The 2017 Expedition 1882 Era Black Powder Hunt At Weltevreden Farm In Limpopo South Africa

[Gert Odendaal]

Good day to all members:
Here is a write-up regarding our experiences on the 1882 Era Black powder hunt at the farm Weltevreden in the Bella -Bella /Thabazimbi area, Limpopo.
This is the group of participants in the 1882 Era Black powder hunt.
Participants:
Willie Barnard : Owner of Weltevreden Farm/medical practitioner/Expert on fauna/flora/medicinal plants and their properties/Historian Boer War /Voortrekker history/knowledge about Rifles used in Boer war/Voortrekker era/farmer/violin player/musician par excellence/Camp commandant/owner of the only hunting dog named Patrys...

Visitors from the Dendron logical Society visiting the farm every year on this weekend.

This year I added two new hunters:
Dr. Wallace Vosloo: Nuclear physicist, Black powder rifle collector, Traditional Black powder only hunter, Extremely knowledgeable in types of black powder performances and properties/experiments. Immensely knowledgeable in survival techniques and bush craft. Lecturer par excellence/conducting lectures at Stellenbosch University in South Africa regarding subjects in Nuclear power.

I can elaborate much more regarding the knowledge Wallace Vosloo have on about any subject possible. This person is always willing to assist and share his knowledge with anyone who wants to know more about black powder and traditional hunting . He has the ability to explain difficult concepts in such an easy and understandable manner. He really is a remarkable person and I felt privileged to have met him and shared a camp fire for a week with him.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The next new hunter and participant is:
Cleve Cheney: Survivalist specialist, Bow hunter specialist, Game ranger in the Kruger National Park for twenty five years, hunted for more than forty years. Creator of the South African Wild Life College , senior trainer and lecturer where he developed a two year professional hunting course for aspiring hunters and Professional Hunters. Cleve Cheney has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology and Animal Physiology , Honor`s/Masters Degree in Animal Physiology. Written publications includes: Africa`s Bowhunter, African Outfitter and SA Game and Hunt.

These two publications are excellent written books, done by one of the most knowledgeable persons in the hunting and conservation environment. Cleve really has a great way with words . You can order these publications direct from Cleve. Please pm me if you need his contact details in this regards. I really am privilege to have share a campfire with a formidable and extremely knowledgeable person like Cleve Cheney .

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I am the following participant:
Gert Odendaal: Organisator/compiler of the 1882 Black Powder hunt every year. Creator of the "Neutral ground concept" around a hunting camp fire. Where knowledge and friendship is shared for the common good . Camp cook, black powder rifle hunting enthusiast, student of bush craft and gunsmith trade /jack of all trades.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The following participant:
Johan Greyling: Gunsmith by trade.
Johan Greyling(Owner of JS Gunsmithing /gunsmith/rifle builder( 404 Jeffery working rifles) hunter/rifle collector/builder of the Grietjie Boer war cannon replica and others/ Jack-of-all trades) Excellent hunter and bush craft skills. Johan Greyling shot the first Impala ram this year as well as the heaviest Impala ram.

Our camp baker:

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Another participant is Herman Nel:
Herman Nel (Ox wagon builder/restorer, Brass/copper smith, Expert/knowledgeable in Boer history/living) Hunter and kitchen assistant.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Another participant is MC Heunis. An excellent hunter and bush craft specialist.
MC Heunis (Historian, expert on Boer/English cannons/collector of historical rifles/cannons/hunter/Boer war re-enactment specialist)

 

[Gert Odendaal]

I will be uploading more when I have access to Photobucket again..it has a time out error now...

 

[zephyr]

What fun, keep us updated

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Max van Vuuren was another hunter participating in the hunting.
Max Van Vuuren ( Hunter, re-enactment specialist of Boer War history/newest black powder hunting rifle converter /Target shooting specialist )

Hansie Minnaar is another hunter who participated.
Hansie Minnaar:
Maker of bullets and drawn brass/professional hunter /farmer/hunter/black smith enthusiast

Clive Cheney :

I forgot to mention..Clive Cheney will be compiling a dvd for every participant of this hunt...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

David was another participant:

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Visitors were Morgan , Greg and Pietie, Willie Barnard`s son. The kitchen and campfire usually is the most important aspect of this camp.
Here is our kitchen table, notice all the canned fruit with old stickers on, specially made by MC Heunis ...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

All food is made over the camp fire in heavy cast iron pots, some who are from the Setter`s era , food fit for kings

I did some baking as well, here is a favorite amongst the old Boer hunters, Milk tart, this is the pan used to bake the milk tart in. First you need to make the pastry base then the filling ..the pastry base leveled in the pan,

The filling cooked over the fire,

Pour into the pan and bake over the fire for thirty minutes...

Result:

 

[Gert Odendaal]

The following activities took place:
Making wooden spoons for the camp kitchen use by Wallace Vosloo, he really is incredible with making items from wood ...his equipment:

Survival technique:
Collecting water from a branch of a tree:

Sharpening knifes for meat processing purposes:

Constructing a ingenious method to spit braai a warthog front quarter..

Roasting coffee beans:

Baking bread:

Making music around the fire:

Collecting firewood :

We even had our own library:

All these activities really kept us busy throughout the week of hunting...

 

[Nyati]

That must have been a great week

 

[Mekaniks]

Awesome!

 

[Velo Dog]

I'll say it again:
Best subject matter / topic / postings in the history of AfricaHunting.com.

 

[Hank2211]

These days, "getting away from it all" has mostly become a state of mind, since it's incredibly hard to actually get away from the modern world. So being able to spend some time like this - living as your forefathers did - must be incredibly special.

I like air conditioning as much, if not more, than the next guy, but my best hunts have been sleeping in tents or the open air, cooking over a campfire, dreaming of being in "olde Africa."

This looks to be a very special hunt. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Thank you Velo Dog , the compliment is much appreciated.

 

[Gert Odendaal]

About the hunting:
We hunted in extremely thick veld and bush. Fortunately we were able to get very close to the game. It works both sides..if you can not see them ,they can not see you either. We made use of the wind in your face and the sun behind you. Johan Greyling shot the first Impala ram with his Cape Double rifle, a .450 nr 1 musket . While processing the meat Hansie Minnaar and Willie Barnard found the bullet..it almost kept it `s weight retention. Johan Greyling carried his Impala more than one kilometer before Herman Nel was able to assisted him. Every animal shot needed to be carried to camp..no vehicle is allowed in the camp or to ferry anything to camp..you walk from the camp to hunt and back...

 

[Gert Odendaal]

Hansie Minnaar shot the second Impala with his Martini Henry. Notice how he carried the Impala back to camp.