Ultimate African Tiger
Fishing Safaris
1997
Ultimate African Tiger Fishing Safari Early the morning of day 4 finds Dave and Sukh disappearing upriver under the guidance of Tim, the lodge manager, professional hunter/guide, and former winner of Zimbabwe's international Tiger Fishing Tournament. Along with Givemore, Tim's tracker, I stay behind and fish for bream, pink ladies and catfish from the river bank. Not more than a few minutes pass and I hook into what feels like a wet paper bag! Once I reel it in I recognize the bloated body and mottled coloration of the electric catfish which is able to produce 350 to 450 volts! Now Givemore, being a tracker and new to the river and its environs, doesn't quite grasp the situation. I quickly explain that the gelatin like coating that covers the electric catfish will "zap" you something serious. The shock has been known to throw a fisherman from his boat. Givemore nods in understanding and reaches down to remove the hook from the fishes mouth with a pair of pliers....zzzzzzzzap! Givemore jumped back a few feet and smiled...now he understood. As usual with electric catfish I decide to cut the line and let the fish go. A few relaxing hours passed as Givemore and I fished the bank. The whine of an approaching outboard signaled the return of Dave, Sukh, and Tim. The lodge is situated in the Hwange Communal Land in northwestern Zimbabwe. Tim and his family have a good relationship with the local people as part of the lodge's revenue and a lease fee go back to the community. Tim invites us to visit one of the nearby villages so we can see first hand how people get along in this neck of the woods. A short journey by Land Rover finds us bumping across a dry, desolate, rock covered moonscape. As it is mid-day the temperature is far above 40 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit). There is no road in sight. From behind a baobab tree we recognize a small cluster of huts. As we draw closer chickens squawk and run and people can be seen relaxing in a small area of shade. This is our cook's village. The area is know as Sidinda. Here his wife and kids, along with many other relatives live together. We are introduced to all and graciously toured around the huts, the rock strewnand seemingly sterile fields, and the cattle kraal (where the cattle are kept at night so as to be protected from lion and leopard). The children are attending school at this time. After a few photos and farewells we head to the local store. Inside we find two children squabbling over who gets to carry a loaf of bread home and the store owner deeply involved in a game of checkers with a store patron. Instead of regular checker pieces they are using old bottle tops. The store is small, 4 x 4 meters, but is well stocked with toilet paper, cigarettes, canned goods, and Zimbabwe's staple food, mealie meal (ground maize). Next we head to the school. We are treated to a song by the choir and as the school day has just finished we tour the classrooms. Although we are in the middle of nowhere the school is well equipped with desks, chairs, black boards, and even the windows are still intact (unusual). We tour the library which is a small, book filled room with a single chair and single light bulb hanging from the ceiling. There is a padlock on the door. By now it is late in the afternoon and we head back to the lodge. Dave and Sukh head out once again with Tim to hunt tiger while I try my luck from the river bank. A few weeks earlier Tim's brother Mark caught a 14 pound Tiger from in front of the lodge. Well, for me, no such luck. A few good sized bream and electric catfish and I was content. The evening finds us gathered around an open fire "braii-ing" (Southern African barbecue). The drinks were cold and the conversation relaxed, as a hippo snorted happily from the river.
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