Jeff and Dana: Day 9, morning.
(Thursday, 26/7/2018)
Ugghhhh! I think we drank a little too much last night... “Honey, where's the ibuprofen??”
Breakfast was relatively quiet and fluids were being consumed in quantity. The crepuscular Bushbuck aren't going to wait for us! So we get moving.
We head to the areas along the river beds and reservoirs hoping to see a Bushbuck or Warthog. We spied some piggies down by the river bed but they were young and immature.
In our travels we come across a fair amount of elephant damage. Trees pushed right over and branches strewn about. One tree happened to be across the road. There on the left! A piggie (warthog) female with one sizable tusk. She quickly made way behind the tree across the road as we try to get out and see her. No such luck. She was gone.
Well, this tree will simply not afford anyone easy passage around. A couple of the guys stay behind to clear the debris while we motor on ahead. We'll be back just now to get them. We scouted around for a time but didn't see anything and made our way back to the tree to pick up the guys.
We were in the thick of things when Mike spots a Grysbok 20 feet outside his window. I can just see the top of it in the tall grass and its neck. The only shot I would be able to take is to stick my gun barrel out the driver's side window and shoot leaning over him from the passenger side! I wasn't too comfortable with this... The Grysbok didn't hang around while I pondered and in a flash was gone. We traveled on.
By now it was late morning and Dana was still weary from the night before. Time for her nap.
I mentioned to Mike that I wish I had a plastic snake to put on her leg. Then start yelling “SNAKE!” and point at her lap. You know, just messing around like a stupid guy would. Yep, this was all my idea... Being that Mike and I are such angels we decided a piece of old electrical tape would work just as well. Needless to say things didn't work out too well for us mischievous angels. The piece of tape was tossed on her lap and we started freaking out and jump out of the vehicle. She woke up, had no clue what was going on, and fumbled with the door to get out. Her feet didn't make it out the door and she poured out of the truck onto... a thorn bush! Oh no! Now she's bleeding and in pain. We play dumb and fix her leaking hands with the first aid kit. Man we felt bad!!! (Later on I came clean about the “snake incident” and she was ok with it. She even thinks it's funny as all heck except for the pain. What an awesome gal!!)
During our trip back for lunch Mike and I talk about the area near camp behind the dam. Bushbuck HAVE been seen back there as we thought there might be. The trouble is getting to a good vantage spot to see them! It is pretty thick. With only a day and a half left of the hunt we decide to concentrate on that area. We had seen female Bushbuck and various Waterbuck in that area before but no Bushbuck rams.
I considered myself pretty fortunate to have had this kind of first safari experience. At this point I was perfectly comfortable accepting the fact that I may not get a Bushbuck this trip. It is the experience that matters most and this has been a remarkable experience thus far thanks to my brother (
@Edge), Wayne (
@Nyamazana Safaris), and my awesome PH, Mike Blignaut (
@blignaut).
After lunch, which was the fish from the day before, (and oh was it good!), it was nap time. When it came time to get up and head back out, Dana wasn't feeling up for another afternoon in the bush and wanted to rest. After making sure everything was well with her ,I walked down to the truck and met up with the guys. I relayed to Mike that Dana wouldn't be joining us this afternoon.
Jeff: Day 9, afternoon.
We drove down the road near to where I had shot the baboon the day before behind the dam and parked the truck. Into the bush we go. We carefully and quietly picked our way through the thick brush until we came to the base of the only large hill this side of the road and adjacent to the drainage area behind the dam. This is probably the best chance we have to get a decent vantage point for the area. Up we go.
Normally I'm an excellent climber but with a loaded 7.5 lb rifle in tow and binos on a shoulder strap it can get a bit more difficult. As we start making our way around the hill and upwards the bare rock starts to open up a bit. There, ahead of us, a Klipspringer. She wasn't even concerned with us at the moment because the troop of baboons that frequented that area were making quite the racket in the trees and rocks way up above us. I definitely have to agree with Ed (
@Edge), there are 3 animals in abundance here: Klipspringers, Rock/bush Hyrax, and baboons.
Here she gives us a look. Can only guess what she might be thinking...
We watched her for a minute or three then kept moving. Up, up, and across we went until we found ourselves on the face of a large mound of granite. Moving towards the dam we positioned ourselves on a good location to view the entire area behind the dam. The Sun was on its way down providing for some beautiful views but not so good for looking for game!
(Some nicknames for this ridge come to mind but this may not be the best venue for them...)
As it turned out, in one of the less thickly filled areas almost directly across from us there was a shape below the branches of a big dead tree. I watched this shape for a few minutes before I said to Mike that I see one. Sure enough, there was a Bushbuck under that tree! But sooo farrrrr awayyyyyy. We scanned that area for some time and there was another one a little further in the thicket. I lost them in the fading light and the thickness of the brush but Mike was able to follow them – mostly.
We had lost the sun behind the mountain and it was getting dark quickly. No shot tonight. We climbed down through near vertical terrain hanging onto rocks, branches, roots, anything to keep from becoming a pinball on the hillside. We know they are in the area and where we have to be to see them. Tomorrow. One more chance. No pressure or anything...
Off to a delicious dinner by the fire and bed.
The video is now playing.
Something tells me you're not referring to trying for a Bushbuck on the very last day... ? Risk - reward?
