Why the heck did I just commit myself to going to the Selous on August 15th for a leopard, sable, croc, and a buffalo?

I'm going to Zim on July 19th with my daughter for her first DG hunt. Shouldn't that be enough?..... Nope! It's worse than crack cocaine. I go hunt with Lou Hallamore, try to kill a tuskless at Matesi while my daughter gets her buffalo, we come back and I stay home only a couple of weeks and hat up and head out again. I'm sick.

Dang, I guess I bit the wrong fruit long ago.


We Are Hercules?

A blood red moon
That pales to orange
Then lights to whitest bright,

A lion's roar
That fills the night
Likewise our primal soul,

A fire ring glow
The Southern Cross,
The hippo's grunt, we hear.

A nervous bark
A bushbuck's last
As chui's deed is done.

These joys now far,
But hearts still there
We dream and yearn for more.

Forever bound
One drink can't slake
This cup and siren's land

Our fate is cast
By lotus bite
The fleece is Africa!


I need intervention or to win the lottery, I guess.

Oh, just a couple of months and I'll be sitting on the banks of the Greater Ruaha and listening to hippos fight and fart and maybe an old Leo roar some to claim his ladies. And, it won't be so bad anticipating since I'll be by the fire drinking single malt at Matetsi with my youngest in the meantime.

Life ain't so bad!

Can't wait.

looking forward to the report(s) when you get home !

That's right!

We look forward to A. Dahlgren's photos and the Judge's prose!

Since we all have friends that are interested in our plans, here are mine:

Emmy (who some of you met in Dallas) and I leave on Delta 200 on July 19 for Johannesburg. We'll stay the night at Afton House as is my joy (we'll take Ms. Bekker out to dinner) and then we'll fly up to Victoria Falls the next morning.

Russell will meet us and take us to Gorge's Lodge. We'll relax until time for the booze cruise and that night after floating about on the Zambezi we'll have supper at the Boma with a friend and his lady.

Next morning, Lou Hallamore will pick us up for the short ride down to Matetsi 3. We won't be there but a week. I'll hunt a tuskless with Lou and Kevin Baisley (the manager at Matetsi 3) will be Emmy's PH as she hunts plains game and a buffalo cow.

I have a leopard available, but knowing the number of lions at Matetsi, that's just a wish, instead of really a rational expectation.

After a week, we'll meet up at Gorges Lodge with my friend Lee Davenport (with whom I've been to Africa several times) and listen to him tell us about his (hopefully) successful leopard hunt with Karl Stumpf in the Caprivi. We'll play golf a day, white water raft, drink a lot and come home after a few days of irresponsibity.

Then, I try to work for a couple of weeks, and off to Dar es Salaam and the Sea Cliff... oh, what a wonderful place. A charter into the Selous and I'll share a camp with a camera crew and hunter for Mossy Oak (or somebody?). I think??? they want to video the leopard. I've done a Mossy Oak video before and found them very, very professional.

Lord knows I can't afford it, but I'll have a smile on me when they come to take my stuff and put me in debtor's prison.

If you see that I have a gun or two to sell in the next couple of weeks, buy it. I need enablers.

Judge,

I understand the addiction. Never done two in a year, let alone that close together. However, you ought to just stay over there and save a to and from. The tigerfish should be biting. Good luck and good hunting.

Need another daughter?

I hear you . I remember my first trip . I had hoped to go again one day. That was 17 trips ago.

Judge it's not an intervention you need... just a wallet transplant!!!

Your Worship, with your writing skills, I would like to respectfully suggest that you write a book and use the proceeds accordingly.

Judge - I love your attitude and I thoroughly concur.
Just go for it !!!

what outfitter are you using in the Selous?

Never forget, the Repro Man is much nicer and more polite when they come after a Mercedes than a Honda...

This will be my 4th safari with Pierr'e van Tonder. I guess I'll be back among the lions and buffalo again and, just in case, I'll wear some Depends this time.

I've Been to the Mountaintop!

quote:

Originally posted by JohnDL:
what outfitter are you using in the Selous?

Judge,
do you need an old worn out one legged gun bearer? SON!!!! I wish I had your problem. I have the addiction BUT not the wallet capacity to support it. I Wish you all the luck and a fair breeze in your face.

Selous should be good juju for your leopard jinx. Good luck with spots.

And, no intervention needed. It's the crowd that doesn't go to Africa that needs an intervention.

Will:

Thanks for the encouragement.

Has Lil' Ernest arrived? Remember, Partagas maduros and smoky single malt (from Islay is best). Definitely, no white wine unless it is with a cold salad at lunch!

Go for it Ernest. Have fun. My wife is beginning to think I need help too.

If you see any nice buffalo-----don't shoot. I'll be arriving in late Sept for a buffalo-only hunt with Pierre.

Judge,
Life is for the living! And your taking your daughter to have her own adventure, well that is great stuff! Good on you Dad. But I see a well thought out plan here. I would bet this will not be the last time you and Emmy see it together, and someday she will need to share all that it is with her loved ones down the line.

The way I see it you are investing with great returns likly!

Many Thanks

HBH

Judge

Keep on keeping on!! No intervention needed!!

Damn Ernest, where did the Selous hunt concept come from? You didn't even mention it on our visit (which was great, thanks again). I'm excited for you.

P.S. I'm over at John and Kathy's in Cody and they say hello.

Judge,
There's a song I'm sure you are familiar with titled "I Aint Never Had Too Much Fun". Sounds like a good ditty to sing around the firepit in the Selous.

Judge, I know who got to you!!! He is a pretty good salesman. I could not make it happen at work or it would have been me.

I could have retired(no work problems then) but then who would pay the bill!!!

Dulcinea

Do you have an Ernie to go with ya? Ours is sitting on the safe just back from CAR with Aaron.

Dulcinea

quote:

Originally posted by Blacktailer:
Judge,
There's a song I'm sure you are familiar with titled "I Aint Never Had Too Much Fun". Sounds like a good ditty to sing around the firepit in the Selous.

There has to be a song titled"Too Much is not Enough"



SSR

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Will:

Thanks for the encouragement.

Has Lil' Ernest arrived? Remember, Partagas maduros and smoky single malt (from Islay is best). Definitely, no white wine unless it is with a cold salad at lunch!

PM sent.

quote:

Originally posted by ~Ann of Aspen Hill Adventures:

Need another daughter?

I'm with ~ANN.
(Going out for a wig now and shaving my mustach)

And what a fantastic sickness it is to have

Judge, as a psychologist, and in my personal opinion, you have a rare form of sanity that must not be tampered with. Enjoy the trip.

Just save a leopard and a sable for me will you? How many days are you booked for? Can't afford it? hah! :::SIGH:::

Probably 14 days of hunting.

Have fun. I was with Pierre last week in SA listening to one side of the conversation as you were setting this up. There is no way I have the time or I would have picked this one off.

Brad