After returning from my highly successful trip in 2024 with my son Jock, I started to plan another trip with Karoo Wild Safaris.
As it happens, on every hunting trip there’s always the “I wish I had, or I missed that… and I want one”, you know the feeling .
Spotted Hyena was my nemesis and one of the reasons I needed to return. On this trip I took a mate Ralph. He’d always wanted to hunt Africa but never had the chance. When I made the offer to come with me, I think he had his bags packed before I got off the phone. It wasn’t too long and Jason was meeting us at the Port Elizabeth Airport and the adventure began.
At the camp in the Karoo, catching up with Mitchel, our tracker, his wife Francis and Lovemore the camp cook, was like reuniting with old friends. They are alway smiling and happy and just a pleasure to be with. They run a very good camp and are nothing but helpful and a lot of fun to be around. Over the next week we met Luyanda and Siya, two younger trackers and skinners and again, just a pleasure to be around. These guys and girls are a big part of the whole African hunting adventure. A big thanks to you Vic, your wife Lindsay and of course Jason, our guide and your staff for making this yet another memorable trip.
Over the course of the next week I bagged a few animals but the real standout was Ralph. We hunted a huge property surrounded by mountains. The very first day, Ralph showed us all how to hunt and bagged six trophies. Black Wildebeest, Blesbock, Springbok, Warthog, Impala and finally a very impressive 300M shot on a very nice Gemsbok. A very tough act to follow.
Moving on, we encountered heavy snow and were lucky we got through one of the high passes. I may have had my eyes closed for a good part of the trip…
Later that day I bagged very respectable Golden and Common Gemsbuck bulls, followed that night by one of those animals that avoided me on my last trip, the Aardwolf.
I did a quick trip to Durban and then to Zululand with Jason and his friend Clint to hunt probably the hardest of the Tiny Ten, the Suni. Again this would not have been possible without the knowledge of Vic, Jason and Clint.
Back to Johannesburg to meet Vic and Ralph, and then a quick hunt over dogs to get my Serval. The organisation and the trouble Karoo Wild Safaris go to, to get you what you want is second to none. They always deliver.
One of the big ticket items for me was the Spotted Hyena. It had eluded me on the previous trip and I needed to make amends. Again Vic and Jason had a contact and knew a farmer that had a special permit to remove a troublesome Hyena that had been killing stock. A visit to the area through the day to set a plan. We returned that night and with the help of the manager and his knowledge, we had the Hyena in the salt within five minutes of starting the hunt. How could I ever doubt you two, the preparation and the execution of the hunt was simply perfect. Thanks again for putting in the time and making the correct contacts, now the trip/hunt has become a memory.
Over the course of the next few days and nights Ralph secures a huge Bushbuck and a Side Striped Jackal. In turn I also shot a Side Striped Jack, Civet and a very good Bushpig, all on bait.
As the trip was coming to a close we had just one more item to attend to, a Hippo. Once again Vic and Jason, with some local help from Johan and Steph, had secured a permit for a farmer that was having trouble with Hippos coming into the Orchards along the river at night and causing havoc. One of the big concerns was the safety of his workers.
As the afternoon faded into night, we had secured the services of a local guy with a thermal drone to help locate the Hippo. Once we knew whey they were feeding we walked in on foot. I might add this is not the safest thing I have ever done, but I felt a bit more secure as Johan was carrying a 505 calibre rifle beside me. I was using Steph’s 416 Rigby, what a beautiful rifle. We located the big bull with thermals, I settled the crosshairs on the 416 between his eyes and the rest is history. What a magnificent trophy, not only for me but more importantly to help the farmer remove a problem animal that can easily kill a person.
I’ll be back! Why, because Karoo Wild Safaris are the best. Every detail was meticulously planned, nothing was left to chance, and both Vic and Jason always gave Ralph and I the very best chance on every animal we were after. The only unknown for these guys was, “can this pair of Aussies shoot straight”, Well I hope we didn’t let you down.
Jason, as always, you’re a lot of fun, I fail to see how a person can operate on coffee anlone and still function and be such a great judge of a trophy, yep you amaze me. Picture someone 5ft tall and on steroids, and you have Jason. You’re a pleasure to be around Jason, thank you.
The other people that helped pull this memorable hunt together, and especially to Clint, Steph and Johan, I say a big thank you. Other memorable people were Flippy and Leisal, and Jason’s uncle Dave. Wow, what interesting people.
Lastly to you and your camp staff Vic and Lindsay, what a pleasure it is to hunt with you and have such endearing wonderful people at camp when we return each night after the day’s hunt. Vic, both you and Lindasy have done yourselves proud and run a fantastic operation.
I hope if you’re reading this and are considering a hunt with Karoo Wild Safaris, you take my advice and make contact with Vic and his team, you will not be dissapointed.
Scott Elliott
NSW Australia.
