Scandanavian Adventure 2010

John X Safaris had the privilege of having Bertil Friman hunt with us this past April. After Bertil’s safari we had kept in contact and later were invited to join him with a group of friends on their annual Moose hunt to Norway.
Having left Port Elizabeth we flew to Johannesburg and onto Amsterdam, before arriving in Gothenburg, Sweden. Upon arrival we were met by our host Bertil who informed us; “Tonight its Moose and Martini’s for dinner with a desert of double espresso and Aqvavit to wash it all down!” OK! Welcome to Sweden!
Our first few days were spent trying to decide if we had been invited on a Moose hunt or an eating vacation? We enjoyed our first Swedish lunch down on the docks in Gothenburg at the famous Michelin Guide Sjomagasinet restaurant with world-famous chef Laif Mannerstrom. Laif’s son Sebastian prepared our lunch and truly impressed us with the exceptional quality of seafood.

Gary settling in for lunch at Sjomagasinet restaurant.

Day 2 saw us running a few errands with Bertil, then it was off to lunch again. This time to a restaurant inside the Gothenburg Football stadium. An interesting setting with the best view of the game in the house. Later on we met Lennart Packendorff, a friend of Bertil’s who would be joining us on our hunt.

That evening we stopped by the seafood market and picked up a few pounds of Crab and Crayfish with a good bottle of White Wine. What more could one ask for?!

Day 3 and we up early, equipment had to be checked and supplies bought. We’d be off to Norway for our Moose Hunt the following morning. We collected supplies and were fortunate to visit Heiko Poth, a butcher and friend of Bertil’s. Gary got to see what Beef prices go for in Europe and we both enjoyed seeing how a 1’st world countries butcher shop operates. Different to Africa!
That evening Bertil and his wife Ava invited us for dinner to the Michelin Guide Fond restaurant. Fond is owned and operated by chef Stefan Karlsson, a dinner that ranks as one of the finest we’ve ever had. If ever you have the chance to visit Gothenburg, don’t eat all day and settle into a meal with Stefan, the steaming chocolate and Vodka desert is unreal.
Day 4. We were up at 5am and travelled all day to Trondheim, Norway. We were to hunt and stay with the Einang family.

Arriving to a breath-taking Norway.

Our hunt formed part of the Einang Family’s annual management cull of Moose, Crown Deer and Roe Buck. Our cabin was situated on the banks of the Stjordal River and evening dinners were enjoyed in the main homestead. At times we had Bertil, Uno or Lennart cooking, but more often than not we were spoilt by Kari and her family.

Benny kept up the bar and ensured that at all times we were well stocked with "Rocket Fuel Aqvavit".

Each morning our hunting party would drive up a selected canyon and then the walk would start. Each hunter was issued with a back pack, lunch, radio, warm clothing and his rifle. He would then walk to his predetermined point, where the hunt would start. We had the animals moved by dogs, with Fridthjof Einang leading the pack on his daily runs up and down mountains. A remarkable man with real stamina!
Both Gary and Carl were lucky to bag a Moose. Neither of us were lucky enough to harvest a bull, but then we weren’t after a Monster bull. We had come in the spirit of camaraderie to….