We got into the blind about 5:00 pm. The blind was about 150 yds from the Nyamphande Spring. Based on tracks we had seen, it looked like he worked the ridgeline on the opposite side of the small valley from where the Spring comes out of the ground. We were set up on the Southern slope; about 30 yds up; the blind was on the Northern slope about 30 yds up. 60 yds to the bait from the blind. Elevation of blind and bait were about the same...so it was a straight on shot. The way the tree limb and bait were set up; the animal would be facing to the left and likely be quartered toward us. He'd hit the new warthog the night before...1st time on bait in over a week. He was hungry so he should come in.
As the light faded, we were sure we heard the leopard on the bait...Alastair said take the safety off and get in position and Pete hit the light...no leopard...and the light wasn't much good yet at this point. Pete and Alastair shook their heads in disbelief. But, within about 2 minutes, we heard our constant friends...elephants ... within 20 yds of the blind to our right toward the Spring. Apparently what we had heard were elephants moving toward the Spring N to S under the bait tree and up the hill we were on. At 20 yds, I was convinced I could smell the peanuts on their breath and they were coming in...Alastair was not too excited this time; but he did stand up and look intently. Pete and I just shook our heads in a "not again" fashion. This lasted about 5 minutes and they moved off toward the Spring. You could hear them (we think there were 2) sucking up water and spraying themselves...it was quite loud and again; it seemed a lot closer than 150 yds away. This settled down with the elephants sounds echoing up the valley.
As the light faded, we were sure we heard the leopard on the bait...Alastair said take the safety off and get in position and Pete hit the light...no leopard...and the light wasn't much good yet at this point. Pete and Alastair shook their heads in disbelief. But, within about 2 minutes, we heard our constant friends...elephants ... within 20 yds of the blind to our right toward the Spring. Apparently what we had heard were elephants moving toward the Spring N to S under the bait tree and up the hill we were on. At 20 yds, I was convinced I could smell the peanuts on their breath and they were coming in...Alastair was not too excited this time; but he did stand up and look intently. Pete and I just shook our heads in a "not again" fashion. This lasted about 5 minutes and they moved off toward the Spring. You could hear them (we think there were 2) sucking up water and spraying themselves...it was quite loud and again; it seemed a lot closer than 150 yds away. This settled down with the elephants sounds echoing up the valley.