Bio

Entrepreneur – Hunter – Conservationist

One cannot choose where you come from, but you can decide where you are heading. I was privileged to grow up in a hunting safari outfit on the banks of the Limpopo River – a place I then considered to be still fairly wild. This was where I developed a deep passion for African wildlife. My parents had been operating hunting safaris there since 1981, allowing me to witness the development of South Africa’s hunting safari industry first-hand. It was a time when some animals were mostly considered a nuisance or, in some instances, pests. Wildlife also had a low monetary value then compared to domestic livestock.

I spent most of my free time hunting in the bush. As a young boy, I shot birds and rabbits and grilled them over a small fire in the veld. I have joined my father on hunts since I can remember, shooting my first antelope at the age of four. Since then, I have never stopped hunting. Some days, I was fortunate enough to do trophy hunting; other days, I was asked to do culling. Sometimes I hunted problem animals; other times I had to track down wounded game. Even though we did not have a lot of money at the time, this upbringing allowed me opportunities otherwise not possible. I am truly grateful for this and wouldn’t have it any other way. When spending countless days and nights in the wild, you experience special moments that are sometimes inexplicable.

I had times alone in the bush when wild animals completely ignored my presence, even when walking right up to them. Once at dusk, as I knelt in long grass to listen and glass my surroundings, a leopard suddenly appeared in front of me. I didn’t hear or see him until he was sitting literally one metre in front of me, the tip of his tail flicking behind his head. We stared at each other. Then, after what seemed like an eternity but was probably only two minutes, he got up. Clearly irritated, he growled and then vanished like a phantom in the tall grass. I often tell this story to people, only to see the doubt slowly creep into their eyes. This is one of the reasons why I have started toying with the idea to film some of my hunts.

There is always an element of surprise and danger when hunting. Apart from “dangerous game” and obvious dangers, I have found that most animals can give you a run for your money when you find yourself in the wrong situation; some- times, it is just inevitable. I have been knocked down twice by wildebeest. A couple of times, I ended up on the ground with an impala ram’s horns around my waist, wrestling with the animal to avoid being injured. I have also faced many charges from warthog, bushpig, hyena and leopard. As a little boy, I watched a wounded kudu bull goring my father, leaving me with profound, Adrenaline-packed memories. Like the dry bite of a mamba, nature does not pretend and only warns you every now and then. The more time I spend in nature, the more I appreciate it, and the less I understand it. I believe that what we often perceive as reality is merely our perception. For me, the real world is nature. I prefer vast, remote, picturesque hunting areas; places where you don’t know what you might find and then experience nature in its rawest form, facing mental and physical challenges. The more remote and untouched, the more compelling these places are. Mostly walking and stalking, I spend hours and sometimes days in the bush, truly experiencing it. I often find myself in situations where I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. These are the things that create memories and fuel the strong, addictive yearning for new adventure, ultimately enriching your life.

People often ask why I hunt – a question every hunter must answer sooner or later. I think we hunters need to respond very responsibly, given the times we live in, the controversial nature of the topic, and the opposition we face. I rarely entertain these questions when the frame of reference is ignorance, and the sole intention is to condemn. That being said, I believewe must convey what we do (hunting) in the most tasteful manner possible and educate those who don’t understand it. To understand hunting, a complete mental shift is required. I am a Christian and a firm believer that we are given the stewardship of nature to conserve, utilise and enjoy it according to our values. When it comes to hunting, an animal should be harvested as quickly and humanely as possible. Over the years, the answer hasn’t changed, only the realisation that some will just never understand why we hunt. I cannot really say it is my passion, hobby or sport. I grew up in the bush, where it formed part of my daily life – it is who I am. I completed my PH course at a young age, but after matri-culating, I studied engineering to earn enough so I could further pursue what I hold so dear – hunting and the outdoors. Today, I am blessed to be in business full-time, which allows me the means to enjoy what I love so much! I film most of my hunts not just to show the authenticity thereof but to try and capture the very essence of hunting as realistically as possible – the sounds, scents and ambience, the unpretentious character of nature and the adventure, especially when you are alone. Although this is the idea, I have realised that a video or photo could maybe portray an image, but it fails to convey the actual experience – this is something that must be done first-hand. Therefore, I always encourage people to go out and search for adventure. I will continue endorsing sustainable hunting, for I believe it will remain a crucial conservation tool in the 21st century. Join me on my adventures as I hunt one species at a time.

Nico, a University of Pretoria graduate with a BEng in Mining Engineering, has nine years of experience in mine production, project management, business development, and optimisation. In 2010, he transitioned fully into entrepreneurship and is now the founder and active director of multiple business ventures.

Bio

Entrepreneur – Hunter – Conservationist

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