Geoff joined us for his 4th hunting safari with Karoo Wild Safaris. The main goal of the safari was to hunt spotted hyena. We began the safari with 6 days in the Eastern Cape hunting black impala, bat eared fox, kalahari springbok, small spotted genet and kudu. We were fortunate to get a caracal while out hunting for bat eared fox one night. Two days later our dog pack treed another caracal. It's very seldom that we get two caracal on one safari and extremely pleased for Geoff as it's an animal that has eluded him for a few safaris.
We travelled up to Limpopo for a week of hunting. I knew this safari was blessed when Geoff shot a beautiful sharpes grysbok on the very first evening hunting them. Sharpies are extremely shy and have been particularly scarce this year, testimony to the quality of our areas. Geoff shot the Limpopo bushbuck of his dreams early in the hunt in the Soutpansberg Mountains. Red duiker proved more elusive. We called several in but couldn't get a clear shot in the dense forests. We persevered and managed to stalk in close to one feeding on the bush line just before first light.
We were truly blessed with the spotted hyena, another first night endeavour. We had bait out on a cattle ranch and called persistently from it with no reply int he first hour of calling. We pulled out and returned to the farmhouse for coffee when we heard them call in the distance. We walked the 300m from the farmhouse into the bait and resumed calling. Less than a minute later, an enormous female (females are larger than the males) came bounding in. Geoff took his opportunity at 35 yards. Hunting spotted hyena is one of my favourite hunting activities, thank you Geoff for obliging me.
Thanks mate for always trusting me with your safaris, I've loved every minute hunting with you and wait in anticipation for our next adventure.
