Hunt Report - Namibia


At the SCI Georgia Chapter Sports Show, my wife and I were the lucky bidders on a 5-day hunt with Kalahari Safari, Janneman Brand, PH. This hunt was for one hunter and included trophy fees for three animals. We left Atlanta on Friday, July 7th, via the new SAA route (Atlanta, Washington Dulles, Johannesburg, Namibia). And, of course, we had a problem with our luggage. We arrived with the clothes on our back and the checked gun case with my two rifles (no ammo, hunting accessories, clothes, etc.). The flight from J’burg to Namibia Windhoek was three hours late, but Janneman was still there waiting for us. After filing lost luggage claims, we continued on to Janneman’s ranch, a 3-1/2 hour drive. When we arrived we were greeted by Janneman’s wife, Aldalene. Even though the hour was late, she had prepared the first of our many gourmet, delicious meals. Over dinner, plans were made to track our luggage the next day. With no luck of receiving any of the lost luggage on Sunday, Janneman and Aldalene started accumulating miscellaneous hunting clothes and boots for my first day hunt on Monday. Janneman did find one bullet for my 300 Weatherby, and decked out in my mix-match hunting outfit, we took off for my first day of hunting in Namibia. The terrain was sand, grass, dunes, and camel-thorn bushes. Since Namibia is known as Little Texas with all the cattle ranches, low cattle fencing were on the property, but after watching Kudu, Oryx, and Springbuck jumping over them with ease, it was not a problem for me. After a considerable time of stalking and crawling, I took a wonderful Oryx (one shot kill since I only had one bullet).




Two duffle bags finally arrived late Monday (last one not until Tuesday). Luckily the two bags had ammo, hunting clothes and boots. Each day we would start out in the safari truck with Tuo, our tracker. We spotted plenty of game, but I have to say it was the hardest hunting I have ever done. Stalk, crawl, game gets away, follow tracks, find them again and start over with the stalk and crawl on your stomach. The best day was when we were after Eland. After spotting a big bull with a small herd, we started our stalk. After five hours, I was almost at the end of my endurance. I did not quit, nor did I ask Janneman to stop and rest. I was a determined hunter who wanted a chance at this Eland. Finally the time came and at about 200 yards I had a shot, fired once, and it dropped like a load of bricks. It took the truck an hour and a half to get to where we were and by that time it was almost dark. We used the truck headlights for the photos of this mighty trophy. This memory will be among the best that I will have. My wife, Mary Joe, was on many of these hunts and she came with the truck when we were successful. It is hard to say how I felt when I showed her a trophy that I had worked so hard to take and share with her my pride and emotion. My trophies for this trip included Oryx, Black Wildebeest, Eland, Springbuck, Zebra, and a nice old Warthog. Kalahari Safaris with Janneman Brand and his wife, Aldalene, exceeded our expectations from the unbelievable accommodations, the gourmet food, decadent desserts, the great wine, and the ‘Ol Brown Sherry we had before bed. Each day we were greeted with a beautiful sunrise and deep blue sky, and at night a wonderful red sunset with a sky full of stars. Even though this was a donated hunt, we were treated like any other full-paying clients - Teriffic! We cherish the friendship that we developed with Janneman, Aldalene, and their family.











Bobga

Thanks for the report and great pictures -- looks like you had a good trip.

Glad you got your ammo and other stuff..congrats

Thanks for the report and photos Bob. Sounds like you guys had a great trip.

Were you the only party in camp???

Phil

Thanks for the report, looks like a great trip.

Great report Bob, sounds like an excellent hunt all the way around.

quote:

Originally posted by bobga:
Hunt Report - Namibia

Bobga

Looking a lot like Jack O'Connor in this pic!!!

Way to go Bob! great pictures! Seems like lost/delayed luggage is about a 50/50 chance. Glad you had a great time.

Nice animals Bob. I especially like the Oryx. Good luck on your taxidermy.

Damn fine trip and a great Oryx!

Phil,
We were the only clients in camp. Kalahari Safari only takes 1 client at a time.
bobga

Bob,

Thanks for the photo's. the Zebra looks awesome. Does he have more white than usual or is it just the camear flash that makes it look that way!! He look so clean!!!

Congrats again,
FB

Which direction from Windhoek and near what village or town?

Did you have to claim your guns at Jberg and then recheck them on the flight to Windhoek, or are they checked all the way through?

Thanks for the great report! I'm hoping to do Namibia in 2007!

Great report and pics. I like the idea of hanging the rifle on the shooting sticks. Gives it a different look. Glad all went well. YOu sound like the type of guy who goes with the flow. That far away, there really isnt much sense in sitting back and complaining about a little misfortune.

Fallow Buck,
Agree wuth you it is a great looking Zebra. It is the most defined bright White and Black stripes. I have seen. We have a rug made from our hunt 2 years ago but this one is difinately different We are going to have a pedestal mount for the head, back skin to be tanned. Another unusal marking was how the stripes/pattern was on its back.
bobga

Stonecreek,
Kalahari Safaris is 3 hours east of Windhoek, closest town is Gobabis, ranch is 1 hour 20 minutes from there. Checked my guns through from Atlanta to Windhoek. Web site kalahari-safari.com
bobga

hikerbum,
Thanks, you are so right about not letting distractions spoil a great trip. I did vent on posting of SAA Strikes again.
bibga

One bullet - the Barney Fife approach can work! Great job getting it done with what you had, and thanks for posting your pics and stories!! Sounds like a challenging and rewarding trip.

DJ

Byran Chick,
Are you sure this is not the Eland Janneman posted ?

How is it traveling ti Namibia? I'm thinking of going there maybe June of 2008. How is it bringing in guns and do you still have to fly through Joberg?

Nice trophies...great stories!

Nice going Bob, great pictures, thanks for the report. jorge

Dr. Tim,
We flew through Jo'burgh, believe that is where the theft from our luggage happened. No, you can fly from USA/Frankfort to Namibia using Air Namibia from Frankfort.
bobga

Tim,

Travel to Namibia is not bad & you do not have to travel through South Africa. You can go directly to Windhoek on Air Namibia via either London or Frankfurt. I would highly recommend Frankfurt since the British adopted their new screening procedures.

I was wondering about the Germans and how flying through there with my rifles would work. My second language is Deutsch so a stop over in Deutschland would be ausgezeichnet..(excellent/awesome).

Do you know much about Air Namibia? This may be the way to go. My last two trips to Zim I went thru Joberg and I just would like to avoid the extra hassle of the SAPS 520 paper work, especially when I'm only there for just an over night.

I'm thinking of hunting with Kobus Honiball in Namibia, do you or anyone else out there know him well?

Dr. Tim

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dr. Tim Burkhart:
How is it traveling ti Namibia? I'm thinking of going there maybe June of 2008. How is it bringing in guns and do you still have to fly through Joberg?

Best avoid RSA if possible, fly via Franfurt to Winhoek direct. You will have a great trip belive me, I just spent nearly 3 weeks with Mike Kibble, of my 5 African hunts it was far and away the best Ive had.

Just check your guns all the way through- no paperwork required in Germany. My wife and I made that trip this year ATL-FRA-WND. We got a day room at the Sheraton on the way over. We used the Delta crown room on the way back-nice chairs, clean showers and free food & drink. I think that you can get a day pass in the crown room for $25.