Mud and rocks

[El Stiemo]

Got back yesterday afternoon from another outing into northern Damaraland. (NW - Namibia)

Day one: From Swakopmund via Brandberg into the Ugab riverbed, up into the Gontergab, camp. This is where we had the "Haarskeerder" spider in camp - see pic.

Day two out of the Gontergab via Gai - Ais down into the Huab river. Got stuck in a patch of "black cotton soil" - well, not really stuck, Padda was just standing on top of the mud and spinning all four wheels, no grip whatsoever, had to winch her out. And yes, she is fitted with MT's. Camp in Huab.

Day three awaken to find this scorpion under the flap of the sleeping bag, compare to footprint alongside for size... :eek: Back to Swakop.

Piccies:

1: Rocky terrain in the Gontergab
2: Nighttime visitor
3: cooling down one overheating V8
4: winch away
5: camp in riverbed
6: nice when you find this under your sleeping bag

Frank

[Marc Lurie]

Looks like you're feeding the V8 on Windhoek Lagers Frank. :D

That's a mean scorpion. I've seldom seen scorpions like that because I don't spend much time in arid areas. The little bu**ers that I encounter most often are the little dark brown or black guys in Natal and Mozambique. They're not lethal, but the sting is seriously painful It's like someone has injected molten lead into your veins. And it doesn't go away for hours. I got nailed on the thumb by one in Sodwana.

The scorpion in your photo looks like it has slender pincers and a large sting section. That makes her a real bas**rd if you pee her off. Are they lethal?

Brigid and I are going to join Kingsley again this weekend for the last leg of the expedition as they go from Maputo down to Zululand where the expedition officially ends.

Cheers,
Marc

[El Stiemo]

Hi Marc,

yes, that scorpion is a nasty bit of work. Whether or not they are lethal depends on your age and condition of health. If you are a grown up, healthy, they are unlikely to kill you, though the sting will hurt like hell and you will not enjoy the experience. Children, elderly, or people with a heart condition should watch out.

This is why we never leave home without the Aspivenin.

The V 8 does not feed on Windhoek Lagers! :eek: I would stop driving a Landy pretty quickly if they did! ;) We filled up the empty Tafel Lager cans in the water from the Huab because we wanted to conserve our drinking water rather than chuck it over the radiator...

Good luck with the final leg of the Holgate expedition, doing some sterling work there, Marc!

Cheers Frank

[toppa]

They are some awesome piccy's. You guys have some great terrain...

Now as for that spider:eek: that where a 12gauge comes in handy!!!

I hate spiders!!!!

Cheers

[El Stiemo]

They are some awesome piccy's. You guys have some great terrain...

Now as for that spider:eek: that where a 12gauge comes in handy!!!

I hate spiders!!!!

Cheers

Hi Toppa,

yes, lots of excellent 4x4 country here. We saw rhino and leopard tracks as well as loads of antelope and some Hartmann mountain zebra. This is what the wilderness experience is all about, cooking over the open fire, sleeping out under the stars, etc. :) With a scorpion under your sleeping bag :eek:

We don't take a 12 gauge, as they are too bulky and you need to do some "please explain" when you are found with a hunting - capable firearm in a conservancy area, as they all have problems with poachers. But a '357 Mag loaded with shot comes in handy against a snake in a tight spot... However, we do not kill any animal unless it has to be killed, so the scorpion just got evicted from camp and the solifuge left of its own accord. But it does make you think twice about sleeping on the ground. Will revert back to sleeping on the roofrack in future, me thinks.

Cheers Frank

[toppa]

That sounds like a geat experience, arnt you worried about animals finding you tasty?

I wouldnt kill the spider either, i hate them, but always just evict them, if but a bit shakey while doing it...


CHeers

[El Stiemo]

That sounds like a geat experience, arnt you worried about animals finding you tasty?

I wouldnt kill the spider either, i hate them, but always just evict them, if but a bit shakey while doing it...


CHeers

Had a bit of a nice one a couple of years ago when we were camped in a narrow section of the Hoarusib riverbed (also sleeping outside). Woke up in the night, heard a noise, looked up and saw a jackal at the fire. Ok no problem, shoo it off and go back to sleep - however, just when I was about to fall asleep again, we heard a typical Huuumph, Humph, Huumpf from not very far away...

:eek:

WIDE awake now, as that is what a lion sounds like... Took hold of revolver under pillow which suddenly feels very insubstantial.

Heard a rustling in the reeds and then they moved past our camp. Phew. Tracking next morning confirmed three lion walked about ten meters past the car... Hmm.

Have also had close shaves with Hyena (a real b*****d), but never with Croc or elephant or others. The wise man does not sleep on an elephant footpath or stand in the way of a black rhino when they charge into your camp to stomp out your fire. Has never happened to me, but I know two people who have had this happen to them.

So yes, interesting things do happen...

[toppa]

Mental note: sleep in truck if ever over your way camping!


That would scare the living crap out of me, but i suppose you guy's are used to it and know what to do... IE revolver...


Cheers

[El Stiemo]

but i suppose you guy's are used to it and know what to do...



RUN AND CLIMB THE NEAREST TREE

:D :D :D

Which does not work if faced with a lion as that will trigger their "chase it and bring it down" instinct... and they run faster than Ben Johnson, drugs or no. And climb trees if need be.

Which reminds me: How fast do you have to run when charged by a lion? Answer: Faster than the slowest member of the group...

;) Frank

[Geobloke]

Pah they're tiny scorpuions them!!! In Borneo we used to get scorpions that were geting on towards 12" in length. Big black buggas they were and I can remember seeing an old bloke in flip flops stamping on one :eek: Was so impressed at the time by the shear balls it took to do that in flip flops. I woulda thought twice about it in steel toe riggers boots!!! :rolleyes: :eek:


Looks like you had another good trip out there Frank and the close shave with lions, hell thats impressive! How fast could you have of pulled that trigger then? fast enough to down 3 lions? :eek: :eek:

[Marc Lurie]

How fast could you have of pulled that trigger then? fast enough to down 3 lions? :eek: :eek:

Geo, a .357 loaded with shot would only serve to irritate a lion. :rolleyes: The noise would probably scare away most lions (most animals in fact), but if they were intent on munching on your bones, then it would take a few VERY well placed shots from a revolver to drop one.

I large calibre magnum round like a .357 or a .44 in the head or lungs might do it, but I doubt if a .357 would have the ooomph to reliably penetrate the ribcage. Frank would probably know better than me, but I doubt he's tried it. :eek:

Usually the smallest calibre recommended for safety against lion is something like a .375 or 9.3 x 62 or larger.

Marc

[El Stiemo]

How fast could you have of pulled that trigger then? fast enough to down 3 lions? :eek: :eek:

Hi Geo,

Fast enough to shoot my friends and myself, more like, save the lions the trouble. ;)

No seriously, I was ready to give off shots to scare them away. Against a charging lion a 357 Mag will not do much, you need a high power rifle (or a hand cannon like a 454 Casull or S&W 500 Mag) for that, even a shotgun is very doubtful. You *might* startle them with a few shots in the air, but no guarantees on above statement. Hold eye contact, when they attack, crouch down withoutr breaking eye contact, shout at the top of your voice as this will startle them into thinking you are a predator... At least that is the preferred theory in the guide instruction courses rangers do. I have not yet had the chance to try. :rolleyes:

They do not usually attack humans (see above), and if they do, they have to be put down as per law. Just respect each other's distance, and everything will be fine. Had we camped all across the riverbed and thus made it impossible for them to pass without getting into our camp, then whose fault is that then... ;)

Cheers

[Geobloke]

Hi Geo,

Fast enough to shoot my friends and myself, more like, save the lions the trouble. ;)

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: By eck thats some serious ****e to say or think! :eek:

they are an awesome animal though!

[El Stiemo]

Geo, a .357 loaded with shot would only serve to irritate a lion. :rolleyes: The noise would probably scare away most lions (most animals in fact), but if they were intent on munching on your bones, then it would take a few VERY well placed shots from a revolver to drop one.

I large calibre magnum round like a .357 or a .44 in the head or lungs might do it, but I doubt if a .357 would have the ooomph to reliably penetrate the ribcage. Frank would probably know better than me, but I doubt he's tried it. :eek:

Usually the smallest calibre recommended for safety against lion is something like a .375 or 9.3 x 62 or larger.

Marc

Hey Marc,

I was writing my reply at the same time as you yours...

357 against lion only as a warning shot. I have never killed an animal with that firearm, but a lot of cardboard discs have paid dearly for getting in my way... ;)

454 Casull or 500 Mag might do it as handguns, but rather a high powered rifle without a scope, like the backup guns for elephant hunts (458 Lott, 700 Nitro Express, etc.) Minimum calibre specified in southern Africa for dangerous game is 375 Holland Holland.

But I try not to get the lion peed off in the first place.

Cheers Frank

[El Stiemo]

[quote=Geobloke]:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: By eck thats some serious ****e to say or think! :eek:

quote]

:eek: I was not being serious, Geo! :eek:

[Geobloke]

[quote=Geobloke]:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: By eck thats some serious ****e to say or think! :eek:

quote]

:eek: I was not being serious, Geo! :eek:

Well Is hould hope not or you ain't getting invited on any of my camping trips!! ;)

Is amasing to think that a .357 would end a persons life in an instant but it would barely pierce the hide of a lion!! :rolleyes:

[El Stiemo]

[quote=El Stiemo]

Well Is hould hope not or you ain't getting invited on any of my camping trips!! ;)



Why would that be then? ;)

But seriously, lets leave it at that. I was joking when I made that statement. If a mod (like you, for instance) reads this and finds it offensive and considers it in bad taste then please remove said statement.

Thank you.

Frank

[Geobloke]

[quote=Geobloke]

Why would that be then? ;)

But seriously, lets leave it at that. I was joking when I made that statement. If a mod (like you, for instance) reads this and finds it offensive and considers it in bad taste then please remove said statement.

Thank you.

Frank

Well as a MOD I do not find it offensive at all, in fact quite interesting in that if I were to find myself in such a situation what should I do to survive! Obviously shooting at the critters does nowt but the shear noise will make them think twice! Thats usueful info mate! But am ok if this is the end of the convo!

So were you in a tent or under the stars?

[El Stiemo]

[quote=El Stiemo]

Well as a MOD I do not find it offensive at all, in fact quite interesting in that if I were to find myself in such a situation what should I do to survive! Obviously shooting at the critters does nowt but the shear noise will make them think twice! Thats usueful info mate! But am ok if this is the end of the convo!

So were you in a tent or under the stars?

End of convo, then.

Under the stars, that is the problem. Inside a tent you are quite safe... unless of course, you have raw meat in there with you as this might invite a predator to find out how sturdy your canvas wall is... But that would be quite a stupid thing to do. ;)

I dislike sleeping in tents if it is not raining. Usually we just sleep on the roof rack out in the open. I do however not move around a lot while sleeping as falling down off the roof might be painful. :eek:

Cheers

[Geobloke]

[quote=Geobloke]

End of convo, then.

Under the stars, that is the problem. Inside a tent you are quite safe... unless of course, you have raw meat in there with you as this might invite a predator to find out how sturdy your canvas wall is... But that would be quite a stupid thing to do. ;)

I dislike sleeping in tents if it is not raining. Usually we just sleep on the roof rack out in the open. I do however not move around a lot while sleeping as falling down off the roof might be painful. :eek:

Cheers

Lol yeah having an uncomfy night where your tossing and turning would be quite hazzardous to your health!! :D I bet the stars ate insanely bright out there in the bush too!!

[Ad Finem]

Full respect to you for your trip, have spent a month wild camping in various areas in Kenya but always in a tent, I know how it feels to hear something outside you can't see and just hope like hell it is going to **** off!
Would love to do another trip but will probably be a few years away yet.

On the matter of scorpians am in Turkey at the moment a a friend got bitten by what the doctor belives to be a scorpian pn;y a couple of inches long.
He is currently in hospital lucky to be alive as the doctors cocked things up and now he may have to have his leg amputated due to the damage the poison has caused, but yes he is old with a heart problem as well.
:(