Tales of Africa. A photo essay.

Covid has impacted so many across the globe, and in South Africa the virus was devastating.  As we have done before, we contacted SCI headquarters and the National Capital Chapter of SCI to request “blue bags” and cash donations to assist the local community near Iwamanzi.  Because the need was so great, we also created a go fund me page that yielded $1,000. 

Our local independent pharmacy here in South Carolina donated over 90 pounds of sanitary and medical supplies, and we provided personal funds to help answer the call for aid.  This photo depicts just some of the supplies we brought with us to help the local community.  The generous cash donations will be used to purchase school shoes and sweaters for the children.  Due to the Covid variant, schools and community centers were closed at the time.  As soon as the situations improve, these important goods will be distributed to the Reagile area.

On my second African safari, I couldn’t get set up on a terrific steenbok.  That missed opportunity had hounded me ever since.  After days of scouting at Iwamanzi we connected on this beautiful steenbok. 

 While scouting for warthogs, we came so near a beautiful male ostrich dutifully sitting on a clutch of eggs.  Our guide JP explained that males take over nesting responsibilities in the evenings to allow the females to feed. 

Although they vary, often times plains game safari packages include representative animals such as springbuck, hartebeest, zebra, blesbuck and others.  On my first safari I took a great springbuck.  In recent years, color phase springbucks were selectively bred and became very popular to add to a safari hunter’s trophy collection.  Two years ago I took both a copper and a black springbuck.  This year, after many days of scouting Iwamanzi, we chanced upon this exquisite white springbuck that completes my “springbuck slam.” 

 Additional shot of my steenbok.  So love wearing my Prois gear on this safari.  Hoping you can see the logo on my jacket.

 What a fabulous experience at Luara Wildlife at their tent camp being up close and personal with these carefree nyala strolling beside our dining deck.  So sweet. 

Relaxing on the dining deck at Luara as we sipped our sundowners in the early evening , we enjoyed a group of zebras quenching their thirst at the lake beside us.

 Rhinos watering at one of the dams constructed at Iwamanzi.  Iwamanzi means “place of falling waters.” 

 This was a favorite spot for Mom and her adorable baby hippo to chill beside the Selons River at Iwamanzi.

 Enormous aloes and other wild vegetation across the gorge from the lodge at Iwamanzi.  From this vantage point, we enjoyed watching the wildlife pass by on the hillside.

  This is one of two fireplaces in the Iwamanzi lodge.  It featured a live edge mantle adorned with traditional gourds, meerkat carvings, shield artwork, a European warthog mount, and Stan Burger’s Ian Goss award.  Stan received the Ian Goss Award In November 2019 at the inaugural event of the Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation South Africa.  This award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to promote ethical and responsible hunting.  Stan and his wife Jacqueline are the owners and professional hunter of Iwamanzi, and both are dear friends. 

 A dream come true was taking this fantastic eland.  (Apologies because dark was coming fast so the photo quality isn’t great.  And while I put a perfect shot on his shoulder, we had to put him down quicker so we could recover him safely, thus the extra rounds in his shoulder and flank.)  Weighing in at around 1800 pounds, the eland was a challenge to load in the Toyota, and will provide a lot of protein for the community.  I am still on cloud nine. 

 Another shot of me and the eland.  It was hard to fathom how huge this antelope was.  It is the largest species of antelope in the world. 

 Two giraffes sparring in the afternoon light

 My PH Tavi Fragoso, scouted the best spots at Iwamanzi to pattern elusive warthogs.  After days of glassing and stalking Tavi found the perfect vantage point to get on this old boy.  Sitting quietly and concealed inside the branches of a tree, and just like clockwork, this old warthog slinked to the edge of this watering hole to get a drink.  Hunting warthogs is exciting and definitely gave me a thrill. 

 This is the second gnarly warthog I shot, this time from the “snake” blind.  Warthogs are keen eyed and skittish.  We settled in to the below ground blind beside a watering hole to put the sneak on this old boy. 

 Looking down from the deck at Iwamanzi’s lodge, you can see hubby John getting the sneak on the friendly neighborhood python who hangs out in the rocks below.

Thank you for following along.

Submitted by Caroline Frazier.