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Tanzania PH Gored By Buffalo
(posted September 12, 2006)

Another African PH has been injured following up dangerous game in Africa. This time it is well-known Tanzania PH and safari operator Rolf Rhower of Rhower Safaris and Game Frontiers of Tanzania who was gored by a buffalo. We spoke with Rhower by phone from his hospital room in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was in high spirits and said he would be making a full recovery. He was scheduled for more surgery tomorrow, but said he would be back in camp directing hunts in a few weeks.

Rhower was gored on September 4, on the second day of a 28-day safari in the Mbarangandu Control Area of the Selous Game Reserve. He was following up a buffalo his client shot broadside at 25 meters with a 505 Gibbs. After three hours of tracking, Rhower found the animal in a dry stream bed where it charged him, and he shot it again. At the time he thought he had shot high due to the animal stepping down from solid ground to sand at the same moment he fired. But a later examination of the skull showed he shot the animal perfectly between the eyes at the bottom of the boss. Somehow the bullet missed the brainpan by a breath, allowing the animal to continue its charge.

Rhower says the buffalo hit him in the chest and then threw him up, goring him in the back of his thigh before flinging him through the air. He says he has a dim memory of lying face down in the riverbed and seeing the buffalo a ways off preparing to attack again. Thankfully, his tracker, Issa, shot the buffalo at that point with the client's rifle, and the animal ran off another 400 yards before dying.

Rhower says he will fully investigate what went wrong with his "perfect" shot and will be writing about it in the various publications to which he contributes. In the meantime, he has acquired the services of a South African PH named Klynhans to conduct his safaris. Rhower assures his clients that Klynhans is as preoccupied with honorable and ethical hunting as he is, and that they will be in good hands. Clients and well-wishers can reach Rhower and his wife Carol by e-mail at rhowersafaris@hotmail.com.

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