Where Dogs Lead and Birds Rise.

Upland Hunting Over Pointing Dogs

A soulful African upland bird hunting experience.

Overview: The Timeless Pursuit

There’s a moment when the bushveld falls silent.
Your dog freezes mid-step, tail stiff, body taut.
A whisper of grass. A heartbeat held.
Then, wings erupt, fast and low through thornveld and light.
You mount, swing, fire.

This is upland bird hunting at its most honest and rewarding, on foot, with a dog on point, and wild birds flushing in unpredictable bursts.
No lines of beaters. No pens. Just you, your dog, and Africa.

The Birds

Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Africa’s iconic gamebird. Guineafowl move in large, skittish flocks and explode from cover in a rush of wings and noise. We locate them in open veld, then work them into denser cover where our dogs pin singles and pairs for classic walk-up shooting.

  • Flock size: 50–300 birds
  • Shooting style: Walk, flush, and point
  • Limit: Up to 20 per day

Swainson’s Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii)

Big-chested, sharp-eyed, and loud-mouthed. These ground-dwelling sentinels flush bold and fast, offering shots at just about every angle in open veld.

  • Call: Grating and unmistakable
  • Flush: Fast, straight, unforgiving
  • Limit: 10 per day

Crested Francolin (Ortygornis sephaena)

The upland purist’s bird. Coveys of 4–15 hold tight in dense bush, flushing low and fast. Every shot demands fast reflexes and clean handling.

  • Habitat: Unbroken bushveld
  • Style: Slow walk with steady dog work
  • Limit: 5 per day

All birds are wild. No releases. No supplements. This is real hunting in natural habitat.

The Landscape

You’ll hunt across the legendary Springbok Flats in Limpopo, an upland mosaic of open savanna, thornveld corridors, and gently rolling hills, bordered by the Waterberg and Soutpansberg ranges.

This is where generations of South African hunters have followed bird dogs through the dust.
The terrain rewards slow walking, sharp shooting, and quiet dogs that read the wind.

A Day in the Field

  • 05:30 – Coffee and rusks by the fire
  • 06:30–11:00 – Morning walk-up hunt
  • 12:00 – Field lunch or lodge brunch
  • 13:30–15:00 – Siesta under canvas
  • 15:30–Sunset – Afternoon hunt, slower and more intimate
  • Evening – Cocktails, canapés, fireside dinner

What’s Included

  • 6 full days of guided upland hunting
  • Professional guides, dog handlers, and scout team
  • Open-top field vehicles, shaded field setups, waterpoints
  • Private access to large, bushveld hunting areas
  • Full lodge accommodation with meals, drinks, and laundry
  • Cold drinks, field lunches, optional midday siestas

What to Bring

  • 12- or 20-gauge double (OU or SxS)
  • 28g cartridges, #5 shot recommended
  • Tear-resistant bush clothing (earth tones)
  • Comfortable walking boots and gaiters
  • Wide-brimmed hat, shooting gloves
  • Appetite for miles and feathers

Full gear checklist provided upon booking.

When to Come

Season: May 1 – August 31
Best window: Mid-June through July
Weather: Mild, dry days (15–25°C); crisp mornings and golden evenings

The Dogs

This hunt is built around real dog work, with Hungarian Vizslas, German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs), and Labradors forming our core team.
These dogs are trained, conditioned, and handled by professionals who understand the land and respect the birds.

You’re welcome to:

  • Hunt alongside our working team
  • Observe the handling and training in the field
  • Bring your own dog (by prior arrangement)

Every dog is handled with purpose and care. We don’t drill. We develop.

The Lodge Experience

Stay on a 6,200-hectare working game ranch in Limpopo, wild, quiet, and built for hunters.

  • 8 luxury ensuite rooms
  • Boma fires, pool, open-air lapa
  • Full cell reception and Wi-Fi
  • Farm-to-table meals and South African wines
  • 20–60 min from daily hunting zones

Why Book This Hunt

This isn’t staged. It isn’t farmed.
It’s Africa as it was meant to be hunted, wild birds, real dogs, seasoned guides, and country that still breathes the rhythm of the uplands.

This is a hunt for those who chase the moment the dog goes still, and everything that follows.

Dates are limited, and flights fill fast.

Download the Trip Brochure

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