DarwinsWar.com » Hunting

Posted under Africa,Hunting,Safari by darwinswar on Saturday 16 October 2010 at 2:09 am

Reprinted From African Hunting Gazette; Vol. 16.2; October 2010

www.africanhuntinggazette.com and http://www.africansportinggazette.com/

Coming Home

Tollie’s African Safaris

Larry N. Smith, M.D. and Family

I cannot say that my family are world travelers, although we have been to England, France and Italy. We have vacationed in the Caribbean and visited Canada, where we spent our time doing the typical tourist things. The States have been on our vacation radar and we have visited many. My sons and I have hunted deer in the South and ducks in Stuttgart, Arkansas. But throughout all those vacations, hunts, and periods in between, we talked about and longed for visiting Africa. For some reason Africa held a special meaning for us.

When an opportunity to go to Africa came about in June 2010 we made plans to visit the wilds. My sons had reached the age where the romanticism of hunting big game had meaning and “The Dark Continent” still held that allure of mystery, danger and the challenge of stalking big game. For my wife Susie, she found Africa to be a place where she could give back to those in need while still enjoying the beauty and serenity of the African countryside.

Our relaxing haven after the hunt

where we shared stories during lunch

or before dinner

It was at Tollie’s African Safaris in Somerset East, South Africa that we found the perfect combination of hunting, service and most importantly a home in the wilds of South Africa. Sitting under the thatched roof of the veranda at noon day or in the cool of evening watching the sun set behind “Old Man Mountain” we would recount the day’s activities. As we chatted, the air around us filled with the sounds of cooing African Cape Turtle Doves, the calls of Hadeda Ibis and the serenades of the iridescent Cape Glossy Starling. Much would be made of the day’s hunting, with the identification and stalking of that day’s game. Some ribbing was always in order for those hunts over roughed mountain terrain or across flat plateaus that were more difficult than anticipated. We discussed the uniqueness of each animal and hunt for eland, kudu, nyala, blesbok and black wildebeest. The stalking of impala and springbok became a family activity, with competition an important part of the stalk. At Tollie’s no trophy is guaranteed unless you are willing to hunt hard for the animal in the true African Safari tradition. Danie Lourens, our world-renowned professional hunter (PH), saw to it that our hunting experience was like no other. His detailed knowledge not only of the animals but the flora, the geology, astronomy and the history of South Africa only expanded our appreciation for that part of the continent. Danie is a true naturalist, conservationist and hunter. At Tollie’s, because of the professionals, there are only real Africa hunts and we all appreciated and learned from them.

Tollie’s trophy room

where Rudolph Ferreira works his magic

At day’s end there were also many congratulations for a hunt well done. These were not given without a deep appreciation for the animals that had provided that day’s excitement. Rudolph Ferreira runs and operates the taxidermy business where superb mounts are produced and shipped worldwide for Tollie’s clients. We saw to it that our animals received the same care, so that our memories of the continent would be preserved. The Inyatai Spa operated by Inge Nel and located next to the family lodge house provides a wide range of professional services, which for me included a daily massage to relax my Parkinsonian muscles. Susie enjoyed the more feminine services, and my youngest received his first hot stone massage.

What made Tollie’s our home, though, was Tollie and Karen Jordaan, who with their sons Paul, Peter, and William, bring you into their home and make you a member of the family. William, their youngest, happily became the companion for Wiley, my youngest. Together they hunted monkey by day and chased springhare in the early evening. William was there when Wiley took his first big animal, an impala, at 200 yards with a .223 Remington. It was an excitement shared by the family. Travis, my oldest, enjoyed Peter’s company. They had much incommon, both athletes and avid outdoors men they shared time and stories together, although most of Travis’s time was spent hunting hard with Danie the PH. With Danie’s skill, Travis harvested Safari Club International (SCI) class blesbok and kudu, and began mastering the art of the African hunt.

With Karen’s help, Susie learned of Mary Coetzee’s Children’s Home, a foster home for orphaned children of the HIV pandemic. Susie delivered shoes, socks, clothes and much-needed warm clothing to the children for the cold winters of South Africa. Wiley brought Blow-Pops and Gummy Bears, candy that was an immediate hit. The children greeted us with smiles, songs and a prayer that left no eye unteared. Susie became the center of attention as she took photos of the children and shared them. The beaming smiles on the children’s faces as they looked at the photos told the whole story.

Susie with Mary Coetzee’s children an experience she and Wiley will remember and a group of children they will continue to support

The real South African Safari experience at the Tollie’s the first night lt. to rt.: Danie, PH, Travis, Peter and William

On the first evening after the day’s activities, you are greeted to a warm roaring fire in a large Lapa, where a delicious dinner is prepared and conversation shared. Throughout the stay, the family and the staff’s attention to detail only further relaxes you into the African experience. Chantel Deysel sees to it that your every need is addressed. She escorted Susie on a day trip to a local arts festival and prepared dinners that everyone looked forward to. Before the hunt, you eat breakfast in the morning room with fresh coffee, tea or hot chocolate beside a fire in the fireplace. Your dinners are followed by a crackling fire in the family room. Our safari was joined by internationally known photographer David Chancellor, who helped preserve the memory of our experience on film. Our only mistake for the entire stay was to have made reservations for three days at a local animal preserve. In spite of seeing elephants, lions and rhinoceros there, we all wished to be back at Tollie’s. We left a day early and returned home to Karen and Tollie’s African Safari. On Susie’s last day, she stalked and harvested a record springbok that left her smiling, as she too had earned her African experience.

By far Travis our middle son experienced the true South African Safari. His best hunt came with his stalking and harvesting of a large trophy kudu. Using a 7mm Winchester, under Danie’s professional guidance, Travis dropped the big bull at 100 yards with a well placed shot. Travis still recounts how they crawled for 100 yards to get within range as the evening sun settled in behind the mountains. He had similar adventures stalking gemsbok over several mountain ranges until he finally earned the opportunity to harvest the bull at a good 200 plus yards. Both animals are with Rudolph and will soon be a lasting memory for him and the family.

Travis earned many other trophy animals on this safari and when I speak to him about his experience, he is already planning the next hunt in South Africa at Jordaan and Karan’s African Safari. I have explained that he has had an experience that few men his age hav ever experienced and he has come to appreciate the uniqueness and the value of the family’s experience there at Tollie’s.

By far one of the highlights for Travis was the successful stalking and harvesting of anSCI Gold Medal record Kudu

Travis with another monstera trophy Gemsbok taken with Winchester 7mm ammunition using a 7mm WinchesterAn experience most people wait a lifetime to enjoy

As for me, I can tell you that the experience was more than I could have imagined. Having received the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease several years ago, I had low expectations for the trip. In spite of this, Tollie and Danie made my experience more than I could ever have imagined. We toured the 120,000 acres of the preserve, and I saw bushbuck, kudu, eland, and watched baboons and monkeys. I was with my youngest when he harvested his first impala. In addition, with the help of my son Travis I harvested an eland, whose meat we donated to Mary Coetzee’s Children’s Home.

The entire experience for me was highlighted on the last day of the safari. We started the day watching black wildebeest run on the plateaus and then ended the day stalking impala in the mountains. In the setting sun on a mountaintop overlooking Tollie’s preserve and the beauty of South Africa, Travis, Danie and I stalked and harvested the largest impala buck of the hunt. It was a day that a father and son will never forget and we bagged an impala rack, perhaps, for the record books.

Travis and dad on the last evening experiencing the grandeur of the Eastern Cape with a record Impala taken at 295 yds with a Winchester 300 win mag.

We were all sad about leaving, but we will talk of this unique experience for many years to come.

For those of you who have been to Tollie’s African Safari, you know. For those of you who have not–you must go. My family will be back because we have found a home in Africa. Thank you, Tollie and Karen.

Tollie’s African Safaris

Tollie and Karen Jordaan

www.safari-in-africa.com

e-mail: tollie@isat.co.za

Tel.: 011-27-42-243-2157

African Pride Taxidermy

Rudolph Ferreira

www.taxidermysouthafrica.com

e-mail: ttt@isat.co.za

Tel: 011-27-42-243-0817

Professional Hunter

Danie Lourens, P.H.