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THE BIG FOUR

DVD, running time 56 mins.

East Africa remains the summit of African hunting, and a safari there is not only very much as it was a hundred years ago but it also offers the widest range of species. Of course, a safari there is more expensive and costly than anywhere else in Africa, and, thus, a well-made film like this one is a welcome diversion for most of us who cannot afford such a grand adventure.

The outfitter is Luke Samaras who has been operating in Tanzania for over three decades and the game sought is leopard, lion, buffalo, and elephant. We follow the three hunting members of the Eriksson family as they hunt with PHs Nigel Archer, Luke Samaras, and Jasper Samaras (Luke's son). The hunting takes place in the Kilombero (from a canoe) and in Masailand in the north; the accommodations are all in tents.

The film follows the various hunters and PHs as they hunt from different camps in the East African gamelands. Excitement abounds as there are still huge numbers of animals to be seen and tracked-even in the twenty-first century. Because there are various hunters and PHs and because they hunt from different locations, the film thankfully avoids becoming a boring diary of one hunter's safari.

This DVD provides superb footage-an HD camera was used-of exciting fair-chase hunting for buffalo, puku, croc, lion, leopard, and tusker. All are good trophies.