Further down the trail we see some fresh buffalo tracks and decide to follow. The tracks wander through the forest as though the buffalo had a reason to keep moving. The wind, the wind! Every few hundred yards we keep kicking the dust to be sure the buffalo are moving up wind. John opines that in a steady wind on a flat dambo buffalo can smell you at two miles. After about two and a half miles, Shame sighted the herd in a thicket about 400 yards distant. The wind is right so we start the stalk. A hundred yard crouch and we stop behind some trees to glass them. They are moving around a bit but are closely herded. Cannot pick out a good bull - we crawl another 100 yards for a closer look. Next time I come on safari I am going to wear knee pads. This rough ground, sticks and stones are sure hard on these old knees. Sitting on the ground we are again glassing the herd when suddenly they move. "Now what made them move?" said John. The wind was all right.

We start to circle to get closer to the front line of travel when Shame suddenly whispers "Kalomo", which in Zambian means "lion". Directly between us and the buffalo were two big male lions. Apparently they were also stalking the buffalo. We crawled about 50 yards closer for a better look when they got up and walked into the thicket, round an ant hill. They had not seen us so we quickly moved around the ant hill and there, about 50 yards to the left, were the lions. One male looked at us and made off at a trot. The other just stood and stared at him, wondering what made him move. I took careful aim with my 375 and shot him through the lung section.  He ran about 30 yards to the top of a low ant hill, turned back as though to charge and then turned away and at full speed ran another 50 yards and collapsed, rolling head over heels. I hurried, out of breath, to catch up and put another shot into the base of his neck. He lay still - the king was dead. He is a fine mature male with a beautiful blonde mane, from nose to tail 9 feet 5 inches. We reasoned that what spooked the buffalo was probably another lion trying to drive the herd in to waiting lions. Lions cannot sustain an all-out rush for very long, consequently like to get within 15 - 20 yards of their prey before charging for the kill, if possible.

John and one of the boys went back for the hunting car. Since neither John nor I had been drinking alcohol on safari, we celebrated with a cup of tea from the thermos in the hunting car. It took all four of us to load the lion onto the hunting car. John sprained his back helping to load the lion. I wish he had sprained it at the beginning of the safari - he would have been easier to follow.

The Zambians celebrate the killing of the lion both with joy and sadness, which I felt a part of. On the way back to camp they cut boughs of green leaves and tied them upright to the front and rear or the car. Then singing and shouting, we rode into camp. After congratulations all around, the king was taken into a cool spot under the trees for skinning. He is never skinned in the same area as other animals. The joy at his death is because he kills many of their cattle and some of their people, and the sadness is because in their belief when Chiefs die, their sprits enter into the body of the lion and now we have deprived them of a dwelling place so they sing to the Chief's spirit to find another lion and not stay in our camp. Personally, as I looked at the beautiful powerful body of the lion, I thought he was so majestic in life, I am sad he is dead. The body of the lion is not thrown to the hyenas like other animals but are buried in the cool forest.

Day 19 - Since John has a sore back we sleep in until 5:30 am and leisurely prepare for hunting. Since we had used up most of the animals shot for baits, except of course what is needed for food, I now wanted to get some meat for the boys to take home. Shooting a couple of nice reed bucks, weighting about 150 pounds each - good eating. Not much else out on the dambos, so went back to camp to give John's back a rest.

Day 20 - We go back to see if the buffalo had remained in the area where I killed the lion but there was no sign of them. Apparently the other lions were still stalking them and kept them on the move. When buffalo stop, they always have one looking behind, and the others in all directions. Seems to be a patterned precaution because they are being followed so much of the time by lion.

It is very hot today and the flies are thick. The game all seems  to be in the thick bush, not moving in this heat, so back to camp.

Day 21 - We packed up our site and returned to Lusaka with trophies and baggage. A long trip home to Michigan USA, but I've got lots of great memories, adventures and new found friends in far away places.  ---> Next Trophy Room 

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