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The Accommoda tion – Mosita Lodge
After a great day of driven guineafowl shooting, Mosita lodge is a welcome and hospitable sight. Upon arrival from the shooting fields, sundowners are served under the Africa setting sun at the open lapa, where a burning log fire welcomes you in the tranquil surroundings of this bushveld lodge. Mosita Lodge is a traditional African thatched and stone bungalow, set in the shade of beautiful camel thorn acacia trees. There is a central dining bungalow with a large table where hearty meals and joyous conversation are enjoyed. Meals can also be served at the fire pit lapa under the African sky or in the indoor dinning bungalow. Here, the morning starts with a combination of an English and Continental breakfast of your choice and where the day ends with a traditional African dinner served with a European flair, wash down with the cape’s fairest wines There are eight twin accommodation bungalows that have king size or single beds with en- suite bathrooms. These bungalows can be heated or cooled with air conditioning. The sleeping quarters are all connected with a stone path leading to the central dinning and lapa area. Mosita is a very comfortable and scenic traditional bushveld lodge where you can experience true African hospitality.
DRIVEN GUINEAFOWL SHOOTING IN THE MOLOPO BUSHVELD
DRIVEN GUINEAFOWL SHOOTING IN THE MOLOPO BUSHVELD Your safari will start when you arrive at Mosita Lodge in the Molopo Bushveld of the Northwest Province of South Africa. While sparsely populated and rugged, it has incredible landscapes that is conducive and rich in agriculture. The climate here is warm to hot, with nights being cool. This area is ideal for Guineafowl populations to thrive. The mixture of agriculturally planted corn, sunflower and ground nuts, all ripening at different times of the year, ensures an adequate yearround food supply. Thick bushveld between the planted lands is left fallow and creates an ideal nesting and roosting environment. This combination of food and habitat, makes for a perfect environment for guineafowl to flourish.
Driven Guineafowl shooting is one of the most exciting and frenetic shoots the field sportsman can experience in South Africa. Based on British Driven Pheasants, beaters and flag bearers have the arduous task of driving troops of Guineas towards the line of waiting guns. Sometimes, thousands of Guineafowl, as well as some Spurfowl, will be meticulously driven in military style over a line of 6 to 8 guns at strategically placed pegs in a clearing made in the African savannah. This is truly magnificent shooting. Shooting is in the winter months, from July to September, when Guineafowl troop together and spend the day eating in the agriculture fields. These troops sometimes number in the thousands of Guineas. The challenge is then to drive them from the fields into the bushveld over the wating guns.
This is done by at least 50 enthusiastic chanting beaters, ably assisted by parallel flag bearers, who in unison drive the panicking Guineas over the guns. Swainson’s and Natal Spurfowl are also abundantly interspersed amongst the driven guineafowl and are extremely cunning and challenging to shoot.
A typical day of driven Guineafowl shooting will start with a hearty English breakfast at dawn. Thereafter departure to the hunting area is about a half an hour drive. The morning consists of 3 to 4 drives. Guns are dropped off at strategically placed pegs. Each peg has a safari chair and picker upper who will be assisted by your professional hunters with their gun dogs eagerly waiting to retrieve downed birds. After the drive, the guns will be picked up by a vehicle and driven to the next beat.
A full field lunch is served under a gazebo tent or in the shade of a camel thorn acacia. After a welldeserved lunch, back into the field for 2 to 3 more afternoon drives. Evening sundowners are enjoyed after the last beat