A hunting we will go

Some of you many be wondering about the lack of hunting stories told thus far considering we are mostly on a hunting trip. Well, as of this morning the only success that has been had is a female kudu by Jamie and an impala by Jaco, both for the purposes of bait for leopard.

Yesterday I went with Jamie and his entourage when they put out this bait. It was an interesting procedure that mostly they just told me about. I just stared straight ahead and didn’t feel the need to concern myself too much with the details. When Danie started explaining the details I stopped him and insisted that the only terms that could be used from now on were cinnamon & sugar for one reference and bread for the other. I have much too long a memory when it comes to these things.

It is still unbelievable how many elephants there are here. Last night Jamie and crew were late and we assumed that a leopard had come in but they had to wait for elephants to cross so they could make their way back to the pickup.

Hunting is very different here than in Limpopo (South Africa). There are no fences here so everything is free to move about at will. Paths are the boundary line between properties.

As for me, as far as hunting goes I can report there is a salamander that has provided me with a great deal of daily entertainment. He comes out methodically every morning about the same time. I have named my salamander, Sam. Technically I am not sure he is a salamander- he may be a type of gecko or some other type of lizard. I am so far behind on my reptile certification it isn’t even funny. So I know you’re wondering- if I don’t even know what he is how do I know it is a male? Well, at this point you should remove your children from the room to read on. Now that we are among adults I will tell you that the other morning I saw Sam have a run-in with another salamander and Sam starting doing unspeakable lizard acts right in front of me. He was perhaps trying to impress me with his debonair-like qualities but I was not really impressed. (And for the record she didn’t appear to be impressed with that 7 seconds of her life either.) Sorry Sam. I think he sensed me watching him because soon thereafter he went to the top of the bench and hung on to the edge with one hand for nearly a minute before hoisting the rest of his body in a swing like motion as though he were on the uneven bars at the Olympics. Now-- is it a hand or is it a claw…it certainly isn’t a hoof...what does one call a lizard appendage? Anyhow, I have only gotten one shot of Sam so far hence it has turned into a sport for me to see if I be stealth enough to grab and set my camera fast enough before he notices me and runs away. (For the record I do not do stealth well at all, which is why the boys have not allowed me to come hunting with them and instead I am left behind watching salamanders). It appears I have come all the way to Africa to see if I can outsmart a lizard.

Another frequent sighting around here are baboons. There are times I have hours and hours to pass at camp so lizards and baboons are at least something to fill the time with. I call this one, “I’m sorry to pick on you but there is something about you that is really bugging me”