From the moment you land at Cape Town International Airport, your journey feels effortless.
For decades, international hunters flew into OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to clear their rifles before heading north to the traditional hunting concessions. For many years it was the only option. But times have changed!
Cape Town International Airport now offers full rifle permit clearance on arrival. Still a little-known choice among hunters in the US, the service is efficient, professional, and remarkably smooth.
For Hal and Gretchen, this proved the perfect entry point to the Cape Territories. With our partners at Gracy Travel, an agent dedicated to getting hunting enthusiasts to their destinations around the world. Every detail was handled, permits, flight changes, refunds, and the reassurance that any lost luggage would be swiftly taken care of.
Our friendship with Hal began far from Africa. Early in 2025, Hal welcomed Beans to his home in the Texas Hill Country in Central Texas, arranging a gathering of like-minded hunters at Simon Bros Café, in Roosevelt, Texas. The team as Simon Bros Café, dedicated to serving great food to great people. That evening of camaraderie and storytelling turned acquaintances into friends.
Hal himself is no stranger to Africa, has hunted in both Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal, but this trip promised something new: the Cape Territories, with their unmatched diversity of hunting terrains, from Cape woodlands and mountain grasslands to the wide-open Karoo.
With formalities out of the way, Hal and Gretchen immersed themselves in what makes Cape Town one of the world’s great destinations, a rare blend of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant city life.
Their journey began in the brightly painted streets of Bo-Kaap, where pastel façades glowed in the afternoon sun and the scent of Cape Malay spices drifted from South Africa’s oldest spice merchant, Atlas Trading Company, established in 1946. Wandering the cobbled streets, and later sampling samoosas and sweet koesisters, felt like stepping into a living tapestry of culture.
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Colourful houses in Cape Town’s historical Bo-Kaap suburb |
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Victoria Road follows the 12 Apostles mountain range |
At the V&A Waterfront, The Watershed market, offered some of the best in local art, ceramics, jewellery, and clothing all under one roof. Hal and Gretchen paused for a memorable meal at Den Anker, a restaurant as iconic as the view of Table Mountain towering over the harbour.
Adventure called the next day with a hike along Lion’s Head. The short, rewarding climb revealed sweeping views of Cape Town city below, Robben Island, and the endless Atlantic to the West. From here, the coastal road awaited: along Victoria Road, past Camps Bay and Oudekraal, where mountains plunge into the ocean, confirming why this drive is celebrated as one of the most beautiful in the world.
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Further south, Hal and Gretchen paused in Hout Bay harbour before continuing to Simon’s Town in False Bay, for a leisurely seafood lunch overlooking the naval harbour. Gretchen delighted in visiting the monument to Just Nuisance, a Great Dane, the only dog ever enlisted in the Royal Navy. Insert: Gretchen posing with, Able Seaman Just Nuisance Just beyond, Boulders Beach delivered another highlight: the famous colony of African penguins. Watching them shuffle across the narrow beach and make their way into the bay was as charming as it was unforgettable. That evening, Hal and Gretchen stayed at a guesthouse perched along the Boulders boardwalk, where the calls of nesting penguins drifted up as they enjoyed dinner on their balcony overlooking the ocean. |
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The following morning, Hal set out for the Cape Point Nature Reserve, where the rugged cliffs meet the sea in a sheer descent at the tip of the Cape peninsula. Walking along one of the connecting footpaths, Hal found himself within fifty yards of two magnificent Cape Eland, grazing calmly in the fynbos, a reminder that wild Africa is never far away.
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Afterwards, a simple yet memorable lunch of freshly caught fish and crayfish made for the perfect closing note to Hal’s Cape Town chapter. It was clear: Cape Town had been the ideal beginning to his hunting adventure. When it was time for Hal to head into the Eastern Cape Territories, Gretchen remained at the Boulders beach guesthouse, enjoying her new “neighbours,” the penguins. Soon she would be joined by her close friend from the UK for a journey through the Franschhoek Winelands, where world-class wines and exquisite food awaited.
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It was the perfect complement: Gretchen immersing herself in the Western Cape’s flavours and mountain landscapes, while Hal pushed into the challenge of hunting, sending back snapshots of each day’s stalks and triumphs.
Hal’s flight to Port Elizabeth took barely an hour, followed by a short drive with Beans to Tootabi Valley Safaris’ base camp. What lay ahead?
Hal would keep his cards open, eager to see what the Eastern Cape might reveal, whether it was Cape Kudu ghosting through the thickets, Eland high on the slopes, or the long shots to be contemplated in the Karoo testing his resolve. One thing was certain: This hunt would be different.
| Hal’s expedition began in relentless wind, the open ground offering no chance of success. Hal and outfitter owner “Beans” adjusted, slipping into forested valleys where the gusts eased and the signs of game could still be read. Patient, deliberate work would pay off as the Eastern Cape yielded some treasures.
In our next entry, we’ll showcase Hal’s pursuit of some of the Eastern Cape’s iconic trophies, species found nowhere else and central to the Cape Territories, hunting heritage. At Tootabi Valley Safaris, every safari is personal. We are a boutique outfitter, dedicated to quality over quantity, exceptional accommodation, fine food, and hunting areas that deliver the trophies our clients come for. And as Hal would find out first hand, owner Beans du Preez hunts alongside his clients. His presence in the field ensures a standard of service and attention that high-volume outfitters simply cannot match. Contact us my sending an email to peter@tootabivalleysafaris.co.za to plan your Cape Territories adventure.
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