Easton, Brady, Jaylee, Liebelei

Father and Son Go to Africa

During the last few weeks of February this year, Riley was able to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams. His dad and him took a hunting trip to Africa. Some of the things they did in Africa were: going to a beach, going to a national park, seeing lots of wild animals, and hunting lots of wild animals. Most importantly they were both able to relax, let go of their worries, have fun, and laugh a lot. Riley said that he has never heard his dad laugh as hard or as much in his whole life. Riley came back ready to take on life, and a baby girl!

Cheers!

Tim Contemplating Life

Riley Contemplating Life

Official Trophy Photos

Riley and his Blesbok

Riley and his Fallow Deer

Riley and his Impala

Riley and his Kudu

Riley and his Springbok

Rabbit and Springhare

Tim and his Blue Wildebeest

Tim and his Fallow Deer

Tim and his Gemsbok

Hunting in Africa

Riley and His Hunting Posse

(from left to right)

Little Black Brother: That is the English translation of his name. He is the nephew of the Tracker. Both of his parents are alcoholics so his uncle has kind of taken him in and lets him come out on the hunts with him. His main job was to hop out of the truck and open and close gates, but he would often help with carrying an animal that was too heavy for just one or two men. Riley gave him his baseball cap when he left. He doesn't get paid for any of the work he does so he was super excited to get this gift.

Long Man: He was a new worker and since no one knew his name (and he was tall) everyone began calling him this nickname. They were told that he was "a willing worker but not very clever." Riley can fill you in on some of the not so clever stories, if you are interested. Long Man's job was basically to help carry the animals and really do anything that he was asked to do.

Mondoy: He was the Tracker. His job is basically what the title implies. He helped find the animals that they were hunting for. He could see things with just his naked eye that Riley could not even see with binoculars. He was also responsible for gutting, cleaning, and carrying the animals.

Werner: Werner is a PH or Professional Hunter. He spent the whole week with Riley and his dad. He made sure that they got a shot at all of the animals that they wanted to get. He helped them track, hunt, and set up a good shot of each animal. He also set the animals up for Riley's 'official' trophy photo. That sometimes even meant that Long Man had to carry the animal a hundred yards or so to get the best background for the shot.

Riley: The hunter.

(I loved all of the pictures that had the whole group in them. While Werner is usually asked to be in several pictures, it was pretty clear to Riley that the other guys weren't often asked to be in pictures. Riley said that they were always excited to get in the picture, and by the end of the week they started tucking in their shirts and getting ready for their pictures before they were asked to join them!)

Riley and Werner checking out one of his animals.

Getting Ready to Shoot

The Tracker carrying the animal back to the truck. Riley said that it was hard watching someone else do the work that should have been his, but was often reminded by Werner that this is their job. They would even be offended if he tried to do it for them.

Riley's Dad Getting Ready to Shoot

Random Shots from around the Hunting Camp

This is the lodge where Riley and his dad stayed for the week while hunting. All of the meals and laundry were done for them each day. The truck out front is Werner's, which is what they drove around in while heading out for all of their hunts. You can also see the seat that is mounted on top of the bed of the truck. That is where the Tracker and the other workers rode so they could more easily see out and look for animals.

Riley's Tracker would often climb to the tops of trees to get a better view while looking for animals.

They saw this little boy standing by the road, while they were driving down the street.

Riley also saw these women one day, while driving down the street. Apparently the workers in the back of the truck were trying to get their attention (basically, hitting on them). Which may explain the irritated looks on their faces.

Watermelons

This is a college in the city near where they stayed.

A Graveyard

Riley was told that most of these are new graves (from the past year). The cause of most of these deaths is Aids.

Really Big Earthworm

(Riley picked out all of the pictures that he wanted to put on the blog. I never would have put this one up, it grosses me out!)

Giraffe

If you look at the top of the hill, you will be able to see the neck and head of a giraffe. They saw this while driving into the hunting camp.

Mongoose

Addo Elephant National Park

Riley and his dad's first full day in South Africa was a Sunday. Since, they did not want to hunt on a Sunday, they went to a national park instead. Their guide picked them up from their hotel and brought them to this park where they spent the day. They saw several different kinds of animals. Although this is a protected park, Riley said that they saw more animals while out hunting than in the park.

One thing that they were only able to see in the park was elephants. Riley was amazed at how big they are in real life!

Three warthogs showed up at the elephants watering hole, and this baby elephant chased them off! He is a brave little guy and came trotting back to the herd looking very proud of himself.

Riley was able to get some great close-up shots of the elephants.

Guinea Fowl

King Cobra

Kudu

Monkey

Red Hartebeest

Warthog

Zebra and Cape Buffalo

Random Shots from around South Africa

This is a view of the airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Riley and his dad flew in here first and caught a plane to Port Elizabeth the next morning. Port Elizabeth was the last stop before their guide picked them up and took them to their hunting camp. The plane ride took 18 hours! While Riley can sit still for awhile I am not sure his dad was so good at it. Riley got up to use the bathroom once, and when he came back he found his dad crouched down and standing on top of their seats!