Impala by the Sea.

Right from the start today was going to be a special day regardless of our hunting success, Chris was excited to be taking us to a special place where the Impala grow very unique horns and today was Jacks turn to be shooting. We were again up before dawn and despite being somewhat sore from the previous days exertion we were all keen to get going. After fueling up on breakfast we loaded the vehicles and followed Chris on the drive to what turned out to be a special place in far more ways than we expected. The travel time was close to 2 hours and took us through some small towns, but it passed very quickly as we went by all manner of people beginning another day, each in their own unique way.

As we turned off the main road and started to wind our way through hills and valleys the scenery changed from outer urban to remote jungle despite being less than an hour from a town. As we topped a ridge the jungle closed in completely and we found ourselves in a tunnel of vegetation the light only just filtering through the dense canopy.

The number of Lechwe along the river was astounding.

Winding our way down hill we suddenly emerged from the jungle and opening up before us was the most beautiful valley complete with a river, manicured banks and literally hundreds of Lechwe standing in the river and grazing along the banks. Set right in the middle of this was a beautiful old Farm House and Stone Barn. We stopped behind the barn and unpacked our gear from the Landy and loaded up Chris's Bakkie, Chris had a short conversation with the land owner and we were soon on our way. We then crossed the river and climbed out of the valley and up the side of a very high hill, high enough in fact that the air became noticeably cooler as we climbed. From the top of the hill we were treated to the view of the valley below with the river snaking it's way to spill into the sea.  

  

The view of the river valley below, you would not believe this is less than an hour from a town.

After sumiting the hill we drove downhill through more jungle for a short time then almost magically the jungle gave way and opened up to reveal lush green pasture dotted here and there with small trees and behind all of this lay the Indian Ocean, miles of uninterrupted beach and the town of Jeffreys Bay only just visible far to the South.. The pasture was almost completely open and fringed with impenetrable jungle, Chris explained that this was a dairy farm at one stage and pointed out a derelict set of yards and shed in the distance. I knew strait away that stalking Impala in this open country was going to be a real mission, they could see us from over a kilometer away, Jack was going to have to be on the ball here and play his "A" game to secure a trophy that was for sure. We stopped on the very edge of the clear country and unloaded our gear before Toni backed the vehicle up the track out of view and parked up in the shade with Lionel and Chester. 

Stalking here was going to be extremely hard. 

We set out walking along the edge of the jungle until we spotted a herd if Impala in the distance, Chris then set up the sticks and spotting scope and glassed over them looking for a nice Buck. After searching through the herd, he decided that one of them was good enough to warrant a stalk. We began by dropping into a low spot out of view and making ground at a crouch until it became necessary to crawl to avoid being spotted. Fortunately the grass was extremely tall and it was not too much trouble to stay hidden if we moved slowly. We passed a small clump of bushes as we circled around the side of a small hill and I decided this was as far as I would go, I did not want to blow the stalk for Jack. I hid myself in a clump of bushes and took photos and filmed Chris, Jack and the ITZ crew completing the stalk.

Jack and Chris in the later stages of  a stalk, I took the opportunity to hang back and film.

Chris, Jack and the Crew almost completely hidden and almost ready to take a shot

As I was filming hidden from view, a small herd of Hartebeest appeared from behind us and decided to wander over and check us out. I could not believe it they just walked strait towards Jack and Chris and the rest of the crew, who were at this point totally unaware of what was happening. They eventually got to a point where they were down wind of us and once they scented us they started snorting and jumping around nervously. Unfortunately this alerted the Impala and they retreated over the next hill. The Hartebeest then proceeded to run to where the Impala had been effectively blocking any chance we had of following them.

The Hartebeest just as they scented us.

Ok Game's up, the Hartebeest herd that ruined our stalk standing in place of the Impala blocking our approach to the hill behind. 

With our cover now blown we decided to have a short break, so we sat just below the ridge line and had a cool drink and a small snack.  It is amazing how you loose all sense of time when concentrating on stalking and we were stunned to discover we had been stalking for close to 3 hours.  As we rested up we glassed to try and locate another herd of Impala and were rewarded in finding one a couple of kilometers away. This would give us plenty of opportunity to plan our route to avoid being sky-lined or spotted in the open. So having found the Impala,  once more we set off down hill and out of their view.

The second herd of Impala only just visible on the distant ridge, we managed to stalk to just beyond the big tree to the right. 

Again we used the grounds contours and stayed hidden for most of the way, ending up in a dark shady patch under a tree. Just beyond the tree was a small ridge and Chris, Jack and the ITZ Crew crawled through the grass until they were just over the ridge. I stayed behind again and watched the proceedings from the shade. Chris had managed to get Jack to within about 250mts of the Impala and that was as close as he was going to get. Ever so slowly Chris set up the sticks and Jack shuffled into a sitting position behind them, they were in plain view but the Impala had not seen them yet so they had to be careful, any sudden movement would draw attention for sure. Richard and Greg slowly got into position and had the cameras set up and rolling to capture the shot, once everyone was set Chris told Jack which Impala Ram he wanted him to take and made sure Jack had the correct one. He than told Jack to relax and take his time, and to take the shot when he was ready. 

Chris and Jack watching the Impala as the ITZ crew set up behind them.

Everyone is set, Chris is confirming with Jack which animal to take.

Everyone in position ready to take the shot.

I could not see the Impala from my viewpoint so I never saw what happened, but after the shot I never heard the sound of a solid hit, I herd Chris telling Jack to reload quickly . Jack had missed and the Impala were now running towards the Jungle. Jack reloaded and followed them as they ran, and about 100 meters from the edge of the bush they stopped for a last look back, Jack made up for his earlier miss and put a perfect double lung shot into the Ram. It ran again at the hit but started to stumble within a few meters and was quickly down. We sat quietly and watched for a few minutes to take in what had just transpired and Chris congratulated Jack on making up for his miss and securing a fine Impala Ram.

Jack with the downed Impala Ram in the distance.

Chris had a big smile on his face as he led us down the hill to the downed Ram, as we got closer he said "see the shape of the horn tips, that's what makes these Impala so unique" he was so pleased to see Jack secure such a distinctive and uniquely shaped trophy.

Chris explaining to Jack and I that the outward curve of the horn tips makes the Impala from this area unique.

Jack with his Impala notice the outward curve of the horn tips.

We called Toni and Lionel on the radio and while they were coming we took a ton of pictures. Greg took the opportunity to put a camera on a drone and Richard flew it to capture some extra footage and stills. The aerial footage really demonstrated to us how effective the proper use of ground contours was when stalking open spaces like this.

Greg playing with toy's. 

Drone footage of the area, notice how deceptively contoured the ground is.

The open space made us use the contours of the ground when stalking, making a relatively short distance into a long stalk.

Jack was absolutely ecstatic having secured such a wonderful trophy in such an amazing and picturesque place, it wasn't long and Toni and Lionel arrived with the vehicle and as we loaded the Impala into the back we noticed three Giraffe watching us from a nearby hill. How long they had been watching we didn't know but how amazing it was to be treated to such a variety of animals in one place.

Giraffe watching the proceedings from a nearby hill.

 We drove back to the Farmhouse and Lionel caped the Impala in the shade while we packed up our gear and ate a little lunch. We then loaded the Landy once again and prepared to drive back out, thinking we had seen pretty much all there was to see we nearly put our camera gear away, fortunately we decided to keep it handy. We hadn't gone more than a few hundred meters when a huge Lechwe Bull stepped out into the open and watched us for a few minutes as we excitedly filmed him and took his photo.

A really impressive Lechwe Bull out in the open.

 Our next treat wasn't far away either, after leaving the Lechwe Bull we traveled a little further and out of nowhere a Grysbok ran across the track and stopped just inside the brush line watching us. There was no way we could pass up this opportunity, so once again out came the cameras for another quick film and photo session. It is not very often you get a chance to photograph one of these tiny Antelope at such close range. Being so small and secretive they are not often seen, and when they are it is so often just a fleeting glance as they disappear into the bush.

It's not often you get the chance to photograph one of these guy's a beautiful Grysbok.

 This was the final treat this place was to show us and we were soon on our way again, arriving back at the lodge some 2 hours later after an uneventful drive. As we unpacked our gear Chris suggested that as there were still a few hours of usable daylight remaining we should take the opportunity to try one last time for Kudu. He told us he often sees them late in the afternoon in a particular area up in the mountains near where Jack took his Wildebeest. We jumped at the chance to be back up in that spectacular mountain country, how could we refuse such a chance. We drove to some really exceptional vantage points and glassed for ages but saw nothing but Kudu Cows and Calves. Chris suggested we walk along a semi open ridge and glass down each side and as we stalked we found ourselves surrounded by a herd of Eland.

The herd of Eland just before the Bulls started fighting.

 Then two massive Bulls suddenly emerged from the bush and began fighting and we had a ringside seat to the action, the sound of their heads clashing and the clatter of their horns was incredible. I swear you could feel the ground shaking as they fought each other, then just as suddenly they stopped and ran off, Wow what an amazing a spectacle we had just witnessed. Chris said they must have somehow scented us in the fickle winds that swirl over the mountain tops at this time of day. By this time we had run out of light and unfortunately we had to return to the lodge empty handed, but still what an experience to see Eland fighting like that!!!

As the sun set on our final day in the East Cape we reflected on some of the amazing things we had seen. 

Our last day in this East Cape location had really turned it on for us and even though we were leaving without a Kudu, we would be leaving with some amazing memories, and we still had the Karoo and Kalahari to look forward to.
We ate another wonderful meal that night and relived some the past couple of days events over a few drinks before retiring for the night. As I lay in bed listening to the frogs and crickets I knew I was going to miss the evening sounds of this place when we in the morning.

We were up early once again and as Greg, Jack and I packed all our gear into the Landy, Richard and Jacu took the opportunity to shoot some sunrise footage and some of the scenery around the lodge. Richard and I then did some short interviews before Chris and I completed all the paperwork associated with the hunt. With all the formalities completed it was time for us to depart on our way to the Karoo for the next chapter in our African Adventure. We thanked Chris and Toni for their hospitality and after saying our goodbyes we departed just as we had arrived, in a cloud of dust and barking dogs.