Until the Last Light: Hunting Gemsbuck in the Bushveld.

A two-day pursuit through thick brush, shifting winds, and last-light luck.

One of the great joys of this work is getting to share in our hunters’ experiences—and few capture the spirit of safari as vividly as Craig Golding.

Below is a firsthand account he wrote about his long-awaited Gemsbuck hunt. We’ve left his story just as he told it: raw, honest, and full of the highs and lows that define the pursuit.

This kind of perseverance, from hunter and outfitter alike, is exactly what makes a safari memorable. Thank you, Craig, for letting us share your adventure.

Craig, Torison and Chabala with his long-awaited Orix.

One animal I've really wanted to hunt was the Gemsbuck, or common Oryx so, on the first morning of our safari we set out in search of one. They're a striking animal with a beige pelage, lovely black & white facial markings and long, spiral horns.

Atop the safari vehicle we travelled the sandy tracks looking for fresh sign, but it wasn't until mid-morning that we found sign fresh enough to follow....and then began a game of cat and mouse that lasted two full days!

It seemed the Gemsbuck were always a step ahead of us, just when we thought we were closing in, a heard of Blesbuck or Zebra would blow the stalk. It was a sobering feeling walking back to the vehicle after several long hours on that first morning without even laying eyes on the Gemsbuck.

The same scenario played out again in the afternoon and following morning as shifting winds and "Go Away" birds made the stalk just about impossible, but we persisted into the afternoon of the second day. We'd picked fresh marks about 2 pm and followed them as they meandered on & off the sandy track feeding on thorn bushes. At about 3.30 pm Hardus picked out the movement of horns above the brush around 75m ahead of us. Stalking closer, I struggled to get a clear sight picture through the brush and moving to my right, I was busted but an unseen animal that snorted a warning, spooking the Gemsbuck.

Totally deflated and mentally exhausted, we trudged back to the car with little being spoken between us. With twilight now almost upon us, the fresh running tracks of a lone Gemsbuck were found superimposed on the tracks left by us earlier in the afternoon. As pulses quickened once again, we commenced what would be, one way or another, our final stalk for the day.

After a short distance, the tracks showed where the Gemsbuck had slowed and shuffled around a bit, possibly looking back from where it came, so we pressed on, carefully aware that we were losing light quickly. The track ahead swung left, so hugging the true left side of the track, we cautiously moved ahead a step at a time, peering under each tree and thorn bush.

As we came around the corner, there was a large Gemsbuck Bull standing broadside off the track in the darkening shadow of a large thorn bush. I had no trouble seeing the Gemsbuck this time but to be honest I couldn't see any horns, nor could I tell if it was a male or female, I was simply reacting to the excited whispers of "shoot, shoot" as shootings stick appeared in front of me, a quick rest and "bang", the Gemsbuck collapsed on the spot.

Like many times before, I was left thinking of how quickly fortune can change on a hunt and how important it is to 'hunt it out' until the very last moments. Having a switched-on outfitter that doesn't give up is a big plus also!