Hertner & Grier Safari – May 2010

John and Anita Hertner, together with Mike and Cindy Grier joined us for one of our Classical Plains Game Safaris. We had first met the Grier’s via good friend Marc Hewston two years previously.      

Mike had joined Marc and Madonna Hewston for his first hunt to John X Safaris during 2008.

This past May Mike returned with wife Cindy, and friends the Hertner’s. The group first embarked on a week of sightseeing starting in Cape Town before traveling down the ever impressive Garden Route to Port Elizabeth.      

The Garden Route, takes the traveller on a coastal meander from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, stopping in along at the many coastal resorts and shopping hide aways.

Professional Hunters Juan MacDonald and Gary Phillips collected the group in Port Elizabeth for their hunt. Neither Mike nor John had very long wish lists, they did however have a few favourites for their hunt. Mike was after Cape Bushbuck, while John’s priority was an East Cape Kudu and Warthog.      

The hunting party started in the south from our coastal area, but poor weather forced the hunters north to our Eastern Mountainous Area.      

John got lucky with his Blesbuck in the south, before being forced to our northern areas.

Once in the north, the hunters were met by great weather and super hunting. All this time, the ladies were not being left behind and joined in on the hunts.      

Mike and Cindy harvesting a great Springbuck in the high country.

John living out his dream. He had wanted a Kudu more than anything, but a badly damaged knee in desperate need of replacement was always going to make things tough. He never gave up and truly deserved his bull.

It was obvious that the ladies were bringing along the luck when it came to Springbuck. John and Anita enjoying the moment.

Arriving back in the south, all soon found out that the poor weather was not done yet. Rain was blowing in from the west keeping the hunters in camp for some relaxation while the storm passed.     

He may be cold but he got him! Rain wasn't going to keep Mike in camp and his efforts were rewarded by a super Impala.

When the weather finally broke, the hunters found themselves in paradise making up for some lost time.     

John made the best of the great weather and bagged his long-awaited Warthog. Another super pig for the season.

John also got stuck into our Jackal problem and helped out where ever possible. This a really big dog.

Mike, by this stage was feeling the heat. He and Professional Hunter, Juan, had been hunting extremely hard for Cape Bushbuck without any luck. The weather was against them for most of the hunt, and Bushbuck at the best of times need optimum conditions to be drawn out of the coastal thickets.    

When Mike's luck did turn, it came with overflow. The first ram was 14'' and this his second, just shy of 16''.By now at such an old age, the ram had worn down at least an inch on the tips - imagine the possibilities? The hunt and luck of a lifetime.

This Bushbuck was just too good not to include a second picture of. The team who made it all possible. Professional Hunter, Juan, Mike, Cindy and the dogs who finally recovered Mike's ram, Leica and Zippo.

The group enjoyed 7 relaxing days and at no stage wanted anything more than having a good time. Both hunters had the privilege of having their wives along to experience their trip with them, and both hunters got lucky in their own way. Mike’s Bushbuck will forever be a highlight to him and all involved, especially to all of us at John X Safaris.