African Expedition Magazine

24/01/2025

In certain respects, the lower Zambezi stretch was a letdown. Don’t get me wrong, we enjoyed fantastic moments and sightings and met some fine people along the way, but delays constantly shackled our advance and we je**ed along spasmodically. The setbacks were unavoidable but frustrating nonetheless. I have been anticipating the lower valley stretch for years – since the Borderline concept took root – and events simply didn’t unfurl as envisaged. Although the entire walk has been a stop/start affair, our progress through the lower valley was chameleon-like.
Rifa
We left Nyamumba Parks post at the foot of Kariba gorge at 8am on 7 November 2009. After the gorge, almost any terrain would have been tolerable and the flat ground of Rifa safari area was a pleasure. Although the heat was intense, we ate up the distance and strode into ‘old B’ camp a few hours and 20 kilometers later.

In certain respects, the lower Zambezi stretch was a letdown. Don’t get me wrong, we enjoyed fantastic moments and sightings and met some fine people along the way, but delays constantly shackled our advance and we je**ed along spasmodically.

22/01/2025

Kariba gorge was without doubt the most physically demanding stretch of the Borderline Walk to date. Before we tackled that daunting obstacle, the debate had involved three areas: the territories flanking the Batoka and Devil’s gorges, and the western half of Chete safari area. Kariba gorge ended all debate, bringing a new dimension to the party and squeezing more sweat from us than the other three areas combined.

We descended from Kariba town into the gorge during the afternoon of November 3, accompanied by our newfound friend, Mr. Andries Scholtz, who had decided to camp with us that night. Andries is an absolute gentleman who took time from his hectic schedule to guide us around the Kariba area. Since his knowledge of Kariba and its surrounds is vast, it proved to be a most instructive and interesting tour, with the highlight for me being an afternoon on the dam wall. Mind blowing stuff, to be sure.

Kariba gorge was, without a doubt, the most physically demanding stretch of the Borderline Walk to date.

20/01/2025

We ended up spending a week at Tashinga before setting off for the Changachirere Parks post, which is the northern part of Matusadona, close to Spurwing Island. The walk took us two days and was a fantastic experience, although both of our minds spent much of the time elsewhere. We saw a great deal of game along the way – elephant and buffalo in the main, but some plains game too. Although we saw no lions or black rhino, we came across much fresh spoor of both species, especially that of lion.

At the end of our first day out from Tashinga, we camped on a low rise overlooking a scenic little bay about twelve kilometers shy of Changachirere. That night, lions sounded all around, for hours on end, not too far off. We got a huge fire going and lay prone in our tent, unable to sleep, for reasons unvoiced. We felt very small that night in that immense country.

We ended up spending a week at Tashinga before setting off for the Changachirere Parks post, which is the northern part of Matusadona, close to Spurwing Island.

19/01/2025

As mentioned in the previous Borderline article (stage one), Binga was something of a letdown. It was the first ‘real town’ we passed through, and to be honest I wish we had bypassed. We were delayed there for an unreasonably lengthy period (due to various factors but mainly because of bungling bureaucracy), and I found the town to be a dive, as I find all Zimbabwean towns to be these days.

This is mainly because of the litter which is being strewn about at random by urbanites, and which lines our town and city streets. One can see such a deplorable situation in any one of our urban centers, without spending too much time looking. It is depressing, especially when compared to some of the relatively untouched wilderness wonder that Zimbabwe has on offer. Needless to say, it is the authorities that are to blame, and it is only the authorities that can resolve the crisis. Sadly, they don’t appear keen to do anything.

Binga was something of a letdown. It was the first ‘real town’ we passed through, and to be honest I wish we had bypassed. We were delayed there for an unreasonably lengthy period (due to various factors but mainly because of bungling bureaucracy), and I found the town to be a dive, as I find al...

16/01/2025

As it happened, our departure from Victoria Falls was somewhat uninspiring, given that we left from the goods train station and followed the railway line out of town. This route came about not through choice, but the lack of it. A few days prior we had embarked on a reconnaissance patrol from the bridge just below the Falls, sticking to the river as closely as possible.

Five or so kilometers and several mighty gorges later we began to realize what we were in for and a change of strategy came about – we would set off from the train station and move inland until we reached less hostile terrain, and then cut a trail parallel to the river and a couple of kilometers from it.

Theory is always simple but our theory did not account for the erratic path of the Zambezi River below the Falls. It was not long before we found ourselves completely flummoxed by gorges, zigzagging our way down to the river and being forced to pull out each time we reached it.

After numerous delays, we finally left Victoria Falls on July 21st. As it happened, our departure was somewhat uninspiring, given that we left from the goods train station and followed the railway line from town.

14/01/2025

When visiting Humani in the Savé Conservancy, one can be assured of being introduced to the newest member of the Humani clan. This extraordinary new addition is an orphan rhino calf named Jimmy, who is being raised by Anne Whittall. When Jimmy arrived at the Humani homestead, weak and in a generally sorry state, Anne was forced to play the part of foster mother rhino. Many will agree that there could be no one better for the role.

Edit Column When visiting Humani in the Savé Conservancy, one can be assured of being introduced to the newest member of the Humani clan. This extraordinary new addition is an orphan rhino calf named Jimmy, who is being raised by Anne Whittall. When Jimmy arrived at the Humani homestead, weak and i...

14/01/2025

Ever so slowly I inch my way through the scrub, closing in purposefully on the result of what was possibly my life’s crowning achievement. I keep low and don’t yet have him visual, though I hear him shuffling about and know he is close. The wind is in my face and of no concern, but rhinos have acute hearing and I watch my step.

Ever so slowly I inch my way through the scrub, closing in purposefully on the result of what was possibly my life’s crowning achievement. I keep low and don’t yet have him visual, though I hear him shuffling about and know he is close. The wind is in my face and of no concern, but

12/01/2025

What do Pyramid Schemes and intensively breeding and manipulating new wildlife colour variants and other unnatural freakish animals have in common with one another? Pyramid Schemes are defined by Wikipedia as, “an unsustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public.”

What do Pyramid Schemes and intensively breeding and manipulating new wildlife colour variants and other unnatural freakish animals have in common with one another? Pyramid Schemes are defined by Wikipedia as, “an unsustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or service...

10/01/2025

Wingshooting, as the name implies, is the shooting discipline where game birds are shot in flight. Table 1 gives a list of some of the more common gamebirds occurring in Southern Africa. Hunting these birds with shotguns or with archery equipment can be an exciting and challenging pursuit.

introduction Wingshooting as the name implies is the shooting discipline where gamebirds are shot in flight. Table 1 gives a list of some of the more common gamebirds occurring in Southern Africa. Hunting these birds with shotguns or with archery equipment can be an exciting and challenging pursuit....

07/01/2025

I am often asked what caliber rifle to take on an African plains game hunt. My response is usually, “What do you have in your gun case now”? The reason I ask that is because almost everyone already has a .270 Wi******er, .30-06 Springfield, etc.If you are happy with any one of them, then use it.

I am often asked what caliber rifle to take on an African plains game hunt. My response is usually, “What do you have in your gun case now”? The reason I ask that is because almost everyone already has a .270 Wi******er, .30-06 Springfield, etc.

06/01/2025

Judging by the spoor and activity, the lion had taken down an unlucky warthog. The kill was still fresh, and the sign told us the lion had dragged the pig out of his hole. The consensus was that we had spooked the lion while feeding. We continued following the spoor until the PH stopped and gestured for me to come over. Glancing down, we could see where the lion had circled back and had crossed over our spoor. Now, the hunters had become the hunted!

On the bucket list of many hunters is the quest to hunt the king of the jungle, the African lion (Panthera Leo). As a young boy growing up in Africa, I spent my childhood reading tales from the internationally famous author Wilber Smith, a British-South African novelist born in Northern Rhodesia. Rh...

03/01/2025

They are called the B’aka and they live in the tropical jungles of West Africa, mostly in the Congo. They shun civilization and live in harmony with their world, or as much as their Bantu and Western neighbors allow. What is most striking to the few outsiders allowed to visit them is not so much their diminutive size, but a total sense of contentment and almost complete harmony in the village.

I have seldom heard any raised voices or crying, especially among the infants who are carried by their mothers on their hips or backs, providing a secure and nurtured cradle. And all this without TV or even electricity!

The group I have been privileged to become acquainted with live a very long way away from any other humans, for the basic reason that they do not want to be associated with any other humans. They have always been exploited, and so have fled to remote locations, far from civilization.

They are called the B’aka and they live in the tropical jungles of West Africa, mostly in the Congo. They shun civilization and live in harmony with their world, or as much as their Bantu and Western neighbors allow. What is most striking to the few outsiders allowed to visit them is not so much

02/01/2025

There is an outbreak of Clade I Mpox in Central and Eastern Africa.

There is ongoing person-to-person transmission of Mpox in Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda (see map).

01/01/2025

Secondary Explosion Effect, or S.E.E., seems to occur when a "slow" powder is used, and the powder charge is reduced to below 15% of max. This will cause the powder to detonate rather than burn at the prescribed rate.
I get lots of phone calls about "IT". Everyone seems to have a different theory on its cause, but there is no doubt what the effect is if "IT" happens. Total destruction is the standard result. However, as I have stated many times; no one really knows why S.E.E. happens, and it cannot recreated upon demand.
The most interesting call was from a powder company ballistics laboratory technician. He really only called to say that I was correct. All the possible reasons for S.E.E. are only "theories", just as I stated.
A few years ago, one of the major powder companies set about trying to create S.E.E. They loaded and then loaded some more, and nothing happened. They tried reducing max loadings by up to 25%, and still nothing.

Secondary Explosion Effect, or S.E.E., seems to occur when a “slow” powder is used, and the powder charge is reduced to below 15% of max. This will cause the powder to detonate rather than burn at the prescribed rate. I get lots of phone calls about “IT”. Everyone seems to have a different t...

30/12/2024

The .303 British is one of the most well-known cartridges of the 20th century. It served as the official British military cartridge for more than 60 years and although not popular in America, this rimmed cartridge was very popular for hunting in all the former British colonies. It is still going strong in South Africa, Canada and Australia.Designed for the Lee-Metford Mk I rifles in 1887, the .303 cartridge was adopted by the British army in 1888. Its 215g bullet was driven by 70gr of black powder to a velocity of 1850fps. When smokeless cordite replaced black powder, the velocity was increased to 1970fps.Unfortunately the hot-burning cordite powder eroded the shallow Metford-type rifling very quickly and in 1895 the deeper Enfield-type rifling was adopted and from then on the rifles were known as Lee-Enfields.The British used this rifle against the Boers during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902.

The .303 British is one of the most well-known cartridges of the 20th century. It served as the official British military cartridge for more than 60 years and although not popular in America, this rimmed cartridge was very popular for hunting in all the former British colonies. It is still going str...

29/12/2024

In Part 1 we had a glimpse into the reality of what it means to survive by hunting. What a contrast to us modern-day hunters who kill to have hunted and do not have to, as a matter of life or death, hunt to kill. Even if we come back from the hunt empty handed there are lavish meals awaiting us.

In Part 1 we had a glimpse into the reality of what it means to survive by hunting. What a contrast to us modern-day hunters who kill to have hunted and do not have to, as a matter of life or death, hunt to kill. Even if we come back from the hunt empty handed

28/12/2024

The situation was desperate. Already, two of the small bushman clan of eighteen people had succumbed to starvation. The food the women had been able to glean above ground and below the parched soil with their digging sticks was not enough to replace the energy they expended in finding it.

The bushman squinted into the glare and his creased face was haggard as he scanned the shimmering distance for any sign of life. The ground was almost bare of vegetation except for sparse patches of aromatic but very unpalatable and nutrient-deficient pioneer grasses that grazers would shun to the p...

22/12/2024

Taking The Shot
With the understandable excitement experienced by first-time lion hunters shooting over bait under the low light shooting conditions of pre-sunset or pre-dawn or tracking lions on foot, which often culminates in a close-range confrontation.
It is no wonder that lions are wounded on occasion – a situation not to be taken lightly. The best way to avoid this is to make certain of the first shot.

Taking The Shot With the understandable excitement experienced by first-time lion hunters shooting over bait under the low light shooting conditions of pre-sunset or pre-dawn or tracking lions on foot, which often culminates in a close-range confrontation. It is no wonder that lions are wounded on o...