1st RANGER’S REPORT – MARCH 2011

What was going to be another dry, dusty day in Africa quickly changed into the opportunity of a life-time. Guests and a police van arrived in the morning, which was not out of the ordinary lately because of the serious threat that rhino poaching is at the moment. And so it was not until I was asked to get in the land cruiser with my camera that I knew I would be touching a white rhino that day.

We found the first two rhino relatively easily, but once they were darted it was by no means an easy task. The vet darts the rhino in the hide and within 20 minutes (the safe amount of time for a rhino to be sedated) the process takes place. The rhino starts looking a bit drowsy, stumbles a few meters, and, once the sedative sets in, it drops to the ground with a distinct thump under its massive weight. The land cruisers speed over the rocky veld to get to the rhino as quickly as possible. A tarmac is placed underneath the rhino’s head while it has a number spray-painted in silver on its hide to identify it and it is further injected with another sedative straight into a vein its ear. Finally, the dehorning begins.

The vet uses a chainsaw and “files” away at this beautiful, enormous animal’s horn. The filings that fall to the ground are bagged for DNA and to prevent poachers from being tempted to come collect the little bit of horn, which is worth almost R 30 000. The rest of the horn is clipped away with large “nail clippers”. All the while, the rhino was being sprayed with water to keep it cool under the hot African sun.    

                

Then, as quickly as it all happened, everything is packed up, all the people are back in the land cruisers and the vet is left to inject the rhino to reverse the effects if the sedative. As we slowly drive off, we watch to make sure the rhino gets up and walks off safely.

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2nd RANGER’S REPORT – 2010’

We have finally come to the end of yet another year at Huntershill, every year exceeding the one before. There are so many great trophies that were taken this year that it is hard to single them all out. Matthew took an Eland with his bow that officially ranks as no. 2 in the world, we took 4 waterbuck that will rank in the top 40 and what pleased me most are the 13 Kudus we took that were all over the 50 inch mark. To all the hunters/clients thanks for all your support in 2010 and years to come. To the Huntershill staff, thanks for all the hard work you guys put in this year to make it a great success and to everyone past and present in the Huntershill family, thanks for everything and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

P.S. Looking forward to seeing some of you guys early next year at the respective shows.

Thanks
Bruce Niland

1st RANGER’S REPORT – 2010’

The hunting season for 2010 has started earlier than usual but before we get to that, Huntershill Safaris would like to take this opportunity to thank all our clients for making 2009 such an awesome year and to all the clients that Greg and Bruce met this year at all the different shows we are looking forward to hunting with you guys during the course of the year and making your hunt a memorable one.

We have had exceptional rains on the farm this January and February and we have never seen the Eastern Cape looking this beautiful. The animals are breeding exceptionally well and we are pleased to announce that our first lion cub has been born.

Our Sable and Cape buffalo have also bred well and have exceeded all the expectations that we had.

Huntershill Safaris have started the hunting season by taking some outstanding trophies even though it is our warmer months of the year.

It goes to show that when you use the best PH’s any month is good for hunting.

PS: Look out for our shows on plains game hunting to be aired on ‘World of Beretta’ in the next couple of months.