The usual first timer questions I know, but any information specific outfitter or areas is appreciated:

I want to hunt antelope from springbuck to eland, plus blue wildebeast and red hartebeest and maybe zebra. Free ranging/low fence is my preference and part of why northern Namibia is my destination. I really like the idea of the conservation areas and hunting concessions. And I want to see African game animals and birdlife in abundance even if I'm not hunting them.

I plan 10 days hunting time plus travel days and at least a couple tourist days to go to Etosha. Tentative schedule is September or October. I can walk and cover a few miles but I can't run and I damn sure can't climb mountains (or at least make it back down them with knees intact).

I've recently been in contact via email with several companies and hope to meet and talk with at least some of them at the outdoor sports show in Harrisburg PA in February. The Dallas & Houston shows are not in the picture for me. Budget is of course limited, which means I'm thinking about a package hunt with added animals.

I want to see the country but I don't want to spend endless time driving to someplace to hunt. I'm not concerned with trophy scoring, just nice mature animals of the species of interest. I'm not a long range shooter or hunter and don't have much interest in sniping game if I were - I want to see it and hunt it. I will probably be solo for this trip unless one of my friends surprises me greatly and comes along.

Tell me about the different hunting areas and species to be sen and hunted, and what's apt to be involved. And the relative merits of farm/ranch accomodation with the owner/PH versus a lodge/bungalo style camp versus a tent camp. One potential downside that I occurred to me with a 1x1 hunt and family style accomodation with me the only hunter is that I might begin to wear on my hosts without other company to hang with.

Thanks. -WSJ

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:

One potential downside that I occurred to me with a 1x1 hunt and family style accomodation with me the only hunter is that I might begin to wear on my hosts without other company to hang with.

I went as an only hunter and had a wonderful hunt and trip in general. It will depend on your hosts. There are lots of great outfitters out there. I can recommend Shona Hunting Adventures. (I believe that Johan will be at Harrisburg) Others will provide recommendations for others. I'd recommend that you look at the various hunt reports and contact their authors.

Here is a link to my report. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.


http://forums.accuratereloadin...151012901#5151012901

In 2007I hunted that general area with Jan DuPlessis Sebra Safari's, and had a ball. To the best of my knowledge Aspen Ann is still a good point of contact for him. Shona Safari's basicly just down the road would be another to check out. The no mountains thing will in all honesty be a bit of a hinderance in the area as I remember climbing several Kopjies and glassing a good bit of the time, but it certainly paid off. Sebra didn't have the fanciest place, but it was comfortable, the trophies were excelent, the food was good homestyle cooking, and the price very reasonable. If your looking for something a bit fancier Shona is worth a look.

Sebra - http://www.sebrahunt.com/
Shona - http://shona-adventures.com/

Second vote for Sebra, Jan and Mariesje du Plessis. Been going there every year since 2008 and heading back again next June.

I've visited with Johann and Valerie Veldsman at their place, Shona, and both are basically adjoining properties. Shona has nicer lodge and accommodations, but higher prices and you might share with other hunters/PH's. I've never hunted with Johann but he and his wife seemed like great people and he and Jan are friends.

If you hunt with Jan & Mariesje (Sebra) you will be the ONLY hunter on 60K low fenced acres - not even high perimeter fenced, and Jan's field craft is second to none. He is 3rd generation on the property, knows every inch and was "trained" by "an old bushman" his father had hired while he was growing up.

Both places are about 1 1/2hrs from Etosha and I know Jan can do a day trip there.

Windhoek is a nice town. Everything is available just like any modern city and pretty safe. You have to at least do dinner at Joe's Beerhouse!!! We spend a couple of days there, Windhoek. every year just resting up after the trip there. The last two years we've rented a car and spent a week over on the coast in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay and in the Namib desert.

I've hunted the area of the two outfits mentioned above. Just a couple of things to note - Wildebeest aren't native in most of Namibia, though many places have them. That's no problem, just something to know ahead of time. Also, Eland can be pretty scarce depending on the property, so make sure you get it in your contract that they will be on quota when you hunt. Same goes for some of the smaller antelope like duikers, klipspringer, dik-dik, etc. If they're a "must-have" then get it in writing that they will be on quota.

I stayed in a ranch house accomadation on the property. I had a buddy with me. It was nice getting to share their home, but it was also a little 'odd' at times because I felt like I was intruding on their privacy. In a "camp" situation that wouldn't happen, but you'd also lose the pleasure of sharing their home learning about their culture, etc.

We did climb some hills to glass the big valleys some, but I think you can be successful without doing that.

It was truly beautiful country and I would recommend the area to anyone.

A second thumbs up for Johann Veldsman and his Shona Hunting Adventures.

This is my report from April last year.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2231037451

Another vote for Jan & Mariesja at Sebra Hunting Safaris. Great hunting, food and hosts.

WSJ,

You will find Namibia, its people, culture and hunting to excellent. I would like to offer a recommendation for you to consider Keerweder Safaris and would be happy to speak to you in detail on their operation and hunting.

Keerweder Safaris

Good luck,

Paul

There are a lot Namibian outfitters at the Harrisburg show. Get to the show and meet and greet all of them and go from there.
That is part of the adventure !

quote:

Originally posted by wsj:
...I want to hunt antelope from springbuck to eland, plus blue wildebeast and red hartebeest and maybe zebra. Free ranging/low fence is my preference and part of why northern Namibia is my destination. I really like the idea of the conservation areas and hunting concessions...

I've hunted and visited a few different game farms/ranches and have hunted 3 different communal areas. I'm not certain if you are referring to communal conservancies above, but the two are not to be confused; although, you will have a great time regardless in my opinion. I prefer hunting on communal areas but you will find that game is often not as dense and concentrated nor do you have the variety of game that you might find on many ranches.

While I shot a free ranging blue wildebeest on a communal conservancy in the Caprivi, this likely will not be a viable option for you and it along with the red hartebeest will likely have to be hunted on a ranch.

The Kunene region (northwest Namibia) is one of my favorite parts of Africa and there are several communal concessions located in this region. Unfortunately I don't know who has what concession any more. I will say that whoever now holds Ehi-Rivopuka has one hell of a concession.

Good luck,

George

Jan of Sebra can arrange eland he did it for me and the ranch he hunts them on is near Etosha. Lots of eland there.
I've hunted extensively in Namibia an will give 100% thumbs up for Sebra. Jan is the best hunter I've met there yet....but if you can get him to smile or the Ruger .44 mag off his hip you'll be the first!!

Hentie Van Heerden Safaris. Good lad and great PH and will taylor make a safari for you.

Check out the hunt reports.

quote:

....but if you can get him to smile or the Ruger .44 mag off his hip you'll be the first!!

No he won't, I got Jan to do both.

I have hunted Namibia 3 times with Kalahari Hunting Safaris. They will taylor the hunt to anything you want. The people, the food and the accommidations are first class. While in north central Namibia, about an hour west of Windhoek, the Khomas Hoekland, One of the PH's is a radiologist and the cook is a family doctor. They are husband and wife and are one of the owners of the company. They own four different areas to hunt that is about 100,000 acres all total. They have access to much more. I will be going over there in August for my 7th safari. This is the most economical hunt I have ever found. My hunting partner took his 15 year old grandson two years ago and he (the grandson) shot 35 animals that included, Zebra, Kudu, Warthog, Blue Wildebeast, Steinbuck, (8)Springbuck, (3)Gemsbuck, (2)porcupine,several rock hirex and springhares and Jackels. His total cost for his grandson was about $9000 for the entire trip, including travel. The total trip time was 19 days, 12 days of hunting. They also have Eland, I just never wanted one, yet. They have most plains game available. If this is of interest to you PM me........Tom

quote:

Originally posted by m3taco:
I've visited with Johann and Valerie Veldsman at their place, Shona, and both are basically adjoining properties. Shona has nicer lodge and accommodations, but higher prices and you might share with other hunters/PH's. I've never hunted with Johann but he and his wife seemed like great people and he and Jan are friends.

Just to clarify, we don't mix groups either, we have various camps and we try to shift clients were they don't have to be in camp with another group. I've seen this go wrong too many times. We don't control flight schedules so there might be the situation where 1 client arrives a day before the next departs and you might have to spend the evening having dinner together. This however very seldom happens.

I will be in Harrisburg for the show (Booth No.8244) any one who is interested in chatting please stop by. PM me if you would like to set up an appointment and we can arrange something.
We will also have some great show specials.

Looking forward to meeting more people on the forum.