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About Original Safari Co. Hunting
The Original Safari Co. offers bespoke hunting safaris for individuals seeking the thrill of hunting in Africa. Our lodge provides a unique opportunity to experience the excitement of hunting amidst the breathtaking landscapes of the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.
Your Guide
Eric Strydom is your on‑the‑ground guide who will guide you with professionalism and friendship. Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, Eric has spent more than two decades guiding international hunters and wildlife enthusiasts through the region’s valleys, thornveld, and coastal forests. His depth of bush knowledge—tracking, species behaviour, and safe fieldcraft—comes not only from professional training but from a lifelong habit of walking these landscapes himself.
The Lodge
Alphaeton Lodge sits at the centre of the Kat River Conservancy in a restored early‑1900s colonial homestead that blends its original stonework and broad verandas with modern comforts.
Six spacious en‑suite double bedrooms—each accessed by a private entrance—sleep up to twelve guests and come with crisp percale linen and heaters for the cooler winter nights. Summertime invites a dip in the pool, while winter evenings often end around the outdoor fire under a sky full of stars.
Free Wi‑Fi and dependable electricity are backed by a grid‑tied solar system, keeping the lights on and the footprint light. Meals are prepared by our resident chef, Beronice, who serves hearty South‑African dishes made from local free‑range produce and, by request, the game taken during your safari. Whether you choose one of our standard packages or prefer a fully customised itinerary, the lodge provides a relaxed, family‑style base where you can wind down in comfort after a day in the field.
The Hunting Area
Our safaris take place on the foothills of the Winterberg mountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Our primary block is a 125 000‑acre, low‑fence section of the Kat River Conservancy—well known for one of the largest free‑range kudu populations on the continent. The same landscape supports a broad mix of plains game that move naturally through thornveld, grassland, and riverine bush.
We also hold concessions on neighbouring properties, giving you fresh ground and species variety without lengthy travel days. For hunters interested in more specialised game, a separate coastal area offers fair‑chase opportunities for blue duiker, oribi, bushpig, bushbuck, and other species adapted to dense dune forest and coastal scrub.
Whether you’re stalking in the inland valleys or along the shoreline, every hunt at Alphaeton takes place in genuinely free‑range country with solid game numbers and minimal fences.
