I was sitting by a water hole last week with my video camera. Not very wisely, I wasn't even in a blind when this old fellow wandered by me at 5 yards. I don't know who owed him money, but I'll glad it wasn't me.

You should have taken a paintball gun, Judge... that way you could have "marked" him on the rear for future reference

Paintball gun!! you have far more balls than me..
I would still be holding my breath.
I have never been that close toa Cape Buff but I have seen up close and personal what just a wild feral bull is liable to do when startled from close range.
Things can get real exciting, real fast.

Although now that I think about what he has said about how far he was rather than how far he looks you probably would have gotten away with it.
It seems that there is about a 20 to 25 foot range where it splits from jumping into you to jumping away.
And he did say 15 yards so it might have been safe.
Try it and tell me how it goes..

On my first trip to Tanzania, when we landed, they warned us about "Brutus." I inquired about Brutus. Brutus was an solitary old buffalo bull that came into camp every night.

The first night I am in the tent and I can hear something walking through the camp. I looked up and through the mesh screen window, I could see the old bull. He walked right up to my tent and stuck his nose on the mesh screen. I could have lifted my hand while keeping my elbow at my side and touch his nose. He proceeded to lay down by my tent all night and chew on grass. He was less than 3 feet from me when he laid down.

I didn't sleep much that night.

Judge G,

You seem to possess a rare form of animal magnetism that draws the beasts in like flies. From a liquor store in rural Texas to a watering hole in Africa. Amazing.

I believe the reason he did not bother you was out of professional courtesy....

Judge, good thing you had your camera to shoot him if necessary,

Dak

We need information on objective size, make of camera, shooting position used, coloration/condition of underwear during event.
Judge, you've got 'big brass ones' for this.

quote:

He proceeded to lay down by my tent all night and chew on grass. He was less than 3 feet from me when he laid down.

He probably figured it was a safe place from the lions.

The buffalo was unfenced, btw. The guest quarters at the concession where I stayed had a fence around it, but not so smartly, I went out of the gate and sat against a tree by the water hole nearby. Shortly thereafter, I began to film through a hole in the fence at the demand of the P.H. I don't blame him.

These lions above and below are "unfenced" and are part of the "lion walk" reintroduction program in Victoria Falls. I believe Ganyana is a consultant for the folks?

We were told that two siblings of those pictured saw a buffalo recently and killed it right in front of the idiots like us who were "walking" with them (as below are my daughters and two staff guys). Gilberts have little sense, except for adventure, perhaps?

What a great family adventure. Hope to see more pictures and stories.

Ernest, sounds like a wonderful time and I sure would like to hear your daughters talk about the lions...
Are the two girls ready to go back to Africa???

Mike

I think that smile says it all.

Great close up of the Buff

Tell us more about the lion walk program?

A man named Andy Conally used to raise lions near Gweru at a place named, I believe, 'Animal Park' and operated a camp for bus tourers there. He also ran a 'Walk with the Lions' operation in Victoria Falls. This was probably 10/12 years ago. Had quite a few animals at Gweru and also had a large farm in the Matopos that was really beautiful and had lots of game also. He was also associated with Dollar Block in the Turk Mine area with his brother I believe. Don't know if he is still associated with this enterprise or not.

So Ernest, what did you SHOOT? jorge

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:

I don't know if I'm simply a coward, or smarter that those walking along with full grown African lions,but I am certain of one thing, I will not find out ! Somehow I have a great dislike for the thought of becoming a pile of lion crap!

I'm with Mac, there are too many cases of "domestic/friendly" carnivores suddenly forgetting their manners at inopportune times and having a lion hanging off my scrotum is somehow not appealing. Maybe it's just a self preservation thing.

'Antelope Park' near gweru is still operating Walk with the Lion and also Ride an Elephant activities.

I too would never, ever be that trusting

of any dangerous animal no matter what

it's upbringing was, etc. There's just too

much at stake.

larryshores:

I, too, had a huge old buff pointed out to me along the way as I arrived in camp. He was half blind and the PH told me that he would be sleeping at the camp. I laughed -and found out that it was the literal truth. He would come up the slope (the camp was on a slight hill) and plant himself near the two Toyota Landcruisers that always were parked side by side. I was given to understand that lions dislike the smell of oil and gas. Apparently, the buff knew this and slept practically using a tire as a pillow. (He always disappeared at dawn and went down to a ravine where he spent the day. He had water and graze.The PH told me he planned to shoot him when the day arrived that he believed he couldn't defend himself against lions) Oh, yeah, this was about 50 feet away from where I slept. Of course, I was braver than you and always slept the sleep of the just. (The fact is, that I was usually so tired that I corked off before I could think about a buff also sleeping not far away.) BTW, he was the biggest buff I ever saw and I saw hundreds including my own that the PH said was at least several hundred pounds heavier than the usual. This old feller was even bigger. He was,in a word, enormous. There's just no other word to use to describe him and, as I say, I saw a lot of buff so I got used to size. Sorry for the ramble but your post stirred memories.