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I have a few but the first one would have to be in Free State SA. I noticed on Safari it is not very often you are alone. I am one of those people who don't mind being alone and actually kinda like it, Most of the time on safari you are with many people and have a lot of things to do in the short amount of time you are there as a client hunter.

I was in RSA wing shooting, we had come around a bend and flushed a lot of ducks off a pond. The PH said sit here we will move the truck off on the far hill and they will come back. I was sitting there the first time since being in Africa I had nothing to do and was completely alone. Sitting there in the tall grass on the edge of the pond laying back waiting for the ducks to come in it hit me "I AM IN AFRICA". I had been there for three days but it hit me then and I don't figure I will ever forget it. The first time only comes once.

Another fond memory. Coming back from a hut one day in the Selous, we had pretty good luck that day and with a impala in the truck along with a heartbeast that was a very long shot I was feeling pretty good. I heard the flat or puncture as they call it in Africa well before the driver knew. You could hear the roar of the tire and see the driver fighting the wheel much more then he expected. Sure enough we stoped with a flat. The PH got out with a kinda odd look, you can many times read a situation without words being spoken if you pay attention and feel the mood I very rarely find myself not being abel to read between the lines, Look at people pay attention its pretty easy no matter the language or area people are people all around the world. The PH said this is not the best place for a puncture right in the middle of Lion city with a truck full of meat and blood in the pitch black of night. I can assure you by the way the hunting party changed that tier they were thinking the same thing.

That in this area far from any sort of man and wild as it was long ago a flat, something that was common place and mundane at best in my world was a matter of life and death concern here drove home the point. I was in Africa and I smiled at the though that something so common was so different here it meant so much more. To most it would be a flat nothing to think about and soon forgotten I cant say why but it meant something to me.

I had many times that were exciting tracking buff through elephants what a picture perfect African moment, but these times listed above for what ever reason anchored me in the fact I was here and I had dreamed of this for some time. Funny how moments others don't know have any affect stand out in your life. I have had a life full of moments like that and I consider myself lucky for them.

James F. Nixon III

Edited by NONE (29/10/04 11:36 AM)