Which African game do you think is the most dangerous

[MacD37]

Originally posted by PhilLozano
I said I would wait a few days before posting my choices. Guess I will get the debate moving along by posting my list now, so here goes. I would welcome any comments or debate on this subject.

I would rank them as follows;

1 - Elephant - Very smart and very dangerous. If he gets to you, you are NOT hunting any more, or doing anything else either. I do not know ANYONE that has been caught by Tembo and is still here to tell the story. However, he can be turned (not always), to veer off if you miss the brain in just the correct place.

2 - Lion - Very fast and if he gets to you, you are in BIG trouble. He will mostly finish what he starts, so if he intends to kill you, well you know the rest. Also can be turned (but don't bet on it) to veer off .

3 - Buffalo - Most determined of all of them to get to you. Won't stop or turn. He will come straight until he kills you. . . . or you kill him. You MUST hit something in his nervous system to stop him. When he comes, forget the heart, base of the neck, etc.. However, quite a bit slower than a Lion.

4 - Leopard - Quickest of the bunch. MOST LIKELY to get to you in a charge. Least likey to kill you. The most likely % wise to make you bleed (and anyone with you, cuz, he is going to scratch everyone). He is the most likely one to put you in the hospital, but you have the best chance of walking out of the hospital (once and if you beat the infection, and you will have a serious infection depending on how many new tatoos he has given you).

5 - Rhino - White Rhino, pretty much like stalking your pick up truck parked in a large parking lot. Not very quick, and does not seem dangerous, but can be. I think the new darting hunts are MORE dangerous than a hunt to kill one (just my opinion).

Black Rhino - A lot more dangerous than the White, but slower than the others (1, 2, 3, 4). Both Black and White can kill you. But I have hunted a number of them (with clients) and never had a real problem. I would say, if you have had a problem with a Rhino, it would be the Black Rhino. Both are more agile than you might think. The Black a bit more so.

Most under rated - Hippo. They are pretty mean and can give you a go. I have been charged by more unwounded Hippo, than any other unwounded animal.
As tough as any Buffalo.

In generally, how you rate the animals will be with what animals you have had the most problems with, or had the closest calls with. That being said, I have only been charged by a few Elephants, far fewer than the rest. However, I still rate him number 1.

Thankfully, I have not left any of my own blood in Africa (yet).

I am sure other P.H.'s and other people might have different selections.
Even my Trackers have a different order.
My Trackers in the Selous, have a different opinion than my Trackers in Masailand, Moyowasi and Rungwa.

As I said, I welcome your comments.

Best regards,
Phil

I have absolutely nothing to disagree with in this post above!

I also agree with the fact that more client hunters are killed by Cape Buffalo that any of the big five, simply because they're ten times as many Client hunters hunting him than any of the Big 5.

That fact, however doesn't have anything to do with his determination to kill you once he is pissed! There is a quote that has always seemed to be true to me, and it reads: "Once a cape buffalo puts a close quarters charge together, your options have been wounderfully simplified, you kill him, or he will kill you! The remedy seems simple, you shoot him, but that is easier said than done, in an effective way. As Phil says, you must hit the CNS (brain or Spine) to stop him in his tracks!

The Hippo does kill more folks in Africa than all other animals combined, but for a different reason. Most of his victims are women and children near the water's edge, not hunters!

Even though the Buffalo kills more hunters than the rest of the big five, he is not the most dangerous to hunt! That distinction belongs to the Elephant, and I'd say the lion is next, simply because once a charge starts, both these animals are had to put down, the ele because it is hard to find the brain, and the lion because he is so fast! The ele can be turned most times, by any solid hit in the face with a large caliber rifle, ending the charge, but if he gets to you, you've bought the boat!

[Rapier]

I know for sure that any of the Big 5 can cause a change of undies. I have only hunted in Africa once, just this year.

However, I took the time to talk to every hunter and PH I could find about the critters. Probably the most hair raising accounts were the result of Lion charges where the Lion at full speed decides to leave the ground at a good distance from his intended quary. Usually someone gets hurt before he hits the ground, even if he is dead when reaching mother earth.

The buf is so dangerous because he, unless hit well, will not stop and if wounded, will hunt you in the tall grass. A big bore with a lot of weight in the bullet. I have two hunting buddies that hunt bufs every year, 68 year old adrenilin junkies. We have been to Argentina twice together.

I know another fellow that does Africa trips twice every year. Has a big home full of mounts. It is amazing to watch him tell of his elephant hunts, his eyes get big every time he starts. We have been to Argentina twice and Africa once together.

I would say that those three are very close, close enough that I would not argue the point of #1 with anyone.
Ed