I have hunted with my BIL off and on for over 30 years...we both tend to like hunts that are exciting and have a little challenge ( I can also state that as I have gotten older, that has diminished some ... I DO NOT like sleeping on the ground anymore, plus a few other comforts I enjoy)...I had taken one of my sons and two grandsons on a plains game hunt in June 2013 and Jerry was planning his self guided hunt to Cameroon and we got to talking and decided to go on another hunt together before I got too old to enjoy it...anyway we decided to go to Dallas in Jan 2014 and talk to Karl Stumpfe ( Ndumo Safaris)...worked out a plan to visit Karl the first of June 2014 before he got busy with real hunters...the following is the notes taken from my daily journal , which was written for my grandsons...several others have ask that I publish the notes on AR...here it is ...if you like it fine and if not ignore it...bear in mind that no attempt was made to correct spelling, sentence structure, grammar, and/or tell a story just my notes, typed, as written each night.
• JCOOK AND JDOLLAR HUNT THE CAPRIVI STRIP,NAMBIA • Date, May 29 2014... June 16 2014 • Outfitter, Ndumo Hunting Safaris Katima Mililo, Namibia • P.H. KARL STUMPFE (owner) • Field Staff, Willem, Zorrow, Vista, Youster , and Reggie • House Staff ,Agnes (cook),Mary and Magdalena • Animals Sought, Buffalo, Hippo, Croc, and Elephant • Rifle, 375 H&H MAG, from the Ruger Custom Shop CRF Mauser Action • Scope,Lepold 1.5-5 • Ammo, 300 gr. Barnes solid (custom loaded by Superior Ammo) and 300 gr. Barnes TSX soft • Camps Used, Camp Sikunga located East of Katima Mililo on the Sikunga channel just before the Sikunga Channel goes into the Zambezi river ,this is Karl's new camp, only started a little over a year...as I understand Karl and Jerry scouted this site about two years ago and thought it was a great site...I was anxious to see it. Camp Sobbe located West of Katima Mililo and between the Zambezi River and the Chobe River, a great spot for Elephants. Camp Balyerwa located West of Camp Sobbe on an island on the Kwando River in the edge of the Linyanti River reed swamp, just before it becomes the Linyanti River, there are many islands in this large reed swamp.
1.Wed May 28 2014-- checked in at Atlanta international terminal absolutely no problem and as smooth as anyone could ask for including the TSA check of the rifle. Delta flight DL 200 direct to Joberg, as usual this flight will drive your rear end up between your ears. Only the end results makes the flight bearable.
2.Thur May 29-- arrived at the Joberg late afternoon-- paid the extra fee package at African Sky, included room, meals, transportation to and from airport plus the required gun permits and the handling the rifle and luggage -- well worth the extra $50-- had a very pleasant stay at the lodge.
3.Fri May 30-- African Sky personnel carried me back to the airport to meet JDOLLAR, who had come in that AM . Travel With Gun had made all arrangements for our flight from Joberg to Kasane, Botswana. As we came in from the plane we could see that the Zambezi was in flood stage--many villages were surrounded by water--unusual late rains this year had the Zambezi over its banks about a mile on both the Zambia and Namibia sides Karl met us at the airport, no problems with rifle or luggage--went through several road block checks on the trip to camp Sikunga--no problems except time consuming-- normally, this time of the year you can drive to the camp but due to the high water we could not drive to camp Sikunga-- we drove to a landing at a fish camp several miles from the camp--Karl had one of his boats at the landing, we loaded the boat with supplies, our gear, all of us and some of the staff-- the boat was so loaded that it would not plane-- we had a slow trip the several miles to the camp... it was very relaxing with the scenery and birdlife-- I thought ''there are people paying money for a jungle cruise like this at Disney''--at camp, we decided to rest and fish in the Zambezi and the Sikunga Channel for Tiger fish and barbels the next day-- that night after a great steak dinner, with a single malt scotch and cigar, by the embers of a mopane fire , watching the red sun set in the west and the purple haze of the distant fires in Zambia, with the smell of smoke in the fresh night air, the skimmers skimming the Zambezi in hope of a meal before dark, the beginning of the night sounds and the birds squawking for a roost site, experience that, and you will understand why we feel compelled to keep coming back to this primitive and beautiful part of the world.
4.SAT May 31-- we decided to rest and fish today, I had not seen Jerry since his Cameroon trip and I wanted to hear all the details-- we fished all day practicing our catch and early release technique-- our technique must be working well, Jerry hooked and fought three good Tiger fish that did not see the net and I did get one large barbel in the net. That night as usual we had a great meal, Agnes is a good cook-- with an abundance of single malt and cigars we proceeded to solve all the world problems and produced not just regular hunting BS, but certified hunting BS that covered everything you wanted to know or thought you wanted to know about hunting in Africa and hunting anywhere else, plus some other important things I can not remember.
5.SUN JUN 1--up early--loaded the boat with gear and staff, back to the fish camp landing and drove to Karl's Sobbe camp --left most of our gear there-- repacked for a light load and drove to a boat landing on the Kwando River--high water there also--loaded two boats with gear, supplies and staff --went to camp Balyerwa, located on an island in the Linyanti Reed Swamp off the Linyati river ( many scattered islands )-- after unloading, got one of the boats and went to one of the larger island to look for buffalo --did a long trek over the island--saw plenty of sign plus three elephants in the distance moving away from us--it was getting late and we had a long walk back to the boat--got to the boat and then back to camp Balyerwa for a great meal, and our standard camp fire treat-- another great day in the bush
6. MON JUN 2 --up early ,into the boat and off to an island in the reed swamp to look for buffalo--found some elephant tracks early--around 9:00am found some fresh buffalo sign--we started tracking and caught up with them around 10:00am--thought we saw a bull that would be a shooter, but we could not get close enough for a shot--the herd was nerverous ,spooked and ran off in a cloud of dust--maybe that baboon who tells all the game who is being hunted each day warned them--we stopped and rested awhile to let them settle down--started tracking again and had them in sight around 10:45am--they were in the shade next to some trees across an open savanna from us--no brush for cover and the savanna grass was only about knee high--Karl looked at me and said ''you want to crawl'' and I said I am following you--Karl and I crawled to about 130yds from them ,stopped behind the next to nothing bush you have ever seen--we decided to stand up in the little shade the bush provided, hoping that we would blend with the shade--I can tell you that with Karl being over 320lbs and me over 240lbs,and I am being kind to both of us, we did not look like stealth hunters, I hoped that we would be perceived as a large termite mound--Karl glassed them and said there is a bull I want you to get, can you see him--there were several standing in the shade of the trees and just looked like a black mass in the scope--no clear shot--Karl said you will know him when you see him and take your shot when clear and you can--there was a cow on the right that moved out in the open looking at us with that nervous twitch and look they have--she moved out some more and the bull came out in the open ,about 130/140yds away --I put the crosshairs on him, moved the safety off and squeezed the trigger, I heard it hit with a loud whack, I knew it was a good shot--he immediately hit the ground, rolled around in a cloud of dust and stood back up --I put another round in him and he went down again and we started going towards him--he looked at us and tried to get up--I guess I thought I was John Wayne and I fired a shot while moving towards him, a clear miss--I thought you fool, you know better than that, stopped, dropped to a knee and placed a round in the base of his neck and he rolled over with a loud bellow, I walked up and gave him a final shot in the heart--he had a very good boss, good drop, and had a spread of almost 42''-- Karl field scored him a little over 106 on the gold scale-- Jerry said I could stop hunting buffs now cause I will never get one any better---That night we celebrated with deep fried bull fries,( which Jerry said he would not eat, but after tasting them, I think he ate the most) , Jaegermeister toast of ''Waidmann Heil'' and ''Weaidmann Dank'' followed by a dinner of great buffalo goulash , 18 yr old S.M. , cigar and much certified BS--I was pleased with the track, the shot and the buff...had a great night's sleep.
7. TUES JUN 3--loaded the boats, came out of the swamp ,drove back to camp Sobbe to look for elephants--rested and started looking about 3:00pm--found some tracks of two large bulls , but not fresh--found a herd of cows , calfs and young bulls--getting late decided to walk out and start fresh tomorrow--a repeat of our enjoyable standard mopone fire activities , great meal, S.M. , cigar , and the important certified hunting BS..........another great day in the African bush.
8. WED JUN 4--up at 5:30am -- left the camp at 6:45am -- found some fresh tracks early , around 7:00am , but no bull tracks--found some bull tracks shortly thereafter , looked good--we started to trail them about 7:30am-- we could hear them feeding and went towards them , looked at them for a while , no bulls-- a cow and calf came up behind us with us between her and the main group-- we froze, she knew we were there , but I do not think that she could see us...she was very vocal and with ears spread wide , she faced us and did that sideways walk about 15yds from us until she passed by us , she reached the herd and they were all very vocal as they turned and moved off at a rapid pace-- very exciting--we immediately heard some more in the bush behind us--we worked our way around and ahead of them--several bulls in the group with decent tusk , good mass but not with a lot of length --we talked and elected to take the largest of them as this was an ''own use'' hunt --we were well positioned as they fed and worked towards us--we stood there until he was about 15yds away and realized that we were there , he spread his ears and slightly lowered his head , my clue to shoot, fired front brain shot, he turned away I fired again , side heart shot ,he dropped within a few steps--put a final shot the back of the head as he lay there...he had good mass but both tusk were worn down--it was only 8:10am-- a quick very exciting hunt---Everyone moved off to let me have a few moments alone with this magnificent animal--I had managed to bring some carefully packaged champagne glasses and Karl had a bottle of champagne in one of the packs...the three of us Karl , Jerry , and I toasted this great animals and thanked him for the hunt---we went back to camp to have lunch ...some of the staff and villagers were there to give us the elephant victory dance as we drove into camp---as soon as we got there , there was a report that a large bull had been spotted--our original plan was for an ''own use'' elephant only, but after getting the one I shot, I ask Karl about the availability of a trophy permit--he said he had been cut back ,but had one left, ''nuff'' said, we quickly loaded back up , found the tracks and started our ''trek across Africa''---we tracked those two bulls for over 4hrs in the midday sun , about 12 to 14k at a good pace---Kipling was right '' only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun"---my 10lb rifle (like my old M-1) changed to 100lbs--- we never could catch up to them---went back to camp for a late lunch---will try again tomorrow...rested for awhile.....later Jerry and I went back to the kill site to watch the villagers cut up and divide the meat , a big deal for them---they get several tons of needed meat---when they finished , there was only a spot on the ground.....that night after our meal , we had some more serious certified BS with our scotch and cigar.
9. THUR JUN 5-- up, breakfasts and out of the camp by 6:30 AM... found some tracks around 8 AM... found the herd around 8:15 AM... one cow (big Mama) knew we were there and decided to run us off rather than the herd running... she spread her ears and charged us, Karl waited until she was about 10 yards from us before he let out his magical P.H. yelp ... she stopped snorted and shook her head and ambled off taking the herd with her... I looked around and only Karl, Jerry and I were still standing there, the rest of the crew was gone...good thing she stopped , a half step more and we would have had to shoot... very exciting...I also think that I needed another pair of pants...we walked for awhile and found two bulls off to their self, feeding, looked them over and decided to take the largest one...he was big, had decent tusk and was in musk...we worked our way around in front of them and stood there waiting for them to come to us...when he was close, he realized that we were there he did not like it, he spread his ears and slightly lowered his head, again my signal...fired a good shot to the frontal brain area, he should have dropped, but turned and I put another shot just in front of the ear, heard Karl shoot twice, and I shot a side heart/lung... his back legs went out and then we finished him...a really big, tough, old elephant... we toasted him and the village had some more meat...when we returned to camp we got another elephant victory dance...another exciting day...that night we had our mopane fire seminar complete with a great meal, S.M. scotch and cigar as and added attraction, at the Dallas Convention I had purchased a Boyt safari jacket for a special occasion ...after getting a good buff and two eles in three hunting days, it was time for Bawana Cook to appear...with safari jacket complete with shells and broad brim hat, I could not find anything to use for an ascot or I would have put Stewart Granger to shame... I looked like a real Dude at our nightly outing and clearly more properly and well dressed than the two crude ruffians I was with, ''they just ain't got no couth''....tomorrow we will go back to Camp Balyerwa for Jerry's hippo.
10. FRI JUN 6--changed our plans and decided to go back to Camp Sikunga to look for croc and hippo...cool and windy day on the river ride back to Sikunga, as usual the boat was loaded with supplies and staff... had lunch and planned on a scouting trip to see if we could find any crocs or hippos after we had a nap..I put my gear in the boat and as I like to nap in the Sun on cool days, I piled up some fresh cut grass for a bed/pillow near the boat and an old mokoro and went to sleep...I was awakened by Karl and Jerry saying ''let's go'' ,I got up and as I stepped into the boat Jerry said look at that Black Mamba...coming from under the mokoro across where I had been sleeping, with head raised off the ground was a Black Mamba about 7ft long...nothing handy but the boat paddle and by the time Karl got it and to the snake ,it had gone into some bushes...normally it would have been left alone, but with people in the camp it presented a clear danger...the snake was lost in bushes until Jerry spotted it in a tree up about 25ft...all Karl had was his scoped .375 H&H and it was a hard shot almost straight up, but he shot the snake and we put it in the middle of the channel ...another exciting experience ... we went in and of areas along the Zambezi ,it was cool and we did not see any crocs or hippos sunning...in one area where we wanted to go ashore and look around there was a 8/10ft croc sunning and he did not move...we decided to play with him and see how close we could get to him...we were able to ease the boat up to him and touch him with the boat paddle before he hissed and went in the water...great fun...it was so muddy and wet on shore that we took our boots off and put our sandals on...we walked in and out of the marsh areas checking pools but no hippos...on the way back to the boat, I guess I showed my age, I slipped and fell in the mud, wet my everything with thick black mud...back to camp ...great meal as usual and then our mopane fire, S.M. scotch ,cigar and great conversation... when Karl and Jerry are together there is no end to the BS...they feed on each other and it is great fun...had an exciting day and ready for tomorrow .
11. SAT JUN 7 -- still at Camp Sikunga ... very cool last night and wind still blowing hard this morning... after breakfast we went up the river to look for hippo.. there was one croc about a 8' long were we wanted to go ashore , he left as soon as we got close... we had our sandals on and started across the mud and grass flats. But our feet with sandals kept sticking in the mud and making walking very difficult... we decided to go barefooted and took off our sandals and place them in a pile so we could find them way back to the boat... we heard some hippos in an area best described as not unlike a mangrove swamp but the bush and trees were more like tangle willows with hippo trails running all in it... we could hear hippos deeper on in the swamp, the land stopped so we started to wade towards the hippo grunts... the water was everywhere and flowing towards the river at a fast rate... and as we waded towards the hippos the water got deeper.. we waded in single file with the tracker, Karl ,me, Jerry, the game scout, all about 3yds apart... the water kept getting deeper and I knew that ,with Jerry being the shortest, he would be on his tiptoes soon...we continued on in the water for a hundred yds. or so when Karl spotted a hippo bull about 40yds. away from us and said shoot him if you get a shot...the hippo would not put his head out of the water enough for a good shot..standing waist deep in water I freehanded a shot that I thought was dead on...the bullet hit the water about 10yds. from the hippo and bounced just over his head... I should not have missed that shot, but I did and all the hippos disappeared with a lot of splashing...we wadded back to towards the boat, picked up our sandals ...it was a cold ride back to camp and very disappointing for me..hot shower and dry cloths at camp...that afternoon we looked for hippo and crocs...saw several large water monitors 5'/6'...also saw several small crocs 8'/10', not what I was looking for...too much water in the Zambezi, no hippos or crocs...back to camp for our great meal and campfire outing.
12. SUN JUN 8 -- up early, in the boat to take some of the staff to the fish camp landing so they could go for supplies and then on to looking again for hippo and crocs...decided to go on a grass flat area and look in the pools that were off the river...hard walking because of all the deep hippo footprints in the mud/grass...did not find any hippos in the pools, maybe to cool... I fell in the mud again, a sure sign of old age, I got a staff to use for balance in the slippery mud/grass and hippo holes...should have had one all along, made walking and keeping my balance a heck of a lot easier...on the way back to camp saw two crocs 10'+ but still not what I was looking for...came by a small grass flat area and saw the croc I was looking for... but he was not dumb as soon as we saw each other he was in the water...hope to get a shot at him...mile after mile on the Zambezi, beautiful and devoid of human activity...back to camp for lunch...left the camp around 3pm...spotted the big croc around 3:30pm, as soon as he saw us he was in the water, I sure hope to get a shot at him...while going along in the boat we spotted three hippos on a sandbar off of the main part of the river...by the time we turned the boat around, ran the boat on another sandbar and in a position to shoot, they were heading towards the deep water in a canal off the river..I fired a good shot on the left shoulder and you could see that he was hit, ejected the shell and fired again, "click", miss fire, the shell was no good, ejected that shell and fired again, hit him in the back ribs, I heard Karl fire just before the hippo went out of sight...we immediately ran the boat around the point of the canal, just off the river, we knew he was there...as we cruised along looking for him, he was in the edge of the weed and charged us with mouth wide open...thank goodness the big outboard could outrun him, he dove under and went back to the edge of the reeds...it was clear that he was hurt and he could not stay down for very long, maybe the back rib shot had damaged his lungs...when we came back he charged us again and we again moved out of the way ...he came up this time directly behind the boat facing away from us, both Karl and I fired at the same time, both hitting at the base of the neck which finished him...he immediately sank...we waited one hour, thinking that he would float up... it was getting dark so we made a fast trip back to camp and will look for the hippo tomorrow...this was a very exciting day.
13. MON JUN 9 --- up at 5am to look for the hippo...went about 35 miles down the Zambezi from where the hippo was shot and looked along the banks with no luck in finding him...went to a village on the Zambia side and ask them to look (reward) also asked some fishermen in mokoros to look for the hippo...thought that maybe he was hung up under the reeds close to where he was shot and used a grappling hook with no luck...the river was swift and there were many reed pockets that could hide a hippo...we all thought that he would float up to the surface unless crocs had got to him during the night...I hate that I had two chances at bringing home my hippo ivory and missed them both and felt bad that in all my years of hunting, this was the first animal that I had shot and not recovered...made another attempt at the big croc, again no luck...will try again... up the river to camp for lunch...after lunch tried another stalk on the big croc, no luck...looked some more for the hippo, again no luck...tried the big croc again on the way back to camp, no luck...saw another big croc, he was not as big as the one I wanted so I passed him up...another great meal that night...we also had a taste contest with several S.M. scotch of different cask and ages, Karl won hands down, he did not miss a match...again lots of fun...leave camp Sikunga at 4 in the morning to go to camp Balyera to look for hippo there.
14. TUES JUN10 --- loaded the boat and left camp Sikunga... it was dark, dark and cold, could not see anything, running at a fast clip we hit a sandbar in the middle of the Zambezi... I said to Jerry I think that is what you call land... after much effort we got the boat off of the bar and them started on to the landing... within sight of the fish camp landing we ran into a floating reed and grass Island, after considerable effort we got the boat out and on to the landing... loaded the truck and off to the landing for camp Baylerwa... got to the landing for camp Balyerwa around 10:30am... into the boat there and started looking for hippo.. we traveled in and out of canals in the reeds hoping to find some hippo all morning... we stopped on an island in the middle of the reed swamp and had lunch and a nap... the island had been used by poachers, it had the remains of their fires and meat racks... back to looking for hippo, many of the canals in the reeds were only hippo trail and sometimes less wide than the boat... we would have to push the boat out and along the canals but mostly it was only waist deep water... did not see any hippos... it was getting late and we decided to go in, had motor trouble with the outboard... water pump intake was stopped up... clean it out but low on oil... had to wait on the other boat to bring oil and tow if necessary... motor okay after putting in the oil... getting dark... the boat that brought the oil, saw two hippos on the way to us... decided to take the truck to camp Sobbe and stay there for the night... great meal, S.M. scotch, cigar and more certified B.S., another wonderful day and great time... that night it was cold, maybe our coldest night.
15. WED JUN 11 --- got up early and left for camp Sikunga... stopped at Katima Mililo for supplies and more firewood... went to the open air market there and looked around... the water had dropped enough to travel by truck all the way to camp even though sometimes the water was up to the bumpers on the truck.. ate lunch, rested, got the boat and started looking for crocs... traveling along the Zambezi for about three hours... saw a few small crocs 7'/8' and three very large water monitors and many birds but only two large crocs who slid into the water as soon as we got within 100 yards... after seeing some large tracts on a sandbar, decided to buy a cow for bait and will set up a blind and bait tomorrow... another great meal, S.M. scotch, cigar ,and sunset around a mopane fire.
16.THUR JUN 12 --- we were able to sleep in today, to 7:30am... took the truck back to Katima Mililo for some supplies and another tour through the local outdoor market... got some small dry fish to use for chum and some reed mats to build a blind... back to the camp, we loaded the boat with the mats and part of the cow that was purchased plus a 5 gallon bucket of cow stomach junk for the croc chum... on the way to the spot we had selected for the blind, we spotted a big croc who slid into the water as soon as he saw the boat... went about two miles to the blind spot... put up the reed mats and cut fresh reeds to finish the blind, set up our chairs and cut a rifle slot in the mats ,across the canal from the bait location chained the bait and staked it down, poured the chum at the waters edge... decided to go back to camp , eat lunch and get some books to read and spend the rest of the day in the blind, waiting... we had picked this spot because it was clear the a large croc sunned in the spot... on the way back to the camp, we spotted the big croc in the same place we had seen him before, a small grassy area about 30x30 with deep water and reeds all around, he had picked a good spot for him to sun in as he could see in all accessible directions...as we went by he did not go in the water, we went out sight of him and Karl said do you think you can shoot him from the boat, if you do not nail him he will go in the water we will not be able to get him... I said I think I can ...Karl said do not shoot him in the top of the head, shoot him at the end of his smile and cut the spinal cord... we cut the motor off and drifted,about 60yds off shore the croc raised his when he saw us, it looked like he was going into the water...I timed the rocking of the boat and when the crosshairs were right I pulled the trigger, a whack and he dropped his head, I immediately ejected the shell and fired a shot just behind the front left shoulder, I fired the third shot at the same time the boat was rocked. a clean miss, but it was clear that he was not going anywhere...we started the motor and went up to him and I put a safety shot at the base of his head...he was about 1100lbs ,13ft a good trophy that was hard to get and I was proud of...we loaded him on the boat and proceeded to the camp...as we got to the camp the staff was doing a croc victory dance with a jaegermeister toast waiting on us , ''Waidmanns Heil''and ''Waidmanns Dank''...later some of the staff went back to remove the blind and get the bait we had left...Jerry and I walked to the cleaning/skinning area and watched the croc being skinned and dressed... I said I thought you guys did not eat crocs, which they confirmed...said they were dressing him to sell to the witch doctors...they did dress some of the tail for us and that night we had a croc tail salad that tasted fantastic along with another great meal from Agnes and of course followed by our nightly mopane fireside seminar and refreshments...another great day in Africa.
17. FRI JUN 13 --- we took it easy all day...reflected back on the last 12 days...we had allocated 16 days for our hunting, but in 12 days we had managed to get a great buff, 2 elephants, a nice croc, and a hippo that was not recovered, still very disappointed on not finding the hippo...I was satisfied with our hunting and the trip, I did find out that my age is beginning to slow me down...do not know how many more times I can do this ,but I sure have and am racking up a lot of good memories...Jerry and I spent the morning and late afternoon fishing in the Zambezi for Barbels and Tiger fish, got a 10lb Barbel and a 12.5lb Tiger fish, great time and relaxing...had fish and hush puppies for dinner...the hush puppies would have been a lots better with a hush puppy mix in lieu of what I had Agnes mix up...they were better than the grits I tried to have made out of mealy pop, but the French fries and fish were great...standard campfire routine , simply wonderful.
18. SAT JUN 14 ---up late...back to fishing, saw many birds, they were everywhere, several river otters and a few small crocs...very peaceful and relaxing...went over to the Zambia side to buy some bait at a village...smallest bill we had was a $10USA ...Jerry gave it to them for the bait, which they would have sold for a quarter...I gave the kids a sack of peppermint candy and they were all smiling when we pulled away...fished morning and afternoon ...no human activity on the Zambezi other than a river village here and there...back to camp for another great evening.
19. SUN JUN 15 ---went back across the Zambezi to Zambia to buy more bait...by now we are known to the village and even though we have no idea what they are saying, we are able to get the bait that we need...got in some more fishing that morning and went back to camp for lunch...did not see any crocs along the Zambezi, still way too much water...back to fishing late that afternoon but no luck...decided to ride and look for crocs...spotted 13 river monitors, 2 of them were very large...we traveled over 30 miles on the Zambezi and did not spot a croc..even though the river had dropped over 5' while we were there, there was still way too much water...it was still way past the normal rivers edge, giving both the crocs and hippos a lot of places to be other than near the normal edge of the river...that night, the last at camp, the same as the first night there, after another wonderful meal we sat around the mopane fire, with its pleasant warmth against the oncoming cool African night air, the red sun setting over Angola, looking East again to the distant fires in Zambia and Zimbabwe creating that purple haze in the sky, the beginning of the night sounds, with our cigar and single malt , not the jokes and B.S. flowing as on most nights, more somber thoughts reflecting on the past weeks and the always haunting question , when will I be back?
20. MON JUN 16 ---packed and ready for the long trip back home...got up early to watch the sun rise over the Zambezi as all the birds began their search for food and making their many sounds...said our good-bys to all the staff and a special thanks to Karl for all his efforts to assure that everything was right...the three of us plan to meet again in Dallas next year and then on to my CHIPOLA hunting preserve for some quail hunting...on the way to the airport at Kasane we drove through Chobe Park and saw warthogs, buffalo, baboons, kudu, wildebeest, zebra and elephants...nothing special on the way home other than as usual long and time consuming with all the checking of firearms and ammo..............................................
PHOTOS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY
Posts: 282 | Location: TALLAHASSEE,FL | Registered: 08 September 2013
Great report, eagerly looking forward to the pictures.
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
Posts: 12773 | Location: Kentucky, USA | Registered: 30 December 2002
"You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________
Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt.
Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure.
KIN AND KARL
