Hello All- I am happy to report a very successful first safari for plains game in Namibia with Omujeve Hunting Safaris!

Dates: 14 May- 29 May, 2012

Airlines: Delta, SAA

Country: Namibia

Operation: Omujeve Hunting Safaris

PH's: Pieter De Lange and Japsie Blauuw

Animals Taken: Red Hartebeest, Black and Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Springbok, Hartmann's Zebra, Gemsbok, Warthog, Kudu

Animals Seen in Addition: steenbok, blesbok, giraffe, waterbuck, eland, cheetah, lion, elephant, klipspringer


This was my first safari, and I have to give props right off to Boddington for planting the seed, and my Big Buddy Blank for making the dream come true. I have been hearing good things for many years about Nic and Corne Kruger's operation in Namibia, and then firsthand from Blank, so we booked last year for this May. I accompanied Blank and his wife Kathy, as well as friends Paul and De. Blank, Paul and I would be the hunters. We flew Delta Airlines out of SLC to Atlanta, then the incredibly droll flight straight to Johannesburg. Since our flight came into Joburg in the evening, we chose to break up the monotony by staying at a guest house which was African Sky. I enjoyed every moment there, it was too short. Diedre did everything possible for us, to include a parting gift for the girls. The rooms were appointed nicely, and the dining was delicious!

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The following day, we boarded SAA for the short flight to Namibia, where we were met at the airport by PH Japsie Blauuw. The drive to home base at Omujeve was short and exciting! Everything I saw was something new to me, so I was like a kid in a candystore.

Omujeve:

We were met by Elsada, who runs Omujeve with military precision. We were quickly esconced in our rooms and then introduced in the main lodge to the wonderful food and staff.

Rooms are beautiful and luxurious:



The main lodge is full of all kids of animal mounts, a well-stocked bar and incredible view to the east. The long table for meals would become a welcome meeting place for food, wine, and all kinds of exaggerations! I felt like I was in a hunting lodge of the gamekeepers of old.


After a refreshing nap, we were off to the range to check rifles. Not wanting to have the hassle of importing a rifle for one night in SA, I chose to use one of the many kept at the lodge. Much to my delight, I was given a 30.06 topped with a Leupold variable scope. The 30.06 holds a special place in my heart, as this is the caliber upon which I was taught to hunt by my father. To add to the irony was my bringing the original leather cartridge belt for my own 30.06. The first day karma was already looking to lean towards good luck.

On the way to the range, I saw my first African animal. Oh yes, some day I would like to hunt sable, my gosh are they beautiful!


With rifles set, we returned to a fine meal and paperwork. On the morrow we would hunt Omujeve and surrounding farmlands for a general bag of plainsgame. I was equally torn between using binoculars and camera, there was so much game to view.







It was not long before a herd of hartebeest was found. We were several ridges away, so they were not spooked. We left our tracker to keep an eye on their direction of movement, and my PH Pieter and I dismounted and began to stalk down a wash. Soon we were within range, but there were so many animals that it took some time to sort them out.



To add to the excitement, one bull was chasing everything around, and it seemed that every time we identified a good bull, the herd would split up in different directions. They would scatter, we would chase. This went on several times. Finally we could get no closer without being seen. Pieter set up the sticks, but I only could kneel to use one leg to shoot through a narrow opening in the thornbush. Finally the bull we wanted stepped into view, and he saw us. I only had a front shot, and waited until he turned to leave. One shot and my first African animal was in the dirt. I still think they look like someone took different animal body parts and put them together then prounounced it 'hartebeest'.





We loaded him into the truck and were off for more adventure.



Not more than an hour later, we saw a herd of black wildebeest. This animal is the one I really wanted, as unlike some folks I find them beautiful in an ugly way. We again had to plan our stalk well ahead of the herd, and dropped into another waterway to creep in. We had to stop at one point when we ran into zebra, but it was not long and they did not see us thankfully. When we finally crept toward the area we had seen them last, the exact bull we wanted just happened to be standing broadside between two thornbush. The sticks went up, the rifle went off, and I had my African muskox. (I think they look like muskox when they are in profile).





By golly, it was time for a well-earned lunch. After the requisite afternoon nap, we headed out again. We were looking for warthog, blues and whatever else fancied giving us a chance. We were literally 15 minutes into the drive when our tracker Jackson snapped his fingers for a stop. We all put up our binos to see what he was seeing, but found out quickly that what he was seeing was a very nice blue wildebeest bull staring at us from 20 yards away. Joel handed me the .375 he named "Blood and Thunder" for the bull, who was staring at us and only offered his head, and which Pieter told me to shoot anyway. Of course, the bull then took off through the wait-a-bit and we were sprinting after in a game of cat and mouse during which I learned why the dang wait-a-bit got it's name. The wildebeest outran us into a small ravine, then made the mistake of stopping halfway up the other side. "Blood and Thunder" roared, and we heard a solid chest hit. The bull ran up the other side and looked like it tumbled off the top.

So imagine both our surprise when we came over the top to find not a thing. It took a moment to find blood, and it was coming out both sides of the bull. But not well, and I was running the sight picture over and over in my head. I was certain of the shot. Why was this bull not lying in the brush?? What began then was a two-hour ordeal of losing blood, doing a grid search, calling for more help to re-do the grid search and then calling for the terriers to help even that. Jackson went blood drop to blood drop, and finally, FINALLY we found the bull, which we had been within yards of several times. He had crawled into the thick stuff.

And my shot was true. The fact that this bull went over 800 yards with no lungs is a testament to their will to live.



I had to keep reminding myself that this was just Day 1.......

Keep the report going and get the issues resolved on the pics. Cannot wait to see them. Have always wanted to hunt with the Kruger's once in my life.

You rock girl! Great report. For all you AR hunters, this is the best hunting partner I've ever had (and cutest).

Wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing them.

The following day we headed to a neighboring farm. We would be looking for culls for Blank as well as helping find a good waterbuck and eland for Paul. Right off we found a fantastic waterbuck and called Japsie. We left them to the stalk and drove on.








We found the eland as well, so we called Japsie to let him know, then moved on. Sooner or later, we were glassing a dam (pond). There were not only impala, but warthog and I had both on license. We were too far to see if there were any potential shooters in either case, so we worked closer, dismounted and snuck slowly along the brushline. The impala herd looked to be nothing but ewes, but we kept watching until we saw all the animals. There was a ram, and he was just great! Pieter put up the sticks and wouldn't you know, the minute I put the rifle up every stinkin' ewe in that herd walked in front of him. I had no shot, and he walked out of view. We moved right, and this time he saw us and stood broadside. Once again, the minute I put up the rifle a bunch of ewes came back to see what he was looking at and were in front. It literally came down to a split second shot after the last ewe cleared and the ram started to run. The shot went off, and we heard.....nothing. The ram ran off to our left. I asked Peter if I missed, and he said he didn't know because he was as confused as I at the ram's reaction. Visions of the blue wildebeest came back to me.

We walked over to where he stood. No blood. We split up and in ten steps Pieter found the ram dead just inside the treeline, with a perfect high shoulder shot.


On the way in for lunch, we saw one heck of a kudu. Now we had been warned that there were a couple bulls that were phenomenal, but off-limits. Corne had apparently made it very clear that one would not be shot, but possible permanently maimed if said bulls were hurt in any way. Pieter was unsure, so we took photos and emailed Corne at lunch to verify. "Hunt him" was his response. Game on!




As it always is with kudu, we did not find him that evening, but we found one even bigger. It was hard for both Pieter and I to not try for him, but we were headed to the desert the next day and both of us had heard that there was a potential for a huge bull there. If we did things right, we would still have 4 days to come back here and hunt these bulls should the desert fail us.

A great read. Emailing Corne trying to work out details for next year. Cannot wait to keep reading about it.

Congrats, having hunting with Omujeve many times, I know of your experience first hand! Incredible place!

It looks like you had a great time, everyone is smiling in the pictures.

Congrats.

The following day we headed north to the newest conservancy that Omujeve had acquired, Doro !Nawas. We stayed at one of many developed camping areas in the conservancy, and I must say that not even at home would I get piped water, a hot water heater, or a sink!





The desert looked so similar to ours that I felt right at home. We set up the final tent and gathered around a fire for a short evening before hitting the sack for an early adventure.





We did not see game as often or in as many numbers as the farmlands, but that was to be expected. After a few hours, we spotted not only a very good gemsbok bull but a couple nice springbok rams. We decided to stalk closer and see which group might have either 1-the better animal, or 2-the better stalking position. As in all places where the country is vast and the game keen-eyed, we were still a thousands yards out when both groups spotted us. The gemsbok headed for the top of a plateau, and the springbok quickly angled away. After a long consideration, my PH Pieter said we should go after the springbok.

What a stalk that was! They would go over a hill and we would sprint after only to top the hill and see them beyond range. This over hill, sprint and peek thing went on for some time, and man was it hot in the rocks! Everytime we stopped, the heat coming up off the lava was like being in a convection oven. At one point we ran out of hills, and Pieter and I went on in lockstep as Pieter raised his shooting sticks off his head to look like gemsbok. It worked, the springbok didn't run and we maintained the distance as they went into a canyon.

We sprinted again and just missed them at the first corner, so we busted straight up the canyon side and caught them just turning the corner. There was no time to set up sticks, so Pieter told me to take the shot if I could, but didn't blame me if my heart was beating as hard as his. I plopped down into a seated position, tried to bring the bouncing of the reticle to my heartbeat to a predictable rhythm and let fly.

The springbok dropped in it's tracks, and I got to see the wondrous backhair phenomenon all of you have already seen. At Joel's insistence, I even stuck my nose in it and was not disappointed.



Pieter later told me that he does not know how I made that shot. Neither do I, and when I had walked up to ram, I actually had to look around and touch a rock to make sure I really, truly wasn't dreaming and what was happening was a lie.

I am happy to report that the rocks and sand were real, and I was not in a dream, but living one.

Very nice. Keep on going.

Love he pics - they tell the story. Thanks. AIU

I'm always glad to see another huntress enjoying herself. Great shooting and wonderful report!

Best regards, D. Nelson

The black wildebeest has quite the bosses! Congrats!!

Great group of guys!

Nice report and great animals!

We continued to explore this new area, which was reminding me more and more of our desert Southwest. Rocks were a little bit different, and of course the vegetation, but all in all it had a similar feel.



We saw some game:



We saw evidence of rhino, too:

Soon the heat made it a good time to shade up for lunch. The tracker and scout hung up the springbok and removed the liver. Once the fire was built, it was time to snack on bratwurst for us, liver sandwiches for the guys. While waiting out the moving sun, Pieter pointed out an odd-looking plant that was in the area. When I had first noticed them, I thought they were some sort of aloe that were dying. Apparently they are some of the oldest desert plants on earth, and can be several thousand years old. I wondered what this particular one had lived through.



Soon the heat had abated enough to continue our journey. Gustav (our game guard), took us to a high point from which he likes to glass, and indeed we could see for miles and miles, but we saw nothing that tickled our fancy.



We headed toward camp, a bit early so that we could feed ourselves before coming back out to try for Joel's hyena. We gave it an hour after the sun set, then drove back into the dark.



Sitting in the dark with the 'woooo-oop!' of hyena calls in the middle of the desert until your face goes numb was quite the experience. Seeing the Milky Way for the first time in many years made up for it. Nothing answered us, and we drove back to camp for a short night's sleep.

The following morning we entered the conservancy from a different direction. Paul had killed a nice zebra in the area, and we were hoping to do the same. We climbed up to the glassing hill and began our search;



Within moments, Joel had spotted a herd of zebra. He continually impressed everyone with his ability to spot game, and I named him Eagle Eye for the rest of the trip. The zebra were some distance away, but the terrain looked appropriate for a stalk. We would leave Jackson on the hill to monitor movement, and we began to climb into the canyons below them. We eased up the first ridge and were 200 yards from a huge mare. I crawled to the rocky top and found that I had the best prone field rests ever, complete with a rest for my supporting elbow. I could have laid there all day long. We stayed for some time, and it was apparent the mare was asleep on her feet. We knew the others were close by, but could not see any. Pieter decided that they might be in the next canyon over, so we backed out and repeated our process. Sure enough, the herd was below. Pieter picked out a large-bodied zebra that was chasing others around as a stallion would and instructed me to shoot it. I was using his gun, which was topped with one of the new rangefinding scopes, and it said we were 314 meters away. The scope compensates with a red dot as to where one should hold, and I thought I had it figured out, but obviously didn't because I shot right over the back. I was more diligent the second time, and the bullet knocked the zebra down for good.



We were surprised to find it a mare, but her hide was only lightly scarred and she'll make a fine rug. I was amazed at how stocky these animals are, and that their hooves are so tiny in comparison to our horses. The pattern on her face was just gorgeous.

We had a time of it getting her into the bakkie, as we found the winch had shorted out. It took a lot of grunting on our part and all of us pitching in to get her loaded. Now we had hyena bait for Joel!

The plan next was to build a blind overlooking water and sit out the heat of the day today hoping a kudu will wander by while Jackson and Gustav took the zebra guts to a bait site near where we had found tracks on the way in. We found our waterhole and there was conveniently a non-thorny tree a short distance away that we hollowed out. With seats and the cooler, we had a great shady way to spend the time. The only thing was saw, unfortunately, was a group of ostrich. But I didn't mind, because I got to see them fight and let me tell you- a bird that size running around with it's stubby wings standing straight up and hissing like an overheated radiator is damn funny!

A pre-planned rendesvous for lunch found all of us together in the shade while we again waited on the sun.



We all left together and headed in toward camp. I really must buy me a portable braai:




Tonight, we would set up in a different place for hyena and let the bait sit for a day. The only problem this night was that the portable speaker for some reason was muted. We ended up turning up the radio in the bakkie all the way and leaving the doors open. I got the honor (or torture rather) of making sure the track continued playing. My head was ringing with whoops, barks and laughs after the four hours we gave it. Pieter and Japsie were beside themselves when absolutely nothing came in or called back. Joel would have to wait another day for his dog, and I hoped that the desert would give me my kudu.

Great report and some really nice animals taken.

Very nice. Keep going. Cannot wait to hear more.

Excellent report. I am enjoying the photos and the verbal descriptions only add to them.

The following morning found us a little worn, but eager. We were going to the true desert today. While I thought we were already in one, Japsie and Paul informed us that we had no idea, but we would know it when we saw it.

.

Today we also must also shoot some culls for the conservancy, which was the job of Eagle Eye, who also happens to be a fine shot. The first springbok fell 15 minutes from camp, at a distance of more than 350 yards. It was on this animal that we noticed the 30-06 might be shooting a bit high.

A short time later, we saw more springbok and Joel said for me to take a turn. Well, I have to report that I missed several. We had left the rangefinder in the bakkie, but it was now really apparent that the rifle was shooting high. I made a mental note, and we continued on.



We drove to the bait site to check for tracks, and indeed found that the hyenas had been in the bait. We also saw that a rhino had walked the road right after the hyena. I believe everyone took a mental note of that.



A quick look around from a hill with nothing of note seen, and we were on our way for the 3 hours drive to a waterhole known to Gustav's people.



It was a solid 3 hours, too. We went from good road to rock, then wound around a lava flow and up a hill. Pieter literally slammed on the brakes and exclaimed "Oh Shit".

Oh yes, this was the desert all right!



I was smiling big, because to me, it looked very similar to some of my favorite desert haunts back home. Jackson caught me in my thoughts and asked why I laughed. "I'm home!", I said. He looked around, nodded, and said simply with hands held wide "It is God!". I could not argue his statement.

Another hour found us approaching the waterhole, and true to all waterholes in a desert, there was game. First zebra, then gemsbok. We dismounted and made our way the last 1/2 mile toward the water. As we crested the first hill, Eagle Eye spotted the tops of a gemsbok's horns coming up out of the gully in front of us. Three animals showed, and one was an adequate bull, nothing huge, but since we needed to shoot 3 for the conservancy, he was good enough for me. I found a depression in the top of the hill and laid down. Again I had a wonderful prone rest. Then the wait began, as the bull saw one of our party and was standing straight on. Sooner or later he turned to move, and to my dismay I found that the grass now prevented a really good view.

The distance was over 300 yards, and there was a stiff wind from the right, so I wanted to be sure. I sat up, and the bull stopped walking and stared at me as I shot. He dropped long before we heard the report.

I pulled that shot badly, but the joke of it was that we discovered that the bullet hit the bull right between the eyes. I think I'll just have a skull mount of him done just for the conversation it will generate!

And he was a very nice bull, indeed.



We loaded him up, and walked on to the waterhole. It was postively astonishing, because the water had no hole, it was seeping up from cracks in exposed bedrock. Tiny little puddles, and Gustav said they got no smaller nor bigger year-round. He also said his grandmother's grandmother knew of this water.

I could feel the age of this place and its people, and was humbled by it.





We left this secret place and began a new direction, one which would hopefully cut some time off the return drive. Again, we needed to be back in time to eat and then head back to the bait site. Surely a hyena would come!

On the way out, Joel shot two young gemsbok for cull, and I finished out with a springbok. Now I knew that a bakkie could hold 3 gemsbok and 2 springbok, a few humans and not much more. I kicked up my feet and enjoyed the breeze as we dropped back into the heat.



We hit camp with enough time to snarf a snack and load up for the night. Zip, zilch, nada. These hyenas are either very smart, or have been hunted very much.

There were decisions to be made in the morning. To stay or go, mostly. We had made plans to spend a couple days relaxing and being spoiled at Erindi, but Joel had yet to bag anything on his wish list and Pieter wanted to correct that.

Wonderful! Thank you for the continuing photographs and adventures. You're fueling the fire!

What a great hunt! Congrats!

The next morning, Joel decided that we all should go to Erindi together. It was hard to leave the desert behind, I found it incredibly beautiful.



By mid-day, we had arrived at Erindi, and in short order were unpacking in luxury. It was so beautiful that I was afraid to touch a thing!






It wasn't long before we were off to see the sights for the evening. Erindi is a wildlife photographer's dream to be sure.









It was so different from the desert. Much greener, much thicker. And we were freezing our butts off!


Seeing a cheetah up close was pretty awesome!



Lots of giraffe:



Look at the size of this one! If one like this steps out at Omujeve, it might fall to a bullet.



We returned in the dark to a late dinner. While we were gone, the PH's had found some acquaintances. Pieter waited until after dinner to give me the dessert: he had made arrangements for me to hunt near Erindi for kudu. He was very excited, the area apparently held the reputation of outstanding quality.

In the morning, we quietly loaded up and drove some distance. We only had 3/4 of a day, so we took advantage of a waterhole. Again, what a photographer's dream that was! Of course, we saw all kinds of great animals.

Big ole gemsbok:



Hippo, and let me tell you we got a little nervous when he swam by at 10 yards. What are we going to do if he decides to beach it where we were sitting???



We saw baboons, warthog, impala, all kinds of creatures. The good thing for us was that they were all calm and never knew we were there. By early afternoon, we were getting a little nervous. Surely a kudu would come in during the heat of the day.

Oh he did, but not to the water. He snuck in behind us, and if not for a potty break, we never would have known. I soon found myself kneeling behind Pieter and Blank while they looked him over. He had good turns, but they waitied for a side view. When it presented, there was no hesitation.

"You must shoot this kudu-you must find a way to shoot him now", Pieter said, and in a really excited manner. We were in thicket, and he was across a flat, also in thicket. All I could do was sit down and hope.

Someone was watching out for me, because right in front of me was the only small opening in the brush, and the bull was centered in it. I fired and we heard a report, but it sounded odd. The bull never so much as flinched. Thinking I missed, and remembering that the rifle had begun to shoot high, I held a bit lower and fired again. Same odd report as if the bullet was hitting something in between us and them, and I watched in dismay as the bull turned to run.

We sprinted after him, leaving Blank to let us know if we were on the right track. We got to where he stood, and saw no blood, no anything. Pieter sprinted up the hill and me after him as best I could, but it wasn't ten steps before he was yelling in Afrikaans.

I hit that bull both times. He was dead on his feet but wouldn't believe it. And he was every bit of anyone's kudu bull, let alone a first kudu bull!







We whooped it up, I'm not afraid to admit. What a grand old bull this was.

Now all we had to do was wait for help, as the truck had left us for the day. They arrived in short order, and we really had an interesting time trying to lift him into the bakkie. Between trying to get the horns under the rack, to using a tire to get him just a bit closer to the bed, it took every bit of all of us to get him loaded.

I was so excited, the rest of the day was a blur. How lucky was I to have people that know people that wish to make a hunter's dreams come true!

Wonderful!

What a wonderful safari. Congratulations and thank you for a great hunt report!