Our African Hunting Safari In The Kalahari

ABOUT THE EXPEDITION

Under pressure from the young hunters, we booked a rustic plains game hunting safari in the Kalahari, South Africa. Having visited the area the year before, the boys decided that living in tents with no running water, no electricity, and only the bare essentials would somehow be “fun.” Did I mention this was in the middle of winter?

Tamlyn wisely decided to skip this adventure, so it became a proper boys’ hunting trip.

After a six-hour drive from Pretoria, we arrived near the small town of Tosca in the Kalahari region of South Africa. This remote area is well known amongst international hunters for excellent springbuck hunting, kudu hunting, and vast open landscapes filled with wildlife.

The primary focus of this African hunting safari was springbuck hunting and testing new night-vision equipment ahead of an upcoming brown hyena hunt. The boys spent several days sitting in blinds overlooking waterholes and managed to harvest a few springbuck ewes. Springbuck rams were intentionally avoided, as local populations had declined due to heavy cheetah predation.

As kudu hunting opportunities were also available, the youngsters managed to take a nice meat bull during the safari.

In preparation for the upcoming brown hyena hunt, we spent considerable time testing our new night-vision equipment. The Pard scope proved impressive once properly sighted in, although the adjustment settings initially caused some confusion. The system linked directly to a mobile phone via Wi-Fi, allowing the observer to view exactly what the hunter could see while also using the built-in range finder.

The boys also managed to hunt a few jackal, porcupine, and hares during the evenings around camp.

While this Kalahari hunting safari may have lacked luxury, it delivered exactly what an African plains game hunt should — cold mornings, long days in the veld, great camaraderie, and unforgettable memories. If you are planning a winter hunting safari in South Africa, be sure to pack plenty of warm clothing.