What They Say
Flip Coetzee, George
Hi Albert and Nadia.It was a truly unforgettable week at Rietfontein.
Your whole approach to the management of the farm and the hunters is extremely professional, very precise and focused. The impression one gets is of a well-organised team (and that speaks volumes about your leadership) that works together to let everything run smoothly and to make it a wonderful, unforgettable time for the hunter. You are always precisely on time, or even ahead of schedule, always neatly dressed, clean and proud. The rules are laid down and adhered to, and throughout you emphasised safety and ethics which gives me, as a hunter, peace of mind. There is nevertheless a nice sense of balance, friendliness and humour to make us feel welcome. You have the ability to pay attention to the finest details and you went to great efforts on our behalf: it made us feel quite important. Even though a couple of my shots were maybe not placed as well as they could have been, you were always supportive and constructive. The accommodation is very neat and well appointed; one can see it is stylishly finished. We especially enjoyed the evenings.
The “guides” are extremely professional. Terblanche helped me and one could immediately detect that he is well-rounded and well-trained. He conducted himself at all times as an exceptional guide and did way more than what was expected of him. He is clearly the type of person who would go the extra mile, with no hesitation. His knowledge and skill in walk-and-stalk is unequalled. He was always friendly and considerate. In spite of the strong wind and rain, he set me up with no hesitation for a good chance at trophy animals, without once missing an opportunity. He has the ability to read a hunter’s tempo and abilities, adjust accordingly and thereby make it truly pleasant. Any employer would be lucky to have him. He has a thorough knowledge of nature and of the farm, weather conditions and the habitat and habits of animals. I see him developing into a good Professional Hunter and he could guide any foreign client. He also has good knowledge of the farming operation, and seems to be very happy living his life on a farm.
You set yourselves apart with immense knowledge and respect, from both sides. You find yourself in an exceptionally high class of excellence.
It’s very difficult for me to believe you can improve – so carry on as you have been doing.
It was truly a privilege and great fun to have spent time with you.
Regards and hopefully “au revoir”.
Philip van der Merwe, Cape Town
We spent a FANTASTIC few days at Rietfontein!!! Thank you so much for the opportunity.The Farm is awesome, the kids enjoyed it tremendously: especially the two tortoises near the house and, oh yes, the owl which lives in the river bank; the kudu, the gemsbok….too many to mention. My highlight, of course, was to ride my mountain bike for 20km every morning at around 6.30am when it is dead quiet and the animals aren’t quite sure what is going on when they see me.
I could see that a lot of time and attention went into the farm, the roads, the gates, the dams, etc., all of them in mint condition….
Lans Malherbe
Good day Henk,
Just a short note to say Thank You for an unforgettable week we spent with you. Reinhardt and I are wandering around at home, trying to “acclimatise” to being city slickers again, with little success!
Henk, you left a lasting impression on us and Thank You so much for your massive contribution in making our first Father and Son hunt so successful and unforgettable.
You will see us again next year for sure, and my Redhead says she’s definitely coming along.
Cheers till then.
(P.S. We don’t even want to wash the Karoo dust off the car!)
Johan Jacobs
Henk,I would just like to thank you and Beulah for an extraordinary time at Rietfontein for me and my foreign guests. Everything, right from our arrival to our departure, was done with great care and attention to detail. The Spykerfontein house was beautifully appointed and well cleaned every day. The meals you prepared were varied and of a very high standard. The way in which you treated my American visitors and took them out into the veld was exceptional and the way you conducted yourself as the PH was without fault. I really like the new elevated hide and think it’s well-positioned. Both Jason and I thought that one should, directly after the braai/barbecue the evening before, take one’s sleeping bag and spend the night in the hide. Besides the hunting and te fabulous food we also enjoyed working alongside you, and you managed to make the visitor’s time at the farm unforgettable.
My visitors were so impressed that both you and Beulah socialised and ate with us every night and it was that personal attention that turned a good experience into an exceptional one. I would happily refer both my South African and my international friends to you in future.
Thank you so much.
Floyd McClung from Kommetjie
"I have been on over 20 hunts in Africa over the last fifteen years. Without reservation I rank my weekend at Rietfontein as one of best hunting experiences I have had anywhere in Africa. The farm is huge, over 16,000 hectares, and I saw an abundance of game. The PH, Henk van Zyl, was friendly, knowledgeable, hard working and made me and my wife feel very welcome. Henk and his wife Beulah are great hosts. The two refurbished farm houses that serve as accommodation at Rietfontein were like 4 star lodges. They were clean, comfortably furnished and very well stocked. You will love Rietfontein!"
Mike Ferguson of Knysna
Fine new venue for the Capies
Living in the Western, and southern Cape in particular, a bow hunting trip was always synonymous with very long distances to uncertain and often disappointing venues. This needn’t be so any longer. Rietfontein has arrived ! A newly opened, but not newly developed, venue within comfortable striking distance for most Capies. Situated quite centrally, on the N12, 68km south of Beaufort West, and 38km North of Meirings Poort (32/54/44S 22/24/12 E ). The farm, or collection of farms rather, lies just West of a somewhat elevated plateau which straddles the N12 (1000m above sea level ), receiving and draining the water from here via an elaborate network of streams and rivers to the Gamka catchment in the west. This network of over 80km of river courses and their attendant flood plains form a major feature and focal point from a bowhunters point of view, affording great but not overly dense cover, habitat diversity, shelter for man and beast and great hide situations. If you are a walk-and-stalker, this is where you will feel most comfortable and probably have most success.
The entire area is an assemblage of four farms which have been game fenced individually as they were acquired over time, resulting in the present three separate camps. The first purchased and re-habilitated from the effects of intense and prolonged sheep and goat farming, is, in fact the most suited for bowhunting, with the best diversity of vegetation topography and habitat. The owner, Botha Schabort, being a bowhunter himself, has earmarked this section as the bows-only part of the farm. Where have I seen that before? “by bowhunters for bowhunters !” There must be an advantage there somewhere. Yes, they do allow rifle hunting, but only in a separate area of the farm. With 16 000ha of space to play with, these two pursuits are quite compatible. However, if the bow guys can’t take off sufficient g
Phil Smith from UK
Henk,
Now I am back in the cold and wet UK I thought I would drop you an Email thanking yourself and your wife for a brilliant hunting trip on your farm. My brother in law and myself thoroughly enjoyed our hunting at both the excellent hides and the walk and stalk down the dry river beds. Our wives and children also enjoyed their stay and our accommodation in the farm house was first class. I will recommend your hunting farm to both the UK and South African archers I know, and I look forward to returning.
Afrikaans:
Flip Coetzee, George
Hi Albert en Nadia.
Dit was 'n werklik onvergeetlike week op Rietfontein.
Julle totale benadering tot die bestuur van die plaas en jagters is uiters professioneel , baie presies en gefokus. Die indruk wat mens kry is die van 'n baie goed georganiseerde span (wat boekdele spreek van 'n goeie leier) wat uitstekend saamwerk om als mooi en harmonieeus te laat verloop, om dit vir die jagter 'n heerlike onvergeetlike tyd te maak. Julle is altyd presies op of selfs nog voor skedule, baie netjies geklee , skoon en trots. Die reëls is mooi neergelê en jy het daarby gebly , daar is deurgaans aan veiligheid en etiek aandag gegee wat dit ook baie gerustellend maak vir my as jagter. Tog is daar 'n mooi balans , vriendelikheid en humor om ons baie, baie welkom te laat voel. Julle het die vermoë om aan die kleinste detail aandag te gee, julle het ontsettend baie moeite vir ons gedoen en ek het skoon belangrik gevoel. Al was daar 'n paar skote wat nie so goed geplaas was van my kant af nie, was julle nog steeds ondersteunend en opbouend. Die verblyf is baie netjies en goed toegerus, mens kan sien daar is 'n stylvolle afronding. Ons het die aande baie geniet.
Die "gidse" is uiters professioneel. Terblanche het my gehelp en mens kon dadelik agterkom hierdie ou is baie goed opgelei en afgerond. Hy het hom te alle tye onderskei as 'n uitmuntende gids en het baie meer gedoen as wat van hom verwag word. Hy is die tipe mens wat die ekstra myl sal stap sonder om te aarsel. Sy kennis en vernuf om te "walk en stalk" is ongeewenaar. Hy was altyd vriendelik en bedagsaam. Hy het teen die verloop van die kwaai wind en reën sonder aarseling my opgestel om baie goeie kaanse waar te neem op spogdiere, sonder om een keer 'n kaans te verbrou. Hy het die vermoë om die jagter se tempo en vermoë mooi te lees, goed daarby aan te pas en dit werklik aangenaam te maak. Hy is 'n geweldige aanwins as mens vir enige werkgewer. Hy het 'n deeglike kennis van die natuur en plaas, weersomstandighede en diere se habitat en gewoontes. Ek sien hom vorentoe as 'n baie goeie Professionele Jagter en gids tot enige moeilike buitelandse kliënt. Hy het ook 'n baie goeie kennis van die boerdery, en is waar hy baie gelukkig kan wees in die lewe, op 'n plaas.
Julle het julle self onderskei met geweldige kennis en respek, wedersyds. Julle is in 'n besonderse hoë klas van uitnemendheid.
Al is dit regtig vir my moeilik om te glo julle kan verbeter, doen so voort.
Dit was werklikwaar 'n groot voorreg en baie lekker om saam met julle te kon wees.
Groete en hopelik tot weersiens.
Philip van der Merwe van Kaapstad
Ons het n FANTASTIESE paar dae op Rietfontein gehad!!! Baie dankie vir die geleentheid.
Die plaas is "awesome", die kinders het dit vreeslik geniet, veral die twee skilpaaie daar by die huis, o ja, ook die uil daar in die drif oppad na die ander opstal, die kudus, gemsbokke…..net te veel om te noem. My hoogtepunt was natuurlik om elke oggend so 20km met my bergfiets te gaan ry, so 6.30, die doodse stilte en die diere wat nie seker is wat aangaan nie.
Ek kon sien daar is baie tyd in die plaas in, die fyner detail in die huise, paaie, hekke, damme ens, alles in puik toestand……….
Lans Malherbe
Dag Henk,
Net ‘n kort boodskap om dankie te se vir ‘n onvergeetlike week wat ons daar by julle spandeer het. Reinhardt en ek loop dwalend deur die huis en probeer “aklimatiseer” as stedelinge, met min sukses!
Henk, jy het ‘n blywende indruk op die twee van ons gemaak en baie dankie vir jou reuse bydrae om ons eerste Pa en Seun jag so suksesvol en onvergeetlik te maak.
Ons sien julle beslis volgende jaar en my Rooikop se sy kom saam.
Groete tot dan.
(PS. Ons wil nie die Karoo stof van die bakkie afwas nie!)
Johan Jacobs
Henk
Ek wil net vir jou en Beaulah vreeslik dankie se vir ‘n uitsonderlike tyd op Rietfontein vir my en my oorsee se gaste. Vanaf die aankoms tot ons vertrek was alles sorvuldig en met detail gehanteer. Die Spykerfontein huis was mooi in orde en elke dag goed skoongemaak. Die etes wat verskaf was het baie goeie verskeidenheid ingehaad en was van besonderse gehalte. Die manier wat jy my VSA kliente gehanteer het en uitgeneem het veld toe was uitsonderlik en jou gedrag as ‘n PH was sonder fout. Ek hou baie van die nuwe elevated hide en dink dit is goed gepositioneer. Beide ek en Jason het gereken dat na die braai die vorige aand moet mens jou slaapsak vat en dan sommer in die hide oornag. Bo en behalwe die jag en lekker eet het ons ook lekker gewerk en julle het selfs die twee additionele boesoekers se tyd op die plaas onvergeetlik gemaak.
My besoekers het baie lof toegespreek oor jy en Beulah elke aand saam met ons ge-eet en ge-kuier het en dit was julle peroonlike aandag wat ‘n goeie ervaaring ‘n uitsonderlike ervaaring gemaak het. Ek sal gerus voel om my Suid Afrikaanse en my internationale vriende na julle te verwys in die toekoms.
Baie Dankie
PS – nou gaan na http://translate.google.com/#af|en| en lag lekker.