40 Days in South Africa
There were 13 survivalists at the start of the challenge (one is not pictured). 8 of us made it to day 40.
the all-female tribe
For the first 19 days of the challenge, I was with Kaila, a full-time knife maker and Lindsey, a professional chef.
Before we merged with the other survivalist, I had the privilege of survivng with 2 very strong women.
my item of choice
We were allowed 2 items each. I took my Bear Kodak Hunter and my Tops B.O.B Fieldcraft knife. I bought the bow on eBay for around $160. It was a vintage recurve from the 1970s made by Bear Archery.
bow fishing catfish
We ate countless catfish bow-fished from a nearby pond, buck thorn leaves, prickly pear cacti, and sandpaper raisin every day in the cliffs of South Africa.
If I learned one thing in South Africa it was how to fillet a catfish. Kaila, Lindsey, and I ate catfish everyday for nearly 3 weeks. I used my bow to fish for them out of a pond nearby our camp.
That feeling you get when you find out your fellow tribe member scored a 150lb impala for dinner. I have never tasted meat as delicious as the seared back strap steak I ate that evening. I appreciated that animal more than anything and we all felt so grateful for the nourishment provided to us. Aside from some fish and turtle stew, we had been without a sustainable source of protein for nearly 10 days (that impala came on day 35 during our 40-day challenge). It also happened to be my birthday.
I will never forget the long walk we took to retrieve the impala under the African sun. We stopped a couple of times to take mud baths in waterholes along the way (elephant style). Carrying back the impala was excruciating and we took turns rotating until we arrived to back camp to have the best feast ever.
Once we got back, Kaila & Lindsey showed up with a warthog and we knew we were set for the rest of the challenge. That night we all sat around the largest campfire yet, telling stories, laughing, and eating ourselves into steak food comas.
day 40: a freezing extraction
When you are preparing for extraction and it is 40 degrees out. And your cold, really cold.
stalking on the hunt
Nothing more fun than learning how to hunt in Africa whilst crawling naked amongst thousands of thorns and biting ants in 101° sun.
The things you do for survival.
rough times with the tribe
Day 21: I feel like this photo after a night of nonstop torrential downpour sums up our feelings.
