Report by: CM Andries Van Der Walt
Location: Selous Game Reserve LU 4 (Luwego)
Date: 29 October 2006
Client: Todd Rathner
Day 1
Todd Rathner, a hunting consultant from the States, was on an inspection trip with us to determine if he would like to represent our company. On a recent trip to Tanzania with another company, Todd had a very bad experience. Leon Lamprecht (MD) gave me the responsibility to show Todd that TWC is a first rate safari operation and that we know how to take care of our clients.
The first morning we left camp at 05:30 am to look for fresh buffalo signs and at around ten a.m. the trackers spotted three buffalo bulls almost two kilometers away in the rocky hills. Todd, trackers, David Mushambi (PH) and I got ourselves organized and started our stalk towards the three “dugga boys”.
The buffalo were standing on top of the hill, 180 meters away, with no cover between us. After the 2 km run through the rough terrain, Todd was exhausted and the buffalo were looking at us. Knowing that there was no way of getting closer I knew this would be the only opportunity we were going to get at them. Todd, who is an experienced rifle shot used to shooting long distances, said this shot was very reasonable for him. He placed his rifle on the shooting sticks and he took the shot. The buffalo took off. I could see that he hit it but wasn’t sure where. 
The trackers found the blood trail, which was bright red indicating a likely lung hit, so we started tracking, after about 500 meters the buffalo went into very thick bush on the side of a korongo. The trackers inspected the other side of the korongo and we realized that it did not go through the thick bush or the korongo. We gave the buffalo two hours with the hope that if Todd had indeed hit the lungs, it will die. We left Todd at the car (not wanting to make him hike another 2 km in the intense heat) and we went back to the place where the buffalo went into the thick bush, expecting to find it dead. With one tracker on my left and David on my right, the game scout and the other two trackers behind us, we went into the danger zone. Not even twenty meters into the bush the tracker made a loud noise and ran away before I could focus my eyes. The buffalo was almost at my feet. I jumped to my left hoping to get a shot in without hitting my staff. Missing me, the buffalo turned to its left towards David who was standing on my right; I took a shot but missed its spine. David slipped and luckily fell next to a tree so the buffalo couldn’t get his boss or tips of the horns to him. It took five more shots from me into its heart and lungs to kill the bull and get it off David.
Besides being pretty bruised up, David is sure that if it was not for the tree he surely would have been dead today. Todd is very happy that we were able to get his very nice trophy bull for him on the end of a very exciting day. I think we (TWC) demonstrated the type of professionalism that Todd and his clients are looking for.
Day 2, by Todd Rathner
After having quite an adventurous first day, PH Andries Van der Walt decided it was best to take it a bit easy on me and PH David Mushambi. I was still a bit “whipped” from the stalk on the buffalo that almost killed David, and David was still quite sore from the incident, so there was no argument from either of us. After sleeping in a little, we left camp in search of some plains game leaving a second buffalo until later in the week.
We didn’t have to wait long before we were into game. We started a number of stalks on zebra, kongoni, Nyasa wildebeest, impala, and one very nice warthog. We spent most of the morning on stalks having them spoiled by the swirling breeze caused by the intense heat.
At lunch time we decided to take a break and head to camp for lunch and a “siesta” then in the afternoon we went back out to see what we could find. 
We stalked to a few herds a various animals and didn’t find any “shooters.” One of the trackers spotted a herd of impala, so we were off. After stalking in close enough to judge the impala Andries found a good one at about 180 yards and asked me if I thought I could shoot it. I had a solid rest on the sticks and said “I think so”. I steadied the rifle and squeezed off the shot, Andries said the impala took off but he was sure he was hit.
After following the blood trail we found the very nice impala ram shot through the heart. It was the perfect end to our “take it easy day”.
Day 3, by Andries Van Der Walt
Todd and David are back to full strength so there are no more excuses to sleep in. In order to look for another buffalo we left camp early today. Two hours into the hunt I decided to walk a dry river to look for fresh buffalo tracks. Not even a half of a kilometer into the river I spotted a big hartebeest (Lichtenstein) bull and told Todd that he should take it because we might not see one that size again. Todd was able to bag yet another beautiful trophy to end a perfect day in Africa.
We were not able to pick up any buffalo signs for the rest of the day.
Day 4
We left camp early to look for buffalo and some other species. The wind kept on turning because of the extreme heat so couldn’t get close to any of the animals we stalked. Todd wasn’t able to shoot anything but saw a bunch of game and a lot of elephant so we still had a very exciting day. Better luck tomorrow.
Day 5, by Todd Rathner
After seeing quite a bit of game on day four, including a lioness and cubs we got an early start on day five. As we rolled out of camp it felt a bit cooler and I could see that the sky was overcast. Maybe it was the cool air, or maybe it was just a feeling when I told Andries “I have a feeling we will do well today”.
The game scout who was with us had asked me to shoot a “kongoni” (hartebeest) which he could make “hallal” so the Muslims in camp and at the game post could use it to celebrate the end of the Ramadan holiday. I told him I would be happy to if we saw one while looking for buffalo, so “kongoni” was back on our list. As we drove through the miombo we spotted a very nice kongoni and after a short stalk I was able to shoot him. It turned out to be a very nice old bull. Our game scout was very pleased as we moved on in search of another buffalo.
“Mbogo”, was what I heard one of the trackers whisper as we carefully climbed out of the truck. It was a short time after we loaded up the kongoni and we were on our way when they spotted this group of five bulls. As we walked in to the thick miombo I couldn’t imagine how we would ever be able to stalk those bulls in the crunchy leaves, but after checking the wind we were off.
I saw the bulls in the trees up ahead and then they started to run off. I figured we were busted and they were gone, but we checked the wind and persisted. Shortly, one of the trackers picked up the tracks and I could see by the look on Andries’ face we were closing in.
Then I could see them through the trees and saw Andries setting up the shooting sticks. Then I lost them. It is amazing how animals that big can be there one minute and vanish the next. Andries said “see there the grey one”, and I said “yes” he said “ok, that’s the one, shoot him”. I got set up and fired.
I heard Andries say “you hit him” as I put another round in the chamber, then in the confusion of the bull’s four companions running away I lost him. Then I heard a shot and turned to see who was shooting, I heard Andries say “shoot him!” I turned back to the bull, and then there he came. 
He was sort of rocking and crab clawing his way directly toward us when I hit him again, then I heard Andries say “again” and I just kept shooting until the gun was empty then as I was reloading the bull started for us again! I remember thinking “why won’t he go down?” After four Barnes Triple Shocks and four solids from my .375, he finally fell over. Then Andries had me put one in his neck for insurance.
Once it was all over and we approached the bull we realized his left horn was broken off, it must have happened a long time ago when this old “dugga boy” was in his prime.
When I looked at my watch I could not believe it was still only 10 AM. I looked at Andries and said “man that was fun; I told you we would do well today”.
Day 6, by Andries Van Der Walt
We were not successful on yet another day of stalking zebra and wildebeest. The pressure is slightly off of us because the main animals are already lying in the salt in the skinning shed. Maybe our luck will turn tomorrow.
Day 7
Our last day of hunting in Luwego. The time ran out and we were not able to get Todd his zebra but now he has something to look forward to his next trip to Africa. A very good hunt to end the season and will see you at the shows in Dallas and Reno next year. Kwa heri.