Umdende Safaris — Attraction in Abaqulusi Local Municipality

Don and I had a great safari with Umdende Safaris. We won our hunt in a Duck’s Unlimited auction in Frisco, Texas. We didn’t plan going into the auction that we would be bidding at all… and walked out with an African Safari.

The camp was an old farmer’s house and it was very nice. It had a kitchen, bar, fire pit, the usual! It was actually nicer than the lodges/accommodations I had previously been exposed to in Africa. I had briefed Don that accommodations would be ‘rustic’. Oh well. The first evening of the hunt we grilled and enjoyed a fire. The cook was fabulous.

Day 1 was tough hunting. We had a missed shot as well.

On Day 2 - Don and Theo (PH) took a magnificent Zebra and an Impala with a rifle in the morning. While glassing I spotted a nice Nyala and we went after him instead. We had to wade across a shallow river to get up to him. We weren’t sure where he would be as we lost his location in the vegetation/elevation lines after we crossed the river but it turns out we came out behind him with the wind perfect. After a further brief stalk, I had a 50-yard archery opportunity that I nailed. He went 15 yards and I had a nice 28” Nyala on the ground. Later in the afternoon Don took a very nice Red Hartebeest with a 250 yard plus shot. In the afternoon of the 2nd day I tried a stalk on a Warthog that Theo had tried to rifle hunt with his young son, but he busted me at 67 yards. I also tried stalks on Impala two or three times and got close but with thick vegetation I could not get an arrow off. Don and Theo took a break and drank Castle beer while I was playing Elmer Fudd with a bow. On the third day Don took a nice Mountain Reedbuck in the morning. It was a high scoring Mountain Reedbuck which wasn’t on his wish list, but Theo’s correct assertion that it was a magnificent trophy sold Don. I decided to try for that same Warthog again but this time with a rifle 😊, I took the nice Warthog and then went after an Impala with a rifle as well. I took a nice Impala in the late afternoon. On the fourth day of the hunt we switched to duck/goose hunting. I’ve never hunted waterfowl in Africa so didn’t know what to expect. Umdende and Theo did a great job setting us up for the morning hunt. We shot 41 ducks and geese with two guns. Shooting was hot and steady and ‘Argentine-esque’ until about 9AM or so, then it tapered off. In the evening we had another great shoot, this time over decoys but with a very high tail wind to deal with. Our shooting was high volume but the percentages dropped heavily due to the wind. That evening we had a duck breast dinner. All and all this was one of the best waterfowl days of my life and waterfowl was my first passion in hunting. We travelled to Limpopo on Day five. We stayed in a rustic but nice fenced bush camp. Next up on my list was Sable. Umdende had worked their network and found an exceptional Sable bull on a farm where the owner had just authorized it to be hunted. We went there and found him almost immediately. Regretfully I didn’t have a great archery performance here. My first arrow sailed over his back. My second arrow was a wound shot, but about an hour later and with the PH’s great assistance I finally had him down. Honestly, I have to admit I had buck fever here after decades of hunting and bowhunting. I think everyone telling me what a monster he was along with a truck load of spectators observing from distance got in my head. It ended up well and the Sable green-scored 111.75” by an un-official scorer. Things got tough at this point. Don’s #1 sought after animal had always been Gemsbok. We hunted hard for this animal for two days. On the last day of our safari we all agreed to hunt until 11 AM. Don was able to make the shot and we were on our way to the airport . We both had wish lists of animals to hunt and we both got everything we sought. The duck hunting was...

I've been fortunate to have hunted in Africa many times, in three different countries, since 1987. I have hunted in all South African provinces, except one, and hunted in 4 different provinces with Clayton and Garth, and all the great people that work with them at Umdende. Together, we have taken some great trophies and made some awesome memories. The Umdende team will go to great lengths, to make sure you have a trip of a lifetime. They make sure that you are well taken care of, and I guarantee that once you hunt with the Umdende team, you will be back for more. The awesome accommodations, excellent meals, as well as local wines and beers (I've been known to have a couple) are second to none. The hunting is fantastic, and Clayton and Garth will do their very best to get you on the game. I have hunted some very hard to obtain trophies with Clayton, and we've always come right, hunting hard and the proper way to do it. Just ask him about the bushbuck, bushpig, oribi and caracal. All awesome hunts, I will be back soon, and thanks for everything, Clayton, Debbie, Garth and Tenneil, and the rest of the Umdende team. ...

I have just gotten back from our trip to South Africa with Umdende Hunting Safari’s. To say it was a dream trip come true is an understatement! We were a group of 10- 6 hunters and 4 non-hunting pain in the butt women. From the planning stages to the trip itself, Clayton was super accommodating and went above and beyond to make sure us girls had a great time. They organized a private safari trip to Krugar National Park for two days, boat trips, excursions for shopping, and a cat sanctuary where we were able to get up close and personal with lions and tigers. Back at camp we were spoiled rotten with wine and drinks and food preferences. The accommodations exceeded my expectations and the staff was amazing; I so very much enjoyed our evenings spent together eating and drinking and sharing stories. To Clayton, Theo, Francois, Nells, Audrey and Henk (especially for having to put up with us girls for two days in the car) thank you so so so much! I will never forget this amazing experience and really hope to see you all again. It was...