“An Incredible African Safari with Nick Bowker – Why I Brought a Friend for His First Hunt in South Africa”
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After having an outstanding first experience hunting with Bowker Hunting, I knew I had to return—and this time, I brought my friend Andre for his first African hunting safari.
Nick’s reputation speaks for itself—he’s an outfitter with over 25 years of experience, offering free-range, fair-chase hunting and some of the best all-inclusive trophy packages in South Africa. Both Andre and I booked his seven-animal package, which, for the price, rivals what you’d pay to shoot a single elk in the United States.
From the moment Rob Bowker collected us at the Port Elizabeth airport, everything ran like clockwork. We based our hunt at OliveFountain Ranch, Nick’s family lodge, now upgraded with comfortable en-suite rooms, hearty meals, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
We also included a few days for sightseeing, visiting the Mountain Zebra National Park and Addo Elephant Park, making this trip not just a hunt, but a full African experience.
A Safari That Delivered Adventure Every Day
Mountain Zebra National Park – Day One
Before starting the hunt, we spent a day at Mountain Zebra National Park for game viewing. We tracked collared cheetahs on foot, watched a female with her cub at close range, and even had a tense encounter when our ranger thought we might bump into a black rhino. The park was alive with eland, black wildebeest, springbok, red hartebeest, buffalo, and more—a perfect way to start the adventure.
Hunting Begins – Springbok and Impala (Days Two & Three)
Once back at OliveFountain, Nick introduced Andre—who had never fired a sporting rifle—to the basics of rifle handling and shooting from sticks (the standard method for African hunting). Using Nick’s 7mm Remington Magnum, Andre quickly gained confidence.
That evening, Andre made his first-ever shot on game, taking a springbok ram after a careful stalk. The next morning, I took a fine impala ram, followed by Andre’s first impala trophy later the same morning.
Kudu – Africa’s Grey Ghost (Days Four & Five)
Kudu were our top priority, but they are famously elusive. After two days of glassing deep valleys and mountainous canyons, Andre finally connected with a trophy kudu bull after a difficult stalk and two well-placed shots. It was his highlight of the trip.
Black Wildebeest, Blesbok, and More (Days Six & Seven)
Our later hunts took us across plains, ridges, and scrublands:
- Andre and I both took Black Wildebeest in a late-afternoon ambush.
- We tackled long-range white blesbok hunting, using Nick’s Sako .300 Winchester Magnum with a Swarovski rangefinder and holdover system, making successful 600-yard shots after practice.
- Along the way, Andre also took a solid warthog, while I added a springbok to my list.
My Kudu Finale (Day Eight)
My only remaining animal was kudu. Near the end of the hunt, we glassed three bulls on a hillside. I hit my bull on the first shot, but we had to track and set up an ambush near a ravine to finish the job. It was the perfect end to an already incredible safari.
Addo Elephant Park (Day Nine)
Before heading home to Europe, we spent a day at Addo Elephant National Park, enjoying sightings of elephants, buffalo, and lions—a fitting close to a trip that combined hunting and the best of Africa’s wildlife.
Why I Recommend Bowker Hunting
This was my second safari with Nick, and Andre’s first. For both of us, it exceeded every expectation:
- Free-range, fair-chase hunting with no high fences.
- Expert coaching for new hunters—Andre, a complete novice, built the skills and confidence to harvest multiple trophies.
- Incredible trophy quality and value—seven animals each, plus memories to last a lifetime, at a cost far below what many expect.
- Comfortable lodging, exceptional meals, and seamless logistics, from airport pickup to trophy preparation.
- The chance to combine hunting with game parks and sightseeing, making it a true African adventure.
If you’re looking for a world-class South African hunting safari, whether it’s your first trip or your fifth, Nick Bowker and his team will deliver an experience you’ll never forget. I’ll be back again—and I can’t recommend them highly enough.
