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We had a long discussion over dinner last night and we decided that a change of tactic was in order. We are getting nowhere stalking these animals; they are too intelligent for these conditions of dry, still days. And come to think of it, with the exception of that very first day, I’ve not even had an opportunity with a rifle. So today we decided to build a blind next to a waterhole.

I enjoy having the opportunity to build my own blind. To me it’s like figuring out your deer stand back home. When you kill your buck from it, you feel responsible for the successful outcome. So Jimmy, Jacques, Coleman and I picked out a spot with an old dilapidated fence around it and turned it into a masterpiece of a blind. We left it for the mid-day and came back at 1:30 PM. I took a practice shot at 25 yards and missed a clump of mud by just 2” to the right. Good enough for a 2000lb buffalo. We settled in for the long wait.

We had high hopes that this would work. Coleman was convinced that a big bull that had tracks leading into a thicket to the south would water here. Through the course of the afternoon we had a variety of animals show up, lots of warthogs, kudu, impala and a variety of bird life, but no cape buffalo.

We were disappointed, especially since the wind had picked up a bit and we could have been stalking. But at least the blind is now an option should we wish to use it again.

As we head for dinner with Rocco and his wife, temperatures are plummeting and a cold front is moving in. Forecast is calling for two days of near record low temps accompanied by high winds. This will mean the waterhole activity will crash. In some way I am relieved about that. I am determined to kill my buffalo on foot, especially after all we’ve put into this animal to date. I have no reservation or regret about killing one at the waterhole, but my preference is definitely a kill after a track. My optimism is still high, we just need the weather to change.

While we were hunting in South Africa word spread fast that there was a tragic helicopter accident. Later that day we learned that one of the victims was Nick Kilbride, Angus Brown's son-in-law and the Professional Hunter for Angus Brown Safaris. Angus has been a friend of ours for years and I was deeply saddened to hear this and so were the people I was hunting with. I have asked Angus' permission to dedicate this feature to Nick and to provide a link so you can send the Brown and Kilbride family your condolences and donations. Click Here for Nick's Memorial Page Our sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to Angus, Sarah, and the entire Kilbride and Brown families for this terrible loss. A Memorial Fund has been Established in the USA by close friends of Nick and Sarah. The details are as follows: Nicholas Kilbride Memorial Fund Wachovia Bank 165 Township Line Rd. Suite 2300 Jenkintown, PA, 19046 USA Only checks are accepted and they should be made out to: Nicholas Kilbride Memorial Fund

Our Professional Hunters for this safari is: Madiakgama Safaris
P.O. Box 138
VRYBURG
8600
Republic of South Africa
International Phone: 011-27-82-684222
USA Agent - Jeff Frey
Bowhunters Select Outfitters
717-261-5951
Email: [email protected]