SafariCare Blue Bag Goes to the Limpopo Valley 

Mike Mistelske, SCI Oklahoma Station Chapter

On African hunting trips, I’ve always taken a few articles of clothing, school supplies and other useful items, to give as gifts to local people. On this trip, I had opportunity to distribute the contents of a SafariCare “Blue Bag”. SCI Foundation started us out with a variety of basic hygiene, first-aid and educational supplies, clothing, and a soccer ball. To this, I added almost $1,000 worth of basic medical supplies from sources in Oklahoma.

On one remote RSA farm in the Limpopo River valley, families of the resident farm and domestic workers form a community of about 80 persons. Such local people, although wonderfully happy, live with very few of the staples of life that many of us take for granted. Basic school supplies are rare and precious; clothing is simple and sparse; amusement comes from playthings such as empty bottles and plastic bags; medical supplies are much lacking.

My PH, Jeff Smith, and I took a day out from hunting in the area to visit farmer Werner Britz and to meet with several families representing his resident workers. Werner and his wife provide the basic medical care required by the 80 family members of his workers. It’s a long drive to a clinic; a visit to the doctor is reserved for serious medical needs. With Werner’s help, Jeff and I distributed most of the contents of our Blue Bag directly to the community members. Werner took custody of all the medical supplies.

Although the local people are very reserved, it was obvious that they much appreciated SCI’s gifts. We even managed to coax smiles from the bashful youngsters. Hunting is great, but it was a special thing to be able to share our abundance.