Are African trackers really that good?

[ODB]

Idk what that is but it’s pretty cool looking.


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That's a bongo. Very cool animals

 

[Sevens]

I flubbed a shot on a blue wildebeest one morning (not proud of it). We tracked it all day until it was dark covering several miles in the process. Marked the spot of the last sign and came back the next day to resume. Followed the tracks for another hour until, much to my relief, there was the wildebeest dead in some brush.

The trackers are pretty darn amazing in my opinion.

 

[Dust Rider]

I was impressed with what we experienced in RSA. The water holes while bow hunting were a cluster, and the trackers would most often find the paths of the shot animals. If they didn't get on the tracks after a few minutes, they would waste no time and get the dog.

 

[TheGrayRider]

How soaked were you during this hunt?

Bongo hunting is supposed to be pretty miserable.

I submitted an extensive bongo and forest sitatunga hunt report on Africa Hunting Forum under my same username upon return.

Without overinflating my own ego, but in all seriousness, forest hunting in the equatorial African jungles for bongo, forest buffalo, and forest sitatunga is some of the toughest hunting on the planet. You can’t worry or even think about the continual misery. Oppressive heat, unlimited and unknown types of insects, humidity, constant sweat, and constricting vegetation make the Alaska and other mountains hunts seem like cakewalk.

Difficult rugid adventure. Nothing is easy in the jungle. Very blessed, thankful and grateful for the opportunity. Happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.



Forest sitatunga a.k.a forest fairy.



Old logging roads. Start of a daily hunt.

 

[BCDJR]

Mine in Zimbabwe were exceptional

 

[jeffpg]

I have witnessed trackers in Africa perform feats multiple times that I hesitate to tell people because although I saw it with my own eyes, you will have trouble believing it, as would I if I hadn't been there.

 

[CHWine]

My PH who has had a PH hunting school for 30 years amazed me my last trip. We were in the back of the hunting rig probably going about 15-20 mph. We were all looking ahead in typical dry, sandy north African country. He saw leopard track on the trail in front of the rig while we were clipping along. We got out and even the trackers were amazed.

 

[Cornhusker]

I've ran into amazing trackers in Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. I think a big part of it is they start young and they don't ruin their exceptional vision by looking at computer, tv or phone screens. I haven't been to Africa in a decade so it's probably changed but they couldn't and didn't read books as well .

 

[go_deep]

Yes.
You can lock the thread now.

 

[WCB]

Yes the good ones are that good. Are all of them no. In general 99.9% of hunters are complete sh!t at tracking even with blood.

 

[weekender7]

As the old saying goes, "you just have to see it to believe it." I watched them track a kudu for over a mile in a place where there were millions of tracks. They did this a pace that was hard for me to keep up. We caught up with the kudu, but he was still just out of bow range. If you could have seen how many tracks were on the ground it was literally unbelievable what they were able to do.

 

[Sinistram]

Yes, they are. In both Namibia and South Africa, I watched their ability to spot and track game appear almost magical. After a few days, it becomes a contest to see if you can out-spot the tracker.

Spoiler: you cannot and you suck.