A Very Expensive Biltong Hunt

WE MADE PLANS to go to the Free State to hunt springbuck, a new species for me. Due to the Covid travel ban, the trip was postponed a couple of times, but finally, with the right permits, we could cross the provincial border.

It was freezing when we stopped in front of the farm gate, the chilling wind tearing into my skin. We met with the owner and chatted about the farm, which we had found on Facebook, and wanted to know more. We were there for six springbuck, three blesbuck and some impala, if we encountered a nice ram or two. The owner told us the farm was only 250 hectares and mainly used to breed game. There was a list of animals we weren’t allowed to hunt: nyala, tsessebe, sable, eland, bontebok, reed-buck, giraffe, saddleback blesbuck, copper springbuck, black