Africa Anyway Safaris  

Graaff-Reinet,  SA 
South Africa
http://africaanywaysafaris.com
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AFRICA ANYWAY SAFARI'S

Africa Awaits!


At Africa Anyway Safaris, we know what it takes to create an unforgettable experience during your African Adventure. We pride ourselves on service, and as a client leaving as a friend, you will rest easy knowing that you just experienced the very best Africa has to offer in every aspect of your trip. 

With access to properties nestled all over South Africa, Namibia and Zambia - Africa Anyway Safaris offers the very best in Big Game and Plains Game hunting. Whether its Springbok and Kudu on the plains of the Karoo, Eland and Vaal Reedbuck high in the Swartberg Mountains,  Bushbuck and Cape Buffalo in the Limpopo or Gemsbuck in Namibia...we have the ability to make it your dream safari. ​

We operate on some of the most breathtaking properties in all of Africa, and many of our clients say the views alone are worth the trip. Come experience the mystique of an African sunset while sitting around a fire enjoying world-class cuisine, knowing you made the absolute most of your safari experience.

We look forward to your safari!

www.africaanywaysafaris.com

aasafaris@me.com

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 Videos

Africa Anyway Safari promo video

 Show Specials


  • 14 DAY | NAMIBIA LEOPARD HUNT 

    ALL-INCLUSIVE SAFARI 

    ​​$29750

    Included:

    Daily rates and trophy fees

    Contact us for more information.

  • (Feb 01, 2021)


    7 DAY CAPE BUFFALO

    ONE HARD BOSS CAPE BUFFALO BULL, ALL-INCLUSIVE SAFARI - SOUTH AFRICA

    ​​$6750

    Included:

    Daily rates and trophy fees

    Contact us for more information.


  • 10 DAY | 7 ANIMAL PLAINS GAME

    KUDU | GEMSBUCK | ZEBRA | IMPALA | BLESBUCK | SPRINGBUCK | WARTHOG

    ​​$9450

    Included:

    Daily rates and trophy fees

    Contact us for more information.


  • 7 DAY | 5 ANIMAL PLAINS GAME

    KUDU | GEMSBUCK | IMPALA | BLESBUCK | SPRINGBUCK

    ​​$6750

    Included:

    Daily rates and trophy fees

    Contact us for more information.


 Press Releases


  • JEWELS OF THE EASTERN CAPE

    By Larry Weishuhn


    “Don’t think it is going to happen this morning!  A bit too warm and dry.  Dogs can’t smell the cat’s scent.” Commented Wolma Kemp.

    “All they’ve done is cold trail.” I replied unloading the Ruger Red Label 12-gauge shotgun and passing it back to Kempie. “With these dry conditions I’m surprised the hounds can smell a trail.  I grew up hunting hounds with my Dad, mostly for ‘coon but also bobcats, then later bear.  They’re trying, but with these conditions it’s tough!”

    Kempie, Dustin Blankenship, my cameraman/field producer and I walked toward where we were to meet the dog handler if we did not tree a caracal.  For the third morning we were headed back to camp without having treed a cat. 

    Years ago, while hunting with Fred Burchell, just south of Etosha in Namibia, I had shot a young caracal late one afternoon as we were returning to camp after a long, unsuccessful stalk for kudu. Unfortunately, the skin was lost in shipment back to the States.  Now I was back for another one.

    “Let’s go back camp, grab an early lunch, then get ready to hunt blue duiker later this afternoon.  We have a blind set up where we can watch a small, remote waterhole in extremely dense thornbrush.” Suggested Kempie. 

    We had almost gotten into Port Alford when Kempie got a phone call from one of the other houndsmen in his hunting area.  A huge smile came across his face.  “One of the other dog handlers is on a hot track.  We can be there in about twenty minutes.  He’s on a pineapple farm I am familiar with.  I suspect if the caracal trees it will be in the bottom of an extremely, steep deep, rugged and thorn bush covered creek that flows into the Indian Ocean.”

    Minutes later we were on the cusp of a deep canyon.  Far below I could faintly hear the hounds bark treed.  “I’ll carry the gun,” said Kempie.  “You’ll need both hands to negotiate your way to the bottom.  Be careful!  Lots of thorns and almost straight down.” 

    Pulling on leather gloves I started down the steep slope.  I slid, clung to vines and thorn bushes, slid some more, half fell my way down to the bottom of the canyon.  All the time I was thinking we are going to have to crawl out of this thing eventually.  Hopefully, it will not be empty-handed! 

    As we waded the shallow creek, Kempie handed me the loaded shotgun. “Soon as you see the cat.  Shoot him!  Otherwise, he’s going to jump.” 

    I eased forward-looking into the canopy above where the Walker hounds were treeing. 

    There he was crouched on a limb about twenty feet above me.  I shouldered the 12-gauge sighted down the barrel and pulled the trigger.  The cat jumped out of the tree headed for the creek.  The handler released the hounds.  My caracal, mortally wounded, stopped to make a stand, made a swat at the closest hound and fell into knee deep water, dead. 

    I was thrilled.  He was a big male, at least 30 pounds in weight, and was unquestionably, according to the dog handler, the one which had been killing the local farmer’s livestock.

    The ascent out of the deep, steep canyon, with my cat in tow, was a whole lot easier than if he had gotten away.  Back at the pineapple farm’s headquarters we skinned my caracal for a full-body mount, took care of the meat, which was wanted by one of the locals.  He informed me the meat was reminiscent of warthog in flavour and texture.

    Back in town over a quick lunch, “The farmer where we have the blind set up for blue duiker told me last night there are two duikers watering at the small waterhole.  He thinks the male usually comes in about two to two-thirty in the afternoon.  We’ll have to hurry to get there because it’s a thirty-minute drive.” As we were finishing a delicious meal, “We’ll slip in quietly, set your rifle on shooting sticks, pointed directly at the water.  It’s going to be tight in the blind! We’ll be twelve yards from the water.  There cannot be any movement or any talking.  If the duiker comes in, I’ll give you a thumb up to shoot.  Thumb down, do not shoot!”  Kempie continued, “Larry I know you love your .375 Ruger.  But remember, blue duikers are Africa’s smallest antelope.  I suggest you load Hornady solids, one of their 300 grain DGS.”  I nodded in agreement. 

    “When I was a youngster we hunted blue duiker with terriers and occasionally hounds, much the way you guys back in the States hunt rabbits with beagles.  We shot them with shotguns as they ran from cover in front of the dogs.  These days, we shoot them when they come to water. That way we can be a whole lot more selective.”

    A half-hour later we were at the blue duiker hunting property.  We walked quietly to the blind, crawled in, set my Ruger on shooting stick pointed at the water so there would be a minimum of movement if one came in.  I bolted in a Hornady solid then sat back in my chair, fully expecting to be there all afternoon. And, most likely returning for several days before I took a duiker.

    About twenty minutes later we spotted movement behind the little man-made water hole.  Out stepped a small duiker, smaller than a Jack Russell terrier, but with two sharp horns about two-inch long.  Soon as I spotted the duiker, I had gotten into shooting position and pushed the safety to fire.  One eye looked through my scope and my other on Kempie’s hand to give me a thumbs up.  I saw Kempie’s hand move slowly pointing his thumb up.  I waited for the duiker to present the ideal angle.  When he did I gently pulled the trigger.  At the shot there was no doubt the duiker was down, and mine.

    Kempie pounded my back congratulating me.  Normally I quickly reload after my first shot,a second shot was not going to be needed.

    My blue duiker was most interesting, even smaller than the Damaraland dik-dik I had taken year ago.  No doubt I had taken my “smallest, big game animal, ever!” 

    According to Kempie my ram’s horns were long for the species.  I appreciated that fact, but even more importantly I appreciated I had finally taken a blue duiker which had long been on my southern Africa wish list.

    That night in camp, a most comfortable villa overlooking the Indian Ocean, as we toasted the past several days’ success Kempie said.  “Now that we have both caracal and blue duiker in the salt, we can concentrate on vaal rhebok.  Larry, I know this is one of the species you have long wanted to take.  I will tell you, there is nothing easy about hunting vaal rhebok.  They have unbelievably acute eyesight and live at the tops of open grassy mountains.  Hunting them requires a lot of walking, usually up mountains, long periods of glassing and quite frequently long shots when they are finally spotted.  We’ve got four days allocated for this species. We could get lucky the first day, but I am not going to count on that happening.”   Kempie then handed me a publication in which was an article about hunting vaal rhebok.  He suggested if I had not already read it, doing so would be a good idea as it also addressed estimating horn size.

    I knew vaal rhebok had big eyes for their body and see extremely acutely.  I had read males usually weighed about 40 to 50 pounds and stood about 28-inches high at their shoulder.  I knew too, they are one of Africa’s only true mountain game animals.  In the past I had spent time hunting the Eastern Cape but I had never before seen a live vaal rhebok.  Although, I had seen shoulder mounts and one full-body mount.

    That night, even after Kempie, told us we would be leaving four hours before first light to get to the mountains where we would find vaal rhebok, I still stayed up late reading.  I learned vaal rhebok, often called “The Phantom of the Mountains”, are rated by African hunters as one of the the top animals in all of Africa. They are endemic to southern Africa and live in the higher, grassy mountains at elevations of 5,000 to 10,000 feet, but occasionally lower.  They are found primarily in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, southwestern Cape, the eastern part of the Free State, Lesotho, the Waterberg Mountains in the Limpopo Province the Drakenberg Mountains of Natal, Mpumalanga and Swaziland.

    According to what I read, vaal rhebok live in small family groups, usually from three to twelve.  Most of the small herds hold one mature male, several females and their young.  Occasionally solitary males can be seen roaming, looking to take over and join a new group of females.  Their breeding season is usually from March to May.

    I hunt for mature animals, rather than record book size heads.  But I knew if I were so fortunate to take a vaal rhebok on this hunt, it would likely be the only one I would ever take.  I hoped for a representative male if we could find one. 

    The article stated most males of the species have ears about seven inches long and measured about the same from the tip of their nose to where their straight horns start growing.  Using those measurements, I knew I could identify a buck with horns seven inches long or longer.  I learned too, the Rowland Ward record book minimum, a buck’s longest horn needed to measure a minimum of seven and one half inches.  The longest horn in their record book is eleven and seven-eights inches long.

    I dreamed that night of vaal rhebok running up and down high grassy slopes.

    We arrived at the hunting property just as black morphed to gray.  As we prepared to go to field, we were introduced to Stumpee, the local game scout.  A short time later we headed toward the steep, grassy slopes of the high country.  An hour into the hunt glassing distant mountainsides we spotted five vaal rhebok. 

    I had notice my breathing was a bit more difficult than it had been along the coast of the Indian Ocean.  “We’re at about 7,200 feet.” Responded Kempie to my question about altitude, “Up where they are, it’s probably closer to 7,500.  Are you in for a stalk?” I took a deep breath, and before I could answer, “They’ve seen us.  We’ll have to try to go up to the ridge, where we should be out of their sight, then crawl our way around to the right into that rill, then go up on top and hopefully if they are still there, be on top of them for a shot.”

    I took a deep breath, “Yes…”

    We nearly made it to the ridge.  There we set up a spotting scope to get one more look at the male.  “Better take a look,” said Kempie as he moved aside.  The ram appeared to have horns that almost were as tall as his ears.

    “Youngster!  Do you think we can find a bigger one?” I questioned. 

    “I do…. At least we saw he was young before we spent the day stalking and then passing him.” Responded Kempie.  “Let’s get back to the vehicle and go to another area.”  About twenty minutes later we were making our way farther south.”

    One thing I noted about vaal rhebok, their grayish coloration blended in perfectly with their background.  Driving toward a distant waterhole, we jumped a young ram.  His horns were about the same length as the one we had just passed on.  As he ran he held high his white tail reminding me of a spooked whitetail deer back home in Texas. 

    We set up to glass next to the waterhole.  Immediately Kempie spotted a herd of seven, including a ram that looked like a shooter.  They were about a mile away.  “We can drop below the ridge they are on, skirt to the right staying out of sight and then come up just about on the same level they are on and get a shot.  Let’s go!”

    Away we went walking quickly at first, but soon the altitude caught up with me and I slowed my pace.  Twenty minutes later we were just below a small rocky outcropping. “I’ll crawl up and have a peak.  If they’re where you can get a shot, I’ll wave you up.”

    I settled back, caught my breath and waited.  A couple of minutes passed before Kempie motioned for me to join him.  I crawled up beside him.  “Small male.  He’s with four mountain reedbuck. He’s not what we are looking for.  But, if you will raise your binocular to the top of the farthermost ridge, you’ll see nine rhebok.  One looks like a mature ram.”  I did and there they were nearly two miles away.  “I think we might get closer If we go back to the vehicle and drive part of the way, perhaps too, we will see another ram on our way.”

    We backed out, left the animals below us undisturbed.  “Before we drive away, I want to glass a series of ridges behind us.  We could not earlier properly glass them.” Said Kempie as we loaded up.

    We drove three hundred yards and started glassing, first the lower rock-studded ridges.  “Rhebok, several in between the rocks, going up slope.”  I quickly spotted them.  “We’ll go on foot from here. We can drop into the rill to our right and move toward them.  The male in the group is not huge, but I think he will measure at least seven and a half inches.”

    Sounded good to me.  I grabbed my .375 Ruger, my shooting sticks and my pack then followed Kempie into the shoulder deep ditch.  We moved quickly.  Initially they were about seven hundred yards away.  In a few minutes we cut that distance in half.  Kempie peaked over the edge.  “They’re about three hundred fifty yards away on a brush studded ridge. You’ll have to shoot from here, no way to get closer. Crawl up so you don’t have any obstructions in front of the barrel. The ram is the second from the right!“ 

    I nodded and crawled to a solid prone position, rested the Ruger on my pack, cranked the scope to full magnification, spotted the ram, and loaded a 300-grain Hornady DGX.  The wind drift, based on the ten to twelve mile per hour crosswind, would be about eight inches.  I knew my bullet would drop the way I was sighted in would about ten inches.  I held appropriately for wind drift and drop, took a deep breath, let it all out then gently applied pressure to the trigger. 

    “He’s going down.” Said Kempie at the shot. I bolted in a fresh round and planted my crosshairs on the now downed ram.  I was glad having spent time on the FTW Ranch’s S.A.A.M. Hunter Training ranges back in Texas learning from their instructors how to properly “read the wind”.  Doing so had paid off handsomely.

    At the rhebok’s side, I reached down to get a better look.  “His horns will go about eight inches.” said Kempie. “Fabulous animals!”  I could not have agreed more.  Maybe I needed to re-evaluate my thoughts of only hunting vaal rhebok one time…


  • COVID-19 TRAVEL AND PRECAUTIONS


    As always, the safety of our clients is our number one priority thus the following precautions have been put in place. We trust that we are able to offer our clients peace of mind along with a thrilling and uncompromised African safari adventure.

    • You will be met by one of our representatives on arrival at the airport and transferred to the guest house or the lodge.
    • Due to the natural remoteness of our safari locations our staff are by circumstance isolated and have minimal interaction with outside communities.
    • Staff are screened daily and practise standard precautions when in public spaces ie mask wearing, regular hand washing, sanitising and social distancing.
    • Prior to and during Guest visits, all premises and vehicles are sanitised in an inobtrusive manner.
    • Again due to the nature of our operations, Guests spend the majority of their time in the wide open outdoors and private lodgings.
    • We will make time provisions and arrangements for Guests to obtain a PCR Covid test, by a Private Healthcare professional, as required to fly back to the US.

    Please note the below information relevant to travel at the time of print:


    What you need to know about travel to and from South Africa:


    1.    From 26 January 2021, South African Citizens are now not allowed to travel to the USA because of new Covid 19 regulations put in place by President Biden. However, USA citizens are still allowed to travel to South Africa and return to USA.


    2.     The protocol for travel from the USA to SA and back:

    ·        Travellers need to present a negative Covid test to the airlines before travel. The Covid test should not be older than 72 hours of date and time of travel.

    ·        On returning all travellers must present a negative Covid test to the airline no older than 72 hours of date and time of travel, to be allowed travel on flight scheduled for the USA.

    ·        Quarantine: In some cases, travellers might need to self-quarantine at home. This is not currently required but might be regulated by some States.


    COVID-19 Testing Required for U.S. Entry


    Effective January 26, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require all air passengers entering the United States (including U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents) to present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three calendar days of departure or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recovery for all passengers two years of age and over prior to boarding. Airlines must deny boarding of passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery.


    Please see CDC’s FAQ for answers to questions about the new requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.

    “Quoted from the US Department of State – Bureau of Consular affairs.”


    What about the SA Covid-19 variant?  
      
    The SA Covid -19 strain is said to be 50% more contagious, but not more deadly than the original strain. WASHINGTON - US biotechnology firm Moderna on Monday said lab studies showed its COVID-19 vaccine would remain protective against variants of the coronavirus first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa. But out of caution, the company will test adding a second booster of its vaccine - to make three shots in total - and has begun preclinical studies on a booster specifically for the 501Y.V2 variant.  
     
    Covid-19 infections in South Africa  
     
    As of 26 January 2021, South Africa is on the recovery path after their second wave of infections. They are showing a downward curve of Covid-19 infections. All of their schools are to reopen in the 2nd week of February 2021.

    South Africa will start with their vaccination program on 1 February 2021 and the government aims to do 10 million vaccinations within the 1st  month. As South Africa has 60 million residents, their government aims to have the majority of the population vaccinated by the end of June 2021.
       
    Covid-19 protocol when travelling to South Africa.  
     
     
    All travellers on airlines will have to wear a face mask for the duration of the flight.

    All travellers entering into South Africa need to present a negative Covid-19 test, no older than 72 hours of date and time of travel, to the airline.

     No passengers will be allowed to travel without the Covid-19 negative test certificate.

    On return travel from South Africa to the USA, passengers will be required to produce a negative Covid-19 test certificate to the airlines.


 Products

  • Lodges and accommodation
    At Africa Anyway Safaris, we believe where you stay is just as important as what you experience while out in the bush....


  • LODGES & ACCOMODATION


    So much is written about the safari experience, yet often the accommodations go unmentioned. At Africa Anyway Safaris, we believe where you stay is just as important as what you experience while out in the bush. So many lasting memories are made back at “camp” - why not make that part of your African experience the best that it can possibly be?

    ​A huge benefit of operating all across South Africa is the ability to tailor accommodations to suit your desires. Whether you dream of waking up to a South African mountain sunrise in total luxury, enjoying the old world charm and architecture of a South African bed and breakfast, or prefer a private bungalow in the wilds of South Africa…we have exactly what you are longing for.

    www.africaanywaysafaris.com/accommodation

  • Namibia Safari
    Experience Namibia with Africa Anyway Safaris!...


  • NAMIBIA SAFARI


    Experience Namibia with Africa Anyway Safaris!

    Check out our show specials for an incredible 14 Day Leopard Hunt in Namibia.

    Contact us to plan your next Safari!

  • Zambia Safari
    Experience Zambia with Africa Anyway Safaris!...


  • ZAMBIA SAFARI


    Experience Zambia with Africa Anyway Safaris!

    Contact us to plan your Safari in Zambia!

  • South Africa Safari
    At Africa Anyway Safaris, our main goal is to bring your African dreams to reality....


  • SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI


    Whether you see yourself stalking through the bushveld with your favourite rifle, sitting at a water hole with a bow in hand, or long to be perched in the back of a bakkie searching for that trophy of a lifetime, we are here to make your African experience truly remarkable, and one you long to experience again and again.

    ​With properties nestled all over South Africa, Africa Anyway Safaris offers the very best in Big Game and plains game hunting. Whether its Springbok and Gemsbok on the plains of the Karoo, Eland and Vaal Reedbuck high in the Swartberg Mountains or Bushbuck and Cape Buffalo in the Limpopo, we have the ability to make your safari one of your dreams. 

    ​We operate on some of the most breathtaking properties in all of Africa, and many of our clients say the views alone are worth the trip. Come experience the mystique of an African sunset while sitting around a fire enjoying world-class cuisine, knowing you made the absolute most of your safari experience.

    www.africaanywaysafaris.com/the-hunt