As some of you may know, my wife has decided that for our 20th wedding anniversary she wants to hunt in Namibia! I did it last year and took some great trophies (impala, springbok, oryx, zebra, kudu, warthog, some jackal and baboon) and she wants to go after the following:

Impala (her MAIN goal - she wants a nice one for a shoulder mount, as I only got mine done euro-mount)

Oryx

Springbok

Ostrich


My desires are secondary, so I'm cool if I get nothing, but I would like to go after:

Black Wildebeest

Blesbok

Hartebeest (my main interest)


Plus any targets of opportunity that are free or cheap (jackal, possibly night hunting, and baboons - I LOVE hunting baboon and have a nice rifle/scope combo for some REALLY long range shots)


So, where can we find the nicer impala, not to mention the other species she wants, but have it be a nice, classy place with good and patient PHs who will treat my wife like the jewel that she is?

My wife likes her comforts, though they don't have to be 5-star. She loves good food and company, and wildlife. She would like to be in a place where, when the hunting isn't going on or she's taken her animals, she can still see lots of wildlife, birds, and beautiful vistas.

She'd also like to have an understanding PH who won't intimidate her or make her feel like a newbie and will accommodate her physical limitations (she's a stubborn bird, but not as hardy as I am).

As much as I loved the people and ranch that I hunted on last year, I'd perhaps like a change and something different.

I look forward to your suggestions and opinions.

PS - I hear Gras is nice, though I'm hearing that the Impala may not be particularly numerous or great - so that is an important consideration.

PM sent

Give serious consideration to Corne and Nic Kruger and their wonderful operation at Omujeve Safaris. Five star accomodations, wonderful people, great hunting, and your wife will love it.

My wife went along on my leopard trip as our 29th anniversary, and loved Namibia.

http://www.omujevesafaris.com/

Eric,

Talk to Mike Kibble at www.progress-safaris.com He is a patient bloke and great fun.........

He has some fantastic concessions for the animals you are after, ESPECIALLY Oryx and Springbuck.

He also has a great concession near his ranch that has massive Blues on it and oddly enough HUGE impala..........

Not to mention, he shoots the best Red Hartebeest in Nam' on his ranch, took a >28" off it last year.

And he loves baboon shooting Trust me!!!!

John,

Why not consider elsewhere in Africa as well?

Namibia is a fantastic country and hunting destination but so are other countries and all are very different from each other.....

I agree with Steve on this one why not try somewhere else. Get a bit of a different flavour to spice up your life.

For the animals mentioned RSA could be a good starting point. Plus the chance to hunt other animals not available or limited in Namibia.

I will second Blank's recommendation of a hunt at Omujeve with Corne and Nik Kruger. They will treat you and your wife very well and they have all the animals you are looking at.

Randy

Well, guys, first off a big thank you for the suggestions - contacting some of you and some of the places mentioned for more info.

My wife INSISTS on Namibia for her first time, especially due to our limited means. My wife and I are as middle-class as they come, and this is a huge financial undertaking for us - honestly, I thought my trip last year was my one and only shot, so we're having to be very frugal here. We never fly anywhere and so have no free miles to use like some people, and since the two of us will be going and she needs clothing and other equipment, that plays a factor in the costs as well.

She really wants to see Namibia and experience Etosha, Swakopmund, Soussevli, etc. and so Namibia is her only choice.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions - keep 'em coming!

Look into CEC Safaris. Cornie is a very patient and understanding PH. If your wife would feel intimidated by a male then she could hunt with Elaine also a very qualified PH. The new southern African Impala record was taken by their client. 29".

Do you only look for hunting or for a photosafari as well?
I know a Ph who organises very nice tours through Namibia.
He will guide me a week hunting and two weeks sightseeing (Caprivi, etoscha, hunting in Damaraland).
I hunted with him in Namibia two years ago and was very happy.

regards

caracal

quote:

Originally posted by Caracal:
Do you only look for hunting or for a photosafari as well?
I know a Ph who organises very nice tours through Namibia.
He will guide me a week hunting and two weeks sightseeing (Caprivi, etoscha, hunting in Damaraland).
I hunted with him in Namibia two years ago and was very happy.

regards

caracal

Doing both, but I did the photo-touring and touristy stuff by myself with a rental car last year and felt perfectly safe and comfortable, so that's what we are going to do this time around after the hunt.

Is this her first time to hunt or just to hunt outside of the US??

If this is her first time to hunt any big game, then spend as much time as pssible at the shooying range. Get her use to shooting (standing)from a tripod, as she will bee doing on her safari. Also, practice other field positions too.

Lots of practice is a GOOD thing. Do not turn a once in a lifetime hunt into bad memories with poor shooting skills.

Just do nnot "burn her out" with too long or to often practice sessions.

Good hunting.

Keith

Yes, Keith - first time hunting, though she's been stalking with me and others in the past. The lady has NO problems with turning cute little furry creatures into table food - she could have been Ayn Rand's daughter given her politics and Objectivist outlook on life.

She is a crack shot at the range, but I am going to get her properly trained with shooting sticks - and am going to take her hog hunting in the Florida swamps/grasslands this winter.

quote:

She is a crack shot at the range, but I am going to get her properly trained with shooting sticks - and am going to take her hog hunting in the Florida swamps/grasslands this winter.

Sounds like a great gal. Good idea about the hog hunts, Take her out several times to get some pigs in the freezer.


Shooting sticks are not problem to put together. I made myself a set. Make their OAL the same as her height.and they will work just fine.

Keith

quote:

Doing both, but I did the photo-touring and touristy stuff by myself with a rental car last year and felt perfectly safe and comfortable, so that's what we are going to do this time around after the hunt.

Especially for the touristy stuff i like to have a insider. Otherwise you miss sometimes the best parts of a country.

John,

I would give Jan Oelofse safaris a close look. They have good specimens of all you require and their central ranch is 35,000 acres with access to many areas close by of equal or larger area.

Jan himself is quite a historical figure, having served as John Wayne"s double in the movie "Hatari". Jan also was the pioneer in the humane capture of animals for zoos around the world. His ranch,(mount etjo safaris) was the site where the treaty ending the bush war was signed.

In addition to plains game one can expect to see rhino and elephant, maybe cheetah and many other animals. It's about 3 hours from Windhook by auto.

Good luck, Adrian.

My wife and I just returned from a plains game hunt in Namibia. Our PH was Gerrit Breedt of ElandPro Safaris and he was excellent. We stayed at his ranch, Mooilaggte, which is north of the town of Grootenfontein. The bed and breakfast style accomadations was comfortable and the hunting was amazing.

In addition to shooting 6 different animals, we took a 1 day sightseeing trip to the Etosha Pan.