SOUTH AFRICA, HERE WE COME!!

By Denise Jefts

It all started at the Mid-Michigan Safari Club convention and the adventure began. On September 8, 2023, my husband Paul and I flew out of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Atlanta. Next stop: Johannesburg, South Africa!

It’s a long flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg so we spent the day (and part of the next day) flying. We arrived about 10:30 p.m. their time. We were met by Marco Maritz, our professional hunter and guide, from Tommie Steele Safaris. Marco made sure we had a hamburger before we started our hour and a half drive to Tommie’s house where we would spend the night. We would learn over the course of our safari that Marco is a treasure. He not only made sure Paul was on track for hunting, but he made sure that I, an observer, was taken care of as well. I appreciated that very much.

Johannesburg is six hours ahead of Michigan time so we were a little tired the next morning. We were greeted by Tommie, his wife Lecia, and their two sons, Tyler and Samuel. The boys extended their hands to welcome us and were genuinely happy to see us. It was a joy to see these two fine young men and how mannerly and professional they were.

Tommie, Lecia and the boys made us a lovely breakfast in their home which was a hunting showplace. We then left with Marco for camp. Tommie would be joining us later and Lecia and the boys would arrive on the weekend (after finishing their schooling).

Our trip was leisurely, stopping a few times. We fueled up the truck and had lunch. Paul said it was the best hamburger he had ever had! I had casually mentioned coffee so Marco made sure he found some for me. I even purchased Christmas gifts for two of our grandsons.

In our travels we ran across a sign that read “Stupidity is not a disability.” We had a good laugh over that and decided there should be a sign that reads “Laziness is not a disability.”

There were also signs which warn people of potholes and high-accident areas. Take note Michigan.

After a three- to four-hour drive, we arrived at camp. Our room, very nice accommodations, was two doors down from the eating area. We unpacked and Paul left with Marco to sight in the gun and begin scouting for eland.

The meals at camp were prepared by Chef Sunday. For supper that night he prepared chicken a’ la king with rice, beet root salad and caramel pudding. Delicious! What a treat! After supper we spent some time around the fire pit. The fire pit was so impressive that I told Paul we needed one like that at home. It was an early bedtime for us.

The next day was Monday, September 11. It was 22 years since the Twin Towers and Pentagon attacks. There was much to remember and contemplate.

Breakfast was scheduled at 7:00. We dined on eggs, bacon, toast, kudu sausage and yogurt. The staff, which consists of Chef Sunday, Ava Nice who assists Sunday, Sister and Lucy, were very nice and helpful—always ready to assist if needed.

Marco had already picked up water for camp and our hunting adventures. He liked to make sure we had plenty. I thought he was going a little overboard on the water, but he knew better. We used it!

Paul made a list of the animals he was on the lookout for that morning. He and Marco left about 8:00. Tommie arrived at camp at 10:00.

It didn’t take long before I heard a shot. Paul shot a klipspringer! This is a small animal, but we were told it was a medal winner. Good job Paul!

By then it was lunch time and 102 degrees. As a result, everyone took a couple of hours off. I went with them on their hunt in the afternoon in search of nyala and eland. No such luck, but we did see monkeys, impala, cape buffalo—and one rabbit.

We returned for supper at 7:00. Our evening meal consisted of beef steak, French fried potatoes, vegetables and coleslaw. Dessert was Malva pudding which is a South African sweet pudding with a caramelized texture. It is then covered it with hot custard. Again, this was delicious.

We lost power for a short time, but they had a back-up system. A storm front moved in so it was very windy.

That storm front definitely cooled things off the next day. The high was predicted to be 65 degrees.

Breakfast was at 7:00, after which Paul, Tommie and Marco left for their hunt.

After lunch I joined Paul, Marco and Silence. Silence does the skinning. We had only traveled a short distance when Paul spotted a nice female nyala and took his shot. Success! After we took the nyala back to be cleaned, we continued on to the blind where we spent the next three hours.

The eland were still eluding us. However, we did see a grey duiker, a herd of blue wildebeest and impala.

The temperature was dropping so we returned to camp for a supper of beef stew, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and ice cream with chocolate sauce.

The next day Paul, Tommie and Marco were in search of a sable. This took them to an area about a half hour away. I heard a “keep-away bird” which sounds somewhat like a blue jay. It warns other animals when trouble is near.

Lunch consisted of cottage pie which is kudu meat covered with a layer of mashed potatoes and then baked. It is similar to Shepherd’s Pie. Coleslaw was also on the menu. Paul convinced Sunday that he could only have coleslaw and Sunday was more than happy to oblige.

Apparently sable were still hiding in the morning, but hopes were high for the afternoon, which paid off! They saw a sable after lunch, but it was too far away to shoot. Back at it tomorrow.

I had mentioned to Marco that I was keeping a journal and he asked if he was the hero. So, if anyone asks, Marco is the hero!! He is a fine young man, engaged and plans to be married in November 2024. Congratulations Marco! We also discovered that he puts hot sauce on everything! Yikes!

The following day the tide had turned. Paul not only shot a 48” sable, he shot a golden wildebeest. We celebrated with a supper of nyala steak prepared like I would make cube steak at home. It was excellent! I think the nyala was our favorite meal. Chef Sunday did it again!

The following day took us to a different camp. This blind was partially underground, complete with a sink and urinal. Good for the guys, but it didn’t do a lot for me.

We saw monkeys, impala, warthog, giraffe, nyala, kudu, goats, white rhino, bushbok, tessibe, blue wildebeest, ostrich, roan, white-flanked impala, king wildebeest, sable—and—eland, the focus of the hunt. Paul ended up successfully bagging the eland and it took a village to load it as it weighed about a ton, according to the locals.

By the time we returned to camp, Lecia, Tyler and Samuel had arrived and joined us for supper.

The following day was Saturday, which was the day set aside to visit “The Kruger”, as Marco put it. Kruger National Park to us. It is about 400,000 acres which you obviously can’t see in a day.

We drove around the park for several hours, marveled at the scenery and saw a wide range of animals. We even had a monkey climb onto our truck! We had lunch at the park and supper on our drive back, both of which were very nice. Marco was an excellent guide! We even managed to squeeze in a couple of souvenir shops.

The next day Marco took us to the Hippo Experience to see Jessica the hippo. I fed her and even got to kiss her. How many people can say they’ve kissed a hippo! We then headed back to camp for lunch and to a local restaurant to watch rugby with Tommie and Marco. South Africa was playing in the World Cup and won 76-0! It was fun to share that experience with them.

The next day we prepared to leave with Marco for another outfitter. We had brought shirts for the staff, tipped them for their wonderful service and were on our way. Goodbye to our lovely crew!

We headed to our new home for the next two days. This was a luxury house that sat on a river. We were told those accommodations run about $40 per night. In the states, they would be several hundred of dollars.

We learned that the power goes out for a couple of hours every day to conserve electricity. Marco ran the generator which I appreciated. Again, first class all the way and the food was exceptional.

Paul and Marco were on the lookout for a mountain reedbuck in the morning—our last day in South Africa.

It was quite an experience. The accommodations were wonderful, along with the food and service. Paul harvested a klipspringer, Livingston eland, sable, female nyala and golden wildebeest.

We extend our thanks to Tommie, Lecia, Tyler and Samuel. And we cannot forget Marco and all he did for us. He was on top of everything and made sure our adventure was memorable. As a matter of fact, he went above and beyond the call of duty. Our grandson was born in South Africa and wanted a South African soccer jersey. On our way to the airport, Marco knew just where to find such an item. It was perfect and our grandson was thrilled. Thanks to Marco for always being there for us.

We highly recommend Steele Game Safaris. They will not disappoint!

And for the record, we purchased another hunt with Steele Game Safaris at the Mid-Michigan SCI Fundraiser in February of 2024. It looks like we will be returning in 2025!