Hello Friends;
I was really shocked this morning when I signed onto the Mt.Etjo website only to see their announcement that the lodge would be closed on October 23 to honor the passing of founder, PH and Conservationist, Jan Oelofse.
Jan was an icon in the Namibia hunting and game ranching business for many, many years. I visited him many times at SCI, however, never got to hunt with him. I regret putting this off....
I have sent my condolences to his wife Annette, family and Staff by e-mail posted on thier website.
With my Regrets,
All the Best

Oh man...sorry to hear that. Never met him but heard good things about him.

Best to all.

Sorry to hear. I think he was one who could be called a 'giant' there in Africa.

Natie passed some years ago -- think it's the same family...

I have met Jan and Annette while at SCI and found them to be a class act. As I was checking Namibian outfitters I learned much about Jan and respect him as a leading professional and conservationist. Rest in Peace my friend.

So sorry to here this, a true African , did all he could for his continent,and wildlife, his book is a wonderful read...make he rest in peace..Butch

I am not familiar with this family. Can someone put up a few details. Sorry for the request. Would love to hear about an Africa legend.

Rest in Peace Sir.

From the website: http://www.mount-etjo.com/History_of_Okonjati.htm

"Give back to nature, more than you take out."



This is the philosophy and goal, of Jan Oelofse, a world-renowned conservationist, who founded the Okonyati Game Sanctuary during 1975. Jan grew up in Namibia and left for East Africa in his early twenties to begin his career working as Game Catcher for Tanganyika Game Limited, owned by the legendary Mr Willie de Beer. He gained tremendous experience of wildlife, while capturing and preparing wild animals for long journeys to European Zoos. The game was caught, taken care of for months and taken by ship from Taganyika’s seaport to their European destinations. Jan was responsible for the care and well-being of the animals on the entire journey. During 1960, while working for Paramount Pictures, he captured and trained all the animals for the film "Hatari", starring John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Krüger and many more famous actors. After a years work of training the animals and filming in Tanganyika, Jan left aboard a DC 6 with approximately forty of his trained animals, via West Africa, South America and the West Indies to Hollywood, where the final filming was done.

Even though Jan had many offers for employment in the United States, his passion for wildlife and Africa soon brought him back, where during 1964, he was employed by the Natal Parks Board in the capacity as Game Capture Officer. Thousands of animals were shot yearly in the attempt to alleviate grazing in Parks. The task fell on Jan’s shoulders to try and remove the animals alive. After applying the method from East-Africa, capturing animals on horseback and in nets, a time consuming and tedious method with high mortalities, Jan finally came up with the idea to capture animals in mass with woven opaque plastic sheets and the aid of a helicopter, during 1968. This technique, now known as the "Oelofse Method", revolutionized conservation in its entirety in Southern Africa. Translocation of animals could now take place in mass and thousands of animals were and are still re-located to private sanctuaries, conservancies and National Parks throughout Southern Africa. He visited South America, parts of America and many other places on invitation, to teach and assist other bodies of conservation’s in their endeavours to capture wild animals in mass. Jan, a dynamic and enterprising man soon started his own capture business.

He returned to Namibia during 1975, leased approximately 5000 hectare of land, a farm with the name of Etjo previously used for cattle ranching. He pitched his tents under a huge Acacia tree, fixed the telephone to the tree trunk, and with only N$ 700.00 in his pocket, courage, determination and the love for nature, he worked towards his goal. He re-introduced many new species of game to the leased land, which he later purchased, together with neighbouring land, named Okonjati and thus founded the Okonjati Game Sanctuary. It took 30 years to build up the Okonjati Game Sanctuary to its size of 30 000 hectares today and create an environment for hundreds of different species of wildlife and birds. Elephants were introduced during 1985, while White Rhino were introduced during 1975 already, as well as many different species, like the rare Roan and Sable Antelope, who found a place of refuge in the sanctuary.



(How COOL is this picture!)

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Sports Afield Article:
Memories of HATARI!: An Interview with Jan Oelofse

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I hope some who knew Mr. Oelofse are able to post their first-hand experiences.

God bless and god speed. Thanks for the info.

There is a book just recently released about his life and adventures, I belive written by his charming wife? It is available on the website.

Jan was a living legend, and a pioneer in many things. The method he invented for wholesale capturing of African game animals has been modified and used all over the world.

Annette indeed did write and publish his memoirs, "Capture To Be Free." It is a great book, and well worth the price.

Bill Quimby

Bill C- Thank you for posting that about Jan...What a man....RIP sir...

+1 what Roland said. What a pic of Jan and John Wayne! Brings more meaning now to the movie Hatari! May the Lord bless his family and may Jan rest in peace.

I hunted with his outfit on my very first African safari. What a gentleman. A great loss to the African hunting and conservation community.

I never met him but a friend use to work for him and an article I read about him about 8 or 10 years ago led to my first of 4 trips to Namibia. My condolences.

Jan was an icon in the game capture "Circle". Unless I am mistaken, I believe he pioneered methods never used before and still used today.

I can't say I knew him. I only met him once. Saw him many times is Reno and Vegas.

Shocking news. A sad day.

heard about this in Kasane Bots last week- damn shame for a "young" PH- this entire year has re ally suckked for dead/injurded people

My sincere condolences to his family. He was a hunting legend.

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

Again Stevenson's verse rings true.

RIP and condolences to family and friends.

A man among men, God rest his soul.

This is devastating news to me and my family as we have hunted there several times. I will post pics when I get out of the mountains and back home at the end of the week.

Aloha Oe my dear friend!!!

Our first Safari was with Jan and Annette as well. Unforgettable experience thanks to them,
Godspeed Jan...

Brenda and I hunted with Jan's outfit in 1990,taking lioness,leopard, cheeta and a great assortment of plains game. I have one of his Kude leather jacket/vests that I'll treasure even more. I saw him a few times after and he always remembered me. How very flattering indeed.He always had a great personal adventure to tell whenever I talked to him. A great man who was "AFRICA' in his entire soul.