Arriving in Johannesburg

We will personally be there to meet you at the airport and take you to the firearms office where we will take care of the firearm importation procedures. We recommend that you use the services of Air 2000 Hunters’ Support (www.hunterssupport.com) for assistance with your temporary firearm importation permits. Hunters’ Support can apply for temporary importation permits on your behalf which means you will already be in possession of your permit by the time you arrive and this will expedite the importation process considerably – especially in the busier part of the season.  Once this is done we will depart to the hunting camp selected for the hunt.

Arriving at the hunting camp

Lodges and camps are all within a 3 – 5 hour drive from the nearest airport and upon arrival our camp staff will assist you by showing you your designated accommodations and helping you with your luggage. You will have an opportunity to freshen up before joining us around the camp fire for a beverage of your choice.

Your first night in Africa

After dinner it will be time to get some sleep in before the next day’s adventure. Once you’ve heard the cry of a Hyena or the cry of a Black Backed Jackal, the reality will dawn on you that you are now in Africa and the memories of these sounds will be treasured by you for the rest of your life.

Your first hunting day

You will be woken when it is still dark with a cup of freshly brewed coffee or other beverage of your choice and after a light continental breakfast consisting of cereals, toast, fruit and juice you should be ready for your adventure.

In the meanwhile the hunting vehicles will be prepared, hunting gear will be loaded and we will depart to the hunting area directly after breakfast. Depending on the hunting area selected for the day’s hunt travel time to the area may vary between 20 and 40 minutes.

The hunt

Rifle Hunting

You would be welcome to walk and stalk from the moment we enter the hunting area but hunting is normally conducted by means of the driving, spotting, walking and stalking method. You may use the weapon of your choice to hunt with and rifles, handguns, lever action rifles and black powder guns may be used, providing that it is legal to hunt with in the area we are hunting. Please note that semi-automatic rifles are not legal to hunt with in South Africa and that there are restrictions with regards to the minimum caliber that dangerous game may be hunted with).

Once fresh tracks of the desired species or the animal itself are spotted, the stalk will begin and your Professional Hunter and tracker will guide you to a position from where you will have the best possible shooting opportunity. Trophy quality will be assessed and if the animal in view is in reach and of the desired quality those long awaited words will be whispered: “Take him.” From then on it will be up to you and your shooting abilities…

Bow Hunting

Some of our hunting areas (concessions) are reserved for bow hunters only and several hides and tree stands have been erected at strategic spots for this purpose. Your Professional Hunter will guide you to one of these hides where you will wait for your quarry to make its appearance or for those of who prefer to walk and stalk with their bows, animals will be tracked until a good representative of the species are found.

Recovery will begin immediately after the animal you had hunted has been found and utmost care will be taken to ensure that your trophy gets to the taxidermist in good shape. In some instances recovery vehicles may be called in by radio so that you can continue with your hunt. In the meanwhile your quarry will be taken to the skinning shed where our expert skinners will skin the animal according to your specifications. It should be comforting to know that a Professional Hunter personally oversees the skinning process.

Siesta

Depending on the area that is hunted brunch will either be had back in camp or out in the bush at around 11am. Either way you can be assured of a unique and satisfying culinary experience. After brunch, clients will be given the opportunity to have a siesta until around 3pm when the hunt continues – following a similar pattern to that of the morning.

Sundowners

When sun starts setting hunting time is over so rifles are put away and ice boxes opened for a refreshing beverage of your choice whilst waiting for the beautiful African sunset on the horizon.

African Sunset

Back at Camp the camp fire will already be lit and while we wait for dinner to be prepared we will sit around the fire and exchange hunting stories and the events of the day.

Your last night in camp

This is typically a sad day for everyone as over the past days we have become more than Hunting Outfitter, Professional Hunter and Clients – we have become friends… This is the time when dates are set for next year’s safari and unfortunately also your last night around the hardwood camp fire.

Your departure day

So the last day has finally arrived and with a heavy heart everyone packs their gear getting ready to depart to the airport. Unless otherwise arranged, transportation back to the airport is usually by road and we will ensure that you are at the airport well in time to catch your flight back to your place of residence until next year when you are bound to be back on your next hunt with Chris Troskie Safaris...