I suppose my safari experience started with meeting Walter. He picked me up at Saeeds place to take my on a float plane flight around Dubai. We jumped into his cruiser and off we drove. Now Walter can be a little hard of hearing and on top of that was my Aussie accent which was a bit hard for him to understand (he kept telling me to modulate ).

We were scooting off down the highway heading to the resort where the plane is, trying to communicate when we went sailing past the turn off. Walter didn't realize until we where about 5 km down the road. Walter pulled into a service station to confirm that he had missed the turn. Now most people would park the car then go ask directions, but not Walter. He drove diagonally through the fuel bowsers up to a taxi, cutting off some bloke who was trying to leave. With directions confirmed off we went again. Now the problem we had was there was no way to get off the highway. We traveled for some time looking for a way off when up a head we saw a bridge that crossed over the road (apparently we were at the border with Abu Dhabi ) Looking at the bridge we went sailing past the exit for it. .

Walter pulled over to the right (I have to say that in Dubai they drive on the wrong side of the road so I was a little freaked out as I was sitting on the side of the car that I usually drive from). Anyway Walter pulls over, has a look around (we had stopped in front of a police station)and commences to reverse 500 meters back along the highway to the exit all the while I was thinking we were going to die. Arriving at the exit we take off again. Up to a turn and down to a round about. We took the round about a little fast but that was nothing compared to the next one which I swear we were on two wheels for most of it. Re-entering the highway Walter floored it, hitting 150kph....until he saw a speed trap then we suddenly slowed to 120kph.....the we sped up to 150.....then slowed to 120....then, well you get the idea, lots of speed cameras along that road and I was getting whiplash! Now we had to find a way to get to the other side again and that chance came after we nearly made it back to Saeeds place. We took another exit straight into a traffic jam. After we worked our way through it we were back onto the highway and off like a startled cat again. By this stage my right leg was getting bad cramps as I was hitting the non existent brakes for Walter. At one stage I had to yell "CAR" as Walter was looking over his shoulder and didn't notice the vehicle in front pull out (don't think he heard me anyway ). The rest of the trip went pretty smoothly (although very quickly). I met Walter's Son and his wife and kids (all very nice normal people I don't know what happened there) Dubai from the air was very interesting and Walter gave me a great commentary as we flew (he's a very good guide)

To be continued.....

This is going to be good

Just a note about Tony's Aussie accent.

My daughter Hessa calls him Tiny, as that is what she thought he said his name was.

In fact, she keeps laughing each time she sees his photo from our hunt.

"Oh look! There is Tiny!"

Walter had a super duper hearing aid. It cost him almost $3,0001 As he only wanted the best. Especially made for his ears.

He put in his shirt pocket.
His wife put the shirt in the washing machine.
Now the expensive hearing aid has developed a mind of its own.

It works, but it had added "music" to its advanced specs.

Walter keeps hearing things no one hears now.

And that can make being with Walter a rather entertaining experience!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Just a note about Tony's Aussie accent.

My daughter Hessa calls him Tiny, as that is what she thought he said his name was.

In fact, she keeps laughing each time she sees his photo from our hunt.

"Oh look! There is Tiny!"

Walter had a super duper hearing aid. It cost him almost $3,0001 As he only wanted the best. Especially made for his ears.

He put in his shirt pocket.
His wife put the shirt in the washing machine.
Now the expensive hearing aid has developed a mind of its own.

It works, but it had added "music" to its advanced specs.

Walter keeps hearing things no one hears now.

And that can make being with Walter a rather entertaining experience!

Great stuff Saeed

Saeed's given everyone a good idea on what happened on safari in the updates so I'll only do some short reports.

My buff hunt started under a huge baobab tree where Dylan and the trackers found a buff camp. The tracks were fresh and the dung still warm so it was decided to follow them and see if we could catch them. Not long into the track the guys found lion tracks over the buff tracks. Watching the trackers work the trail was fantastic to see. We stopped at a clearing and the guys spotted Ox peckers in a tree. Apparently that meant the buff were in thick scrub. It wasn't long before the birds took off again and that gave us the direction of the herd and we caught up with the herd and crept along for a bit when Dylan propped and set up the sticks. There was a bull looking at us head on from behind a bush, a shot through the branches resulted in a lung hit and the bull ran off to the left. We stayed put and so did the herd. Dylan pointed out another good bull and I waited until he put his head down and hit him in the shoulders, he dropped on the spot. We waited for the herd to move away and followed up the first bull. My heart was thumping as we moved into the scrub and what seemed like 500 meters of slow butt clenching, eyes wide open, ear straining walking but was only about 60 or so, Zimidu the tracker saw the buff. Dylan motioned me over as the buff started to get up on his feet and a quick shot put him down. Well thats about how I remember it anyway, I was shaking a bit you see.

My Impala was a very normal stalk, they were spotted from the vehicle and using some trees we stalked within range. At the shot he to went left and Dylan found him about 40 meters away.

Below is a shot of Dylan and Walter getting some photo's of flowers for their up coming book "The flowers of the Selous"

High Collars are in this year.

The muzzle of our game scouts 375H&H, notice anything?

very intersting adventure

Holy hell you would think that the guide would lop off the bulge on that rifle ffs!

Taxidermy bill will be big for your game.

Walther seems to be an accident waiting to happen, at all times and everywhere..

And he loves Blasers...need I say more..

Can't wait to hear more. So far, very well done! Especially surviving Walter's driving!

Best regards, D. Nelson

We lost about a day and a half due to the rain and when we did go out it was on shanks pony. Saeeds crew were in the same boat and each crew went in different directions. We ended up walking through some forest in a lot of mud and our boots were soon heavy with mud. We came out at a nice clear area of open ground and a few trees. While checking out a lion bait the trackers spotted some wildebeest in the distance. After some thought Dylan and I set off across open ground keeping behind what ever we could. We closed the distance to about 200 meters and Dylan set me up for a shot. I was a bit nervous as I'd never taken a shot at that range before. At the shot the wildebeest took off with the rest of the herd but was soon lagging behind. We raced forward and gave him a finisher.

The trackers came over and they were sent back to get the tractor for the recovery


I felt a trickle of what I thought was sweat running down my nose but turns out the scope just kissed me

While waiting for the tractor we scaled the below hill. It was hard going climbing up through the scrub but it was amazing to find we were following elephant trails and there was elephant dung on top. Why they go up is anyone guess.

View from the top

Small mob of bulls

My bulls broken foot. Life's hard

Recovery vehicle

The crew, the picture doesn't show it but they are a happy bunch...really

quote:

Originally posted by Bakes:
The muzzle of our game scouts 375H&H, notice anything?

That isn't a bulge, that is a secondary pressure chamber to give the bullet more time to gain velocity.

Africa will never cease to amaze me. Never.

My warthog was nearly a last day pig. We'd bumped a BIG pig at the same spot twice over consecutive days and he gave us the slip both times. Seeing warthogs was not a problem. Finding a good one was and on my second last day hunting we came across this bloke.

We saw him, jumped off the truck, Dylan set up the sticks and I shot him. Not real sporting but I'll take it The bloody next day as we started to follow a kongoni herd a bigger pig stopped about 20 meters away from us and just stood there broadside (it was like he knew I couldn't shoot him ) and just to make things worse the kongoni got away as well and I never did bag one. Just on pigs we did have what we called the Walter pig who was not concerned about us at all. Here he is about 5 meters from the truck, he stood there for long enough to get quite a few pictures then just wandered off.

This is him on another day


Now the trackers deserve a mention. Fantastic blokes with good humor and if I could have caught him one would of sported a busted nose. You see Gary and I had jumped off the truck to sneak up on some warthogs to take photo's. As we were walking up to a clump of grass I was thinking "Right, here's the Baker luck. There will be a bloody lion in this grass" Well there was no lion and we snuck around the grass and got the shots. I had Saeeds big camera on that day. As I walked back to the truck I drew level with the grass and heard an almighty roar and saw the grass being pushed over and something was coming for me...BLOODY COSTER. Well my legs collapsed.....My heart stopped and I'm not afraid to say....I think a little bit of poo came out . I tried to case Coster but my legs were like jelly and my heart had not resumed beating.

Look at the bastards just waiting....

There go the legs

And there is goes, hearts back on line


Renee, who I thought was my friend, was laughing harder than anyone has got photo's of my face....I still haven't seen them (I think I'm crying)

We did get Coster back. On the last hunting day of the safari we found a chameleon on the track. When we stopped Zimidu was off like a shot. He went bush and didn't return until we had let the little lizard go. It seems if a chameleon bites you, the only way to make it let go is to sleep with your sister . Anyway the boys were terrified of it. After we took some photo's Juma grabbed Costa and they went to the ground. Dylan raced over with the chameleon on his arm and threatened to put it on him. Coster was fighting like a bastard to get away and was nearly in tears. He did break Juma hold and went bush with Zimidu. We lit the little fella go and the boys came back. I went up to Costa and said " Remember the lion trick you did to me mate? Well your going to get a chameleon thrown into your tent tonight" He just looked at me with a very sorry expression on his face and said "No boss, please don't"

Some other interesting stuff. We came across this couple on a fresh kill (wildebeest young-en)


The kill

I spotted this lass before the trackers (I didn't do that to often but made sure I rubbed it in )


Walter's buff supplied us with a quick snack. I tried it, can't see me eating a lot of them however.


We were goofing off up the top of the escarpment shooting the slingshot. Walter set his watch up in the log we were using as a target holder and told Dylan to try to shoot his watch. Walter said that if he hit it then Dylan would have to buy him a new one. Dylan asked him if he could send him some money over the course of 6 months, sort of paying it off. Walter wanted $6 dollars a week for 6 months. A bit of quick talking and we got Walter to agree to one dollar a month for 6 months (God bless Walter's faulty hearing aid )
Dylan with his 470 NE

And what we found
You should of seen Walters face. I don't think he thought Dylan would actually do it

looks like a great hunt and a good time

I have one question.

quote:

We closed the distance to about 200 meters and Dylan set me up for a shot. I was a bit nervous as I'd never taken a shot at that range before

With that rifle or ever.

Most of my hunting has been for pigs and the like in the Northern Territory. I've shot pigs from about 3-4 meters and a long shot where I hunted was 80 meters. I have shot on the range at 200 but never on game. Probably should of clarified that

Bakes,

Funny stuff, mate! I love the Lion prank!

Nothing like everyone standing there watching you make the long shot

quote:

Probably should of clarified that

Thanks for the clarification

Really good stuff. Keep it coming.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
Bakes,

Funny stuff, mate! I love the Lion prank!

Nothing like everyone standing there watching you make the long shot

Someone could be on the receiving end of the Darwin Award.

Years ago we had a gorilla suit with us.

Walter put on at night, and went to the kitchen after dinner was served.

There was an all mighty screaming and shouting from there as all the staff disappeared into the bush.

One man was found still up a tree inn the morning

Another night Walter hid behind the tent of two American friends.

As they approached their tent, he started shaking it and ran towards them.

The smaller of the two gentlemen got behind the bigger one and pushed him between himself and the gorilla!

I think we might need another gorilla suit next year!

Just make sure the firearms and ammo are not together!

Great stuff Tony!

George

That is a great report - good stories, pics, and fun.

This will be my last post (or I could go on forever ) I thought I'd post some photo's with a short narrative that sums up the safari to me ie. A lot of fun with some great people and seeing sights I only dreamed of. So here goes.

We'll start with food. Absolutely top tucker, I don't know how Heaven (the cook) did it every night
Heaven

The kitchen


Of course sometimes we cooked as well.
Walter the master of the spit.

The apprentice


Eland..or buff fillets



The PH...rugged, hairy chested, good looking,

But what happened here

Walter bought along a sling shot and it was the tool for some serious target shooting.


Of course Coster whipped the truck's sling shot out and kicked our arse's


After two weeks of looking at Walter the addition of Alan's wife Simone to the crew was most welcome.

But things got a little silly

This is Dylan trying to point out some buff to me

Shooting Dylan's 470NE over Saeed chronograph. He was a little disappointed with the results

Now during the safari Dylan had a habit of pouring cold water down your neck. It was decided to get a bit of pay back on him.
Walter had a plan, only trouble is he didn't tell anyone else. When Walter called out "GET HIM" everyone just stood there looking around wondering what the hell Walter was talking about. Walter was left trying to wrestle Dylan down by himself and Dylan just stood there looking at Walter's feeble efforts thinking to himself "What the hell is Walter doing" It did all come together in the end however.


Some random photo's now. This is a wound under the leg of my buff, fly blown and all.

Gary took this one

This one is a good shot of the scrub my bull ran into. I was shaking a bit after the final shot.


My thanks go to Saeed for inviting me along with him and Walter on safari. I met some wonderful people, from Saeeds family to the Vincent's, Dylan, Gary, and even AR's own Don. Also all the trackers and staff. I also had the time of my life with a lot of laughs.

Walter - you should buy your own watch - I told you Dylan could shoot that .470...

I was there for the Gorilla suit episode a few years ago...Saeed has understated the effects.

quote:

Originally posted by JTHunt:
Walter - you should buy your own watch - I told you Dylan could shoot that .470...

I was there for the Gorilla suit episode a few years ago...Saeed has understated the effects.

Jonathan,

We don't want to scare off future candidates

Tony:
Very good, please don't quit with just this
teaser. We all want to see much more and hear more of the fun and hunts etc.
Thanks for sharing,
George

He is not going to stop!

He will be telling stories about his adventure with Walter until he is in his grave!

No one can stop stories about Walter!

Come on Tony, let us hear all of it

Oh ok....more Walter stuff. Well I think Walter went a bit easy on me from what I heard from other hunts. I thought we got on well although he may say something different
Most of our conversations started like this, with me talking and Walter holding his ear and saying "Modulate" then me repeating myself another three times. By the end of the hunt I did get my "Walter ear" in and we had some good talks.

Before the hunt I was told that Walter complains a lot, well that's not true...Walter complains a HELL of a lot. Dylan caught most of it.
He drives to fast
He drives to slow
He spends to much time fixing the tracks after the rain etc
Me doing my bit to help out

Walter pitches in...what a champ


During Walters buff hunt we had to come up with a way to hide his "Bright" hair

Just on Walters buff hunt. I just have to say he did good. Walter has had some heart trouble as most of us know but he put in the hard yards chasing that herd, I even offered to carry the rifle but he wouldn't hear of it. The first buff went about 10 meters and dropped, the second one made it into thick scrub. Dylan and I could see that Walter was doing it a bit hard and Dylan told Walter that he didn't have to go into the scrub, that he would go in. Again Walter wouldn't hear of it and he went in and finished off the buff in fine style......we then had to race back to the truck for some water so he could down a tablet! But hey it was bloody hot and we all needed some water. I have a lot of respect for the old fella for that hunt

We found a lump in the hide and did some surgery


Now you can't keep a good man down. As Dylan and I were chilling out while the trackers were skinning out Walters two buffalo

Walter was with them, working right along side of them, pulling his weight...

This is what I'll remember of Walter, him goofing off

And giving Dylan a hard time


Ahh Walter...the Chilean Kenny Rogers....

Very nice story and pictures, thanks for sharing!

Way to much fun, what a blast. A great time for all involved I bet.

Tony, well done, and well told.