1. Final Destination
Port Elizabeth
2. Hunting Areas
We have access to three million acres of privately owned land and game reserves, including over seven hundred thousand acres of free ranging areas stretching from the coastal forests along the Indian Ocean, where our base camp Woodlands Safari Estate is settled to the unsurpassed beauty of the Great Karoo, and the breathtaking mountains of the north, hunting the game in their natural environment and habitat where they are naturally of better quality, only a mere 3 hours’ drive from base camp.
3. Accommodation
Within 2 hours drive from Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape), our southern concession and base camp is located. Woodlands Safari Estate, will be the starting and finishing point for the majority of our safaris, making for comfortable arrival and departure days. The Manor at Woodlands provides for a lodging experience from yesteryear with a colonial atmosphere and grandeur from a forgotten era. Rooms are spacious with en-suite bathrooms in a tranquil setting, combined with modern day luxuries. Air cooled in summer and wood stove heated in winter, you can rest assured you will be comfortable whilst enjoying the privacy of your room or the passing parade of game frequenting the water hole below camp. Dinner in the evenings is an opulent family affair with local dishes, wines, hunted game, and decadent sweets gracing our table. After dinner, enjoy a retreat to either the pub or a crackling campfire sharing in the day's adventures
The northern concessions, a mere 3 hours’ drive from base camp, spans from the plains of the Great Karoo. Nestled amongst the acacias on the banks of the Sundays River lies our secluded mountain retreat in the north. It’s a quiet setting, comprising the main lodge and five separate chalets. Each chalet enjoys an en-suite bathroom, as well as air conditioning and fireplace for cold winters evenings. Summer days can be hot, with hunting taking place in the early mornings and late afternoons, making a dip in the pool a refreshing reprieve from the heat. Karoo style cooking is the order of the day, with lamb, springbuck and various local delicacies, paired with some of the finest South African wines making for a special dining experience in the north.
4. Hunting Season
From March to October
5. General Comment
Hunting with John X Safaris, our longstanding partners and part of our family, is more than just a hunt - It’s the total safari experience. Whether it is your first trip to Africa, a hunt for the big five or the choice of forty different plains game species, we are here to cater to your every need.
The Eastern Cape of South Africa is the base and home. From the coastal forests along the Indian Ocean, to the unsurpassed beauty of the Great Karoo, and the breath-taking mountains of the north, this malaria free area offers a diverse combination of landscapes, vegetation and wildlife, together making it a unique hunting destination for the safari enthusiast to Africa.
With over three decades of experience in the safari industry you can rest assured you are in safe hands. No matter what your age, physical condition or hunting capabilities you have, you will live the great dream of Africa.
With over forty different species available to our hunters, from the tiniest Blue Duiker to the largest antelope in Africa, the Cape Eland, all occurring in a variety of habitats, we have found the need to establish camps within the moister southern and drier northern regions of the East Cape. This often allows our hunters to enjoy the variety of a single/multi-area hunt on the same safari, while ensuring we achieve the very best in trophy quality.
Our southern concessions produce some of the best East Cape Kudu each year, while also providing an ideal habitat for Cape Bushbuck, Warthog, Waterbuck, the ever impressive Nyala and many more. Black Wildebeest, Zebra and Hartebeest, roam the plains in large numbers, while the ever-majestic Sable commands the most attention by its sheer presence.
From our northern concessions the mountains enjoy a moist climate, where you can hunt the elusive Klipspringer or Vaal Rhebuck at 5,000 feet above sea level or enjoy the thrill of a hound on a Grey Wing point. As the mountains drop away towards the escarpment, the land becomes more arid and the wildlife surprisingly more abundant. You can expect the plains game here to be some of the best in Africa, with record quality Gemsbuck, East Cape Kudu, Wildebeest, Steenbuck, Lechwe and Springbuck slam, just to mention a few.
6. Included
Airport assistance and rifle clearance at arrival and departure
Transfer from/to airport
Hunting licence fees
Professional hunter, 4x4 vehicle and tracker
Standard equipment where required
Camp staff, trackers, skinners, chefs
Full board accommodation
All land transportation while on safari
All meals, drinks
Laundry service
7. Not Included
International and domestic flights
Shipping and taxidermy
Trophy handling fee per hunter/safari
Dog pack charges
Rifle hire and ammunition
Baiting fee
Local shopping trips to town
15% VAT on all daily rates
Gratuities
Meals and liquor outside camps and hunting areas
Telephone calls and limited internet service
8. Note
Any animals wounded/hit, where blood is drawn and found or lost, will be deemed as taken. The full trophy fee will apply.