Malambo
AH senior member
My hunting trip was supposed to had place last year. Due to Covid 19 pandemic the flights were cancelled, so we had to postponed it to 2021. We settled the dates for April 2021 and I bought new tickets. Not far from departure date, with permits already filed, the airline reduced frequency on the route and cancelled my flight so we had to move and arrange the dates again. Later, there was big uncertainty were my flight was going to happen o not, because of the raise of cases and virus variants, with authorities announcing more restrictions.
Nevertheless, Wayne Van Den Berg was always supporting and helping to make my dream trip came true. I am thankful for his understanding and kind behaviour towards me in those matters.
That said, let me tell you about my hunting experience that was great. We had several places where to hunt. Each of them was beautiful with different environments, i.e. mopane tree areas, acacia forest, riversides, etc. I was very glad to see many kinds of birds including pied crows, eagles, francolins, spur winged goose, hornbills, saddle billed stork, herons, vultures and three majestic grey crowned cranes flying over us. I also found weaver nests and heard woodpeckers. But in the bird department, this time my best experience was to be called insistently by a honeyguide.
PH Bruce Cronje was knowledgeable, nice to chat and very kind to response to all my inquiries, but more important, he was proficient in his business. So were the whole team. We hunted hard every day, cleaning paths, searching for tracks, following them, etc. i enjoyed each day.
After some days and some daytime approaches to elephants, we planned to catch them in the crop’s fields for the villagers nearby were asking for help with crops raiders. We camped on a local homestead waiting for the night when the raids take place. We tried to ambush by the previous night tracks of a big bull, but he didn´t show. So later we marched to the crop fields. The night was dark, no moon at all. We could hear the noise of elephants eating corn, it was a herd. To see them and chase them away the lamp torch was turned on, and then I could see lots of elephants. They raised their heads to the light for a moment and then they all run away to the same direction. What a magnificent scene! More than forty elephants of all sizes stampeding not far from us. By the end of the herd, standing out for his size we could see a big bull. It was not possible to do something about it, because of the distance and him running at escaping speed among that many females and calfs. PH Bruce said that he was carrying nice tusks as well.
On the other side of my exciting experience, I could understand the anguish of the villagers by witnessing the damage that the animals cause, by eating and stomping the crops, every night.
We moved to another place where we had heard of elephant movement. Not a herd this time. We were walking through a mopane tree area. It was completely dark, I couldn´t see anything other from the narrow sand path we were taking. Bruce was telling me to get ready when we heard loud noise. The lamp went on and surprisingly I found a big elephant facing us very near and closing in. I fired almost in an instinct’s way, followed by Bruce. Getting hit, fortunely the elephant turned away. We finished the job not far from there. When the heat of the moment was gone, we measured the distance from where we shot him. It was only 7 metres.
He was a mature bull, with the tusks worn out. His right tusk was sharp ended, most probably by rubbing on trees to peel the bark off them. His feet also showed age and he carried not much hair in his tail.
Next morning villagers gathered for the meat distribution and many showed thankfulness. Nothing was to waste.
I had a great time and a good hunting with Nyamasana Safaris.
Thank you, Wayne, for making possible my first elephant hunt, and I hope we will meet again.
Nevertheless, Wayne Van Den Berg was always supporting and helping to make my dream trip came true. I am thankful for his understanding and kind behaviour towards me in those matters.
That said, let me tell you about my hunting experience that was great. We had several places where to hunt. Each of them was beautiful with different environments, i.e. mopane tree areas, acacia forest, riversides, etc. I was very glad to see many kinds of birds including pied crows, eagles, francolins, spur winged goose, hornbills, saddle billed stork, herons, vultures and three majestic grey crowned cranes flying over us. I also found weaver nests and heard woodpeckers. But in the bird department, this time my best experience was to be called insistently by a honeyguide.
PH Bruce Cronje was knowledgeable, nice to chat and very kind to response to all my inquiries, but more important, he was proficient in his business. So were the whole team. We hunted hard every day, cleaning paths, searching for tracks, following them, etc. i enjoyed each day.
After some days and some daytime approaches to elephants, we planned to catch them in the crop’s fields for the villagers nearby were asking for help with crops raiders. We camped on a local homestead waiting for the night when the raids take place. We tried to ambush by the previous night tracks of a big bull, but he didn´t show. So later we marched to the crop fields. The night was dark, no moon at all. We could hear the noise of elephants eating corn, it was a herd. To see them and chase them away the lamp torch was turned on, and then I could see lots of elephants. They raised their heads to the light for a moment and then they all run away to the same direction. What a magnificent scene! More than forty elephants of all sizes stampeding not far from us. By the end of the herd, standing out for his size we could see a big bull. It was not possible to do something about it, because of the distance and him running at escaping speed among that many females and calfs. PH Bruce said that he was carrying nice tusks as well.
On the other side of my exciting experience, I could understand the anguish of the villagers by witnessing the damage that the animals cause, by eating and stomping the crops, every night.
We moved to another place where we had heard of elephant movement. Not a herd this time. We were walking through a mopane tree area. It was completely dark, I couldn´t see anything other from the narrow sand path we were taking. Bruce was telling me to get ready when we heard loud noise. The lamp went on and surprisingly I found a big elephant facing us very near and closing in. I fired almost in an instinct’s way, followed by Bruce. Getting hit, fortunely the elephant turned away. We finished the job not far from there. When the heat of the moment was gone, we measured the distance from where we shot him. It was only 7 metres.
He was a mature bull, with the tusks worn out. His right tusk was sharp ended, most probably by rubbing on trees to peel the bark off them. His feet also showed age and he carried not much hair in his tail.
Next morning villagers gathered for the meat distribution and many showed thankfulness. Nothing was to waste.
I had a great time and a good hunting with Nyamasana Safaris.
Thank you, Wayne, for making possible my first elephant hunt, and I hope we will meet again.
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