Newsletter 2023
We surely made you wait this year until the end to send out the newsletter! At least we made it before New Years!
At this time we hoped that you and your families had a blessed Christmas and everybody managed to be with their families. We were fortunate to have the whole family together.
The family
I think it would be in order to have a little say about the family. Many of you have been on this journey with us for many years, 30 years to be exact this year since the start of Bush Africa safaris.
You have followed our progress and spent many fantastic safaris with us. You have been in camp with us when the children were small, and see how they developed thru the years .They are now all grown ups, and all doing well. Our youngest, Nina, has finished her first year at the University of Stellenbosch in Industrial Engineering.
She still is a life wire and spend every minute she can in the outdoors, already planning some hunts of her own for 2024. Dries has developed into a very accomplished professional hunter and is excitingly looking forward to carry the torch. He and some of our longtime employees and guides will inevitably carry the traditions forward , and will continue our legacy. It has been a great privilege to hunt a Massive Buffalo bull with him in Zimbabwe this year. Cara is doing very well in here profession as a chemical engineer, and is very quickly making a name for herself in the workplace.
Past season in review
Once again, the PH’s and staff at Bush Africa did it again this past season.
We had quite a full season and we harvested beautiful trophies.
No client left without harvesting prime trophies, and success on Bongo, Elephant, leopard, Lion, Kudu, Buffalo, huge Sable and Kudu, Eland and much more was accomplished.
So many outstanding trophies was taken, memories was made, and special moments were experienced, it is hard to single out some specific trophies.
I have limited myself to 5 pictures to showcase a bit of our 2023 season.
A change of scenery
As many of you might know, we have sold our ranch in the Limpopo Province, and has made the move to the Western cape. It has been home and place of business for us for always, and goes as far back as almost 100 years in our family. It has been a very difficult decision, and a huge leap of faith.
Moving to the Western cape area is very exciting, and offers a lot off opportunities. We have purchased a beautiful lodge against the Swartberg Mountains on a Wildlife Estate, from where we will offer eco-tourism, hunting safaris in various locations, as well as tours and safaris in this area that offers so much.
Our facility, Swartberg Private Game lodge, is currently under renovations, and will be up and running by March 2024. You can refer to our website for exciting packages offered out of this elegant facility, set on the foot of the Swartberg Mountain range. These trips can be combined with some exciting areas in the Eastern Cape, Greater Karoo and unique places in the Western Cape for species and trophies hard to come by.
Celebrate the end of a fantastic safari with a road trip in the Garden Route, few relaxing days in beautiful Cape Town and a tour thru the South African Wine lands.
Good news!
We have not left Limpopo altogether!
We now have ventured out and added more and better hunting areas all around our old hunting grounds!
For 2024 we have acquired a massive wilderness area in the mountains in Limpopo, spanning over 35000 acres!
The area has hardly been hunted the past 10 years, and we are very excited to start exploring this massive stretch of land. Surely this area hosts some of the finest Kudu’s in Africa today, and the proof will be in the 2024 hunting season!
We still will hunt and offer safaris on our old land, offering the plains game and Buffalo hunter some great opportunities on well developed and successful hunting areas. We will tailor your safari to hunt several destinations within an hour apart, and now has the ability and access to some real untouched wilderness.
Our new concession area, Nungu Wilderness, also boasts a beautiful lodge, very private accommodations with outstanding vistas over the wilderness, and a safari at Nungu will be a total experience for the discerning hunter, couples and families alike.
We also still offer some wild and free range hunting in big 5 country in SA and various other locations in Southern Africa.
Our hunting area on the edge of Kruger Park is an experience by itself, hunting big 5 country amongst Lion and elephant, chasing after that old dugga boy buffalo Bull.
With our 30 year experience in various areas in Southern Africa, you can be assured that we will put you in the best areas for targeted species and experience.
What we are excited about
We are excited to show you our new areas. The Nungu wilderness will be an experience on its own and we can't wait to start exploring the area of mountain, rivers and valleys. We don’t know what the area beholds and you can be assured that some fantastic trophies will harvested in this vast piece of wilderness.
We are excited to traverse various free range area in search of some magnificent trophies and to be in the wild, together with nature and its wildlife.
We are excited to show you our new lodge, in the Western Cape, to chase after “not so common” species and to show you a different part of South Africa, which are very untapped in the hunting industry.
We are excited to chase great trophies, on the lands we know and understand, just because we love it!
A new Era
With the move from our safari ranch to the Western Cape, it is inevitable that we feel that we are entering a new era. We are sourcing new areas, using more and different camps, exploring new hunting areas .
We are letting the reigns loose a little, and are letting the off spring and employees making some calls.
They have a refreshed outlook and also new and renewed ideas. They are keeping up with trends and services, are excited and energetic.
I can not see a better time in our existence to enjoy a safari with Bush Africa, as the old experience and knowledge will now be combined by youth full energy , and a sense of exploration and renewal.
With our guidance and stamp of approval, you can be guaranteed an exciting new safari season, with products across a very wide range of adventures.
2024 Marketing shows and dates
US phone nr: (to be updated 1/10/2024)
Scalk (+27) 82 452 0749 - Message & WhatsApp
Robert (+27 78 841 9027) - Message & WhatsApp
Dries (+27 83 299 2991) - Message & WhatsApp
11-14 January 2024: Dallas Safari Club, Dallas, Booth 3437
19-21 January 2024: Houston Safari Club, Woodlands, Booth 16 in the foyer
24 -28 January 2024: Houston Boat Show, NRG Centre @ NRG park, Booth 136
31 Jan- 3 February 2024: Nashville TN, Booth 2937
Thank you
Once again we want to thank our clients for their continued support, referrals, business and communication from your side.
We are looking forward to see you at the shows, talk about our experiences, and just catching up on some news.
We really do appreciate your e-mails, interest, communication and are very excited to show you some of our new ventures and products.
Thank you from all of us at Bush Africa Safaris and may the new year be prosperous and healthy one!
Schalk & Terina van Heerden
Outfitters Special Pick for 2024
Hippo ,buffalo and Giraffe combo in free range big 5 country next to Kruger national park (to be hunted before March 30th 2024)
Couples Plains game package at Nungu wilderness with a great kudu as main target
Couples Cape taster, experience or epic package in the Cape provinces of South Africa
All details can be found on our website, brochures or can personally be discussed with us, for your personal tailored trip!
Seasons greetings!!
