A Tight Corner on the Mongwe River

David Hulme



The Mongwe River


The moment finally came about. Fifteen minutes after sunset, twenty minutes before absolute dark, when the world is dim, grey shadow. There was simply the clearing surrounding the bait tree, and the next instant that clearing was filled with leopard...


Aivars Kapaklis and his wife Diana arrived in the Zambezi Valley to hunt with Roger Whittall Safaris and professional hunter Peter Wood on May 9th, 2013. Hailing from Latvia, this was to be Aivars’ second safari with RWS and Pete. In 2011, he took a brace of trophy buffalo bulls on the RWS primary concession, Humani, in Zimbabwe’s south-east lowveld. This time the emphasis was leopard, in one of the Zambezi Valley’s foremost hunting destinations, Nyakasanga safari area. The hunters’ would be based at the first-rate Halsted camp, at Mongwe, on the very banks of that immense African spectacle, the Zambezi River.



Two 40+ inch buffalo bulls taken by Aivars Kapaklis with PH Pete Wood and Roger Whittall Safaris in 2011.




To those who had not met him before, the type of man and hunter Aivars is was evident from the onset – in a nutshell, determined and focused. Couple that character with the experienced and hardworking team of PH Pete Wood and his trackers (Rindai Manokore and Jeie Chabata), and the tone was set for a memorable hunting experience. As always, I felt privileged to be part of this RWS team, in my usual capacity of photographer and writer.

Shortly after sunrise on the first official hunting day, Aivars demonstrated his shooting ability by putting three well placed shots into a 5x5 cm square on a cardboard box at eighty yards. He was using Pete’s Winchester .375, and would be throughout the hunt. Although he was not familiar with the rifle, little introduction was required. It may as well have been his own – excellent rifle and calibre meets highly proficient rifleman.



Aivars and Diana coming into land at Chirundu


The Halsted Camp at Mongwe on the Zambezi River


A view from Mongwe


Aivars and Diana in Nyakasanga


We spent the majority of the first day opening an overgrown road known as the Paradise road, which cuts through a vast area of wilderness between the Nyakasanga and Rukomechi rivers, the latter being the boundary of the hunting area and the renowned Mana Pools national park. It is inspiring to watch Pete and crew go to work, whether it be opening a road, hanging bait (swinging steak, as Pete says), tracking or skinning an animal. Whatever the task, they tackle it with enthusiasm. What is even more inspiring is to observe a paying client tackle those tasks with the same enthusiasm, as Aivars did, from the first morning till the conclusion of his hunt. Even the parks ranger, Boaz, felt inspired enough to flick the odd branch from the road! I trundled along slowly behind the hard-working hunters in the Cruiser, chatting to Diana and munching Latvian sweets, stopping at times to wait for the road gang to progress, walking about a little, snapping a few photos...how I love this job!

It was encouraging to observe plenty of wildlife sign in the area, and the trackers picked up two sets of leopard tracks along the way – a female and male. Though the male’s spoor was not fresh, Pete and the trackers sought out and found a decent bait tree, close to a pan. Taking notes, the hunters way. We saw many zebra which was also encouraging – we knew we’d need one of those soon. It was pleasantly surprising to chance upon two packs of wild dogs, and in the early afternoon Pete and I actually stalked within ten yards of one large pack (over twenty), as they lay with full bellies under a shady tree in the Rukomechi riverbed. Once they became irritated enough by our presence, the dogs trotted off across the sand.























The next day also comprised dedicated scouting, taking a different direction and covering areas known as Madziwa and Mushuma. The Madziwa road runs east across Nyakasanga and eventually hooks up with the Paradise road, and by the time we had completed the ‘loop’ in the late afternoon, the hunters had seen enough male leopard sign to select several promising bait sites. By the end of the day, Diana decided she’d had enough hunting and opted for the comfortable, scenic environs of Halsted camp from then on, with her book and the odd river boat cruise thrown in for good measure.

Early the following morning, we stalked a herd of zebra in the Rukomechi area and Aivars shot a stallion for bait. It was a fantastic display of shooting – the first shot killed the stallion, and it received two more killing shots as it galloped off through the trees. After the third shot, it realized it was dead and flopped over accordingly. Winching the zebra into a convenient tree, the hunters had it skinned and quartered in short time, and then the baiting began. By nightfall we had three juicy zebra ‘steaks’ hanging, all in seemingly ideal spots, and were confident we’d get a hit soon. Baits were placed only where fresh male leopard spoor had been discovered – a pan on the Paradise road, Madziwa pan and on the Mongwe River, slightly downstream from a sharp bend in that scenic little sand river.

To clearly illustrate the area we were covering, the bait on the Paradise road took two hours to reach, if one was driving with purpose. Simply driving the ‘loop’ checking for sign took the entire morning, and then some in most instances. We were driving 150km/day, with some pretty rough stretches in the mix, and would be clocking 200km/day before the end of the hunt.









'We'll put the blind over there...'


Scouting and baiting










Lunch


We soon had two females feeding – Madziwa and Mongwe – and we hoped one of them would bring in a tom. Another zebra bait was strung up in an inviting spot close to the Nyakasanga River, not far from the mouth, and then, between checking baits, we went looking for a buffalo bull.

After a brief, stimulating pursuit of a large buffalo herd in bush flanking the Rukomechi River one morning, Aivars shot a bull. It was a little this way and that for half an hour, as the wind was jinxing about and splinter groups of cows, calves and young bulls were popping up all over the place, but we managed to outflank the main herd as they crossed a relatively open area. We were up against and blending into scrub, the wind stayed true, and the buffalo were filing out of thick bush eighty yards away, only a spattering of trees between us and them. Pete glassed as individual buffalo and small groups passed through a particular gap, and Aivars, set up on the sticks, whispered ‘Tell me when.’ Pete saw what he was looking for, and the ‘when’ had barely left his mouth when the Winchester boomed. The bull blundered off twenty yards into the open area proper, and nosedived in a heap, stone dead.

The bull was a respectable specimen with an impressive spread, but to be honest we were all more concerned with the fact that we had additional leopard bait. We were well into the hunt, there wasn’t enough bait out, and what was out wouldn’t last forever. Now we had at least six more. It was a real pleasure to observe Aivars spend quiet time with the buffalo, murmuring softly and placing a twig in its mouth, paying his last respects. A true hunter.

We loaded the buffalo and set off a few kilometres down the Paradise road to a place in an extensive mopani forest that Pete and the guys had earmarked the previous day. There, the hunters skinned and cut the buffalo up into bait size portions, at the very base of our next bait tree. One huge hunk of buffalo was hoisted up to Pete, and he secured it precisely where he wanted, as he does with every bait. This was one of the few instances that Aivars didn’t join him in the tree, as there was simply not enough space on the branch for more than one man! Once Jeie had completed his customary drag of the immediate vicinity, and chucked a couple litres of blood about the tree, we loaded the buffalo chunks and sped off to ‘swing more steak’. By sundown the day after shooting the buffalo, we had ten baits out, festooned all over the Nyakasanga safari area, two of them far off the ‘loop’, hence the 150km/day becoming 200.







A true hunter












An elephant cow with calf at heel charged us early one morning as we walked in to check the Nyakasanga bait, which was the first en route. Not mock charged, properly charged. Fortunately we were less than fifty metres from the Cruiser when events went down, otherwise I believe she would have gone down. There we were, full of new day energy and cheer, knowing we were going to be building a blind that day, striding in to check the first of ten possibilities...

We were in usual formation – Pete, Aivars and Rindai out front, Boaz and I bringing up the rear, and Jeie hanging somewhere in the middle. I was fiddling with my camera, as I’m prone to doing, when I looked up to see that those ahead had braked, and Pete was gesturing frantically for those behind to do the same. You know what happens then? Some stop and some don’t and there are pile-ups. We had just begun backing off in orderly fashion, when Pete suddenly saw what was coming and gave the ‘manya’ order. Needing no second bidding, Rindai streaked past me, a blur of green overalls. I was after him in an instant, moving faster than I have in years. Not nearly as fast as Rindai, but faster than the others, and I reached the Cruiser in second place. A mere three strides from the vehicle, I heard an enraged elephant squeal at close quarters and a gunshot, as Boaz let one drive into the air. I guess the elephant saw the Cruiser and veered off before Boaz fired the warning shot, but we will never really know because we were all facing the vehicle when the shot went off, taking long strides over Africa, including Boaz.

As soon as the all clear was given, Aivars said ‘David, did you get any good photos?’ How we laughed. We laughed louder when Rindai appeared sheepishly from the bush – he had done more than reach the vehicle, he had sprinted straight past it and some distance beyond! Pete asked if he’d been thinking about going down to the Zambezi to do some fishing, and we laughed till we cried.







We had a couple more female leopards feeding off buffalo chunks, but they had not brought their boyfriends to dine, although there were male tracks in close proximity. Pete suggested it was because they were mating, and grub is of secondary importance to any male when lust takes hold. The bright side, said he, was that hunger would eventually get the better of them. The only question was when... What infuriated us beyond belief was discovering that vultures had found our fresh buffalo bait in the mopani forest, even though it had been so effectively concealed with mashisha (leaves).

The days merged, as they do when doing the bait run. They were never dull, with all the entertaining banter and all the wildlife we were seeing – elephants, wild dogs, waterbuck, zebra, kudu, eland, busbuck, warthogs – but I guess inner pressure was building in us all. Everyone was anxiously awaiting a breakthrough, a positive development...waiting for a big tom to enter the equation. Each time we walked in to check a particular bait, the expectation was palpable.






















At 7am on the eighth day, we were excited to discover that the bait at the Paradise road pan had been hit by a large tom. Finally, we were in real business. Instantly energized, the hunters began constructing a blind, on the far side of the pan, a site discussed and decided upon well before any bait was hung. With all hands at work, an excellent blind was put up in short time, built back into the brush. Then a path was cleared, looping out behind the blind and hooking up with the Paradise road several hundred metres away. Pete was meticulous, going over each detail again and again until he was totally satisfied with the set-up. Then, at Jeie’s request, everyone sat in a circle and removed their shoes. Jeie began slow clapping the African way and chanting, speaking with the spirits, requesting direction from the ancestors. I believe he assured them that if it pleased them to send the leopard that evening, Aivars would gladly shoot it. Jeie goes through the routine every time a blind is built, and that is splendid, a real confidence booster. After all, who could go wrong with the ancestors on their side?



Aivars cutting branches for the Paradise blind


Rindai putting a blind together


Blind


How Boaz acquired the nickname 'Teapot'


Jeie, the leopard master


The bait on the Mongwe River was eighth in line, at the end of the ‘loop’, only a couple of kilometres from camp, and it was almost noon by the time we arrived there. Another sizeable tom had gorged on the Mongwe bait. Isn’t that how it happens? Nothing for days on end and then wham bam, which way to turn... Instead of placing the blind where he’d originally intended, Pete made a quick decision to change position, as it was noted that the tom’s tracks traversed the original site, coming and going. A quick conference with Rindai and Jeie, and a new site was decided upon, on a low bluff overlooking the bait tree, on the same side of the river. By that time, everyone was jumping about, the clock was ticking and there were still two baits to check – the two removed from the ‘loop’. Leaving Rindai and Jeie to build the blind, the rest of us sped off to check the remaining baits. We found that a female had fed at Kalishu spring, turned around and rushed back to the Mongwe, to discover that Rindai and Jeie had almost completed the blind. We spent but fifteen minutes patching up, and then were out of there.

It was 1.30pm by the time we reached camp, and when we did, Pete asked for a show of hands – Paradise or Mongwe. He explained that there was nothing in it – no reason why he should decide one place was more promising than the other, and as far as he and the trackers could tell, the cats were the same size. At least, their tracks were. All of us voted for Paradise. ‘Right then,’ said our industrious leader, ‘you have thirty minutes...’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Make that twenty-six minutes to get ready. I want to be there by 4pm, sitting by 4.15.’

Aivars, Pete, Rindai and Boaz were sitting by 4.15pm, waiting for a leopard we were all supremely confident would return. But for the usual scuffling and rustling, all was quiet for about an hour. Then a young male lion presented himself at the base of the bait tree. A lion! What a downer. Pete hoped it would realize the futility of getting to the meat, high up in the kudu berry tree, but it started climbing and he was forced to tell it to ‘go away’. Talk about breaking up the party! The lion went away, and the hunters tried to settle again, but everyone knew the game was up. Especially when the lion returned, and began climbing the tree again! This time, the hunters simply observed the great cat, enjoyed the moment and took photos, for there was nothing else to do. Amazingly, the lion did make it to the meat, though apparently there were some precarious moments! We knew there would be nothing left of the Paradise bait by morning, and that the chances were high the leopard would not return, even if the lion pushed off and we hung another bait. All thoughts turned to the Mongwe River.









We only had to leave camp at 5am the following morning, as the Mongwe was so close. By 5.15am the hunters were sitting, peering into the blackness, eyes adjusting, waiting, waiting... At 5.40am, sun touched the horizon somewhere and the light began to strengthen. At about the same time, a male leopard was heard grunting in the distance, far upstream. The men waited fifteen minutes more, until they could see clearly, then pulled out silently.

After doing the ‘loop’ (no male action elsewhere), we were back at the Mongwe by noon. The female had fed but not the male, though Jeie and Rindai quickly ascertained he’d been around, hanging back, not approaching the meat. Pete said they were definitely mating and we’d have to wait for the tom to get hungry. The tired zebra bait was replaced with a fresh hunk of buffalo we’d been saving in the camp cold-room, and then we moved out.

The hunters sat in the blind on the bluff twice more, on the evening of the ninth day and the morning of the tenth, with no joy. But the leopards had been in the vicinity during the night, both male and female. Lengthy discussion was entered into, and it was decided to change the blind site, to revert back to the original plan, across the waterway. It was suggested that maybe the blind was too exposed, or maybe the wind was swirling ever so slightly... In any case, plenty was suggested, but the final decision was to revert back to the original site. By midday, a superb new blind had been constructed, on the far side on the riverbed from the bait tree, about sixty yards from it, in the exact spot Pete originally intended. Once the task was completed to Pete’s exacting standards, and Jeie had communicated with his forefathers, we headed back to camp.



Pete and Aivars walking into the Mongwe bait


Manning the Cruiser


The sun sets over the Mongwe area


The moment finally came about on the evening of the tenth day, at 5.50pm. Fifteen minutes after sunset, twenty minutes before absolute dark, when the world is dim, grey shadow. There was the clearing surrounding the bait tree, and the next instant that clearing was filled with leopard. Peering through his shooting hole in the blind, Aivars was first to spot the cat, and he calmly tapped Pete on the thigh. Pete took one look and knew it was a large tom. ‘Take him when you are ready,’ was the whispered instruction. The leopard stared at the discarded zebra bait for a few seconds, and then moved to the base of the bait tree. There it stopped and turned, looking across the river, in the direction of the blind but not at it. Seconds later, a shot resounded over the Mongwe River...

Jeie and I were manning the Cruiser as usual, about five hundred metres from the blind, when we heard the shot. Short, powerful and extremely agile, Jeie bounced into my arms from across the hunting seat and we embraced vigorously, for quite some time. Then followed much excited chatter and hand-shaking, as we awaited the radio call. There was absolutely no doubt in our minds that the shot had been true – it was a foregone conclusion, given Aivars’ high standard of marksmanship. We should not have been so nonchalant, for there are many twists and turns in hunting and some of those lead to tight corners.

I felt the first twinge of unease when Rindai called us in. His tone was subdued, his message terse and to the point: ‘Wuya pa brind – come to the blind.’ Jay remained exuberant and I quickly shrugged off the minor misgiving – Rindai was merely carrying out his duty as he had countless times before, in a thoroughly professional manner. We would arrive and discover the leopard dead, close to or under the bait tree. It was already dark when I fired up the Cruiser, visibility so poor I had to flick on the headlights. We soon covered the short distance to the the Mongwe River...

Pete filled us in briefly. The cat had been facing the blind, quartering ever so slightly, and Aivars had aimed for the centre of the chest, adjusting fractionally for the angle. The shot knocked the leopard down, and it growled, spun in the dust and made off at top speed towards the river-bend, just upstream. ‘Let’s go take a look,’ said Pete.

The hunters approached the bait tree cautiously, Pete leading the way, slug loaded semi-automatic shotgun in one hand, maglite in the other. There was a sprinkling of blood at the base of the tree, and considerably more a few metres on, which was encouraging. A bit further and even more blood – a pool of blood. Pete ordered everyone back to the bait tree for a talking to. ‘This cat could well be dead in this patch of bush between here and the bend, or in the riverbed itself. On the other hand, we have no idea so look sharp. I want to go down into the riverbed, follow it around the bend and see what we see. Aivars, when we get to the bend, you will cover the far side, I will cover this side. If mortally hit, it shouldn’t go more than sixty or seventy yards.’



A sprinkling of blood at the base of the bait tree...


And more a few metres on...


We descended into the riverbed and slowly made our way up it and around the bend. Pete led the way, maglite and shotgun forestock/barrel gripped in his right hand, butt against his left shoulder, covering the bush on the nearside bank as we shuffled slowly along. Then came Rindai, shining for Aivars who was covering the bush on the far bank. Me, Jeie and Boaz brought up the rear. About forty yards beyond the bend, Pete called time and we walked quietly back to the bait tree. ‘Let’s go through this bush between the bait tree and the bend, we’ll probably pick him up,’ said Pete. We did it, ever so slowly, painstakingly, meticulously, covering every inch of bush... Nothing.

After a prolonged breather, we walked back up the riverbed. Ten yards beyond where we had stopped on the initial foray, Pete and Rindai found a place where the leopard had lain down. It was ominous indeed. ‘We will follow a short distance,’ said Pete. ‘It is bleeding quite heavily and may be dead nearby. Dave, shine for me.’ We followed the leopard out of the riverbed up a steep, narrow bush-choked gully, and in the gully we found more blood. We took a long time to get up and out of that gully, and then we were in thick jesse bush.

Walking side by side with Pete when possible, often slightly behind due to the restrictive bush, I shone for him as he covered each and every patch of vegetation with his shotgun barrel. Ever so slowly, step at a time with lengthy pauses between steps, we inched through the jesse, on the blood trail. It was not difficult to pick up blood in the torch beam, and we did well for about thirty minutes, as there was enough to follow without really looking. But then it began to dry up, and we found ourselves searching for blood while trying to keep our eyes on the bush ahead. Not an ideal situation at all.

Eventually Jeie, the leopard master, called time. He suggested we return in the morning and Pete instantly agreed. Relieved beyond belief, I turned in time to see Avairs’ shoulders sag. He knew what the call meant – the leopard was more than likely wounded and still very much alive. Pete explained that the situation was too dangerous, and we would have to come back in the morning. In case the leopard was actually dead, Rindai and I left our caps on the blood trail – human scent would hopefully deter hyenas. Exhausted (it drains you, believe me) and dispirited, but trying not to show it, we returned to the Cruiser and camp.

Aivars was inconsolable; nothing anyone said made a difference. We all tried, before and during dinner that night. He never said a word the entire time, simply clammed up, alone with his thoughts. Reliving the moment over and again, no doubt, wondering what he did wrong, disbelieving. Pete and I both gave him that familiar old ‘we’ve all done it’ story, and Aivars simply remained silent. Diana tried to engage him, to no avail. He would turn and face you when spoken to, but would not respond in any way. When he faced me, I saw in his eyes that he was shattered.

Immediately after dinner, which he didn’t touch, Aivars went to his chalet. Pete and I, camp owner Paulilo Halsted and Diana stayed up later, talking. Diana explained that Aivars was so devastated because the leopard was obviously suffering terribly, and he realized how dangerous it would be for everyone the following morning. We knew all that, and she knew we knew, but I believe it made us feel better to chat about it. Of course, the one who really needed to chat was Aivars, but he was alone with his torturous thoughts.

Yes, we’ve all heard it, but it is true nonetheless. If you hunt, you have wounded, unless you have super powers. If you are reading this story, you are undoubtedly a hunter and you have undoubtedly wounded. You know what Aivars felt that night. Although, I must say, I cannot remember another hunter ever going into such a decline. In all honesty, I was worried for the morning – we needed Aivars, and we needed him to be all there.

Pete was removing the scope from the .375 when I entered the chalet we shared. Even he was restrained, not full of his usual humour, though to give him credit, he tried. We talked some, about other subjects, and then we got around to wounded leopards. ‘Serious story in the morning...’ I said. Pete whistled softly and shook his head. ‘You know Dave, hunting an early season tuskless jumbo in the jesse is one thing...a wounded leopard in the jesse is an entirely different ballgame. Many a PH’s worst nightmare...’

I lay awake late that night, pondering. One reassuring aspect was that we couldn’t ask for a better man to lead us. With sixteen years big game hunting experience (with Roger Whittall Safaris), Pete is one of the most determined and thorough PH’s out there, and arguably the toughest man I know. That is not to be taken lightly, for I know a number of extremely tough men. I knew Pete would lead us confidently and competently, and obviously it was not concern for his ability that kept me from sleep. It was concern for my own. I mentioned nothing at the time, but the truth is that I had not pulled a trigger for three years, maybe longer. That was not overly disconcerting, because I do know the drill – I simply needed to prepare mentally, do some revision, if you will. I was still revising when exhaustion overcame me. In the early hours, I heard Pete tossing and turning in his bed.

Wide awake by 4.30am, I bumbled through to the kitchen for coffee. Aivars was sitting out on the deck, staring into the darkness. He obviously hadn’t slept a wink. We drank coffee together in silence. In due course, Pete joined us, and we discussed how we would go about things that morning. Pete and I spoke, and though Aivars remained silent, I sensed he was absorbing every word. He was with us, and that was vital. I should never have doubted that would be the case. Aivars would carry the shotgun, I would carry the .375 and Pete would carry what he refers to as his second wife, his Watson brothers .475 No 2 double rifle. Pete’s .475 is a quality rifle, approximately one hundred years old with a great story behind it. A story for another day. The important issue regarding the rifle that morning was that Pete is particularly competent with it.

Just after dawn, Aivars left us for five minutes and returned to his chalet, as he did every day of the hunt, five minutes before we left camp, no matter what time that was. We were still seated when he returned, finishing off coffee dregs. Aivars walked up behind Pete, put his hand on his head briefly, and uttered the first words he had in ten hours, ‘I am ready.’ ‘Let’s go,’ said Pete. There was no banter on the hunting seat that morning.

Great pics and story so far.....can't wait to read the rest.

It is impossible to keep abreast of one another in the jesse, although we put effort into doing so. At any one time, someone would be either a little ahead or a little behind. Rindai and Jeie were tracking, and that tracking soon became exceedingly complicated. The blood had all but dried up, and there was plenty of litter and grass underfoot. Added to which, there were leopard tracks everywhere, male and female, coming and going from the bait, for days on end...

Our area of operation was on a piece of high ground encircled by a half-moon shaped digression in the Mongwe River, which begins and ends with sharp bends in the river’s course. We were moving from the bottom of the ‘moon’ (downstream) to the top. As was the case the night before, it was painstakingly slow. Of course, it would be – we were following a wounded leopard in the jesse, after all. When we were on the track, Pete and Rindai were usually in the centre, though sometimes they would take the left flank and I preferred that because Pete is a lefty. It just felt as if we had more room then, especially him, and that was important. Aivars was on the right, sweeping that side with the shotgun. Jeie was at my feet, picking his way along at a millipede’s pace, seeking out the minuscule signs...

I cannot remember how many times we lost and picked up that tom’s track in those few acres, maybe half a dozen, maybe more. For the trackers, it was toil personified. Over the Mongwe we went, and then back again, up the steep bank and onto the high ground once more, all at a snail’s pace. Methodically working our way across the ‘moon’.

It took us about two and a half hours to cover three hundred metres, in a straight line. We eventually worked our way right across the ‘moon’, corner to corner, bottom to top. Moving down a steep incline, close to the riverbed and top corner of the ‘moon’, a wall of bush before us, Rindai reached down to touch a spot of blood. His expression said it all – fresh, extremely fresh. Pete motioned the trackers back and we inched forward, Pete slightly in front, all barrels trained on the bush ahead, at leopard height. We were moving into an extremely tight corner on the Mongwe River. BOH!

I didn’t even see the cat, but Pete did, and he saw it go not come. And in that instant he displayed the utmost professionalism. Instead of going straight after the leopard, Pete ran down into the riverbed, across it and onto the far bank, gaining elevation, the rest of us hot on his heels. Moving quickly along the bank, we scanned the jesse on the far side. A flash of movement and Pete’s double bellowed. Through the brush, I saw that he had anchored the cat – it was down but not out. I handed the Winchester to Aivars, and he killed his leopard with a shot through the heart.

INGWE!!!!!! Jeie’s cry blended with the echoing gunfire over the Mongwe River. Soon the cry was taken up by the rest of us, and it went on and on. I don’t think any man ever bear-hugged me as forcefully as Aivars did, there on the Mongwe riverbank. I don’t think any of the other guys had ever been bear-hugged that forcefully either! I handed Jeie the shotgun and relieved him of my camera. It was time to get back to work.

We discovered that, for whatever reason (analyzed in depth later), Aivars had shot two inches low and hit the cat through the top of the leg. The bullet had gone through the leg and skimmed the stomach, partially gutting it. The question is, why did the leopard not attack, especially since we walked right onto it? Firstly, they don’t always attack, though it is extremely rare for a wounded male not to. Maybe its stomach wound was hampering it too much? Returning to the place we bumped the leopard, we noted that there was a minor gully between where we had been and where the cat had been. Hardly an obstacle for a wounded leopard, but who knows? Maybe a combination of those factors? Whatever the reason it didn’t attack, I am most thankful.


INGWE!!!!


On the Mongwe


Jeie carries the leopard out



Relieved and happy Aivars with his trophy




The celebrations lasted all day and well into the night. Aivars’ leopard is a tremendous specimen measuring 7 feet 3 inches, tip to tail – a cat in its prime. (We later confirmed the skull measurement to be just shy of sixteen inches). That night, the camp staff performed the leopard dance, re-telling the story in great detail. The dancing and singing culminated with ‘gunfire on the Mongwe’, and Aivars being lifted up and carried around in a ‘blind’ constructed by Jeie. It was a fitting finale to a thrilling hunting adventure that could have had a very different outcome, but for the grace of God.




The celebrations lasted all day and well into the night




We spent the last couple of days cruising up and down the Zambezi River in a speedboat, with Paulilo at the wheel, looking for a decent crocodile. The plan was to spot a large one from the boat, disembark a few hundred metres away, and stalk back along the bank. Sounds easy, but crocodiles are alert creatures and we bombed out a couple of times. It looked as if Aivars would be going home without a croc, but the hunting gods were smiling and he connected with a brute on the last morning of the hunt – the icing on the cake. A perfect brain shot from seventy yards immobilized the croc where it lay, on a small, grass-covered mud island close to the bank. ‘Shoot it again,’ said Pete, and when Aivars did, it slid off the island into the channel! Fortunately the channel was not a significant one – neither deep nor powerful – and recovery wasn’t too complicated or nerve-wracking. Although, Paulilo may beg to differ, because he was the one who went in and secured the reptile!





Hunting a crocodile on the Zambezi












It was an emotional farewell at the Chirundu bush strip that afternoon. A few tears shed by Diana, and I received the second most forceful bear-hug I’ve ever received, from Aivars. As the plane lifted off and we watched it disappear over the horizon, Pete said, ‘I’ll hunt with that guy anywhere, anytime. What a madoda (man).’ Pete said it all.

Fantastic report and pics! So good that Aivars got his leopard.

Thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to the story about the double rifle


Torbjorn

Great report David!
Congratulations to all!
And all the photos....WOW

Thank you for the comments folks, am glad you enjoyed the story.

I blundered early this morning by posting this in 2 parts - it's been a long time since I posted a report, it was a long night and I just didn't think to post the rest of the story beneath the original post...Duh, yes I know. Anyway, am going to try and delete part 2 now and have taken the liberty of copying comments from that thread and pasting them here.

Oz, Shorty was on time off, had some issues to deal with. I understand he is back at work now.

Cheers, David

Fjold
one of us
Picture of Fjold

posted 14 June 2013 05:29 Hide Post
Great report, beautiful pictures!



Frank

One rifle, one planet, Holland's 375.

NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite


Posts: 7612 | Location: Bakersfield CA. USA | Registered: 30 December 2002 Reply With Quote
ozhunter
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posted 14 June 2013 05:51 Hide Post
Looks like a great time had by all.
I don't see Mr Shorty?

Posts: 4522 | Location: Sydney,Australia | Registered: 03 July 2005 Reply With Quote
Badger Matt
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posted 14 June 2013 06:10 Hide Post
Awesome report! You set the bar quite high.

Posts: 833 | Location: Simpsonville, SC | Registered: 25 June 2006 Reply With Quote
Bill73
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posted 14 June 2013 08:08 Hide Post
Awesome report,beautiful pics & a well deserving hunter,all the best to you guys.


DRSS.

Posts: 791 | Location: MI | Registered: 20 March 2007 Reply With Quote
Nakihunter
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posted 14 June 2013 09:52 Hide Post
Great hunt and very well written! I had goose bumps and short of breath!


"When the wind stops....start rowing. When the wind starts, get the sail up quick."

Posts: 3637 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 02 July 2008 Reply With Quote
crbutler
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posted 14 June 2013 09:59 Hide Post
Beautifully done!

and the writing and pics ain't bad either! Wink

Posts: 815 | Location: Minnesota USA | Registered: 15 June 2007 Reply With Quote
Carl Frederik Nagell
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posted 14 June 2013 18:59 Hide Post
David

Thank you for a great report. If only we had more reports like this one and less post were arguing seems to be the main purpose.

Good hunting
CF

Posts: 125 | Location: Denmark | Registered: 04 March 2007

Fantastic report and well written Dave, thanks.

Ya, Wood is a top class Zim PH and good humor in camp! Good effort on the wounded cat...

Great report, thank you for sharing. Congratulations on an amazing adventure!

Well done indeed!

Congratulations to Aivars, terrific leopard. Very well done Pete and crew. I know the pressure was on as is often the case with cat hunting. Thanks for sharing this story with the hunting community Dave - a great account of what went down. Excellent team effort by everyone, job well done.

Guy

David-
It's nice hearing from you again. You wrote a cracker report on a long and intense hunt, and showed us some outstanding photos. The painted dog pictures are amazing.
Big congratulations to both client and PH.
I may need to get you to write my next report for me.

David, a good story well told. Kudos to storyteller, photographer and hunter. Well done.

Great report, I can feel for Aivars, I shot an ele bull that we had to track 7 hours before we were able to put him down.David, which scared you the most, following the cat or Pete's driving, particularly down the road into the valley.

Don't slam the f@cking door...

Thank you for the comments gentlemen. It would be my pleasure to write a report/story for you Marty. Randy, you won't believe it but Pete has slowed down... On the main road anyway - when he hits the dirt he increases speed! Just trying to figure where I've heard that before Woodhits....

Regards to you all, David

Don't slam the #*%^!*!! door is in Richie Schultz's cruiser. I hunted elephant with him May of '12. He now works for Chifuti.

quote:

Originally posted by Randy W Martin:
Don't slam the #*%^!*!! door is in Richie Schultz's cruiser. I hunted elephant with him May of '12. He now works for Chifuti.

And in Pete Wood's cruiser, and in Jonny Hulme's cruiser and I'm sure a number of others...Some of these guys aren't very original. Interesting thing I've noticed is that it's always on the passenger door, and yet the drivers seem to be the worst offenders...just an observation.

David,

We always enjoy your writings, thank you. A safari that will always have a special place in the heart of a hunter.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by retreever:
David,

We always enjoy your writings, thank you. A safari that will always have a special place in the heart of a hunter.

Mike

Cheers Mike, et al.

Great hunt and report.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Great hunt and report.

Second that. Congratulations.

Great report. Congrats on all of the great trophies.

Wow David...a SUPERB report and pics!
Enjoyed every minute of it

Congrats to all involved!!!

Congrats to the hunter,
David you tell a great story.
Im almost certain I met pete last year during my safari with SSG. He was on an elephant hunt with a repeat client who had brought him a double as a gift. Seemed like a great guy.

Very detailed account of the hunt. Great photos!

quote:

Originally posted by Thunder Head:
Congrats to the hunter,
David you tell a great story.
Im almost certain I met pete last year during my safari with SSG. He was on an elephant hunt with a repeat client who had brought him a double as a gift. Seemed like a great guy.

Yes, that must have been Pete you met Thunder Head. Great guy for sure - good humour, extremely hard-working and positive, one of the most capable PH's out there.

Thanks again for the encouraging feedback gentlemen.

Hi David.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your hunt report, written on behalf of Aivars, the hunter. He did very well, and if he reads this, congratulations!

You David, write very well. You paint pictures, create moods and make your readers feel part of the experience. I did have goose bumps all throughout the leopard follow up. Great short novel and for real! Perhaps it is time for another book?

Kind regards
Jytte

Excellent writing Dave! It was like I was there.

COngrats to the hunter on the great trophies.

.

Awesome pics. Thanks for the report.

Thank you for the thoughtful comments Jytte. You are right - it is certainly time for another book, past time. It's actually quite a mindblow to be writing again - been a while. I am getting stuck in now and won't stop this time!

Thank you JTEX, samir, I'm glad you enjoyed the story and photos.

David

Thank you for that David!

Dave,

Nice!

Mark

Wonderful report and photos David. Thanks for all the effort to put it together.

I must congratulate you on your photos and trophies, just brilliant.

Really enjoyed the report and pics, thanks for taking the time to write this up. someday I hope to get a leopard myself, God willing!!

I appreciate the feedback, thank you.

David

Dave:
Not many writers have the ability to draw the reader right into the situation happening.
You do a damned good job of that. I was on the edge of my chair the whole time during this tracking with all the tenseness such a situation requires.
Amazing the relief once it's all over, isn't it?
Nothing better could be said about Aivars ability as a hunter than what the PH said about him. I sure hope he gets to read this story.

Great pictures too. Hopefully I'll find more of your writings. Wish you all well.
George

Fabulous story and pictures. Must have been hair raising.

David: Outstanding as always!

Thank you gents. It's quite a relief to know that I can still get a story to make some sort of sense. Glad you enjoyed it, I will be writing a lot more in time to come. Yes Edod, it was hair raising, for sure. Somehow, however, going in with that particular team fills one with confidence. Truth is that seldom have I felt so alive, than when we were walking into that tight corner on the Mongwe...