1. I didn't hunt with my own rifle, and the rifle I used was junk. If possible never hunt with a borrowed rifle, or at least make sure it's something solid, safe, and accurate. This loaner rifle wasn't any of those three.

There are very few outfitters that are rifle zealots at our level, but seek those out that are, and you will end up with a MkV Accumark, Dakota 76, or Blaser K95.

2. Never stay at the Kalahari Sands, it's full of black African civil servants, prostitutes, and Japanese tourist, stay at one of the Bed and Breakfast that caters to hunters, there are about 15 good ones.

3. The open markets can be a good source of cheap curios, but most of the shops in downtown Windhoek have better prices, as do the bigger taxidermy shops.

4. Taxidermy is cheaper than the states but quality suffered from the 3 that I went to. There is a huge commercial tannery in Windhoek, not cheap, but huge, and they do a good job on chrome tanning those items you plan on using as flat rugs.

5. I used PMP ammo for all my game animals, and I lost a gemsbok and a red hartebeast because there wasn't sufficient blood trail. Use good controlled expansion bullets. Solids on small animals are a waste of time.

6. Kill a baboon, I can't tell you how much fun these things are to hunt. They are fabulous, and killing one is pure pleasure, they stink, make lots of noise and harass the local ranchers.

7. Sun block, long sleeves, and a good hat are essential if your fair skinned. Nights and mornings are cold, but from 1200-1600 it can be really hot, and that African sun is brutal on your skin. I didn't wear sunblock one day and it was the mistake that almost cost me the safari. I got sunstroke, that turned into pneumonia.

9. If your hunting someplace with thorns find out. I brought light weight hunting clothing from Cabelas, and it was shredded by the thorns in two days. Jeans and a long sleeve tan denim shirt would be a good idea.

10. Shots were almost always around 175-325. If your not used to shooting these distances in hunting positions practice, and practice with shooting sticks standing. Your hunt will depend on it.

11 (last one). Learn some of the PH's language (in Namibia German or Afrikaans), I also speak quite a lot of Spanish and was able to help the Spanish client that was in camp understand his PH (actually it was our standard dinner routine). Nothing suprised camp staff more than when they were greeted by me with "goeiemôre" from me, or when I knew the names of the animals in Afrikaans.

D99, thanks for taking some time and putting your observations down, appreciate it, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

I wanted to add a couple things.

I used Swarovski 8.5x42 binoculars, and I think that a pair of high quality 10 powers would have been better in this wide open area. I think I will invest in a pair of Leica 10-15 Duovids before my next safari.

There were quite a few times I had wished I had more power.

2nd, I am 30 years old this year, and I have put this off for quite a while. I got a signature loan for part of the cost of this safari, and I don't regret it at all. Go, no matter the financial or personal cost, go. You won't regret it, you will make more money, and there will be other vacations, but go.

I don't want to be that man looking back at 60, who never hunted outside my home state, never travelled, and never experienced the outside world. Get out there and do it!

D99, I agree with you on all the points, and having hunted on the same package in a different period I wish to contribute with a different point of view:

On point #2: I agree with you, B&B are cheaper. In a satisfaction ratio B&B often win. KS Hotel has that safety room for guns and ammo that is very interesting. And Dune restaurant also, but here yo can go even if you are not client of the hotel.

On point #4: Near Windhoek there is a taxidermy that I choosed on the suggestion of the most important Italian shipping agent. I found the owner serious, prepared and friendly. For anyone that need a taxidermist in Namibia, send a PM to me and I'll send the data. He gave me good suggestions without forcing me in following them.

On point #5: I add my experience: on 2 gamesbock I shot four rounds and recovered 3, caliber 9.3x62 286grs Nosler Partition Bullets. Both galloped for several kilometers, even if well hitted. On a blesbock, shooted at 200 meter+/-, I recovered the bullet, a 293grs RWS Tug bullet.
Instead my zebra has been hitted from a hill in the hight right hip, has been crossed by the bullet, maybe a Lapua Forex of 275grs I'm not sure, that exit from the left shoulder.

On point #7: My hunt started on 23 of June and ended on 3 of July. Maybe as Italian I'm trained to hot summers with brutal sun, as D99 says, but I did not have any problem with the sun. I did not used any of the cream that I havewith me. These does not mean that you must not be prudent.

On point #10: During the training give yourself out 6 seconds between the moment when you close bolt and the shot. Max 10 seconds. African animals that I hunted do not give more time. I wish to add that I hunted in open area with very little bush (Khomas and Aroab areas) or even no bush (Marienfeld and Kalahari areas), D99 did the same I think.

Seth,

Let's cover those topics above when you call.

Mark

Why did you not take your own rifle?

AD

quote:

Originally posted by allen day:
Why did you not take your own rifle?

AD

He is moving from Spain to Italy and had sent his rifles back to the States.

D99 -- sorry to answer for you but I had this discussion with you a while back.

Such a move would certainly put you into a bind, no question about it!

AD

I'll have to disagree about the quality of the Kalahari Sands.

We have found it to be a nice place, with large, comfortable--even luxurious--rooms, and an excellent restaurant. It's also the most conveniently located place to stay in all of Windhoek, since it's situated right in the center of the city.

We didn't see any riff-raff while we were there (and most of the tourists were German), although we were in bed by 11 or so and didn't hang around the casino. We'll be staying there again in October.

If proximity to the center of the city is not an issue, then I do agree that the farther flung places can be of high quality and are definitely less expensive.

We also stayed in one of those and were quite happy with it--although getting around, and particularly to and from the city center--will be a bit of a problem unless you want to rent a car.

Our times in Namibia overlapped, and I found many things to be the same. Some differences for me:

4. I did look at 2 taxidermy shops, and both hade very good work. Did you look at Nyati Wildlife Art in Windhoek?

5. I used 200 gr NP's, and didn't lose an animal.

6. Didn't see any baboons until almost at the airport on the way home.

9. Wore Wrangler jeans and shirts almost exclusively. Still got stuck by some thorns. Probably would have been worse had I worn thinner pants and shirts.

10. Most of my shots were less than 100 yds, but where I hunted was mainly thick brush. Practiced with shooting sticks a lot before I went.

I have AR to thank for being prepared for 5, 9, and 10.

That would be tough not to take your own rifles. Sounds like circumstances would not allow it. That would drive me nuts! I am very picky about my rifles. Cleaning, gunsmithing, scope rings, ect. My friends always make fun of me for taking backup guns on every North American trip. (I exclude Africa, because I usually take 3 guns). I have had to go to my backup gun before.

For my hunt in the Northern Provence a few weeks back, I wore lightweight ex Army poly cotton trousers and was generally pleased with them.

The area was full of thorns and I did get stuck a few times, but it educates you to move carefully (& therefore quietly!) through the bush. I truthfully would not liked to have worn anything heavier like jeans due to the heat. If I were to do it again, I would look at the new quieter generation of synthetic trecking trousers..these are far more comfortable to where in the heat as they evaporate the sweat better than cotton..The only downside I see to them is they need careful ironing if they are not to be burnt and that might be an issue with the local staff not used to dealing with modern synthetics..

As for the boots, I agree totally..For serious walking in difficult rocky country I want something with good ankle support...

Regards,

Pete

One of things that was brought up was how quick you had to shoot. I found I had about 3 seconds from the time my rifle hit the sticks till I pulled the trigger in most cases. If I hit 4 the animals were gone and we were off to the races again. This sure wasn't like hunting Michigan whitetails. I am a traditional bow hunter, but some of these animals are just hard to get up on if you aren't hunting a waterhole or in a stand of some kind. Bottom line was there weren't enough bushes to hide my fat behind.

Oh, the hat thing, I ended up in a cap after the first day because the brim of my hat kept blocking my vision when we were stalking unless I flipped up the front and back of the hat. Maybe it's just me on that part, but I just used a little extra sunblock thru the day.

I too got an interesting reaction from being able to speak limited Afrikaans. I used Colloquial Afrikaans from Amazon along with the cd/tapes and was able to understand more than I could speak, but could still communicate with the staff. I also bought some CD ROMs produced by Eurotalk the interactive games helped me remember better and it went over directions etc. Mainly I could understand or at least follow the conversation between the trackers and the PH without waiting for the translation. Besides it was just fun, I carried a cheat sheet with me for words that were hard to remember. The staff smiled when ever I greeted them and took a moment to ask how they were. No matter what some will say, people are people the world over and they appreciate effort and recognition they are there.

I was happy with my Kahles binos in 8 power, but I wasn't using them to judge trophy quality. I never had time to get past 5 power on my scope and most often it stayed on 3 or 4 even for the long shots. A lens brush/pen is a must though.

Is there anywhere that doesn't have thorns in Namibia? The seeds pods even had them, the military black leather gloves helped, but I still got poked.

Also, I'm already having withdrawals. I'm plotting how to get there again and how soon I can make it happen.

Thanks for starting the thread, D99, the experienced guys that have the little things in their normal routine, they might miss some of the little things us newbies have fresh in our minds we will do differently the next time.

I am a far gone rifle crank, so not hunting with my own rifles killed me. I too am particular about what I shoot (though some will dissagree with my love for the M700, Sako AV, R93, and MKV Weatherby), and I am really particular about the scope quality (2/3rds of my guns have Zeiss, Kahles, or Docter scopes, the rest all have Leupold, Nikon, or Burris), ammunition quality, and trigger pull.

So hunting without my own rifles was hell! However until I establish an Italian rifle permit, most of my hunts in Europe and Africa for the next 4 years will be with borrowed rifles. Thank god, when I hunt in the states or Canada, Dad will be there with a truckload of our rifles.

You choose, no hunting or hunting with borrowed rifles?

Next time I am going to base my safaris with folks I know have high quality hunting rifles. I had heard about someone on this link hunting with an outfitter in Namibia that had 5 or 6 Blasers all with Swarovski and Schmidt and Bender scopes. The PH in Boddington on Buffalo had Dakotas with Swarovskis as loaner guns!

You do really only have a few seconds to shoot game. My PH told me he had quite a few clients that couldn't get the shot off within 2 or 3 seconds and went home with half the stuff they paid for (it was a package).

D99,
I'm looking the same info on Italian rifle permit for another member. I'll send them also to you when I'll have them.

When I was there 4 years ago, I found the Kalahari Sands to be quite acceptable; perhaps they've slipped some. As for the sun, we were there earlier than you were, end of June and early July. My skin is quite pale, and at that time of year, I found a wide brim hat and light weight long sleeve shirts adequate. Some areas in Namibia do allow for shorter range shooting than you found.

ASDF,

It wasn't Kalahari Sands that I didn't care for it was the clientel. I will stay in a B&B frequented by hunters next time. The food in the KS resteraunt was fantastic, a big buffet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next time I am going to hunt with someone I can borrow good rifles from or take mine!