16 August 2005, 10:36
cable68Back from first Namibia Hunt
I just got back from the most incredible week in my life. First time to Africa; actually first time out of the USA. Had a wonderful safari, got the 4 main animals I wanted and 2 more. I also had the priveledge to be the first American client of Francois Swanepoel.Day 1 we checked the sight in of the scope, and off for kudu. I had told Francois I was more interested in one that was tall and wide than a higher scoring tight curl. We set off and within 2 hrs we saw one that fit the bill. A short stalk, and the sticks went up. As the kudu entered a clearing, I fired. Unfortunately I hit a branch on the way to him, and he was hit too far back. We tracked him for an hour and I was able to put the shot I had originally planned.
He may not score as well as many others, but he is a wonderful trophy to me. Estimated age of 12 yrs. About 1 1/2 inch of ivory tip on those horns that look more like the end of a pool cue than a crochet needle. My 25 yr dream come true.
I spent the first part of the afternoon sitting in a bowhunting blind watching birds and taking pictures of warthogs. Later that afternoon we hunted oryx, and saw only one. Unfortunately he saw us first.
Day 2: Eland. Started off by finding fresh tracks at 7. Caught up with a small herd by about 9. As we were getting very close, suddenly they spooked. Lots more tracking (15 km at least), and many more stalks, some blisters on my feet, and near total exhaustion set in. That faded quickly after I dropped an eland at about 150 yds. Francois said he kept getting bigger each time he looked at him. By his measurement, he is at least 30 cm longer than gold medal minimum.
Day 3 morning was spent recovering from the eland hunt, and the celebrations that followed. I was not up for much hunting that morning, and midafternoon again was spent watching game at a waterhole. Late afternoon was spent searching for oryx. Some were found, but the wind was not in our favor. It was late in the day, and it would be dark by the time we could position ourselves for a good stalk.
Day 4 zebra. Morning was spent at Francois's nephew's ranch in search of zebra. A cold front had come through, and it was not the best weather. Lots of time spent in the bakkie riding around seeing hartebeest, oryx, kudu and eland. Finally a lone stallion was seen. 2 hrs of stalking, and finally a shot presented itself. He was behind some trees, and the "heart-lung" shot was blocked. A pure lung shot presented itself, and I had to take it kneeling but using a branch as a rest. One shot, and the zebra fell 50 yds later.
The first part of the afternoon was spent watching giraffes and zebra. What a sight those gentle giants are. Oryx was the quarry for the late afternoon, and we saw plenty. We stalked 2 different herds, and although we got close enough for a shot, noe were of a high enough quality to be taken. Oryx was seeiming to become for me what kudu was for Ruark.
Day 5 Oryx. Morning spent looking for oryx. It had become apparent that not just any one would do. We glassed several though the day that I thought were good ones, but Francois would say "too small". I guess that's why he's the PH. Finally we found the one. Some stalking, and 2 bullets later, finally I had my oryx.
Another gold medal trophy, and pretty good length for a bull.
The afternoon was spent relaxing. I now had my 4 primary animals. We discussed what to do the next day, and I suggested that we go out with no particular agenda, just see what came along of good quality, whether that be an old warrior with worn down horns, or a gold medal trophy.
Day 6 The morning started with driving around Ekuja (nephew's ranch). Saw kudu and oryx all over the place. Finally we saw a group of hartebeest. Francois said he knew this herd, it was all bulls, and 1 of them was excellent. They had eland around them, and after the eland moved away we began our stalk. Along the way we had to wait because of kudu and gemsbok in our stalking path. The herd spread out and we found the bull alone. 200 yd shot (longest of the safari), and now a hartebeest added to my take.
Turns out he was not the excellent bull, but instead was another aged warrior with worn horns. Another way to mark an animal as a trophy.
After dropping the hartebeest off with the skinners, we went looking for springbok. Herd was found very quickly, and then much time was spent picking out the largest male. My worst shooting of the entire trip came on this springbok. Let's just say that he had to be positioned very carefully for the photos and leave it at that. (But if you look carefully you may see a hole in his left ear
)
Another gold medal trophy. With this I was satisfied. Had my primary animals and 2 I consider a bonus. 3 gold medal animals, and 3 old ones. All will be trophies to me. Even more important are the memories, seeing the smooth gait of a running oryx, the giraffes feeding on the treetops, and the glow of an African sunset. Even on the plane I was thinking about coming back.
A few notes on Francois Swanepoel and Hartbees Nord. He is a solo operator, not part of a big company. There is no swimming pool except for the one being built for the crocs he is raising. Accomodations are spartan, but comfortable. You basically live like you are one of the family. Prices are hard to beat (listed in Euros) Daily rate 100, observer 80. Trpphy fees: kudu 500, oryx 375, eland 1300, springbok 350, hartebeest 375, zebra 750. He doesn't advertize or go to the shows. He says he'd rather get clients from word of mouth, and let their photos be his advertizing. He is very intereted in bowhunting and would love to have more Americans, especially bowhunters.
He also does not want the staff to be tipped. He says he'd rather them know what they will earn each week, and not have it vary according to the means and/or generosity of each client, and because of this pays them a bit more than some of the others in the area.
