By Enrich Hugo
A look out of the side window of the Qatar airline’s Boeing Dreamliner lets my anticipation run wild. I look at the highest mountain in Africa. Since we are already on the approach to my destination airport, the bird’s eye view of the Kibo, which is located in the Kilimanjaro massif, is a terrific experience. The destination airport is Kilimanjaro Airport in the East African country of Tanzania. On the coast of the Indian Ocean with around 56 million inhabitants, it is one of the fifth-largest countries in Africa by population. Often described as the cradle of mankind, but for me Tanzania means much more. It is one of the most beautiful hunting countries with breathtaking and diverse landscapes, incredible biodiversity of fauna and flora and the myth of hunting in what is probably the most famous big-game area in Africa. Tanzania really offers everything a hunter can dream of… savanna with pronounced bushland and wide, open grass areas, densely forested hills and mountains that put a hunter’s fitness to the test. Wet savannas, swamps and semi-deserts characterize this unique country. Names such as Selous, Rungwa, Lukwati, Ugalla, well-known to most hunters, but one name is deeply rooted in Tanzania: Masai! The people of that name who live there, with their eye-catching clothing and their habitat around the national parks, probably belongs to the most famous East African ethnic group.
Serengeti, Lake Natron, Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro are the main attraction of every travel diary of visitors to northern Tanzania. And that is exactly where our hunting trip takes us this time. The typical gazelles and antelopes representative of the dry savanna are part of the program of my hunter Alexey who I will accompany on his hunt and who will capture them photographically.
My partner on site had received all the information for the import of weapons from me before the trip and had applied for an import permit, and all went smoothly. Our professional hunter Div met us and helped with formalities and the luggage. We were off, and after a three-hour drive via Arusha to Longido, we reached our camp. On the way my hunter was amazed to see zebras, Grant‘s and Thomson‘s gazelles in large groups, and the whitebearded wildebeest almost everywhere, with Kilimanjaro in the background. We had the view of this mountain range directly from our camp. Welcome to the heart of Masailand! The accommodation was a typical East African tent camp with 5-Star comfort and with meals a culinary priority. It was not for nothing that my partner and outfitter is one of the best what Tanzania has to offer. After moving into our tents and a pleasant, refreshing shower, we met for a briefing with our professional hunter Div for an overview of where we would hunt for the next few days. We could also enjoy the luxury of satellite Internet in the camp and use breaks between trips to answer our emails and keep our loved ones at home up to date.
My hunter’s wish list included Grant‘s and Thomson‘s gazelle, Kirk‘s dik-dik, eastern white-bearded wildebeest, and the three very special game species – fringe-eared oryx, gerenuk and lesser kudu, all representatives that can be found and hunted almost exclusively in the north of Tanzania. And all of these species can be found around the Longido Camp.
Because of the Covid situation and the resulting cancellation of many trips in 2020, the government of Tanzania created a special regulation for hunting times. The normal hunting season is from July to December, but was extended so that hunting was still possible from January to June in 2021. April is a rainy month and therefore not recommended, but May is perfect for hunting. And we were in the second half of May here in Masailand. Temperatures drop to a pleasant 15 degrees at night and reach a maximum of a pleasant 25 to 28 during the day. Absolutely no mosquitoes and no tsetse flies here. Because we were hunting at an altitude of around 1200 meters, sun exposure is very intense and it was essential to use a high factor sun protection. Sunrise is around 7 a.m. at that time of year and we slept until 6 a.m, and after breakfast the first game drive started through dense, green bushland and although the rainy season was just over, the surface was already dry.
There was my hunter Alexey and our PH, a tracker, and a game scout who is required by the authorities to accompany them and is responsible for compliance with the hunting guidelines.
Wherever we looked there were giraffes in groups, sometimes up to 20 animals. The further we moved from the camp, the more open the area became the flat grassy plains and saw zebra and wildebeest. A light knock from Div on the car roof signalled our driver to stop. Binoculars confirmed what he suspected. At a little more than 300 meters there was a gerenuk very close to a group of trees. “Kushoto“, the Swahili word for “left“ told the driver to drive on. We approached very slowly and another knock made the vehicle stop. We found an ideal place where we could observe the giraffe gazelle closely. Unperturbed, it stood on hind legs to eat, stretching the very long neck to reach the leaves of the black thorn acacia. My camera shutter release was glowing, but you don’t get such shots in front of the viewfinder every day. Div confirmed that the gerenuk was a very good and old one and we started to stalk.
Div lead the stalk after checking the wind direction. Only a few bushesin knee-high grass gave us the desired cover. The gerenuk is not our main problem. A group of young Grant‘s gazelles and some zebras had decided to keep the gerenuk company and that meant many pairs of eyes to watch. Only the slightest suspicion would trigger an escape, and the gerenuk would join in the herd instinct. Div put us in a good shooting position at 140 meters. The bush where we found cover was the last between us and our target. Alexey has a Blaser R8 in .300 Win Mag, no problem to get a good shot at that distance. A very good shooter as I had already noticed on previous hunting trips, he took his time, and only when there was no other game behind gerenuk, Div gave him the OK for the shot. Of course, each of us wore hearing protection to muffle the sound. The shot was excellent and the animal collapsed while the other animals fled left and
right. We waited for a few minutes before we went to where the gerneuk lay.
Everything was carefully examined. Shot placement, trophy strength, age rating. Then the obligatory photos. The gerenuk was loaded and we returned to the camp. The two skinners were already waiting and while they got to work, we indulged in a tasty lunch. After a short rest, we left again at 3 p.m. As in the morning, the journey lead us first through densely overgrown bush before we reached the open grassy plain. Div was heading for a hill. Once at the top we had a fantastic view and Div said we were only 40 kilometers away from Kenya, and very strong old elephant bulls move here again and again, but they are not allowed to be hunted so close to Kenya. The hard work against poaching, which has been strongly promoted by all outfitters in Tanzania in recent years, is showing fruit. Very rarely are poachers caught and apprehended; hardly any snares or other traps. They have come to terms with the Masai population and have been able to convince them of the necessity and importance of hunting and game management.
There is plenty of space and feed for game and farm animals, and any damage to arable crops and arable land caused by game is covered by the outfitters. In our hunting block, too, there are frequent encounters with shepherds and their cattle and goats. Another proof of the importance of ethical hunting for a healthy and growing game population. Here in Tanzania, too, the removal and shooting of old male animals is the top priority. Even if these are all facts are already known, one should not stop mentioning them again and again, and pass them on to hunters. Alexey also experiences it first hand. After we started our stalk, he saw some Grant‘s gazelles and pointed them out to our professional hunter. He also acknowledges it, but though that they are good bucks with potential, they are not the age and strength that we wanted to hunt. There is a subtle difference between seeing game that is really plentiful here and finding a suitable old buck. With this experience, our first day of hunting ended successfully, and a sundowner with a direct view of Kilimanjaro brought the day to a close.
The next three days were similar. Excursions and exploring the bush and open grass areas, in between stalking and looking for suitable trophy bucks. After the fourth day we were able to write zebra, impala and a Kirk‘s dik-dik in our hunting diary, in addition to the gerenuk.
There is no rush here and you can really experience your hunt to the fullest. You have enough time to enjoy the wonderful landscape and the variety of game. The fifth day should be one of the highlights of this hunting trip. Shortly before noon the game drive took us into an area that we had not yet explored, where we reached a huge open area. Even from the edge of this plain you can believe you are looking directly into the Serengeti, with large herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelles. We tried to get close enough to the herds to look for a suitable Grant‘s gazelle. It shows again how important the experience of the professional hunter and his tracker is. To filter out the right buck from this large number of gazelles requires a very trained eye. Walter, our tracker was the first to find the right gazelle. It was time to be patient. Of course there is no shooting from the car here and Div lead the stalk. It felt like two million pairs of eyes were focused on us and if only one animal started walking, all the others would follow. Div didn’t want to take any risk. We were 250 meters away from the herd and Alexey already had the chosen buck in his sights.
“May I?” he asked Div who, after a further check through the binoculars, gave his OK.
The shot was fired seconds later. After short run, the animal fell. Another first perfect shoot from Alexey and another fantastic trophy from his wish-list. After the congratulations and the usual photos, we loaded the gazelle and looked for shade under a tree to have our lunch, but not before we skinned the gazelle, putting the meat into cool boxes.
This very long trip paid off in the end. A very nice specimen of a Grant‘s gazelle will find its place in Alexey’s trophy room. Since it was already 3 p.m. and a long way back to camp, the lunch break was brief. This day was an absolute highlight of the hunting trip. Half an hour before we reached the camp, the sun was already very low and the way to the camp lead us through dense bush. Suddenly the car stopped. Our game scout excitedly exchanged a few words with Div. From the passenger side of the vehicle, he noticed something special because of his lower position between the bushes in front of him. We still did not understand what was going on but got off on his side of the vehicle. The game scout had identified the “Gray Ghost”, a lesser kudu.
Rifle sticks ready, his gun loaded and Alexey was also ready. I couldn‘t see anything from my point of view. Then the shot broke and Div hugged Alexey. This confirmed for me that he shot the lesser kudu, a ghost that appears out of nowhere and usually disappears just as quickly. One of the most difficult game species to hunt in Masailand had been shot. Everyone involved was very happy. An extraordinary species of game with an extremely good trophy size lay ahead of us. Of course, Alexey thanked our Game Scout without whom he would not have shot this lesser kudu.
With the last daylight we managed to take some photos of it before we headed back to the camp, which we reached in the dark, a special day to be remembered forever. Days like this just have to be celebrated and it was shortly before midnight before we crawled into our beds.
The sixth day of our hunting trip we saw a few Thomson‘s gazelles but unfortunately only females and young bucks. We even saw the fringe-eared oryx but only for a few seconds and the time was too short to tell whether it was female or male. But that very brief sight was enough for Div to make a plan for the following day. He assumed that the oryx would still be in the area so we started the next day at first light. Around 8 a.m. we reached the area where we had briefly seen the oryx. Only a few zebra and giraffes pass by. Then the first wildebeest and, as predicted by Div, the oryx stepped out of the bushes onto grassy areas. Our location was great and the wind was coming straight in our direction. The stalking strategy was quickly discussed. There were enough bushes between us and the oryx, the wind was in our favor and there were still relatively few eyes that could spot and betray us.
The last few meters were on all fours until we found suitable cover. Two oryx bulls were in this group, both old and mature and also about the same trophy size. Div told Alexey to choose the left hand buck which stood apart from the group, facing us. It means staying calm and exercising patience. However, this patience is not put to the test for very long. The buck turned slightly to the left, broadside on.
“Direct on the shoulder!” Div said.“The heart‘s behind the shoulder.“ A few breaths later, a crack and the buck folded, stumbled a few meters further, and fell. Full of adrenaline, Alexey could hardly believe he had really just shot this particular species of oryx. While aiming and firing he was calm, but now there was a slight tremor in his voice and his hands shook. It was special for me, too, to be able to witness this experience.
We examined the oryx. The trademark of this antelope is the unusual tufts of hair on the edge of the ears, and the dark, almost black belly line is much narrower than that of the gemsbok, its southern relative. The horn length is not as long as that of the gemsbok. We positioned it to record the successful hunt. Everyone involved insisted on getting a photo with the successful hunter and the oryx. An unusual trophy.
On the final day, we also took the last two missing animals. A very good Thomson‘s gazelle and a whitebearded wildebeest, ending the hunt with a hundred percent success, and watching a last sunset at the campfire. Before we said goodbye to Kilimanjaro, the date for the next trip was already set. We wanted to hunt striped hyena, Robert‘s gazelle, Coke‘s hartebeest, western whitebeared wildebeest and jackal, all near Lake Natron and Serengeti.
Karibu Bwana, is the friendly greeting from Martin, who is waiting for us at Kilimanjaro Airport. Yes we are back in Tanzania. This extraordinary East African country has what I call an addictive factor. It was only a few weeks ago that we said goodbye right here and now I see the tanned face of Martin, our professional hunter, with whom I have been friends for many years. “Habari yako kaka?” Martin grins broadly all over his face. He knows that I have picked up some Swahili on my numerous trips to East Africa and so I understand his question, of course, where he just wants to know how I am. Well, of course. Back on the Dark Continent and that with two highly motivated hunting guests. This time our hunting area is near Lake Natron. The lake is located in the eastern part of the East African Rift Valley. With its very high pH of between 9 and 10.5, it is one of the most famous soda lakes. Lake Natron owes a further degree of popularity to the huge population of lesser flamingos, which find plenty of food here. Even from space you can see the reddish color of the lake, which is caused by saline crabs that are only a few millimeters in size. Billions of these tiny crabs are the main food of the flamingos and the cichlids found in the lake.
Our camp is located about twenty kilometers south of the lake, right at the foot of the O’ldonyo Lengai, the legendary Mountain of God. This still active volcano is the only volcano on earth with low-melting lava consisting mainly of sodium carbonate. The way from Kilimanjaro Airport leads via Arusha to the camp in a four-hour drive. Once there, we experience the well-known Longido standard. We are greeted by the camp manager with a “Karibu Bwana”.
A warm, moist rolled up towel, like in the business class of an airline, and a freshly squeezed orange juice are also part of the standard program. All together just a 5-Star service. While we are freshening up, our luggage is brought to our accommodation. Everything happens here as a matter of course. No need to ask which piece of luggage belongs to whom or where with it. The driver gives the camp crew a few brief instructions and a few minutes later everything is in our tents. The satellite Internet service is also available in this camp, a special service that we really appreciate. the first photos we took of the camp and our “house” volcano, which is on our doorstep, shows our loved ones at home that we have arrived safely and are well accommodated. After a soothing shower, we meet again in the communal tent, which invites you to relax with two leather sofas, the dining area and a bar. There we get the plan for the next few days from Martin. This time I am accompanying two hunting guests. In addition to Alexey, his friend Sergey also came with us this time. I also know Sergey from some of the trips we have made together and I am looking forward to the next days of hunting. Both hunters have a similar program. Both are eager to hunt Robert‘s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, western white-bearded wildebeest, and the rare striped hyena. Sergey will be on the road with Martin, and Alexey will be led again by Div like on his first Masai safari. Both professional hunters know the hunting area like the back of their hand and are very confident that both hunters will successfully return home. Martin explains to us that the so-called baits, i.e. baits that are supposed to attract the hyenas, have been attached to fours different places for a few days.
The baits now are sheep that they bought from neighboring Masai. There are also camera traps everywhere and they are checked every day. Unfortunately, so far without the desired success. From his experience, Div thinks that the striped hyena is particularly fond of zebra and that is why the first thing in the morning for both hunters is a zebra on the hunting program. This recommendation is of course readily accepted by both hunters. Not only because of the preferred hyena bait, but also because of the zebra skin, which is particularly beautiful here and clearly shows the white-black coloration. So our strategy for the next few days is clear. Tomorrow the first thing we will try is to kill a zebra and add new bait places to the existing ones. Then we have time to hunt the gazelles and antelopes we want. Depending on what the evaluation of the camera traps shows, we are always ready to hunt hyenas at short notice. The zebra hunt is more or less on our doorstep. The camp is well hidden and nestled between trees and bushes, but everything around is a wide, open grassy area, the plains, the favorite place of the zebras which can be found here in large herds. Because of this, there is no unnecessary hurry and no need to get up early. It is enough that we are woken up at 6.30 a.m. and after breakfast, around 7.00 a.m., we start our first game drive and hunt the desired zebra. As already mentioned, each of the two hunters has their own professional hunter and of course also has his own vehicle and team. The area is huge and after the two professional hunters have spoken, safety is also guaranteed, as the two teams will each hunt in completely different directions. But both teams have one thing in common. The fantastic view of the Mountain of God. I will be the first to accompany Alexey today and am armed with my cameras.
Alexey carries his well-proven .300 Win Mag. An excellent pains-game caliber, which allows shooting at longer distances without any problems.
The area here is really unique. Not only the still active volcano in front of us, but also the numerous ridges here are a special feature that you cannot admire very often anywhere else. Often out of nowhere, a ridge up to a hundred meters deep and over a hundred meters wide opens up in front of us. Indescribably beautiful is just an understatement. As unique and breathtaking as the landscape is, we are pursuing a different goal today. Zebra is on the hyena’s menu and we are responsible for following this menu. The challenge here is picking out a suitable stallion from the large herds found everywhere. Rather, a trained eye is required. We have already left two large group behind us. Although we had seen some suitable stallions, the herd protection simply did not allow a shot. Again and again an animal behind the selected stallion, or no clear field of fire in front of it. In the third group we are in a happier position. The herd has divided somewhat. The main group grazes peacefully on the fresh, green grass to the left of us. A group of three stands apart. An old stallion who is accompanied by two younger bodyguards. It really does appear that the two younger stallions are the older stallion’s bodyguards. We have already made it up to 80 meters and would be a good shot distance. But again and again one of the two younger ones pushes between us and the selected zebra. Here again shows the experience of Div and his team, who still manage to get Alexey into a position that allows a free shot.
The shot is excellent as usual and after twenty meters of escape the stallion stops and collapses. Even now, his two bodyguards are still with the stallion, who has already been fatally hit. Only when we get closer and closer do they finally flee. Everything is just right with the hunted animal. An old stallion with a blanket full of character and plenty of meat for our hyenas. Of course, there are also the usual memory photos here before loading begins. Loading is not that easy. A zebra is just round and offers nothing suitable to handle. Since Div also wants to use all of the zebra’s innards as bait, the stallion is not broken open. Its round belly does not make it easy to load it onto the vehicle. But with combined strength and teamwork we succeed in the end. From here it goes straight to the first chosen bait place.
Div and his Skinner get to work on site and the first to come is the skinning from the zebra. Then two different, large pieces of meat are attached to a fork of a branch and offal and blood are distributed around the tree. The same is repeated in a second place. Here the hunter is also involved in this prepared work of a hunt and fills his memories with plenty of material from his safari. We return to camp satisfied and tired. We were out for most of the day and after a refreshment and a warm shower there is some time to rest. In good time before sunset we meet around the campfire and listen to what Sergey has to say. We experience Sergey’s descriptions almost like a reflection of our day. He was also successful, and his zebra was divided into the existing bait places and the remains of sheep were replaced with his zebra. We’ll end the evening with a delicious, tasty impala steak.
The next day will take us to different hunting areas. Sergey, whom I will accompany tomorrow, will be hunting near Lake Natron. The hunting block can be seen from our camp, but unfortunately there is no direct road to this plateau. It is located at 1,300 meters above sea level and we first have to drive towards Lake Natron, which is about 600 meters above sea level, then it follows like a snake up until we reach the spacious plateau. The western border of this plateau forms the Serengeti National Park and is characterized by an indescribable density of game. Robert‘s gazelle, Coke’s hartebeest, western white-bearded wildebeest, and also Thomson‘s gazelle, and zebra are among the main game species here. The drive to the plateau takes about three hours and we start at 4 a.m. We leave the camp in complete darkness. The starry sky compensates us for getting up early. Impressions that one actually never forgets and one that lets oneself become aware of one’s own tininess. With the first light of day we reach Lake Natron and in time we reach the plateau and experience the sunrise up close. As if a fireball was pushing out of the lake. This sunrise is equal to every sunrise at the sea. After this experience, we head towards the Serengeti National Park border. The drive over the flat terrain leads us again and again past smaller huts and cattle and herds of goats. The lush grass allows the Masai cattle and goats to thrive. Exactly this food is the basis of all the wild animals that live here. Somehow domestic and wild animals have come to terms with each other and the Masai no longer see the wild animals as predators.
A lot of educational work by the local outfitters and professional hunters has led to one other benefit, and poaching has actually become a foreign word. Although the Masai population group eat more fruits, vegetables and grains, they are always happy about a good piece of meat that they get from the game from our outfitter. Of course, they also benefit from part of the hunting income. School buildings, smaller clinics and wells have already been financed with it, but individual help is also provided where there is need. Whoever sees these friendly and grateful faces can hardly understand that some European governments are vehemently opposed to the international trophy hunt. All of this would not have been possible without international hunters and many game species have already been lost forever and disappeared from the earth.
We reach a place where one of the cattle shepherds told us that he saw several Robert‘s gazelles. The place is not far from the border to the national park and harbors the danger that the gazelles instinctively flee into the national park when we approach. While Martin is consulting with his tracker, Sergey sees a single hartebeest buck. He shows Martin the direction and he immediately confirms that it is a very good buck. The wind is good. The buck hasn’t noticed us yet. A very light, elongated knoll will provide us with good cover. The stalking starts. Martin wants only himsef and Sergey to stalk. So the rest and I stay at the vehicle and watch the whole thing from a distance. Slowly, sometimes crawling on all fours, they approach the hartebeest. After what feels like an eternity, I see Sergey crouching on the floor, bringing the gun over the target. The target stick has telescope-like legs and can therefore be adjusted to the required height. Equipment that is perfectly matched to the operations here.
Despite the good service and the right equipment, sometimes not everything goes as you want. This is also evident this time. Sergey is an excellent shooter, but something must have bothered him or the rather strong wind that has turned a bit and is now blowing sideways, was calculated incorrectly. The shot fired hits the ground a few meters in front of the hartebeest and dusts up something. The hartebeest only startles for a moment, but continues to eat afterwards, as it could not find anything out of the ordinary. The next shot shows Sergey‘s usual accuracy. A slight rearing up is followed by buckling and the animal falls over its side to the ground. Only when we see Martin and Sergey give us signs, do we drive to them. Sergey is beaming with joy but is also very self-critical. Somehow he miscalculated the very strong crosswind, as I suspected. But the quick correction by him has again proven his skills as a very good marksman. A very good and special trophy lies in front of us. Few shooting permits are issued for the Coke‘s hartebeest each year. After the photos and the loading, we look for a suitable shelter that gives us enough shade and protection from the direct sun for our lunch. While we are eating, the hartebeest is skinned and the meat is stowed on the vehicle. After a short rest, we continue and we can still shoot the next very special trophy. Sergey has successfully bagged two of his absolute desire trophies.
In addition to the Coke’s hartebeest, he was also successful on a Robert’s gazelle that can only be found in this area of northern Tanzania. On the way back, most of the meat is distributed to the people who are already waiting for us at the point before we go downhill towards Lake Natron.
Arrived at the camp, Alexey is already waiting for us. He excitedly reports that he saw a leopard while inspecting the trailcam. It was a young tomcat. An incredible experience for him to watch a leopard in daylight. But not only this observation, but also the killing of a jackal was an absolute highlight for him. The next day it is time to change sides. I drive with Alexey to the hunting area above Lake Natron so that he too tries to hunt his hartebeest, Robert‘s gazelle and, if possible, a western white-bearded wildebeest. Sergey will be on the lookout on the plains around the camp and will also patrol the individual areas. As in a well-staged film with a perfect script, after only three days of hunting we can already look back on two zebras, two Robert‘s gazelles, two Coke‘s hartebeest and a black-backed jackal, a Thomson‘ gazelle and a western white-bearded wildebeest. Alexey was also able to shoot his Robert‘s gazelle, Coke‘ hartebeest and also his wildebeest, and Sergey was also successful again with a very strong Thomson‘s gazelle. Now our whole focus is on the hyenas stripes. The yield of the cameras and other tracks are promising. In total, the various bait places have accepted five hyenas. Two of them are very large male striped hyenas who, according to the evaluation of the cameras, always come to bait place, first shortly before sunset or lastly, just before sunrise. The other three hyenas are normal spotted hyenas and only go into the camera traps at night. Now you just have to be patient and of course have the necessary luck to be in the right place at the right time.
Our fourth and fifth day of hunting ends with waiting but without the desired hunting success. On the sixth day I’m on the road with Alexey to take some photos and video recordings with him. You don’t get to see this panorama every day. Our exit will of course take us past one or the other bait place. We don’t think in the slightest that we would cause a disturbance in daylight. There is a well-known saying that the unexpected often happens, and that also applies to us now. Oh! Simama! The command from our professional hunter is for the driver who should stop the car immediately. He thinks he has discovered something. It only takes seconds and he confirms that he has really discovered something extraordinarily exciting. Somewhat hidden by a group of bushes, a striped hyena is lurking right in front of one of our baits. Our vehicle is well hidden behind thick bushes and Div, Alexey and I stalk extremely cautiously a little further to the left to get a clear view of the bait place and the hyena lurking in front of it. Almost 300 meters away, but our bush is the last one that can give us sufficient cover in addition to our guiding system. The striped hyena is now completely clear and directly under our bait, which is attached to a fork of a branch and hangs down. Again and again she tries to snatch a little more meat and has to stretch hard to get to the delicacy. For us it means that she is very busy but is still just under 300 meters away. It is already clear to Alexey that he will take the shot from here. Such an opportunity may not come back and he has enough self-confidence from his experience and training shots that he can trust himself this distance without much worry.
Cross wind zero. The wind blows straight to us very easily. He checked the distance again, a few clicks on the turret of his telescopic sight, unlocked the safety lock and I could already see how he was holding his breath. Only a fraction later it cracks and Div’s words break the last emotions under control.“Bro, you did it!“
Exactly. Alexey killed his striped hyena, which he had so much hoped for, wanted, longed for. Even before we go to the fallen hyena, Div warns us not to touch the hyena with bare hands. The typical scavenger is a real focus of bacteria and one should exercise special caution. The hyena is brought into the right position by our helpers, who are all armed with disposable gloves, to take some souvenir photos. Via radio we send a vehicle from the camp and the hyena is wrapped in an extra plastic blanket and taken to the skinning area. Sergey, who only returns to the camp in the late afternoon, can hardly believe when Alexey tells him everything. He is overjoyed and congratulates Alexey on this unique trophy. No envy or suspicion, just sheer joy and bliss for his friend Alexey. This is how a shared hunting experience should be. We turn the night into day and Sergey only has a short time to rest before he starts to keep his chance to kill his hyena. Before daybreak he has to be in the prepared hiding place next to one of the chosen bait places.
He’ll be back around 10 a.m. Unfortunately nothing. When they arrived and when they moved into the hiding place, some spotted hyenas were still busy with the bait, but nothing afterwards. For Sergey that means sleeping in and then taking the last opportunity that opens up for him again late this evening. Unfortunately, tomorrow morning we have to go back to the airport and start the journey home. I use the time to fill my memory cards properly and to provide them with sufficient photo and video material.
Shortly before 5 p.m. I accompany Sergey to another bait place. The camera traps recorded a striped hyena there last night and Martin hopes that the same hyena will appear there again this evening. The shelter is occupied and now it is simply a matter of waiting. Only a few birds can be observed and a cheeky little mongoose, in front of our hiding place. Again and again a look towards the sky where we see that the sun is sinking faster and faster to the horizon. There is not much time left. I can already see in Sergey’s face that he has resigned himself to the fact that he was without a hunted hyena.
He has to say goodbye to Tanzania this time, when suddenly Martin nudges him. The tree with the bait is already very much in the shade, but in front of it is a small strip of light that reveals the weak twilight. And here it is. She cautiously creeps around in front of the tree. Despite the sight, no longer believed by him, Sergey remains calm. Just don’t make a mistake now. In a few minutes it’s dark, but his whole routine and Martin’s experience are ultimately enough that Sergey not only gets and can take his chance with the last light but also on the very last day. The shot and the result of the hunted prey is at the place of bait. Not a minute too late. With the last beam of light, we can still take a few photos and then it’s dark.
I’ve known Sergey for a few years and a bond of friendship has developed between us, but I’ve rarely seen him so happy. One can only thank the good fortune here. We came to Tanzania with a backpack full of hopes and wishes. We were allowed to experience the unforgettable. A more than successful hunting trip has come to an end.
Africa you will see us again. Whether in Tanzania or another country on this incredible continent where we can practice and experience our passion for hunting.
