The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 728: Dispatches from Africa - Tracking Dangerous Game
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Jul 8, 2025 Join an exhilarating discussion on tracking dangerous game in Tanzania! Learn how to read ground signs for old and new tracks. Hear about thrilling hunts for the elusive Cape Buffalo, including techniques shared by local trackers. Discover the balance between tradition and conservation in hunting. Dive into the significance of controlled burns in promoting wildlife habitats. Experience personal stories that blend adventure with respect for nature and animal behavior.
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Trackers' Exceptional Skills
- Buffalo tracks only show subtle signs in leaf litter ground, demanding exceptional concentration to follow.
- Even experienced hunters rely heavily on trackers' unique observational skills to locate game.
Reading Grass Tracks for Timing
- Trackers determine when buffalo passed by by examining the condition of broken grass.
- They assess freshness by whether the grass is still wet from dew or has dried out.
Childhood Poacher Turned Tracker
- Eliamani started as a poacher near Maswa Game Reserve as a child, hunting with poison arrows.
- His favorite target was buffalo, which he hunted by setting blinds near waterholes.