Big Five,

We overnighted at the Afton House in Jo'berg where we met several other groups of hunters on their way out. We flew to Dar the next morning and caught a charter into the MK1 of the Selous. As we left the landing strip, we saw several wild dogs and a group of wildebeast. Through out the time in TZ, game was abundant with groups of 300-400 blue wildebeast common with zebra intermixed. We saw groups of elephant every day and lion on several occasion. The giraffe were much larger than I expected them to be and they were abundant. Eland might have been taken but, they just kept on going, a trot that covers ground. We struck out on Buffalo, wind changes and just plain bad luck, although we were very close, within 50 yds., on several occasions. Never a shot at a good bull. We walked long distances in pursuit, and I mean all day. One of the Maasai trackers complained about his balls chaffing. The black PH with us suggested he tie them up with a string. It was pretty funny at the time.

Accomodations and food were great given the remoteness of the location. Vehicles were pretty well maintained and the Maasai trackers were exceptional and became friends. They are on the top of the class lines there and handle themselves very well.

I wanted a big croc and we saw his tracks on the bank. So we staked a bait in the river next to the bank and 23 (!) showed up. I only had one afternoon to hunt him and he never gave me a good shot. With all the others around I really did not want to go into the water to get him out. Perhaps that was a mistake. I don't know.

After the Selous, we flew back to South Africa and hunted a game farm for 4 days. It was a completely different kind of hunt but we were able to collect several exceptional trophies. The hosts and accomodations were exceptional.

If I had it to do again, and I will, it will be for 16 days instead of 7. Although we went with a 16 day license so we could take game as the opportunity arose, we just ran out of time.

Keith