12 March 2012, 03:56
Aaron NeilsonNamibia - "Own Use" Hippo/Buffalo Hunts 2013
Outfitter: Van Heerden Safaris - Hentie Van Heerden
Agent: Global Hunting Resources
Location: Caprivi - Namibia (Dzoti)
Species: O/U Hippo/Buffalo
Dates: Best, March 25 - April 30, 2013
I have TWO - O/U Buffalo & O/U Hippo Hunts available for 2013. Below is an example itinerary. FYI - I have also included an explanation of an "Own Use" O/U hunt. This is an excellent chance to get a hippo on land, and a great chance to hunt the caprivi at a very reasonable price.
Caprivi Hunt Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Windhoek Int. Airport & Transfer (45 minutes) to hotel in Windhoek, Namibia.
Day 2: Early morning transfer to Eros Airport (10 minutes drive from hotel) in Windhoek . Flight to Katima (3 hours with stopover in Rundu). Transfer (1 1/2 hours) to hunting camp by vehicle in the Caprivi. Lunch in camp, sighting in the rifle.
Day 3 - 9: Hunt in Caprivi - 7 Hunting days for O/U Buffalo & O/U Hippo and limited plains game.
Day 10: Lunch in camp. Transfer to the Katima Airport. Flight back to Windhoek Eros Airport. Arrival in the late afternoon. Overnight in Windhoek.
Day 11: Departure from Windhoek - International flight home.
Arrival day in Namibia: Pick-up from International Airport > Transfer to Hotel, Hotel accommodation and transfer the next morning to Eros Airport - +/- USD 150.00 (we will gladly book this on your behalf). Arrival and departure = +/- USD 300.00 / person
Non-Trophy Buff/Hippo Hunt - 1x1 guided
2 days (arr & dep) + 7 hunting days = $5,425.00 + Buffalo kill fee $3,000.00 + Hippo kill fee $1,900.00 = Hunt Total $10,325.00 per hunter
Plains game trophy animals will be charged as per list below.
Grand Total: $10,625.00 per hunter
Price Excludes:
Plains game hunted
Air Namibia's scheduled flight to Katima
Meals & drinks at the hotel in Windhoek
Tips to staff
Air Namibia scheduled flights: from Eros Airport in Windhoek to Mpacha Airport in Katima Mulilo (approx. $450.00, return trip). Flights depart from Windhoek in the morning and return from Katima in the afternoon. Currently flights are on Mondays - Sundays except Saturdays. The price of this flight might be drastically reduced when booked in connection with an Air Namibia flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Windhoek, well in advance. The accommodation in Windhoek on arrival and departure day is highly recommended as Air Namibia changes the Katima flights' schedule very often and the flight is regularly not on time.
Best Hunting Time/Available Dates:
March 25 - April 30, 2013
Additional trophy fees:
Kudu USD 1,450.00
Burchell's Zebra USD 1,250.00
Common Impala USD 700.00
Grey Duiker USD 500.00
Warthog USD 500.00
Chacma Baboon USD 150.00
Jackal USD 150.00
Spotted Hyena USD 1,150.00
Info on the Own Use (O/U) or Traditional Authority (T/A) elephant, buffalo & hippo hunts:
O/U or T/A animals officially means that the animal can be hunted by the conservancy for the meat value only. As we do not want the members of the conservancy to run around and just shoot anything, we have bought the quota from them. This way the conservancy generates some money as well from such animals (idea of paying for these animals came from WWF). Usually these hunts take place around conservancy meetings or traditional authorities' festivals. As the O/U & T/A quota in Dzoti is quite big, we also do the hunts in the time the animals do a lot of damage to the crop fields to satisfy the community.
The animals are hunted legally on an own use hunting permit authorized by nature conservation. Nothing can be exported. It is an opportunity for hunters, to hunt big game, or for big game hunters that want to hunt these animals for the hunting experience.
There is no difference between O/U and T/A, that concerns the client. It is only political details between the ministry of environment and the conservancy. The conservancy informs us if we have to deliver meat to the community, or if the meat has to go to the traditional palace (a grass hut like all others....)
Thus, we always refer to these animals as O/U animals:
Priority to find/hunt O/U buffalo BULLS (not cows!):
1. OLD bulls
2. Broken horn(s) (which are very few around)
3. Horns under 38"
Out of 18 buffalo hunts only ONE hunt took longer than 4 hunting days! This information is only to state that there is always buffalo around in the area.
Priority to find/hunt O/U Hippo:
1. Mature bull on land
2. Younger bull on land/water (we have shot a couple in 2 - 3 feet of water)
Thank you,
13 March 2012, 00:57
SchauckisGood thing you explained the term O/U lest someone gets the impression one can conduct the hunt but with an O/U DR.

- Lars/Finland
13 March 2012, 01:34
BiebsNamibia's "Own Use" program is a great concept. It provides hunters the opportunity to hunt animals they may not otherwise be able to afford, creates meat rations for the local villages, and serves as a culling method injured, deformed, and non-trophy representatives of the species.
13 March 2012, 06:48
Aaron NeilsonJust FYI - One hold is SOLD! One still remaining.
13 March 2012, 16:49
Aaron NeilsonBoth Hunts have been SOLD!!
Thank you,
13 March 2012, 17:56
LabmanDo you have any of the O/U or T/A hunts for bull elephants?
13 March 2012, 21:47
Eland SlayerGreat concept!! I will definitely be looking into these in the future....
I desperately want to hunt the Caprivi at some point.