04 November 2012, 08:11
ravenrForever African Safari's, Zimbabwe 2012 Part 1
Dates; Oct.12-23 2012Outfitter; Forever African Safari’s
Booking Agent; Mark Young
Travel Agent; Gracy Travel
Airline; Delta/ SAA
PH; Terry Anders
Apprentice; Steve
Trackers; Willie & Bongaai
Rifles; Winchesters Model 70 375 H&H, Model 70 7 STW
Ammo; 300 Grn Barnes TSX for the 375
150 Grn Nosler Ballistic Tips for the STW
This was my 1st Safari so with nothing more than reading everyone else’s hunt reports, I will try and pass on all
Pertinent info and some of the thrills observed from my side of the scope.
The biggest trip I had done prior to this was an 11 day self guided float trip above the Artic Circle, thru the ANWR and terminating at the small village of Kobuk Alaska. Taking Moose,wolves and Caribou.
It’s a 6.5 hr drive to camp and we get an early start.
Driving thru the countryside, small communities of mud and thatch pass by the window.
Situated around the bases giant monoliths of granite. The roadway clotted with cattle, sheep, donkeys
and goats.
Hell, I was feeling right at home as everything here is as skinny as I am.
It was clear to me Zimbabwe is devastated by this government’s rule. Everywhere the signs of work, business
and prosperity, run to ruin. The police roadblocks were frequent thou we passed thru without incident.
Roads were in pretty good shape, at least the ones we traveled on. In places parallel to the road was the
“Strip road”. Two narrow strips of asphalt that were the old roadway. The ribbons were perfectly spaced
and the strips 16-18” wide. Would like to have seen this country when this was the access to the bush.
The folks I encountered were friendly and engaging, curious but not rude. The children seemed
confident and very capable to any task. We saw children as young as 4-5 herding cattle and goats,
along with another maybe the age of 8. Not only in the settled regions but along the river where the lions,
ele’s and buffalo ranged. Won’t see those training tips in our “Raising children for Dummies”
self help books. 90% of the children encountered were in a school uniform, going to or from school.
I have a soft spot for children and will share with you a few we met.
Little guy helping his Dad guard the gate at the Save Conservancy
We crossed into the Save Conservancy with more than an hour to drive before getting to camp.
The first wild country of the trip, seeing impala, giraffe, warthog, klipspringer, bushbuck and zebra.
It was then that I knew I’d reached “Africa” and had the first drink to slake my “thirst”.
Arriving at camp we were introduced to the staff, Leo, Cosmo, Willie, Bongaai, Steve the appy, Lee the missionary/camp gopher. Skinners, trackers, cooks and waiters, a classic safari camp.
We got settled into our tent and shown the bath facilities, consisting of a tarp wrapped around 5 peeled poles.
A small table, hanging mirror and an outdoor commode (plastic drop away placed over a dug hole.
(had to “stir” the spider webs in defense of my sweetheart every couple days. A brave husband’s job is never done; girl was fearless in the face of elephant and Buffalo ! )
Checking the sights on the rifles I only had to move them up an inch and after finishing a troop of guinnea fowl
crossed from left to right behind the target box. Terry said, “Shoot a guinnea”
When I replied that these bullets would do terrible damage, he said “Oh. Shoot the guinnea”
So at 143 yds I waited for one to stop and painted the small of his back with the crosshairs, trying to save as much of the bird as possible. Put it this way… the breast made great Hors D’oeuvre.
Beings how we had the rifles out it seemed like the right time to receive the “safety talk” and Terry, Steve and I visited about the how, what and where’s of what was expected and finished the day leaning over the bonnet of the cruiser watching the sun slide behind the acacia and mopone.
We had the 1st of many fantastic meals, complements of Cosmo, and later Steve, Lee and I were tasked
to go out with the spotlight and gather 3 impala for camp meat. We moved out after dark and soon found our first bunch in a tight group under an acacia tree.
Driving closer, keeping the light on them we looked for a small ram. The light must of confused them,
an old ewe broke away from the group and charged the light, coming 100yds across the open ground she slammed into the side of the truck, on the “American” drivers side. The 2nd of the group followed and nearly ended up in the back of the cruiser with us.
(Damn only been in the bush 4 hrs and already being charged by the wildlife!)
Over the next hour 3 rams were selected and 3 shots fired, our job was done. On top of the impala seen that
night we saw 3 civet cats and when relaying this part of the hunt to Mark Young I thought he would choke.
Guess he wants one of them, Real Bad. (They sure are pretty, Mark.) heh heh.
For any naysayer’s, I don’t consider this to be any form of hunting just shooting, and tried to be lethal and efficient. We shot, wore out old rams and left the “up and comer’s” for another day.
Did greatly enjoy spending those few hours checking out the night activity and saw creatures we never saw in the daylight.
Back to camp and follow the pathway to my tent, it being lit by white gas lanterns. Spider eyes sparkle in the grass at the edge of the path.
Before unzipping the screen I pause and “tip an ear” to the night sounds, birdcalls, squawks, cries and the piping of frogs coupled with the rustle of small creatures in the grass. No light pollution here either, the stars leap from the black of the night sky.
Tomorrow we hunt Cape buffalo.
Wake up is at 4am, but I’ve been awake for a short while before the alarm went off.
Can’t see who it is but 1 of the fellas bring some hot water for our morning wash and tooth brushing.
More animal and birds sounds from just “over there” as the African bush starts the day.
Next stop, some fresh coffee from home, Sorry Africa but no Nescafe for this couple.
Got to be strong enough to “float a horseshoe” or “Mountain coffee” as we say here at home.
Terry Anders takes one sip and his eyes roll back in his head, he’s hooked now and Nescafe will never be
enough for him either.
Call up the cruiser, Willie and Bongaai load our rifles into the gun rack. Lee is driving .We climb in and pull away from camp. Its an unreal feeling, somebody pinch me, I’m hunting Africa.
The long plane rides, the paperwork, the shots, emails, reloading, practicing…
All of that seems a lifetime ago, I am intensely focused on this moment. Not hyped up, just focused
Every tree, bush, rock and curve of the road are crystal clear. Hornbills and yellow grass, red dirt and old tracks.
A 20 minute drive to Buffalo country, but the 1st animal spotted this morning happens a few 100 yds from camp when a Cheetah is seen. We only get to watch it for a short time but what an introduction.
I’m watching thru my binos and Terry is pounding my leg “yelling” Video! Video!
Kasi is ecstatic, of all the creatures in Africa that she wanted to see… she can now cross # 1 off her list.
(This memory is forever etched in her mind and still now its one of the first stories she tells of the trip)
Plains game is well present and we see zebra, wildebeest, eland, kudu, baboon, duiker and impala.
When we get near the Save river we see our first buffalo, just before they drift into the super thick riverine cover.
Driving farther we check for other buffalo tracks before doubling back and dismounting to follow the 1st group.
This is where the 2nd talk occurs. Chamber a round, gun safety and now listen very carefully.
There is a REAL chance that we will walk into elephants when we enter this area, I need you to stand your ground, don’t run, don’t move…. I’m eating it up and notice Terry’s eyes going from me to Kasi, I glance her way
and see a look on her face never seen before. (This is a gal that regularly backpacks alone and hikes in some of the densest grizzly infested country in the lower 48) She is “switched on” and tells me later that when Terry said we could expect them to mock charge to within 10 meters, THAT got her attention.
“Joe” he says, “ Don’t shoot unless I do, then open up.” “I savvy knowing he has yrs of elephant experience.
I mentally remind myself to watch our flanks if we “get in the middle of them”
We dive into the seemingly impenetrable green wall, walking elephant and buffalo trails. Ducking thorn branches and being ensnared by the cat claw and wait a bit.
Willie leads us to the buffalo minutes later and we a rewarded with a glimpse, the thunderous crashing and popping brush and limbs as they win this round, spot us and go away.
Let me add that this is an important part of the whole, the 1st limb that pops or thicket that sways, your first
evaluation is, what direction are they going? Toward you or away from you?
So thick you “might” see the shadow of a single animal at 10 yds, when you know there are 12 or 15 in the bunch.
MORE, MORE, I want more!!
The minds a funny thing and at this moment I think of the small boy in
“Oliver Twist” saying “More porridge please”
It’s a blue bird day and the heat comes on fast, adding the humidity to the mix, its Damn hot considering there was snow on the mountains of home and frost in the mornings.
The buff are near the boundary of the concession and Terry opts not to push farther on the first morning.
A mixture of caution of the buffalo and thou unsaid, the first timers following behind. I would guess.
We return to the cruiser and drive the roads looking for sign and drive into a group of elephant bulls.
On a lane that bisects the thick cover of the river. Unseen, unheard until they ghost into the clear 70 yds ahead of the cruiser and just as quickly the vegetation swallows them again.
Now I’m the one to be ecstatic , the slow motion ballet of the walking gait of these grey mountains will be forever etched in my mind. Nat Geo’s best footage can never match seeing this vision with my own eyes.
They seemingly float above the ground, movements so fluid and smooth.
Not the last elephant to be seen on the trip but each spotting and encounter, pure magic, a true gift from
The “maker of the mountains”
We retreat to camp as the mercury tops 107’ and are fed a sleep inducing lunch, another of Cosmo’s eatable masterpieces. Up and out again at 4pm.
The evening drive bring sightings of Kudu bulls and many laughs chasing a screaming, screeching troop of baboons
Terry does say that one of the Kudu is “interesting” but we may see better, my call.
He wasn’t scrambling to chase him and I read that as “average bull” and not wanting to dive into it “guns blazing”
Just want to absorb it all. Said this earlier and I know it will sound strange, But this was more than
a hunting trip and was even thankful that a buffalo didn’t hit the ground this morning.
Would have been too easy, too soon.
Guess I drug this first couple days out a bit, will add a few favorite pictures and try not to turn this into a book with the rest of the story. Enjoy and Safe travels.
