MONTE SCOTT

Greetings Johan!             

 

How can I put into words the experience that my cousin, Kevin, and I had while hunting with you this June? Prior to the trip, I day-dreamed constantly about what it would be like to be hunting in truly wild Mozambique and how I would feel when I set my eyes on a wild cape buffalo. Well, I can tell you, all the day-dreaming in the world could never have prepared me for the fantastic adventure Bahati Adventures provided to us.

First off, your US contact, Ken Moody was fantastic in coordinating things here in the US prior to us coming over. Even though our arrival dates were changed due to some SAA flight cancellations, you went above and beyond the call of duty by taking us around Pretoria for some sightseeing and souvenir shopping prior to heading for the bush.

When we headed for Mozambique, Kevin and I were not sure what to expect as this was our first trip to Africa. During the flight north in your plane (from modern South Africa, to “modern” Beira, and then on to camp), we watched the terrain change and our hearts started to feel the excitement. The scenery on that flight is just plain awesome. It is difficult to comprehend flying that far without seeing roads, people, or buildings.

After arrival at your camp, we continued to experience sensory overload. In summary, the first drive through the country and setting my eyes on the first wild African animal I had ever seen-a big bull sable-is something etched into my memory forever. The wildness of the country around us made Kevin and me giddy. The best, however, was yet to come in the days to follow (Chirundi and the swamps!!). That first night also gave a taste of old Africa as the local chief conducted the ceremony to bless the hunt.

After an excellent meal, Marius Verster, your head PH (professional to perfection), and Coert Jansen Van Rensburg, a PH with a vastly bright future, told us that we would be heading to an interesting area to hunt cape buffalo. “Chirundi”, Marius proclaimed, “is a special place indeed”. Marius, a man who could easily been a US Marine drill sergeant (I am a former Marine and I know the qualifications!), said that we would be waking up at 0300 to start the day. As Kevin and I tried to sleep that night, the cries of bushbabies and owls kept our already overloaded minds in high gear. It was a night of little shut-eye.

Despite a sleepless night, Kevin and I practically jumped out of bed in the morning. My twelve year dream of coming to Africa to hunt cape buffalo had arrived. To fully capture my true feelings of that very special day, June 22, 2007, I am going to copy the words from my journal for that day:

“Awoke at 0300 after a restless night. The sounds at night are unreal.

Had short breakfast and drove in Land Cruiser about two hours to Fly Camp. Put gear in Argos and left at daybreak. The hunting area is absolutely beautiful. Huge, vast areas of swamp and flooded plain with some small and big trees mixed in. It is all covered with tall native grass. Does not look like anything could live there but is ABUNDANT with life. God’s hand of creation is on full display. On way out to area to hunt buffalo, saw herds of sable, hartebeest, waterbuck, reedbuck, chobe bushbuck, and suni, and oribi.

While driving, tracker stopped Argo as a 10 foot python was about to crawl in my side of the Argo. We stopped and looked at him. Nothing like a huge python to make you realize you are in Africa!

We drove in Argos for hours through total wilderness until we arrived at Chirundi. The first thing we saw in this area was a big herd of sable with a very large bull.

One of our trackers, William, climbed a tree, barefoot no less, and looked for egrets that follow the buffalo, or nyati, as they call them in Africa.

We continued on for about another hour and saw large flocks of egrets. Trackers thought buffalo were there and they spotted buffalo from a tree. Off we went on foot.

We started in ankle deep water and Marius told me to load up. We slashed though swamp and mud towards the egrets. I have never felt the way I did as we approached the herd of buffalo. As we got closer, my heart and adrenalin kicked into high gear. Unbelievable excitement mixed with a bit of fear. Perfect.

About 100 yards from the buffalo, we heard the first, “Rrraah” of a buffalo (it froze Kevin and me in our tracks when we first heard it). That sound is something you will never forget the rest of your life.

As we moved forward, I saw a huge black line through the tall grass. I laid my eyes on the first wild cape buffalo I have ever seen. Huge, massive animals that were all I read about them and more. What an amazing animal the Nyati!

We walked towards the herd, about 100 or so, and got within 80 yards. There is nothing in the world as exciting as being that close. I was up front with Marius and we started glassing the herd. After just a few minutes, William made a noise and pointed to our right. I immediately saw we had a big problem. A cow cape buffalo and her calf walked out of the grass about 30 yards from us. Marius told me to freeze, which I gladly did.

The cow looked right at us and turned towards us. Marius, who was right next to me now, whispered, “When she charges, shoot her right in the head” (Gulp!). We stayed in the grass for about 5 minutes as the cow looked us over. Now I was buffalo hunting! Kevin was right behind me probably hoping I would shoot well!     

The cow took a few steps towards us and made some odd noises. Our hearts were pounding now! The cow and calf finally moved back towards the herd and we went back to looking at bulls.

Suddenly Marius told me to look at a specific bull in the middle of the herd. I found him and Marius said, “That’s the one!” He grabbed the shooting sticks and I crawled through the water to him. He set the sticks low so I could shoot while kneeling. I laid my 416 Rigby across them and got ready to shoot. Too much grass in front of me though. I told Marius I could not shoot and then two or three cows walked in front of the bull.

We sat in the grass for another 15-20 minutes, glassing and also freezing when cows spotted us. I am so thankful to God, the Creator of this wild beauty, to have been there. What a great experience.

Finally, Marius got very excited and told me to get back on the sticks.

I did and quickly saw a huge bull in the middle of the herd. I knew that was the bull. Marius told me not to waste any time. I settled the crosshairs on the bull and fired.

The herd exploded! Cape buffalo running everywhere and not very far at that! The herd regrouped and ran-straight at us!

OK, a little bit of fear set in now as 100 cape buffalo ran straight at us.

Marius told me to get ready and I was not sure what he meant by that. The herd kept coming at us and started to slow at about 40 yards away. Let me tell you, my heart was pumping now! Marius, Coert, and I all had our rifles facing towards the herd but it seemed futile.

After 30-45 seconds, the herd started moving to our left and ran into the grass. Wow. Marius told me that he saw the bull I shot bleeding through its nose and we started walking forwards.

All of a sudden, we heard the death bellow-arrrggghhhh. I can’t describe my feelings as we approached the bull. A dream come true. What a hunt! Thank you Lord.

The bull was massive. Huge horns with massive bosses. Marius said it was an incredible bull. We took tons of photos and loaded up for the return to camp. What a great day and a great hunt. Thank you Lord for allowing me to do this”

The rest of our hunt would prove to be just as exciting and adventurous as the first day. Kevin took an extremely nice cape buffalo on the third day and he also shot a monster warthog, bushpig, reedbuck, chobe bushbuck, baboon, and waterbuck. I was fortunate enough to also shoot a warthog, waterbuck, and baboon. Those are all stories that fill many pages in my journal. The sentences in most of my journal all seem to end with an exclamation point. It just highlights the excitement that Kevin and I felt the whole time we were in wild Mozambique. The amount of game we saw was staggering. Huge, massive herds of sable and waterbuck. Words can’t capture those images forever burned in my mind.