LCA hunt on Marikwa
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I found Marikwa Game farm on the internet while looking for a weekend get-away for me and my wife.
We made the booking with the idea that it would not include fishing or hunting. A week later I received an e-mail from the owner, Johan, indicating that he would like to donate a blue wildebeest to LCA and I could hunt it while we were there.
I was very grateful, but now I had to tell my wife that our special weekend get-away might include some hunting as well…
We arrived on the farm late one Thursday afternoon. After unpacking, we took a game drive with Johan. We discussed the detail of the hunt the following morning and it was agreed that we had to leave around 06:00.
Friday morning was cold and the reality of getting up and going into the cold was an experience for my wife.
We settled in and Johan made sure my wife had the necessary protection against the cold. The morning was quiet until about 10:00, when a herd of blesbuck moved down from high ground in the direction of the hide.
There were some big white blesbuck amongst them and since it was one of the animals which I wanted to hunt, I decided to get ready and wait for them to come in.
Eventually they came in and I took a shot at the first one that gave me the opportunity. It was a beautiful ram measuring 17 and ¾ inches.
After lunch Johan dropped us off at a different hide, hoping that the BWB (blue wildebeest) would come in late in the afternoon. This did not happen.
Since it was not a hunting trip, we only went out the afternoon of the next day. Johan gave permission that if the BWB did not come in, I could shoot a young impala. The BWB did not come in, but a young ram took its place instead. The shot was 20 yards, extreme quarter away.
When we left Sunday afternoon Johan said that we are more than welcome to try for the BWB during a next trip.
I immediately started making plans on Monday and eventually a weekend opened in September. This time we would hunt!
We arrived on the farm around 12:00 the Friday afternoon; I had 2 days to get the BWB. After unpacking we were on our way to the hide. Only a young kudu bull and cow visited the hide…
Saturday morning I woke up around 04:00; there was an all-mighty wind blowing and I did not have much hope for the day. My wife decided to stay in bed and not join me for the morning session.
They picked me up just after 06:00, and on our way to the hide we passed a herd of BWB. The wind was in their favour and again I did not have much hope.
I made myself comfortable after unpacking and was about to have my first cup of coffee when I heard the distant sound of a BWB. They came from the right side and the wind was now in my favour.
It was a herd of 20 plus, with 2 huge bulls amongst them, but I had a cow on my list. I had to wait about 20min before a cow moved to the right and allowed me a 25 yard broad side shot.
Thanks to Johan, his dad and all the people of Marikwa for their hospitality and the two donations. The biltong and droëwors were sold and the money used in the projects we had planned for 2011.