Ep. 728: Dispatches from Africa - Tracking Dangerous Game

Summary

Episode Summary: The MeatEater Podcast - Ep. 728: Dispatches from Africa - Tracking Dangerous Game

In Episode 728 of The MeatEater Podcast, host Steven Rinella takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into the heart of Tanzania's wilderness, focusing on the intricate and perilous task of tracking dangerous game, specifically the formidable Cape buffalo. The episode delves deep into the methods, challenges, and experiences encountered during the hunt, offering a comprehensive look at both the technical and personal aspects of tracking such a formidable animal.

---

Introduction to the African Expedition

The episode kicks off with a brief mention of "Dispatches from Africa," signaling the beginning of a new series or segment focused on African hunting adventures. The team has engaged in a four-day hunt, successfully encountering ten different game animals, with the quest to add an eleventh entry underway.

---

Tracking the Cape Buffalo

Identifying the Herd: The team recounts their efforts from the previous evening, where extensive driving (covering 100 miles) led to the discovery of a buffalo herd in a burned area. Utilizing truck-mounted scanners, they pinpointed the movement of four bulls along a specific trail.

Field Assessment: Upon reaching the location in the morning, the group begins tracking by foot. They entrust two expert trackers, Salmani and Elimani, to lead the way. At approximately [02:46], Elimani is described as meticulously following the buffalo tracks through challenging terrain, including flat terrains and rocky valley walls.

Challenges in the Tall Grass: The team encounters thick, eight-foot-high grass which severely limits visibility ([03:00]). Despite hearing the buffalo nearby—distinguished by the chattering ox brakes—the sheer density of the grass makes spotting the animals a daunting task. The buffalo exhibit cautious behavior, likely due to the team's presence, causing them to retreat into even denser cover.

Persistence and Strategy: Hours of tracking pass with intermittent sightings and missed opportunities. The listeners gain insight into the patience and resilience required in such hunts, as well as the psychological aspects of dealing with elusive and potentially dangerous game.

---

The Art of Tracking with Salmani and Elimani

Expertise Beyond the Ordinary: A significant portion of the episode highlights the unparalleled skills of the trackers. At [05:28], Salmani explains that:

"What they can do and the mental concentration and energy it takes to stay on those tracks... I wouldn't have a hope of being able to do what they can do."

This underscores the indispensable role of trackers in successful hunts, especially when pursuing animals as challenging as the Cape buffalo.

Techniques and Indicators: The conversation delves into the specific indicators trackers look for when analyzing broken grass or animal droppings to determine the presence and movement of buffalo. For instance, Elimani examines pieces of grass for signs of disturbance, moisture levels, and insect activity to estimate the freshness of the tracks and, consequently, the buffalo's recent movements.

At [07:11], it's detailed how freshly trodden grass lacks insect presence and retains moisture, indicating recent passage:

"If it's very wet, if there's just a very thin layer of dryness from the wind, then he knows it's fresh."

These meticulous observations are crucial for predicting the buffalo's next moves and planning the hunt accordingly.

---

Human Dynamics and Learning from Experience

Mentorship and Collaboration: Steven Rinella emphasizes the collaborative nature of the hunt, praising the trackers' abilities while also acknowledging his own limitations in tracking expertise. This dynamic fosters a learning environment where knowledge is shared, and experiences are collectively built.

At [14:46], a personal touch is added as Rinella expresses admiration for the trackers:

"Every moment of watching those guys work is like pure joy to me."

This sentiment highlights the deep respect and appreciation for the skills and dedication of the local trackers, Salmani and Elimani.

---

Ethical Considerations and Conservation Efforts

Transition from Poaching to Conservation: The episode touches upon Elimani's background, revealing a transformative journey from poaching as a youth to becoming a professional tracker dedicated to conservation efforts. This narrative underscores the complex socio-economic factors influencing hunting practices and the potential for positive change through education and opportunity.

At [09:02], it's revealed:

"He used to hunt with poisoned arrows."

This stark contrast to his current role emphasizes the impact that structured, ethical hunting can have on conservation and community development.

---

Decision-Making in the Field

Assessing When to Continue or Conclude the Hunt: As the hunt progresses, the team discusses the critical decision-making process regarding when to persist in tracking or to cease efforts to ensure safety and respect for the animals.

At [16:56], Salmani articulates the fine balance between determination and caution:

"If we bump them again hard and they go snorting out of there like they did last time, it's probably time to hang it up."

This decision-making process is vital in maintaining ethical hunting standards and ensuring the safety of both the hunters and the buffalo.

---

Habitat Management through Controlled Burns

Role of Burning in Wildlife Management: Towards the episode's conclusion, the team emphasizes the significance of controlled burning in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They describe the process as low-intensity grass fires that clear dead grass without harming trees, promoting new growth and benefiting both flora and fauna.

At [18:07], the tracks highlight the rejuvenating effect of burning:

"The burning really appeals to the little boy in all of us. It's a hell of a lot of fun."

This practice not only aids in habitat management but also stimulates animal activity, making it easier to track and observe wildlife in subsequent hunts.

---

Conclusion and Forward Look

As the episode wraps up, the team prepares to regroup and continue their tracking efforts, buoyed by the tracks gathered earlier. The anticipation of re-encountering the buffalo fuels their resolve, setting the stage for future dispatches and adventures in the African wilderness.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Salmani on Trackers' Skills:

  "Even after all my years in the bush, I wouldn't have a hope of being able to do what they can do."
  [05:28]

• Rinella on Team Appreciation:

  "Every moment of watching those guys work is like pure joy to me."
  [14:47]

• Salmani on Controlled Burns:

  "The burning really appeals to the little boy in all of us. It's a hell of a lot of fun."
  [18:22]

---

Final Thoughts

Episode 728 of The MeatEater Podcast offers an immersive exploration into the world of tracking dangerous game in Africa. Through detailed narratives, expert insights, and personal anecdotes, Steven Rinella and his team shed light on the complexities and rewards of big game hunting. The episode not only entertain but also educates listeners on the delicate balance between hunting, conservation, and the profound skills required to navigate and thrive in the wild.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Lake Pickle]

Ever wonder what happened to the hundreds of thousands of buffalo that used to call the eastern United States home? Or what caused the rise and fall of Bobwhite quail? Backwoods University, hosted by me, Lake Pickle, is the latest addition to the beargrease feed on Meat Eaters Podcast network. Together we'll seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people who dedicate their lives to conserving both. After all, you can't love what you don't understand. Search Bear grease on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast and hit that follow button to enroll in Backwoods University now.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Okay, everybody, this is. It's time right now for. What are we calling these? Africa Dispatch. Tanzania.

[Unknown Host]

Dispatches from Africa.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Dispatches from Africa, Volume two. What is it? Flop two. That's right, because you're flopping right down. We're on Flop two. Last night we made a list of how many game animals we seen in three days. This is our fourth full hunt day.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

In three hunt days, I think our list was 10.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, we're at least at 10. And I think we skipped a couple. I think there's stuff we missed.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And right now we are on. If it's 10, we're on number 11. Yeah, we're working on number 11.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

It's going to happen.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

So last night, yesterday evening, we were driving through an area. We drove a long ways yesterday.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, we did. We put some miles.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

We had to gone 100 miles.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Oh, easily easy.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

We were driving through an area and the trackers from the truck saw where there had been a herd.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

In one of the burned areas.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And then we drove a little more and the trackers jumped out and counted where four bulls had crossed this trail.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

So today we came in in the morning, parked and started walking into that area and like, boom. Found where? Found three bulls.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

So we got on the tracks and the guys, two of our trackers, Salmani.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And Elimani.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Elimani, standing right here with us right now, followed them. They were kind of. They were in sort of a flat and moved up a rocky valley wall. Yeah, we bumped them.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

They got our wind.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

They went, climbed out, went to the ridge, climbed back down into the valley we were in. Entered this big area of 8 foot high grass with maybe a few yards of visibility.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Maximum.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

The guys tracked him, Tracked him till eventually you could hear them milling around.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And they were like there.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Well, the birds gave him away. The guys heard the. The birds on Them, the ox breakers, they could hear them kind of chattering. And so, you know, we knew those buffalo were right there in front of us, maybe 50 yards, something like that.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Oh, yeah, you just hear them?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Oh, you could hear him.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

But, yeah, not a prayer, seeing them. No, they milled out of there. The guys tracked him again, and this is hours of time that goes by. Bumped him again. And now you feel like we're just going to keep hammering on them. Keep going.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, absolutely. So, I mean, the closest we got in that tall grass was like 25 yards. I mean, I could just. I could hear them, like, right there. Just the only thing I saw was just like a glimpse of one's back line. You know, it was so thick in there. And then, you know, from there, they weren't really spooked. They were a little suspicious, so they moved off. They kind of came into this miombo here, laid down, and then. Yeah, unfortunately, we were just, you know, it was one of those things. Even me, you know, I kind of learned a lesson. Like, my concentration was lapsing a little bit.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

And we were kind of like, well, let's just sit down. You know, the tracks were really faint. It was getting tough. And I was like, well, let's just chill out for a while, Let the trackers sort this out. And then, yeah, we bumped them. I mean, even if we'd been standing with these guys, we likely wouldn't have gotten a shot, but we would have seen them at least.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

But really, it played out when I was first talking to you and getting interested in hunting Cape buffalo, and you were laying out, like, how it works.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

You included everything that happened.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, well, even down, you'll find them.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

You might move them. Wait a while.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Find them again.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Find them again. Keep bumping them along.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, well, even when we were in that tall grass, you know, you saw them kind of zigzagging back and forward, which is an indication they're looking for somewhere to lay down. You know, they're. They're tired of walking, they're ready to lay down, they want to ruminate. So, yeah, we saw that several times today, and, yeah, unfortunately, just bumped them. But on the. On the good side, when they ran off, they made a considerable amount of tracks. So we've got something to work with this afternoon. So once we wrap up here, we're going to get right back on them.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And you explained to me before, you can't do this without the trackers.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Oh, no, no.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

It's absolutely dependent on trackers. The other day we were tracking one, and I said to you, I'm like, I don't get what they're seeing. And you said, that's the point. They can see things that you can't see. Not that you don't know how to see, but you're like, they see things you can't see.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, that's absolutely right. I mean, their skills are phenomenal. What they can do and the mental concentration and energy it takes to stay on those tracks in this sort of thing, you know, where you've just got leaf litter on the ground. They can track those buffalo through here. I mean.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Even after all my years in the bush, I wouldn't have a hope of being able to do what they can do.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

So do me a favor and ask Elimani, when he picks up a piece of grass and looks at it and shows you and shows his partner, his other tracker, the grass, what are the things he's like, what is he looking at? What are the indicators he's looking at when he picks up a piece of grass?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Okay.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

So when he picks up a piece of grass, what he's looking for is, like, if it was broken or if it was damaged when it got trodden on by the buffalo, he can tell based on, like, whether it's dry, whether it's still wet, whether it's got some water on it from, like, the dew in the early morning, when that actually occurred when those buffalo passed through there. So he'll look at a piece of grass and he'll be able to tell based on its condition, exactly when those buffalo pass through.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Ask him what is his favorite animal to track.

[Unknown Host]

Sus up.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Kama una penda, kuinda, wanyama ghani, kuliko, wanyama, wengini.

[Unknown Host]

Sour. Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

He's buffalo's number one. He says all the others are kind of easy. Oh, in comparison, Bogo, which is buffalo, is number one.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

How old was he when he first started studying how to track?

[Unknown Host]

Okay.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, so he. He used to live. He used to live near a game reserve called Maswa Game Reserve, which is near the Serengeti. And he was. He was a kid, basically, and he was a poacher. So he used to hunt with a bow and arrow and poison.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, really?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, he used to hunt with poisoned arrows.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

What was his favorite thing to hunt then?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

So his favorite was buffalo. And what he used to do. Yeah, what he used to do was he to used. He'd build a small blind near a water hole very close, and when the buffalo came in to drink, he'd hit him with those poison arrows.

[Unknown Host]

Oh, I got it. Yeah.

[Lake Pickle]

Ever wonder what happened to the hundreds of thousands of buffalo that used to call the eastern United States home? Or what caused the rise and fall of Bobwhite quail? Backwoods University, hosted by me Lake Pickle, is the latest addition to the Bear Grease feed on Meat Eaters Podcast network. Together we'll seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people who dedicate their lives to conserving both. After all, you can't love what you don't understand. Search Bear grease on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast and hit that follow button to enroll in Backwoods University.

[Unknown Host]

Now.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

When he looks at, like, oftentimes they'll find dropping buffalo. Dropping. He'll scratch it.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

What clues are within that? When he scratches the surface, what sorts of things does he like to see? How does it. When is it two days old? When is it one day old on a dropping.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Gou. Yeah. So what he does when he scratches it like that, he's looking at how dry it is and whether there's any bugs in there. If there's bugs in there, it's a been a couple of days for sure.

[Unknown Host]

Got it.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

If it's, if it's very wet, if there's just a very thin layer of dryness from the wind, then he knows it's fresh.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Oh, okay, I got you. That's what that is, that outside. I also wonder why it's like an outside layer to it. Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The outside layer is, is drying in the, you know, in the sun and the wind. So he, he's actually, when he kicks it, he's looking at the thickness of that, of that outside layer to know, like, how long it's been there. And then. Yeah, he said if he sees bugs, no good.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Got it. If you're, if you're tracking a bull or a group of bulls and you bump them once, bump them twice, bump them three times, does it get less encouraging or more encouraging?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Well, from my perspective, it, it gets. I would say it gets slightly less encouraging. You know, you're definitely winding them up every time you kind of, you know, they're becoming like, more tightly wound. So they're going to put themselves in. In like, thicker, darker cover, they're going to start to really kind of be very switched on as opposed to if you haven't bumped them at all and they're kind of just in dreamland, they're just chilling out. Which isn't to say that approaching them super easy they're still tricky, but, yeah, when you've bumped them a few times, it definitely. It starts to get pretty marginal. And that's where I think what we've done today, giving them that little bit of time between each kind of bump to chill out can help with that. Like, particularly now we've given them a couple of hours, they're going to be pretty desperate to ruminate and lay down. So with a bit of luck, that'll work in our favor. But generally speaking, yeah, if you just keep pushing them like that, it gets kind of marginal and borderline dangerous, too, depending on the situation.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

When Elimani was a boy, was he even aware that you could have the job he has now? Was he aware that this was a job and would he have wanted this job as a boy?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

So he had no idea. He didn't. He didn't know about this industry. He didn't know about the job.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

He.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

He only came to learn about it later when basically when this company started in. In Maswa hunting, there he became aware of it. But, yeah, all he knew was poaching.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And this is. This might be an awkward question since you guys worked together.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

But what does he, like, think of the job? Does he like the job? Is it just a job? Like, what's. What's his take on it?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, he likes it and he likes working with me, but he's just saying that to be nice. I think I really chap his ass sometimes.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Well, I hope he knows. I want you to tell him that I have. Every moment of watching those guys work is like pure joy to me. Like, I really like. Like, I really, really like following those guys through the woods. Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Anasema Ana penda Unavio fan.

[Unknown Host]

He says.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Thank you very much.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Tell him this. I hang out, like, I know people, my friends. I hang out with, like, very good hunters in America. Unless there's snow. Okay. Unless there's snow on the ground. For us, tracking is just that you can tell something came through, or you can tell something frequents an area, or you can tell it routinely comes through. But unless there's snow, we never follow an animal.

[Unknown Host]

Never, Never.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Unless there's snow. And I think he would enjoy snow a great deal.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, I think he'd hide it. UKI onna theluji UTA UTA furai.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

So we're gonna. We're gonna pack up.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

We're gonna go back to where we lost the track.

[Unknown Host]

Yep.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And then how. When do you call it? Like, how do you like. It's 3:30. It's gonna be 3:30pm sun sets around what, 6:30?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Yeah, you know, that's. It's a hard question to answer. It's kind of my prerogative. I would say if we bump them again hard and they go snorting out of there like they did last time, it's probably time to hang it up. But in an ideal world we'll find those things sleeping and they'll have chilled out a good bit since that last bump and we can make a play on them.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

And then last question. If we, if let's say we blow them out bad tomorrow, do we just forget them and go find other ones that haven't been disturbed?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Not necessarily. Not necessarily. I like this area. If we really, I mean if we blow them out bad and for example, they go up on that escarpment again and they just beine it to a different valley, then yeah, it's probably not worth coming back here with that being said, yesterday was four balls. You know, this is three bulls. One of them's either. It's either a different group or one of them spun off and gone on his own. Plus there's another herd in this valley too. So I'm not, I'm by no means going to give up on this place. And that's why I've told the guys not to burn it. Which was sort of.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

We haven't really gotten. We haven't gotten into the burning yet and we need to get into the burning on another dispatch. But the burning is the greatest thing in the world.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Oh yeah, it's. It's heavenly.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Being able to just flick matches in the right places and.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Well, it'd be like. It's slow moving, low intensity grass fires.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

That don't damage the trees.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Just clear out.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

The old dead grass.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The decadent grass. And then a few days later, new grass comes out. Yeah. I mean the burning really appeals to the little boy in all of us. It's a. It's a hell of a lot of fun.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Especially when you, when you look and it's like you make like these perfect new grass growth areas and then there's animals.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Oh, there's animals.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, yeah. There.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

It helps them too.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

No, super cool. Very like not destructive.

[Unknown Host]

No, no, no, no.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Very restorative.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

All right, so you guys ready to go?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Let's do it.

[Lake Pickle]

Ever wonder what happened to the hundreds of thousands of buffalo that used to call the eastern United States home? Or what caused the rise and fall of bobwhite quail? Backwoods University hosted by me. Lake Pickle, is the latest addition to the beargrease Feed on Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Together we'll seek out a deeper understanding of wildlife, wild places, and the people who dedicate their lives to conserving both. After all, you can't love what you don't understand. Search Beargrease on Apple, iHeart, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast, and hit that follow button to enroll in Backwoods University.

[Unknown Host]

Now this is an iHeart podcast.