This is just a quick report since I arrived back in Iraq yesterday. Yeah, yeah, the pics will be coming in snf my partner will get them up and posted.
Was in Namibia when the leopard permits were halted. Many PHs had hunts booked, but had not requested their permits as yet. A real bummer for those expecting a leopard hunt.
We had success: a gold Gemsbuck and Springbuck, and a silver Blue Wildebeest for me. Also got an excellent Warthog, Zebra, and Kudu. My friend Brett also got two gold and a silver, but I will let him show them when the pics are loaded.
One thing bothered us. Afrikaans was spoken around us even with both the speakers spoke English. What they didn't realize was that both of us, though not speakers of Dutch, could understand some of what they said. Not pleasant.
Of course, in Windhoek, spent three nights at Joe's Beerhouse, two upon arriving in country, one on the way out. Food and prices were excellent.
Max

Glad you had a good trip.

Looking forward to the pics.

Several others have made the same comment about Afrikaans. It is worse when you know that you are the subject of the discussion...

Prof242

Glad you had a good hunt, i for one hate it when that sort of shit takes place, i would of had a shoulder mount of a Namibian PH!!!! i can understand if they are standing in the kitchen alone talking in private and rightfully granted it is their mother tongue, but in front of paying clients....

Just finished up with a client who dressed the part of old time hunters - and i mean the full kit! i for one would not wear it in the bush but it was his choice, not once did we laugh or make comments about his clothes, i heard that he did a side hunt in the Kalahari where his clothes were the brunt of many jokes and sneers - needless to say he will be back next year for another month, but will stay with us for the full duration.

Anyway look forward to seeing the pics, i live in Africa and everytime i read posts on the hunting report all i want to do is go hunt AGAIN....

I´m really looking forward for report and pics as I´m planning my next safari to Namibia in 2011.

The afrikaans stuff, they did it all the time on my two former safaris to Limpopo.
Both the outfitter, PH and the trackers, even though they all spoke English (the outfitter a former Rhodesian of English stock).

My native Norwegian have quite a few words common with Dutch or of Dutch roots, and I often understood what they where talking about, though I never told them

Unpolite...well, I didn´t mind, but i know the seven Americans in camp on the second trip didn´t like it at all when they spoke afrikaans.

But turn it the other way around.
What when we who do not speak English as our first language, starts talking and laughing around the campfire and the outfitter / Ph´s sit there not understanding a bit of what we are saying.
Are we as guests unpolite to them as our hosts?

Thanks all for your replies.
Arild, I fully understand what you mean. Have always tried to clue people in as to what is being said...even though my language skills may not be the best.
Good luck on your Namibia trip. The people are great.

It happened a few time on my trip, although I think the family was discussing "family/farm business" at lunch or supper. It's some of the only time they've got together to discuss things so I didn't have a problem with it.
When they stayed at our house they only spoke Afrikaans a few times...pretty sure it was personal stuff then as well.

Laugh at a client about how he's dressed and look what you don't get

the best part of that sort of behaviour is that the gratuities are not paid until the end of the hunt, and can be adjusted to account for that. The next best part is letting them know that is why they got less to nothing.

Manners...

Rich
DRSS

Max

I'm glad you were happy with your safari in general. Please do understand that PH's and staff speaking, Afrikans, Shona, Swahili, Zulu, French of whatever language they don't think the client understands is just flat out rude. If that behavior continued with a safari operator we represented after it had been brought to their attention we'd have to look at perhaps dropping them. I've witnessed this and been a victim of it and it is very uncomfortable. When the PH's particularly are fluent in the client's language there is no excuse for not speakng so all will understand.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by prof242:

We had success:

... One thing bothered us. Afrikaans was spoken around us even with both the speakers spoke English. What they didn't realize was that both of us, though not speakers of Dutch, could understand some of what they said. Not pleasant.

Of course, in Windhoek, spent three nights at Joe's Beerhouse ...


Max

Hmm? Just what bits of Afrikaans did you catch?

I will be sure to study up enough to be able to say "Take me to Joe's Beerhouse" in Afrikaans.

RIP!!!
The only word you need in Windhoek is,"JOE's." Every taxi driver knows where to go. I'm sometimes a picky eater, but everything we had there was excellent. I may be taking it a little easy on the excellence of the beers because, after the first two, I can't remember what the rest were like.
Next time I go, it will be with the .395 Max!

I didn't mind it being spoken in front of me, though if I had understood it and what was being said was derogatory about me then I would have been very pissed.

I just returned from my first safari to Namibia. I had a similar experience regarding the Afrikan being spoken when everyone could have spoken and understood English. I was curious if this is "standard" when in Africa?

Although, the "language barrier" did not bother me too much, it does not benefit the client to not understand what is being said. Maybe a few posts like this one will "enlighten" those PH's who prefer not to speak in a language that is not understood by the client.

Intentionally speaking Afrikaans or German in the presence of clients is a real problem with many PH's in South Africa and Namibia! You can forget the mother tongue language barriers arguments, Most of these guys are fluent in English. They speak in Afrikaan or Germen because they don't want you to know what they are talking about !! Yes its rude, impolite and at times very derogatory.