Exploring Tambuti Wilderness
| 04 September 2009
Exploring Tambuti Wilderness
Our first day at the ranch started with a drive back to town to do some blog posting and pick up a list of supplies for the ranch. Normally this would all be sorted out before guests arrived but as I’m traveling with the owner’s nephew and clan we are more active participants in a working African game ranch than mere tourists. I like it better that way.
After we got back from our errand running, which was a bit longer than expected because Ben left the lights on in the rental Toyota Yaris, aka “The Flying Toaster” and we had to push it down a the street to the only gas station in town to get a jump, we grabbed our camera gear and headed out for a game drive. It’s a sad commentary on the state of manliness in America that neither of us could remember how to “pop the clutch” and start it without electricity.
Willibatt, the driver, took us on a 3 hour tour of a quarter section of the ranch. Even without going to waterholes we saw hundreds of animals of every shape and size of antelope ranging from the small, curious Damara Dik-Dik – the world’s smallest antelope and the size of a Jack Russell terrier to the massive Eland – the world’s largest antelope and the size of a cow!
As the sun set over Tambuti and the moon rose I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and of place. I was finally in real Africa!
Arriving back to the lodge after dark we found that Martha, the cook and my latest student, had left us some excellent game birds cooked Southern style which is pan fried and then smothered in gravy and onions! I’m certain our host, Larry Bussey, from Columbus, GA inspired this creation!
The next morning, the question of the day was: What to do with an entire leg of Warthog?
I found an entire leg of warthog – a wild pig native to Namibia – in Larry’s freezer and knowing a couple of good Georgia boys like Ben and Larry would never pass up the chance to “dine on the swine” I decided to try my hand at it.
My first African meal I’m cooking and it’s a wild pig!
I braised the warthog and cooked it slow all night long in the oven, covered in plastic wrap and foil.
Low and slow helps to get all of the “gaminess” out of the pig and turns it into a lovely pork roast.
I got the seal of approval from Ben and Larry – Larry’s father and Ben’s grandfather used to cook BBQ for President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he ran his kitchen in Warm Springs, GA and owned several restaurants after that so they are very picky about their pork!
As you can see in the picture above Ben thought it would be a nice touch to dress me up in a Tambuti Wilderness chef jacket. I can’t get away from it even out here in Africa!!!
In the morning we are going to Etosha national park, the largest national park in Africa and where they film a large portion of the animals scenes for The Discovery Channel shows on Africa!
Heart breaking Reality!
| 02 September 2009
We have so much content to put up- but have very limited time and a poor internet connection where we are posts will be slighly delayed, but I assure the next batch will be amazing...
I mean really we are in the middle of nowhere... Otavi, Namibia- give me some slack!
The Drive to Tambuti Wilderness
| 31 August 2009
The drive to Tambuti Wilderness- (6 hour trek)
We headed out of Swakopund and headed to Otavi- we were running a little behind thanks to me having a little to much fun sand boarding with Jon.. I won’t tell Ben, but it was worth it- since he had to drive at night! The roads get much more rural through the North East of Namibia. Parts of me felt like I was driving through an episode of the Animal Planet! Road sign after road sign.. “caution Kudo crossing”, “caution wart hog crossing”, “caution guinea crossing”…
I drove most of the way until night fall, then Ben (the guy who dodges deer to get home every night) took over. The ride was an adventure- gravel roads, pot holes, and animal crossings… we kept saying that if we accidently hit a animal in the “flying toaster” we would have a much bigger problem on our hands than bringing Larry some game meat!
The geography has changed over and over again since we left Cape Town, South Africa… and now in Otavi (animal accident free and only 2,760 KM since we left the Cape), we are off to explore The famous Tambuti Wilderness! I am going to be spending several days on the ranch (not a hunter) but exploring and taking many photos… now, not being a hunter that doesn’t mean that I won’t be cooking up some local game with ranch chef Martha!
Martha and I spoke this morning and she is going to teach me a bit about her African roots and culture and in turn I am going to show her some modern techniques and flavor profiles… I can’t wait! Being a guest chef @ Tambuti is going to be an experience I will never forget!
Tonights menu is Zebra… can’t wait!
