Professional Hunter Godson Saitabau has been trampled and killed by an elephant while guiding a client in Tanzania. I learned of the terrible accident from Charlie Goldenberg of Premier Safaris, who says the accident took place in the Mahenge Open Area. Saitabau has guided in the past for Abdul Mulla of Francolin Safaris, who was able to give me a few more details.


Seems Saitabau was trampled by a cow elephant with a calf. According to Mulla, Saitabau and a tracker were following some elephants to see if the group contained a good bull. They were unaware that a cow elephant protecting her calf had seen them and was pursuing them. Mulla says the cow targeted Saitabau and killed him. Apparently, the client and tracker were unharmed. Saitabau was guiding for a company called Rana Tours and Hunting. I hope to have more information in the next issue of The Hunting Report. Our condolences to Saitabau's family.

A tragedy. Each year African DG claims lives. Hope we can get more specifics. This is why it's called dangerous game hunting and also why some of us do it.

Condolences to his family...

Mike

Just more proof that hunting dangerous game is, in fact, dangerous. But, it's still a tragedy every time it happens.

RIP

Damn. Condolences to the family.

I have had minor run ins with elephants while hunting buff, they all make me very nervous.

Very tragic indeed. It seems every year the deaths run in spurts by one of the big five. A few years ago it was buffalo, then then were a few lionkillings and maybe this year it is elephant. Be careful out there!

Great adventure ... many variables ... real risk ... things don't always work out the way we'd like.

Condolences to family, friends, the crew, and the client.

Be careful out there!

Sorry to hear about it.

My experiences with Mahenge cows was that they were aggressive both with and without calves.

I was very fortunate to hunt buffalo with Godsen in the Selous in 2004. He was one of the best PH's I have had the pleasure of hunting with. He kept you informed of what is going on at the moment and what the game plan was. There was no suprises on his part.

We are diminished.

Harold

I shared a camp with Godson in 2003. Good guy,
Sad news indeed.

Jeff

Very sorry to hear of this tragedy.

Elephant hunting in Zim this past 2 weeks was the most exciting hunting I have ever done in my life. When tables turned and winds shifted, it was also the most terrifying! Hunting in the thick jess when all you can see is legs coming your way is certainly un-nerving!

And the PH's who do this for a living just describe these ele cows as "a bit cheeky". Man, you can sure get addicted to adrenaline.