Just returned from DSC. Has anyone hunted with Janneman Brand, Kalahari Safaris in Namibia? I enjoyed speaking with him and his wife but would like to get some background information if possible. Thanks in advance

Hi Duckster

You would be happy if you book with them, he's a good guy.

Seems like a lot of folks use a similar outfitting name. I hunted with Kalahari Hunting Safaris in 2005.

Booked through that crook Tony D'Costa.

Thanks for the replies. I would imagine that Kalahari is not a uncommon game, given the geography.

Wyoming - who was your PH?

Karl- were you at DSC? We may have spoken as I have a brochure from your operation that I picked up at DSC.

Duckster,

In 2010, We hunted with Janneman on his ranch near Gobabis. I took my son, my father and a nephew. We had an awesome time. Janneman is a great PH. He was really good with my kids. His wife, Aldalene, is a great host. The food was the best that I've had in all my hunting/fishing trips to African or North America. The accommodations were also very nice.

I'd hunt with them again.

quote:

Originally posted by duckster:
Karl- were you at DSC? We may have spoken as I have a brochure from your operation that I picked up at DSC.

It's hard to forget Karl if you meet him. He's the one that looks like an NFL nose tackle.

Hi duckster, yes I was there, not far from Janneman;s booth. I was rather busy, so you may have spoken to my son or my wife. Sorry I missed you, if we did not meet!

quote:

Originally posted by duckster:
Thanks for the replies. I would imagine that Kalahari is not a uncommon game, given the geography.

Wyoming - who was your PH?

Been 11 years Dean ? and Johan Cotze. Common names among Afrikaaners.

They were only like 1/10th of the problem. I was in camp the same time as another client who went out of a way to be a dickhead. A Spaniard, who was a big deal, and had already been on 3 or 4 safaris that year. He didn't speak English and I spent a long time trying to translate ( I lived in Spain at the time).

They had a big fight before I got there, and I was expect to make it right. So I got caught in the middle of the whole thing and I should have just asked to be driven back to Windhoek and dropped at a photographic camp. Or rented a one way car rental in Aroab and went to a national park.

They were ranchers and wanted to ranch, not hunt. So I spent a lot of time not hunting. They also drank a lot and slept in a lot.

Camp was great, food was fine, wasn't the best but it was fine.

A lot of shooting from the truck, a lot of leaving after 9 am, a lot of "shoot the first animal we see" gas is expensive. Saw one mature kudu bull in the Khomas, and had booked giraffe and eland but was not allowed to shoot one.

The taxidermist, booking agent, and trophy shipping company were crooks. The PH's were just ranchers who wanted to ranch and get paid to shoot whatever came down the track.

I just googled it, and I looked at the 4 or 5 outfits that have "Kalahari Hunting Safari's" in the name.

I don't recognize any of these as the places I went. Personally while I had a bad experience with them, I wouldn't recommend against them if they are now called something else.

They were nice people, I believe we just got caught up in a shit storm that the Spaniard started. It was my first safari and I have mostly good memories of the experience. Hell it has been 11 years, and a lot of life has gone between that 10 days and this day. They had only been operating for a year.

Saying that I wouldn't hunt them again.

That is a bummer.

Thanks for all the insights so far. What makes this a great site.

There are some great PHs and places in Africa and Janneman and Aldalene's is right up there with the best of them.

Not to dispute any board members experiences, but it is at least unlikely that Wyoming was at Jannemans. As was stated there are a lot of Kalahari Safari named operations there in Namibia. To the extent that I know he only hunts one party at a time. And while the Brands are 5th or 6th generation on their property they are most definitely hunting too. His experience just doesn't fit with Janneman.

The actual name on their website is Getaway Kalahari Safari. And it's still a fair ways back to Gobabis too.

As for food and your surroundings it will be spectacular. Aldalene is a gourmet cook. I think in the whole 10 days we were there she never set the table the same way twice either.

My teenage daughter liked the the people and foods and everything about being there. Of course she loved Jannneman and Aldalene and Eric who is the tracker and a darn good one too. Janneman and Eric are a solid team. They always shared little special things with her too. I said something to my daughter about vacation and my wife wanting to go to Hawaii. She said " Well Id rather go back to Janneman's and Aldalene's . ." That says something for a young teenage girl that was away in Africa for over 3 weeks.

If you take your wife along as I did, with my daughter too, both here to Janneman's, you may be at some risk that she may never want to go to any other place.

We hunted from their Kalahari Safari lodge and ours was plains game hunt which was of course what we wanted on that hunt. We had good animal selections and quantity. Janneman is an absolute first class PH in every way . On other hunts I had not wanted zebras , you know being from Texas and all, but zebra was number one on my list for that hunt and we got that done too. Janneman was a professional athlete too. So when he stops the Land Crusier and says " You want to walk a while . ." you may be in for a walk.

Somewhere in there we discussed some buffalo which would have to be hunted elsewhere. But the truth is I would just as soon go right back to Gobabais and hunt there again. And we are going to do just that.

I could tell you about the Kalahari Surprise there, but I don't want to spoil it for you.

Everything will be top notch I can assure you.

TexKD- thanks for the insights. Was all the hunting that you did there free range? No high fences? At DSC, we did speak with a couple of Namibia operators that had some high fence as part of their operations, not that it is bad, but just part of the deal.

I know that my wife and daughter are really not interested in the hunting side but more in the hiking/game viewing aspect of the safari. Maybe some photos. While you were out hunting, was there a lot of game to be seen?

My wife wanted to see it all and be right there. And my daughter was interested in the game viewing and maybe seeing some of the hunting too. So it worked out very nicely and Janneman was very accommodating of all of that.

On one day I said Janneman lets just take it easy and be with our family and his too. With my daughter along and with their similar aged children out of school for a few days , we wanted them there. So that was fun for all of us. We had bbq and played golf. Yep golf - Right at his house.

Yes there was a lot of game to be seen. But not in the same way as a game park might be. The animals can and probably will be on the move. So we got pics of that too.

Let me throw in a story here. We had a couple of animals and got a springbok with Missy along. My daughter wasn't so sure of being in the hunt but with Janneman and him showing her and teaching her some of it like the springbok hair smell, she warmed right up to it. While we were waiting for the truck to come up zebras took off over the hill. Zebras were on the top of my list. So now we are after zebras that I really wanted. Man we did some walking and stalking but the wind would shift or something would blow our stalk and the smart and wary zebras got away.

During the afternoon hunt that day we didn't see any zebras but we found a great porcupine den along the way and the girls really enjoyed that. So with dark coming we are going toward the truck and now Janneman and Eric freeze. 3 zebras are coming right at us. He sets the sticks and I have my Firedot on already in the Leupold. The first one turns and I can't get a shot and Janneman says Get #2. I swing back to pick him up in the scope but I can't get a clean shot at the moving zebras fast enough and they are in to the brush and gone. My daughter who was 25 yards behind now walks up and says " Dad why didn't we get one - they were right there." Janneman nor Eric rushed nor had even the slightest hint of Hey Tex you didn't do your part any after that all day hunt. Janneman said You were right if you didn't have the clean shot. Of course he is right. That was after an 11 mile day. Just a normal day for them.

So we were after zebra again. I just said to Jannemen lets try for zebra but we won't turn down anything good. We got on zebras and then of course they stretched it out on us. Then we saw some good wildebeest and with us on stalk on the only good approach, I felt the wind shift and sure enough they winded us. All smiles but it got serious quick again as a really good gemsbok was spotted. After a even tougher stalk I got a shot and an excellent Kalahari oryx.

So now the next day we are back on zebra. Some other good animals showed like a red hartebeest but I said lets stay on the zebra and that was immediately and readily accepted by Janneman.

There are ranch operations there too. So we did pass through normal cattle fences and I believe you can see that in his pictures. I did not see any high game fences like we have here in Texas while we were hunting. Regular cattle fences don't stop the game animals at all. We saw about 2 dozen elands hop right over those with ease and disappear in the brush. There may have been some high fences along the main road in from Gobabis but I can't say that is part of his ranch, or others, and I can't comment on what the function of those was as it didn't bother me in the least.

Did I say they have a Spa there too? A nice touch for ladies. While I didn't do that part I will next time.

I hope that helps you and any other AR members. So many of you guys have shared your hunts and stories and experiences I should add a little bit.

TexKD, I'm hooked on Namibia, so thanks for the report. Sounds like Janneman and Co are the real deal. Loved your story.

I know you are ^^. Me too.

I know you like Africa Sky too. Just ask Schutte what he thinks about Janneman and his operation. We happened to get some extra VIP treatment when he took us the airport for one of our flights. They both played pro rugby.

While I know this is not the hunting report section, I'll share one more story related to the above as I feel the story is as much about Janneman as it is me.

On one of the stalks we were looking at a good gemsbok. I was in a good position but Janneman didn't call the shot waiting for him to clear. Now he turned and I was in the worst shooting position I think I have about ever been in. I was half up kind of half curled over and I was off balance and when he cleared a tree I knew that was it and I shakily broke the shot. Which resulted in a clean miss. Janneman called the miss and we went and looked very good even finding the bullet strike and indeed it was a miss. I felt relieved at that. But at the same time, while misses happen, you don't like to put that idea in your head or your PH or tracker. You guys know. Keep it all tight. We just all frowned some and then called it a day. My wife had been at the truck said Hey where is what you got? We will talk about that later . .

In that I said to myself what we all know and what Janneman says too. Take your shot. Thats worth repeating. Take your shot. But they never acted like they had lost confidence and it never came up again unless I was the one that brought it up.

Fast forward to the gemsbok stalk. We were working and the cold of that morning earlier had now given way to sun and some sweat. The gemsbok seemed like he might be gone a couple of times but Janneman and Eric kept us in the hunt. Now we are on stalk and I am up in the The 2 hole. We almost got a shot and then he disappeared without me seeing him. Finally we have a little cover and Janneman nods that he is there ahead. There is one little hole in the brush but I am not there. We can't speak so just in very quiet and very slow motion I slide in to see. I don't see him and shake my head a bit. Janneman says in the quietest of all " Take him from your knee." As we can't get up to see him better.

From my knee! I haven't shot a rifle from my knee in probably 25 years. But with the the whole effort and their support and work I am on that. I ease in to postion with Janneman nodding forward " That way."

I raise the VX-6 to my eye in the hole in the brush and right there ahead framed in another hole in the brush is the gemsbok. Not a whole gemsbok mind you. But a head and a shoulder of one. And one that is about to take off too. The crosshairs settle on the upper shoulder and I touch the trigger and the AccuBond races across the distance of the Namibian red sands. As I come out of the Winchester's recoil I see nothing. Janneman says " I heard it hit." So we sit a few minutes and now we bring my wife up who had dropped off behind and was watching the stalk. Now we all walk up to where he was.

My heart sank. I said to Janneman he HAS to be right here. He HAS to be. But there was no gemsbok and not a drop of blood. A cold jolt ran right through me. I was confident of the shot and placement - but again there was the knee and the previous miss and there was no gemsbok laying there where he should be.

Janneman asked me " Where was your shot?" I said right on the high shoulder that we had discussed when we arrived as being his preferred shot placement. It was also the only best spot I had to go for as it was really all that was presented in the shot. I now get down on my hands and knees and look for blood. There is none.

Janneman talks to Eric who was looking around and now Eric gets on the tracks. He goes a little ways and around the edge of some brush and just stops. We follow up and laying right there is the gemsbok. My goodness and I now break into a smile. It might have even been one of relief.

The shot was right on the 9s and the bullet had carried clean through and was stopped bulged out on the back side hide. We get some pics and now all is back right on safari again for me.

Ill tell you something about Jannemans pictures too. Just like everything else he is a total professional. First we shared the twig as is the local custom. But in the pics I sent home people thought maybe the animals were just darted and were asleep. He cleans up and sets everything up with dignity. You won't see any shot up messes and blood everywhere in his pics. Yes it is hunting and it is part of it and he nor none of us doubt that. But to be presented to an audience of others, and some of those which we might not know, his shots are the best of the animal and hunter, and as I said crafted with care which is the same as I have always done too. Another very nice touch in my book.

And to handle an always messy subject here on AR - tips. We all know how difficult this part can be as witnessed by the various threads on this subject here on AR. When it came time to pay out, I already knew what I was going to do with my PH. But for the staff I just asked him and Aldalene " What is a GOOD tip for them all in total?" I said please give me some guidance in this and they did. I wanted it to be very good for the people doing that work for us but without going completely off scale. Janneman and Aldalene well understood and I paid that and I can tell you I felt good, no make that very good, about it all.

You know you have been on a good safari when the only bad part is when you finally have to leave to go home.

TexKD - thanks so much for your reports/story.

http://www.kalaharihuntingsafaris.com/ with Johan Coetze

Probably not the same company even if the name is the same.

I hunted with them two times ten years ago, Johan Coetze had received an awards because has beeen able to make a hunter take 8 gold medal on a 10 animal hunt.

Afforfable.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
http://www.kalaharihuntingsafaris.com/ with Johan Coetze

Probably not the same company even if the name is the same.

I hunted with them two times ten years ago, Johan Coetze had received an awards because has beeen able to make a hunter take 8 gold medal on a 10 animal hunt.

Afforfable.

Definitely a different company.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Blue Devil:

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Malinverni:
http://www.kalaharihuntingsafaris.com/ with Johan Coetze

Probably not the same company even if the name is the same.

I hunted with them two times ten years ago, Johan Coetze had received an awards because has beeen able to make a hunter take 8 gold medal on a 10 animal hunt.

Afforfable.

Definitely a different company.

Yes it is absolutely a different company and PH.

Janneman's is here

http://www.kalahari-safari.com

As was noted in the thread there are a number of places in Namibia that use Kalahari and Safari in the names.

I hunted at Getaway Kalahari Safari in 2012.

My wife went with me and we both enjoyed every minute of it. Of course, I grew up in SE Montana so the seclusion didn't bother me, as it might some who want to run into town every night. That won't happen as Gobabis is 80 KM away and Windhoek is about 200. I hunted Gemsbok, Kudu, and Zebra. Aldelene is and excellent cook and we never had a bad meal there.

We finished hunting early and took a trip to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. They provided plenty of information and assistance to make our side excursion trouble free.
I wouldn't hesitate one instant to recommend Janneman and Aldelene Brand for a family friendly safari.