Good Day All!
This is my first hunting report. I am not the best report writer, so hope that the report is ok!
I have just returned from my hunting trip with Bos en Dal Safaris @Bos en Dal Safaris .
I am a local in South Africa. Although I did do limited airgun hunting previously, I am still a very new hunter, and was looking at starting off my formal hunting career with a 7 day small game hunt at the end of April 2017, which included birds, jackal, meerkat, warthog, rabbits and brown hyena. Gerrit Jv Vuuren of Bos en Dal Safaris was kind enough to take me up on my request and first African Hunting Safari.
What a wonderful experience!! As a new hunter, I was feeling very nervous when I arrived at Bos en Dal and unsure of what to expect. However, I had no reason to be; Gerrit and Frikkie were awesome and so friendly! I was warmly greeted by them at our meeting spot, and they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, providing me with lots of encouragement! They immediately made me feel a part of their family!
After some shooting at the range, they took me to the lodge where a wood fire was roaring on the cool autumn night. Lovely place, with a beautiful view over the veranda. And then the food that was prepared during my stay….oh my….was that food divine. Real home cooked meals that I could not get enough of – it was truly delicious, and the trip was worth the food alone!
It soon became very clear to me that my chosen animals were a much bigger challenge than what I was expecting, especially since half of them were night animals!! I take my hat off to Gerrit and Frikkie for taking on the challenge! After the first day of bird hunting, we spent many freezing nights in the hide waiting for jackals and the hyena to show up. It was so cold, with us travelling around with a jackal caller and then sitting in the hide till the early hours of the morning, first sussing their pattern out then going in for the shots. I was so relieved when I got my first jackal! Thanks for sitting with me in that freezing cold guys! Hope you are feeling warmer now!
The brown hyena proved much more elusive, and it turned out there was one stalking us rather than the other way round, sneeking up behind our hide. Clever critter! Unfortunately that was the closest I got to bagging it, but hey that gives me an excuse to plan a return trip.
I got a smallish warthog with Frikkie on the second day, but Gerrit believed we could get a better warthog trophy for me. We managed to track down a huge old tusker of a warthog, and I got him down on my first shot. Wow what a cool trophy he will make!
Although not part of my initial list, Frikkie encouraged me to try hunting a cull impala. I was a bit nervous about going for a bigger animal, but thanks to Frikkie I managed to get him down in one shot! What an exhilarating feeling that was. Thanks Frikkie!!
The meerkat was also very challenging. Extremely quick and fast to disappear down their holes, we managed to find a colony, and I succeeded in getting one down. That was awesome! We also spend that morning hunting some “waaiersterts”(ground squirrels) who were also fast and pretty tough. But we managed to get a few of them!
Friday I was invited to a family braai (barbeque) and spent the evening getting to know the whole family. I was warmly welcomed by them and they treated me so kindly! I am a natural introvert, but they made me feel so comfortable and relaxed and I felt I could just be myself.
On the last day, while trying to bag another jackal during the night, we stumbled across an animal I had not even considered – a genet. How I managed to bag such a small target with no scope magnification in the dark I will never know! But we got him. What an incredibly beautiful animal – he will make a beautiful mount. That was a grand way to end my hunting trip.
I was very sad when the week came to an end. It was too soon. Too short. I did not want to go home. Alas all good things come to an end.
I can’t praise Gerrit and Frikkie enough. They took me under their wing and taught me the basics of hunting. They are incredibly nice people and will do everything they can to get your animal and ensure you have a true safari experience. I must admit this was my favorite “holiday” I have ever had. Coming from a family and associates who are all antis, it was so nice to be able to chat to someone about hunting, share the hunting experience, and just finally be myself. They encouraged me and built up my confidence in my hunting abilities. Gerrit ensured I got the full hunting experience from spot-and-stalk to hides. This is an experience that will stay with me for life, and I am eternally grateful for everything Gerrit and Frikkie did for me. Thanks so much guys, you don’t know just how much your kindness meant to me. I am humbled to be considered your friend and part of your family.
I honestly believe that hunters are amongst the nicest people out there – my experience reaffirmed that belief.
I will definitely be returning Gerrit! I am now completely hooked on hunting! We still need to bag that hyena, and I want a honey badger to include in my collection!
Thank you Bos en Dal, I had a truly wonderful experience!!
This is my first hunting report. I am not the best report writer, so hope that the report is ok!
I have just returned from my hunting trip with Bos en Dal Safaris @Bos en Dal Safaris .
I am a local in South Africa. Although I did do limited airgun hunting previously, I am still a very new hunter, and was looking at starting off my formal hunting career with a 7 day small game hunt at the end of April 2017, which included birds, jackal, meerkat, warthog, rabbits and brown hyena. Gerrit Jv Vuuren of Bos en Dal Safaris was kind enough to take me up on my request and first African Hunting Safari.
What a wonderful experience!! As a new hunter, I was feeling very nervous when I arrived at Bos en Dal and unsure of what to expect. However, I had no reason to be; Gerrit and Frikkie were awesome and so friendly! I was warmly greeted by them at our meeting spot, and they went out of their way to make me feel comfortable, providing me with lots of encouragement! They immediately made me feel a part of their family!
After some shooting at the range, they took me to the lodge where a wood fire was roaring on the cool autumn night. Lovely place, with a beautiful view over the veranda. And then the food that was prepared during my stay….oh my….was that food divine. Real home cooked meals that I could not get enough of – it was truly delicious, and the trip was worth the food alone!
It soon became very clear to me that my chosen animals were a much bigger challenge than what I was expecting, especially since half of them were night animals!! I take my hat off to Gerrit and Frikkie for taking on the challenge! After the first day of bird hunting, we spent many freezing nights in the hide waiting for jackals and the hyena to show up. It was so cold, with us travelling around with a jackal caller and then sitting in the hide till the early hours of the morning, first sussing their pattern out then going in for the shots. I was so relieved when I got my first jackal! Thanks for sitting with me in that freezing cold guys! Hope you are feeling warmer now!
The brown hyena proved much more elusive, and it turned out there was one stalking us rather than the other way round, sneeking up behind our hide. Clever critter! Unfortunately that was the closest I got to bagging it, but hey that gives me an excuse to plan a return trip.
I got a smallish warthog with Frikkie on the second day, but Gerrit believed we could get a better warthog trophy for me. We managed to track down a huge old tusker of a warthog, and I got him down on my first shot. Wow what a cool trophy he will make!
Although not part of my initial list, Frikkie encouraged me to try hunting a cull impala. I was a bit nervous about going for a bigger animal, but thanks to Frikkie I managed to get him down in one shot! What an exhilarating feeling that was. Thanks Frikkie!!
The meerkat was also very challenging. Extremely quick and fast to disappear down their holes, we managed to find a colony, and I succeeded in getting one down. That was awesome! We also spend that morning hunting some “waaiersterts”(ground squirrels) who were also fast and pretty tough. But we managed to get a few of them!
Friday I was invited to a family braai (barbeque) and spent the evening getting to know the whole family. I was warmly welcomed by them and they treated me so kindly! I am a natural introvert, but they made me feel so comfortable and relaxed and I felt I could just be myself.
On the last day, while trying to bag another jackal during the night, we stumbled across an animal I had not even considered – a genet. How I managed to bag such a small target with no scope magnification in the dark I will never know! But we got him. What an incredibly beautiful animal – he will make a beautiful mount. That was a grand way to end my hunting trip.
I was very sad when the week came to an end. It was too soon. Too short. I did not want to go home. Alas all good things come to an end.
I can’t praise Gerrit and Frikkie enough. They took me under their wing and taught me the basics of hunting. They are incredibly nice people and will do everything they can to get your animal and ensure you have a true safari experience. I must admit this was my favorite “holiday” I have ever had. Coming from a family and associates who are all antis, it was so nice to be able to chat to someone about hunting, share the hunting experience, and just finally be myself. They encouraged me and built up my confidence in my hunting abilities. Gerrit ensured I got the full hunting experience from spot-and-stalk to hides. This is an experience that will stay with me for life, and I am eternally grateful for everything Gerrit and Frikkie did for me. Thanks so much guys, you don’t know just how much your kindness meant to me. I am humbled to be considered your friend and part of your family.
I honestly believe that hunters are amongst the nicest people out there – my experience reaffirmed that belief.
I will definitely be returning Gerrit! I am now completely hooked on hunting! We still need to bag that hyena, and I want a honey badger to include in my collection!
Thank you Bos en Dal, I had a truly wonderful experience!!
Last edited:
Look forward to seeing you again very soon!
