Table of contents for Huntinamibia 2022/2023 in Huntinamibia

Some of my very first memories are of seeing a bright white flower as it glowed in the early morning light from its perch on a trumpet-thorn bush. Or of the feel of a shepherd tree’s bark under my fingers. The most visceral memory is probably the ice-cold sting of the early morning air biting your cheeks on the back of the ancient Cruiser bakkie as it dips and weaves along the two-track path through acacia bushland. Many of you, many Namibians, know that sting well. The cold so invigorating that it ignites a fire inside. For it is the best kind of wake-up call. Better even than the dramatic hues of red and gold that accompany the sun rising to the east. The one that ensures you that you…

We love to hunt. Hunting is part of our upbringing and deeply entrenched into our value system. This is simply who we are as dedicated conservationists. Hunting matters to us, because we are passionate about it and it gives us a sense of belonging in the circle of life. Members of NAPHA are the true ambassadors who do care for the wildlife and their environment, irrespective of whether we will put a financial value to it or not. Statistical data by a leading research company in Namibia found that 3% of tourist arrivals are indeed conservation hunters. Although they make up only a fraction of the entire market, they account for close to 20% of all the tourism revenue. Namibia’s tourism sector has the ability to provide an unparalleled nature…

Carl had booked a desert hunt in the Tsiseb Conservancy. High on his agenda was a gemsbok – the ‘warrior of solitude’. Gemsbok are notorious for their toughness and are known to absorb a lot of lead if the hunter’s first bullet is not placed well. This, Carl experienced firsthand. On the seventh day of an eight-day hunt we were making headway up a hill, where the rock formations resembled the scales on the back of a large dragon. We had seen several gemsbok in the preceding days, but they were either cows or groups of young animals. In these days, with hard work and a bit of luck thrown in, Carl had managed to bag a Hartmann´s zebra and an old, decent-sized springbok ram. But since then we have…

PAUL VAN SCHALKWYK On a recent visit to the northeast, particularly the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, I was exposed to the tangible impact that Namibia’s Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) has on communities. Nyae Nyae is one of 86 conservancies nationwide that empowers rural people, improves their livelihoods and conserves wildlife and the environment. The San people who reside in Nyae Nyae are a remarkable example of the native skills and knowledge of the bushveld that contribute to CBNRM’s roaring success. They know their land better than anyone, which is why it is pointless for outsiders, particularly people from industrial urbanised societies, to tell us how to conserve our corner of Africa. The creation of communal conservancy hunting concessions has assisted in making Namibia one of the most desired hunting…

I recently saw a post on social media by a well-known hunter named Brad Christian, where he recounted one of his favourite childhood memories – swimming with his horse on his family property – and described it as something in his life that made him feel “fully alive and fully present”. He then asked the question, “What is a moment from your past when time stood still and you felt pure joy?” Although I usually scroll past posts that ask people to share their stories in the comments, I found myself deeply intrigued by this question. I sat there in my chair, looking out the window, trying to think of a moment during my childhood that fits this description. After a couple of minutes, I realised I could not think…

You see, my father did not hunt only for the pursuit of wildlife or to pit himself against their territory. He hunted because he had no reason not to go. In other words, he had an open mind. And I found that he was repaired and restored by the experiences; the healing effect of such a wild adventure seemed eternal. “The secret to life, I learnt it there,” he said once. “Which was…?” I wanted to know. My father sat for a long time before shaking his head and looking at me amused. Then he replied: “Danene, you already know the answer.” Like my dad, I started hunting because I had no reason not to. I immersed myself with literature and people who vividly retold beautiful stories on the beauty…

Wynand & Claudia du Plessis We spent the first day scouting for lion tracks, and securing bait. For this we managed to bag a springbok and a Hartmann’s zebra. While going about our business we located the tracks of two separate prides of lion – the first consisting of one male and six females, and the second group of one male and two females. We also noted a few solitary leopard tracks as well as numerous hyaena spoor, which seemed to cover every road we travelled on. Predators were in abundance, which I found surprising, considering that other game (their food source) was so sparsely available. We put up bait in two separate valleys and kept the rest of the meat for the next day, as we were planning to…

I am hunting on Farm Saamgewaagd, Peet Vermaak’s farm in the far east of the Otjozondjupa Region. The terrain is flat and thickly wooded, mainly bush at shoulder height, with here and there a bigger tree in between: camel thorn or sweet-thorn. The hunting area consists of so-called “dunes” and “streets”, although the “dunes” are not perceivably higher than the “streets”, but they are thick sand with a different type of vegetation, mostly apple-leaf trees. The “streets” consist of lime soil, with patches of ghabba bush, blackthorn bush and raisin bush. All of them are difficult to move through and they make it impossible to see further than a distance of thirty metres or so. Here and there you will spot the green sprouts of the notorious poison leaf, a…

JOFIE LAMPRECHT The past two years have been challenging for our country in general and for the hunting industry in particular. Namibia has experienced severe drought over the past few years, leading to incredible losses among our precious game and a reduction in their numbers. These losses affected quota allocation for sustainable hunting. COVID struck in March 2020, leading to travel restrictions which added to the predicament. Not only did we lose much on personal levels, but our tourism sector suffered incredibly, with recent statistics indicating a decline of 89.4% in 2020 tourism arrivals compared to 2019. However, these challenges present us with an opportunity to look back with a fair measure of pride in our achievements over the course of the year. We should thus endeavour to keep track…

I practise conservation hunting because I believe it is the best way to ensure the future of wildlife for generations to come and, as we all know, hunting animals has a much smaller carbon footprint than domestic livestock or photo safaris. Sustainable hunting will only have a place in our world while there is a value to the animals. As they say 'the proof is in the pudding' and one only needs to look at the numbers of wildlife in Namibia today versus 30 years ago to find that proof. - Hannes du Plessis Beyond the personal challenge and passion, hunting is the most natural way of land use in Namibia, to the benefit of many people who depend on it. The real wilderness is threatened by human growth and…

GERHARD THIRION Basically the debate is about how we are supposed to protect our wildlife from destruction in the face of the relentless encroachment of mankind. And that is where the first problem comes in – all of those screaming to protect OUR wildlife actually mean certain animals – the big ones and the furry ones. They have the flagship species in mind: Elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, gorilla, giraffe, and zebra – the animals commonly associated with the general picture of “Africa”. Very few people are concerned about the bontebok or the grey rhebok, or even know what they are. No-one really cares to mention the small, the ugly and the less cuddly ones which just as much form part of wildlife. They are all catalysts in the natural chain…

The vast gravel plains of Namibia's western desert fringes are strewn with large granite boulders etched against a backdrop of mountain ranges and changing colours as the day waxes and wanes. Ephemeral rivers that have cut through rolling hills for millions of years feed springs that still yield water, sometimes for the duration of regular droughts. These green oases, maintained by fog generated by the Atlantic Ocean and intermittent rainfall, form the nuclei of the astonishingly abundant life flourishing in this arid land. All flora and fauna that have subsisted in this barren desert for millions of years have adapted to not only survive but also to thrive here. Natural selection, bizarre adaptations and evolution are but some factors that make life possible in this extraordinary region. Being fortunate to…

We spotted the very old gemsbok bull on the opposite slope a little less than an hour ago. Now it is already late in the morning and the valiant bull is comfortably standing under a large worm-cure albizia tree which gives him highly valued shade. Keeping our heads down, Roland and I have sneaked forward to a distance of some 600 metres, but now it seems impossible to remain unnoticed and close the gap to shooting distance. The old bull has chosen a perfect shade spot from which he can survey the entire area. Every now and then he turns his head and scents, first in our direction, then to the other side to make sure that no foe is in the vicinity. Through the binoculars he looks absolutely majestic…

As I lay in the open bungalow, listening to the sounds of the night; the ‘laughing’ of the zebra grazing on the fresh green, the occasional lonely howl of the hyena and the ever-present, continuous alarm-like call of the Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, I slowly fall into a lucid waking dream, reflecting on the events of past days. The hunting guests have left camp and I want to go for a last walk before I too leave for home. We make our way on foot in this dust and smoke laden atmosphere, past the “boat tree” where the hunting starts in times of a flooding river. Now the river and floodplains are dry and we can quickly cover the burnt reed fields. About halfway to the ponds in the side arm of…

In southern Africa this is no different, and in countries like Namibia we have seen tremendous success in applying this value addition to conservation practices. Our CBNRM (community-based natural resource management) programme is one very good example of how nature and wildlife conservation can thrive by placing value on natural resources so that those who are entrusted to protect it can benefit from the labours of their work. Another very important and easily measurable example of how conservation is made possible through a value-driven approach is hunting. And in Namibia, it is one of the most important factors that contribute to the economic viability and support of conservation of natural resources. I sat down with Frans Kamenye, the fund manager of the Game Products Trust Fund of Namibia to discuss…

The relevance of trophy hunting in present times becomes more and more a point of discussion amongst different role players, which include the anti-hunting lobby, non-governmental organisations, governments and the hunting industry itself. Major concern is voiced among some hunting organisations that uncontrolled trophy hunting affects the sustainability of game populations. A point of contention is that in some cases overriding profit motives from operators fuel the aspirations of certain hunters who demand record-book trophies for all species on a considerable list to be hunted during a short hunting trip. Such an objective is often achieved by relegating animals that are still productive and whose genetic makeup is essential to sustain a high-quality species population to the skinning shed. Spearheaded by well-known Namibian professional hunter, Kai-Uwe Denker, a working group…

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- Namibia's conservation success story The sustainable use of wildlife, especially trophy hunting, has played a critical role in the development of communal conservancies. Prior to 1998, there were only four hunting concessions operating on Namibia’s communal lands, with none of these concessions providing meaningful engagement with or benefits to resident communities. Today there are 46 trophy-hunting concessions operating on communal lands, with the conservancies being empowered as both the benefactor and custodian of these hunting concessions. Here is where NAPHA members hunt: 1 - Kwandu - J. Traut 2 - Orupembe - Anton Esterheizen 3 - Mayuni - J. Traut 4 - ≠Khoadi-//Hoas - Anton Esterheizen 5 - /Audi - Jaco Oosthuizen 6 - Uukolonkadhi Ruacana - L. van Zyl 7 - Sesfontein - L. J. van Vuuren 8…

Despite the alert trackers and despite my experienced PH, we could not find a suitable antelope. Most likely owing to the fact that the predator population in this area was comparatively dense. During our stalk through the thick bush in the late morning, sheer luck presented us with a gemsbok cow, but leading a calf. She sensed us before we saw her and broke away into cover with her calf. We could not follow in a straight line, because the thick and thorny hell was simply impenetrable. Instead, we continued our stalk on an elephant track. All of a sudden we heard the wailing of an antelope. Immediately my hunting guide commanded: “Quick, we have to get there. Hurry!” On the double we rushed into the direction from where we…

KAI-UWE DENKER My father had been on a springbok hunt and his enthusiastic account of that adventure stayed with me over the years. Now, more than a decade later, it was my turn for a similar adventure. My father accompanied me for a week in the Namibian bush, during which we stayed on the farm Weideland. Our initial game drive on my first morning in Africa convinced me that my African adventure was taking place in a game-rich paradise. What made the biggest impression during the drive was the vast hunting area of 22 000 hectares, which had no internal fences or barriers to limit game movement. We set out in our truck at seven in the morning to look for hartebeest and springbok. The owner of the farm, Claus…

GERHARD THIRION “This was the hardest hunt of my life. They say you hunt elephant with your feet, buffalo with guts, leopard with your brain, but the most important of all is experience.” I had no prior experience of rhino hunting. So I just had to use the combined experience that I have gained over all the years of stalking and outwitting trophy animals. This hunt was not straightforward at all. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) identified three potential males in two different areas. To make sure that we’d take the right animal two rangers of the Ministry had to accompany the hunter, myself and two trackers. And on top of that, a CNN photographer and journalist joined the hunting party to document the adventure. Not the ideal…

The farm was only 18 km away but Hagen reckoned that it would take an hour to get there. The track meandered through dry riverbeds and steep rugged mountains with enormous granite boulders looming large on both sides of the long valley. It was hard to imagine driving here with anything other than the indestructible Brit. Any European off-road fan would probably have broken out in cold sweat on this trip. The farm couldn’t have been named more aptly than Schlucht. Though speaking of a farm may be slightly misleading, because this “south-western longitudinal valley of the Erongo Mountains” is neither used for agricultural purposes nor developed in any way. The farm is part of a large private nature reserve. When I noted that unexpected visitors probably don’t show up…

LE ROUX VAN SCHALKWYK “These tracks are probably from before sunrise or late last night”, I say to Jürgen. The excitement is tangible and we pack our kit and hide the vehicle some distance from the road in dense shrub. Tracks cross the road southward and back across the road to the north, then west. Tracks of a herd mingle with the bull's spoor. Finally the jigsaw puzzle is solved and off we go in search of the roan bull. As the sun travels to the zenith, its glare makes tracking ever more difficult. The two San trackers Robert and !Tuxa and my tracker Elias follow the spoor with perseverance for hours on end. The bull is in walking mode and it dawns on us that he will not stop…

GERHARD THIRION Hartmann’s mountain zebra, one of Namibia’s endemic species, remains one of the most sought-after trophies and exciting hunts that Namibia can offer. This is especially true in the far northwest of the country where they occur naturally and can still roam free, traversing mountain ranges and desert plains without the hindrance of fences. Hunting Hartmann’s mountain zebra on foot in one of the communal conservancies of north-western Namibia is demanding, a great challenge and truly exciting. This we experienced first hand while on a hunting trip in the Puros Conservancy. Our adventure started at Wêreldsend, the IRDNC base camp 60 km east of Torra Bay, a well-known fishing spot on the Skeleton Coast. We left Wêreldsend on a chilly morning in early June for the six-hour drive to…

Most Active NAPHA Member – Hunters Support Education Most Medals Sold Group: 1. Otjiruze Safaris CC 2. Aru Game Lodges 3. Onduno Hunting Safaris Most Medals Sold Individual: 1. Dirk de Bod 2. Manfred Egerer 3. Peter Clausen Hunting Assistant 2021 – Sagarias Rooinasie Camp Attendant 2021 – Mathews Mushakwa Conservationist of the Year 2021 – MEFT K9 Anti Poaching Unit…