Brain1,

Are you the Brain for whom I carried the .458 Lott dies to Gert? If you are, Gert said to thank you and to tell you he is looking forward to seeing you again.

Thanks for the tip about bringing the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I took 4 big bags and I think Gert had eaten them all by about the third day.

Lhook7:

Good report. Doesn't Namibia remind you of parts of AZ, esp south of Tucson?

Too bad no leopards in AZ...

AnotherAZWriter,

Yes, that part of Namibia looks a lot like Southern AZ, or Southwest TX around Del Rio. On the first day I told my PH that there were more rocks in AZ, but after walking for a few days I think it is about even.

If you happen to hear of any leopards around Tuscon, please let me know...

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:
AnotherAZWriter,

Yes, that part of Namibia looks a lot like Southern AZ, or Southwest TX around Del Rio. On the first day I told my PH that there were more rocks in AZ, but after walking for a few days I think it is about even.

If you happen to hear of any leopards around Tuscon, please let me know...

I always say that it looks just like West Texas, only with more giraffes.

Lhook7,
Thanks for taking the dies to Gert. The tracker/skinner named Ilia has the scars on his face because when he was young he was bitten on the face by a cobra. He is one of the toughest dudes I know. He can carry a hind quarter and front should of a kudu up and down those hills like it's nothing. Vaughans staff are high quality people and the service is second to none. I have very little experience with PHs, but Gert vand der Walt is going to be long remembered in the PH hall of fame as far as I'm concerned.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
The tracker/skinner named Ilia has the scars on his face because when he was young he was bitten on the face by a cobra. He is one of the toughest dudes I know. He can carry a hind quarter and front should of a kudu up and down those hills like it's nothing.

Elias did a heck of a job tracking my Gemsbok. He had help from Matthew, but I think Elias was the one who figured out what was what with the track.

Was Andreas working at the camp when you were there? He is a tall skinny fellow, and a bit of a jokester.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
Was Andreas working at the camp when you were there? He is a tall skinny fellow, and a bit of a jokester.

Is this him (click picture to enlarge)?



Not to hijack someone else's thread ( ) but he was absent for most of my hunt on family business and only arrived on the second-to-last day if I remember correctly.

Yes thats him. All 3 (Ilia, Andreas, & Mathews) were present when I was there.Great people, the whole lot of them.

kudu
If this works right, he is the second guy from the left

Thanks guys, I guess I misunderstood Fred. I thought he introduced Elia as Elliot. he is an excellent tracker and a very hard worker.

Andreas hunted with me one day, but he was sick and couldn't do much. Matthew doesn't sound familiar, but he may have been the tracker who hunted with Bill.

Check out the picture on the link I provided, you will see a familiar face of two.

Elias and Matthew:

Charles,

I don't recognize Matthew in your picture. He must not have been there while I was in camp.

Gert tells me Mathews is a ladies man and is not as reliable as the other two when he gets the urge.

quote:

Originally posted by Brain1:
Gert tells me Mathews is a ladies man and is not as reliable as the other two when he gets the urge.

When I was there he was flirting with the cook (Irene) but she was the only one in camp who was not there to see him win the shooting competition we had!

When we were hunting he was a hard worker and a good tracker, although I think Elias had the edge on him for tracking. Matthew is also quite strong which comes in handy loading Zebras.

I think Andreas is Gert's favorite tracker but as mentioned above he was out of camp most of the time I was there.

Matthew is certainly a hard worker and very pleasant to be around. I enjoyed the few days he was along with us before Charles arrived in camp. The fact the he speaks English well helps, although learning to communicate with Elia was a hoot.

From what I understand, Matthew is not a Herero and probably does not have ties to the local villages. Therefore, he very well could have been in Vaughan's Caprivi camp.

quote:

Originally posted by Jorge400:
Matthew is certainly a hard worker and very pleasant to be around. I enjoyed the few days he was along with us before Charles arrived in camp. The fact the he speaks English well helps, although learning to communicate with Elia was a hoot.

From what I understand, Matthew is not a Herero and probably does not have ties to the local villages. Therefore, he very well could have been in Vaughan's Caprivi camp.

One of Matthew's parents is Damara and I can't recall which group the other is from. He is not local, and is more of a city kid than Elias for example -- but good in the bush.

I know he has worked in the Caprivi, so he may have been there, on vacation, or married and settled down.

He does great sound effects when retelling stories of lion and elephant charges. Quite enjoyable even if he is telling them in Afrikaans!

Sorry for the continuing .

Lhook7,

Nice report and a very nice oryx.

Thanks for sharing with us.


Hamdeni