Hello all,

First let me apologize for the vagueness of this post. I am beginning the planning stages of my first safari for both my son and I. He is 11 and I believe in a year or 2 I may need to regain my "Cool factor" with him and I can think of no better way than take him hunting to Africa.

I am looking for help in finding the right ph and outfitter. I would like a more classic open free range hunt. Trying to stay away from ranches that may have high fences. The accommodations do not need to be extravagant or 5 star but for honest hard working ph and outfitters with good food.

The animals of interest would be Kudu, Gemsbok, Springbok, Hartebest, and Warthog.

Are there any areas that would be close enough to Etosha Pan for a day trip? Any help with my plans and recommendations would be very much appreciated.

Thank you all,

ddj

I sent a PM

PM Sent.

Trouthunterdj,

I'm 75 now, but in May of 2013, I took my first safari and my wife went with me.
We hunted for 7 days with Omujeve Safaris. Now the areas we hunted were "fenced", but we only came across a fence one or two days. The areas we hunted were 100,000 + acres, huge areas.
According to Corne & Nic Kruger, they have access to 2,000,000 acres across Namibia; fenced and unfenced.
The accommodations and food are out of this world
Go to "Find" on the Hunting Reports Page and type in "First Safari---Namibia With Omujeve Safaris MauserK98 This is my hunting report.

MauserK98

Another vote for Omujeve and the Krugers. Wonderful operation and a very welcoming family atmosphere also.

If you want free range, either Omatendeka or Doro Nawas would give you a half million acres to play in. But you would never have a bad experience on any of the other areas, either.

You can take a look at Ozondjahe. Here is their site:
www.namibiahuntingsafaris.com

High fences are common in South Africa and Namibia, but it is nothing like high fence hunting in the US.

I hunted with Jan du Plessis of Sebra Hunting Safaris in 2012 and 2013. Both trips were outstanding. Jan's ranch is free range, as is his father's ranch next door. The only reason I didn't hunt with them this year was surgery on my right knee. I've already paid my deposit for June 2015. Jan's farm is near Kamanjab, Namibia, which is 50 miles from Outjo, the gateway city to Etosha. He has day trips to Etosha for $400 or so all in. My wife and I drove to Etosha in a rental car after my 2012 hunt. If you look at my 2012 hunt report, you can see some pictures from Etosha, as well as Swakopmund. Attached are the Hunt Reports from 2013 and 2012. You probably already got a PM from "Another AZ Writer", who hunted leopard after me in 2013. I shot a couple of baboons that were used for bait for leopard.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/5031039881

http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/5681066871

PM if you have any questions

To everyone, thanks for all the help. To the many members who sell hunts, it will be hard to pick just one of you and I am sorry it has to be just one at this time. I am really excited to do this with my son and want us to plan it together. I'm not sure if I will ever go to Africa again so I want to do this right. Any advice is welcomed and thanked.

ddj

Sent you a PM. Good luck in your quest!

ddj,

I took my first Africa trip to Namibia in 2012 and had similar ideas of what species I wanted to hunt and how. Like you I was looking for free range game and the opportunity to see animals and experience Africa, not just harvest animals. I went with Dirk Smit of Orpa Hunting Safaris (http://www.orpahunt.com/ ) and was completely satisfied.

Orpa is north of the Waterburg Plateau, about halfway between Otjiwarongo and Otavi, and close enough to Etosha for a day trip. Low cattle fence only on Dirk's and neighboring farms he hunts, and no fences in the area we hunted mountain zebra (southwest of Kamanjab, and spectacular country). Wonderful people, lots of animals, and I had great success. You can find my account of the experience in the trip reports forum, just about this time of year in 2012.

I didn't tour as part of the hunt, although my wife joined me at the end of it and we went to Etosha (2 days) and the Skeleton Coast.

Although I really couldn't afford it, I managed to talk a friend into going this year (so of course I had to go!) and we hunted with Dirk again. This was my friend's first trip so I got to re-live the "first time experience" through him. We both had a great time - pretty much a repeat of my positive experience. He shot everything he wanted to shoot, as did I, although I was pretty laid back about the hunting. Actually kind of nice to put no pressure on yourself. We did a day trip through Etosha as part of the deal. After the hunt we got a rental truck and went up to the national parks in Caprivi, which was also great.

If you can swing the time I recommend taking more than 1 day for Etosha, it's BIG and we always seemed to want to watch things for a while as opposed to simply seeing them. And a post-hunt trip to somewhere else in the country is absolutely worth it - Caprivi, Damaraland, Skeleton Coast, Namib-Naukluft National Park, Fish River Canyon - any direction from your hunt is going to be pretty amazing.

All that said, there a lot of PH's and safari outfits in Namibia that can make your trip memorable. Just ask a lot of questions and try to be as specific as you can in your correspondence with them to make sure you're going to get the kind of hunting experience you want. Good luck! -Scott

I know a first timer who went on a open range no fence horseback hunt in Namibia. It sounded like and the pictures reminded me of a western horseback hunt. Compared to the normal Diesel safari common to almost all of Africa, this style of hunting I actually thought would be interesting.

I recently put together a safari with my son that was terrific (we went to Zim).

I would highly recommend that you go to SCI and bring your son. My son is bit older, but was around 15 when we first went to SCI. It was a good chance for both of us to interact with the various PH's, learn about different countries, etc.

If you are not fixated on a specific outfitter, you might be able to get a good deal on one of the auctions at SCI.

The best part of the show was getting my son excited about going to Africa and having him play a part in planning the trip.

Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by 10generation:
I recently put together a safari with my son that was terrific (we went to Zim).

I would highly recommend that you go to SCI and bring your son. My son is bit older, but was around 15 when we first went to SCI. It was a good chance for both of us to interact with the various PH's, learn about different countries, etc.

If you are not fixated on a specific outfitter, you might be able to get a good deal on one of the auctions at SCI.

The best part of the show was getting my son excited about going to Africa and having him play a part in planning the trip.

Good luck.

If you do go with auction hunt, be very careful and read all the details.

We have heard many horror stories about these auction hunts.

Yes, good advice, I would review the auctions before SCI and make sure you only bid on a hunt with a reputable outfitter (someone you can research on AR).

Sift through the hunt reports and you will find your man. Although not Namibia I was really impressed with the Botswana outfit which has recently been featured.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by 10generation:
I recently put together a safari with my son that was terrific (we went to Zim).

I would highly recommend that you go to SCI and bring your son. My son is bit older, but was around 15 when we first went to SCI. It was a good chance for both of us to interact with the various PH's, learn about different countries, etc.

If you are not fixated on a specific outfitter, you might be able to get a good deal on one of the auctions at SCI.

The best part of the show was getting my son excited about going to Africa and having him play a part in planning the trip.

Good luck.

If you do go with auction hunt, be very careful and read all the details.

We have heard many horror stories about these auction hunts.

Price for arrival and departure days and price for airport pickup can be very expensive with auction hunts.

As mentioned above by Bud Medows. Check out Jan with Sebra. I hunted with him in 2007. Not a fancy place, but from what your describing it would be as good a fit as any you will find.

We just did a trip in July that may fit your needs perfectly.....here's the report http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2541008202

A unique place with free ranging game and top of the line people is Shona Hunting Adventures.
Johann and Vera Veldsman runs an exellent outfit.

http://shona-adventures.com/

I hunted with African Twilight Safaris.
I took every animal on your list in 12 days.
Large area, Good food, Comfortable, Good P.H.(owner)

There are many very good and affordable options in Namibia that are not high fenced. Jan du Plessis at Sebra is one. I hunted there in 2008 with my then 14 year old son. A friend came with his 12 year old son. We all had a great experience and took kudu, gemsbok, springbok, warthog and red hartebeste. The accomodations and food were great.

Sent a PM as well.

I appreciate all the help everyone and the references have been awesome. I look forward to having the opportunity to make new and lasting memories with my son.

I appreciate any other help and ideas for a first plains game safari for my son and I.

Thanks again,

ddj

I just got back from my first safari and I went with Shona Hunting Adventures. It was everything I had dreamed of and more. Johann and Vera are special people and will make your time with them and your son special and a trip to Etosha is only a couple hours drive from their lodge.
Dallas Safari Club just posted a story I wrote about Johann on their online media. You may want to go read it.

If you do not have to hang heads on the wall, look at a cull hunt. Lots of hunting, lots of shooting. Things did not work out here at home the way they should have and I ended up with a cull hunt with the Kibbles, http://www.progress-safaris.com/, March 2013. Loved it! Other than a long flight there and back it was super easy, great folks, with a family atmosphere. Lots and lots of history with Micheal and Peter. Low fences with lots of property and game. Spot and stalk. Most of animals I took were not culls, but I did not want dust collectors. Pictures and memories.

You'll love Namibia. My dad and I went on our first (and his only) safari there in 2004. We hunted with Vaughan Fulton in a wide open, totally free-range concession and loved every minute of it. I'm sure everything I have to offer is very outdated compared to what others have offered regarding their more recent hunts, but I wanted to chime and reaffirm that Namibia is a fine choice. Have a great time with your son!

ddj- Wish you and your son a good one brother!
Long time no see

Aloha
Late-Bloomer

Agarob Hunting Safaris does horseback hunts.
Went twice with my wife and we loved it, we are going back in 2016. They are cattle ranchers and just regular folks. Great home cooking and some real good game to hunt.

Wherever you go enjoy the adventure, there is nothing quite like it.

i have hunted twice with die Keiler group in namibia and would recommend them also for consideration.