This is a hunt report with some raving and ranting about airlines. My self and four friends left for Namibia from Fort Myers Florida on April 29th. We flew Delta from Fort Myers to Atlanta then to Jberg then SAA on to Windhoek. Everything went alright in Fort Myers, Declared the firearms empty with Delta then cleared with the TSA folks. Boarded the airplane and had a good flight to Atlanta. Then it began! After loading for the next flight the pilot came on the intercom and advised us there was a problem with our airplane. After about an hour he advised that we all had to deplane and get on another aircraft that was ready to go at another gate. Everyone got off and started for the next aircraft. Didn’t make it. Intercom advised for everyone on our flight to return to the original aircraft. The pilot advised that some folks did not want to take the chance of flying on a plane they did not trust so more time was taken up by Delta trying to find their luggage and removing it from the flight. After another hour or so the pilot came on the intercom and started apologizing all over the place. He advised that someone when filling out the paper work for our flight had put the wrong tail number of our plane on the paperwork. The number they used was for an aircraft that was to be dead lined for major maintenance. The mistake was corrected and the flight was continued. There was never anything wrong with our aircraft. We pulled out of Atlanta over three hours late. The flight to Jberg was long and uneventful. When we arrived in Jberg they were in the middle of a major power failure. None of the computers were up and only emergency lighting was on. You talk about a spooky feeling, trying to find our connecting flight in the dark, loads of fun. We then found out the flight to Windhoek had left early and we were late. Stuck in Jberg. Went to the Delta desk and asked the wonderful hard working people behind the desk what Delta was going to do for us because it was their fault we missed our flight. When they stopped laughing and after everyone went on their break they said they would find us a four star hotel for overnight accommodations. After three and a half hours they advised that no hotels would take the Delta vouchers as Delta was not paying their bills and the Hotels would no longer do business with them. They finally found us one room for five guys and we had to pay for it. Thanks Delta. About that time most of the power was restored. We used Delta’s phone and got hold of Kathi from Kathi’s wild travel. If any one wants to know why you get a travel agent this is it. She advised for us to go to the information desk on the ground floor and wait. Someone would be there to get us in Thirty minutes. Not more than thirty minutes later a man walked up to us and asked if we were the stranded group? We advised him yes and he said follow me. We politely asked who the hell are you. He advised that Kathi had called him and everything was set up for us. Kathi had also advised she had already booked us on the first flight out to Windhoek for the next morning Kathi, what a gal. Thanks, you saved our bacon. The gentleman that we went with was Wayne from Waylynt Guest house in Kempton Park. This place was absolutely spectacular. Even though it was almost eleven o’clock at night they woke up the chef and had dinner fixed for us. Their web site if you would like to look at it is,
www.waylyntguesthouse.co.za I cannot say enough about these people and how they treated us. Next morning they took us back to the airport and stayed with us till we got on our flight. Top notch folks. The trip to Windhoek was uneventful. Once in Windhoek we went to get our luggage and gun cases. Now let me say while in Jberg in the dark waiting for Delta we checked with the SAPS and actually set eyes on our gun cases. We advised them of the new flight plans and when we were leaving. They promised they would have them on our flight, yea right!! In Windhoek, no guns and no checked bag for me. Are we having fun yet? After finding out this tidbit of information we went ahead and went out to see if any one was there to meet us as we were supposed to be there the day before. Come to find out that Harry Mims who was our outfitter for this trip had got in touch with the Safari Company and they knew everything that was happening. Thanks Harry. Well we were met in the terminal by Bennie Beukes, He is a PH and a member of the family That we hunted with. The safari company is Keerweder, www.keerwedersafaris.com owned by Brian and Ina Miller. Bennie is their son in law as he is married to Esmarie their daughter. All I can say about The Keerweder family is that if you want first class accommodations, food that rivals the best restaurants of the world and people who live and breathe hunting and will stop at nothing to make your stay and experience the best you have ever had then Brian Miller and the Keerweder family is the place to go. This is my first trip to Namibia and my second trip to Africa. First to South Africa in 2006. The first trip was a great trip with a great company but this was just in another dimension. Getting back to business, Bennie called the farm and advised them of the situation with the guns and luggage. We were told that our stuff might be on the next flight due in about four hours so we elected to wait it out and see what happens. Brian said no way were we to wait as they would take care of everything. He told Bennie to get us to the farm ASAP. Now the farm is just a little way out of Windhoek. About 90 kilometers south on C-23. South of Dordabis. Bennie delivered us to the farm and then immediately left to go back to Windhoek to get our guns. He didn’t return till late that night with all of the gun cases but not my checked bag. That was delivered by SAA late the next afternoon. Well that is all of the good the bad and the ugly of this adventure. From here on, it was what dreams are made of.

Local transportation
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob438.jpg

Black Wildebeest
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob285.jpg

Typical hunting area
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob244.jpg

First Springbok
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob122.jpg

First Kudu
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob168.jpg

Second Kudu
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob416.jpg

Best Springbok
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob121.jpg

A hard working PH
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob112.jpg

Red Hartebeest
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob306.jpg

Hornbill
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob226.jpg

Blue Wildebeest (cull)
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob369.jpg

Mountain Zebra
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob552.jpg

A mourning shooting birds
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g117/badbob_bucket/af...amibia2008Bob466.jpg

Brian Miller, the owner asked if we would like to shoot some cull animals at a reduced rate and of course we jumped at the chance. I ended up taking a total of 20 animals in thirteen days of hunting. Got to love those Springboks, I ended the trip with eight of them. Of all the animals hunted the only three that I did not get is an Eland, wart hog and Baboon. Missed a big baboon at a ranged 391 yards, with my .375 H&H not the best choice for a long range Baboon rifle. Just a word about how the people at Keerweder take care of you. I am addicted to Diet Coke. It is almost all I drink. In Namibia and South Africa it is Coke Lite. We set it up before we arrived that they would have some. Well Two other of the guys were drinking it too and after the first week they started running low. Mrs. Miller stashed enough away so I would not run out and sent her daughter Esmarie to the store in Windhoek to lay in another supply. That is a drive of 180 k just to make sure I would not run out. Now that is dedication and service. There is so much I could say about these people, but the best I could say is I would not hesitate to hunt and stay with them again. That is in my mind the best compliment I can give. This was a great trip with good friends and I can hardly wait to find out where we are going to go next time.

Thanks for the report. The problems with the airlines sure make every trip a test of patience. I am glad your trip turned out so well. Nice Hartebeest.

BobS,

Nice photos and report. It's unfortunate that you had some negative experiences en route but it sounds like this was off-set by the great hunting. I'll be hunting at Keerweder next year and can hardly wait. I had been thinking about trying to fly directly to Windhoek through Frankfurt. Your experience routing through Jo'burg has made this decision very easy for me now.

I have been advised the Frankfurt route is the only way to go now. There is some limitation on days availible.

Congratulations on a great trip.

This is typical of the service at Keerweder. They made sure I had plenty of regular Cokes though. I was there in 2006 and it is a great, family run place to hunt. My nine year old is ready to go now, we are just waiting on our four year old to be big enough to hunt so I can take the whole family.

My wife won one of their contests and the two of us will be going in 2009.

Just counting the days,
Robert

Flying to Windhoek via Johannesburg has always looked like a trap to me. It is almost impossible to get to JNB before the last flight of the day to WDH has left, thus forcing you to overnight there (expensive) and arrange for your guns (complicated and not always successful, as you found out).

Delta to FRAnkfurt connecting with Air Namibia to WDH is simpler and faster. We enjoyed the half-day layover in Frankfurt eating sausages and drinking fine German beer downtown, and arrived (along with our luggage and guns) in WDH on time as scheduled.

As you found out, experienced and well-connected agents like Kathi can be a lifesaver. I'll definately use her the next time I go!

Hint: To make your image show up automatically, copy and paste the [IMG] option on photobucket.

Great reports Bob and I am glad you all had a great time.
I appreciate your business and hope we can help again in the future.
Better tomorrows,
Mims
You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family!
www.hunterheadquarters.net