Don and Sandra Denz
New York
Stef, Wanted to thank you and everyone at Nuumzaan Safaries for the great hunt. I think that your 470 kill shot not only saved us from many more hours of tracking but saved us also from a potentially very harmful and serious leopard attack.Staying vigilant, with rifle shouldered, thumb on safety in order to take that split second shot is not easy. It was simply amazing to watch and now reflect on that 7 man team effort successfully track down that leopard. The newsletter was so well written by Mike that I must have read it 10 times, sent it to all my friends and it gave me chills as I recalled every second of what now seems like a dream.Although my visit was short, and my hunt one night, I realize how fortunate I was to take the leopard the first night and that in reality, the prep work by Mike and the awesome Shorty was time consuming and required diligent thought and effort. Much appreciation for that because without it, I am sure I would have been painting spots on an Impala!!! Seriously though, it is important for me to have you know that I realize it was NOT a 1 day hunt but a MANY day effort and use of wisdom, skill and talent that allowed a one say SHOOT!! Your entire team, Bennie, Shorty, Jean-Louis, Jaco, Mike and you were the consummate professional trackers and hunters! You must be extremely proud of your son Jaco. He is a gentleman. He is a humble and respectful young man with wisdom and talent far beyond most his age. Please forward me a picture of his leopard if his bow hunt is as successful as I believe it will be. You and the entire behind the scenes team at Nuumzaan are 2nd to none. You treated Sandra and me to not only two fantastic hunts this year but a friendly, embracing, warm camaraderie that are more important in life than any trophy animal. The true joy and success of an adventure is not necessarily the length of the hunt but the lifetime of memories in every second that passes by. For the lifetime of memories, I thank you my friend and thank you Nuumzaan Safaries!! Sincerely,Don
Wayne and Kathleen Hadley
Montana
In general, we had a great trip. Better even than we had anticipated. Everyone we encountered was pleasant, polite and helpful. We were particularly pleased by our time at the Kamboo Farm with Carel, Mari, and Carmi. Not to mention their group of engaging dogs. The atmosphere there was extremely relaxed and the hospitality second to none. Everyone was anxious to provide us with a quality experience. The facility itself was outstanding and we enjoyed the architecture as well as the interesting lawns and associated birds. Carel was a great pleasure to spend time with since he has a fine sense of humor, worked hard to see to the details of our time there, and was simply a good companion. He would be a welcome guest on our hunts here in the US.Our time in Thabazimbi was short but enjoyable and we liked the opportunity to meet the Stef, Lenette, Jaco, Hano, and AJ. A fine crew. Perhaps the best of our trip was our time with Mike Watridge. He was polite, attentive, and fun to be with at all times. His sense of humor was keen and made for many shared laughs. Despite his easygoing manner, he watched over us like a mother hen and made our welfare and enjoyment his first priority. More often than not, he anticipated events and needs and had them in hand before they could be articulated. He is an excellent hunter with great enthusiasm for the totality of the experience. His vision is acute and he has a finely honed ability to judge trophy quality among a wide variety of species. We could not have asked for a more skillful or likeable PH. Should be have the opportunity to return, Mike would be at the top of our list of companions. We will recommend him and Numzaan to our friends with the greatest pleasure. Our thanks to all of you who made our trip such a resounding success.
Best regards, Wayne and Kathleen
Kevin Rich
Middleton, ID
Yes I had the time of my life and am already planning a hunt with Jean Louis next may.
It was a great experience from the minute we got off the plane to the minute we got back on the plane. All the different scenery and types of landscape was a real bonus. Jean Louis (and I’m sure this goes for all your PH's) really knows the land and animals that are there. He really went the extra mile to get us on good trophies from sun up to sun down. I was impressed by the large amount of animals we saw and the quantities of trophy animals that live there. The accommodations we also great at your camp as well as the others we visited. The animals were all promptly taken care of from the capes, skulls, horns and meat. I would be glad to act as a reference for you and have generated lots of interest from friends of mine on this side.
Jacob West
Montgomery, TX
Me and my father had always talked about taking a trip to the mother-land. Well, this past spring we finally went. We couldn't have picked a better outfit to go with! Numzaan safari's is a great outfit, they were professional and it was everything I was hoping it would be. We hunted with Tony and Juan which were both amazing and i ton of fun. I thought I was hunting with buddys back home. We killed every animal we where after and then some. I will never hunt Africa again unless it’s with these guys! We loved it.
Thanks for everything, We'll be Back soon!!
Nathan and Kamala Jonas
Boise, ID
Our Game Drive at Pilansberg
After a quicker than expected morning hunt we decided to go to Pilansberg for a game drive. Jean-Louis called Carissa and within an hour we were on our way. We were very appreciative that she was willing to take us on such short noice. She told us right away that if we saw anything that we wanted a picture of or wanted to get a closer look at that she would stop because she would rather look at a hundred trees than not stop and miss a lion or an elephant. We spotted numerous impala, so many zebra that we lost count and wildebeast after wildebeast that were so close we could almost lean out the window and touch them. We stopped at a dam to watch a baby hippo resting on it's mother's back and two other hippos playing under the water. I had my zoom lense for my camera but barely needed it because all of the animals were so close. We spotted black back jackals eating a fresh lion kill near the side of the road. Carissa helped us get directions for a quick restroom break then took us for lunch and ice cream. While at the restaurant we checked out the sightings map and found where elephants had been seen then we headed out in hopes of finding one. As we drove on we saw a pair of plover in the road, two more hippos in the water and a fish eagle. Carissa pointed out some elephant droppings on the road and also some torn and trampled tree branches that indicated that an elephant had crossed our path. We saw springbok near the side of the road. It was the first springbok we had seen in person and very exciting. Then we noticed a car stopped in the road in front of us and Carissa said "oh please be looking at an elephant!" Just as we drove up the car pulled away and there he was, a young bull elephant just off the side of the road eating in the brush. It was absolutely amazing. As we pulled down the road another car pulled passed and we told them about the elephant. They informed us that they had also seen elephant and rhino just down the road. The gave us directions and we hurried away. The sun was setting and our time in the park was limited but the rhinos that we saw were worth stopping and taking some photographs. We also saw a pair of klipspringer in the rocks and a few more springbok. As we rushed down the road we even saw a mother and baby rhino in an open field. We stopped to take some more pictures and Carissa turned the engine off so that we could hear the baby rhino calling to its mother, a priceless moment. With darkness approaching and just minutes before the park gates closed we finished our drive and headed home. What a wonderful way to spend Mother's day - a gemsbok in the salt and couple hundred new photos. Thanks Carissa!
Steve and Bea Klaich
Nikolaevsk, AK
Thank you, Numzaan Safaris, for a fantastic hunt far beyond our expectations! Our remarkable PH, Johann, was extremely knowledgeable on the plants and animals of Africa and patiently answered all our questions as he skillfully guided us to our trophy animals. His expertise in guiding was phenomenal! We were also impressed with the abundant wildlife everywhere we went! The camp accommodations were incredibly comfortable, and the food was amazing. The entire Numzaan staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and professional, and customized our hunt to the way we wanted it. Everybody went out of their way to make a dream hunt become a reality for our family. Thank you!
Kurt Folke
Weiser, ID
This was our first time on an African safaria and Numzaan exceeded our expectations in every way imaginable. They completely took care of all the logistics of picking us up at the airport, transporting us to our hunting camp, making our stay enjoyable and comfortable, caring for our trophies, and returning us to the airport and ensuring we were safely on our way. Our PH, Jean Louis, held out to be sure we only took very nice animals - most all of which made the record books. We are definitely planning on coming back to Numzaan Safaris in the future to discover more of Africa and its wonderful hunting opportunities.
John and RoAnne Croning
Bennington, NH
Initially, let me say that RoAnne and I both had a fabulous time with Numzaan Safaris. The entire operation is first rate! I was particularly impressed with the ability of the PH and staff to accommodate a hunter and non-hunter simultaneously. The experience and attention to detail that Stef and everyone at Numzaan has acquired over the years really shows.Our trip to your country was just plain terrific on every possible level. The attention to personal service starting with our arrival in Johannesburg until the very end of the trip is an appropriate barometer for every aspect of Numzaan Safaris’ operation. I intend to file a report with SCI and the Traveling Hunter on our trip, particularly your ability to accommodate a one legged hunter ! Perhaps the parts of the trip that will be thought of most fondly in the future involves the opportunity to get to know Mike Watridge and Stef and his family on a very personal level. The values and work ethics that I witnessed were both near and dear to me- the humor and sarcasm didn’t hurt either! I am happy to provide additional information and a more detailed response if it is necessary and/or appropriate. Please let me know.
Tommy Santrock
Roswell, GA
The hunt with the Numzaan Team exceeded even my highest expectations. I saw more wild animals in 8 days hunting Limpopo Province than I had seen previously in my entire life. Juan is an exceptional PH, a consummate professional. I learned lots from Juan about local game and wildlife. He works hard to put the client in position to be successful…and we were successful. With Juan’s help, we bagged each trophy on my list and added a couple of bonus critters.
As important and enjoyable as the hunt were the evening times around the campfire. Juan, Johann, Tonie, Marco and Jaco provided for great entertainment - stories, one after another, well into the night. I was amazed that night after night this group of PH’s managed to stay up with the night owls, yet beat everyone to breakfast the next morning. You have an exceptional team.
I already look forward to next time.
Eric & Niki Smith
Colorado
"Our first trip to Africa was with Numzaan Safari's. It was more then what we had expected. When we arrived we were greeted by Stef and some of the other PH's at the airport. Everything was completely taken care of and nothing was left for us to worry about. All of the PH's, including our PH for the trip Tonie, made sure that everything we wanted or needed was available to us. The lodging was superior to anything we had seen and the hunting was fantastic. Because of all the team work and dedication that Tonie and the rest of the staff provided, my husband was able to get a beautiful giraffe with his bow and I was able to get the kudu I have always wanted with my bow as well. We are already planning our next trip back and cannot wait to bring family and friends with us!!
We would just like to thank everyone at Numzaan Safari's, especially Tonie and Stef, for a trip of a life time for us. We look forward to seeing you all soon!
Sincerely
Niki and Eric Smith"
Clinton Beall
Alberquerque, NM
When I walked thought security on my way home it was bittersweet, I did not want the greatest trip of my life to end. Our PH and great friend, Tonie, walked with us and helped us all the way to the security line rather than just dropping you off at departures. I did not want to go home after a whole weeks visit, but it was perfect because I left Numzaan already looking forward to my return trip, and already envisioning the exciting hunts soon to come. With Numzaan and the folks at Wild Wildebeest Lodge, everything was so much more than a safari, but rather an experience of a lifetime. On top of the incredible hunts my family and I were lucky enough to endeavor with our extremely knowledgeable and motivated PH’s, everyone else at camp was a cut above any other safari company I have ever come in contact with. I told Tonie that the best I could put it is that he was the captain of the All Star team that is Numzaan, and all the others were simply warming the bench. The accommodations and food was tremendous, but the most important aspect, the hunts, simply could not have been better. All of our animals made book and a several even made Rowland Ward. We harvested 90% of our lists, and it would have been 100% had we not missed a few shots Tonie put us in perfect position to take. I have no doubt that I will be back with Numzaan soon, and cannot wait to encourage other hunters seeking the trip of a lifetime to do so as well!
Andre & Cheryl Pierre
Sand Lake, MI
A lifelong dream turned to reality by Numzaan.
This was our first trip to Africa and the experience of the country and culture began as soon as we got off the plane in Johannesburg. Johann Combrink, our new friend and PH, who not only guided me in a successful buffalo hunt in Mozambique, but also toured us around South Africa, met us at the airport. Johann and the rest of the team at Numzaan made sure that all the permits were taken care of ahead of time, which made it easy to quickly get through customs and South African Police (SAPS). Our time with Johann was to be 14 days; 7days hunting (Mozambique) and 7 days touring (South Africa). The professionalism and attention that was paid to the details left nothing for my wife and I to worry about. The location of the camp was literally in the middle of the bush in Mozambique. However, the accommodations at the camp were great. It was comfortable, clean and the food was fantastic. My wife who is a non-hunter, but loves adventure, felt safe and secure, as the staff were always courteously making sure that she was comfortable and any of her needs were addressed. While we were hunting, Johann and the trackers were able to find game as if they had made a pre-arranged deal with the animal. I have done a considerable amount of hunting, and to see this level of expertise and intensity at work, just gave me ‘goose bumps’. During the week of hunting we became amazed at the amount of knowledge Johann possessed about the flora and fauna. It was incredible! And even more amazing was that this knowledge flowed over into our week of touring through Kruger Park, scenic hot-spots, various cities, and cultures. Carisa, another member of the Numzaan staff, who was also extremely knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and cultures of South Africa, briefly joined us during the second week while the truck was being repaired. At this point my wife and I knew that this was an outfit that operated by a set of standards that was a cut above the rest. Both Johann and Carisa, during her stay with us, made us feel as if we were a part of the family. As Johann told me when we first discussed this hunt in February 2010, "You are my responsibility as long as you are in Africa, and I will see to it that you are comfortable and taken care of from the time you get off the plane to the time you get back on”. For anyone taking the time to read this, I assure you he did more than just that.
With Numzaan I can honestly say that you will get more than what you pay for. They have woven a set of moral and ethical business practices into their staff and operations that is rare to come across today. We cannot wait to get together again with Johann for our second trip back for plains game; which we already started to plan before getting on the plane to return home.
Thank you to everyone at Numzaan for making both the hunting and photographic safaris one that will be forever emblazoned in our minds. We saw more game and covered more territory than we thought possible, taking over 1,600 pictures.
We hope to see you soon.
Sincerely,
Andre and Cheryl Pierre
Mark and Dianne Crisp
Atlanta, GA
During late October of 2010, my wife Dianne and I made our first visit and safari to South Africa. Our safari was a direct result of our meeting Johann Combrink of Numzaan Safaris at the Georgia SCI Convention. Our safari could not have been more professionally handled nor could our PH, Johann, or our day trip guide Carissa been more helpful. We were hosted at the Numzann Lodge near the Crocodile River in the Limpopo Province named aptly, Wild Wildebeest Lodge. What a beautiful Lodge and setting. The Lodge, managed by Tonie du Bruyn (also a Numzaan PH) and wife Jurika was not what I expected. The accommodations were 5-star, including air conditioning! Not to mention the swimming pool! Every day Jurika and her team provided an incredible array of meals with fresh fruit, pastries, and the entrées of wild game, beef, lamb and chicken were prepared meticulously. This was a resort setting. But I was here to hunt. Johann was always up and ready to go before me and was always there to say good night. It is uncanny how he can be at the right spot at the right time. We pursued game by hunting vehicle, on foot and on stand at water holes. During our 10 days I took 8 species of which all but one will make the SCI Record book and with any luck 3 will make Gold. I have hunted many places the world over and have never been taken care of any better. So much so that I have already booked another hunt with Johann and will be bringing 3 additional hunters with me.
Just as importantly as the hunt, my wife Dianne scheduled a number of day trips with Carissa, the Numzaan photographic and site seeing professional. Dianne had a blast visiting the diamond mines, cultural centers, archeological sites, etc.
This was a perfect trip, hosted by the finest people I know that love their business!
I can honestly recommend this outfitter as one that any hunter considering South Africa should book with. You will not be sorry except that you will want to go back immediately upon your return home!
LETTER OF THANKS
