Here is my report:
Preparation
I studiously prepared for my trip to Africa for Cape Buffalo. The first thing I did was tell my wife of 35 years that we would be hunting “ black death”
Big mistake. Don’t do that. I have a history of those kinds of mistakes starting right after the honeymoon whenI flung the covers off of the bed at 5:00 am. to expose my still sleeping bride in a fetal position, all while singing “ This is the day the Lord has made!”
Young guys: Don’t do these things! Trust me.
Anyway, I went out and bought a new rifle and scope, cartridge carrier,a whole bunch of very expensive ammo etc, etc.
Then Covid hit. Trip postponed....
A year later we were once again ready to go. Delta Airlines was not. Soooo.... rather than fly from Atlanta direct we planned a route through Germany on Lufthansa. Unfortunately the folks at Lufthansa were tipped off that the seven of us from Kentucky may have posed a serious threat to the fatherland and therefore allowed us only one rifle apiece.
My trusty 300 win. mag. had to stay home. That cost me a nyala. More on that later.
All spring I practiced with my CZ .416 Rigby. I was “minute of buffalo”from the start and as the trip grew nearer I could hit a softball size target from sticks at 50 yards. I was feeling pretty good about things until three days before wheels up I decided to practice one more time.
Not real sure what happened, but the rifle smacked me in the head, the scope came off, glasses frame broke,I bled. Next came an urgent call to my gunsmith.
He remounted the scope and assured me it was ok.
I sighted the gun in on a lead sled. My friends all assured me of my stupidity . Who knew that was a bad move? Turns out , I broke an ejector spring.
I called the outfitter and he said bring it anyway. They had a guy who could look at it. FINALLY , we were off!
More to come.....