On the way to the middle of no where (the place the guys were going hunting) we passed a platinum mine, two Meerkats and hundreds of baboons. The hunting lodge consisted of more thatched brick huts around a central fire/ bbq area. It was a real blokes place with animal heads mounted all over the walls – quite revolting really. However, it was a lot better than I was expecting – we were originally going to sleep under a canopy and that's it.
We arrived around 2pm and the boys had a crash course in firing Peet and Piet's (Michelle's crazy uncle and his friend) rifles. They were then paired with a tracker and dropped into the scrub a few kms away – the aim to wander back and kill something along the way (hopefully not each other or their trackers). I was not too excited to hear that Jon was dropped off near a herd of Waterbok, each costing around $1000 Aus each to kill. I was hoping he would go after a Rooibok which were a lot cheaper. He refused to take a price list with him, not that it would have mattered – he had no idea what anything was.
While the guys were off having their Wilbur Smith experience we went shooting tin cans – not quite the same but I think preferable. Later after Dave and Nick returned empty handed (no sign of Jon at this stage) so everyone except Jon went hunting in the truck. I don't know where the animals were – probably hiding from us. We did see some Ostriches and a herd of Wilderbeast passed in front of us. The driver informed us that leopards came out of night but no one had informed Jon. I was hoping he was back at camp wondering where on earth we were and not shooting at a Leopard. Dinner was more liver and various types of meat. People here are carnivores. I have seen no sight of vegetables yet.
The next morning the hunting continued with Nick shooting a Blesbok. Later we went back on the truck and Dave shot a Blesbok that I spoted. Michelle's crazy uncle painted Dave and Jon's face in its blood – disgusting! Then he proceeded to chase me with his bloody hands. Jon didn't end up killing anything. He did however manage to give a Rooibok and a herd of Waterbok a hell of a scare but that is about it. If you hit something you have to make sure you kill it, so it could take all night to hunt it down and finish it off if you only injure it with the first shot. Thankfully Jon isn't a good shot – his miss was light on our hip pocket and also meant we could leave and go to Sun City.
We arrived around 2pm and the boys had a crash course in firing Peet and Piet's (Michelle's crazy uncle and his friend) rifles. They were then paired with a tracker and dropped into the scrub a few kms away – the aim to wander back and kill something along the way (hopefully not each other or their trackers). I was not too excited to hear that Jon was dropped off near a herd of Waterbok, each costing around $1000 Aus each to kill. I was hoping he would go after a Rooibok which were a lot cheaper. He refused to take a price list with him, not that it would have mattered – he had no idea what anything was.
While the guys were off having their Wilbur Smith experience we went shooting tin cans – not quite the same but I think preferable. Later after Dave and Nick returned empty handed (no sign of Jon at this stage) so everyone except Jon went hunting in the truck. I don't know where the animals were – probably hiding from us. We did see some Ostriches and a herd of Wilderbeast passed in front of us. The driver informed us that leopards came out of night but no one had informed Jon. I was hoping he was back at camp wondering where on earth we were and not shooting at a Leopard. Dinner was more liver and various types of meat. People here are carnivores. I have seen no sight of vegetables yet.
The next morning the hunting continued with Nick shooting a Blesbok. Later we went back on the truck and Dave shot a Blesbok that I spoted. Michelle's crazy uncle painted Dave and Jon's face in its blood – disgusting! Then he proceeded to chase me with his bloody hands. Jon didn't end up killing anything. He did however manage to give a Rooibok and a herd of Waterbok a hell of a scare but that is about it. If you hit something you have to make sure you kill it, so it could take all night to hunt it down and finish it off if you only injure it with the first shot. Thankfully Jon isn't a good shot – his miss was light on our hip pocket and also meant we could leave and go to Sun City.
3 comments:
Sounds like you need a safari hat and linen pants... its such a male thing to enjoy bloodsports. James came back from a week in Outback Wilcannia last week and they caught 43 pigs!! They are getting ready for their Zambia trip in July leave July 4 for 2 weeks.
Stay well :)
sounds like the white man's dream trip of Africa. James would be right behind you. he went pig hunting in outback Wilcannia a couple of weeks ago with the dogs and they caught 43!
great photo - you look like a true redneck :). hope you are havin fun. Julian
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