I know everyone who travels to Africa wants to come home with a Kudu. Well, not me, that is until recently. You see, I have an odd list of animals I want to hunt in Africa and a Kudu was not on the list. However, one must never close their eyes to the possibilities. This past August, Bob and I returned to South Africa to hunt with Wintershoek Safaris. This would be our third hunt with them in as many years. As always, there is a story involved, so I trust that you will indulge me while I share how the Wintershoek Safaris team became so important in our hunting history.
It all started in 2015 when Bob and I ventured to Namibia with another outfitter. Unknown to us, that particular outfitter had sold his ranch and was utilizing a neighboring property to honor the hunts he had booked. Well, after a couple of days of a disappointing hunt on a beautiful property, we approached our outfitter and explained that we needed to make other arrangements. After a couple of calls, he made arrangements for us to travel six hours to another property which he thought we would enjoy. Enjoy? Did we ever! We went to Wintershoek’s main property Thuru Lodge between Kimberely and Upington in South Africa. I was amazed that such a gem existed in the middle of the Northern Cape. Our accommodations were spectacular, and the abundance of game was like none we had ever seen. Our first trip was a short one, but both Bob and I harvested beautiful animals, including Bob’s #2 Steenbok and my Impala and Common springbuck. Considering we were hunters without a home, what was a bad situation turned into one of our best trips.
In early 2016, the call to the dark-continent was once again upon us and Bob and I knew we had to go back to Wintershoek and Thuru Lodge. We also wanted to visit another of their four properties and made arrangements to hunt their bowhunting-only property, Linksfontein Lodge near Kimberely. Once again, we were amazed at both properties, the hospitality, and abundance of animals. I took a beautiful Bontebok and Bob completed his springbuck slam, amongst other spectacular trophies. Remember, Bob is a bowhunter and I am a rifle hunter, so it is important to us when we hunt together that the property be large enough so that I do not impact Bob’s stalking or blind hunting. This has never been a problem at any of the Wintershoek properties. In total, Wintershoek Safaris owns over 246,000 acres.
Third times the charm? In 2017, we returned again, and it was just like coming home. All of the staff and guides greeted us like we are family, and truth be told, we felt like family coming home. This year, we hunted the property at Thuru Lodge and Gamagara Lodge, which has become Bob’s new favorite property due to its “stalkability” and topography. He has declared it the best bowhunting property he has been on. I found it to be as beautiful as all of their properties and was fortunate enough to harvest a beautiful gemsbuck. It wasn’t on my list either, but when the opportunity presents itself, how do you say no? We have had the opportunity to hunt with several of their professional hunters. My gemsbuck was guided by Yvan Nieuwoudt, whom we have spent much time with during the show season. While he is twice, maybe three times my size, I have found him to be a very kind and compassionate individual. While we only spent 36 hours at Gamagara, we hunted only a small portion of the huge property, participated in a Cape buffalo vet check, experienced some of the finest cuisine in Africa, and harvested three animals, we think our time was well spent. On to Thuru where I harvested my beautiful Kudu, of course Bob also had excellent success, but this is my hunt report. Hannes Coetzee was my guide for my Kudu, and who doesn’t love having a stealth-like young man guide you? It is always so enjoyable to talk about life from a different perspective and a different world.
Thuru is where my heart is, and there is absolutely nothing like waking up and walking outside onto your own private patio to the sounds of rhinos chomping on feed. These animals are so amazing to just watch and wonder who would want to harm them. I recall one afternoon when I was sitting on the back of the truck contemplating life by myself while Bob was stalking animals. I had to keep checking my ears because it was dead quiet. I actually thought I had gone deaf because on the dunes in the early afternoon there wasn’t a sound anywhere, not even in my head, which was very odd and a sign that I was truly relaxed and obviously enjoying just being.
We topped our hat trick off with four days in Cape Town with the manager/owner Braam Bekker, his wife, Mardoret, and their adorable daughter, Lecia. Cape Town was everything I hoped it would be, and Braam and Mardot were the perfect tour guides. Truth be told, we consider them to be our friends and we feel fortunate to have been able to spend the time we have with them. I am not sure what the translation is for Umpa Bob, but by the end of our time, this became Bob’s nickname. (Please do not call him that!). We had beautiful weather and were able to get on top of Table Mountain, enjoyed the Stellenbosch winery region, and took in the abundance of the Waterfront. Just doors down from the famed “One & Only,” we couldn’t have had a better view from our condo on the Waterfront.
That’s the bac kstory, and here is the important information. Wintershoek Safaris has four distinctly different properties in which they offer hunts on. Each of them is so large that you may never see all of them: Thuru Lodge – 86,000 acres, Gamagara - 24,000 acres, Linksfontein - 24,000 acres, and Karreekloof Lodge - 112,000 acres. They have been in business for over 30 years and have thought of everything, including a game retrieval truck to gather your harvest without having to pause your hunting. Their professional guides are well versed in plains game and dangerous game gun and bowhunting. The accommodations are very well appointed, private, and extremely comfortable. The cuisine is excellent, well considered, and plentiful. Bob has a special relationship with the Thuru bartender, Willem, as well as his personal tracker, Paultjie. Would we recommend the Wintershoek Safari team? Absolutely! Unequivocally, I can recommend the Wintershoek team to meet and exceed your expectations on your next safari. I would also recommend any of the Wintershoek Safari properties for couples and families for the hunter and non-hunter. There is nothing like a sundowner on the red dunes of the Northern Cape.
I believe the true character of an individual shines through amongst challenge, and we faced a significant challenge in 2015. The Wintershoek team opened their doors to us, and we have been forever grateful that our original hunt went bad and that we were graciously accepted at Thuru Lodge.
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