Hi there,

On a tree in the old B camp in Rifa safari area, there is a plaque on a tree in memory of one Gerry von Memerty, I think. The reason I am not 100% sure of the name and spelling is because when we reached that place, my camera battery had gone flat and I couldn't take a picture. I did write the whole tribute on a piece of paper but sadly that paper was lost somewhere further down the river. I have asked Cliff Walker to find out exactly what the plaque reads when he is next down there, but was wondering if any of you guys know anything about the man or how he was killed. I know he was killed by an elephant.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, David

That would make a very interesting tribute story David. I hope your able to get the full story.
D.

David,

I will find out what happened, by hook or by crook.

Cheers, I hope you are well, David

Hi guys,

Well, I eventually discovered the story behind the death of Gerry von Memerty in the most unlikely fashion. Late one sleepless night in CharltonMcCullum's PedzPasi camp (recovering from one bout of malaria and about to go down with another), I lit the candle and picked a magazine at random from the pile on the bedside table. Predictably, it turned out to be an African Hunter! I was not really reading, just flicking through the mag looking at pictures, when the name Gerry von Memerty leaped out at me. The story was an extract from Ian Nyschen's second book (Footsteps of an Ivory Hunter?), and it described what happened to Mr von Memerty. I always imagined he was a client but he was actually a PH with extensive experience. On the day he died, Gerry von Memerty was hunting buffalo with a client and a gamescout, close to Nyamumba parks post, at the foot of Kariba gorge. As the day waned and the buffalo showed no sign of slowing, the hunters gave up the chase and took a shortcut through the jess towards the vehicle. The hunters bumped into a herd of elephant cows and calves in the jess, with visibility very poor by that time. The elephants winded the men and went ballistic. The hunters retreated through the jess and the client and gamescout were separated from Gerry, whom the elephant cows were focused on. The client and gamescout herd much squealing, 4 shots and then silence when the elephants moved off. Although they shouted and hung around for some time, there was no response and eventually they returned to camp, fearing the worst which was confirmed the following morning when they found Gerry's tusked and mutilated body. There was no evidence that Gerry had fired at an elephant - there was no sign of an elephant being hit and it is thought that he was firing warning shots. It is also thought that he was tusked from behind initially. I thought Mr Nyschen's story was a fitting epitaph to a man. I still have to confirm the date and the exact wording on the inscription. Interesting what one comes across in the bush hey?

David

David,
Sorry if this derails your thread, I read your "Shangaan Song" short story on Nitro Express and just had to have the book. I ordered it and am about 2/3 through (getting ready to start "Ragged Boy"). It is helping through in the evenings with my bad attitude because my brother is in the lowveld and I am not. Any ways, just wanted to commend you on a job well done, it is a great collection of short stories that I look forward to opening every night.
Thanks
Brad

Thank you Brad, I am glad you are enjoying the stories. Thanks to Mitch Mitchell, the SA editor of the African Expedition magazine, the reprinted version is a vast improvement on the original Zim version, insofar as the cover and layout are concerned. I hope to have another book or two out one of these days. Also hope to meet you one day.

Cheers, David

David, also close to the Nyala camp in the Nuanetsi ranch ther'is a tombstone in memory of a men killed from a buffalo. I do not remember the name and the date ( maybe 1958). I do not know is was a hunter, ph or farmer. Very interesting post.

Mario,

I saw that tombstone years ago but of course cannot remember the details either. Another one to investigate! Boet van Aarde will know who it was, I'll write to him.

Cheers, David

we were togheter wen I saw it. he did nt know exactly what happened.