I'm off to Namibia in a couple of days for a 12 day plains game hunt. I'll be hunting with Johann Veldsman of SHONA Hunting Adventures. My species list includes greater Kudu, Gemsbok, mountain Zebra, Warthog, red Hartebeest and Springbok. I'll post a hunt report when I return. Wish me luck guys.

Rick:

My first hunt was to Namibia for the species you mentioned. It was one of the best hunts of my life. I have fonder memories of that hunt than my Tanz hunts. Hopefully that will change in a few weeks.

Good luck.

Good luck and have a safe trip.

Best of luck to you Rick. Namibia has some phenomenal sightseeing, well worth the time. Etosha Park, Skeleton coast, San paintings, if you can find the time.

Please post a report when you get back.

2 days from going and only 14 days from beginning the planning of your second safari . Hope you have a great time, take lots of pictures for your report, after all showing off your "Hunt Porn" is almost as fun as the trip.

I am sure you will have a great time!!

Best of luck, have a great trip. I am not sure who said this, but I love this quote, "The only person I am jealous of, is the one who is going to Africa for the first time".

Enjoy a truly wonderful experience. You'll be back!!

I did my first to Namibia for plains game in 2007. I haven't yet gone back, in part for fear that it just couldn't be THAT GOOD again. Have a great time!

Rick, good luck to you

we will be waiting for the report,and the pictures of your trophies.have fun and enjoy.

Rick,

It is impossible to have a bad first safari in africa. It was Mr. McElroy(principal founder of SCI), who said the only person he envied was one embarking on his first African safari.

If it can be included in your itinerary stop by Etosha park. Enjoy.

Adrian

Rick,
Have a great trip. I loved our time in Namibia and the folks there were great to us. Saw so many kudu and gemsbok we got tired of looking at them! Spend some time in Swakopmond (sp?) if you can. It's a neat town and the restaurant by the lighthouse is really good. Wish I could go with you!
kh

Another live changed forever, for the better.

Enjoy it, take it all in, take twice as many pictures as you think you need, take half as much clothing and gear as you think you need. Weigh bags before you get to the airport.

Have fun. Hunt report when you return.

I'd wager your first won't be your last. Look out for Bush Fever. It's a recurring condition...

Best of luck. Enjoy and be safe.

Another life changed, for the better, forever, by getting infected with Bush Fever! See my signature about what Bush Fever does to you.

Andrew McLaren

Good luck and enjoy yourself!!! If you haven't already left yet get a journal and take it with you. If you have then get a journal as soon as you return and write it ALL down!!! You'll thank yourself later!

Brett

Rick:

Just returned from there last week from my second trip to that area with his neighbor Jan du Plessis and Sebra Safaris Sebra Safaris. While we didn’t hunt specifically with Johann at his lodge or property, I have met Johann and his wife Valerie and have seen their facilities first hand - seemed like very fine people and very nice lodge. Please tell them that Michael and Anila say hello.

Here is some scouting info for you:

Temps were cool but overall warming up very quickly - jacket in the mornings, long sleeve shirt by mid morning and short sleeves by afternoon. Guessing 50F – 80F. Don’t need camo clothing, just brown and dark brown, dark grays to blend with the granite rock/sand and grasses.

Terrain: Very hilly, good sized Kopies to climb and glass from. Lots of soft sand dry river beds. If you have Google Earth I think these are the lat/longs for Shona: -19° 54' 46.32", +14° 57' 50.83" If not the exact location for the lodge, you will still be on their property. The lodge is right on the dry river bed. The river bed is still holding water about 18”-24” below the surface and holding a lot of game in the area.

Game – Lots of Gemsbok- saw several herds of several hundred animals each in the main river bed that traverses both properties, lots of Springboc, more warthogs then we saw last year, Dikdik, Klipspringer, Duiker, Steenbok, Impala, Red Hartebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Jackal, Bat Ear Fox, and Leapard (tracks only) etc. Rabies has really hurt the old trophy Kudu bulls. Saw over 100 different Kudu cows and young bulls (stopped counting after the 5th day). Only fleeting glimpses of just two shooter bulls. We even went to another farm about 30 miles north for Kudu and Hartebeest and it was the same there. Since Sebra and Shona are both low fenced and adjoining properties, you may have to work very hard to find a shooter Kudu bull, but could shoot 39”+ Gemsbok till you were broke. There is an old Elephant bull wandering the area that is starting to cause some trouble – may be a PAC permit in his near future.

Misc: No mosquitoes, but you will need a headnet for a small black bee that will drive you out of your mind. Doesn’t sting, just buzzes your face/eye for moisture. They only got bad from mid day to late afternoon till sundown. Bug spray (100% Deet) has no effect on them. Only a few black fly.

Still sorting things out and playing catch up but will send you some photos via email.

Michael

Good luck on your hunt. I'll be interested in your experience with SHONA. I'm contemplating my first Namibia hunt and they were on the short-list. Again, good luck.

Rick,

Good luck, I was in Namibia last August for my first safari, it is an outstanding place. It really does get into your blood and make you want to come back as soon as possible.

My first was in the same general area African Twilight Safaris, I'm still talking about it several years later. It's a perfect place for your first time.
Really sad to here about the Kudu as there were lots in the hills when I was there.
Good luck and relax and enjoy.