OURANO GREYWING
EXPERIENCE
Ourano delivers a tradition-steeped, uniquely European experience, in the heart of Africa, against arguably one of, if not the worlds, most challenging and cunning of wild terrestrial game birds; The Greywing Francolin, or, Francolinus Africanus, Scleroptila africanus. After scouring all of Europe, and even America too, Ourano have crafted the optimal greywing offering for the true outdoor or upland gentleman.
International guests can expect to be collected from the nearest airport and brought to ‘Camelot’ as we have dubbed our little highland oasis. All of your needs will be taken care of, all that is required is the necessary preparation, and a truly clear mind to take in the experience of a lifetime.
OURANO GREYWING
EXPERIENCE
Ourano delivers a tradition-steeped, uniquely European experience, in the heart of Africa, against arguably one of, if not the worlds, most challenging and cunning of wild terrestrial game birds; The Greywing Francolin, or, Francolinus Africanus, Scleroptila africanus. After scouring all of Europe, and even America too, Ourano have crafted the optimal greywing offering for the true outdoor or upland gentleman.
International guests can expect to be collected from the nearest airport and brought to ‘Camelot’ as we have dubbed our little highland oasis. All of your needs will be taken care of, all that is required is the necessary preparation, and a truly clear mind to take in the experience of a lifetime.
THE QUARRY
The glorious Greywing Francolin is a medium sized Francolin weighing roughly 450 grams. They are most often found above 1800 metres above sea level, preferring the elevated and altitudinal living. It thrives in icy, cold, windy highland grasslands, or montane grasslands. It is a sedentary and territorial terrestrial game bird, and should be well managed with careful and responsible off take, which is very close to our hearts here at Ourano.
Coveys can vary drastically depending on the time of season, previous breeding successes, and even the given days weather, anything from 4 birds to 20 is quite common. However, on Ourano‘s well managed concessions in the Eastern Cape, our dogs have consistently found birds of 20+ per covey, the largest being 36 which is truly astounding! This is what good management does for you.
THE QUARRY
The glorious Greywing Francolin is a medium sized Francolin weighing roughly 450 grams. They are most often found above 1800 metres above sea level, preferring the elevated and altitudinal living. It thrives in icy, cold, windy highland grasslands, or montane grasslands. It is a sedentary and territorial terrestrial game bird, and should be well managed with careful and responsible off take, which is very close to our hearts here at Ourano.
Coveys can vary drastically depending on the time of season, previous breeding successes, and even the given days weather, anything from 4 birds to 20 is quite common. However, on Ourano‘s well managed concessions in the Eastern Cape, our dogs have consistently found birds of 20+ per covey, the largest being 36 which is truly astounding! This is what good management does for you.
THE QUARRY
The glorious Greywing Francolin is a medium sized Francolin weighing roughly 450 grams. They are most often found above 1800 metres above sea level, preferring the elevated and altitudinal living. It thrives in icy, cold, windy highland grasslands, or montane grasslands. It is a sedentary and territorial terrestrial game bird, and should be well managed with careful and responsible off take, which is very close to our hearts here at Ourano.
Coveys can vary drastically depending on the time of season, previous breeding successes, and even the given days weather, anything from 4 birds to 20 is quite common. However, on Ourano‘s well managed concessions in the Eastern Cape, our dogs have consistently found birds of 20+ per covey, the largest being 36 which is truly astounding! This is what good management does for you.
THE DINING
One can expect gourmet meals for every sit down meal, from a variety of slow cooked, to fine dining meals, including our now famous ‘five star light meals’ that make up our field lunch break – or ‘craic’ as we like to call it. A welcome respite from the mornings walking. For these lighter meals, no detail or more importantly, nutrient is spared in the middle of nowhere – from seasonal, imported delicacies, to field to fork dishes of species we may very well have just pursued. The field to fork dynamic is an integral part of our meals as we like to highlight this important aspect to the guests.
The spread and occasion at each meal, is one of celebration and coming together to cement a long standing friendship over a smorgasbord offering of the most delightful of charcuterie, cheeses, and fruits. Alcohol is a necessary component in any ‘safari’ but it is done responsibly after much of the hunting is done, where guests can enjoy anything from our fine South African wines, to single malts, and many other offerings as we take in another beautiful African sunset.
Please note, any special dietary needs and or requirements should be communicated to make the necessary adjustments.
THE DINING
One can expect gourmet meals for every sit down meal, from a variety of slow cooked, to fine dining meals, including our now famous ‘five star light meals’ that make up our field lunch break – or ‘craic’ as we like to call it. A welcome respite from the mornings walking. For these lighter meals, no detail or more importantly, nutrient is spared in the middle of nowhere – from seasonal, imported delicacies, to field to fork dishes of species we may very well have just pursued. The field to fork dynamic is an integral part of our meals as we like to highlight this important aspect to the guests.
The spread and occasion at each meal, is one of celebration and coming together to cement a long standing friendship over a smorgasbord offering of the most delightful of charcuterie, cheeses, and fruits. Alcohol is a necessary component in any ‘safari’ but it is done responsibly after much of the hunting is done, where guests can enjoy anything from our fine South African wines, to single malts, and many other offerings as we take in another beautiful African sunset.
Please note, any special dietary needs and or requirements should be communicated to make the necessary adjustments.
THE DINING
One can expect gourmet meals for every sit down meal, from a variety of slow cooked, to fine dining meals, including our now famous ‘five star light meals’ that make up our field lunch break – or ‘craic’ as we like to call it. A welcome respite from the mornings walking. For these lighter meals, no detail or more importantly, nutrient is spared in the middle of nowhere – from seasonal, imported delicacies, to field to fork dishes of species we may very well have just pursued. The field to fork dynamic is an integral part of our meals as we like to highlight this important aspect to the guests.
The spread and occasion at each meal, is one of celebration and coming together to cement a long standing friendship over a smorgasbord offering of the most delightful of charcuterie, cheeses, and fruits. Alcohol is a necessary component in any ‘safari’ but it is done responsibly after much of the hunting is done, where guests can enjoy anything from our fine South African wines, to single malts, and many other offerings as we take in another beautiful African sunset.
Please note, any special dietary needs and or requirements should be communicated to make the necessary adjustments.
THE HUNT
A maximum of 4 hunters per party is generally allowed, with 3-4 being optimal, and non hunters accommodated too. Every group and experience is unique in that all trips are entirely bespoke and designed to each guests preferences – from the amount of days spent with us, to the species pursued. Please do not hesitate to work closely with us on your experience make up, as we pride ourselves on this dynamic approach with our guests. A relative amount of walking fitness is always required, as the terrain can be hard going at times and we will naturally cover a fair amount of ground in pursuit of the multitude of species we can hunt. Good quality, comfortable (worn in) walking boots and socks are essential, comfortable and warm clothing, and above all, impeccable gun manners.
Legal bag limits are strictly adhered to, and generally not more than 20% of a covey is taken off when it comes to Francolin species. If resident coveys are shot to this limit, they are left alone until the following season, and even then will only be pursued once counting has been done to ascertain their breeding success in the warmer months. With vast concessions of pristine habitat game bird habitats at our disposal, we can ensure that no covey or birds are hunted twice a season. This is paramount in putting the birds and the ecosystem first and foremost. Please note, we do not participate in numbers driven hunting, only fair chase hunting, whereby the dogs and the dog work make up the vast majority of the spectacle, and the entire experience being at the forefront, not merely the trigger pulling moment.
Some notes:
Any existing medical conditions should also be communicated.
Rental of shotguns can be arranged from us at an extra cost, alternatively, we have an excellent firearm clearing agent who handles all of our guests temporary firearm permits and clearances, also at an extra cost.
Ammunition is available at an extra cost.
All gratuities are not included in the overall quotation.
Taxidermy is also available at an extra cost.
THE HUNT
A maximum of 4 hunters per party is generally allowed, with 3-4 being optimal, and non hunters accommodated too. Every group and experience is unique in that all trips are entirely bespoke and designed to each guests preferences – from the amount of days spent with us, to the species pursued. Please do not hesitate to work closely with us on your experience make up, as we pride ourselves on this dynamic approach with our guests. A relative amount of walking fitness is always required, as the terrain can be hard going at times and we will naturally cover a fair amount of ground in pursuit of the multitude of species we can hunt. Good quality, comfortable (worn in) walking boots and socks are essential, comfortable and warm clothing, and above all, impeccable gun manners.
Legal bag limits are strictly adhered to, and generally not more than 20% of a covey is taken off when it comes to Francolin species. If resident coveys are shot to this limit, they are left alone until the following season, and even then will only be pursued once counting has been done to ascertain their breeding success in the warmer months. With vast concessions of pristine habitat game bird habitats at our disposal, we can ensure that no covey or birds are hunted twice a season. This is paramount in putting the birds and the ecosystem first and foremost. Please note, we do not participate in numbers driven hunting, only fair chase hunting, whereby the dogs and the dog work make up the vast majority of the spectacle, and the entire experience being at the forefront, not merely the trigger pulling moment.
Some notes:
- Any existing medical conditions should also be communicated.
- Rental of shotguns can be arranged from us at an extra cost, alternatively, we have an excellent firearm clearing agent who handles all of our guests temporary firearm permits and clearances, also at an extra cost.
- Ammunition is available at an extra cost.
- All gratuities are not included in the overall quotation.
- Taxidermy is also available at an extra cost.
THE HUNT
A maximum of 4 hunters per party is generally allowed, with 3-4 being optimal, and non hunters accommodated too. Every group and experience is unique in that all trips are entirely bespoke and designed to each guests preferences – from the amount of days spent with us, to the species pursued. Please do not hesitate to work closely with us on your experience make up, as we pride ourselves on this dynamic approach with our guests. A relative amount of walking fitness is always required, as the terrain can be hard going at times and we will naturally cover a fair amount of ground in pursuit of the multitude of species we can hunt. Good quality, comfortable (worn in) walking boots and socks are essential, comfortable and warm clothing, and above all, impeccable gun manners.
Legal bag limits are strictly adhered to, and generally not more than 20% of a covey is taken off when it comes to Francolin species. If resident coveys are shot to this limit, they are left alone until the following season, and even then will only be pursued once counting has been done to ascertain their breeding success in the warmer months. With vast concessions of pristine habitat game bird habitats at our disposal, we can ensure that no covey or birds are hunted twice a season. This is paramount in putting the birds and the ecosystem first and foremost. Please note, we do not participate in numbers driven hunting, only fair chase hunting, whereby the dogs and the dog work make up the vast majority of the spectacle, and the entire experience being at the forefront, not merely the trigger pulling moment.
Some notes:
- Any existing medical conditions should also be communicated.
- Rental of shotguns can be arranged from us at an extra cost, alternatively, we have an excellent firearm clearing agent who handles all of our guests temporary firearm permits and clearances, also at an extra cost.
- Ammunition is available at an extra cost.
- All gratuities are not included in the overall quotation.
- Taxidermy is also available at an extra cost.
FAUNA
The Drakensberg Mountains are a haven for avian enthusiasts. When not on the hunt, you’ll be able to observe a diverse range of bird species, including the majestic Lammergeier vulture, the elusive Drakensberg rockjumper, and the Cape vulture – in their natural habitat, where they thrive amidst pristine landscapes.
FLORA
As you navigate the rugged terrain, you’ll be awestruck by the wealth of plant life. The Drakensberg boasts an array of indigenous flora, from delicate alpine flowers, resilient aloes, to quintessential proteas. These botanical wonders provide a vivid backdrop to your adventure, painting the landscape with vibrant colors and fragrant scents.
TOPOGRAPHY
The Drakensberg Mountains are a geological marvel, with sheer cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and lush valleys. This dramatic topography challenges your hunting skills and rewards your efforts with breathtaking vistas. Trekking through these rugged landscapes, you’ll experience the thrill of the chase while forging a deep connection with the environment.
A WORD FROM CHRIS
A TRUE AFRICAN CHALLENGE
I started my love affair with the Grand Greywing Francolin many years ago, in my quest to find the most challenging and sporting of game birds to develop and keep improving my beloved Pointers. Ever since then, my life has been forever changed and I cannot imagine a more worthy counterpart to hard running Pointers, in breathtaking surrounds and for the gun to enjoy a complete yet unique experience.
Africa is blessed with an abundance and variety of general wildlife. Many times, Africa and hunting are synonymous with The Big Five, or a similar type of grandiose safari. Africa, most notably South Africa, is blessed with a multitude of game bird species, and in incredibly healthy numbers – a further appeal to the overseas hunter, all species are wild, offering truly challenging sport. South Africa has never practiced a ‘breed and release’ program, such is the healthy state of the game bird species.
A WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE
No stone is left unturned to deliver a truly world class experience, and I am proud to deliver this boutique wing-shooting experience to you, as an esteemed client. My greatest compliments come not from the usual, ‘those are the best dogs I’ve ever shot over!’, or, ‘first class sporting shooting in beautiful country!’ No, it’s being told that the spread and occasion at each meal, each celebration to come together and cement a long standing friendship over a smorgasbord offering of the most delightful of charcuterie, cheeses, fruits – the light meals, or over the 12 hour roasted venison trinchado, or the slow roasted garlic and onion Greywing.
This sort of feedback and acknowledgment is what really fuels my fire to keep at this very unique and, albeit, challenging offering. I pour my soul into this experience and I am immensely proud of the end product, the experience and the people it has allowed me to come into contact with and even call friends. I hope to make a few more each year!
A TRUE AFRICAN CHALLENGE
I started my love affair with the Grand Greywing Francolin many years ago, in my quest to find the most challenging and sporting of game birds to develop and keep improving my beloved Pointers. Ever since then, my life has been forever changed and I cannot imagine a more worthy counterpart to hard running Pointers, in breathtaking surrounds and for the gun to enjoy a complete yet unique experience.
Africa is blessed with an abundance and variety of general wildlife. Many times, Africa and hunting are synonymous with The Big Five, or a similar type of grandiose safari. Africa, most notably South Africa, is blessed with a multitude of game bird species, and in incredibly healthy numbers – a further appeal to the overseas hunter, all species are wild, offering truly challenging sport. South Africa has never practiced a ‘breed and release’ program, such is the healthy state of the game bird species.
A WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE
No stone is left unturned to deliver a truly world class experience, and I am proud to deliver this boutique wing-shooting experience to you, as an esteemed client. My greatest compliments come not from the usual, ‘those are the best dogs I’ve ever shot over!’, or, ‘first class sporting shooting in beautiful country!’ No, it’s being told that the spread and occasion at each meal, each celebration to come together and cement a long standing friendship over a smorgasbord offering of the most delightful of charcuterie, cheeses, fruits – the light meals, or over the 12 hour roasted venison trinchado, or the slow roasted garlic and onion Greywing.
This sort of feedback and acknowledgment is what really fuels my fire to keep at this very unique and, albeit, challenging offering. I pour my soul into this experience and I am immensely proud of the end product, the experience and the people it has allowed me to come into contact with and even call friends. I hope to make a few more each year!
