A beautiful sunset in search of a sundowner.
Really wide curls and not much depth on this buff. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and some like this but he is not my cup of tea.
Deep curls on this old dugga boy
We only traveled a short way before stopping on a small ridge with some shade from the late evening sun. The gin and tonic were soon commingling and being consumed rather quickly as the evening was still warm and the cool liquid cut the dust from parched throats rather well. I opted for brandy and must say it was working as well as it splashed by my tonsils.
As we enjoyed our sundowners, a group of “Dugga Boys” grazed by on the valley floor some 50 to 75 yards distant. “Dugga Boys” are old bachelor Cape Buffalo and can be quite cantankerous. These seemed not to have mayhem on their minds and peacefully fed as they walked past our vantage point. In some parts of Africa the cape buffalo are known as “Black Death” as they can very easily and do account for more than a double handful of fatalities each year. I was not worried, even while out of the cruiser and on foot. The buff should pay us no mind unless someone got loud or ventured too close to them. We were in a national park where hunting is frowned upon but I could not help but look at these magnificent bovine through the eyes of a hunter. Some of these animals would make the record book if they were taken as trophies. I have to admit I would have loved the chance to hunt one. Alas, it was not to be, and I was forced to be content with my camera instead of a rifle. A second or perhaps it was a third brandy seemed to help ease my frustration. Beverages consumed and photos taken we took one last drive by the hyena. After a few more oohs and aahs, it was time to head back to the lodge and freshen up a little before dinner.
At 7:00 sharp, our escort arrived to take us back to dinner. That night, gastronomical repertoire included an eland curry that I found irresistible. It paired very well with the red wine and I proceeded to completely run my diet off the rails but it was worth every bite. It turned out one of our game drive truck mates was celebrating a birthday and her husband arranged a birthday cake and a serenade from the staff. She was surprised and I believe genuinely touched by the effort. The birthday cake proved to be a perfect end to a really great meal. After dinner, John and I decided we were going to brave the fire despite the heat and have a brandy and a cigar. While we were there we were regaled by stories from the various game guides. They were all good but, two from a guide by the name of “Baba” had me laughing throughout his telling of the tales. The narratives were perfect for around the African fire pit, a little humor, a little danger and a whole lot of entertainment when delivered by a master storyteller. I’ll do my best to relay them in as close to the original version as possible.
Huge bosses on this on
I really wanted this old buff. Wide and deep with a large boss. Note the oxpecker on his back. This little bird helps the buffalo with ticks and other insects.
Too magnificent for just one picture.
Two more, each impressive in their own way.
