During mid-February we welcomed our first hunting safari group of the 2025 season, a great group of Spanish friends who were mainly focused on management warthog hunting in South Africa, with a few trophy animals added to the list. It turned out to be the perfect way for the whole team to settle back into the season after the break, with a relaxed but highly enjoyable safari.
One of the biggest surprises of the trip came before the hunting had even properly started. For the first time we conducted an aerial game count on the property and quickly realised just how many warthogs were actually roaming the area. We had always estimated numbers to be somewhere between 200 and 300 animals, but the count showed there were well over 500 warthogs on the property. It immediately confirmed that the management hunt was badly needed and would provide plenty of opportunity for the hunters.
The hunting itself was relaxed, enjoyable and highly successful. The group spent long days covering ground through the valleys and thick bushveld, glassing open areas early in the mornings and late afternoons while keeping an eye out for good management animals and quality trophies. Between the warthog hunting there were several opportunities at plains game, and the hunters made the most of them.
One of the standout trophies of the safari was a beautiful Lechwe bull taken after a patient stalk through difficult terrain. The mature ram carried excellent horn length and made for a memorable addition to the trip. The group also enjoyed success on Common Impala and a striking Black Impala ram, both species always popular with visiting hunters.
The warthog management hunting produced plenty of action throughout the safari. With the population numbers far higher than expected, sightings were constant and the hunters had numerous opportunities every day. The management hunt also played an important role in maintaining balance on the property while giving the clients exciting and fast-paced hunting.
As the safari continued, the trophy list kept growing. A fine Golden Wildebeest bull was successfully hunted after a careful stalk, while another hunter connected on a strong Blue Wildebeest bull in challenging windy conditions. The group also managed to take an excellent Nyala bull and a very good Zebra stallion, adding even more variety to an already successful plains game safari.
By the end of the trip the Spanish friends had enjoyed an outstanding start to the 2025 hunting season. Along with the management warthog hunting, the safari produced seven excellent trophies including Golden Wildebeest, Lechwe, Black Impala, Common Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbuck, Nyala and Zebra. More importantly, the group shared plenty of laughs, good hunting and great memories around camp every evening.
