Vintage....David Ommanney

This is a picture of David Ommanney, who was a professional hunter with the LAWRENCE - BROWN safari company during the golden age of safari hunting in Africa.

This man was nearly killed by a leopard in Manyara (now a national park). The leopard had been wounded by his client and during the follow up, Ommanney got severely mauled by the leopard. While on the way to the hospital in Arusha, his tracker Salim back in camp took his master's .30-06 and went after the leopard (the client had taken the PH to hospital). He too got mauled and just 2 hours after admitting Ommanney, his tracker was also brought to the hospital, mauled by the very same leopard!!

The leopard was brought to book 3 days later by a PH called Theo Potgieter from Nairobi as most of the top PH's were on Safari with clients. This story is well told in Frank C. Hibben's book 'Hunting in Africa'. Its under the chapter title, 'The killer leopard of Manyara'!!

What an amazing story!

Gutsy killer leopard !!! really a amazimg fact ,thanks for info on this Mbogo Hunter.

Monish

You are welcome Monish.

Some more vintage photos of wild Africa.

Hey M'bogo.

I'm a huge fan of vintage Africa and have a good collection of books written by adventurers such as Roosevelt, JA Hunter, Ruark, Frederick Patterson and Martin and Osa Johnson amongst others.

My favourite vintage photo is of a Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine), which is actually a wild dog, shot in the early 1900's. I have not been able to get a large format print but still looking...

I picked up a copy of the novel "White Hunters" while travelling recently. It is more of a East African history book than a novel but it is full of period photos of the great hunters, their equipment, and their clients. A very good book and a good read as well.

The Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) was not a wild dog, but like most native Australian animals was a marsupial. It filled an apex predator role like the wolf and so took on characteristics of both dog and cat, but it is actually related to the opossum. In spite of periodic sighting reports, the Thylacine is likely extinct. A project is under way in Australia and California which may eventually clone one but those are long odds. A shame. One of those which just missed being saved by modern thinking about preserving species.

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Originally Posted by schembridan

Hey M'bogo.

I'm a huge fan of vintage Africa and have a good collection of books written by adventurers such as Roosevelt, JA Hunter, Ruark, Frederick Patterson and Martin and Osa Johnson amongst others.

My favourite vintage photo is of a Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine), which is actually a wild dog, shot in the early 1900's. I have not been able to get a large format print but still looking...

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Hi schembridan,

I too am a good fan of vintage Africa (though they really make me wish i was born when 'AFRICA' meant cannibals,black water fever and dangerous game!). I have books written by G.G Rushby, Commander David Enderby Blunt, Brian Herne, C.J.P IONIDES, F.C. Hibben and John Dawkins among many others. Luckily, most these books have vintage photos and i never tire watching them.

My favourite photo is the pure black maned lion shot by painter during his honeymoon in 1911 near Arusha. They never come that black these days (looks like modern lions are a bit more civilized and go to beauty shops for a bleach!!). Its from Brian Herne's book 'White Hunters: The golden age of African Safaris'.

Its sad that the Tasmanian tiger is now extinct.

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Originally Posted by Macs B

I picked up a copy of the novel "White Hunters" while travelling recently. It is more of a East African history book than a novel but it is full of period photos of the great hunters, their equipment, and their clients. A very good book and a good read as well.

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Hi Macs,

That's a very good book you have got there.It brings back the memories of ancient Africa more than any other African book I have ever read. The pictures are outstanding and true vintages.Some few more vintages can be found at www.cottars.com

Happy reading! Cheers.

Mbogo Hunter,

Great photos, those must have been the days the Golden Era In African Hunting !!!!! do post more snaps

Thanks

Monish

Monish,

Those surely were the days of the golden era in African hunting. In those days, foot safaris were the only means of travel and the big five weren't the only dangers you would expect! Hundred pounders and black maned lions were plenty, and hunting in Africa meant facing disease, cannibals, dangerous game, and unknown terrain. That was Africa at its best! I promise to post some more vintage snaps soon.

Mbogohunter,

Thanks, waiting for more of these snaps, we can only read the chronicles and writings of those great hunters who litreally exlpored the dark continent , you & I can only imagine the great hunting days , today we are more of less of technical hunters.

Monish