quicktime
Member
That's a big tree and a fine looking bufaloe.
Double Rifle
- Thread starter Big Daddy K
- Start date
- Status
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
Martin, Thanks I really appreciate that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
quicktime,
That tree is a Bao Bab. The amazing thing about a Bao Bab of that size is it was sapling at about the time Christ walked the earth. They live to be thousands of years old.
The Buffalo is the one that almost DIDN'T get away. He was stopped at close range in full charge with my second barrel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skoghund,
I completely forgot about Tikka and CZ last night I was thinking traditional SXS only. YES Tikka and CZ both build really affordable O/U double rifles. I think the Tikka is kind of ugly but I've heard they really shoot well.
H&H, I applaud your soul stirring response to spinner's post. I think the ultimate experience in dbl rifle shooting would be to shoot a 4 bore just ONCE.I will never owne a 4 bore, I will probably never even see one in real life,but I would love to shoot one. Any body who does not have at least some afection for the old guns does not appreciate the history of cartridge rifles and what the old safari hunters hand to endure to bag the game they hunted. Todays hunter has it easy with options like hotel rums and gormet food in airconditioned resterants. I have researched African hunts on the net and primitive camps seem to be dificult to find.If I get to go to Africa, I wnt a primitive camp in the grand style of those colerfull old Brits who knew woh to do things right.
H&H.....
First off let me say I enjoyed reading your response as much as anything I've EVER read on ANY forum. I, too, read most of Capstick in my youth and although I'll never be financially able to hunt Africa, not many magazine covers featuring a Cape Buffalo pic and/or story escape my attention.
Quite an interesting thread.....
First off let me say I enjoyed reading your response as much as anything I've EVER read on ANY forum. I, too, read most of Capstick in my youth and although I'll never be financially able to hunt Africa, not many magazine covers featuring a Cape Buffalo pic and/or story escape my attention.
Quite an interesting thread.....
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
dagunner,
The closest I've ever been to old time Africa was with Miombo Safaris in Tanzania in 2002. A brief description;
We flew in a small bush plane for 1.5 hours from Dar Es Salam to a small frontier bush town called Ifkara then took an open land rover for about two hours across some dirt tracks to the Kilombero river where we collected ourselves with a bit of lunch and then sighted in our heavy rifles.
We then boarded an old WW II river patrol boat and set off on an additional 8 hour ride up the Kilombero. All the while viewing elephant, hippo, buffalo, puku, and crocs galore. Not to mention the occasion naked native in a dug out canoe.
The camp was tented with one semi permanent structure that was the communal dinning area it was built from drift wood and thatched grass. During the day we would cruise up the various flood channels in the massive swamp that makes up the Kilombero North safari block it is a million acres or so. We would look for tell tale white egrets flying in the distance which always means either buffalo or elephant. After finding the birds we'd set out on foot never knowing if we were sneaking on a herd of buffalo or elephant until finding the first fresh spoor we would walk/wade between 10 and 14 hours a day. the only time we were on dry ground was between the vast marshes and shallow creeks we had to slog through all day long.
It wasn't uncommon to see between 500 and 1000 buffalo a day not to mention elephants and hippos and crocs.
At night as the sun went down there were three different prides of lion that would all sound off in the distance with their distinctive territorial chuffs. And between the hyenas and hippos there was always something making noise all night long.
On one night I was awoken by a hippos rubbing his rump on the side of my tent. Another night I heard a commotion in the dinning area and shone my flash light on two spotted hyenas searching for scraps in under the table.
I have just completed my South Africa Hunters Association membership and have become a "bonifide" hunter in SA. Which means I can hunt several areas the Kwa Zulu Natal being one of them without a Ph and on my own. You can bet I am going to spend some nights under the acacia thorn with just my rifle and camp fire for company. A friend and I already have a nice long foot safari planned with only trackers and ourselves. I can't wait.
An East African Hurricane tent in the Kilombero
camp
Some local ladies on the road to the Kilombero from Ifkara.
phantomak47
Member
H&H ,
Are you familiar with Craig Boddington's book,"Safari Rifles? What is your general opinion of it?
Are you familiar with Craig Boddington's book,"Safari Rifles? What is your general opinion of it?
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2003
- Messages
- 13,341
Phantom,
Anything Craig writes should be considered good information. I am not a fan of his writing from an excitement standpoint. But he is a highly experienced hunter who who is a very technically correct writer.
When ever reading Boddington just keep in mind that he owned and controlled by the various sponsors that support him.
Anything Craig writes should be considered good information. I am not a fan of his writing from an excitement standpoint. But he is a highly experienced hunter who who is a very technically correct writer.
When ever reading Boddington just keep in mind that he owned and controlled by the various sponsors that support him.
phantomak47
Member
H&H,
What are some other books that you would recommend about Africa, Safaris and Safari rifles (or just big game rifles and cartridges)? I am halfway through "Safari Rifles" and I think I am hooked, along with the possibility of going on a Safari next year. thanks for all of the info.
What are some other books that you would recommend about Africa, Safaris and Safari rifles (or just big game rifles and cartridges)? I am halfway through "Safari Rifles" and I think I am hooked, along with the possibility of going on a Safari next year. thanks for all of the info.
- Status
