My Kalahari Hunt Experience

Mike Deodati hunted with us during September,2007. Below you will find the article he wrote about his Kalahari hunt experience.

(On the picture: Mike, Tom and Jim around the campfire on Uitspan Ranch.)

"The flight in from our previous destination had been uneventful as Kobus began his decent into the Kalahari Desert. We had been up all night leopard hunting and had chosen to immediately board the plane and fly to our next destination ( without the benefit of sleep). Not only was Kobus our pilot from area to area, he is also our "Professional Hunter" and the owner of Africa Thirstland Safari cc. As he banks and begins his final approach I notice how familiar our destination appears from the air. One could easily mistake the landscape for my native South Texas homelands.

As we unfold our bodies from the plane I notice a small white pickup truck speeding down a road running parallel with the landing strip. As it drives by I notice several hands extending out the windows in a wave to us as they drive by at 50 plus miles an hour.

Our guide apparently reading my mind turns and tells me that this is how everyone drives on this ranch. As I look up the landing strip I can just barely make out another small truck which is shimmering in the warm sunlight and heading our way at a high rate of speed.

As the truck rolls to a stop a pretty young lady hops out and exchanges a hug with Kobus along with a handshake to each of us haggard and somewhat disheveled looking hunters. As Kobus introduces Tienie to us he also leans into the window to say hello to the children ages 8,4 and 2 which also accompany her in the truck. Tienie helps run the Duvenhage ranch along with her husband Michael and his father and mother Hendrik and Isabella Duvenhage. After the brief introduction is made, we are off to the main house where a light brunch awaits us along with liquid refreshment.

After we eat, our hosts briefly discuss with Kobus which animals we would hope to collect. Kobus explains that our party is made up of one gun hunter and two bow hunters and that the bow hunters would like to collect an Eland, a couple of Gemsbok, a Black Wildebeest, a Blue Wildebeest, one Kudu and a Zebra. Our gun hunter would like to collect all of the same animals but additionally would like a Giraffe.

Michael’s dad gives us a hard stare and turns to Kobus and gives him a knowing nod. He tells Kobus that he knows where the Eland Bulls are hanging out and we will begin our Kalahari adventure with a rifle hunt for an Eland Bull.

This hunt began a year and a half earlier when Dr. Tom Shields and another friend were bidding on an African Safari while attending the annual Safari Club "Event" in San Antonio Texas. Dr. Shields and his friend had the winning bid on the Safari with Thirstland Safari Outfitters. His friend had subsequently backed out and I mentioned that I might be interested and a third member Dr. Steve Albright later joined us to fill out the group. I mentioned that I would only be interested in bow hunting and Tom said that he thought this would not be a problem and that he would speak with Kobus and make appropriate accommodations. During the course of the next year Tom once again took up the bow and our hunt took a hard right hand turn towards a "bow hunting" trip to Africa.

The Duvenhage Ranch is our third stop on this trip so far and we have already collected several nice animals. Steve has collected a Burchell's and Hartmann's Zebra, a beautiful Sable which will book along with a Blue Wildebeest and an excellent Waterbuck. Tom had collected an excellent Gemsbok which will book along with a book Warthog. I had collected a book Warthog and a Zebra along with a nice Red Hartebeest.

Now its time to begin the hunt in our third location. As we set out in two different trucks I notice that Michael and Kobus begin looking for Eland track. Before long Michael's dad takes over and soon we are following the herd. As we spot a nice bull we try to get in position for Steve to make the shot as the Eland Bull does what Eland do best: run! After making a beautiful shoulder shot, the magnificent animal piles up some 40 yards away.

Now is when the work begins. After an appropriate number of photos have been taken, it is time to get the animal field dressed and the carcass is loaded into the bed of the small white pickup. Sounds easy enough, right? We are now going to load an animal roughly the size and bearing a striking resemblance to a Brahman Bull into the back of a pint sized Toyota pickup without the aid of mechanical equipment.

First two holes are dug and the pickup tires are backed into the holes so the tailgate when lowered is now on the ground. Using manual labor we now drag approximately 51% of the animal into the bed of the truck and Michael and Kobus climb into the bed and hold onto the animal while Michael's father floors the Toyota. As it rockets out of the hole Michael's dad stomps the brakes and the two men and animal slide neatly into the back bed of the truck. Sounds easy enough, right? Everyone is laughing except for the one person who was pinned between the bull and the back of the truck. That's gonna leave a mark!

Back to the camp to drop the Eland and fuel up with a mid afternoon snack before the afternoon hunt. Michael's dad ask who would like to be next and specifically asks me which animal I would prefer to take next. I reply that the Kudu is my most sought after animal but I have my doubts about being able to get within bow range. Michael's dad replies; "If you can stay in the back of the truck, then I will get you within range of the Kudu". The old man has a twinkle in his eye and I am certain that there is a joke at my expense but I agree just the same.

Our hunt begins much as the Eland hunt in search for tracks of the elusive "Grey Ghost". Once we pick up the tracks we drive for many miles before we sight the animals and they are already on their way to parts unknown.

This is when the fun begins. Kobus tells me that we will chase the animals and that they will stop only once to give us a shot. I will have to be prepared to draw on the animal immediately and shoot him before they begin running again. Once they start running again they will not stop and the hunt will be over. Easy enough, right?

At 10 miles an hour I begin to have misgivings about being able to hold onto the rack on the high seat with one hand while holding onto to my bow with the other. At 20 miles an hour I had my doubts about being able to catch up with the swift footed creatures but managed to keep my balance by holding onto the truck with my right hand and using my bow held in my left hand high over my left shoulder (as I imagined a Bronc rider would do if he was riding a wild horse while holding a bow and chasing after a Kudu). Somewhere between 20 and 25 mph I went into a "Zen-like" trance and began to imagine myself as a fearless Comanche warrior holding onto my horse but intent on taking the animal as the distance closes. At 40 miles an hour I fell out of the trance but kept screaming like a Comanche (others said I sounded more like a girl). At 50 miles an hour I conceded that the animals were the winners and mentally tried to will Michael to a stop. Somewhere around 55 miles an hour we momentarily left the ground and my life flashed before me as it had occasion to during my younger and more reckless years.

I was suddenly awakened out of my flashback when Michael slammed on the brake (good mental telepathy does work on occasion) and we skidded to a stop. I looked up and we were approximately 45 yards from the herd which had an awesome Kudu Bull. The bow came up without a second thought and the arrow left on its mysterious flight to and through the big bulls shoulder. He ran another 30 yards, turned around and shuddered before he lay down for the last time...

So that's what the old man meant about staying in the back of the truck.

During the next three days we managed to harvest all of our requested animals and were treated as if we were visiting royalty.

At this juncture I would like to explain that I call Hendrik the "old man" as a term of endearment and merely because he is in fact the oldest of our hosts. He is ruggedly handsome and has a charming personality. He reminds me a little bit of John Wayne (John Wayne was a cowboy movie star back in the States, a real "mans" man for those of you that have never heard of the name).

After Tom killed his Eland we took a picture of Hendrik and the the animal. I noticed that he was looking off in the distance with a far away look on his face. When we ask him what he was thinking about he immediately turned towards his wife and said "Why of course I was thinking of my wife Isabella".

(Picture: Mike with his Blue Wildebeest, also hunted on Uitspan Ranch.)

Did I say that he was a charmer? I also figured this was a good time to explain why I refer to him as the old man because I am afraid of him because he is a big man. Did I say he bore a remarkable resemblance to John Wayne?

His son Michael is nothing but a younger version of the old man. Both Michael and Tienie are Master Hunting Guides and Professional Hunters. Tienie takes on the task of scheduling and planning the hunts and also assists Isabella in the preparation of the meals and the make ready of our accommodations.

Michael and Hendrik handle the guiding and have spent their entire lives on the ranch which is a working livestock ranch. If you are interested in a hunt please feel free to visit their website or write to Uitspan Hunting, P.O. Box 56, Aranos, Namibia.

Well it is now Sunday morning and it is time to leave for our next destination.

This has been the most enjoyable hunt of the trip and it is not easy to leave. The Duvenhage family meets us at the front gate as we tote our gear to be loaded into the plane. They are headed for church and they are dressed up for their weekly trip into town. Goodbyes are exchanged along with hugs and kisses from everyone.

We are dropped at the plane where Kobus is going through his final flight check. As he looks in his briefcase he notices that his missing record (they have been missing since the day we arrived) have suddenly reappeared and he shakes his head and murmurs something about "That Hendrik, he gets me every time!" As we take off and make our way over the endless Kalahari I am certain that the friendships we have made here will endure for many years to come!

(Author: Mike Deodati)