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| Location: |
Africa - Eastern Africa - Kenya |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Hunting |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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With my second Rhino we had a lively encounter. In the first glow of dawn we had set out from camp, east of the lake, in pursuit of Giraffe, and soon picked up some fresh tracks that led us over a low hill. From its brow a fine view opened out below us, across a wide plain teeming with herds of game - Zebra, Eland, Oryx, Granti, Ostrich, Rhino and Giraffe, feeding or roaming at will over its fertile stretches of grassland.
On our homeward trail, after a day of disappointment, the men and I, hot and weary, were enjoying visions of the pleasant camp to which we were returning, when abruptly our dream was dissipated by the sight of two Rhino standing in thin thorn some two hundred yards from our line of march. If we advanced they could not fail to get our wind, and to circle them meant a long detour, so when the glasses revealed that one had a good horn, I decided to try and secure it as the second Rhino of my permit, if possible.
Leaving men and mule behind me, I managed to move forward to within one hundred yards, although it was plain that the beasts were apprehensive, from their uneasy turnings this way and that. Aim was awkward through the thorn trees, and as my shot for the shoulder rang out, both Rhino simultaneously dashed in my direction, one rather wide, the other straight for me, blood and foam oozing from its lips, and spraying from its distended nostrils. The bullet had evidently struck the lungs. Another failed to stop it, and while I was beating a hurried retreat, reloading as I ran, a quiver of the ground and an infuriated snort close to my car made me leap to one side. Swinging round I poured both barrels at the beast's shoulder at a distance of two or three yards, and swerving past me it transferred its interest to Bedoni, my gun-bearer, who had followed me and was now dodging behind some thorn trees. Deliberately the beast gave chase: the man flew for his life, doubling from side to side, while I sprang forward to try and divert its attention from his speeding figure.
To my consternation I then saw the second gun-bearer, a most erratic shot, raising his rifle, from which I knew Bedoni was quite as likely to get the bullet as the Rhino. My shout of protest was too late; the report rang out, but mercifully the shot went aground, while at the same moment Bedoni lost his footing and fell just in front of the beast which blundered onwards straight over his outstretched form. His teeth were chattering and his wrist was badly bruised by the animal's foot, but otherwise there was no sign of damage, and in a few moments we were steadied enough to look for our quarry lying motionless close by.
Nothing seemed to stir the quiet spirit of my old mule, a lover of the contemplative life, who was obviously far on the road to invulnerability. She was quietly standing close to the scene of the disturbance, just as I had left her, with a tolerant expression for all this human bother and agitation.
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Black rhinoceros hunting
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