What was that hammering noise, somebody shoot jimmy. It's still dark. Sleep won't leave your eyes yet. Night was short, only moments before you had just crawled into the sack. Jimmys is talking to you again. Bawana it's wake up time, would like like coffee tea or juice this morning. You'd like a cup of decent coffee this morning, not that freeze dried stuff they give you in camp, while the enjoy their tea. Sleep just won't leave your eyes yet.
Crawling out of the bed you reach for your pants, socks and shoes. Remember to check you shoes, for scorpions. Look around just to make sure a puff adder didn't settle in under your bunk.
Sure was a short night. Hope today won't be to strenuous. Your legs still ache from yesterdays little walk in the bush. Only 12K. The Egyptian geese are flying down the river in the predawn light. YOu can hear them, you can hear the hippos splashing. The darkness is slowly giving way to light.
It's cold outside the tent. The smell of the mopane fire reaches you as you hustle down the path. The chairs around the fire are empty yet. That lazy PH must still be sleeping. Well he'll wake up soon enough when he find that you doctored his toothpaste with peri peri. Just the thought makes you chuckle and spit your coffee all over your shirt.
Bawana, what would you like for breakfast, jimmy asks. Eggs over and bacon and toast. you answer, knowing that it will be more than enough to keep you going for the morning.
The animals are starting to wake up too. An elephant grunts his displeasure with the morning. The vervet monkeys are starting to raise hell, and the babos are talking about who is the best of the best.
Your PH arrives and informs you that he is not a lazy bastard, that he has been up for 2 hours already and did not appreciate the peri peri. Jimmy is there clearing the table, as you walk back to the tent to grab you rifle, pack and get ready for the day ahead.
Climbing into the ack of the landcruiser, the cold of the morning is biting through you jacket and gloves. your face feels like an ice cube.
Off you go down the dirty dusty road. The sun is red in the sky, the clouds are few and dissipating, the smell of africa reaches you nose. Yes, the smell, it is africa, it has become a part of you, and you relish it. For you are in africa, you are hunting its greatest treasures, you are with good friends, the morning is upon you, and you know that all is right in the world after all.
Good morning

I can't wait. 33 days.

Your on a roll Butch.
Keep it up.

Me either . . . 54 days.

More of his outstanding vignettes!