I am probably preaching to the choir, but I cannot say enough about him. His hospitality was fabulous, full breakfast every morning (if we wanted), a good hot lunch after each morning hunt, snacks around the fire pit after the afternoon hunt, and old school European Formal Dining every evening. We felt comfortable as soon as he met us at the airport. His wife, Katarena, son, Dirky, future daughter-in-law, Anka, and kitchen staff overserved us at almost every meal. His daughter, Lize Marie, and her husband, Dawid, joined us for a couple evenings. Dirk’s friend Ace joined us for a few days hunting. He was very sharp and interesting to have a conversation with. They all added even more to the success of our vacation.
As a hunting partner, I have never met anyone who could spot animals over a mile away, judge whether or not the animal is a shooter or not. Then maneuver a vehicle around a very rough area and put a hunter into a position to make the shot. After the shot was made, he knew by the way the animal reacted upon impact how well he was hit. I have never met anyone with as much knowledge about hunting in general and all of the different species of animals as he has. I asked him if he patterned the movements of the animals and he said, “No”. Then I watched him maneuver the truck around the 2,000-acre hillside over and over again until we got a shot at the Waterbuck. I guess he does it by instinct or muscle memory or something, but all I know is I came away with a trophy.
I have not met anyone more personable than him. Sitting around a fire pit in the evening, exchanging hunting stories, we were totally at home. I am an Old West Texas Bull Shooter, and I can reel off my share, but I could listen to Dirk and his son, Dirky, tell me their hunting stories for hours. They had a wonderful way of framing a situation they had experienced on a hunt with client.
Example: A hunter they were guiding had an impala ram stop at 100 meters. The hunter set up to shoot and fired his rifle five times at the animal – the impala did not move. Dirky had to retrieve another magazine from the truck. The hunter loaded it and fired another five times. The impala left uninjured. The comment Dirk had about the situation was “That impala wanted to go to Texas really bad”.
Dirk, the man, is a visionary. He was trained as an armorer in the military. Then started a gunsmith business with a partner and sold it. Together, they started a 48,000-acre hunting ranch. He recruited an extremely capable crew, including his wife, Katarina, son, Dirky, future daughter in law, Anka, trackers, Zacariah and Leonard, the kitchen staff, Johanna, Eva, and Joyce, and the ranch staff. His hunting ranch is set up like most cattle ranches are set up. He has a 10,000 acre “Nursery” with the best breeding stock he can find. He participates in programs to buy and sell the breeding stock to ensure the animals gene pool is strong. He has contracts with biologists and veterinarians to ensure the health of the animals. He has the animals immunized against disease. He supplements their food with mineral blocks and other supplements. During droughts, he purchases hay to feed. He has drilled 8 water wells to supply water. He releases the offspring into the hunting area of his ranch and hunters are only allowed to harvest them after they have reached their full potential. Usually, six or seven years old, depending on the species. He created a thriving, renewable resource that can serve as a model for all game ranches and reserves. I have never met a man that deserves his success more than he does.
Our humblest thanks to Dirk, Katarena, Dirky, Anka, Eva, Leonard, and his staff for one of the most wonderful vacations of our lives.
