of Toyota Land Cruiser pickup trucks outfitted with high rack seats.

As Gary says, everything in Africa is tough but nothing more than the terrain. I don’t think AAA would provide roadside assistance so we’re on it.

More lodge photos, Sable

Roan

Waterbuck

Steenbok

Gemsbok

Kudu

Cape Buffalo

Get away from the lights of the lodge and you can see the Southern Cross

What an experience! And yes, planning the next trip. It gets to you.

I’ll work on a hunt report.