An old addage is that a PH is only as good as his tracker. He can also only be as good as his backup and equipment as well, and for that reason I think it's important to explain a little about what I as a PH consider important and carry in myvehicle. This is also equally important to all the other PH's out there that I use.

I have my vehicle rigged in such a way that there is plenty of space in the "bed". All the water containers and extra paraphernalia is either strapped to the sides of the frame or stowed in my hunting box or roof rack.

I have a large and comprehensive first aid kit, like good insurance, I have never and hope never to have to use it , however when I need it I want it to be fully comprehensive. Trama kit includes things like sutures, morphine and intravenous kits, then I have a good supply of the basic needs, headache tablets, stomach meds, antiseptic creams etc… Much of what you would expect to find in a family medecine chest.

Radio communication is very important, given the nature of where we hunt, we are often several hours from camp. I have, installed in my vehicle both HF and VHF radios and can, at any time get in contact with the office, medical rescue or other PHs in the field.

I also have a full tool kit and a few basic spares , an extra spring, oil and fuel filters, spare nuts and bolts etc.

The recovery kit includes afew chains and ropes for turning over carcasses, as well as half a dozen meat hooks to help with skinning large animals such as elephant and hippo, a comprehensive knife kit and sharpeners are equally important. Strapped on the outside of the vehicle for eay access are two wheels, a pickaxe and shovels.

The roofrack contains some folding chairs, a table, a tarp to lay out at lunch times and my leopard blind. It's also a great place to stow jackets and fleece as the day warms up.

Nevison, my tracker is a great old guy, he has been with me for several years now and like many old fashioned trackers, he has a deep and mystical understanding of the many sides of the wilderness. Husband to three women, and father to 25 children, he surely is from the old school, and at 63 years of age he is stronger and more fit than many people half his age. I certainly owe a huge proportion of my successes in the field to his tracking ability. I usually work with two trackers, Nevison and one other. The second tracker will always be someone from the area in which we are hunting. I never underestimate the importance of local knowledge in a hunting scenario. This is particularly important in my situation, where I find myself hunting in many different areas during a season. All the PH's I book with have long standing trackers, people who actually are the unsung heroes of the hunt, without whom we would certainly have a far more difficult time getting great trophies in the salt.