Another safari season has drawn to a close and no sooner had I arrived back on American soil, that I'd started planning my next trip. I got back from my second 2006 trip to Africa on October 14th. I did a 7-day buffalo hunt with Saaiman's Safaris in Mozambique. The concession is loaded with buffalo, but the highlight of this safari was a massive-bodied blue cape eland I took. The body of this old boy was larger than that of many giant elands. His horns measured a respectable 34" but because his body size was so massive his horns looked kinda stubby! Hunting eland has become a priority of mine because of the challenge. They're big runners and jumpers and I'm finding them every bit as tough to hunt as buffalo. Like buffalo too, each one looks different on the wall.

After wrapping up in Mozambique, Kappie and I headed down and over to Ellisras, South Africa to hunt with our old friend Marius Kotze of Rhinoland Safaris. It was at that time too that Marius informed me of some tragic and shocking news. My longtime friend and tracker, Andries Monyeki had died of AIDS. He was only 36-years old. Andries was one of Marius's most dependable staffers. As a tracker, driver and skinner he was a jack-of-all-trades. Andries was a skilled mechanic and with a little polish on his English had the potential to be a PH. Andries leaves a wife and children behind. In memory of him I dedicated the Fire & Ice DVD/video to this gifted tracker and friend.