SOUTH AFRICA: My First Safari Hartzview

[BWH]

After decades of dreaming, years of studying & months of planning/obsessing..... the time had come when I boarded my Delta flight for South Africa. I looked at dozens of Outfitters & PH's over the years. In the end, I decided on Jacques Spamer with Hartzview Safaris. I know many guys on here have great reviews about him, as well as many others. However, I am VERY, VERY glad I chose Jacques. The hunt & experience could not have been any better!!!!

He was there to pick me up from the Kimberley Airport, helped with gun clearance, then loaded up for the drive to Hartzview.

Upon arrival I was greeted by friendly staff, trackers, drivers, etc. Checked into my room for the next week, then off to sight in my Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker 30-06, Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x50, Barnes Vor-tx 168 gr TTSX.

1" high & 1" right..... 4 clicks adjusted that... Next thing you know we are in the back of a Bakkie heading out for the first hunt. (2pm, Monday May 20th, 2014).

The country we were reminded me a lot of Texas.... farmland, crops, open fields, thick thorn brush country, rocky hills (koppies).

I'll spare y'all the minute by minute/blow by blow for brevity. So here is rundown by day, distance, animal, etc.

Day 1 - Kudu, 200 yards, 53+" - 4:00pm

Day 2 - Gemsbok, 240 yards, 38" - 9:00am

Day 3 - Blue Wildebeest, 100 yards - 5:00pm

Day 4 - Old Springbok, 100 yards - 11:00am

Day 4 - Zebra, 150 yards - 5:30pm

Day 5 - Blesbok, 100 yards, 18" - 5:00pm

Day 6 - Impala, 200 yards, 24" - 12:00pm

Day 7 - Warthog, 150 yards, 10" - 10:30am

Day 7 - Black Wildebeest, 100 yards - 5:00pm

We did a ton of hiking... up & down.... Miles & miles each day. Lots of glassing! A bunch of thorns & stickers. Stalking, stalking & stalking..... getting busted by wind, eyes, etc. In the end.... Blood, sweat & SMILES!!!!

Rating:
Jacques is the consummate PH- 5 Stars
Lodge is very nice & comfortable- 5 Stars
Food is awesome - 5 stars
Staff - 5 stars

I will be happy to give more details... I just didn't want to bore or beat anyone down with my story.

So.... would I go again? After all, this was a once in a lifetime trip for me..... Well, I got home on Thursday evening May 28th. I'm supposed to pick up my new .375 H&H this Thursday!!!!

Thank you for your time!

Take care,

Brad

 

[billc]

First class place with a great ph makes for a fun hunt.Great animals you got and that zebra looks real cool.What did you think of the wonder dog bullet we kind of liked him alittle more then jacques.LOL A new 375 must mean your thinking hard about another trip.

 

[BWH]

Bullet & Roxie were awesome.... they were fun to have around. Although we didn't have to work them very hard. I was very blessed to have all the animals fall where hit or run no more than 40 yards. However, as soon as the gun was fired, they were shot out of a cannon in hot pursuit! Jacques is an extremely hard working dude & PH. I can't recommend him enough. Went as a client/hunter... left as a friend. And YES.... I'm pretty sure I'll be making that short flight all over again!!!

 

[Biddleman]

That Zebra is first class bad ass looking. I love unique animals like that. Congrats on an awesome hunt.

 

[Grady]

Congrats on the hunt. Screw the brevity, when you have some time, please bore us with the minute by minute detasils.....There are a lot ofg us who have not been over in a while and have to get our fix thru your hunt!

 

[BWH]

Thank you! Yes it was.... it all happened so fast. We had been looking for them for days... no luck. One night at sundown we were heading back to camp. Slowed down to check out a nice heard of Eland. Just as we started to move again, looked over back shoulder & saw 2 stallions. Jacques said one on the left... BOOM! Drop!..... Not realizing just how cool his stripes were.... the shadowing & the saddle on his back. All the trackers/skinners wanted pics with it.

 

[BWH]

All shots except for the Blue Wildebeest (full frontal chest/heart).... were through & throughs... The 168gr TTSX was magnificent. Animals bleed like a can of red paint, none went far. The one bullet recovered had 4 perfect petals.... just like they advertise.

Weather: Got off the plane.... pouring down rain... all the way to ranch...RAIN. Get to ranch.... cleared & perfect weather all week. Cool mornings about 40 degrees, afternoons approached 80 degrees. A few days we had lots of wind. By & large.... perfect. Similar to Texas in November.

Thorns... Everything has them.... BIG

Jacques glassing

Bakkie

Exit wound on Black Wildebeest

Sunset..... Pretty damn awesome!

 

[BnC 04]

Congrats on some awesome animals and great trip you had. Always great times with Jacques and the guys!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Congrats on the hunt. Screw the brevity, when you have some time, please bore us with the minute by minute detasils.....There are a lot ofg us who have not been over in a while and have to get our fix thru your hunt!

My sentiments exactly.
I am not sure why everyone gets self conscious about their hunt reports.
A great executive summary like you did allows those who don't want all the details to quit right there.
The rest of us, well you know, want the details.

 

[billc]

I see the bog pod I brought over for jacques has made it through a few season now.Fun how alot of your pic's look so much like ones i took when there.The one of jacques glassing , the thorns and sun set look so much like ones I took when there.Glad you did not need to use the skills of bullet and roxxie but dam it was amazing watching them work when they are needed.We only had bullet when we were there but he was at are bedroom door each morning waiting for us to go hunting.

 

[accipiter]

All your trophies are outstanding. Thanks for sharing the report.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Brad,

I'm still roughing it here in beautiful New Hampshire, but took time to read this, congrats again my friend on a bunch of great trophies. The zebra......wow! I know you're getting that skin tanned right?

 

[BWH]

Roughing it in New Hampshire.... Yeah I bet.....

Yes, the wife... She is an interior designer by trade. She's quite judgmental on a lifetime of taxidermy. However, with africa.... She had one contingency....bring me back a zebra rug. So I did.... And a few other things she didn't ask for.... Is easier to ask
For forgiveness than permission!!!

 

[BWH]

The old adage.... If mama ain't happy, nobody's happy. Well... At Hartzview, if Bullet ain't hunting, nobody's hunting!!!

 

[Bobpuckett]

All I can Say is AWESOME! To tell the truth I've never hunted with Jacques But have known and drank beer with him for several years and the minute I read Hartzview Safari I knew you had a great Hunt I would highly recommend him to anyone who ask. All Your trophies are awesome and that Zebra WOW what markings I wonder if he's got a twin brother??? He is Outstanding Looks like a animal rug on an animal rug. Head, legs, tail and all...

 

[All-American Taxidermy]

That zebra is a cool looking one!

 

[BWH]

Thank you. Yes Jacques & Hartzview by all accounts was a superb outfit & experience. There are more Zebras, I can vouch for that! For the first-timer going over.... Not to sound cheesy......I would say, it is like Disneyworld for Hunters..... You spend a great deal of time planning. Take many modes of transportation to get there. You do a ton of walking... Do a lot of waiting for that very small window/opportunity of time to experience the reason you went. In the end you are happy, planning next trip back & memories that will last forever. At least for me.

 

[Sand Rat]

WOW, what an awesome Zebra!

 

[Nyati]

Congrats for a great hunt and very nice trophies. That zebra, well.....some guys have all the luck

Thanks for sharing !

 

[James.Grage]

Thanks for sharing.

Nice report and pictures to back it up...

i think you had a great time.