I booked this hunt through Caracal who had listed here on AR. The 30,000 acre area out of the 500,000 acre Erongo Mountain Conservancy is about a 2 ½ hour drive from the airport. There are a few low fences, but they would not have any impact on the free movement of game.

The costs were reasonable and simple with the trophies fees being some of the lowest you will find anywhere in Namibia or all of Africa. One daily rate package price included pick up and drop off for Windhoek Intl Airport, all VATs, and transportation of trophies to a local taxidermist along with all the customary guiding, meals, tracking, skinning, daily laundry and housekeeping.

I rented a rifle that cost me about $ 140 including ammo for a five day hunt. Alcoholic beverages were extra, but were so cheap that I wish I would have drunk more. The food was good and the facilities more than comfortable. The PH and owner (along with his father) was Peter Hinterholzer. Peter was born and raised in the Erongo mountains and knows the area well. He has a refreshingly relaxed attitude. Peter brought along a friends seventeen year old son to assist us. I nicknamed him Rambo since he carried a CZ 9mm on his hip and a huge hunting knife. Peter would hang back and let me and the tracker and sometimes Rambo do the stalking after an animal had been spotted. I made my own decisions on when to shoot or not to shoot. We did this on my kudu, mountain zebras, oryx and baboon.

OBSERVATION # 1 – I hate Blasers. Peter had one in 8x68 which is a fine caliber, but the gun kept jamming. It didn’t cause me to lose any animals, but it did cause a couple stalks to last longer than they needed to. In order to make travel easier and when I am only hunting plains game I have switched over to using a camp rifle. I was able to fly British Airways from Los Angeles to Windhoek and back for only $ 1,200 with only one carry on backpack. Not checking in luggage or taking a firearm makes the travel so much more relaxed and stress free. I feel a little naked without my own knife, but you don’t really need one on a modern African hunting safari. Besides, I had Rambo with me for protection.

OBSERVATION # 2 – The Erongo isn’t for sissies. The terrain is rocky, hilly and bushy. It has every kind of plant that exists to reach out and grab you and pierce the bottom of your shoes. I would wear long sleeve shirts (I didn’t) and a good pair of boots (I didn’t do that either). There are large flatter areas, but still sandy, rocky and covered with vegetation. The game is well educated and will disappear quickly so you have to shoot fast. This is not an open savannah type area where you are guaranteed to get shots. I struck out on Spring Bok while in other places I could and have knocked them down all day. And for God’s sake make sure you make a good first shot on the Mountain Zebra or you are going to be chasing them through the mountains till the 12th of never.

OBSERVATION # 3 – If you absolutely have to have a Dik-Dik then this is the place to come. I got mine on the first day and I saw numerous pairs of them everyday. The overall games numbers for typical Namibian species are quite good. There are lots of Mountain Zebra and Oryx, good Kudu that seem to have recovered from the rabies epidemic, I saw klipspringer, warthog, steenbok and duiker, baboons, giraffe, kori bustards, pythons and a local porcupine that would show up for dinner scraps on a regular schedule. We also had bats flying around our heads in the dining area every night. You get use to it. The only dangerous game the Erongo has is leopard and black rhino. We did see some fresh sign of each, but no actual sightings. Peter gets one leopard permit a year and I believe has a nearly 100% success rate. However, I think he sells them quickly so I don’t know if there is much of an opportunity to book a leopard hunt with him.

The conversation at night was pleasant and cordial as nearly all of us hunters are reliably right wing. Peter was shocked at my belief that Donald Trump would win in a landslide as all he gets is the filtered international media, but I forgave him since that’s just the type of charitable guy I am.

All in all, another great African hunting trip.

Thanks for the report and very nice dik dik

Wonderful safari, I have talked to Caracal about this before as well. Seems to be a bit less travelled.

The rocks and thorns make for an interesting safari. I dealt with that in the Khomas 11 years ago. I loved it, but damn it is a rough tough SOB. Reminds me a lot of the Mojave desert where I live now.

Very nice, I haven't been in Namibia since 2008, I really should go back.

Congratulations on your successful safari. Nice trophies as well.

Did you get a chance to eat some of the Zebra? Best meat in the world IMO.

I've been to Namibia twice. I really liked the country and hunting.

I wonder if now is a good time to go back with the current exchange rate?

That airfare you got sounded really cheap!!

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Originally posted by surefire7:
Congratulations on your successful safari. Nice trophies as well.

Did you get a chance to eat some of the Zebra? Best meat in the world IMO.

I've been to Namibia twice. I really liked the country and hunting.

I wonder if now is a good time to go back with the current exchange rate?

That airfare you got sounded really cheap!!

Yes I ate some of my zebra and Peter's cook, Joyce, knows how to cook it. It was tender and delicious and I have had zebra before by someone who didn't know how to cook it and it was just tough and plain.

The exchange rate is great and Peter's prices are very reasonable. In fact, he tells me he gets a lot of grief from other outfitters complaining that his prices are too low. I went in late April during the low season when airline fares are a little lower, but still the cheapest flights I have ever seen since my first trip in 2002.

Congratulations on a great hunt. thanks for sharing.

Two comments - this is probably the best priced deal I have seen in many years.

Secondly those dik dik always remind me of Star Wars creatures!!!

Thanks for the excellent pics and the nice story. Seeing your mtn zebra there reminds me of my hunt, and it is indeed a fantastic and tiring hunt....one I'll never forget. I love Namibia and it's people. Congrats on a great hunt.

Well done!

Happy to hear you enjoyed it!

a great trip! Erongo is a place to go

I've had the pleasure of hunting with Peter and his father a couple of times and they are great people, providing an affordable, wonderful experience. Dont't miss one of the most significant primitive rock painting sites found in Namibia and the singing rock area with it's engravings. Mountain Zebra in the Erongo area is one of Africa's great hunts.

Nice dik-dik. I have hunted in the same area and only can recommend it. Peter is a great guy.

quote:

The conversation at night was pleasant and cordial as nearly all of us hunters are reliably right wing. Peter was shocked at my belief that Donald Trump would win in a landslide as all he gets is the filtered international media, but I forgave him since that’s just the type of charitable guy I am.

Did I call it or did I call it!

Fine report and narrative. Some good animals you took there and the dik dik looks very impressive.

Sounds like a first class destination and outfit.

Thanks for a great report. The one thing about Africa, what doesn't bite you will stick you!!