Recently three friends and I, Rae, Erika, and Shannon, set out on a bowhunting safari in the heart of the South African wilderness, wanting to challenge ourselves in the untamed beauty of the landscape. The daily explorations, close encounters and successful harvests provided an exhilarating adventure that proved to be the experience of a lifetime for each of us. Our bond as women, and as hunters, grew increasingly stronger as we immersed ourselves in the travel, vibrant cultures, and bountiful hunts.
En route, in London, we marveled at the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, explored the historic Tower of London, and braved the local taxis. The city’s rich history fascinated us as we wandered the ancient streets, imagining the stories of those who had walked there centuries ago.
Then we flew to Johannesburg, where our true adventure began. On the way to camp, with our senses heightened and hearts pounding, our first encounter with the diverse wildlife left us in awe, as we watched impala and sable gracefully striding across the savanna.
We were welcomed with smiles and open arms as we pulled into Zingela Limpopo Safaris led by head PH, Nico. The day turned into night as we set up our private cabins and congregated around the crackling fire under a star-studded sky, sharing stories of our past adventures and dreams for the future.
As the days passed, our skills as hunters sharpened, our guides showing us how to track animals while we remained unseen. Sitting in our blinds, we learned to identify the many animals we saw, including their sex, age, and habits. We studied their behaviors at the watering holes and watched with interest as they interacted with one another. In one example, the impala ran off when a group of ostriches approached.
My first day in the hide was truly the highlight of my trip as I took my first animal, a blue wildebeest with the bow at 21 yards. I followed Nico’s advice on where to aim as the wildebeest stood quartering away from me and sank the arrow deep into his lungs. He ran 160 yards before collapsing. Approaching the downed bull, we noticed bubbles coming out from where the arrow was lodged, giving me the confidence I needed to continue hunting. When I’d first let the arrow go, I had been unsure of placement, but it goes to show that you if you listen to your guide, you’ll be successful.
The team at Zingela arrived to pick up the wildebeest for processing and butchering, while Nico and I continued our day. We set up again in the hide, had a brief lunch, and were talking about shot placement when we were surprised by two majestic kudu bulls approaching. What a sight! There are no words or photos that can accurately describe what I was seeing. It took a while to get set up for the perfect shot, but when the time came, I was ready. One kudu stood at 17 yards, broadside, and Nico instructed me to aim at a fly that was sitting in the vital area. I pulled back my Black Mamba bow, took a deep breath, and then let the arrow fly. The arrow buried into it, though the end of it broke off as he jumped and spun sideways. Fifteen minutes later, after picking up the broken piece of arrow, we began tracking the bull, with Nico showing me how to identify the kudu’s tracks among all the other animals. Not far on I picked up another piece of arrow that had broken off in a small shrub, including the blood-covered broadhead, and soon I saw the kudu lying down about 160 yards away. What a moment! The first day of my African hunt was over and I was bursting with pride, knowing that all the practice and research I’d done had helped me be successful. I couldn’t wait for the next morning to arrive.
I didn’t take anything on day two as I spent it on the road, visiting each of the other girls on their hunts, sharing in their special moments.
On day three we moved into an elevated hide. Nico told me to shoot into a target so he could evaluate my shot placement from there – I was bang on. For hours we watched as numerous animals came in and out, including impala, gemsbok, warthogs, bush pigs, wildebeest and waterbuck. The waterbuck calf was a delight to watch, its shaggy coat giving it the appearance of an overgrown wolf. Eventually a mature waterbuck approached the watering hole, giving me a perfect shot at 23 yards. My arrow went in at a bit of an angle, coming to rest in the offside shoulder. At the shot he jumped up, spun, and took off behind the blind. After 15 minutes or so Nico and I climbed down, started where the waterbuck had been standing at the shot, and followed the blood and tracks, and found him, expired, 60 yards away. Nico said he was proud of my archery skills, boosting my confidence and making our following days together even easier.
That night, after indulging in a wonderful waterbuck meal, we talked around the campfire about our day. Africa was quickly capturing our souls.
On day four of our safari, Nico and I returned to the same elevated hide, unsure what species we would target, but willing to wait for an appropriate animal. Eventually we noticed a gemsbok heading to the watering hole, displaying an unusually aggressive attitude as she butted heads with several other animals, scaring all of them away. She was an old, mature gemsbok, so I took a broadside shot at 24 yards, and saw my arrow pass through her. At the shot she jumped and wheeled away, falling 60 yards away. We didn’t wait to follow up as Nico was sure that she was down for keeps. Walking up to her I beamed with pride and couldn’t wait to get back to show the other girls what I’d done. My shots were getting better and better with each passing day; listening to Nico was key.
Day five had impala on the list. Nico and I had a long day waiting for just the right ram. It was a test of patience—sometimes they wouldn’t come in, or there would be other animals behind it, or it wasn’t mature enough. Finally, we chose one. Our patience paid off with another confident pass-through shot, and we watched as the impala ran just a short distance before dropping. We took the requisite photos and videos before the team showed up to take it away for processing. Deciding we were done for the day, we went back to the lodge where Nico had me shooting at 30 and 40 yards, practicing for the following day’s plan to stalk a zebra on foot. I was so excited for the opportunity that I could barely sleep that night.
Shortly after first light the following morning we found fresh zebra tracks, so I grabbed my bow and off we went, and soon caught up with the herd. Three things could happen—the stallion could marshal his herd and run away; he could answer back, or he could come running at us. Unfortunately, he chose to round up his harem and take off. We stayed on them, getting pretty close a couple times, but towards the end of the day, and with five miles on my boots, we packed it in. On our drive home I joked with Nico that the zebra would probably be at the watering hole, and sure enough they were. Just as I was thinking that the day was over! We drove past them, jumped out of the truck, and tried to stalk into position, but when we got there they were long gone. That hunt was adrenalizing and something I definitely will try again on my next trip to Africa.
As our journey came to an end, we discovered that Africa had ingrained itself deep within our souls. The spirit of the wild, the exhilaration of the chase, and the profound beauty of nature had touched us in a way we could never have imagined. Reluctantly we bade farewell to Africa, carrying with us memories and lessons that would shape us forever. We returned home not only as more skilled hunters, but as ambassadors for the wild, filled with a deep respect for the delicate balance of nature and a renewed commitment to its preservation.
As the years pass, those women and I will continue to be bonded by our African experience. We’ll recall the sound of the animals’ footsteps, the warmth of the campfire on our faces, and the thrill of the hunt. Our safari was a reminder of the importance of experiencing different cultures, embracing the unknown, cherishing the beauty of nature, and the enduing power of friendship.