Contrast the thick, thorny thickets of the Bushveld with the sprawling, open reaches of the Free State on this ambitious two-week expedition. By covering two distinct ecological zones, you will have the opportunity to collect seven diverse trophies across varied terrain. It is the perfect choice for the hunter seeking to hunt two varied geographical areas on one extensive safari.
This 14-day package includes seven classic plains game trophies, selected to suit both the bushveld’s thick cover and the Free State’s open grasslands. Your professional hunter will help you prioritize species by terrain, timing, and trophy quality, while keeping the hunt relaxed and enjoyable across two regions. If an animal is not taken or wounded, you will be credited 90% of the list price on your final bill.
This comprehensive two-week schedule spans two diverse biomes, offering the ultimate South African hunting tour.
Your two-week South African odyssey begins at OR Tambo International, where you will be met and welcomed for the transfer to the rugged Bushveld. This first day is dedicated to unwinding and settling into your private camp, allowing the wild sights of the northern savanna to set the tone.
The afternoon focuses on practical preparation, including a rifle sight-in to ensure your equipment is perfectly zeroed for the wooded terrain. After the range, we embark on an orientation drive to scout for fresh spoor. If time allows, we may conduct an introductory stalk to familiarize you with the local cover.
These days focus on hunting in the bushveld, where thick vegetation, broken ridges, and wooded flats reward patience and careful stalking. After early coffee, you head out at first light to cut fresh tracks and work likely travel routes between feeding areas and water. Your PH and trackers will adjust tactics daily—slow spot-and-stalk through denser cover, short ambushes at high-traffic areas, or glassing from elevated points when visibility allows.
Midday breaks are spent back at the lodge for a traditional brunch and relaxation during the heat. In the afternoon, we return to the field, focusing on movement toward waterholes and clearings. Evenings conclude with fireside meals where we review the day's success and prepare for the following morning’s hunt.
After a final Bushveld breakfast, we begin the scenic journey south toward the Eastern Free State. The changing landscape from dense thickets to towering mountains and open grasslands is a highlight of the trip. You will arrive at your new camp in time to settle in and explore the surroundings.
The afternoon involves a brief scouting mission to acclimate to the higher altitude and vast visibility of the central plateau. We focus on identifying herds that frequent the rocky slopes. This change in environment requires a shift in hunting tactics, which we discuss over a gourmet dinner at the lodge.
Hunting in the Free State emphasizes long-range glassing and methodical stalks across open terrain. You will navigate rolling hills and rocky outcrops, testing your patience and fieldcraft against the keen eyes of Springbuck and Black Wildebeest. The dramatic mountain scenery provides a stunning and expansive backdrop for these final days.
Each day is a lesson in persistence, often involving longer walks to secure a vantage point. Between sessions, the luxury lodge offers a comfortable sanctuary to recount the morning’s success. These final stalks are the culmination of the trip, cementing the skills learned throughout your diverse fourteen-day African experience.
A final sunrise hunt offers a last opportunity to secure remaining trophies or simply enjoy the morning light on the golden plains. It is a quiet, reflective time to appreciate the shared journey before returning to camp. We then oversee the final field preparation and tagging of your specimens.
All administrative duties and trophy paperwork are finalized right here at the lodge to ensure a stress-free transition for your return. After a farewell lunch, we provide a direct transfer back to Johannesburg for your flight. You depart with a comprehensive collection of trophies and an intimate knowledge of South Africa.
Below are answers to the most common questions about hunting areas, camp standards, and what a typical day looks like on safari. If you would like to tailor the itinerary, add additional trophies, or include observers, our team can advise on the best options before you book.
A versatile .30-caliber works for both areas. However, you can save the trouble of transporting firearms across regions by making use of the rifles of your Professional Hunter, with ammunition being the only cost. This allows you to adapt easily to both the thick-cover tracking in the North and the long-range plains game hunting required in the South.
We provide you with all ground transportation in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles. During the five-hour drive between the Bushveld and Free State, you can enjoy the changing landscapes of the South African interior. We stop at scenic locations for a relaxed lunch along the way to your next camp, making the journey an enjoyable part of your safari.
We make every effort to recover the animal before you travel to another province; however, the fee remains due if the animal is not found. We prioritize the ethics of the hunt above all else. In rare cases where a search must continue after your departure for the next camp, our local tracking teams will remain on-site until every possible lead is exhausted.
In your first week, you’ll hunt the thick Bushveld savanna. Your second week shifts to the open Free State plains. Your daily routine adjusts from close-quarter tracking in the north to long-range glassing and high-altitude stalks in the south, providing you with a diverse and physically engaging two-week adventure across the incredible South African interior.
Observers are more than welcome to ride along for the duration of this two-week cross-country journey. Between regions, you can explore the shopping hubs of Johannesburg, the dramatic scenery of the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, or engage in cultural tours of Basotho villages. This ensures you have a diverse holiday that showcases the incredible variety of the country.
You are welcome to take additional trophies beyond those in your package as opportunities arise. This is subject to the availability of specific species quotas and required permits. Any extra trophies will be charged according to our current list prices.
