Dates: June 25 to July 5, 2006
Location: OKANDUKA SEIBE, near Okahandja, Namibia http://www.huntingnamibia.de
PH: Dirk Rohrmann
Lodge Manager: Rita Rohrmann
Firearms and Ammunition: Winchester Model 70 .300 Winchester Magnum w/ 180 grain Nosler Partition handloads. Would have used my Remington 788 in .308 also if the @#$%^&* airline hadn’t broken the stock!
Hunting Method: Spot and stalk.
Animals Observed: Eland, Gemsbok, Kudu, Mountain Zebra, Blesbok, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Impala, Klipspringer, Baboon, Jackal, Springbok, Steenbok, Ostrich, Warthog, Bat-eared Fox, Aardwolf, Mongoose, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Laughing Dove, Cape Turtle Dove, Sand Grouse, AND 3 PUFF ADDERS.
Game Hunted and Taken: Eland, Gemsbok, Kudu, Springbok (2), Steenbok, Sand Grouse, Guinea Fowl, Laughing Dove, Cape Turtle Dove.
Travel Arrangements: kathi@wildtravel.net



6/23/06
The flights went as well as can be expected. We checked in at DFW with little problem. My gun oil wipes were confiscated, and the ticket agent blanched when I told her that I had 5 kilograms of ammunition - saying that I was only allowed 11 pounds! A short math lesson convinced her it was ok - and we were on our way to AFRICA.

6/24/06
Arrived at Frankfurt amid the throngs of people consumed by the World Cup Soccer Championship. We had checked into getting a day room, but due to the soccer crowd, the price was $180!! So we enjoyed a 10 hour layover in the terminal.

We boarded the plane to Namibia on time with no difficulty. The 9 ½ hour trip was everything I had envisioned. Firearms processing at Windhoek was no problem and passport control was quick and painless. Rita met us just outside the baggage claim area.

This is how you know you’re flying over Africa.


We loaded our stuff into the Toyota and headed for Okahandja. The only significant event on the drive was smacking a hornbill with the passenger side rear view mirror. Talk about your close up views! Once we turned off the paved road, there was a stretch of dirt road, that eventually turned onto a dirt 2- track. We saw gemsbok and baboons on the drive in.

Leopold, the cook, and Dirk met us as we arrived - with a cool fruit drink to welcome us to the lodge. We settled in and showered, then ate a late lunch (oryx meatballs), then went for a game drive. Wildlife was everywhere, and we were treated to views of ostrich, springbok, steenbok, giraffe, impala, kudu, gemsbok, baboon, sand grouse, zebra, guinea fowl, blesbok, klipspringer and jackal.

Young giraffe.


We enjoyed eland steak for supper. We turned in very tired.

6/26/06

The wind was blowing fiercely - as it had during most of the night. The constant swirling gusts would not be good for hunting, but otherwise the day looked good. There was enough chill in the air to warrant a sweater.

I hadn’t confirmed my rifle’s zero when we arrived, so that was the first item on the agenda. I wasn’t too worried about my scope and rifle, but the new dent in the gun case made me a little bit concerned. Two shots from the bench confirmed that the zero hadn’t shifted during the ride. So we went hunting.

My “wish list†for the hunt included kudu, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, and eland. Other species could be added as time, opportunity, and money allowed - but these were the primary targets for the week.

We left at about 7:00, with Jeffrey driving, and Dirk, Manuel (the tracker), Darla (Mrs. Acer) and me in the back of the truck. The wind blew incessantly, gusting and swirling. Locating game would be difficult as the bigger antelopes were hidden in cover on the lee sides of the rocky mountains, and the springbok and impala would be jumpy.

We drove slowly down the 2-track, with Jeffrey behind the wheel and Dirk and Manuel in the back to spot. As we bounced along, we saw a small herd of springbok. “Only females and young,†said Dirk as he lowered his binos. We continued on. As we approached a rocky hill abruptly rising from the plains, Dirk pointed out baboons scurrying up the steep face. “Nasty buggers,†he said. The plan was to dismount and climb the kopje and hopefully spot a shooter kudu bull on the lee side of the rocks. But the presence of the baboon troupe ended that thought. Any move to dismount the truck would trigger baboon howls and any kudu would be gone. We drove on.

Baboons in the rocks.


Another small band of springbok. “They hate the cold,†Dirk remarked. “Only females and young.†We drove on. Another herd of springbok. “Only females and young males,†was Dirks assessment. It was looking like the wind would make finding a shootable ram difficult. As we rounded a curve in the 2-track, I pointed out a herd of springbok. As we got nearer, Dirk tapped on the truck cab for the driver to stop. Dirk and Manuel glassed the herd and discussed the quality of the rams they saw. My limited knowledge of Afrikaans kept me ignorant of the bulk of the discussion, but my ears perked up when the term “mooi long†was used. After an eternity, Dirk turned to me and asked, “Do you want to shoot a springbok? There are several nice rams.â€

I was making ready my rifle as I replied. We crawled down from the truck. Darla elected to stay with the vehicle as Dirk, Manuel and I make our way towards the band. About 15 or so white and brown bodies flitted through the acacia brush. After several starts, the herd settled down and began to mill about. Young rams, females and old rams were trading back and forth in an opening in the vegetation about 100 yards distant. My rifle was resting on the shooting sticks and I was following the action through the scope as Dirk provided running commentary on the animals in view. Several good rams crossed and re-crossed the scope, always partially obscured by another animal - or with another animal immediately behind. I couldn’t shoot for fear of taking an unintended “double.â€

Then a mature ram materialized from the back of the pack. As if by design, the herd separated and he stepped to the forefront. Dirk commented that he was a nice ram and that I should shoot as soon as he was clear of the others.

I flipped the safety off and made a last-minute confirmation check. “You mean the one where the tips are almost touching?†Dirk grunted an affirmative and I put pressure on the trigger.

As the trigger broke, I made a mental note that the crosshairs had drifted slightly to the right - but it made no difference. The ram dropped without so much as a twitch.

He was beautiful. Thick bases, nice curve, with tips separated by only an inch or so. Had one not curved backwards, surely they would have touched in the middle. The snow white hairs along the spine flared, then closed - and I knew I had just made a memory.

Nice Kalahari Springbok.


Darla and the truck arrived shortly and photos were taken. Dirk remarked that the ram would score well, and likely would measure 16 ½†to 17â€. He then said, “This is probably one of the top 50 springbok in the world.†We had discussed at length the previous evening that I was not consumed by measurements or record books - but he and I were both proud of the fine animal.

Photos taken, we loaded the little ram into the truck and began making our way back to the lodge. I enjoyed the trip back - basking in the warmth of a hunt gone right and a fine animal at my feet. We saw a herd of eland cows and calves - and the wind blew.

The skinners began their work immediately - preparing the ram for a shoulder mount in a place of prominence in our home. We headed inside for brunch. Leopold fixed eggs, pancakes and bacon - all good and all in quantity.

After the meal, Dirk treated me to a look at his collection of firearms - beautiful guns that spoke of dangerous game and craftsmen of a bygone era.

Darla snoozed and I began my journal entry - with plans to resume the hunt at 2:00.

We departed on time for the evening hunt. The wind continued, though not so fiercely. We made our way to a kopje at the edge of the plains and climbed to the vantage at the top of the rock to glass for game. Dirk picked out a small band of gemsbok and then another pair slightly further away. Jeffrey remained on the top as Dirk, Manuel, Darla and I tried to head off the closest bunch. After about 500 yards, we closed to within shooting range but the swirling wind and brush conspired against us. The closest was less than 100 yards when she bolted, taking the remaining animals with her. We shifted objectives, and headed towards the last known address of the pair Dirk had spotted. They were gone - likely forewarned by the swirling winds.

Gemsbok in brush.


The hike back to the truck seemed longer than the walk out. I was mentally saying thanks for improved health and the conditioning walks Darla and I had taken to prepare for the trip. We took on some cold water and resumed our motorized recon.

As the sun began its descent on the westward horizon, Dirk tapped gently on the roof of the cab, and Jeffrey slowed to a halt. I directed my attention to the spot where his binoculars were trained and noticed a small herd of springbok beyond a dry wash. I tried to ferret out the gist of his conversation in Afrikaans with Manuel - with predictably poor results.

A decision reached, Dirk indicated there was quarry to be shot - so he and Manuel and I dismounted and began making our way through the thorny shrubs. We headed in the general direction where I had last seen the springbok, and I concentrated on staying close to the PH and tracker, depending on them to locate the animals. As we exited the dry wash, Manuel hurriedly set up the sticks and Dirk directed my attention to the bushes to our front. I peered ahead, trying to locate the tan and white springbok, when I suddenly realized I was staring at a gemsbok at about 50 yards! As I waited for Dirk’s confirmation to shoot, the muscular antelope slid behind an acacia. Though plainly visible, the bullet’s path was partially obscured and Dirk wisely indicated we should wait. No sense taking an ill advised shot when we had all week to find a better one!

The oryx moved, and Manuel retrieved the sticks - then slipped to the right to reposition and seek another shooting opportunity.

The chance came quickly as Manuel re-set the tripod and I braced the rifle. Dirk directed my attention slightly to my left where I could only make out the swishing tail of the animal. As I struggled in vain to tease the outline of the animal out of the brush, the animals suddenly decided they had somewhere else to be.

We hiked back to the trail. I was somewhat disappointed that Darla hadn’t gotten to see me drop a big game animal from her vantage atop the truck above us - but I was pumped at how very close we had come!

We headed back to our temporary home and saw many animals on the way, including an aardwolf. A warm fire and a nice glass of wine set the mood for a recap of the day while we waited for supper. Leopold fixed kudu kiev for our evening meal and presented it, as he did all of our meals, with a justifiably proud recitation of the menu before we ate. We visited with Dirk and Rita until we turned in at 10:30.

Enjoying the fire.


To be continued...…

Great springbok Acer! Did you get any compensation for your damaged rifle?

Ready to read the rest of your report.

Great report, thanks for posting.

I declared war on baboons on my last trip and will do so again on the next...

Death to Baboons! - the blue-butted scourge of Africa (after Mugabe of course!!!)

Great reading thus far. Can't wait to read 'the rest of the story.'

My fiance got a big kick out of the picture of the giraffe looking into the plane window.

Enjoyable reading so far. I like your style. Very nice springbuck!

I really hope this format isn't too tedious for the reader. We enjoyed so many experiences that I would like to share... David


6/27/06

My wristwatch alarm sounded at 6:05, summoning us to another day in Africa. A quick breakfast and we began another hunting day.

A thick fog blanketed much of the area - extremely odd for this place at this time of year. Dirk was not optimistic about our chances - reduced visibility hampered locating game and the cool fog-producing temperatures encouraged game to lie up in the brush until the sun warmed things up.

A gemsbok bull stood in the trail on our way out, daring us to attempt a stalk. We did, and it proved futile. He had vanished by the time we neared his former location.

A ways down the 2 track we reached the rock escarpment and Jeffrey pulled to a halt. Manuel and Jeffrey scrambled up a rickety wooden ladder over the fence and up the rocks to a vantage point to glass. A short while later they returned, and after a quick conversation, Dirk indicated an opportunity was at hand. I had gathered from Manuel’s brief report that the quarry was gemsbok.

Darla and Jeffrey stayed with the truck as Manuel, Dirk and I headed back in the direction we had just come. Manuel’s steps shortened and the characteristic predator movements became more pronounced as we closed the distance between us and the animals.

As the stops became more frequent and movements more direct, I focused my attention to the front rather than on my path. I picked up movement just beyond a termite mound about 100 yards distant and a gemsbok sauntered into the opening. About that time Manuel set up the shooting sticks and Dirk motioned me forward. I assumed that the antelope I had observed would be followed closely by another - and sighted in on that opening in the shrubs. But Dirk motioned left, and as I panned the rifle that direction, I caught the movement of another panchromatic beast just entering a small opening about 30 yards from the termite mound. I quickly covered the burly oryx and confirmed that was the intended target. A moment after Dirk grunted affirmative, I jerked the trigger. The sound of bullet striking muscle provided background sound effects to accompany the sight of the cow gemsbok meeting the ground.

Dirk congratulated me and we cautiously approached the down, but still responsive, gemsbok. Ever aware of the potential for serious injury from the sabers atop her head, Dirk directed me to place a finishing shot to her spine.

She was an old cow - estimated at 12 years of age or better - and sported long, sharp horns. As she lay on the side where the bullet entered, Dirk asked where I thought I had shot her. I pointed to high in the shoulder and told him I hoped the shot would break bone and immobilize her.

Gemsbok.


The truck pulled in and we began to position the heavy animal for photos - and much to my chagrin, the entrance hole was some 10†to the rear of where I had aimed. High enough to hit the spine and drop her immediately, but hardly where any hunter would deliberately aim on a broadside walking animal.

Photos taken, we lifted the carcass aboard the truck and headed to the lodge. The sun was out and the fog lifted and wildlife stirred everywhere. Warthogs, steenbok, springbok, hartebeest and others were pointed out, but only the puff adder in the roadway merited a stop. Dirk tried to coax the reptile to strike, but the cool morning brought only a sluggish retreat by the poisonous snake.

Puff Adder


We arrived back at our quarters in short order and Darla and I recovered from our morning outing as the staff made quick work of processing the oryx.

Over brunch, we discussed afternoon plans. I needed a quick trip to the range to restore confidence in the gun (and my shooting). The hunt was set to resume at 2:00.

Dirk and I headed to the range and we posted a fresh target on the backstop. I fired two carefully aimed shots - resulting in two holes about ½†apart 1 ½†above the bullseye. Right where they should be. My confidence had been restored.

We returned to the lodge and made last-minute preparations for the evening. At the appointed hour, we headed in a new direction in search for kudu and eland. No sooner had we begun the trek than we began to spot kudu. Cows and calves in small bands were scattered across the river bottom area. A bull with unusual headgear broke into view, with looping curls at the base of the horn and a narrow curl toward the top. Dirk had described this animal earlier in the morning and we enjoyed seeing him. As we traveled up the canyon we picked out more kudu, some eland, impala, and zebra - but nothing judged to be worth the effort of a stalk.

Kudu cow, calf, and young bull.


We stopped at a kopje with a view and glassed, but nothing was spotted that merited a closer look. A herd of springbok was added to the growing list of observations. We headed towards another vantage to glass, but a quick stop at a dry wash provided us a look at our second puff adder for the day. Dirk prodded the snake with the shooting sticks, producing a series of lightning quick strikes. This sun baked snake was completely different from his lethargic cousin from our morning encounter!

As we topped the hill and stopped to climb the kopje for a better view, Manuel spotted a kudu bull and cow in the distance. I watched them as he relayed the information to Dirk and we were soon in hot pursuit.

About 600 yards into the stalk we climbed a kopje for a better look, but couldn’t locate the small band. A fence and 2-track were to our left and provided assurance that the bull was somewhere ahead (as we could see the area to the right). Dirk finally spied the bull and declared it a shooter. He didn’t, however, give any information on the bull’s traveling companions. We stealthily closed the distance until Manuel set up the sticks and Dirk indicated the bull was coming into the opening. I sighted into the gap, and shortly a bull filled it.

It didn’t look to me to be big enough to cause such a stir. From the side, the horns looked short. Doubt filled my mind - and rather than shoot a lesser bull by mistake, I held my shot and asked, “Shoot?†In the time it took Dirk to respond, the opportunity was gone. I felt no regret, as I did not want to shoot an immature bull by mistake.

As I reflected on my decision, all hell broke loose. The animals figured out something was amiss and bolted to the left. In the distance, it sounded like a car wreck as the bull smashed into the 8’ tall wire fence. I couldn’t see the action, but could only surmise the bull had attempted (unsuccessfully) to jump the fence. I never dreamed he would reverse course and offer a second opportunity for a shot - but he did. As I looked over the scope for an indication that he was coming, he bolted across the opening. I reflexively touched off a shot - and immediately announced that I shot over him. I had not pulled my head down to the stock! Manuel grabbed the sticks and we hurried to the right and set up covering another gap in the shrubs. I peered through the scope and suddenly the bull filled the view. He was trotting, so my decision was made without deliberation. I settled the crosshairs at the junction of the neck and shoulder and squeezed.

The sound of the bullet strike was music to my ears. The bull dropped from sight, and as I replayed the shot in my mind’s eye, I new the shot was true. Dirk congratulated me on a good shot, but I couldn’t take my eyes from the cloud of dust rising from the spot where I had last seen the bull. Then I could hear the clatter of hooves and horns on rocks - as could Dirk. We took off on a dead run and quickly covered the distance between us. By the time we got there, the noise had subsided, the dust had cleared, and doubt began to creep in. Then Dirk pointed ahead behind a rock to a curled horn sticking up above the grass. The bull was down - and still.

Kudu bull.


He was a really big-bodied bull, mature - with a neck still swollen despite being several weeks since the rut. The Nosler partition entered on the leading edge of the right shoulder and exited the neck. He had deep curls and a wide separation, though the horns were not exceptionally long.

The hunt was excellent. Full of twists and turns, highs and lows, failures and successes. In the end, it was a trophy hunt.

The springbok ham roast for supper was excellent!

To be continued...

Excellent report. I am glad you had a great hunt.

Ahmed

6/28/06

We got off to a good start on a chilly morning (note to self - bring an extra sweatshirt next time!!). Jeffrey drove to a rock outcropping and we climbed to the top. A windbreak had been constructed on the lookout kopje summit, complete with a roof! Game appeared everywhere across the plains. The sharp-eyed red hartebeest watched us suspiciously from a half mile away, despite our efforts in concealment. Springbok, gemsbok, impala, eland, blesbok, zebra, kudu and steenbok all fed, played and wandered across the grass and shrubs stretched out before us.

Mixed bag on the plains.


We located a good herd of eland that contained an old bull, and made a good stalk right into the bunch as they were bedded down - but a herd of springbok “busted us†and alerted their bigger cousins that we were there. The rest of the day was enjoyable, but didn’t produce anything for the “meat pole.â€

As we neared the river, just before the house, we could see lights in the sandy basin - then a fire. Rita and her crew had set up a braii in the river bottom. Leopold cooked over a grill and served springbok chops, beef sausage, spare ribs, and chicken. Excellent meal!

Braii in the river bed.


6/29/06

The quarry for the day was eland. As we headed to the hilltop lookout, I got a glimpse of an eland through the brush only minutes into the drive. I assumed that Dirk or Manuel had spied it, but both were looking elsewhere. I got Dirks attention and pointed and said, “eland.†The truck pulled to a stop and we dismounted to get a better look and begin a stalk. A quarter mile later, Manuel set up the sticks and I covered an opening in the brush - waiting for the eland to filter through. In order to be prepared, I pushed the safety off - and the sound of the metallic click was all it took for the herd to decide there was danger close - and bolt. We returned to the truck with plans to relocate them from the high ground and resume our pursuit.

From high ground further on, we located the herd again - their long legs had quickly carried them some distance away. Dirk and Manuel discussed the next move, and we drove to a point downwind and closer to where we hoped to find them.

Eland herd.


Darla and Jeffrey remained behind with the truck as Dirk, Manuel, and I headed into the shrub grassland. I know familiarity with the terrain plays a big part, but I’m always amazed when the PH and tracker stride to within 200 yards of the animals - then slow to half speed and then shortly lift their binoculars to judge trophy quality.

And that is exactly what took place. Having last seen the herd from a couple of miles away, we were suddenly close enough to set up the shooting sticks! We were downwind, and we hadn’t been detected - but for some reason they began to run. Game over.

We hiked out to the nearest 2-track and Manuel directed Jeffrey to our rendezvous point in Herero over a 2-way radio. There was something incongruous about mixing microchips and an African tribal language, but our ride appeared within a few minutes - and we headed to the lookout hill.

Darla was not looking forward to another trip up the mountain, and seemed relieved when Dirk said we would remain in the truck while Jeffrey and Manuel looked from “topside.†After a few minutes, Jeffrey returned and spoke with Dirk in Afrikaans. The conversation was sprinkled with words I recognized - but “mooi bul†caught my ear especially. Dirk indicated the news was just what he hoped and we made ready to begin the stalk.

From the animated earlier conversation, I understood the eland were roughly where we had seen them the previous day - or at least in the same direction. Manuel took the lead and set a direct course, which caused me some concern since the wind was directly at our backs. Surely there must be a course correction. Dirk called a halt and pointed out the problem to Manuel. A few exchanges later, we made a course adjustment that would take us across the wind - but far enough away that the eland wouldn’t be alarmed.

We walked briskly - faster than on any previous stalk. There was a palpable determination in the PH and tracker - and perhaps a bit of leftover frustration from the miscues of the previous day and a half. As we neared a rise, the shrubs gave way to more grass and rock outcrops on top of the ridge.

The course was designed to bring us in downwind of the beasts, and now that we were there, we began to close the distance. Changes in body posture, softer footfalls, and a slower pace announced quietly that we were among them.

As with previous stalks, there was a rigid division of labor. Manuel was to find them, Dirk was to judge the trophy quality and direct the hunter, and my job was to be invisible and quiet until it was time to squeeze the trigger. I played my role begrudgingly, as I too wanted to search the brush for eland and take in all the nuances of the headgear adorning the cows and bulls. But to do so was to jeopardize the success of the mission, so I focused on staying immediately behind Dirk, pointing the business end of the rifle in a safe direction, and not making any noise.

Manuel’s steps began to remind me of a pointer closing in on a covey of quail - desire moving the feet forward, experience and caution holding them back. He slipped sideways around a bush and peered ahead. Dirk, too, focused on something through his binoculars. Then, ever-so-slowly, Manuel began to set up the shooting sticks, as Dirk motioned for me to slip by him, flattened to the bush like it was a brick wall.

I balanced the .300 across the too-tall brace, and made a face to let Manuel know the sticks needed adjustment. He slowly repositioned the legs and now my scope reticle covered the tan hide of an eland cow. Animals milled in and out of the tiny opening as Dirk and Manuel whispered to themselves and each other. “Daar is koei…koei…bul…klein bul…koei,†I heard softly in the background. The movements finally slowed to a standstill - and still no clear shot at the “mooi bull†we had seen. Another quiet council between the PH and tracker.

We would relocate and try to get a better angle. We retreated downwind, cut back over the small ridgeline, and advanced a football field or so. Manuel led the procession, and became shorter and shorter as we neared the ridge. We finally duck walked to a position behind a bush and Dirk and Manuel scrutinized the animals from this new perspective. Manuel scooted one way and then another, while Dirk and I remained glued in place.

Suddenly, Manuel’s eyes widened and he motioned emphatically to stay low - NO, LOWER!! Dirk and I hugged the earth, and through one eye I could see the tips of the gemsbok horns - close. After a few anxious moments, Manuel gave the all clear and we resumed our eland watching.

Through hand signals, Manuel directed us to his vantage point behind a rock slab. Dirk peered briefly through his binos, then gestured for me to slide between he and Manuel and look to the front. Several eland milled about - within easy shooting range. The solid rock would provide a steady rest for the rifle. I quietly slipped off the safety, remembering the earlier response to the noise. Dirk whispered descriptions of each of the animals in view and painted a verbal roadmap to the intended target. Just as I began to move the rifle into final position, the tone of his voice changed - “there he is now, the cow moved.†One final confirmation (“the one facing left?â€), a grunted affirmative, a final mental reminder (“squeezeâ€) and the shot. A resounding whock as the 180 grain Nosler struck the shoulder and the one-ton beast slowly wheeled away. The rest of the herd trotted off to the right and my bull slowly walked after them. Brush obscured the view and prevented a second shot.

Dirk didn’t wait to offer congratulations. I knew the shot was good - but was far from convinced that the bullet was a match for such a huge animal. As I brooded about not getting an opportunity for a follow up shot, we heard the bull go down - and a cloud of dust showed where. He’d gone but 40 yards before collapsing. We approached cautiously as the animal was not yet dead. A finishing shot wasn’t necessary, as movement stopped, and the eyes no longer responded to touch.

He was HUGE! The Toyota magically appeared from nowhere, and I was glad to share the moment with everyone there. Four of us rolled him up and posed the carcass for photos. A tiny entrance hole centered the shoulder - right where I had aimed. A post-mortem showed the bullet had severed the arteries at the top of the heart. Of course, there was no exit hole.

Eland bull.


We winched the animal into the Toyota and, creaking and groaning, made our way to the skinning and butchering station. As impressive as he looked on the hoof and on the ground, he looked MASSIVE hanging on the cleaning hooks!

Skinning Eland.


After brunch, Dirk wanted to measure the trophies I had shot - he said he has to report what is shot on the ranch. I watched as he deftly maneuvered the measuring cable along the horns of the springbok, kudu, gemsbok and eland - and then scribbled the measurements on a scrap of paper. The measurements of ths springbok confirmed his previous assessment - and when we returned to the lodge, he pulled out the SCI record book. He turned to the entries under Kalahari Springbok, and compared his measurements to the list - and pointed out that my ram would rank 14th! Not bad considering I wasn’t “trophy†hunting…

Springbok.


We spent the rest of the day scouting for leopard sign - as Dirk had a cat hunter scheduled for the following week. I was content to take in the sights of the area, and learn a bit about the finer points of leopard hunting.

The rest of the week went quickly. I shot a second springbok - ostensibly for leopard bait, but he was a nice ram. Dirk and I spent several mornings and evenings hunting birds, and I shot a steenbok (my wife wanted a full mount to put beside our fireplace!). Saw lots of great animals and enjoyed ourselves every minute we were there.



Quality experience, quality place, quality people - a good recipe for a great time.

He's still roaming the hills.

I apologize for being so long winded! We really enjoyed our experience, and got some great photos.

I decided not to even mess with the airline concerning my rifle stock. I'm sure they would deny any responsibility, and I would end up frustrated. Besides, it gives me a good excuse to go stock shopping - and maybe a new barrel, new scope, some new....

Thanks for your kind comments.

Good hunting,

David

Acer

Very well done report. Thanks for the detail and the great pictures.

CFA

Excellent report, you drew me right into the field with you, thanks!

Acer,

Congratulation on your hunt and nice photos and report.
Thanks for sharing.


Hamdeni

Great report!! Thanks for posting.

FB

Thanks for the AWESOME report! Is it just me, or does it seem like nearly all of Dirk's clients this year and for several years after are AR members? I booked with him after talking with Atticus and Robert Johnson regarding their hunts with Dirk and I know at least another 3-4 from AR that have booked with Dirk since. Then I see several more that write reports. Looks to me like Dirk doesn't really need to advertise. This is WAY better for his business.

Great report, thanks for the effort to write and post.

I enjoy doing the same thing. Writing helps relive the event and burns it into my memory.

Great report! You are a very talented writer and I enjoyed all of it. One question, however. The Gemsbucks horns seem to be lighter in color than any I've seen. Was that caused by the lighting at the time of the photo or was she really that color? Interesting nonetheless. Thanks again for the great report.

quote:

Originally posted by Eland Slayer:
Thanks for the AWESOME report! Is it just me, or does it seem like nearly all of Dirk's clients this year and for several years after are AR members? I booked with him after talking with Atticus and Robert Johnson regarding their hunts with Dirk and I know at least another 3-4 from AR that have booked with Dirk since. Then I see several more that write reports. Looks to me like Dirk doesn't really need to advertise. This is WAY better for his business.

I think this is what got it all started. https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6321043/m/924104582

Eland Slayer,
I think people recognize value when they see it. I had been shopping around for a while for a trip to Namibia when I came across Robert Johnson's post, and couldn't find better quality for better price on the hunting. The facilities, food, and talented and tireless staff was a bonus - making it an exceptional value.

P. Jilek,
Must just be the lighting or camera angle in the morning sun - the horns didn't strike me as particularly light in color. Of course, with me anyway, I'm always just awe struck in the presence of an animal like that - and nuances like colors get lost in the overall impression.

Thanks all for your kind comments. Typing is a bitch - but I have lived vicariously through other's hunting posts, so it was my time to "pay the piper" with a tale or 2.

Acer

Congratulations! Glad you had a great time!
Thanks for sharing!

Great report Acer, you really seem to appreciate the whole deal, without turning it into a horn competition.

I also like the fact that you didn't try to kill every primate and snake you came across!

Great report, really enjoyed it

David
Great Report! I wish everybody made in-depth reports of their hunts. We can learn a lot by reading them.

90% of Dirks clients are referrals from his clients, Dirk does have a small web page, other than that he does not advertise. Dirk is fully booked for the next two years. If you want to hunt with Dirk you better book a 08 date soon! His dally rates will increase in 08 mainly because gas prices have doubled. Even with the price increase Dirks daily rate will be 30-50% cheaper than most of the local outfitters

Everybody that has hunted with Dirk or any of the other great outfitters mentioned here on A.R. needs to thank Saeed for he generosity. With out ARs open forums we would have never learned about the many good Africa hunts. I personally won two round trip tickets to South Africa because of AR and Kathy.

Thank you Saeed and Kathy .

Thanks for the great report

And congrats on a great hunt.

Love the Eland!!

A wonderful report.Only 50 more weeks and we will be in Namibia with Dirk and Rita. What airline did you fly and did you use a travel agent? I am trying to decide which airline and/or travel agent to use. Any advice would be appreciated. Jerry Hoover

Jerry,

Congratulations on your choice of destinations! I posted some of our travel woes in a reply in the African Travel section, but I'll copy it here with some edits.

Travel will likely change between now and the time you head to Namibia. I can offer my experience from the last couple of weeks. We used Kathy Klimes to book our travel plans. Her e-mail is at the top of the original post.

We flew from DFW to Frankfurt, then to Windhoek.
Our itinerary said we would be flying UA/Lufthanza. Our ticket receipts said American Airlines. I was a little anxious until I went on line at the American Airlines web site and punched in the locator number and confirmed we had seats.

We probably would have booked a day room in Frankfurt, except for the World Cup Soccer frenzy that was going on at the time. I had been told that ordinarily, one can get a room for $28 - $30 during the layover. The price I was quoted was more than $180. I'm cheap. I figured I would just tough it out in the terminal.

I was advised not to check my baggage through to Namibia - so that I could actually see that my guns made it to Frankfurt and personally check them in on Air Namibia. Good plan - unfortunately, the Air Namibia counter doesn't open for check-in until 3 hours before your flight. So I was tied to my baggage and firearms for the entire 10 hour layover. No strolling leisurely about the airport looking for good deals. No walks to the nearby gun store.

The flight to Namibia was not too bad. Seats were cramped as was expected. The "special needs" kid a few rows back would scream out at random intervals just to make sure I wasn't asleep.

Be flexible and be informed. The flight to Namibia departed 2 hours earlier than our itinerary said - both going and returning. So check for any late changes - and inform the folks who will be picking you up if there are changes so you won't be waiting to be picked up - and don't miss your return flight. Especially true if flying the Namibia to Frankfurt route - since the next plane isn't for a couple of DAYS.

Firearms procedures in Frankfurt - changed between the flight over and the flight back. Nobody in Customs blinked an eye on June 24th when I passed through from the baggage claim area to the "world" carrying 2 rifles and 100 rounds of ammo. None of the dozens of police in the terminal gave me a second glance during the 10 hours I sat waiting. But on the trip back (July 5th), Customs stopped me as I departed the baggage claim area and wanted to see my papers. I explained that I was in transit. They explained that as soon as I walked out of the baggage claim area, I was in Germany, and needed import paperwork. They seemed quite perplexed as to what to do - like they had never done this kind of thing before. I explained that I had a 5 hour layover before my connecting flight to DFW. More confusion. Gotta find a supervisor. More questions. Gotta find another supervisor. Finally, I was told that I would have to leave my guns with Customs until I could check in for my departing flight. This was as new to them as it was to me, and they were making it up as they went along. There was no secure arms room - just put it in the side office. "Do you need a - um, umm, how you say...." "Receipt?", I offered. Yes. Hell Yes. New procedure - had to find someone who knew how to fill out a receipt. Had to do it on the computer, and it took 4 Customs inspectors to fill out the computerized form. Then it had to go to the supervisor for official stamp and signature. Hell, it was in German - it could have been a grocery list - I woudn't have known...

The airline opened for check-in a couple of hours later. I got in line, and when I finally made my way to the front, I had to explain to the ticket agent what the deal was. Got shunted aside, then I hustled back down to the Customs office. Found the original inspector that I had dealt with (God help me if I had to try to explain this to someone new!) and had her escort me and my guns back to the check in counter.

I'm sure they'll have the bugs worked out by the time you go, so don't let this sway your decision.

I have flown into Joburg, and now Windhoek - Windhoek wins hands down. Tiny terminal - easy check in - easy firearms and passport control - very few people - easy to get to and get away from.

Enjoy your trip!

Wonderful report and pictures, and congrat's on a successful trip. The braii in the river bed was a great touch, and shows a lot of class by your hosts. Did you happen to put a tape measure to the oryx?

Looking at Okanduka Seibe's "Availability Calendar" for 2007 on their webpage, they have some 240 days booked...business is indeed strong. Great service at a fair price - what a concept!

Good for them!

Bill C.,

Indeed the river bed was a wonderful touch - but that seems to be Rita's specialty! My wife was really overwhelmed when we topped the ridge next to the riverbed and saw the flickering fire and the lanterns and the table set like we were eating in the comfort of the lodge. And to emphasize where we were and what we were doing, the stars shown brightly and the southern cross was prominently displayed - and Max, Rita's 4-legged boy child chased baboons away while we ate!

Dirk measured the oryx, but I don't remember what he said the length was. I do remember it was something just less than 40" - because Dirk had originally judged it to be close to that and he acted like he had lost a bet with himself! I was thrilled with all the animals we took. Long horns or short - we had a ball!

Acer, the last 8 words speak volumes.

Great report Acer, being long winded is never a problem. I wish that hunt reports would all go on longer. Thanks for the travel tips also.

Acer, your reply was spot on. I appreciate being notified of any potential problems long before they happen. I will post any other questions on the African Travel forum. We have 5 people going at the same time, but returning on different days. If anyone else has any suggestions, I am all ears. Jerry Hoover