Having the opportunity to go hunting in South Africa one time in my life was on my to-do list, and now that I’ve had the experience with New Generation Safaris, I put it on my list to go back every year. It was difficult to know what to expect, but I wanted to share my experience so that others can make a dream of theirs become a reality.

After landing in Johannesburg, I was greeted by one of the staff members with great appreciation that I made the long trip to come hunt with their outfitter. We arrived at the amazing lodge to a welcoming staff. They set me up with a very homely sleeping quarters and gave me a tour of the lodge. The first meal of the night was something out of a magazine.

Guide + Arrival

The next morning, I was greeted by a guide and brought to the main lodge where a fulfilling meal was waiting for me. We headed out of camp at around 7, where I was able to view the breathtaking scenery on the way to the hunting ground. I had my sights set on a few animals and was hoping to at least see a few of my target list of game. Boy, was I shocked when the first place we went, I saw over 10 species in the first morning and had the opportunity to harvest a trophy warthog. The guide was so knowledgeable and helped me understand their way of hunting versus what I was used to back home in Pennsylvania.

Later that morning, we headed back to the lodge for a restaurant-like style meal before we headed back out for an afternoon of hunting. That afternoon, I was able to harvest a trophy impala, which was on my hit list. After the first day, I was grateful to have taken two amazing animals and looked forward to the next morning.

After eating, we headed out to another property and got to see eland, waterbuck, giraffes, and more impala in the distance. As we stalked for a while, I got to view both the plains and the mountains all in the same area. My #1 animal was a Kudu, which we came across 3 bulls and 2 cows but couldn’t seem to get in the right spot to take a shot. Later that day while hiking through the wilderness, I had the opportunity to take a beautiful waterbuck. Being involved in the recovery process of the animal, as well as photos after, was an experience I will never forget. That evening had the pleasure to grill out with the staff and enjoy Nyala steaks, never would have had the opportunity to try. What an enjoyable evening to sit by the fire and enjoy some drinks with guides and talk about stories of the last few days of hunting experience. Got to learn the culture and their way of living versus what I was used to back home.

Day 2

The next morning, we were back out scouting properties with two more animals on my hit list. These being the kudu and the golden wildebeest. While out scouting, we came across a beautiful Nyala in which after I saw, I made up in my mind I had to harvest one. Getting in the right spot and taking my time, the opportunity presented itself and I took a trophy Nyala. Holding that animal, I couldn’t help but be speechless of how awesome an experience it was. Fortunately for me, I still had three more days of hunting to go after my other target animals.

That afternoon, I spotted baboons, more impala, and zebra. While using binoculars to look at zebra, we saw a herd of wildebeest in the distance. We took the truck to close in the distance, and in the middle of a herd of blue wildebeest was an old, mature golden wildebeest. We played the cat and mouse game as he walked in and out of the herd, which was surprisingly over 50 wildebeest. After over 2 hours of stalking, I finally had the opportunity to take the one I was after. Coming up on that animal was a memory that I’ll never forget. After loading him up in the truck, we headed out and saw many more species of animals, but it just wasn’t the Kudu I was looking for. Camp that night was an experience with great food and great company.

Day 3

The next morning, we headed out to a new property where we had the opportunity to talk to the landowner who had seen a size bull Kudu that sounded like was exactly what I was after. After scouting a ridge, I saw a nice Kudu bull walking in and out of the brush. We posted up thinking he was the one but never got a shot. Later in the day, we worked our way back to where we saw that bull, and to my surprise, a much larger bull was grazing 500 yds below me. After slowly stocking down towards him, I had an opening to take him. With a good shot and great guiding, I harvested a massive bull Kudu and couldn’t wait to get my hands on him. Coming up on him, I just couldn’t believe the mass and width. I’m so grateful to have harvested everything on my list and couldn’t have done it without the amazing work of the staff at New Generation Safaris.

Now that hunting was done, I took advantage of what days left to go on some tours with one of the guides. We got to visit Kruger National Park and see many species of animals as well as a leopard who had taken an Impala up a tree to eat. I visited some shopping areas which was nice to take home some memories of South Africa with me home. We visited and stayed at Kambaku Boat Cruise and enjoyed a fire and music that evening.

The Final Day

My last morning, I got to enjoy a home-cooked meal before heading out to the airport. What an experience it was to go to another country to not only hunt different species of animals but also to tour these places and have the opportunity to meet great people. I would highly recommend New Generation Safaris as your preferred hunting outfitter for South Africa. I enjoyed my experience with them so much I’ll be booking another trip as soon as I can.

Jarred H. from Indiana, PA