A new email today from John Wambach at ProGuiding in Namibia. John as an allocation of eight elephant and eight Cape buffalo. The concession is the new Babwata National park, and access is fly-in/fly-out. The ivory averages 63 pounds. Elephant is US $23,000, and the buff is $9,250. The hunting season is three months long.

Email me if interested.

thanks...jim

Jim,

John must have picked up the Buffalo concession that is adjacent to Kwando that Allan Cilliers got. We're expecting some big ivory godd lion etc to come from there.

Mark

John is an upright guy, and the trophies in that part of Namibia can be super.

John is quite a guy, and innovative in his hunts. I first met him in the early ninetys when a friend hunted with him and introduced us at an SCI Convention.

Previously he hunted the Salambala and Kwando/Linyati Conservancies, and got some good elephant and lion on those hunts.

jim

I got the following note today from John's wife Anneli (Friday, Aug 18). PM or email me if you are interested...jim

---------------------------------------
Hey Guys, still have 4 elephants available for $20 000 each.
Inside Babwatha National Park, Namibia.
Must be shot by 30 November. $3800 charter cost to area, $500 dipping and transport to taxidermy.
Have taken 72 pound elephant, 3 x 40" + buffalo’s, 16 ft crocodile.
Let me know the year is short.
Have a great weekend!
Best Anneli

John & Anneli Wamback
Pro-Guiding & Hunting Safaris cc.

Wow, that certainly is interesting! Now, why the $3800 charter cost?
Peter.

Peter,

The charter is to fly into and out of the Bwabwata National Park.

This link has some background on the Park.

http://www.holidaytravel.com.na/index.php?fArticleId=33

jim

The South African Army built roads all over this area, in fact Namibia has the highest ratio of surfaced road per capita of any country in the world.

A lot of these charters are just plain unnecessary. And expensive!!!

Unnecessary?

Well, that depends now, doesn't it?

Less than 2 hours for a charter, versus 14 for a drive, would be the arithmetic for that one.

And still cheap by Tanzanian standards.

I guess that is my concern. If I fly into Windhoek surely nothing can be more than a days drive? For $3800 I can fly from the USA to Windhoek twice can't I?
Peter.

Peter,

If you pull up a map of the Park, you will see (or perhaps not see is a better term) only a few roads. I understand that is the reason for flying. You can fly commercial into Katima Mulilo too.

John used to pick up hunters there for the Linyata and other Conservancy hunts that were driveable.

jim

Peter,

Currently you can fly Air Namibia into Katima on Mondays only. Runs around $650 right now. A drive from there may be possible. The Monday only schedule they currently have can really mess up your hunt schedule. If your hunt starts on a Wednesday etc a charter saves lost/wasted days.

If you are going to drive from Windhoek to the Caprivi it is a long 12 hour drive for a driver who has done it many times. An overnight stay part way there may be required for others as it is a 1400 km trip.

Obviously these options only work if driving into camp is available which I would think it would be. There are some areas where driving in is not an option however.

Good luck with your hunt.

Thanks Mark T. I don't have one yet, but this on is sorely tempting.
Peter.

Peter,

Having driven a bit around in Africa, I would generally agree that driving is the way to go. You get a chance to see lots of stuff you'd otherwise miss out on. If you have the time! Keep in mind though that 1400km in Africa (even in Namibia with their very good roads), takes longer than most people are used to the same distance taking back at home. And it's best split up by stopping overnight somewhere IMO.

I got a reply to my query on the charter...jim

Dear Jim, the charter is very expensive I know, but it is 13 hours of driving, in October it will be very hot as well for driving. The hunting camp is on the banks of the Okovango river 8 km outside the park. Best Anneli

I hunted the Caprivi twice, using the Air Namibia flight which was then daily. The PH I hunted with had to drive back/forth during the season and said the ride was brutal, especially in a Land Cruiser without air conditioning. He'd try to drive the majority at night, which of course presents other issues!