2009 turned out to be a far better year than anyone expected. The news of the recession has been all doom and gloom, and yet we have had a great years’ hunting!
We would say that one of the most exciting things for us has been the fact that we have had so many wives and families come on safari this year. As we tailor-make our safaris for each individual, we are flexible and are able to make the experience unforgettable for each client.
Our youngest ‘hunter’ this year was a 6 year old and have even had an 8 year old girl shoot an ostrich! Most memorable was Caleb who arrived on crutches with a broken leg, but was out there every day and even shot a few himself. On one occasion when they were stalking, he and Jonathan, the PH, did some kind of ‘leopard crawl’ with Caleb on Jonathan’s back!
Although the rains have not been as plentiful as we had hoped, our veld is looking good and the animals are in good condition. We have had some excellent trophies this year and have shot some exceptional buffalo, all well over 40”. We are very pleased that the herds are breeding well, and a magnificent 46” bull was spotted recently!
As Ezulu is a new reserve, we are thrilled that the place has matured on all levels. We offer a truly unique experience in that we have the 3 hunting areas, and each place complements the other, offering a broad hunting experience, never allowing one to get bored.
Our generous sponsors and donors continue to support the Ithemba Trust, and allow many disadvantaged children the opportunity of an excellent, well rounded schooling.
We were honoured to have a visit from the Wheelchair Foundation, who spent some time here and did some hunting. A function was organized and some clothing and 14 wheelchairs were handed over to locals in need. Among those was a 68 year old grandmother who had her leg amputated 6 months beforehand, and had been struggling to get around. Her new wheelchair would change her life and that of her family who were caring for her.
2010 has arrived, and South Africans are looking forward to hosting the Soccer World Cup in June and July. Our hunting days are filling up fast for next year, so suggest you reserve your dates timeously. Some exciting packages are on offer, so best contact us for details if you are interested.
We wish all our clients, family and friends a happy and blessed 2010.
As usual we will be exhibiting at the SCI Reno Show, so please pay us a visit.
The Swarkei/Ezulu team.
SOURCE: Safari News Reel
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