Author: Thinus Steyn

Tommy and Melissa Copeland from North Carolina was our last hunters for the 2023 season. It was their first trip to Africa and they were very excited and, understandably, a little nervous. The trip almost started with disaster, Melissa tripped and fell at Bloemfontein airport. It later transpired that she broke two ribs but she…

Todd Hammer and Peg Krolak from Pennsylvania hunted with Big Water Safaris during September of 2023. Professional Hunter: Thinus Steyn.

Denis Dennis, owner of Denny Dennis Sporting Goods Denny Dennis Sporting Goods | Fenton, MO. 63026 and his son Joe Dennis visited Big Water Safaris during August/September of 2023. Both of the hunters from St. Louis Missouri have hunted with us before. It was a pleasure to have them back at Big Water Safaris for…

Darrell Holland, owner of Holland Shooter Supply is an accomplished gunsmith, instructor and hunter. Darrell has been bringing students from his long range hunting/shooting school to Big Water Safaris for several years. Darrell builds long range hunting rifles and markets his own line of hunting scopes, both rifles and scopes have proven themselves, out here…

Gregory Bonds Jr. and Daniël Brock from Texas and Nate Morrison and Leonard Zander from Pennsylvania hunted the Laohu Valley Reserve with Big Water Safaris during July 2023. Professional Hunters: Bennie Breytenbach and Dewald Kearns.

Doug “Dhagga Boy” Silva, Boyd Stevens, Norris Katada, Darryl and Darren Iseri, on their second safari with Big Water Safaris, was joined by Nicholas Callejo on his first African adventure. These gentlemen had to travel, literally, half-way around the world to hunt in South Africa, the fact that 5 of them were willing to do…

Father and son, Matt and Ryan Ebbeler from Colorado hunted with Big Water Safaris during July 2023. Professional hunter: Dewald Kearns.

After his 2022 hunt with his son in law Cole Graves, Ronney Gillikin Jr. from North Carolina decided that it was time to bring his son Ronney Gillikin III on a hunt with Big Water Safaris. It turned out to be a great hunt with great trophies taken and a lot of laughter and jokes….

Our old friend and Hungarian agent, Zoltán Gál, brought a number of Hungarian hunters to Big Water Safaris in 2023, some of them were old friends and some were on their first hunt with us. Despite the language barrier everyone got along well, a lot of fine animals were hunted and a lot of memories…

Gerardo Gutiérrez and his son Gerardo Gutiérrez Jr. hunted with Big Water Safaris during June 2023. This father and son team hunted some excellent trophies and also harvested cull animals. Meat from both trophy and cull animals are used to feed the tigers at Laohu Valley Reserve’s South China Tiger project. Professional Hunter: Dewald Kearns.

Chris Ajinga from North Carolina joined us in June 2023 for his second hunt at Big Water Safaris. This was originally intended to be a father and son hunt but due to circumstances Chris’s son could not make it on this trip. However, Chris has already booked his third hunt with us for 2024 and…

Our old friend Jerry Nixon from Virginia, stone mason and mule trainer, joined us for his third hunt with Big Water Safaris. Top of his list was a cape buffalo bull and a springbok slam. We had a great time, as always, and hunted some great trophies. Professional Hunter: Thinus Steyn.

Arizonians Bruce Bettis and Doug Arens hunted Laohu Valley Reserve with Big Water Safaris during May 2023. While predominantly a hunt for cull animals to feed the population of South China Tigers on Laohu Valley Reserve, a few good trophy animals were also harvested. Professional Hunter: Thinus Steyn

Scott Martin and three generations of Brownes, Dick, Matt and Lincoln all from South Dakota hunted with Big Water Safaris during April 2023. Professional hunters: Henno Cronje and Thinus Steyn.

Antonio Vazquez, Gavino Anaya, Vincente Anaya and Lalo Alba from California hunted with Big Water Safaris during April 2023. Professional hunters: Dewald Kearnes and Thinus Steyn.