Volume 16 by Cobus Steyl

Volume - 16

Top 5 mountains Climb to the top of the world

Yellowfish on fly “Truck and trailer” down the Vaal

Return to South Africa U.S hunter shares his experience

HUNTING I FISHING I ADVENTURES I CONSERVATION I DESTINATIONS

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Regulars

Contents

Featured species

Hunting

FIshing

19 27 47 53

Rigging up for Trolling Summer Yellowfish on fly

22 29

dESTINATIONS

Blue Wildebeest Cape Fur Seal Southern Double-Collared Sunbird Sweet thorn

Hazyview - waterfalls to wild dogs Travel & Stay

35 60

cONSERVATION

4 32 41 50

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release

Adventures

Editors Letter Events Recipe: Summer prawn salad Product Review

Top 5 mountains to climb

Vol 16 2013

Return to South Africa

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Editors Letter

The return of some migratory birds marks the change of yet another change in season and there is an air of expectation on the first summer rains to wash away the dusty remains of winter. Spring transforms our surrounds into a colourful world that represents the birth of new beginnings and life for many species. During the compilation of this edition, a contribution received by Randy Wakeman from America made me realize how fortunate we are to have access to the best hunting grounds on offer. Randy is a respected and well known celebrity in the hunting industry and he shares his opinion on hunting in S.A on page 8. This was even more evident on a recent trip in the Tuli Block where our hunting party was humbled by some “once in a lifetime” experiences. Our party received daily and vivid reminders of the privilege we all have to call Africa our home and that a life changing experience is nearly always lying in wait around every corner. I invite you to watch the video depicting one of these encounters with one of Africa’s deadliest at the following link http://www.youtube.com/africanadventures1 They say you only fish in months that contain the letter “R” in its name... well, the good news is we’re heading into SeptembeR then OctobeR... and 6 more months to keep those reels screaming. Increase your chances of hooking into a Yellow by reading the article from Mario Smit on page 29. Enjoy the warmer temperatures and remember to enter and stand a chance of winning a romantic weekend by simply sending the word Kruger to 33280. “The way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly”

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Johan Viljoen

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

hunting

Return to South Africa Randy Wakeman

ackground Non-hunters, unfortunately, often have little understanding about nature and the way the world works. Historically, in the United States, hunters have been the greatest champions of conservation: without the funding provided by hunters, many game animals would have long ago ceased to exist. No one cares more about healthy, vibrant game populations than the hunter for self-explanatory reasons. The landscape of the United States has changed dramatically over the years. While in the 1870s an estimated 70-80% of the country was employed in agriculture, that is no longer the case. According to the last census of agriculture in 2007, the average farm in the United States comprises 418 acres, and only 2-3% of American workers are directly employed in agriculture. Yet, farmland still accounts for 75% of wildlife habitat in the U.S. Hunting is still popular, actually on the rise in the United States for the first time in many years, but it is expensive and largely controlled by our giant government. Hunting licenses alone for non resident hunters for just whitetail deer have hit up to $473.25 in my home state of Illinois and $551 in neighboring Iowa. Arizona for nonresidents has hit a whopping $609.25. This is just for a license, it hardly means that you have any quality place to hunt. The United States government also taxes firearms and ammunition, Federally. That’s just the tip of the old iceberg, for the federal government kills some 100,000 carnivores every year under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Wildlife Services program: killing bears, wolves, coyotes and mountain lions. Whatever it is, it is hardly “natural.” The United States has some 30 million deer, over one hundred times the population 100 years ago: our deer herds and their habits can hardly be considered natural, either. In the United States, the menace to deer can be vegetarians with automobiles, for vehicle-deer collisions kill 200 Americans and cost $4 Billion dollars a year according to Insurance Journal. The deer generally don’t fare well at all, as most people do not practice good Toyota-whitetail impact placement. 8

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

hunting All this is mentioned as a prelude to discussing South Africa, why everyone should go, and what a tremendous bargain it is for many hunters in the grand scheme of things. With a far larger percent of the South African population involved in agriculture, there are comparatively huge tracts of land sometimes difficult to farm that are conducive to wildlife. One area that we hunted was something like 22,000 acres (over 34 square miles), that was all tall grass and wild animals: no cattle, no farming, no farm animals or row crops. As more and more people are becoming aware of the health benefits of consuming wild game as opposed to consuming domesticated product, the value of wild game meat has increased proportionately. The hunter that dispatches his quarry instantly should take great pride in doing so, for nature’s plan often isn’t nearly as respectable. An old animal, with its teeth worn down below the gum-line starves to death, if he is not eaten alive by jackals and so forth. South Africa is a wonderland for the hunter and nature-lover alike. reparation I can’t speak for shooting enthusiasts from other nations, but in the United States many hunters don’t bother to spend much time practicing, instead shooting off of lead-sleds and with bag and cradle which is helpful for deciding what cartridge your gun prefers, but is exactly what you aren’t going to be doing during your hunt. Shooting off of sticks, off-hand, or perhaps on your belly might be what the situation dictates. If we don’t practice that stuff, there is no way we can become proficient at it. If you practice using hunting or shooting stances at the ranges you are anticipating hunting at, you’ll be glad you did. It invariably pays big dividends. Your best source of information is your professional hunter. This time, we were hunting middleveld that included blesbok, impala, and red hartebeest with perhaps the odd chance at bushpig. The second area on the itinerary was pure tall grass, including red hartebeest, springbok, cape buffalo, blue wildebeest, black wildebeest, eland, waterbuck, along with gemsbok and some introduced fallow deer. South Africa requires “proof of ownership” of the rifles you bring in to the country, but no such

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

hunting thing exists in the United States. So, we went to Customs and Border Protection in Chicago, Illinois, where we had our rifles inspected and left with stamped “Customs Form 4457.” Overseas, that serves as your “American Gun Permit.” It is also a requisite for bringing your rifle back into the United States. Also note that auto loaders and slide actions are generally frowned upon to be brought into South Africa. Laws may change, but it is good idea to check with your PH on what the current environment allows. I’d consider good 8 x 42 binoculars and a good laser range finder is a must have. Everyone has their personal preferences. I like 8 x 42 binos for the large exit pupil in low light, but that wasn’t the primary issue here. When walking and stalking, 8x magnification binoculars are quicker and easier for me to use than shakier 10x and up bino sets. I’ve settled on the Leupold RX-1000i as my standard range-finder; my Dad still uses an older Leica model that has given good service. Dad and I both brought 270 Winchester bolt-action rifles. With the proper bullet and good shot placement, both are sufficient for most big game. Anticipated shooting ranges were at least 300 yards or so, actually limited only by your good judgment in many cases. Personally, I do have a personal affinity for the 270 Winchester, as it has done well for me on everything from pronghorn and caribou to Newfoundland moose. It is one of many choices, though, and whatever you are comfortable with from the various 7mm and .30 caliber cartridges or up is perfectly reasonable for all the animals I’ve mentioned with the exception of buffalo. My Browning X-Bolt grouped quite well with 130 grain Hornady InterBond Superformance cartridges, inside an inch at 200 yards, so that’s the rifle that got the nod. Dad used a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 (Howa barreled action) along with a cartridge it liked: Federal Trophy Copper 130 grain rounds. Flat shooting cartridges make shot placement easier, particularly with variable winds. The Hornady Superformance load boasts just 5.7 inches of drop from 200 – 300 yards with a 24 inch barrel, just slightly more with the 22 inch barrel of the Browning X-Bolt. Your best asset of all is your professional hunter. We had hunted with Karel Haefele of Ke Monati Safaris before, and cannot sing his praises too highly. rrival and Rifle Confirmation Be sure to bring along a big package of patience with you when trying to retrieve your firearms from the “Constables” at OR Tambo International, for they truly have no clue and seemingly take some delight in making the process as tedious and time-consuming as possible. Airlines vary greatly in the way they handle, delay, abuse, or lose checked baggage. There are no guarantees, to say the least, so the first order of business to confirm your rifle. It has happened with air travel in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, you name it, and it 10

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

FUSION

1MILE ARC

VIEWING AND RANGEFINDING PERFECTION, TOGETHER AT LAST.

10-1600 meters ranging performance +/-1 meter accuracy Angle Range Compensation accounts for the angle so you know precisely where to shoot

Waterproof construction and RainGuard® HD water-repellent lens coating

NEW FUSION 1 MILE ARC 8x32mm Also available in 10x42mm and 12x50mm

This new technology allows for visible ranging displays while not sacrificing true color fidelity in all lighting conditions.

Discover our products on

www.bushnell.eu

GPS BACKTRACK HUNTTRACK

TROPHY XLT RIFLESCOPE

TROPHY CAM HD BLACK LED

ULTIMO MARLIN HOUSE, NORBUY OFFICE PARK, 372 RIVONIA BOULEVARD, RIVONA www.africanadventures.co.za Vol 16 2013

hunting has happened in South Africa. All a professional hunter can do is get you within range of a quality animal: the rest is up to you to get a good bullet in the right spot, so we need to eliminate the possibility of rifle or scope damage, as if the hunt depended on it. That’s precisely the case, for if we fail to put the bullet where it belongs it is all a waste. Lufthanza was especially nice to me, as they didn’t trash my rifle on the trip over, they were kind enough to wait until the return trip to inflict their damage. lesbok Blesbok are grazers as opposed to browsers or leaf-eaters, preferring the short grass. They are herd animals, and can be quite difficult to stalk. They certainly were for Karel Haefele of Ke Monati Safaris and myself, for we were busted again and again during many miles of approaches. Even using the bushes, dips in the terrain, and so forth they often hit the road before we could get within five of six hundred yards. There are hundreds of sets of eyes, including impala in the same area, so when one animal decides to spook, often they all go. You might have heard the term “plains game” used, although there really is no such thing. It is a confusing term sometimes uses to describe animals other than the Big Five or something rare or exotic. The last time we hunted in South Africa we were in the Bushveld. The three broad categories of South African hunting terrain are Bushveld, Middleveld, and Highveld. Veld, loosely translated, means field. This time, we hunted Middleveld which included both tall and short grass, mountains, streams, ponds, rocks, and some trees and bushes. The second area we hunted was all Highveld, almost exclusively tall grass in flat fields without much other cover other than dips and rises in what is primarily wide open grassland. The first evening, after confirming our rifles, we hit the Middlevelt and although we saw thousands of animals, we didn’t get into the 350 yard area except for a very late sunset stalk. July is winter in South Africa, although it wouldn’t meet the North American view of cold weather at all. At night, temperatures got into the low thirty degree F. range, approaching the freezing point, but the days were in the middle 70s to lower 80s, gorgeous and sunny. The second day, after countless attempted approaches, we did get within 325 yards of a large group of common blesbok with a couple of very nice rams. Although both male and female blesbok have horns, the male horns have far more mass, though at 600 yards most would be hard pressed to be able to tell. Even at closer ranges, it is more of a nuanced difference and it takes a while to be able to quickly pick up on the differences. 12

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

hunting Anyway, the sticks went up, the X-Bolt was on the best ram, the safety was off, the finger was on the trigger. The blesbok were starting to spook, thanks to an impala herd, the wind had picked up, so with a raking shot at a moving animal with a crosswind right at 340 yards, it was decision time. I decided not to hit the switch, though that blesbok ram will never know how very close it was. We skipped our planned brunch and just kept on hunting. Late in the day, we had spotted a smaller group of blesbok with two white blesbok rams, one of which looked to be quite good, at least from a distance. Karel and I were able to get into good position, so we could do our stalk through the tall grass with the wind in our faces, moving downhill. Karel spotted the ram first, just small patch of white from his back through the tan grass. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see him at first, I was looking farther out, but finally picked up the white patch. We moved a bit closer and the sticks went up in the wind. We were almost sure it was the one. So, we had to wait to see if he would pick up his head for a final look. He did, his head just above the tall grass though he was working through the short pasture area with new growth. Once re-verified, that was it and a shot rang out a fraction of a second later. Some animals shrink when they hit the ground, a lesser number tend to grow. This white blesbok grew, quite a bit actually, for the horns were 16-1/2 inches or so, substantially better than we thought. The Rowland Ward record book minimum is 16-1/2 inches for a blesbok, so this one is going to be extremely close. You can check the various qualifying sizes and records at http://www.rowlandward.com. The white blesbok ram took zero steps and the 130 grain Hornady Interbond created a huge wound channel, the lungs turned instantly into gel. It was very good expansion on what is just a medium sized African antelope. A blesbok is perhaps half again the size of a Springbok, maybe marginally heavier than an impala, but nowhere near the size of a red hartebeest which can hit the 330 pound arena. In any case, this blesbok is making a beautiful trophy, and was a satisfying start to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hunt. Karel and I talk about our trophy here: http://youtu.be/pMA2YQqwtFg. As you might imagine, opinions vary all over the place as to what game tastes the best. Karel feels blesbok makes some of the finest biltong. Many feel that both Springbok and Eland offer the best steaks; we had both kudu and some fresh red hartebeest while we were there and found them both to be delicious. Like many things, it has a lot to do with how the meat is handled and prepared as much as anything else. Nothing goes to waste on a South African game animal. You see this again and again: if not for hunters, there would be preservation and restoration of natural habitat and no one cares more about healthy game populations than the hunter. Hunters take old animals, almost exclusively old males, a far better thing than what nature has planned for the old ram or bull. It is a far more respectable end to a beautiful animal, to live a long and

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

hunting healthy life, ended in a split second, and completely enjoyed and revered rather than the harsh, grueling end that nature has in store for them. I’m quite proud to be a hunter: everyone should be. The next day, my favorite hunting buddy (disguised as my eighty-five year old father) got his chance at a nice blesbok. A large herd was spotted, and we set up across a rocky stream behind a stand of trees. We had a volunteer to move them, not an arduous task as the blesbok had been very, very wary. We hoped that part or all of them might head to the popular pasture grazing area that we were near, but of course they could go most anywhere they wanted. Sometimes, it is far better to be lucky than good. I’ll take the lucky most every time. Though as far from a certainty as there can be, the blesbok cooperated in part, while not moving to the area where we thought they would, they moved within range and there was an excellent ram in the group. Dad did the rest with a single shot from his Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Sporter. ed Hartebeest On our five or six mile trek of blesbok approaching, we tried to zone in on two good red hartebeest bulls spotted earlier in the day. Professional Hunter Karel had a plan, but this time the plan didn’t work out as hoped. One large bull was alone, the other was with a small group of females. We hiked and climbed up the rocky hills to where we “knew” they were headed, but the hartebeest apparently had different plans, plans of their own. Although there were over one hundred and fifty head of hartebeest in various groups we had already glassed, at the end of the day they had all completely vanished. I guess that’s what you should expect from an animal that looks like an Egyptian god of malicious mayhem and mischief: something that with the proper robes Yul Brynner could have spent some time praying to. A bigger antelope compared to a blesbok, for example, they are in the 150 kg / 330 lb. arena, and all muscle. Visually stunning and distinctive, they are perhaps my favorite African game animal and they also do quite well on the dinner plate as we can personally attest. Though the disappearance of all the hartebeest remains a mystery, the next morning Karel had a plan. It is always good to have one, even if it doesn’t work. This time, we spotted what seemed to be the same group of six or seven animals moving through the tall grass up into the hills, but we couldn’t be sure. It was time to try to get ahead of them, 14

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

hunting doing a little rock climbing to see if they ended up where they were supposed to. On the overlook on top of the hill, there they were. We were well-covered by brush, and I crawled on my belly to the first of two larger rocks, still cloaked by grass and brush. Karel slid my rifle down to me and now it was a matter of finding the big bull we had seen the day before. He was there alright, with his butt towards us, grazing away in the tall grass, inside two hundred yards. There was some wind, but it was manageable. Although there was “no rush,” according to Karel, actually there was a bit of a complication. The bull moved to the right, I was shooting through grass as it was, and the shooting window was narrow, for just a few more steps to the right and the opportunity would be gone. When you have “the” bull in front of you, at last, with the safety off and the scope on him, moments can seem like hours. Ideally, he would pose broadside but there was no guarantee of that at all. He started to turn a couple of times, sticking his neck in the right direction, but quickly returned to the narrow raking shot angle. It was the same type of shot I had passed up on the blesbok ram the day before, although the wind was far stronger, the distance greater, the blesbok was moving, and was a smaller target as well. The hartebeest bull had no clue we were there, going straight down with an InterBond through the center of his neck. The next order of business was figuring out how to get to him, which we eventually took care of. It was another fabulous guiding job by Karel Haefele, a fine trophy, and a memorable hunt. Karel and I discuss the red hartebeest here: http://youtube/1cxAy0GwI8M. A couple of days later, at a completely different 22,000 acre prairie hunting area, my 85 year old father put the bullet in the right place and dropped his own hartebeest trophy as well. lue Wildebeest The blue wildebeest, more correctly the brindled gnu or black-tailed gnu, can hit eight feet in length head to rump, up to 4.8 feet tall at the shoulder, weighing up to the 640 pound or so area. While it may look like a crazed, strange, maverick cow, it is an antelope. The sub-family Alcelaphinae is a group of large, nomadic antelope native to Africa: the brindled gnu is related to red hartebeest and the blesbok that are also from the Alcelaphinae sub-family. They may look clumsy, yet they have been clocked at over 50 miles per hour. If you’ve watched some of the nature documentaries, you might think that most everything eats the wildebeest: certainly lions, cheetahs, jackals, hyenas, and crocodiles do. With their synchronized birthing, 500,000 wildebeest calves are born over a 2 to 3 week period in February. The calves can stand within six minutes of birth and follow their mother within 15 minutes, so nature has deployed some very effective countermeasures here. Wildebeest are considered to be the largest migration in the world, of large land mammals. The zebra coexists well with the wildebeest, eating the same plants but different parts. Zebras, or “pajama donkeys” as Karel calls them, with their better sight 16

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

hunting and hearing, can effectively sound the alarm for the wildebeest as well. They have been given the moniker of the “Poor Man’s Buffalo” and their meat is highly valued. The dark humor about the wildebeest is that they are born sick and get healthier with every lead pill that hits them. They are tough, well-muscled, tenacious animals with little question. Yet, some of the wacky ideas about the cartridge needed to do a quick, clean job is baffling. An appropriate bullet in the right spot at its working velocity invariably works well. Something in the wrong spot doesn’t work well, if at all. I was looking forward to using the .270 Winchester on a brindled gnu, with the load that shot the best out of my X-Bolt: the 130 grain Hornady Superformance InterBond. On the last full day of hunting, Karel managed to get us inside 300 yards of an excellent, old brindled gnu bull. He was broadside: it was a complete pass-through. The wildebeest was already dead, but didn’t know it until a few moments later when he died on his hooves, dropping stone cold dead. You can view the shot on http://youtube/3qGgeuDhUMg . The Hornady 130 grain InterBond, that had already displayed impressive deformation and cavitation on the much lighter white blesbok, did a superlative job on the wildebeest as well making a large wound track the entire width of the animal, having more penetration than needed as the bullet easily exited. It is hard to ask for a better hunting experience, thoroughly enjoying being with countless thousands and thousands of wild game all across the spectrum. All told it was a grand total of five shots fired resulting in five memorable trophies. Superlatives are perhaps given out a bit too freely, but in the case of Karel Haefele and Ke Monati Safaris, it is quite richly deserved. We hunted with Karel in 2006, he was outstanding then and he is, if possible, even better now. If I go back to the same professional hunter, you can believe he is far better than just good. You can do no better than to say yes to adventure and plan your next hunt with Karel Haefele. For more information and to contact Karel, check out Ke Monati Safaris at www.kemonatisafaris.co.za/

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Featured species

Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus

www.theanimalfiles.com

Main Characteristics Blue Wildebeest are large antelope that have a body length between 1.5 and 2.4 m, a shoulder height between 1.28 and 1.4 m, a tail length between 35 and 56 cms and they weight between 120 and 275 kgs. They have a heavy-fronted appearance with a large, rectangular-shaped head. They have a mane, beard and a long, dark coloured tail. Their coat is short and slate grey in colour with dark vertical stripes down each side. Both males and females have horns, with those of males being larger. Each horn curves downwards then up and they can reach up to 80 cms in length. Their horns lack any ridges and in males they are joined at the base by a boss-like structure. They communicate with each other via grunting calls, they can reach speeds up to 80 km/hr and they are among the top ten fastest land animals in the world. Habitat Blue Wildebeest are found on the grasslands and open woodlands of east and central Africa. Females and their calves form small herds and when males are between 1 and 4 years old they form bachelor groups. When males reach 4 - 5 years old they leave their groups and try to establish a solitary territory. During the dry season vast herds of Blue Wildebeest gather and they migrate in search of fresh grass.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Featured species Diet Wildebeest feed on a variety of grasses. Breeding After a gestation period of 8 - 9 months, Blue Wildebeest give birth to a single calf. All wildebeest give birth 2 - 3 weeks before the rainy season and within 15 minutes of being born, a youngster is able to stand. When the calf reaches 4 months old they are weaned, although sometimes they will suckle until they are a year old. Females reach sexual maturity at 1.5 - 2.5 years of age, while males reach sexual maturity at 3 - 4 years of age. Predators Predators of Blue Wildebeest include lion, african wild dog, leopard, cheetah, crocodile and spotted hyena. Subspecies There are five subspecies of Blue Wildebeest: Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus taurinus), they are found in Zambia and to the south and west. Cooksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus cooksoni), they are found in the Luangwa Valley of Zambia. Western White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi), they are found in Kenya and western Tanzania and they are the smallest and darkest in colour. Johnstonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus johnstoni), they are also known as Nyassaland Wildebeest, they are found in southern Tanzania and Mozambique and they are the largest subspecies. Eastern White-bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus), they are found in Kenya and eastern Tanzania and they are the palest coloured subspecies. Interesting Facts Blue Wildebeest are also known as: Brindled Gnu.

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

fishing

Rigging up for Trolling

Mike Laubscher

In this article I want to cover the rigging of hard plastic lures with lips and how to set them up in your spread. These types of lures work best when pulled as fast as you can, but in many cases they are always popping out of the water which means that they are not swimming correctly. When rigging up these lures I have found that heavy leaders simply do not work with these lures as the drag created by these heavy lines upsets the movement of the lure and does not allow them to get to their designed depth and they keep on losing their balance and come popping up out of the water. The smaller the lure; the bigger the problem. The method that I now use is working well and I can pull these lures as fast as 8 knots without any problems, the smaller lures (Under 10cm) may be limited to 6 or 7 knots. I use a No. 7 stainless trace wire (No. 5 wire for lures under 10cm) and I prefer wire with a brown colour to it. I use a haywire twist to join the wire to the lure with a large loop so the wire does not interfere with the lures movement, and then make the wire 300-400mm long and with a haywire twist and a very small loop tie on a small swivel. I like the Centro size 14 swivel which is rated 80lbs and is really small. When tying your haywire twist ensure you do this properly with 3-4 loose twists of both sides around each other and then 4-5 tight wraps of the tag wire, at all times make sure there is no kink. From there I tie my main line 20-30lbs directly to the swivel using a figure of eight knot and use no leader at all, so far even for toothy fish like Wahoo and King Mackerel I have had no problems and the longer steel wire compensates more than sufficient for this. Ensure that your lures are tracking straight by running them next to the boat and if needed you can tune them by ever so slightly bending the wire loop from the lure that the ring attaches to the nose of the lure in the opposite direction. 22

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

fishing These lipped lures can be classed into two main categories: • Shallow Runners • Deep Runners Shallow Runners These are lures that run between 1-3m below the surface of the water, the two I use most are the Rapala X-Rap Splash Baits and the Halco Laser Pro’s and I prefer these two brands because I have found that they swim the best compared to other types I have tried.

Shallow runners are the most difficult to keep from popping out and so it is important that you set them up properly. I use the Rapala X-Rap Splash Bait from size 10 up to size 14, the size 14s are very easy to set up and get going whilst the size 10s need to be properly tweaked to get them performing at their peak. The size 10 is my favourite and has accounted for many a fine fish on my boat but they do need to be modified before you use them. The hooks are not strong enough but the lure does have a wire going all the way through the body and so I beef up the split rings to a heavier gauge and I fit thicker hooks like 2X or even 3X of the same size or you can go one size up, and I tie my wire directly to the lure without the split ring. Doing this will ensure that you land the big one when you hook him up without the hook opening out. Halco Laser Pro’s come with a pair of interchangeable lips and I prefer to use the deeper lip as here you can attach your wire directly to the nose of the lure and not risk losing a fish because the lip came off. The best position for the shallow runners in your spread is just on the edges of your prop wash in your wake line 5 - 25m behind your boat with closer having produced more fish than those placed further back and 15m being an optimum distance. In fact I have run them 3m behind the boat and had hook ups on several occasions. You also need to set your drag reasonable loose. Deep Runners These are lures that run from 3m to 10m below the surface of the water. There are many to choose from and although these are easier to pull at a high speed compared to the shallow runners they also need to be tuned to track straight. Most of these lures come with a solid ring, but for those that have a split ring remove it and tie your wire directly leaving a large loop. On the smaller X-Raps I also like to change the hooks and split rigs to heavier ones. With these lures the more line you let out the deeper they run and so you can run them from 5m to 50m behind your boat. When running them close they work best right in your prop wash and also under your prop wash.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

fishing You can enhance the depth that these lure run by adding weight into your line, I do this by adding a 16 or even 24 ounce trolling sinker 2,5m ahead of the lure and then I use 80lb line from sinker to lure with 300mm of No. 10 wire and tie my main line to the trolling sinker. Not only does this get your lure swimming deeper but it also allows you to run them faster up to 15 knots which means that you can use these with your Feathers, Bullet Heads, Jet heads and Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Rod Position The best angle for your rod when trolling these lures is as flat as possible, bearing in mind that you cannot run all your rods at the same angle and so will work with +5 degrees to a maximum of +30 degrees depending on your position with the rods closest to the center of your boat being the flattest and those lures running the closest to the boat and the rods on the sides of the boat and a larger angle and the lures running further back. This is done to allow you to do turns without your lines crossing and causing tangles. With these lures I can easily run a spread of 5 - 6 lures without them getting tangles or you can mix them with Konaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Feathers etc. and run up to 9 lines although I do not like pulling that many lines and often run 4 of these and 2 feathers or bullet heads on my out riggers to cover the surface action. Expect many, many multiple hook ups when trolling like this and take note that when the first line goes not to slow down and wait a few seconds for the others to go, then start tightening the drags a little before you take the rod out the holder and only start slowing down when the anglers are already fighting their fish, do not stop just slow down to 2 - 3 knots fighting the fish hooked on the lures that where running closest to the boat first, this will mostly keep the lines directly behind the boat and keep the fish from tangling up with each other. Join me in the next edition where we will cover lures with feathered and plastic skirts to target game fish.

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

fishing

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Featured species

Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus

www.theanimalfiles.com

Main Characteristics Cape Fur Seals are large fur seals with a body length between 1.2 and 2.3 m and they weigh between 35 and 360 kgs. They are dark grey to brown in colour with a paler coloured underside and face. Males have a mane on their neck which becomes lighter in colour as they get older. Habitat Cape Fur Seals can be found in the coastal waters of southern Africa and south eastern Australia but prefers cooler waters. Diet Cape Fur Seals feed on fish, squid, octopus and occasionally penguins. Breeding Cape Fur Seals have a gestation period of 12 months, which includes a period of delayed implantation, and they give birth to a single pup. The pup is weaned at 12 months old, although some suckle for longer, and they reach sexual maturity at 3 - 6 years old. Predators Predators of Cape Fur Seals are sharks and killer whales. Humans also hunt them for their fur which is sought after in the clothing industry. Subspecies There are two subspecies of Cape Fur Seal: â&#x20AC;˘ South African Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) are also known as Cape Fur Seal. â&#x20AC;˘ Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus).

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

fishing

Summer Yellowfish on fly! Mario Smit Smallmouth Yellowfish can be targeted right through the year albeit with different fly fishing techniques. It is, however, the start of spring that see thousands of yellowfish anglers flock to the midlle and lower vaal targeting this specie. Since the late 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fly-fishing for yellowfish has mushroomed to the point where it is now the single biggest contributor to the fly-fishing industry in terms of revenue and angler numbers. A recent study commissioned by the Water Research Commission revealed that the estimated value of the yellowfish dependant fishing industry on the Vaal River that actively targets yellowfish, as just over R133 million per season! What makes fly-fishing for yellowfish so popular is the fact that anyone with limited experience, or even no fly-fishing experience at all, can very quickly become quite accomplished with first time anglers often registering catches of ten or more fish on their first outing. Tackle requirements For first time anglers on the Vaal River any 5/6 wt fly rod loaded with appropriate floating line and a reel with a good drag system will suffice. As you become more proficient you will undoubtedly want to upgrade your equipment but for the purpose of catching your first yellowfish in the Vaal River the above should serve you well. Probably the most important part of your kit when targeting fish in fast water is your reel. Spend a little bit extra in order to make sure the reel you selected has a good drag system.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

fishing Technique The art of fly casting is seldom if ever learnt in a weekend therefore it is advisable for first time yellowfish fly fishermen to employ one of the shortline nymphing techniques when targeting yellowfish. Here the emphasis is on a thin leader to which you attach one or more heavily weighted flies. A strikeindicator is placed above the flies approximately one and a half time the depth of the water you are fishing in. The number one rule when targeting yellowfish in a river for the first time is to get your flies down to the bottom. These days most reputable fishing shops sell flies tied with tungsten beads heavy enough to get your flies in the prime feeding zones. There is nothing romantic in the short-line nymphing technique that you will use when targeting your very first yellowfish. As a matter of fact, if you are doing it correctly your fly line will never touch the water; instead it will be hanging just above the water surface! When using the short-line method we are catching fish practically under the tip of the flyfishing rod and commonly without making use of the flyfishing line. After casting upstream you leave your flies to sink to the bottom of the river and follow their movements downstream with the tip of the rod. Keep the rod in your hand with your arm stretched out in front of you all the time. When the flies reach the area as far as you can follow them with your rod tip, you lift the flies from the bottom with a movement of the rod upwards and cast again. Short-line nymphing, and high-sticking all refer to a technique where you stand close to your target area and intentionally keep your fly line off the water by keeping the line “tight” between your weighted flies and your rod tip. By using a heavily weighted rig and a tight line, you can feel the flies drag, bounce, and tumble along the bottom, and you follow their drift closely with your rod tip. A “take” of a yellowfish shows up as an inconspicuous movement of the strike indicator upstream or to the sides. Sometimes your strike indicator just stops its natural movement down the river which can also indicate a take. When you are not able to keep in contact with the flies, your chances to observe a take is markedly reduced. The general rule is WHEN IN DOUBT - STRIKE! Flies Before you begin nymphing, wade into a shallow riffle and lift a few rocks from the bottom. Test rocks in midstream as well as a few along the shore to give you a good idea 30

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

of what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find. My advice to anglers new to yellowfish is to carry only three patterns: The Orange Hotspot Nymph, Mustard Caddis and Green Brassie/Rock worm pattern. The Mustard Caddis will be your middle fly, heavily weighted with a tungsten bead. Fishing it in tandem with the Orange Hotspot or in tandem with the Green brassie will almost guarantee you fish every time.

Orange Hotspot Nymph

Mustard Caddis variation

Green Rockworm For more detailed information, and a stepby-step guide on the set-up and technique on catching your first yellowfish on fly you can access www.yellowfish.co.za. It is highly recommended to make your first trip with an experienced Vaal River fly fisherman or guide. Internet forums such as www.Flytalk.co.za has regular outings to the Vaal and always welcomes new friends to tag along.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

events

Not to be missed Bosrumoer

GAUTENG

27 - 29 September

Homeless Animal Day 1 September Bronkhorstspruit 013 932 3941

Zeerust Barrie Oberholzer - 082 211 7926

KwaZulu-Natal

Halfway Toyota 4x4 Training days 13 September - Prado Day - Honeydew 14 September - Fourways 15 September - Honeydew Ryan - 073 845 2003 Kensington Spring Fair 1 September Kensington Zahn Hughes - 082 561 2426

Ballito Species Competition 15 September Ballito Clint Nortjie - 082 802 0999

Mpumalanga Lowveld Open Bass Tournament

14 September Vygeboom Dam Adriaan Bam - 079 516 6201

Xtreme Outdoor Show 2 - 3 September Meyerton 083 300 6549 / 074 548 3892

NORTH WEST

BFFA September Fly Fishing Festival 28 - 29 September Belfast Magda Visagie - 013 253 0748

Aardklop

Elandskloof Trout Festival

24 - 29 September

30 - 1 September

Potchefstroom

Elandskloof

018 294 7509

013 254 0136

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

events National Farming Convention & Expo 30 September - 2 October Groblersdal Michelle Booysen - 082 415 6909 South African Game Fair 29 - 30 September Dullstroom 013 254 0270

WESTERN CAPE Agri Mega Week 18 - 21 September Brendasdorp 028 424 2890 Hermanus Whale Festival 20 - 24 September Hermanus 028 313 0928 Huntex Cape Town 21 - 24 September Nelson wine estate 083 383 9417

Eastern Cape

Jeffreys Bay Dive Fest 20 - 22 September Jeffreys Bay Hennie Oelofse - 079 862 5218

Northern Cape Kalahari Kuierfees 26 - 28 September Upington 054 332 1100 Vanderkloof Waterfees 27 - 30 September Colesburg Ethel - 082 607 1194

Limpopo Rocking for Rhinos Festival 21 - 22 September Hoedspruit Gareth Putter - 073 237 7269 Vaalwater Veteraan Fees 28 September Vaalwater Jan - 082 566 7772

Lesotho

Camdeboo Rally 20 - 21 September Graaff Reinet www.camdeboorally.co.za Hogsback Spring Festival 21 - 24 September Hogsback Lynn Johnston - 045 962 1192

Halfway Toyota 4x4 Trips by Gerald Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien 27 - 30 September Katse Dam 082 874 6138 / gerald@halfway.ws

If you would like to publish your event here, please send details of event to: info@africanadventures.co.za

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Destinations

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Destinations

Cobus Steyl n our previous edition we gave a brief overview of what Hazyview and the surrounding area has to offer. When we selected Hazyview as the new featured destination, little did I know that the area has such a rich diversity of beautiful and breathtaking creations for the sightseer along with endless outdoor activities to keep the adrenalin junkies busy for days on end. Due to the multitude of activities and long list of possible “things to do”, we unfortunately had to choose how we will spend our limited time. The slightest hint of flu by means of a pretentious cough from one of our team members was enough to convince the group to spend the next 2 days sightseeing all the spectacular wonders in the area. We departed from our cosy accommodation at Thulamela at 8am after a scrumptious breakfast and headed straight to Sabie Falls which was the first of 6 waterfalls we visited that day. A little bit more time was spent at Mac Mac Falls where we had a picnic before heading north towards God’s Window were you can find an array of walk, hike and mountain biking opportunities. With magnificent views, canyons, rock formations and waterfalls, God’s Window is truly an area of breathtaking scenic splendour. It is no

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Destinations wonder that Mpumalanga is known as Paradise Country! Blyde River Canyon and Bourkes Luck Potholes was also on our list but due to our time constraints we were unable to visit them. We will be sure to include it on our next trip to the area as it is said to be amazing and should be a definite on your sightseeing list. After a jam packed first day we were glad to be back at our cabins and enjoyed a well deserved rest before we headed for the Kruger Park on a self drive safari before heading back to the hustle and bustle of city life. A very successful day it turned out to be indeed! We spotted lions on 3 occasions, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, crocodile, hippo as well as numerous plains game species. There were two sightings that stood out: 1. Elephant On one of the side roads an elephant fancied a few leaves high up on the tree next to our vehicle. With the leaves being just out of reach, the elephant had no other option but to uproot the tree, almost on top of our vehicle! If it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for the quick reactions of our driver, we would have had some difficult explaining to do to our insurance broker. 2. Wild Dogs We encountered a pack of wild dogs on our way out of the park. They looked fascinated with the vehicles and appeared to almost be begging for some food. We spent close to 20 minutes with them before time caught us and we had to move on before the gates closed. After a long but rewarding day we retired to our feather down beds at Thulamela before heading back to Gauteng before day break the next morning. 36

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Destinations

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Recipe

Summer prawn salad

www.cookbook.co.za

There are few things as good as a bowl of prawns straight out of the pan or off the braai with a good squeeze of lemon and this very quick dish is perfect to top off a salad on hot summer days. Simply make a nice leafy salad and top off with the beautiful fresh prawns that have come straight from the pan.(Serves 4) What you need 1 kg fresh prawns deveined but shells still on 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter

4 teaspoons crushed garlic 1 juicy lemon halved Salt and pepper to season

The process Heat the olive oil and butter in a pan on a medium to hot heat and pop in about 1/4 of the prawns, give a grind of black pepper and add 1 teaspoon of garlic, cook for 2 minutes or so on each side until the outsides have turned pink and the flesh has gone white. Be careful not to overcook or they will turn to mush. Flesh should be firm to the touch. Remove and place in a large bowl. Repeat until all of the prawns are cooked, sprinkle over a little salt and squeeze over the lemon. Thats it, top off your favourite salad and dig in. Tip: Add avocado or mango to your salad, they both go so well with prawns. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a perfect summer meal served with fresh crusty bread. This one has both avo and mango sprinkled with a few chopped roast peanuts and it works for me but add your own twist!

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Conservation

escue ehabilitate elease Danelle Murray

We have all heard stories about the wise old owl that observes everything. Some fear this mysterious bird of the night and believe that when they hear its lonely hoot he came to deliver bad luck or even predict the death of a loved one. In South Africa many cultures believe that an owl on your roof means that someone is going to die while others connect an owl to witchery and traditional medicine. There is a widely held belief in many African cultures that health, disease, success or misfortune are not chance, but the result of the active influence of individuals or ancestral spirits. For this reason traditional medicine (Muti), which invokes the assistance of ancestors in healing, is held in high esteem in such cultures and is regularly used by a large proportion of the population. It is believed that control can be obtained over supernatural powers by using the body parts of animals with powerful symbolism (like owls). According to research, as many as 27 million South Africans make use of traditional medicine opposed to pharmaceutical drugs. Owls are one of the oldest species of vertebrate animal in existence and some evidence date back as far as 60 million years ago. Throughout history different cultures have either viewed owls with great fascination and awe or feared them because of a believe system that have been passed down from one generation to another. The most well-known legends surrounding owls is recorded in Greek mythology, where owls are associated with Athena the Greek Virgin Goddess of Wisdom. Athena is often

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Conservation depicted with an owl sitting on her shoulder and because of this owls are still to this day associated with wisdom in most Western Cultures. A fear of owls could be explained in the unusual appearance of an owl, with gazing abnormally large eyes and ear tufts which almost resembles horns that are prevalent in some species. Owls can’t move their eyes; it is fixed in place by a bony structure called a sclerotic ring. Owls’ eyes are rather flat than spherical in shape. This allows for effective gathering of light which gives owls their acute eyesight. Hence the reason for the perception of staring eyes. Our fears could also be a result of well-known and admired writers such as William Shakespeare who wrote in his great tragedy Macbeth: “Hark! Peace! It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the stern’st good-night. He is about it.” The fictional best-selling series of J.K Rowling, Harry Potter link owls to a supernatural world of magic. Owls hunt at night and are seldom observed by humans. Because of this nocturnal (nighttime) existence, they are little known and often misunderstood, even though some owls live their entire lives in close proximity to man. The most common owl species found in South Africa is the Spotted Eagle Owl. Spotted Eagle Owls are known as urban raptors and have adapted well to a habitat shared with human beings. In an environment where natural habitat is lost through development, this particular owl species are making use of man-made structures, such as an Owl House to nest in. Owls are found in the same territory all year round. Erecting an Owl House provides a safe breeding spot for these owls where they can lay their eggs and rear their young. Many have the privilege of sharing their garden with a family of Spotted Eagle Owls. Owls possess a mysterious confidence and some owls will boldly allow people to get very close to them before they elegantly fly off into the horizon. Owl Rescue Centre has been installing Owl Houses throughout the country for years with great success. This project has a great effect on the population of owls in South Africa.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Conservation Owls have a very high mortality rate and are common wildlife casualties in veterinary practice. Most fatalities and injuries are caused by traumatic collisions with vehicles and fences. Secondary poisoning is also a high cause of death in owls. There is no rodent poison on the market that is safe to owls. The chemicals used to control rodents are being found in the livers of owls and are causing the deaths of an alarming quantity of birds of prey. The chemicals cause metabolic disruption and damage to tiny blood vessels, resulting in internal bleeding and ultimately death. Another concern for owls specifically in South Africa is persecution because of unwarranted suspicion or for the ‘Muti’ trade among certain cultures. Owl Rescue Centre is a Non-Profit company that is dedicated to the protection of owls in South Africa. Solutions aimed to decrease the risk factors to the owl species’ population are executed in ongoing Owl Conservation Projects. Owl Rescue Centre creates awareness among communities helping them to understand that owls share our natural habitat and play an important role in the ecological system - keeping the rodent population under control. The education is aimed to give insight to the misperceptions people have about owls and to inform them that owls pose no threat to human beings. Owl Rescue Center’s education is based on the principle of respect for all living creatures, no matter how big or small, they each serve a purpose in our interconnected and interdependent existence. Owl Rescue Center’s vision is that through increased understanding of the owl’s true character, the fears and misgivings that often surround peoples’ perceptions of owls will be replaced by tolerance and respect for these unique birds. Owl-friendly Rat Traps have become an effective and responsible solution for rodent control. The Owl-friendly Rat Trap is designed primarily to catch rats without killing them or using harmful chemicals. Food bait (not poisoned) is placed inside the cage part of the Rat Trap to lure the rodents to the trap. The rat or mouse enters the Rat Trap through a trap door to get to the bait. The rodent is caught alive and without injury; it is trapped with a supply of water and food. Owl Rescue Centre manufactures the traps and supplies them to companies as a monthly rental service or to individuals at a once-off fee. When you see a rodent in your 44

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Conservation trap, you can contact the Owl Rescue Centre to collect the rats to use as food for the owls that are rescued, cared for and then released back into the wild. Hundreds of owls die each year from high impact collisions on our roads. Owls hunt at night when visibility for road users is low and the owls are often spotted when it is too late. Owls often hunt in the road where it is easy to prey on rodents crossing over from one farm to another. The species most affected by this are Spotted Eagle Owls, Barn Owls, Marsh Owls and our endangered African Grass Owls. Owl Rescue Centre is determined to decrease the Owl mortalities on South African roads by erecting Hunting Platforms approximately 50 to 100 meters away from main roads on neighboring farms. The Hunting Platforms will be used to lure rodents onto the platform attracting the owls to a safe hunting spot. This will also benefit the surrounding farmers as a method of natural rodent control. Hopefully this project will have a very positive effect on the owl speciesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; population and have a big impact on Owl Conservation in South Africa. For information on Owl Conservation or these projects, kindly visit Owl Rescue Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at www.owlrescuce911.webs.com or follow the projects on Facebook at www.facebook.com/OwlRescueCentre As a Non-Profit Company, Owl Rescue Centre relies on public support for funding. Donations can be made to: OWL RESCUE CENTRE NPC Nedbank Current Account Account No:1030819580 AA Branch Code: 19440500

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

COMPACT BINOCULARS, IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE THE NEW CL COMPANION 30. CLOSE AT HAND

Extensive knowledge and a wealth of experience are the secret to understanding nature and successful hunting. Sharing special moments and experiences broaden our horizons and our focus becomes sharper. For this you need more than just a piece of equipment, you need binoculars that are a reliable companion. You need CL Companion binoculars that are always to hand whenever you need them.

ANY TIME the extremely light, compact construction ensures exceptional manageability and simple handling

PERFECT VIEW impressive viewing comfort and proven SWAROVSKI OPTIK quality guarantee truly memorable viewing experiences

PERFECT LOOKS distinctive product design for optimum handling

SEE THE UNSEEN

WWW.SWAROVSKIOPTIK.COM

To ďŹ nd your closest Stockist, please call Brad on 031-5848088

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Featured species

Southern Double-Collared Sunbird

Cinnyris chalybeus Compiled by Cobus Steyl

Main Characteristics The Southern Double-Collared Sunbird can grow up to 12 cm long. The adult male has a glossy, metallic green head, throat, upper breast and back. It has a radiant red band across the chest, separated from the green breast by a thin metallic blue band. The rest of the underparts are whitish. When displaying, yellow feather tufts is visible on the shoulders. The bill, legs and feet are black. The eye is dark brown. The female Southern Double-Collared Sunbird has brown, yellowish-grey underparts. As with other sunbirds the bill is long and decurved. Habitat They are widespread in southern Africa, occurring from the far south of Namibia to South Africa, with the bulk of its population centered around the Western Cape. From here they extend east and north to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province. These sunbirds generally prefer fynbos and Karoo shrubland, woodland, gardens and Eucalyptus plantations. Diet The Southern Double-Collared Sunbird feeds mostly on nectar and is often spotted on plants looking for nectar. They do supplement their diet with arthropods, gleaning prey from vegetation and spider webs and hawking insects aerially.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Featured species Breeding The nest is built solely by the female in about 25-30 days, consisting of an oval-shaped structure with a side entrance, built of grass, strands of Old manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beard (Galium tomentosum), rootlets and twigs strongly secured together with spider web. It often decorates it with the fluffy seeds of Karoo rosemaries (Eriocephalus) along with bits of plastic, paper, string or spider cocoons, while the interior is usually lined with wool, plant down, feathers, fine bark shreds and soft grass seeds. It is usually attached to a branch or incorporated into the foliage of a bush or tree, occasionally in a mass of thorns or in a tent caterpillar nest. Egg-laying season is almost year-round, peaking from July-September. It lays 1-3 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for about 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by both adults, leaving the nest after about 15-19 days, after which they continue to roost in the nest for about a week. The parents feed them until they are about 42-46 days old, at which point the young become fully independent. Predators The following animals have been recorded to feed on the eggs and nestlings of the Southern Double-Collared Sunbird: Striped mouse, Grey-headed bush-shrike, Pied starling, Ants Interesting Fact They are not threatened, in fact it has adapted well to the introduction of man-made habitats such as gardens and plantations.

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Product Review

Heilet Grobler MH Arms het vinnig hul merk in n baie gespesialiseerde bedryf gemaak. Net soos ek vir André Mojet 7 jaar terug agter sy draaibank hoor praat het so het ek hom nou weer gekry, definitief in een van die mees tegnologiese ingeneurs werkswinkels en passievol oor wat hy doen met klem op akkuraadheid. Dis Saterdagaand, meeste mense sit al reg vir die dag se rugby maar erens in Kameelfontein is die manne nog besig om te werk dat dit klap. Die oproep is hier “ Kom ons gaan hom nou skiet!” Soos blits gaan dit deur my brein BARRET 416…….. UITEINDELIK. Na nagte se produk ontwikkeling en hordes tegniese tekeninge, ure se CNC werk en baie bekers koffie. Dis al laat skemer en ons is skietbaan toe. Sakke word gepak en die bul van n geweer word staan gemaak. Jy voel die energie wat vloei hier tussen die manne! “Sal ons die 150 grein lading eerste skiet”, hoor ek Mojet sê. Ore word toegedruk en daar klap die skoot. Die skoot bulder en plof in die grondwal in. Opgewonde mans beweeg voorentoe om te sien wat die Barret gedoen het. Nee wat, die sakke het kwalik beweeg en die Barret staan mooi regop. Ek kon nie vermy het om n kreet van vreugde die koel aandlug in te gee nie. Dadelik is Mojet en sy span besig om die aksie te inspekteer , die slagpen se merk word ondersoek terwyl almal tevrede hul opinies gee oor die “musselbraker” se werks verrigting. Videos word gemaak en die eerste Barret vervaardig in Suid Afrika is nou nie meer n droom nie! Mojet gee die instruksie om die hoër lading te bring. 170 Grein manne! Die keer bulder Barret harder en sien jy die vlam deur die “musselbraker” trek. “Nou praat Pappa” ,sê ŉ harde mans stem hier agtermy. Alles word weer deeglik ondersoek en Mojet se span lig hul hande in die lug as oorwinnaars. Die geweer gaan skiet , hier kom ‘n wenner. Soos ŉ vrou seker oor haar kind voel so voel die manne oor hul gewere. “Laaste ronte”, sê Mojet en vra vir die 180 grein patroon. Let op die groot spronge in lading wat hierdie geweer hanteer. “Wag”, sê Mojet: “Die keer hou ek hom self vas!” Plat op sy maag skuif hy oor die klippe en grond , saggies hoor ek sy vrou vra: “André is jy seker?” Dis laat en die donker sak toe, ver weg hoor jy karre maar soos n erge donderslag weergalm die skoot, een groot stofwolk slaan voor ons op. Almal se oë is gerig op André en wag om te sien wat hy doen… My 243 skop meer reken André ons toe. 50

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Product review Nou is dit nie meer “sien is glo nie maar voel is waaragtig!” Volgende is nou die skietbaan om die groeperings te gaan toets. MH Arms het 7 jaar terug begin deur die MOJET geweer te bou. Aanvanklik was die 6mm die spog produk wat verskeie jagters in toevoering gehad het. Die Mojet Merk 1 Aksie is gebou op die voetspoor van die Remmington aksie . Mojet aksies word gekenmerk deur die perfekte afwerkings en gladde werking van die slotte. Mojet lope word vervaardig van hoogstaande ingevoerde staal en word geensins tydens die vervaardiging onder enige erge hitte of stress geplaas nie. Die lope word millimeter vir millimeter deur n CNC masjien gesny wat weer op die lang duur die lewe van die loop verleng en ook bydra tot uiterse akkurate groeperings. As of dit nie net genoeg is gaan Mojet en ontwerp n knaldemper wat uit n soliede billet alluminuim deur CNC tegnologie vervaardig word. Hierdie knaldempers het al wat n jagter is aan die praat oor die lig gewig , die groot klank vermindering en die klein groeperings wat hulle bereik het op die teiken. MH arms vervaardig ook hul eie snellers en magaseine en is nou totaal en al besig om onafhanklik te raak van die invoer probleme uit Amerika. Weens die suksesse en sub -groeperings wat Mojet eienaars met hul gewere behaal het die MOJET naam ŉ handlesmerk geword wat baie sterk gegrond is op akkurate resultate vanaf 100 meters tot sover as 700 en 800 meters. Meeste kalibers word nou vervaardig. Van daar die slagspreuk:’ Engineered to precision’. As dit n MOJET is, bedoel ons akkuraatheid. Dit was reeds die navrae van ŉ klient wat André geinspireer het om die 50 Cal te ondersoek. Interessant as jy die Amerikaanse storie hoor van waar die 416 Barret vandaan kom. Weens vrees vir die 50 Cal se vermoëns was die kaliber verban in sekere state , maar jagters het onverpoos aangedring op n soortgeleike kaliber en die 416 waarvan die 50 Cal se dop net afgenek is het ontstaan. Die geweer kan tot op 2 kilometer akkuraat skiet en die punt bly supersonies. Mojet het van die wapen wat hoofsaaklik n taktiese skerpskut geweer was nou van ‘n jag geweer gemaak. Afgerond met n GRS gelamineerde kolf en ŉ Night Force telleskoop lyk die 416 Barret heel bos vriendelik. MH Arms is ook nou in proses waar hul hulle eie kolwe vervaardig soortgelyk aan die GRS ingevoerde kolwe maar teen baie bekostigbare pryse. In tree Mojet gewere (afhangende van die toebehore) begin in omgewing van so R 28 000.00. Alle personeel word met deurnis gekies en vakmanskap is van die beste beskibaar. Kliente is welkom om die fabriek te besoek of die web blad www.mharms.co.za

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Sweet thorn

Acacia karroo

www.kew.org The name Acacia is derived from the Greek word ‘akis’, meaning a point, referring to the thorns found on African Acacia species. All South African species are armed with thorns, although their shape can vary. “Karroo” is the old spelling for Karoo, where the species was first described by botanical explorers. The sweet thorn gets its English and Afrikaans common names from the gum which is exuded from wounds in the bark. This gum is edible and sweet tasting. Description: The tree grows up to 15 m in height, with rough, dark, red-brown to blackish bark. The trunk is usually branched relatively close to the ground. Paired and straight conspicuous white spines occur, especially on the lower branches and on younger trees or trees being browsed by animals although some forms are almost thornless as adults.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Featured species Trees often flower after rain and are usually in full flower in spring and early summer. The flowers are arranged in heads and exude a sweet scent. The slender, sickle-shaped pods split open from January onwards releasing small, hard seed. Distribution Distributed throughout southern Africa in habitats ranging from desert to floodplains, mountain tops to grasslands and river mouths. Ecology and uses: Flowers attract bees in search of pollen and nectar. Many other insects are attracted to the tree as well and, consequently, also birds, lizards and snakes. This species is also the host tree for several butterfly species. The presence of the tree is considered by farmers as an indicator of “sweet” veldt and water; it is also considered an extremely good fodder tree. The inner bark contains tannins and has been used to tan leather; it can also be used to make rope. The pleasant tasting gum exuded from the tree is eaten by people and animals, and historically also had commercial value when the gum was exported as “Cape Gum” for making confectionary. Cultivation Acacia karroo is a must for the garden although it has a relatively short life span for a tree, thirty to forty years on average. Seeds germinate best if soaked in hot water for a few hours. It grows rapidly in any soil and in any climate found in South Africa, flowering from 2-3 years of age. This is probably southern Africa’s most common tree, it occurs in many different habitats and in many different forms. 54

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

adventures

Cobus Steyl Mountain climbing is an extremely popular pastime. It varies tremendously in difficulty and can be as simple as taking a day hike to relieve stress and enjoy the outdoors or as hardcore as pushing the limits to summit a mammoth like Everest, The experience is exhilarating, which ever option you choose. But with today’s technological advances and guide companies geared toward extreme travel and mountain climbing, more thrill seekers are able to explore some of the world’s most remote mountains, some of which top out at heights of more than 3,350meters. So which are the top 5 mountains to climb in the world? Narrowing the list down is a epic task, but read on to see if you’ve summated any of the top 5 yet.

Mount Kilimanjaro Flat-topped Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and located near Tanzania’s northern border. Kilimanjaro is made up of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. The highest peak, Uhuru, stands approximately 5,892 meters tall. Kilimanjaro is a unique climb in that you don’t need much climbing equipment or experience to conquer its heights. A physically fit novice climber can climb Kilimanjaro in about five

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

adventures days. You’ll likely begin your climb in the lush lowland forest area where you’ll see vegetation like beautiful heather and proteas. At an elevation of about 3,200 meters, you’ll encounter a dramatic expanse of moorland with plants like giant groundsels and lobelia. At 4,000 meters, the landscape changes to a breathtaking alpine desert. Then, at 5,000 meters, you’ll begin your trek to the summit where you’ll encounter the Kibo crater, 182 meters deep and 2.4 kilometers across, and Uhuru’s peak on Kibo’s rim. Of the three volcanic summits on Kilimanjaro, Kibo looks the most like a volcanic crater and is covered with snow due the glaciers in its surface.

The Matterhorn One of the most popular mountains to climb in the world is located in the Alps of Switzerland and Italy and reaches an elevation of 4,478 meters. You can choose from a variety of routes to the summit depending on your skill level. If you’re a beginner climber, you can take the popular Horni Ridge or Lion routes. These routes feature fixed ropes, huts and ladders along the way to the summit. However, if you’re a more accomplished climber, you can tackle a route of escalating difficulty, such as the Zmutt, North Face or Furggen Ridges. The Matterhorn looks like a pyramid with steep ridges that jut out from the glaciers that surround it. Due to the remote position of the Matterhorn, the weather on the mountain can change quickly, so versatile clothing and supplies are advised. The best time to tackle the Matterhorn is during the summer months; however, summer storms can bring about winter conditions, which means most recreational climbers can’t tackle the mountain. The Matterhorn is definitely a long and difficult climb, requiring a great deal of skill to negotiate its unstable rocks and varying weather conditions.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

adventures

3 2

Fitzroy and Cerro Torre, Patagonia Located in both Argentina and Chile in the southern most part of the Andes, the mountains of Patagonia climb to breathtaking heights. The peaks of both Fitzroy and Cerro Torre stand 3,375 meters and 3128 meters above sea level respectively. It offers truly breathtaking scenes of granite peaks that jut out into the sky and vertical faces of the mountains that fall away for about a mile down. Due to the influence of the weather patterns of the nearby ocean, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be likely to encounter somewhat temperate weather throughout most of Patagonia, but temperatures during the winter have been known to drop below freezing. With granite spires of sheer faces, these rocky peaks feature steep inclines, so rock climbing experience is helpful in conquering their heights. Mount McKinley Mount McKinley is the highest peak in North America and is also known as Denali, tower at heights of 6,194 meters. From base to summit, you will experience the greatest elevation gain in the entire world with a rise of 5,490 meters. A part of the Yukon Mountain Range and the centerpiece of Denali National Park, Mount McKinley is surrounded by five glaciers and numerous icefalls. It is an extremely difficult climb and is categorized as a

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

major mountain expedition. The severe weather that climbers encounter on their way to the summit makes for a challenging climb more so than the actual difficulty of the climb. It’s best to climb Mount McKinley in the spring months. Mount Everest The tallest mountain on the face of the earth! Rising approximately 8850 meters above sea level, Mount Everest is the ultimate mountain to climb. In the past 60 years since Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay first conquered this peak in 1953, there have only been about 2,500 climbs to the summit. Located in the Himalayas of Nepal and China, Mount Everest is an extremely difficult mountaineering expedition. Climbers have to obtain a permit from the Nepalese or Chinese governments to attempt to climb Mount Everest. If you don’t want to attempt to reach the summit, you can take a trek to the base camp of Everest on the north or south side of the mountain. On the northern side of the mountain, you can visit a Buddhist monastery at the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier. Here, you can contemplate your view of the world’s tallest peak.

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

Travel & Stay

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Travel & Stay

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

fishing

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013

www.africanadventures.co.za

Vol 16 2013