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mikeh416Rigby
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What are your favorite memories of Africa?
      #2138 - 22/03/03 09:33 AM

Africa leaves everyone with such wonderful memories. Putting the animals you've taken aside, what would you count as those one or two special happenings that you'll remember forever? One of my favorites was one evening while in a bush camp in Kruger NP, my wife and I went outside, drove to the darkest end of the camp and got into the back of the baakie with some pillows and blankets. We then proceeded to just watch that amazing South African sky for the next 2 hours, with the sounds of the African bush all around us. It was truely magical!

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2147 - 23/03/03 07:01 AM

Well, I have many, MANY , MANY wonderful and fascinating memories but here are a few:

When I came upon day old elephant tracks in a sand river when I was hunting in Namibia. These were from Damara elephants and they sure tore up some HUGE trees along the way. Even though I did not see the ele it was as if I did.

The sound of the doves in the morning. Lions roaring in Namibia.

The first animal I shot, I will never forget that kudu. I nearly died of heat exhaustion that day.

The smell of tamboti wood smoke.

The first time I tasted Amarula.

The first time I fired my .375 H&H.

There are so many more.........

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2157 - 24/03/03 08:05 AM

I just recalled another special memory from Africa. On a Safari in what was then Zululand, I found out that the Zulu staff usually give a Zulu name to the hunting client: something based on their observations of the client, like a peculiarity, habit, or something in their behavior. After about a week of not having a Zulu name bestowed upon me, I asked my PH about it. I thought perhaps I had inadvertantly done something to offend them. He said that he too found it most unusual, and he would try to find out what, if anything, was wrong. It turned out that the staff had a name for me that they were only using among themselves, but they were concerned I'd be offended, and didn't want me to take the name in the wrong vein. I'm a big man-6'3", and 270 pounds. I'm not sure of the spelling, but the name the had given me was "Manitelaiamoto", which literally translated means a big man who makes the car go down. It seems that every morning when we'd get ready to go out hunting, I'd grab hold of the right rear section of the trucks tailgate, put my foot up on the bumper, and haul myself in. Of course when my full weight was put on the bumper, the truck would sag, and the trackers got the biggest kick out of that. Only after my PH told them I wouldn't be upset, did they bestow upon me my Zulu name, which I'll cherish forever.

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2160 - 24/03/03 08:19 AM

Mike,

That's interesting, I didn't know they had names for us! I will have to ask what mine is when I return in August. I will have the same tracker at a concession near Pongola.

I sure hope it is something nice that they call me!!!!

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: AspenHill]
      #2165 - 24/03/03 08:46 AM

Ann, you can rest assured that they won't call you anything nasty. I've found the Zulu people to be quite sensitive to others feelings, which was why they were so hesitant to even let my PH know the name they had given me.
Who will you be hunting with in Pongola? That's a wonderful area-some great Kudu, and Warthogs up there.

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2166 - 24/03/03 08:59 AM

Well, if I were to guess what they call me it would be loosely translated as Crazy-Woman-Who-Carries-Heavy-GUN!

My .375 H&H is 11 pounds locked and loaded and I could see the strain on the tracker's face when I'd hand him my rifle to put in the rifle rack on the bakkie. I am sure he was greatful he never had to carry it out hunting.

I will be hunting with Rob Duffield for the third time. I think Zululand is my most fav, I love the terrain. And you are right, the warties are fabulous. About the only thing you can't get good there are gemsbok and springbok. But the spiral horns are nice as well as a lot of other species. I saw a pretty impressive kudu straight up a mountain side last year and should have blasted him. He was magnificent standing there with a group of cows.

The game parks are very nice to visit there too. Check out Hluehluwe/Umfolozi some time if you have not been there.

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: AspenHill]
      #2168 - 24/03/03 11:04 AM

Ann, so far it looks as though you and I are the only ones who've got fond memories of Africa . You're right about the game parks. They are very special. I much prefer them over Kruger. A couple of years ago Joan and I along with my hunting buddy, and my PH friend and his wife & son spent 5 days and nights in a bush camp in Umfolozi. Ten minutes after we got our gear in our chalet, there was a White Rhino feeding just outside our cottage within 50 yards. The next morning I got up just before sunrise so I could hear the bush come alive(and have a cigarette), and there was a Leopard within 100 yards calling her cubs. There were also crocs in the river that could be viewed from our deck. The camp itself was beautiful too. The chalets were made of reed and thatch, with random width wood floors, and had running water, flush toilets, and gas heated hot water. Electricity was from solar batteries. God I love Africa!

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2172 - 24/03/03 01:21 PM

Mike

I saw this thread and planned to write a few words but ...

My favourite memories of Africa and there are a lot:

- an elephant looking over the top of a bush at me and raising its trunk to smell the air when "I went behind the bush" - standing up luckily

- dawn in the Ambroselli with the elephants feeding in the thick grass in the mist

- hearing elephants pass my tent at a distance of less than a metre from me and hearing the so soft "ssshhh" sound they make in soft sand

- canoeing on the Zambezi, just my wife and me and a guide in two canoes

- flying in a small helicopter and hanging out the door taking photos during live game capture operations in Southern Zim

- spending an afternoon in a hide with just my wife and I in Western Hwange and observing the habits of the antelope and elephants come in

- having a lion half circle our camp grunting as he walked just outside the camp fire light as he headed off to a kill on the opposite hillside.

- and of course good friends and people

Just a few.


--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: NitroX]
      #2173 - 24/03/03 01:27 PM

Mike and Anne

When I hunted in Southern Matabeleland the PH told me that the Matabele give most clients two names. One which they may tell you and which MAY be complimentary. The second probably picks your worst or funniest feature (they seem gifted that way like "comedians" often are) and they definitely won't tell you this one.

Try as I might the PH wouldn't tell me what our names were.

(the Matabele are of course related to the Zulus)

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
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gryphon
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: NitroX]
      #2174 - 24/03/03 02:39 PM

"The first time I fired my .375 H&H." Aspenhill did you really go there without first test firing your 375 at home first?


--------------------
Get off the chair away from the desk and get out in the bush and enjoy life.

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: gryphon]
      #2183 - 25/03/03 12:05 AM

Gryph - Of course not! I probably should have worded it better, the first time I fired it at game. Waaaaayyyy different than a boring static target. Just seeing what the rifle could really do. And that I was effective with it, I guess I surprised myself with it! Seems like at every shot all I can remember is the big orange flash!

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: NitroX]
      #2184 - 25/03/03 12:08 AM

John,

Caught with your pants down by elephants? I wonder what they were really thinking?

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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gryphon
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: AspenHill]
      #2187 - 25/03/03 10:07 AM

i thought it may have been like that AspenHill, in your case you have the score on the board with your trophies and its refreshing to hear of a lady hunter being as accomplished as you,but unfortunately quite a few hunters go out and buy BIG then go hunting without getting accustomed to their new firearm and then will try and blame others for misses etc.

--------------------
Get off the chair away from the desk and get out in the bush and enjoy life.

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AspenHill
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: gryphon]
      #2190 - 25/03/03 11:25 PM

Gryphon,

Actually my .375H&H is so smooth a child could comfortably shoot it. I think if more time was spent preparing a firearm to fit and shoot properly more people would be shooters and those who already shoot would be even better shooters.

My rifle is deliberately heavy, has a very nice butt pad on the stock, a hell of a trigger job and I don't shoot hot loads in it. There is no need for a brake either. It is much nicer to shoot than my 30-06 which will eventually get changed up to be a nice as the .375!

--------------------
~Ann

Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.

Aspen Hill Adventures

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SafariHunt
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: gryphon]
      #2193 - 26/03/03 08:00 PM

MY memories so far

- MY first hunt and shot two warties with one shot

- My first buck when I was 16 a kudu bull

- My 17" bushbuck

- My long hunt after one kudu bull

- Standing on top of our mountain and looking in a 360 degree circle not to see one man made object !

- Feeling the precense of God when in the veld.

- Going out on a weekend to take two buddies of mine hunting and each getting their first game.

- Taking out a friend of mine's brother for his first kill

- My 375 and the power it has when dropping animals.

- Spending hours next to the fire talking with lifelong friends.

- Teaching my wife about the animals and the diffrent species showing her the way of the bush (She loves it now!)

- Getting my PH license

Hell there is much more that I can add but it will take me all day long. They are not all in order but just the things that popped up in my mind.


--------------------
"Sleeping under the African sky I can see nothing wrong with this world!"

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: AspenHill]
      #2197 - 26/03/03 08:40 PM

Anne

Luckily I was standing up!

I tried waving my trunk at him (or her) but the ele wasn't impressed so retreat was the best course of valour. Circled around the bushes to get downwind and headed back along the track to the camp.



--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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Mpofu
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: NitroX]
      #2199 - 26/03/03 08:48 PM

1. The sharp intake of breath as I first set eyes on the Zambezi from the main camp.

2. My first sight of a Cape Buffalo Bull, in the wild.

3. Shooting a charging Buff.

4. The sights and sounds of nocturnal Africa whilst sat around the campfire.

5. Fishing for Tiger, and watching the sunset over the Zambezi.

6. Watching Lion , Leopard and Hyena feeding at the bait.

The list is pretty long......
M.

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #2224 - 29/03/03 02:46 PM

Lady & gentlemen, this is some really great stuff. Please keep it coming. And Ann, don't forget to share your "new" name with us when you get back from Pongola.

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NitroXAdministrator
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #57882 - 27/05/06 06:55 PM

BTTT

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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SAHUNT
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #57883 - 27/05/06 08:19 PM

Living in Africa I have lots of memories.

My fondest memory comes from my childhood days before I went to school. I regularly visited my uncle's farm and ussually stayed for a while. There was no electricity on the farm, we used candles and lanterns. Very early in the mornings the pikanins woke me up to help them to round up the cattle in the veld. In the winter it was very cold but the job had to be done. Those days shoes was for sissy's. Barefoot and with shorts on you started out to find the cattle and chase them to the kraal to be milked. The only way to keep your feet warm was to stand in fresh cow dung. We also had to prepare the kaboem mealies. It is dried mealies that you cook in the donkey untill they are swollen and soft. After seperating the milk and the cream we were allowed to join the elders to share in the kaboem mealies.

It was such carefree days with lots of fun, but we also learned a lot.

Even today I love the smell of fresh cattle dung.

--------------------
Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience

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DoubleD
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: SAHUNT]
      #57890 - 28/05/06 02:42 AM

Hunting Wildebeest in 3cm of snow.

I loved it so much that I moved to Africa and got Tickbite fever.



--------------------
DD, Ret.

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: DoubleD]
      #57893 - 28/05/06 03:32 AM

I've got to admit, I don't recall ever seeing trophy photos from Africa that were taken in the snow. Can you post any for us?

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DoubleD
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #57905 - 28/05/06 02:06 PM

We took nothing in the snow. The Tracker was getting hypothermic, the PH was getting Hypothermic. I was the only one with the right gear. I said enough lets go back to camp.

Took the wildebeest a day later in the sleet.

Drakensberg got 24 inches that day, year-2002

All my pictures are in storage in the US. I did send the Outfitter an email and ask if he still had pictures of us hunting in the snow. He had the pictures up on his website for several years.

--------------------
DD, Ret.

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mikeh416Rigby
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: DoubleD]
      #57909 - 28/05/06 03:55 PM

I remember that well. I have friends who were living in Howick at the time (now they're in the Dargle Valley), and they told me how cold it was. All the passes in the Drakensburg were snowed shut for days. They just don't have the snow removal equipment. The pictures in the newspapers they sent me were unbelievable.

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DoubleD
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Re: What are your favorite memories of Africa? [Re: mikeh416Rigby]
      #57914 - 28/05/06 04:57 PM

My PH in his mid 30's had lived in the valley all his life. He had seen snow on the Mountain tops before, but never on the valley floor. That is where he measured the 3 cm.

While getting warmed up we went to PH's fathers home and that is where I saw two huge elephant tusks and heard the story of how his Grandfather killed the elephant in the garden many years before. The picture of the Grandfather with Elephant realy impressed me. May not others. The house I was standing in could be seen in the background and the grand father was standing by the elephant that was laying in its side, and he had one hand on the tip of the Elephants tusk and his hand was above his head. THe PH told me that his Grandfather use to tell him that was the last elephant they ever saw on the farm. The tusks were taller than me.



--------------------
DD, Ret.

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