The Eastern Cape forests do not give up their trophies easily. Dense thickets and tangled bush provide perfect cover for the Cape bushbuck and other elusive species, slipping out only to graze and catch the last afternoon warmth before cold winter evenings. For hunters, this is what makes the Eastern Cape one of the best hunting destinations in South Africa, a place where skill, patience, and persistence are constantly tested.
Hal’s first day with Tootabi Valley Safaris dawned with gusts pushing hard through the valleys. Moving quietly along narrow bushpaths, he searched for tracks and signs of life. The Cape bushbuck, ever wary, held tight in the shadows of the thickets. Then fortune favored the team’s persistence. A duiker stepped into the open. A short stalk, a steady aim, and one well-placed shot, and the first trophy was in the salt.
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But success in the Eastern Cape hunting grounds demands adaptability. Owner and professional hunter Beans du Preez knew that the bushbuck and kudu would stay buried in cover while the wind held, so a change in strategy was suggested. Instead of pressing deeper into the valleys, Hal and Beans turned their focus to Bushpig. Fresh signs of activity pointed to a nearby hide, and with patience, it promised a chance at a very different kind of challenge. As the sun had already slipped away, the team settled into the hide. Hours passed in the dark, the bush hushed except for the occasional stir from the wind. As the pigs approached, their steps, drowned out by the wind. Out of the darkness, a large Bushpig emerged. Light had long faded, conditions not perfect, but Hal’s patience held. The shot was true. Hal’s patience resulting in two great Eastern Cape trophies taken in very trying conditions. |
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The second day at Tootabi Valley Safaris’ home base brought more hours in the bushveld, glassing steep bushpaths and scanning the dense thickets for the ever-cautious Cape bushbuck and the ghostly Cape kudu. These elusive trophies are part of what makes Eastern Cape hunting so challenging and so rewarding.
Yet, despite patience and persistence, no opportunities presented themselves. By evening, a new plan was set, to push inland to the Great Karoo, where the sweeping grasslands and rocky koppies promised fresh opportunities and a different style of hunting.
Hunting in the Great Karoo
The following day in the Great Karoo, the wind showed no sign of easing. Out on the open plains, however, Hal was presented with a fine common springbok ram. It wasn’t the monster springbok he would take later in the safari, but it was a worthy trophy, earned honestly under tough conditions.
The Cape Winelands
While the hunters wrestled with the wind, the ladies back in Cape Town enjoyed a different side of South Africa’s beauty, indulging in wine, food, and luxury far removed from the challenges of the bushveld. For Gretchen and Kelly, their day unfolded in an entirely different rhythm.
| Their arrival in Franschhoek opened the door to South Africa’s culinary heart. They checked into the elegant Franschhoek Country House, and that evening dined at Sauvage, a world-renowned restaurant where local flavors meet international finesse.
The following morning brought a leisurely start. Strolling through galleries and boutiques, the ladies soaked in the Franschoek village charm before arriving at Haute Cabrière Estate. There, a decadent spread awaited, a selection of local cheeses paired with champagne and delicate macaroons, an indulgence that revealed yet another unique experience of the Western Cape. |
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For Hal on Day 4, the Great Karoo stretched out vast and timeless, wide stony plains broken by scattered koppies, the horizon rolling on without end. In this immense space of silence and sky, the team found what every hunter dreams of, a magnificent Cape eland bull. Towering in stature, heavy-bodied, with the proud brush of hair crowning his forehead, he was the very picture of strength.
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Stalking in the open demanded patience, but persistence was rewarded. The shot rang true, and the great eland bull was Hal’s. The team was immensely proud of his trophy, a true highlight of his Eastern Cape hunting safari with Tootabi Valley Safaris. Up close, the sheer size of Cape Eland, is something to behold, a reminder of why the Cape Eland is considered one of the best plains game trophies in South Africa. |
In our next chapter, the weather finally begins to improve as the team heads into the Eastern Cape mountains. These rugged slopes are home to some of the region’s most prized endemic species, trophies found nowhere else in Africa. It was here, among these high ridges and valleys, that Hal would celebrate his birthday in true hunter’s style, marking the occasion with a jewel of an Eastern Cape trophy.
A Boutique Safari Difference
On this safari, Hal’s time in the Eastern Cape was shaped by less-than-perfect conditions. Yet that is the essence of hunting in the Eastern Cape, diversity of species and variety of landscapes that challenge hunters to adapt.
At Tootabi Valley Safaris, we remain committed to offering more than just a hunt. We are a boutique outfitter. Offering exceptional accommodation and fine dining to hunting areas that consistently produce the quality trophies our clients expect. Above all, every safari is personal, with Beans, Owner, in the field alongside his clients, ensuring each experience is as rewarding as it is unforgettable.