SOUTH AFRICA: MOZAMBIQUE: Off To Southern Africa With KMG & TMS & PPS

Great report and some awesome pictures. You have me looking at cameras so I can get some better pictures my next trip. Looks like all your ph's did some great work and then you did your job when the time came.

I think that carcal though should be a full mount you can always take down some of the little lady's pictures to make room.

A pleasure to read.

billc said:

Great report and some awesome pictures. You have me looking at cameras so I can get some better pictures my next trip. Looks like all your ph's did some great work and then you did your job when the time came.

I think that carcal though should be a full mount you can always take down some of the little lady's pictures to make room.

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Thanks Bill.

Do it.
I bought a small camera to take along and have in my pocket. It was fine for the snap shots in certain conditions, but I am spoiled with the big white gun, as it can do anything I want.
One thing, practice with the new camera before you go and use it in Africa. I hate learning a gadget and losing the opportunity for the picture.

On the Caracal mount:
I like where I live and don't want to change addresses.

He's broken the ice and I have to horn in. Lord knows we were in each others hunts every minute I was there.
I'll throw in a few pictures and some timelines here for the fun of it.
(Since I was rolling around the wet sand in the middle of the night to get some of them.)

I have to say that watching this unfold with a camera in my hand was a great experience.
I was truly never worried about this Leopard still being alive. Kurt was calm and focused when he left camp to sit this night. Martin on the other hand, I have seen Mexican jumping beans with less energy than him.

I had plenty of confidence in them getting this Leopard. It was "Chirpy" every time they went near the bait. That Tom owned the country and wanted everyone to know it.

Preparation for follow up.
Coffee, not Rum in the cup.

23:59



Peering through the Bamboo
You know how I was so confident in that Leopard being dead, the entire staff of trackers was not to confident. No tracker was heading through the Bamboo. The replies were always to the contrary when asked if they could see anything.

00:17



In the drainage prepared for trouble. (note the amount of time lapse. Better to be safe)
I'm above on the opposite bank.
00:34



Proof
00:36



This is when the tension was released. At least what I witnessed.

It shifted quite quickly to quiet congratulations and being quite a jubilant atmosphere.
Then there was a huge shift. One I have experienced personally but never bourn witness to from so close and from this perspective.

Simon mentioned it earlier. "Saying Thank you".
I had not noticed the expressions in the view finder but it is obvious in this shot.
00:43


This about says it all.
00:46



After a few respectful minutes, it was time to get the posed shots.

Pretty happy hunter




Congratulations. Incredible to be able to be part of this hunt with a very genuine, appreciative and respectful hunter.
00:50





The Three Amigos
00:54



The carry out
01:05


They are not on a slope. They have the Captain Morgan thing going on here.
01:06



The skinning team immediately working on the Leopard. (using the "Light Saber" for illumination)
03:29





The Celebration
I left for bed at 04:00. They packed it in a little while later.
Note the color of the Glass in Kurt's Hand. Pink. Raspberry and Rum!!



We were back at it chasing Sable the next "morning"
11:44

That was awesome. You have a gift with words and what an incredible adventure to put into words! Very cool to see an APA bow with those fantastic trophies!

Ragman said:

That was awesome. You have a gift with words and what an incredible adventure to put into words! Very cool to see an APA bow with those fantastic trophies!

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Glad you enjoyed the tale.

I just realized today that I had failed to do some research I had promised myself when in Moz.
I wanted to understand what the guys were doing on their lunch break; which game they were playing.

I asked Vera what it was and I thought she said "Bao".
It was explained that it was quite a complicated game and was played all over Eastern Africa and was about moving cattle into various kraals, etc.
Vera, did not know all the rules.

I watched for some time over several days and could not immediately pick it up and just enjoyed watching.

Bap is Swahili for "board". Yo can see there is no "board" here. The guys dug small pits in the dirt and you can see their finger marks in the cupped holes from picking/scooping the seeds out. Who needs a board, the ground provides everything required.

You can see there are four rows, two for each player. It appears there are nine holes in each row, front and back.
The "nine" holes appear to be one of those "local" iterations of the game. (or a home base I don't comprehend yet)



I found out today that they were playing a "simplified version" or beginners version of the game.
"Bao la kujifunza" - Bao for beginners.

I think they play this version out of expedience versus being beginners.
Game set up is easier in this version.


"Bao La Kiswahili" is the complicated version.
There are actually World Championship Tournaments in this game.
Not a game for the dim witted for sure.

Slightly more refined board for the game being played on in Zanzibar.








I have still not figured this out, but I will.

Get some practice in before you head over and just see how good you are against the masters in the bush!

Wayne, I noticed Mussa on the right in the photo......"not for the dim witted"......after 7 years, we still have to explain daily how to set the tables.

TMS said:

Wayne, I noticed Mussa on the right in the photo......"not for the dim witted"......after 7 years, we still have to explain daily how to set the tables.

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Culture man! Try and beat him at the game he knows!

Are you willing to bet another bottle of Johnny Walker Black, remember who won the last bet.....

I'll study the rules and when we all get together I'll bring a bottle of Rum for the decider.

Great story, just amaizing pics and unbelievable trophies and memories.

JANEZ L said:

Great story, just amaizing pics and unbelievable trophies and memories.

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Thanks for that. I enjoyed writing the story and glad you enjoyed it.

This was done by the same mad bastard who built that damn bridge in Moz.

It feels about the same to watch this.

I am curious, did you notice that they tended to drink a whole lot more than average? Just wondering...

This is an Awesome report Wayne I finally got to read through it and the Pics are Awesome! Thanks Buddy you've got the blood flowing again.

Thanks Bob. It does get it going to go through it all again.

Pheroze said:

I am curious, did you notice that they tended to drink a whole lot more than average? Just wondering...

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I'm thinking a few Manica or Raspberry and Rum might make that bridge appear better but, I'm thinking you really want to be focused.

I was watching another Leopard hunting video today and got some confirmation of the tail position being an indicator of the Leopard being down.




Took a screen shot from Tim Heralds hunting Niassa.
Have a look at the tail on his Leopard.

Hank2211 said:

Had a hard enough time up in those mountains change Rhebok's with a rifle. Can't even imagine with a bow . . .or what's possessed you to try it!

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I just found this iPhone video I took while out chasing the Vaalies. I did bow hunt in this wind as well.