alimufti
AH senior member
Ive just returned for a 9 day hunt with East Cape Safaris - Grant Abramsons outfit near Sommerset East in the East Cape Province of South Africa. The decision to choose this particular outfitter was based on a number of factors - Good cool weather, stellar review after review online, and Grants return email to me on my initial inquiry which oozed sincerity. In this modern era of quick communication, packaged and formula hunting to deal with the fast paced modern life - here is a place where the basics matter. Good hunting, good people and tangible, real value.
Four of my friends also decided to go to this same outfitter and im sure they will chime in with their opinion as well. I can say without reservation it was brilliant and exceeded expectations.
It was important to me that the quality of the hunting experience was high - I.e - fair chase and real hunting were paramount considerations. Grant and his team of PHs did not disappoint, adapting beautifully to first time safari hunters and others who had a little bit more rifle hunting experience equally well. The sheer variety of ecozones and habitats at Grants disposal is staggering. One day I would find myself huffing and puffing high up the Kamala mountains with Rhino and bushbuck, the next in the rolling Tanzania-esque hills of the Copper Moon concession after black wildebeast or Grants Acacia studded craggy property after Lechwe. Suddenly there were termite mounds and plains as far as the eye could see where springbok, gemsbock and zebra held sway, or again back to steep hills in Ikamva where every valley hid Kudu bursting out of the Aloe dotted brush and disappearing over a peak as only Kudu can do. Krusenmenfontain held further delights as I stalked and shot a 25" impala - an animal i can never tire of hunting. Another evening I found myself in fields reminiscent of Scotland and England where bushbuck were on the quarry list - it may as well have been roe deer the country side was so pretty and verdant.
In 9 days I experienced every possible permutation of habitat and rifle hunting scenario one can ask for. Mountain, hills and plains where long range shooting is required and angle compensation and holdover comes into play. Brush and reeds in riverrain forest where Nyala offer snapshots through the vegetation where quick reflexes are needed if one is to be successful. With 50 odd trophies shot between the 5 of us clearly we were very successful. But not without our fair share of failed stalks, duffed shots and plenty of heartbreak. This was rifle hunting at its best and purest - none of the canned South Africa that one hears about - real hunting with real professionals. Phs Thurston and Greg with whom I hunted were able to salvage my bruised ego after some bad shooting at springbok on the first morning to extract 9 straight one shot kills in the days that followed - including a 350 yard neck shot at a tremendous 30" waterbuck.
All the reviews of East Cape Safaris stressed the family atmosphere that prevailed during their stay with Grant and his wife Sarine - and this was one of the major factors which we all felt very strongly throughout our stay with these wonderful people. The Ambramson family and the PHs Thurston, Brendan and Greg are lovely people and all five of us hunters really could not stop laughing around the fire in the evenings and during our hunt. They are a truly cohesive group of thorough professionals and from the very first evening till the last day we just felt at home with Sarines wonderful cooking and atmosphere. The accommodation, kitchen staff, trackers and skinners were first rate and brilliant at their jobs.
I really dont know what else to say except I really could not recommend this place enough for both the experienced and first time hunter in Africa. You will come away from this place a better hunter and yearning to return. I am definitely planning future trips as soon as i am able.
If there is anything more I could ask for it would be more of that excellent gamemeat biltong and sausage I found myself addicted to!
Heres to more trips to East Cape Safaris.
PS - Ive just returned and Grant is already helping me with my taxidermy and decisions regarding trophies, as always doing what friends do to help make a dream hunt come true.
Thank you Grant, Sarine, Thurston, Brendan and Greg.
Four of my friends also decided to go to this same outfitter and im sure they will chime in with their opinion as well. I can say without reservation it was brilliant and exceeded expectations.
It was important to me that the quality of the hunting experience was high - I.e - fair chase and real hunting were paramount considerations. Grant and his team of PHs did not disappoint, adapting beautifully to first time safari hunters and others who had a little bit more rifle hunting experience equally well. The sheer variety of ecozones and habitats at Grants disposal is staggering. One day I would find myself huffing and puffing high up the Kamala mountains with Rhino and bushbuck, the next in the rolling Tanzania-esque hills of the Copper Moon concession after black wildebeast or Grants Acacia studded craggy property after Lechwe. Suddenly there were termite mounds and plains as far as the eye could see where springbok, gemsbock and zebra held sway, or again back to steep hills in Ikamva where every valley hid Kudu bursting out of the Aloe dotted brush and disappearing over a peak as only Kudu can do. Krusenmenfontain held further delights as I stalked and shot a 25" impala - an animal i can never tire of hunting. Another evening I found myself in fields reminiscent of Scotland and England where bushbuck were on the quarry list - it may as well have been roe deer the country side was so pretty and verdant.
In 9 days I experienced every possible permutation of habitat and rifle hunting scenario one can ask for. Mountain, hills and plains where long range shooting is required and angle compensation and holdover comes into play. Brush and reeds in riverrain forest where Nyala offer snapshots through the vegetation where quick reflexes are needed if one is to be successful. With 50 odd trophies shot between the 5 of us clearly we were very successful. But not without our fair share of failed stalks, duffed shots and plenty of heartbreak. This was rifle hunting at its best and purest - none of the canned South Africa that one hears about - real hunting with real professionals. Phs Thurston and Greg with whom I hunted were able to salvage my bruised ego after some bad shooting at springbok on the first morning to extract 9 straight one shot kills in the days that followed - including a 350 yard neck shot at a tremendous 30" waterbuck.
All the reviews of East Cape Safaris stressed the family atmosphere that prevailed during their stay with Grant and his wife Sarine - and this was one of the major factors which we all felt very strongly throughout our stay with these wonderful people. The Ambramson family and the PHs Thurston, Brendan and Greg are lovely people and all five of us hunters really could not stop laughing around the fire in the evenings and during our hunt. They are a truly cohesive group of thorough professionals and from the very first evening till the last day we just felt at home with Sarines wonderful cooking and atmosphere. The accommodation, kitchen staff, trackers and skinners were first rate and brilliant at their jobs.
I really dont know what else to say except I really could not recommend this place enough for both the experienced and first time hunter in Africa. You will come away from this place a better hunter and yearning to return. I am definitely planning future trips as soon as i am able.
If there is anything more I could ask for it would be more of that excellent gamemeat biltong and sausage I found myself addicted to!
Heres to more trips to East Cape Safaris.
PS - Ive just returned and Grant is already helping me with my taxidermy and decisions regarding trophies, as always doing what friends do to help make a dream hunt come true.
Thank you Grant, Sarine, Thurston, Brendan and Greg.
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