While so many things and places have changed in life in many ways, they remain the same. I am rereading Rourk's Horn of The Hunter for probably the fifth time coming off my 14-day leopard hunt last week. Reading Rourk's typical day it reminded me of almost the exact same type of day I just spend in Zim without the alcohol at lunch.
When he describes his tent with mosquito netting listening to all the animals at night it was the exact same experience. When he describes being awakened with hot water and tea, a piece of toast then off for the day in the cold calm morning, that was exactly what I did each day. Every lunch was done in the bush in the shade and was always cold never hot. The evenings were the best when we would drive up after 120 miles per day over 14 days driving over roads so rough I came home with large bruises on my back and rear end to see "the small bright lights of the fire." waiting for us. Our first adult beverage was always by the fire to warm ourselves while always a hot dinner would then greet us in the cook tent. We would celebrate and talk about our day with our joys and disappointments.
Rourk's hunt was in about 1950 and my latest was in 2025 so 75 years later...no question the amount of game seen is quite different but I found the experience to be wonderfully the same in so many ways...no I did not get my leopard but I got my taste of old Africa and this old Nostalgic hunter could not have been happier!!!
When he describes his tent with mosquito netting listening to all the animals at night it was the exact same experience. When he describes being awakened with hot water and tea, a piece of toast then off for the day in the cold calm morning, that was exactly what I did each day. Every lunch was done in the bush in the shade and was always cold never hot. The evenings were the best when we would drive up after 120 miles per day over 14 days driving over roads so rough I came home with large bruises on my back and rear end to see "the small bright lights of the fire." waiting for us. Our first adult beverage was always by the fire to warm ourselves while always a hot dinner would then greet us in the cook tent. We would celebrate and talk about our day with our joys and disappointments.
Rourk's hunt was in about 1950 and my latest was in 2025 so 75 years later...no question the amount of game seen is quite different but I found the experience to be wonderfully the same in so many ways...no I did not get my leopard but I got my taste of old Africa and this old Nostalgic hunter could not have been happier!!!
