Day 13 of 19

A bushman's advice, a repaired pan

Friday, 31 August 2012

Fifth day at the far northwest water hole, fifth day nothing. A villager on the road home mentions another pan — still holding water, fifteen minutes and a long walk away. We walk five point four kilometers. The water has been dry three weeks.

Fifth day at the far northwest water — nothing. On the road home a villager pointed us to another pan he said still held water. No road to it, fifteen minutes of cutting the way, then five point four kilometers of walking in. Thick bush, old-bull sign everywhere. The water had been dry three weeks.

Walk to the dried remote pan, day 13 — A pan the villager swore held water — dry three weeks, but old-bull country

Back to a pan near camp. Young-bull tracks from last night. Lunch there, no break. Drove east to a pan the conservancy had fixed two to three weeks ago. Two bulls on our arrival. The wind swirled; we stopped and waited. Both sleeping in thick thorn. Slow, quiet closing.

Stalking the pair in thick thorn, day 13 — Thick thorn and a swirling wind — two very old bulls, sleeping

First bull: broken right tusk, left short at fifty pounds. Second bull hidden behind thick thorn; we could hear him, could not see him. We backed off forty minutes. When they moved we closed and caught the second — sixty- pound, very big body. Both pretty old. Neither ours.

Warthogs crossing the dirt road, day 13 — Warthogs crossing on the drive home — a quiet end to a long day

On the way home, two warthogs across the road. Kudu cows close to camp.