More than easy roads: Stirring the adventurous hunter
Unrivaled precision and reliability for the ultimate big game hunting experience
www.krieghoff.de/classic
CONTENTS
RUN TOWARDS THE ROAR - 14
WILDERNESS HUNTING ADVENTURE - 28 SCARS & STARS - 58 A MILLION LITTLE THINGS - 70
www.huntnamibia.com.na
PUBLISHER
Venture Publications
PO Box 21593, Windhoek, Namibia www.huntnamibia.com.na www.thisisnamibia.com
PUBLISHING EDITORS
Elzanne McCulloch elzanne@venture.com.na
Assisted by Hagen Denker hagen@erongosafaris.com
John Meinert Printers (Pty) Ltd Read
PRODUCTION
Liza Lottering liza@venture.com.na
LAYOUT & DESIGN
Richmond Ackah Jnr. design@venture.com.na
ADMINISTRATION
Bonn Nortje bonn@venture.com.na
PRINTING
Huntinamibia is published annually by Venture Media in collaboration with the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) and with the support of the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Our Poetry
At its heart, Huntinamibia exists for one reason – to share why hunting matters. Not only in Namibia or our professional circles, but with the world beyond. Our mission is to remind others, and sometimes ourselves, that hunting is far more than a pursuit. It is a relationship with nature, a contribution to conservation, and a deeply human story of connection, challenge, and respect.
I was reminded of President Axel Cramer’s words at last year’s NAPHA AGM – “our poetry.” It is a phrase that perfectly captures what we try to do within these pages. The poetry of hunting is not written in rhyme or verse, but in memory: the early-morning chill, the call of a dove, the quiet focus before a shot, the gratitude that follows. Memories, after all, are the best trophies. And it is those stories – honest, unembellished, and full of heart – that Huntinamibia seeks to preserve and share.
I would like to encourage every NAPHA member and every hunter to take part in this storytelling. You do not need to be a writer to have a story worth telling. Some of the finest stories begin over coffee on the stoep, or around a braai after a long day in the veld. It is our collective responsibility – as hunters, conservationists and lovers of nature – to be the storytellers and advocates for why we are here. Whether speaking to a guest in camp or to a global audience online, each of us carries the duty to represent our way of life with honesty, respect and conviction. By sharing
our experiences responsibly, with determination and resilience, we ensure that the true story of ethical hunting and conservation continues to be heard – and understood.
That is why Huntinamibia exists. To share purpose. To continue to advocate for why hunting matters. Our stories matter. They remind us to stay rooted in nature, to embrace the spirit of adventure, to speak with passion, to honour our history, and to remain true to ourselves.
I also extend heartfelt thanks to my co-editor, Hagen Denker, for his unwavering support and insight in bringing this magazine together. His perspective, grounded in both experience and integrity, continues to enrich this publication.
As we move forward, may we keep writing our poetry – not with pen and paper, but through the lives we lead, the values we uphold, and the wild places we protect.
Elzanne McCulloch Editor
ABOUT VENTURE MEDIA
Venture Media is the pioneer of Namibia tourism and conservation promotion. We are the leader in spreading extraordinary Namibian stories around the world. We distribute accurate, credible, up to date and regular information on paper, via social media, on the World Wide Web, and on mobile apps. We have reached hundreds of thousands over three decades. Be part of our community and let’s do it together.
T E L L , G R O W , S H A R E
Y O U R S T O R Y W I T H U S I N 2 0 2 1
We're dedicated to telling and sharing STORIES THAT MATTER across our various magazines and digital platforms. Join the journey and share your stories with audiences that understand and value why certain things matter.
Why ethical business, conservation, tourism, people and communities matter. How these elements interrelate and how we can bring about change, contribute to the world and support each other. Whether for an entire nation, an industry, a community, or even just an individual.
www.venture.com.na or email us at info@venture.com.na for a curated proposal.
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h o n entire natio an industry, a community, or even just an individual.
PROTECTING OUR HERITAGE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND SUSTAINABLE USE
Dear Friends and Fellow Conservationists,
It is my privilege to address you through the pages of Huntinamibia, a publication that continues to reflect the spirit of responsible stewardship that defines our nation. Namibia’s success story in conservation is not an accident; it is the result of deliberate policy, sound research, and the unwavering belief that our natural resources must benefit the people who live among them.
Our approach to sustainable use is firmly rooted in science. Every management decision, from setting quotas to determining problemanimal interventions, is informed by rigorous field research and long-term monitoring. These scientific foundations ensure that utilisation occurs within ecological limits, maintaining healthy wildlife populations and resilient ecosystems. Sustainable use is not exploitation; it is the responsible, measured participation of people within the natural cycles that support life itself.
Namibia’s conservation model has always recognised that true protection of wildlife cannot be achieved without the participation of those who share their landscapes with it. When communities see tangible benefits from conservation, they become its most powerful custodians. Through our communal conservancy system, revenues from regulated hunting, tourism, and other sustainable enterprises are reinvested into community projects, building schools, clinics, and water infrastructure, and providing jobs that reduce reliance on unsustainable practices. These are not theoretical achievements; they are lived realities in many of our rural areas where conservation and development now walk hand in hand.
At a time when global debates on wildlife management often overlook the African context, Namibia continues to demonstrate that sustainable use and biodiversity protection are not opposing ideas but complementary ones. Regulated hunting plays a critical role in
balancing wildlife populations, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and generating funding for anti-poaching and habitat restoration. Our adherence to international conventions such as CITES ensures transparency and accountability, while our Constitution guarantees that natural resources are managed for the benefit of both current and future generations.
This integrated approach safeguards not only our species but also our people. It upholds the principle that conservation must have a human face, one that reflects dignity, equity, and opportunity. Every time a conservancy invests its income back into its community, or a young Namibian earns a livelihood through conservation, we reaffirm the purpose of sustainable use: to transform natural wealth into human well-being.
As we look ahead, let us continue to draw strength from the knowledge and research that guide our policies, and from the partnerships that unite our nation’s conservation family, hunters, scientists, landowners, communities, and government alike. Together, we have built a system that others now look to for inspiration: a system where people and wildlife thrive side by side.
May this year’s hunting season remind us all that conservation is not merely about what we protect, but about how wisely we use what we are given. Through knowledge, integrity, and community, we can ensure that Namibia’s natural heritage remains a source of pride, prosperity, and purpose for generations to come.
Indileni N. Daniel, (MP) Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Republic of Namibia
As the world faces uncertainty, conflict and natural upheaval, Namibia remains a nation anchored in peace, stability and unity. Where many countries experience division, fear and economic instability, our nation stands firm. This is not something we take for granted. It is a blessing for which we remain grateful, and a responsibility we carry with purpose.
Our theme for this year, Namibia’s Blessing, Our Responsibility – Honouring Stability, Safeguarding our Future, reflects that understanding. Peace is a gift, but it is also a duty. We honour it by protecting our values, supporting responsible leadership and stewarding our natural heritage with integrity. As Isaiah 32:17 reminds us: “The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.”
This year, our nation reflected on the legacy of H.E. Dr Sam Nujoma, whose passing marked the end of an era and reminded us of the foundations upon which Namibia stands. We honour his life and his leadership with deep respect.
We also celebrate a new historic chapter as we welcome H.E. Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the first female President of Namibia. With her experience, including her tenure as Minister of Environment, Forestry
and Tourism, and her early demonstration of commitment to improving public service delivery, she induces confidence that our country will continue on a path of unity and development.
Within our hunting community the past decade has brought its lessons and its growth. There have been moments of pride, moments of challenge, laughter, setbacks, progress and significant milestones. Yet, through all the seasons one truth has remained constant: the strength of NAPHA lies in its members. Our ability to serve depends on collective engagement, professionalism and unity. Ethical and sustainable hunting is at the heart of what we do, and we must lead by example. We carry a responsibility not only to our wildlife and landscapes, but also to one another, and to the reputation of Namibia as a responsible conservation-hunting nation.
We are blessed with some of the most remarkable natural landscapes on earth. This privilege demands care, discipline and humility. Our continued success depends on mutual respect, a shared commitment to high standards and a strong sense of community where every member has a place and a voice.
As I conclude this chapter of service, I do so with gratitude for the opportunity to have walked alongside this association and its members over the past ten years. It has been a meaningful journey, shaped by shared
purpose, challenges overcome together and the steady commitment of our community. As I hand over the reins, I do so with confidence in the strength of NAPHA and trust in the continued unity and professionalism of our hunting fraternity.
May we continue to support one another, uphold ethical and sustainable hunting, and safeguard the values and natural heritage that make Namibia unique.
Lastly, I would like to bless you with an extract of a hunter’s prayer which a good friend of mine from the Bavarian Alps has composed:
We give thanks for our families, who support and strengthen us in our endeavours, who accompany us on our paths and fuel our fire. They are part of our actions and the reason for our ventures for in their love and trust we find meaning, stability and a home.
Great Creator, preserve our humility before creatures and people, guide us with your inexhaustible wisdom, bless our craft,
so that we may remain hunters who hunt according to the rules of the hunt. God bless, and Waidmannsheil
Axel Cramer NAPHA President
HUNTING CONCESSIONS
IN CONSERVANCIES HELD BY NAPHA MEMBERS
- 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.
Botswan a
1 - Nyae Nyae - Japsie Blaauw
2 - Torra - Karl Stumfe
3 - Wuparo - Dawid Muller
4 - Mayuni - Jamy Traut
5 - Mashi - Come Kruger
6 - Otjimboyo - Nicolaas Nolte
7 - Orupembe - Karl Stumpfe
8 - Okangundumba - Jacobus van der Merwe
9 - Anabeb - Mark Misner
10 - Sesfontein - Elwyk van Vuuren
11 - Sanitatas - Karl Stumpfe
12 - Ozondundu - Mark Misner
13 - #Gaingu - Nicolas Nolte
14 - Muduva Nyanga - Drikus Swanepoel
15 - King Nehale - Hentie van Heerden
16 - George Mukoya - Drikus Swanepoel
17 - Balyerwa - Karl Stumpfe
18 - Ohungu - Nicolaas Nolte
19 - Sobbe - Karl Stumpfe
20 - Otjambangu - Karl Stumpfe
21 - Eiseb - Jacobus Wasserfall
22 - Dzoti - Hentie van Heerden
23 - Omuramba Ua Mbinda - Jacobus Wasserfall
24 - Bamunu - Gerrit Utz
25 - Otjombinde - Jacobus Wasserfall
26 - Otjikondavirongo - Karl Stumpfe
27 - Joseph Mbambagandu - Gerrit Utz
28 - Okondjombo - Karl Stumpfe
29 - Kyarmacan Association - Corne Kruger
30 - Kyarmacan Association - Emile Kichner
31 - Waterberg Plateau Park - Jamy Traut
32 - Mangetti National Park - Corne Kruger
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Status of different wildlife species in Namibia
Common
Aardvark Orycteropus afer Indigenous Near Threatened Widespread across Namibia except extreme desert NO
Aardwolf Proteles cristata
Southern African nearendemic Secure Across Namibia except extreme west NO
African Bush Elephant Loxodonta africana Indigenous Vulnerable (CITES I) Historically occurred across all Namibia except Namib YES
African Savanna Buffalo Loxodonta africana Indigenous Secure Historically widespread except for far west and southern Kalahari YES
African Wild Dog Canis pictus Indigenous Endangered Historically occurred across all Namibia except extreme west NO
Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis Southern African endemic Secure Widespread across Namibia NO
Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis Indigenous Vulnerable (CITES I) Historically across Namibia except for extreme west YES
Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou Exotic Secure Occurred naturally only in South Africa’s grassland Highveld & Karoo YES
Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas Southern African near endemic Secure Widespread across Namibia YES
Black-faced Impala Aepyceros melampus petersi Namibian near-endemic Vulnerable Northwest and southwards to northern central Namibia YES
Black-footed Cat Felis nigripes Southern African endemic Vulnerable (CITES I) Across Namibia except far west, extreme north and northeast NO
Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi Exotic Secure Occurred naturally only in South Africa’s grassland Highveld & Karoo YES
Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Indigenous Secure Historically widespread, except in the west & extreme south YES
Bontebok Damaliscus pygargus pygargus Exotic Vulnerable (CITES I) Occurred naturally only in the Western Cape coastal fynbos, RSA YES
Brown Hyena Hyaena brunnea Southern African endemic Near Threatened Across all Namibia YES
Bush Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei Peripheral indigenous Secure Extreme NW in Kunene River valley YES
Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus Indigenous Secure (CITES II) Common throughout Namibia YES
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus Indigenous Vulnerable (CITES I) Widespread across Namibia except far west desert YES
Common / Grey Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Indigenous Secure Throughout Namibia except in far west YES
Common Eland Taurotragus oryx Indigenous Secure Throughout Namibia except in far west YES Common Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Indigenous Vulnerable (CITES II) Historically occurred in all perennial river systems in Namibia YES
Common Impala Aepyceros melampus Indigenous Secure Historically across central-eastern and northeastern Namibia YES
Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus Indigenous Secure Widespread across Namibia except for far west and south YES
Desert / Cape Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus Southern African endemic Extinct Extreme southern Namibia – Orange and Fish River valleys NO
Giraffe (Angolan Giraffe) Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis Indigenous Vulnerable Historically widespread across all Namibia except far west YES
Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros Indigenous Secure Widespread across Namibia except for extreme west YES Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra Equus zebra hartmannae Namibian endemic Vulnerable (CITES II) Western escarpment and central plateau (mountainous rocky terrain) YES
Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus Indigenous Secure Hilly, rocky & mountainous areas of southern, central and northern Namibia YES
Common name Scientific name Distribution status
Kaokoveld Rock
Hyrax
Conservation IUCN & CITES
Notes on distribution
Procavia welwitschi Namibian near endemic Secure Kunene region of Namibia and SW Angola YES
Leopard Panthera pardus
Lion Panthera leo
Indigenous Near Threatened (CITES I)
Indigenous Vulnerable (CITES II)
Nyala Tragelaphus angasi Exotic
Widespread across Namibia except extreme desert YES
Historically occurred across all Namibia YES
Secure Occurred naturally in northern KwaZulu-Natal and Kruger NP Lowveld YES
Oribi Ourebia ourebi Peripheral indigenous Secure Eastern Zambezi Region YES
Plains / Burchell’s Zebra Equus quagga burchellii
Plains / Chapman’s
Southern African endemic Near Threatened Across Namibia except for extreme west and northeast YES
Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus Indigenous Secure (CITES II) Confined to northeast and Orange River valley NO
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Indigenous Secure River systems in northeast Namibia YES
White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum Southern African near endemic Near Threatened (CITES I) Historic range across Namibia above the 250 mm rainfall isohyet YES
DEFINITIONS
Indigenous – where the species occurs naturally without any human intervention. This refers to the species’ actual distribution, not the countries where it occurs. For example, Waterbuck and Lechwe are indigenous to the wetland systems of NE Namibia – they are not indigenous to the whole of Namibia. Similarly, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra are indigenous to the western escarpment and central plateau of Namibia, but not to the Kalahari.
Endemic – where an indigenous species has a naturally restricted range. Thus, a Namibian endemic means that the species occurs naturally only in Namibia. We therefore have a special responsibility for its conservation. A Southern African endemic means that the natural global distribution of a species is confined to south of the Kunene and Zambezi rivers.
Near-endemic – where about 80% of the natural range of a species is
confined to the specified area. For example, the Damara Dik-dik is a nearendemic to Namibia, with just a small part of its range extending into southwest Angola.
Exotic – where a species originates from another part of the world and has never occurred naturally in Namibia, e.g. Nyala, Blesbok, Black Wildebeest.
Peripheral – where a species just enters the very edge of Namibia, with most of its distribution occurring elsewhere, e.g. Puku, with a tiny population on the Chobe floodplains but most of its population in Zambia.
Conservation Status – IUCN global conservation assessment (see www.iucnredlist.org - not the Namibian status); and the CITES Appendix status.
Make a dif ference today. Order your medals and join the force for positive change in the wor ld of hunting and education!
CHAMPION CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION ONE NAPHA MEDAL AT A TIME!
A por tion of NAPHA meda l sa les funds the Hunter s Suppor t Educa tion Na ture Awareness Project and suppor ts the associa tion's ef for ts in promoting ethica l and sustaina ble hunting. NAPHA meda ls symbolize reco gnition and honor for hunter s who exhibit exceptiona l skills and ethica l practices.
GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS
The Gold (N$925), Silver (N$825) and Bronze (N$775) medals, together with the appropriate certificate, are obtainable for prime and past prime trophies that qualify
CONSERVATION MEDAL
Trophies that do not qualify for the other medals due to trophies worn down by old age, deformities, or for species such as Zebra , Baboon etc qualify for the Conservation Medal (N$775)
Age-Re lated Trophy Measurement
A fair, responsib le and science-based way to reco gnise true hunting achievement:
• Rewards ma ture, post-breeding anima ls
• Suppor ts hea lthy wildlife popula tions
• Encoura ges ethica l, selective hunting
• Protects our legacy for future genera tions
GAME FIELDS MEDAL
The Game Fields Medal (N$975) rewards the hunting client for harvesting a exceptionally large trophy of past prime status, thereby ensuring superior genetics for future generations
Run towards the Roar
Danene van der Westhuyzen
The hum of the little plane went right into my bones. Every vibration felt magnified, every bump in the sky another reminder of how fragile we humans really are when the ground disappears beneath our feet. My husband sat at the controls, calm and steady, as he always is in the air, on the hunt, and in life.
I, on the other hand, gripped the seat so tightly my nails dug into the fabric.
Breathe, Danene. Just breathe.
Flying is my private battlefield. Each flight unleashes a storm of panic in me ‒ the spinning what-ifs, the pounding heart, the raw knowledge of just how unforgiving gravity can be. And yet here I was, forcing myself into that cockpit, because beyond the flight lay a hunt I dreaded but knew I had to face: a tuskless elephant cow.
I pressed my forehead against the cool Perspex window and looked down. The African bush stretched endlessly, a mosaic of thornveld and sandy veins, harsh and beautiful, unforgiving and alive.
Tuskless elephants are not just any elephants. They are legends, whispered about in camps and around fires. Unpredictable. Aggressive. Quick to charge. I had hunted dangerous game before, but this was different. This was Zimbabwe, and I was not licensed to guide here. For once, I was not the professional. I was a guest, reliant entirely on the PH, Keith, leading us. For someone used to carrying her own authority ‒ and my own rifle ‒ the vulnerability was crushing.
Hunting is at once raw and exalted, both primal and profound. It draws us back into the rhythm of the natural order, where life and death are not abstractions but realities woven into every step, every breath. Out there, stripped of distraction, we move closer to animalistic ‒alert, vulnerable, alive. "
THE WEIGHT OF FEAR
There is a particular kind of fear that takes hold when your mind and body refuse to agree.
Every second in that seat was an act of war with myself.
Rationally, I knew the plane was safe. Rationally, I knew the PH had the skill, the team, and the experience. Rationally, I knew the risks were calculated, that we were prepared. But fear doesn’t listen to reason.
Fear lodges in the body. It clamps your chest. It steals your breath. It whispers the same poisonous words again and again: You can’t. You shouldn’t. You won’t survive this.
And yet, beneath the fear, something deeper stirred. A recognition that this was not about planes or elephants at all. This was about life itself ‒about choosing whether to keep shrinking from the things that terrify me or to move towards them and claim the clarity waiting on the other side.
Another voice rose up inside me ‒ one I had learnt to listen for in moments like this: Run towards the roar.
AFRICA’S DEMANDS
We landed on a strip of earth that looked more like a suggestion than a runway. Dust billowed, and the air hit me like an oven door opening ‒thick, dry, merciless.
Some things in this world defy description, where language falters against the weight of experience and the complexity of emotion. Africa offers little middle ground. Its landscapes demand huge acceptance, to the extent that one would lose oneself, willingly and at times unwillingly. The vulnerability of it all steers us toward either elation or defeat. A love-hate relationship, which you either can’t endure, or the charms sink deep into your bones, never to leave.
And so, throat parched from dry air, I stepped into the bush.
Hunting is at once raw and exalted, both primal and profound. It draws us back into the rhythm of the natural order, where life and death are not abstractions but realities woven into every step, every breath. Out there, stripped of distraction, we move closer to animalistic ‒ alert, vulnerable, alive.
The true gift of hunting is not only in the taking of game, but in the way it sharpens our vision for what lies beyond the obvious. It teaches us to see landscapes not merely as scenery but as stories waiting to unfold ‒ shaped by hidden tracks, fleeting signs, and the promise of unexpected encounters.
NAKED WITHOUT A GUN
I carried the client’s rifle, far heavier than mine, its strap biting into my shoulder until it burned. Each day we walked farther than I thought possible, the sun punishing us relentlessly. My mouth dried until my tongue felt like leather, every sip of water rationed, savoured, and never enough.
And then there were the flies. The tse-tse and mopane flies descended in persistent swarms, biting with needle stings, crawling into ears, eyes and nostrils. They seemed designed to break your spirit as much as your skin.
The veld became a crucible for body and mind. Every nerve screamed: Turn back. This is too much. You don’t even have your own rifle.
I felt naked without a gun of my own. Exposed. Stripped of the small thread of control I usually held. My survival was in the hands of another man, and my only choice was trust. That kind of dependence does not come easily. But in the bush, pride means nothing. You walk, you endure, you submit.
THE ENCOUNTER
We tracked through dust and thorns, over ridges so steep and rocky I never imagined an elephant could climb them. The ground crumbled underfoot, the thorns tore at my shins, and each step felt heavier than
RUN TOWARDS THE ROAR
the last. My legs turned to lead, my shoulders throbbed beneath the unforgiving weight of the sling, each step driving the burden deeper, as if the rifle meant to fuse with bone.
The tracks teased us again and again, drawing us on through shimmering heat until hope frayed thin. Time after time we came upon cows with dependent calves ‒ impossible. Other times the spoor ended at elephants with long ivory glistening in the sun, forcing us to circle back, to start again. Futility gnawed at me ‒ thirst rasped in my throat, sweat stung my eyes, the drone of tse-tse flies a merciless torment.
Once, a young bull burst from the mopane scrub, mock-charging with a trumpet that split the air. He pulled up short, dust flying, but my heart slammed to a dead stop.
It was on one of those endless days ‒ when the sun sank too slowly, dragging out our exhaustion, and the dwindling path back to the truck twisted through suffocating jess ‒ that it happened. A massive cow, calf pressed tight to her side, stepped out ahead of us.
In that instant, the world changed.
The air grew thick, almost liquid. The bush went silent, sound sucked away until I could hear only my pulse hammering in my ears. She loomed there ‒ massive, restless, her hide grey and cracked, eyes glinting with a hot, unsettling fire.
This is it. You have children. You have responsibilities. You can’t outrun her. You can’t outfight her.
I felt smaller than I had ever felt in my life. Stripped bare. No authority. No weapon of my own. Just raw exposure, the heavy borrowed rifle biting into my shoulder, and the steady silhouette of Keith beside me.
My life reduced to his judgment, his steadiness, his trigger finger.
Then the charge came.
The ground shook as if the earth itself recoiled from her fury. The air rushed forward, carrying her dust and musk, the guttural rumble of her rage. Keith’s roar cut through it, his voice hurled like a weapon at the oncoming mass. It rolled out thunderous and desperate, yet threaded with a strange tenderness ‒ almost a plea, almost a prayer.
But she did not slow. She did not fear. She did not listen.
My chest locked. My heart battered my ribs so violently I thought it might burst free. My legs twitched to run. Every instinct screamed: Turn. Flee. Survive.
Don’t miss. Dear God, don’t miss.
Ten paces. Dust boiling in the air. My husband at my side, calm as stone. Me, lungs burning, every muscle strung tight between fight and flight.
Fear had never been louder.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF GIFT
And yet in that moment of terror, something broke open inside me. It is impossible to describe fully what it is like to stand in that space between life and death. The air itself is thicker. Every sound sharper. Every thought distilled into a single truth: you are alive. Terrifyingly, magnificently alive.
And in that moment I understood something I had only half grasped before: fear was not my enemy. Fear was my teacher. It stripped me to the essential, burning away the trivial and leaving only the raw, undeniable gift of presence.
It sharpened my awareness and left me face-to-face with the truth: life is fragile, fleeting, sacred.
I did not conquer fear that day. I carried it. I stood with it. And because of that, I walked out of the bush alive, whole, and strangely renewed.
THE AFTERMATH
When it was over, when the dust settled and the elephant moved away, I found myself shaking ‒ not with weakness, but with release. A laughter bubbled in me, shocking and bright, as though my body had to spill the excess of adrenaline somehow. Keith and my husband looked at me with quiet nods and small smiles.
There is no thrill quite like the stillness before a moment. No reward quite like the effort it took to get there. In this wilderness, nothing is staged. Every story is earned. This is hunting the ARU way: ethical, intimate, unforgettable.
RUN TOWARDS THE ROAR
I came back elated ‒ not because I was fearless, but because I had leaned into fear with every fibre of me. I had trusted where I could not control. I had walked through exhaustion, thirst, swarms of flies, and the crushing weight of doubt, and still I had come out on the other side.
I am embarrassed by my fear, yes. Humbled by it. But I am also grateful. Because it reminds me of the stakes. It reminds me that hunting, like living, is not about control. It is about surrender. About stepping into the roar, again and again, and finding in the chaos a kind of order that only the heart can recognise.
Fear had not left me, but I had carried it ‒ and it had carried me.
WHY IT MATTERS
We live in a world that tells us safety is the ultimate goal. Stay home. Stay comfortable. Stay alive. But in the veld, comfort has no place. The sun burns. The thorns pierce. The elephant charges. And in those moments, you are reminded that the only thing worse than dying is not really living.
To live fully is to embrace the unknown. To accept that death awaits us all, but that life is a gift only if we dare to live it vulnerably, fiercely and with faith.
We explore the marvellous reality of life and the unapologetic chances that we are not meant to fear, but bravely embrace. One which serves a purpose of connection.
Running from the roar may feel good at that moment. It may give you the illusion of safety. But in truth, it robs you of the chance to grow, to feel alive, to honour the dreams planted deep inside you.
I am not fearless. I am afraid. Often. Afraid in the cockpit. Afraid in the veld. Afraid when the beast turns and eyes lock on mine. Afraid when I walk kilometre after kilometre in the blistering sun with my shoulder burning and flies biting until I bleed.
This is it. This is madness.
And yet, another voice always answers: Move forward anyway.
Perhaps you have felt it too. Standing at the edge of something vast and uncertain, you have heard the roar and longed to run. And if you dare to step forward ‒trembling, heart pounding, but unbroken ‒ you may discover, as I did, that fear is not the end of the road but the beginning.
Because you chose to run towards the roar.
Kudu
Kai-Uwe Denker
When Elzanne contacted me to request a contribution for this year’s Huntinamibia edition I was hesitant. First of all, the hunting season until then had not delivered something really noteworthy and moreover I have a feeling that after a quarter of a century of contributing to this publication, as not to become boring, it must come to an end. Therefore, I replied: "I don’t have something in mind at the moment. But I still have a last safari at the end of September. Should this hunt deliver something notable, I will contact you."
When I here thus once more put pen to paper to contribute a hunting story, I do so, to, for a last time, pay homage to the harsh wilderness of my country and an incomparably magnificent game animal. Because that last safari in September 2025 indeed delivered something noteworthy.
It was the second attempt of my German client, Patrick Stoll, to bag an old bull kudu. In 2023 Patrick already came for a kudu, but we were unable to find a suitable bull.
It perhaps may not be good for my business if I here frankly say that by no means every one of my 10-day kudu safaris ends in success.
But I do so defiantly and proudly. Defiantly, because there are enough hunters around who see a special challenge in this and proudly, because my heart is almost as much on the side of the kudu, as it is on the side of his pursuers.
But for this reason also, I feel somehow outdated if I relate that Henrik Lott for example, needed two attempts to bag his old bull for the Krieghoff Video "The Grey Ghost of the Mountain" and that the bull came to bag only on the 21st day of the hunt. However, we had pardoned a magnificent bull, which elsewhere probably would have been shot without a second thought, still on day 19 because we considered it not old enough.
Because I know that in many areas of Namibia kudus can be taken without much effort. But the overpopulation, caused by the opening of artificial waterholes and the disappearance of large predators like lion and wild dog, is the reason for the recurring kudu-rabies-disease in Namibia.
If such a secretive animal, in its entire being adapted to concealment, is seen often, there certainly is an overpopulation. If, however, kudus are rarely seen, but their tracks are found regularly, there is a healthy population.
Then the kudu becomes the mystical, shadowy game animal that in literature is celebrated as "the Grey Ghost".
When Patrick, this time accompanied by his girlfriend Mona, and I thus in September 2025 set out on our second attempt for a greater kudu, the Erongo Mountains presented themselves in hazy spring atmosphere, the Albizia and black-thorn trees were already covered in their yellow-white, fragrant flowers, which in turn were buzzed around by manyfold insects.
Hunting kudu in fissured obscure mountain-country above all means long hours of patient glassing. The first afternoon thus found us on a high vantage point within the southern crater rim. In the rugged slope, in this disorder of boulders and thorny bushes, we gradually spotted several Hartmann zebras, which, hanging their heads stood motionless in the shimmering heat, to eventually, when the sun was nearing the horizon and it became cooler, start to move, snorting leisurely.
Meanwhile, when we had a breather on our descent into the valley in the commencing dusk and for a last time glassed the foot of the crater rim, spotted a kudu bull some distance away. Coming up from a ravine he moved to a black-thorn tree on a little rocky outcrop, lay the horns back into his neck to browse up into the tree and pick every reachable flower full of devotion. Then he stepped back into the ravine and was gone.
He appeared to still be somewhat young, but we took it as a good omen.
In this way we climbed some high vantage point every day to glass the wild surroundings for kudu bulls. We always spotted some Hartmann zebra and time and again klipspringers, who stood like sentinels on a boulder, watching their surroundings. Once also a group of female kudus. But in spite of all effort, we could not detect an old bull.
When on a morning we had glassed a particularly obscure terrain in vain, I pointed into the wild confusion of big boulders and bizarre Commiphora trees of a depression through which a dry riverbed with gnarled leadwood trees on its banks was winding its way and said:
"This is the home of the grey ghost!"
"Unfortunately, he is not at home at the moment", answered Patrick, to which I replied:
"You still have not fully understood the kudu. When you look down into a valley like this and don’t see a kudu, it does not mean that there is no kudu."
On another morning, we had climbed the edge of a plateau. On the opposite side the southern crater rim rose steeply to culminate in majestic sheer cliffs. Touched by the first light of the rising sun, the basalt cliffs were aglow in warm red-brown colours. The valley, covered in a maze of thorn-bushes, was still in the shade. In deep happiness and unending deference, I first of all let my eyes roam across the untouched wildness of the surroundings. In its harsh grandeur many parts of Namibia have no equal, are, if at all, only comparable to the famous
Northern Frontier District of Kenya or a few other regions of the Somali-Maasai Zone or the Sahel.
Then I put my binoculars to my eyes and started to glass the slopes. Suddenly a joyous jolt of adrenalin went through me. For a moment the horns of a kudu bull were glinting in the sunlight by now also reaching the valley. When we now patiently and carefully scanned that spot, not one, but eventually four kudu bulls slowly took shape. For a considerable time, we watched and assessed them, as they leisurely browsed around and time and again disappeared for a long spell to reappear again. One of them seemed to be mature and perhaps shootable, the others certainly too young – all not what we were searching for.
The morning of the sixth hunting day of the present safari, for Patrick thus altogether the sixteenth day in search of a bull kudu, found us squatting amongst some boulders of a ridge from where we could look down into a corrie, in which steep slopes were tumbling into a small valley from all sides. A wild terrain with deep ravines and rocky outcrops, wherein a kudu could vanish amongst big, grey boulders, Moringa and Sterculia trees, amongst bizarre Commiphora and blackthorn trees.
A few years ago, a landslide had occurred on a steep slope here during a torrential downpour which had piled up big boulders on both sides of a ravine, while the ravine was washed out deeply during subsequent rainy seasons. Through this landslide a small clearing was created on a slope, in which the first pioneer plants were slowly establishing themselves. When now glassing this terrain, and as my eyes just wandered across the clearing, it appeared to me as if suddenly the curtain of a stage was lifted, onto which now at last the leading actor of this drama stepped.
In great composure, one with himself and his harsh, wild surroundings, grey and ponderous, the heavy neck and the head carried low, the long beard on the underside of his neck caressed by the morning sun, the spirals of his magnificent horns projecting out far over his back, a big old kudu bull stepped across the clearance with dignified, slightly swaying steps.
Nothing, no other game animal, can match the consummate harmony of this moment, when a fully mature bull kudu materializes from invisibility and in indescribable, self-assured unpretentiousness steps onto the stage of his innate natural surroundings in his entire splendour.
Actually, only hindsight really brings the wondrous moment in all its grandeur to mind.
Because now it was time to take action, to make use of what could be the only chance.
Before we retreated behind the ridge to descend into the valley in cover, I noticed another, younger bull in the vicinity of the old one. Before we worked our way towards a small rocky outcrop, where we would be in convenient shooting distance of the clearance, at first using the cover of a dry riverbed and later as silently as possible and
Your journey to the far reaches of Namibia should be as comfortably indulgent as your breathtaking destination.
with madly beating heart stumbling over the pebble strewn ground of a thorny thicket, I said: "we have to be careful that you do not shoot the wrong bull!"
When eventually climbing the outcrop and peering over the edge with bated breath, the stage was empty.
Cautiously Patrick got ready. Then once more began the search for a kudu, which this time we knew had to be in the immediate vicinity. After a while of breathless lurking and watching Patrick had a kudu in his scope – but it was the young one.
Calming down again. And searching on, all the time in anxious tension – where is the old one?
Then suddenly he was there. He stood between big boulders, sternon under a thorn bush. In front of the backdrop lying in glistening sunlight the heavy neck of the animal standing in the shade and the horns jutting up in marvelous spirals stood out in dark silhouette.
Patrick had him in his scope but in this position a shot was impossible. The kudu took one step to the side – and was gone again.
Higher in the slope a second young bull appeared. One must have experienced all this to really know how wonderfully the kudu can merge with his surroundings. The old bull appeared again, suddenly became uneasy, moved along in the ravine all the while scenting the air, stepped up onto the opposite bank, was in the open for a moment: the shot rolled thundering through the valley.
The kudu dived back down into the ravine and I could see the impact of the projectile higher up in the slope.
Therefore, I at first had the impression that the shot went above target and urged Patrick to come to my position higher up, lay down on a flat rock and be ready should the kudu reappear somewhere.
But seconds later clattering sounds could be heard in the ravine as if the kudu fell. Then dead silence reigned.
We discussed things in a hushed voice. Patrick said: "At least I did not see him run off."
"Did you see the two younger bulls make off? This is a kudu; they can disappear on tip-toes unseen! But I too believe that he must be lying in the ravine."
After waiting for ten minutes, we went over there and climbed the piled-up boulders in anxious anticipation to look into the ravine.
And for the second time on this day, it appeared to me as though the curtain of a stage was lifted – this time for the final act.
There, a few meters beneath us, lay, as he fell and breathed his last, an old kudu bull magnificent beyond words – our prey.
The red strains of blood on the rocks where he crashed down into the ravine, and especially on his muzzle, illuminated in a dramatic way the ambivalence of this drama of life and death which can not to be glossed over.
Wilderness Hunting Adventure
Stalking Eland in Nyae Nyae
Dr André Maslo
Looking back, I can pinpoint with surprising clarity the most impressive and moving moment of my safari into the Nyae Nyae Conservancy.
It was not the moment when after three days of continuous travel I finally saw the baobab tree, around which the camp is centred, glow in the early evening light. Nor was it approaching the long-dreamed-of prey, or even the increasingly difficult farewell from this now-beloved country. Instead, nothing is as deeply engrained in my memory as the faces of the Ju/'Hoansi children when they saw our heavily loaded Land Cruiser pull into their small settlement. One of the boys spotted us a little earlier than his friends did, and he excitedly pointed in our direction, grabbed the friend standing closest to him by the arm and jumped for joy. A crowd of children ran beside the vehicle, waving and laughing,
before gathering in the shade of a tree quietly and respectfully with the pleasant restraint which is so typical of these gentle people of the Kalahari.
We got out of the car and saw the villagers emerging from all directions. I tried my limited knowledge of Afrikaans, acquired for this trip: “Ons het vleis vir julle.” The eyes of the older woman next to me widened, and in an unconscious gesture she placed her hand over her mouth. We pulled back the large tarp on the Cruiser’s loading bed, and everyone cautiously stepped closer.
That is why I came here: to put my hunting skills at the service of a community.
My first African safari, in pursuit of the Greater Kudu five years ago, brought me to the magnificent backdrop of the Erongo
Mountains. It was an intense combination of strenuous hiking and meditative glassing of the mountain slopes and dry river courses. I returned again two years later, that time in the surreal expanse of the Namib Desert. The previous week I had hunted on the edge of the Kalahari at Petersfarm, going after hartebeest, gemsbok and warthog – the typical game species there. I thoroughly enjoyed all these hunts.
Ultimately it was thanks to Hagen Denker’s tip and Serena Bouwer of The EcoHunter that I ended up planning this “Bushmanland Adventure” together with Axel Cramer. Axel is exactly the right man and professional hunter for this kind of foray into the wilderness: he is honest, warm, straightforward, optimistic and open to the ideas and wishes of his guest. He hunts with passion, determination and perseverance. From the moment we met at the
That is why I came here: to put my hunting skills at the service of a community " "
airport, we knew that the two of us would get along famously.
It took a full day from Petersfarm to the far northeast. We received a very warm welcome, and the entire team – from the two young camp managers to the maids and our most amazing cook Ansi – was at all times highly professional and kind. I am deeply grateful to current concession holder Japsie Blaauw for allowing me to hunt here.
At night, hyenas howled and sneaked around under the ancient baobab tree. Feeling in touch with nature – at times also
enduring heat, darkness and solitude – that is part of Africa. For me, to remove all the small discomforts would mean I would be robbing myself of the full experience.
Knowing full well how difficult hunting eland is up here in northeastern Namibia, the land of thick bush and endless yellowwood thickets, I chose this gentle giant for precisely that reason. During the next days, whenever visibility was just a few metres for hours, our running joke was: “Well, this place won’t work for photo tourism!”
A safari for me isn’t just about hunting for a specific species, or even bagging it, but it is rather about immersing myself in a landscape, getting to know it in all its facets, and in that process hunting a truly old specimen of an autochthonous game species, true to the guidelines of the Erongo Verzeichnis.
This vast conservancy is among the largest and most sparsely populated ones in Namibia. It covers nearly a million hectares and is tremendously rich in natural beauty. However, the specific difficulty with elands is that these colossal bovines are only
found in the most northeasterly parts. They travel far and often retreat into the vastness and safety of Khaudum National Park. My timing also had its pros and cons.
In May everything is green, and it was especially so after the good rains which in 2025 continued well into March. Even while I was there, we still had showers as we worked our way north through Hereroland, always along the course of the Eiseb River. The fresh leaves and the availability of water got the elands to move even more, making them all the more elusive. But the pans were full, attracting countless ducks, geese, flamingos, waders and other wildlife. That sight was definitely worth the compromise in tracking eland.
The sheer size of the area alone demanded a great deal from our team in terms of hunting. The tranquil rhythm of returning to camp for lunch and a siesta after a morning of stalking is simply not possible here. When the infinite sky started to turn orange at dawn in its unfathomable grandeur, with no buildings on the horizon and no vapour trails, we were already stalking towards the pan, hoping to find fresh eland tracks.
At midday, a rest under trees, or sometimes just low bushes, gave us the chance to rest our
legs for a while. We then shared our lunch, closed our eyes as the sunlight shimmered through the leaves and branches above us. I wrote in my diary, looked up the bird species encountered that day in a small field guide and rolled a cigarette. In the afternoon, when the sun dropped slightly from its zenith, we continued until the light faded, and we finally returned to camp long after sunset.
Our hunting party represented quite a good cross-section of Namibia's ethnic diversity. With us were Ju/'Hoansi, of course, but also Nama/Damara and Ovambo. The professional hunter was of German descent and his guest came from that same country.
On the very first morning, as we quietly and cautiously approached the pan, Joshua pointed between the branches in front of us. Perhaps 300 metres ahead of us stood eland bulls, a good dozen of them. It soon became clear that they were bachelors, younger bulls not yet dominant in a herd, and three that had already achieved that status long since. One of them was an incredibly massive, blue-hued, truly old bull.
Everyone was wide awake now. I, at least, had not expected such a sight so quickly. We silently circled closer, approaching cautiously, all the while glassing, able to vaguely make
out the animals through the branches. Suddenly, Otto, the lead tracker, jumped back. "Slang!"(snake), he hissed, but after a second look waved it off casually. "Just a python." A little later, we saw a good roan bull disappear into the bush. But we couldn’t catch up with the elands. Our trackers seemed convinced: it was the snake's fault. The next morning, we again found fresh tracks and worked our way forward, but we had to realise that Khaudum had taken the elands under its protective wing.
To reduce pressure on the area and, also, to experience the magnificent landscape, we decided to shift to its southern part, characterised by pans and open grassy plains, the next day. There I hoped to find the second quarry that particularly fascinates me in this region: the blue wildebeest.
Since two of the trackers had been reassigned, Kosta stepped in. He is Ju/'Hoansi and one of the communal game guards in the area. Initially he was very shy, didn't speak or point out much, and kept in the background. Now that our group had become smaller, I noticed how he became more and more confident, whereas before he just hadn’t wanted to push himself into the spotlight. He revealed deep knowledge of the entire concession and proved himself a truly accomplished tracker.
Damp grass, full of horseflies and mosquitoes, brushed against our legs for hours. We had spotted wildebeests far out on the plain, along with plains zebras and springbok. Now we had to circle the large pan to approach them downwind. We worked our way through dense thorny bushes, glassing and taking time to assess the situation. Axel delighted me with the same conclusion which I had already been considering secretly: The wildebeest that we could see were way too far out – and we did not want to disturb their peace.
Just as we prepared to circle the pan with as little disturbance as possible, a lone wildebeest bull rose only a short distance away, perhaps 300 metres. He had been lying behind a bump in the ground. We exchanged a few words –and then a stalk began like in the old days.
Heart pounding, I fell in line behind Axel, followed by our trackers Tonnetjie and Kosta. Hunched low, we moved in toward the bull in the visual shade of a tree and with favourable wind. Lappet-faced and White-
backed Vultures began to circle as if sensing fate. A jackal peered over to us. In a moment like this you become aware of so many things at once: the heat, the scent of the savannah, the towering clouds, the thrill of the hunt. At the same time, I felt transported back to a wildlife documentary from my childhood, and I was overjoyed to be able to be here.
The groups of wildebeest further away didn’t take any notice of us as we moved bunched together, without typically human silhouettes. Down on our backsides, inching forward little by little, we covered the last hundred metres to a tiny bush that was to offer some cover. When after a final look through the binoculars it had become clear to all of us that this was a truly old bull, the hunting fever fully set in. Very slowly we rose, placed the rifle on the sticks and edged out from behind the bush. From now on, with the rifle at the ready, the advantage was on our side. The long-yearnedfor success had become tangible.
Alas, our bull remained lying down. Axel started to whistle. No, that would be an
understatement. He went through the possibly most remarkable series of whistles in the more recent African hunting history. A good two hundred times he produced a bright, crystalclear tone while I couldn't even get out a single one – my mouth was that dry. But our wildebeest didn't seem to register the sounds at all, he just continued dozing.
Axel added “Hey!” to his whistling, first quietly, then increasingly louder. During the quarter of an hour that we had been standing tensely at the ready, I repeatedly went through the upcoming process in my head: firmly retract the stock and pull the trigger cleanly… but at the decisive moment my body took over.
Like cattle do, the bull suddenly lowered his head and heaved up his shoulders. "Now," Tonnetjie whispered excitedly. In a small cloud of dust, the bull pushed himself up and immediately turned half-pointedly towards us to assess the sound. Intuitively I went for "Daktari" Robertson's point, divided the angle of his forelegs, aimed a little higher to account
for the distance of about 150 metres, and touched the trigger. In the cracking thunder of the .375 Holland & Holland, the bull reared up and ran in a semicircle towards us with his head down, but remaining on his feet. At my PH's instruction he received a backup shot on the chest to be on the safe side, and there he collapsed. Later it turned out that the first TSX had already pierced the humerus and behind it, the heart.
Now all the tension was falling away and we approached our wonderful bull. At least 15 years old, he was close to the life expectancy that his species can possibly achieve in this land of lions and hyenas.
There is nothing I enjoy more on a safari than the hours that follow the hunt. The joyful return to camp, the smiling faces around us, the dirty shirts as all of us pull the wildebeest from the hunting vehicle and cut it up. A few cigarettes for the skinners were passed around, jokes were shared, and again and again I proudly looked at the old warrior and the many meals he would provide.
The next morning, before I cleaned my rifle and let all the experiences sink in, we went to distribute the meat to the inhabitants of the small village of G/oaguru. Back at home, my children had picked clothes and wooden toys for me to take with, and the children here were very happy to receive the gifts. Rarely have I felt so at peace with myself and with hunting as I felt then.
On this safari we covered 180 kilometres, looking for tracks as far as our feet could carry us in ten days. At one point, during a break after hours of tracking, Kosta said we were hunting like the Ju/'Hoansi once did. Could there be a higher compliment for a wilderness hunter? The incredible impressions I carry from Nyae Nyae are too many to tell: Of the shining eyes of a pride of lions that suddenly appeared from nowhere in the middle of the road in front of us, of giraffes, warthogs, kudus, roans and gemsbok. Of elephant cows with calves that we were lucky enough to avoid just in time; of a beautiful springbok that we managed to bag on the second attempt after an equally exciting stalk on a long, hot day; of sunrises over vast lakes that turn into earth and grass again in just a few weeks – but apart from that very first morning, we never saw the elusive elands again.
As we left Kameel Pan for the last time, I waved good-bye to “my” eland, the magnificent “blue bull” which once appeared in my field of vision and then vanished again in the endless bush. I told him to take good care of himself and that he mustn’t let himself be fooled at some waterhole.
With all my heart I wish that he may one day meet a hunter who will take on the time and effort to track him with dedication, patience and perseverance through the endless yellowwood thickets, as befits the gentle giant of Bushmanland. But I equally like the thought that his remains will find rest in some place in this vast wilderness, a place no human ever finds and known only to the Kalahari.
Discover the very best of Namibia
TAFEL DEBRIEF IN NAMIBIA An intensive nature experience and pure hunting adventure
Uwe Mark
Experiencing intense moments in nature, embracing physical exertion and deprivation as a challenge in order to come to know hunting in a way that is rarely possible in today’s hunting grounds in Germany. This was the motivation for my hunting companion Holger and me to travel to Namibia.
The focus of our hunt would not be the trophy itself, but the journey to bagging it. It was to be a challenging journey with many kilometres of stalking, without technical aids or any frills. Hunting behind a game-proof fence, shooting from a car or sitting in hides at waterholes were completely out of the question for us, and the venison we were going to harvest was to be fully utilised...
And so it happened that we got in touch with professional hunter Hagen Denker. The way he outlined the hunting process, and the prospect of a sustainable and purist wilderness hunt convinced us. Hagen met us at Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek, and thus started an eleven-day adventure in his excellent, truly allround care.
The 2.5 hours’ drive to Ameib in his white Toyota 4x4, a ubiquitous brand on Namibia’s roads, gave us an opportunity to get acquainted. Ameib, the Green Place, is the guest farm of the Denker family, adjacent to the 14000 hectare Reficiens Private Hunting Concession. As darkness fell, we got into a 1973 Series 3 Land Rover with single cab and open loading space. We drove through the bush, dimly lit by the headlights, along barely visible paths, through dry riverbeds and between rocks for a good half hour until we reached the hunting camp, the long-awaited destination of our journey.
The campfire, built of the very hard and longsmouldering camel thorn wood, was already burning, tended by camp assistant Butti, who was to take very good care of us in the days to come. Above us, the magnificent constellation of the Southern Cross was shining against the backdrop of the Milky Way – we felt like strangers but somehow also at home.
The wake-up call on the first day of stalking was at 5:40. We gathered at the campfire and started the day with strong coffee and a chunky rusk. A cheerful exuberance for the unknown took hold of us – stalking in the African bush for the first time. What would we encounter? Everything would be real, no zoo, no safari park.
At sunrise we were on our way in the Land Rover, rumbling to a dry riverbed. There we test-fired our .300 Winchester Magnum Mauser rifles at a distance of 100 metres. Afterwards we roamed through a seemingly
endless plain of bristlegrass, framed by rugged red mountains and surreal rock formations. In this breathtaking and untouched habitat we spotted plenty of game. Gemsbok (Oryx), zebra, giraffe and springbok crossed our path. On the second day of stalking we found fresh hyena tracks. Hyenas are plentiful in this hunting area, and so are leopards. Our stalk was noisily accompanied by Grey Loeries, or Go-away-birds. It didn't bother us at all that we didn't bring our rifles to bear during those first few days. Back at camp, a small but recurring ritual developed – we gathered around the campfire every evening and with a Tafel Lager in hand debriefed (we are both of military background) the day's events. Soon we coined the term: Tafel debrief of Ameib.
After a brisk walk on the third day of the hunt we climbed up onto a mountain ridge and glassed the wide savannah landscape stretching out some two kilometres below us in the
valley between the ridge and the mountains beyond. After glassing for quite some time, Hagen identified an old gemsbok bull with worn horns. The bull had clearly passed his prime, and our excitement rose immediately. At first, the bull moved a little further, but then he bedded down in the sparse shade of a thornbush.
Our strategy was to briskly move upwind, across several smaller ridges and through a dry riverbed, to close the distance to the bull to shooting range. Unnoticed, we got to within about 300 metres of the old warrior. Then, down on our knees, we continued to about 120 metres – and when Hagen gave the all-clear, Holger let fly. The bull dropped instantly but still kicked his hind legs. Hagen explained that it can actually be a warning sign when a gemsbok – in principle a very tough animal – collapses instantly. So we remained at the ready for ten minutes. Then,
as we wanted to move closer, the bull indeed jumped up again and veered off to our left. It took a couple of shots to bring him down for good.
There the old bull was now lying before us in the grass. Our first hunting success in Africa according to the criteria of the Erongo Verzeichnis. A special moment that has burned itself deeply into our hunter’s hearts. We skinnd the bull and after quartering the carcass, we carried the venison and trophy in three long trips to where Hagen had brought the Land Rover. Back at camp we ended the day with an early dinner, and after some lively conversation we all fell into our camp beds utterly exhausted.
The next morning it was my turn in our 2:1 rotation as hunter number one behind Hagen. Our sightings in the hunting days that followed became ever more spectacular. Once, two jackals paused about 100 metres away from us and stared intently in our direction. But their attention was not directed at us – but at a leopard which was cautiously slinking through the tall bristlegrass between the jackals and us.. To watch such an imposing predator in daylight and at such close range leaves you lost for words.
On another stalk, as we were glassing, the “grey ghost of the mountains” suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere. A magnificent kudu bull accompanied by seven cows. However, Hagen decided that this bull, in the prime of his years, should continue on his way. And so we were able to watch him for quite some time as he majestically moved into open ground, before disappearing again behind bushes and trees. Shortly afterwards a young zebra stallion approached to within 90 metres – he seemed aware that he was safe from us, since we had excluded zebra from our hunt. Above us, a buzzard circled and the mating calls of a black korhaan filled the air.
The following day we set off even earlier and drove to the other side of the hunting concession into the rocky terrain beyond. We passed the vehicle tracks leading to the well-known Philipps Cave (a rock shelter, inhabited by the indigenous San people apparently already more than 2,500 years ago, open at the front and full of ancient rock paintings of animals and people) as well as the rock named Elephant’s Head and the Bulls Party area – smooth, red rock formations, 130 million years old, and egg-shaped boulders that seemed as if the gods themselves had bowled with them. Hagen told us that the Elephant’s Head actually features in the classic movie The Gods Must Be Crazy. Following narrow trails and scrambling over some broken granite, we reached a wide granite saddle. Crouched low and moving cautiously, we crossed the saddle and arranged ourselves among the rocks on the slope for glassing. About 500 metres away, three black-faced impala rams came into view. We decided to stalk them.
However, after stalking for quite some time - it was already late afternoon - we could not find the rams and on a hunch slowly moved along a dry riverbed when we happened onto a group of twelve to fifteen springbok. They stood close together and were partly hidden by bushes. Several mature old rams were clearly visible. After confirming the target with Hagen, I fired the Mauser from 170 metres. The ram was hit, and the whole group ran off. We waited five minutes, then followed up and found the ram about 50 metres from the point of impact, lying on a rocky patch. We then gutted the springbok, and Hagen set off to fetch the Land Rover. Meanwhile, I lifted the ram onto my shoulders and carried him
Above us, the magnificent constellation of the Southern Cross was shining against the backdrop of the Milky Way – we felt like strangers but somehow also at home. ” “
down to the dry riverbed and still several hundred metres further to where we met Hagen. We delivered the ram to Ameib for hanging and butchering.
The following day we drove back to the Ameib Guesthouse and hiked to the geological attractions mentioned above, i.e. Philipps Cave and Bulls Party. It was a very scenic hike of approximately 10 km, and the ancient rock art left in the cave by San people was truly impressive. There was nobody but us in this magnificent landscape.
On the last day we went stalking once more in the morning and evening and enjoyed another breathtaking, golden sunset.
On the day of our departure we were treated to a substantial and delicious breakfast buffet at Ameib, and the Denker family warmly bid us farewell.
Summing up, we have been privileged to experience a fantastic and challenging wilderness hunt in the Reficiens Private Hunting Concession at the foot of the Erongo Mountains. The fact that we "only" bagged one animal each during our nine hunting days did not bother us in the least. The overall experience, and with it the selfimposed restrictions on hunting, were more fulfilling than we had ever imagined. We can fully identify with the ethical standards for hunting which Namibia advocates and exemplifies, and with the approach of focusing not primarily on the trophy but on the overall experience of the hunt.
Thus the name of the game is: once in Namibia, always in Namibia.
The next Tafel debrief is already in the pipeline.
Teamwork provides the meat
Piet van Rooyen
Stories are manifold of the great springbok migrations in the South African Free State and up the Karoo towards the end of the 19th century, a migration (or trek) that involved many thousands of springbok and formed herds of several kilometres wide. Farmers and hunters of those times told of spurring on their horses in order to get out of the way of the masses of these “trek-bokke”. In Lawrence Green’s book Karoo an incident is related of how a Karoo farmer, Gert van der Merwe, moved his sheep and cattle between grazing lands, assisted
by his shepherds and a Khoi wagon leader. “The trek-buck are on their way, and we’ll be trampled to death if we stay in the riverbed”, the driver warned when only a cloud of dust was visible in the distance. They immediately started erecting thorn fences around the wagon and the oxen. Gert claims that the dust cloud was so thick it became hard to breathe. His wife covered their children with blankets in a desperate attempt to prevent them from being smothered. It took around an hour for the bulk of the herd to pass. Stragglers and wounded animals tried to catch up for some
time afterwards. Gullies in the veld filled with the carcasses of dead springbok.
In the 1800s explorers recorded springbok herds numbering in the millions. In 1888 a herd of springbok, estimated to comprise ten million animals, was recorded near Nelspoort in the Cape. In 1896 another herd, recorded at Karee Kloof on the Orange River, was estimated to be 24 km wide and more than 160 km long. When the Schanderl brothers arrived by train in Klein Karas near the Fish River Canyon in the late 1800s, they
continued by horse cart. In their journals they noted that they passed through a herd of springbok that was 20 000 strong.
Green spoke to someone who told him how he watched thousands of springbok trekking through the town of Kenhardt in the Northern Cape. Everyone in that place seemed to be shooting from his front veranda. It was probably the most devastating migration in living memory. Police sounded the alarm and distributed ammunition to farmers at half-price. The damage was tremendous, but
it could have been worse had the invasion not ceased all of a sudden. The springbok horde turned and raced back to the Kalahari. It was said that rain had fallen behind them, and the north wind had brought them, over hundreds of miles, the irresistible smell of damp earth and young grass.
Nobody knows for sure why this huge annual migration of springbok stopped altogether. Excessive hunting probably played a role, as well as fencing off formerly open grasslands, thereby blocking traditional migration
routes. Probably the ready availability of borehole water on modern-day farms and the rotational management of grazing camps also contributed to the springbok staying put.
One common denominator of springbok congregations is the presence of flat open terrain, their preferred habitat wherever they occur. My farm at the Gamsberg in Namibia’s Khomas Hochland is not an ideal springbok habitat. It is much too rocky and hilly, but substantial herds of springbok are found on neighbouring farms with flatter terrain. Now
and then a single male, or a group of young males, would enter my land by slipping through under the fences and stay around for a day or two before moving on to better-suited terrain. I never tried to hunt one of those, as they never stayed for more than a day or two, even though I could not ignore the yearning for a nice piece of fresh springbok loin.
In August this year a single ram arrived from somewhere unannounced, and slipped through under the fence at my northern boundary. He soon adapted to his new home and started mingling with the herd of cattle in that camp. I decided to try and hunt him, but that was easier said than done. He had probably come from afar and had not survived the trek out of stupidity. Every time I drove my old Jeep up the hill to look for him the ram saw me way before I could get into stalking mode. I tried to circle from various angles in his direction, but one of the cattle always saw me before I could get into range and alerted the ram. He had a few escape routes that he could follow, as the camp where he stayed was interspaced with granite outcrops, two dry riverbeds and several intersecting gullies. I very soon got lost in the maze of obstructions in the terrain, and could never get any nearer to the ram than the several hundred metres from where I saw him from the top of the boundary hill.
Until one day, when a good friend of mine, Hilmar von Lieres, came to visit. He brought his 8 mm. Mauser with him – not the ideal calibre for long-range springbok hunting, but we decided to give it a try. I realised that we would have to devise a strategic plan and put our faith in coordinated teamwork. Fortunately, we had good cell phone reception all over the farm and could stay in touch throughout the exercise. We dropped Hilmar off in the cover of some granite koppies, and me and my trusted farm worker Mannetjie /Uirab drove up the hill to the spot from where we regularly saw the ram. He was there, as usual, way down in the veld, grazing among the cattle.
Now an intricate game of cat and mouse began. The ram must have detected Hilmar’s approach, because he started wandering off in the direction of his habitual escape route. Now we could clearly recognise his movements. The ram did not move in a straight line but followed a zig-zag pattern, definitely fully focused on his best options of getting away. I realised that his clever and irregular movements were the reason why I always lost track of him when trying to follow him on my own. Mannetjie had the binoculars and kept him in view all the time. I could keep contact with Hilmar to tell him where and how to adjust his approach. We could see how he slowly got closer to his prey. For a moment I thought he was within range and could take a shot, but he reported that from where he stood he could not see the ram at all.
At one point the springbok completely disappeared from our sight, and made off over a high ridge in a westerly direction. I knew that the area where he moved to was thickly overgrown with blackthorn, and that he would probably try to hide in that thicket. We called Hilmar back to the vehicle and slowly drove up the boundary hill. Just before passing the top we stopped and cautiously approached the thickly-wooded valley on the other side.
Nobody knows for sure why this huge annual migration of springbok stopped altogether. Excessive hunting probably played a role, as well as fencing off formerly open grasslands, thereby blocking traditional migration routes.” "
Mannetjie still had the binoculars glued to his eyes, and was fortunate to spy the springbok where he was hiding in the thick bush. He had to describe the position very precisely before any of us could see the splash of white hiding in the undergrowth. It was now or never.
Hilmar depended on the penetrating power of his 8 mm. and took the shot. However, some branches must have deflected the bullet, and the shot went astray.
But now the ram slipped out of the thicket and started trotting down the two-track road, away from us. Hilmar’s second shot was true, hitting him diagonally from directly behind the right front leg. The heavy bullet dropped the ram in his tracks. Afterwards I realised that in the case of this clever adversary, however long I tried, and whatever different plans I tried to make, I would never have managed to successfully hunt him on my own.
We divided the meat between the three of us. The ram dressed out a full 30 kilograms of meat. He was one of the heaviest bucks I have ever encountered. That’s how teamwork provides the meat.
Namibia should be Africa's first Lead-free ammunition country
Discover the values of vultures and the threat posed by lead
Dirk Heinrich
White-backed Vulture J151 should be an ambassador for Namibia to become the first African country to ban lead ammunition for the benefit of nature and humans. All vulture species known in Namibia are either extinct as breeding species (Egyptian Vulture), critically endangered (Cape Vulture), endangered (Hooded Vulture, White-backed Vulture) or vulnerable (Lappet-faced Vulture, Whiteheaded Vulture). Numerous factors have led to the decline of the vulture populations in Namibia, in the region and in Africa in general. Habitat loss, disturbance, poisons and illegal killing are the main reasons. Lead-poisoning through ammunition has only recently been discovered as another dangerous factor leading to the decrease of these valuable birds.
It is time that the general public discovers the value of vultures in our ecosystems and that farmers realise that vultures are their friends
and not their enemies. Vultures are neither ugly nor dirty birds. Vultures are our health police, they clean up carcasses and by doing so prevent diseases from spreading. At the same time they alert farmers and conservationists to where dead animals are located. Farmers and conservationists are thus able to inspect the site and determine whether the animal in question has died a natural death or was killed by predators or poachers. Vultures pointing out the dirty and illegal practices of poachers, has in turn led to some disastrous poisoning cases in Namibia and in neighbouring countries, where poachers poisoned the carcasses of illegally killed elephants, buffalo etc. to avoid vultures giving away the location of the carcasses. Hundreds of vultures have been killed by poachers in this way. Apart from that, there are still farmers in Namibia who believe that vultures kill their new-born lambs and therefore shoot or poison the protected birds.
Cattle and game farmer Jürgen Bergmann, farming on Springbokvley east of Windhoek, reported on 14 April 2024 that at one of his water points he had found a White-backed Vulture that seemed to be very sick. Since poisoning was suspected, the farmer was asked to take the vulture home and try to give it charcoal. Charcoal is used as an emergency treatment of certain kinds of poisoning. It helps to prevent the poison from being absorbed from the stomach into the body. When Bergmann returned to the spot where he had left the bird, he found it “dead”. He called again and was advised to put the bird in a coldroom, and then bring it to Windhoek as soon as possible to have tissue samples taken and analysed to find out what type of poison could have been ingested by the bird.
The next day Bergmann´s wife was furious when she found a live vulture looking at her in the coldroom. They took the bird outside into the sun to warm it up, and managed to
Lappet-faced Vultures, the biggest of our vulture species, are breeding on commercial farms, on communal land and in national parks like Namib-Naukluft National Park. A bird fitted with a GPS tracker a few years ago travelled through five countries – Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa – in his first year, before returning to Namibia to explore the central and southern part of the country in his second year.
Every year, if funds are available, qualified volunteers go out on commercial farms and in national parks to ring (band) and wing-tag vulture chicks before they fledge. At the same time they also inform farmers, their staff and interested members of the public about the value of vultures and the importance of marking birds to find out more about their movements and age. This can only be done with the help of sponsors and the assistance of farmers and volunteers.
give it crushed activated charcoal pills mixed with water. The vulture drank of the water. Two days later it ate some of the meat offered to it and it did not seem to be timid. The farmer was advised to stop giving charcoal and keep on feeding the bird. A few days later the vulture flew onto the roof of one of the buildings and came down to feed when offered meat.
On 21 April the young White-backed Vulture was ringed (RA00461) and tagged (J151). The following week it was gone for a day but came back for more meat. The last time the Bergmanns saw J151 was on 27 and 28 April. The next day they left for the coast because it was school holidays.
On 30 April the owner of farm Aanhou-Wen, 120 km north of Upington in the Northern Cape in South Africa and 680 km south from Springbokvley, was told by his staff that a vulture was perching in a camel thorn tree near the house and seemed unbothered by humans. The next day the tagged vulture landed on the ground and followed one of the employees – who was afraid of the big bird. Later a ground squirrel was shot and given to the vulture who enjoyed the free meal. They continued feeding the bird with ground squirrels and warthog meat and reported
its tags J151 on the wings and metal ring RA00461 on his left leg to a South African Organisation which is concerned about vultures. On one occasion the vulture even landed on the rail of the farmer’s hunting vehicle when they returned from a hunt.
The organisation working with vultures promised to fetch the bird. However, it flew off on 6 May.
While the organisation was still busy arranging for somebody to pick up the Whitebacked Vulture at the farm north of Upington, J151 was long gone. From Aanhou-Wen he flew 719 km south and landed between wind turbines at Nojoli Wind Farm, about 73 km south of Cradock in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
According to a spokesperson of the organisation, the bird was brought in with head twitches and it had curly feathers which are symptoms indicative of lead toxicity and excessive stress as a nestling. The vulture was “treated with Baytril for respiratory infection and EDTA which is the antidote to lead poisoning”. On 22 May J151 was taken to the main rehabilitation centre near Johannesburg. Once he is rehabilitated and ready to be released, he will be fitted with a transmitter in the hope that his movements can be followed for a few years. It will be interesting to see if J151 will come back to Namibia.
Unfortunately the organisation never informed the Namibian ringer nor Vultures Namibia, that J151 was fitted with a transmitter, that the wing tags J151 were
A rarely seen Hooded Vulture (left) and a White-backed Vulture in a tree in Mudumu National Park in the Zambezi Region in the northeast of Namibia. Several hunting concessions are found around this national park.
This photograph shows how much lead is in a bullet. Only the outer layer is copper.
removed, that a blue colour ring was added and that the vulture was released in March this year (2025). This was only established in September after several attempts in the month before to gain information. “The bird was tracked for a month until the tracker stopped. Went into Botswana and was headed along the border towards Namibia but the device just stopped”. It is not known where exactly the White-backed Vulture was released or what his last waypoint is. Nor is it known where the bird is now and whether it is even still alive.
Another unanswered question is where the parents of J151 picked up the leadcontaminated meat and what the lead level of poisoning in the body of the young Whitebacked Vulture was/is.
But White-backed Vulture J151 shows what we humans are doing to our environment and its creatures by using lead. Some trophy hunters visiting our country have proven that it is possible to hunt without leadammunition successfully.
Lead poisoning has become an increasing problem, especially in vulture chicks. On 24 April Dr Linda van den Heever, Species Conservation Programme Manager of BirdLife South Africa, gave a talk on “Lead Poisoning in southern Africa’s Cape and White-backed Vultures” at the Namibia Scientific Society.
According to the expert, the main cause of lead poisoning in vulture chicks is lead ammunition. The Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) had the topic of lead poisoning through lead ammunition explained by experts at their AGM in December 2021.
According to some Namibian hunting guides and professional hunters a number of trophy hunters coming to Namibia bring along their own lead-free ammunition. Experts interviewed said that there is little difference in lead-based and lead-free ammunition from a ballistic point of view. There is no reason not to change to lead-free ammunition for hunting.
No research has been done on farmers and their staff who consume a lot of game meat, to find out what level of lead is in their body. It is no secret that it is difficult to measure the level of lead in a human or animal. A human body, like that of any animal, is not capable of excreting lead. The poisonous metal is forever embedded in tissue and as the level rises, it becomes an ever increasingly serious danger. There is no safe level of lead in humans and wildlife.
A study on the dangers of lead poisoning through lead ammunition in vulture chicks has resulted in Vultures Namibia stopping
farmers from putting out meat of hunted animals at vulture restaurants. The latter were promoted for many years as a means of boosting dwindling vulture populations. It is possible that a lot of the meat and intestines given to vultures are contaminated with lead particles of even microscopic size. Levels of lead then build up in vultures which repeatedly feed on contaminated meat and offal, posing a danger to their health and ultimately their survival.
No official research has been initiated in Namibia to find out more about the problem of lead contamination caused by lead ammunition in game meat, and secondarily of animals and humans who eat game meat and offal. The reason is a lack of funds, experts and specialised laboratories.
We need to find out more about the movement of our vultures and their behaviour, and we need to find ways to save these magnificent birds. Hunters are one important factor in the survival of these extraordinary creatures.
This White-backed Vulture chick was ringed (banded) and wing-tagged a few months after J151, who was ringed as an immature in April 2024. Both birds were marked on commercial farms east of the capital Windhoek.
Vultures are not the only scavengers that depend on carcasses. Black-backed jackals and Pied Crows are competing with the vultures for food. There is a strict hierarchy at a carcass. The bigger vultures feed first and the elder of a species come first. This is why vultures always seem to quarrel at a carcass.
J151 was fed and healed by farmer Bergmann, then flew 1300 km to South Africa.
Namibia’s rugged beauty
Elzanne McCulloch
Sometimes you hear someone speak and their words settle deep inside you, reshaping the way you see the familiar. That happened to me when I listened to Kai-Uwe Denker’s reflections on hunting in Namibia at the previous NAPHA AGM. His words were not polished marketing talk, nor defensive arguments about why hunting matters. Instead, he spoke about wilderness, authenticity, and what it really means to portray Namibia to the world.
I left that room with a renewed conviction that Namibia, in all its harsh beauty, deserves to be celebrated with more pride than we sometimes give it.
MORE THAN EASY ROADS
When Namibia is promoted as a hunting destination, we often lead with convenience: easy travel, political stability, good roads and reliable health care. All of that is true, and it matters. But it is not what stirs the imagination of the hunter who longs for adventure. Safety does not smell like dust. Tar roads do not feel like wilderness.
NYATI WILDLIFE ART
From Veld to Foyer
TAXIDERMY AND TROPHY SHIPPING
Celebrating 20 years of service to the hunting industry
‘Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.’ - John Ruskin. At Nyati Wildlife Art, our experienced team of dedicated craftsmen and women consistently apply their skill to create trophies of the best possible quality. Allow us to provide you and your clients with a full trophy service: 2004 -
On-site tannery: tanning of trophy capes & rugs
Preparation of Taxidermy Mounts
• Manufacture of rifle sleeves, travel bags & decorative items
• Our in-house logistics department takes care of all export arrangements. Your trophies go directly from our studio to the airport.
NAMIBIA
What sets Namibia apart is that beneath this layer of modern infrastructure lies a country of staggering wildness. Deep sands that test you. Escarpments that drop into endless horizons. Rivers that are more sand than water, yet hold the promise of elephant tracks and gemsbok herds. That contrast, between ease of access and raw adventure, is our real strength.
Listening to Kai-Uwe, I realised again how rare that combination is. Namibia can be reached and travelled with ease, but the wilderness still lies just beyond the turnoff, waiting to surprise you.
ANIMALS OF THE VELD
Every African country has its signature game. For Namibia, it should never be in question. It is the gemsbok, the kudu and the Hartmann’s zebra that belong on the pedestal.
The gemsbok, fierce and elegant, stands on our coat of arms for a reason. It is the desert’s icon, perfectly adapted to heat, dust and thirst. These animals belong to this harsh country, just as we do. The fiery sun, the thornbush and the pale desert grass shape them. To hunt them here is to connect with Namibia’s spirit in the most authentic way.
NAMIBIA’S PLACE IN AFRICA
Africa stretches across an extraordinary spectrum of landscapes, from the dense rainforests of the Congo Basin to the sweeping savannas of East Africa and the deserts that define the continent’s arid heart. Each zone holds its own character, yet time and again, seasoned hunters speak with reverence about the desert margins and drylands. These are places where beauty is pared down to its most essential form – where harsh climates, scarce water and rugged terrain shape both wildlife and the people who live alongside it.
THE NEXT GENERATION
Namibia’s professional hunting association, NAPHA, has been in existence for over half a century. That milestone naturally brings reflection, but it also brings a challenge. What will the next halfcentury look like?
According to Kai-Uwe the answer lies in pride, a belief that resonates with many of us. Pride in our wilderness, our animals, our traditions. Pride in portraying Namibia honestly and boldly, not just as a safe choice but as an adventure worthy of the most seasoned hunter. International hunters are looking for new destinations. They long for authenticity and adventure.
A CALL TO PRIDE
When I think back to Kai-Uwe’s words, one line echoes: “Namibia deserves to be spoken of with awe around African campfires.”
Namibia is wild rivers that run dry for most of the year, yet still carry the tracks of elephant herds and the promise of game along their sandy beds. It is endless plains where the horizon never seems to end and where a hunter must learn patience and endurance, for the distances are vast and the quarry is elusive.
Namibia deserves to be spoken of with awe around African campfires." "
Namibia is part of this story. Its wilderness belongs among Africa’s most striking arid landscapes. The northwestern ephemeral rivers, which carve through rock and sand, the Khomas Highlands, and the final frontier of Khaudum, are every bit as dramatic as the better-known hunting grounds of the Sahel or the Horn of Africa. The country’s wildlife reflects this ruggedness: Hartmann’s zebra clambering over rocky escarpments, gemsbok standing defiantly on the open plains, or a kudu bull emerging from the thornveld at dusk. These images are not just iconic – they are uniquely Namibian, embodying the stark grandeur of a land that offers some of the most authentic hunting experiences left on the continent.
What Kai-Uwe reminded me of is that we need to tell this story with confidence. We do not need to imitate anyone else. Namibia is more than enough.
Namibia is gemsbok standing tall against a desert skyline, their horns like spears piercing the sky. It is the embodiment of strength and resilience, the animal that has come to symbolise both our wilderness and our identity.
Namibia is a kudu bull stepping out of the shadows at dusk, ghost-like and regal, a prize not measured only by the curl of its horns but by the hunter’s long hours of tracking, waiting and listening to the bush.
Namibia is dust and heat rising in shimmering waves across the thornveld, where every step reminds you that this is not an easy land. It is the scratch of wait-a-bit thorn, the scent of wild sage crushed underfoot, the sudden bark of a baboon on a cliff face.
Namibia is ancient baobabs standing sentinel over rocky riverbeds, silent witnesses to centuries of hunters, travellers and wildlife passing by. It is the Milky Way stretched across the night sky, so bright and unbroken that around the campfire you feel as if you are sitting inside the universe itself.
Namibia is not comfort dressed as wilderness. It is real, harsh, beautiful and unforgettable. For the hunter who seeks authenticity, who values experience above convenience, Namibia is the adventure that lingers long after the rifle is packed away.
CHAMPION OF SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION
Honouring Dr Clemens von Doderer – NAPHA’s 2024 Conservationist of the Year
In a world where the balance between wildlife conservation and human progress grows ever more delicate, it takes exceptional conviction to defend nature’s most pragmatic truths. Few embody this balance more steadfastly than Dr Clemens von Doderer, the 2024 recipient of the Namibian Professional Hunting Association’s Conservationist of the Year award.
A man of science, diplomacy and deep conviction, Dr von Doderer has spent his career bridging continents and ideologies in pursuit of a single goal – to ensure that conservation through sustainable use remains both understood and protected. His leadership has placed Namibia’s voice firmly on the international stage, where the country’s conservation model stands as one of the world’s most successful examples of how ethical hunting and biodiversity protection can coexist.
Since 2016, Dr von Doderer has served as the Resident Representative of the Hans Seidel Foundation in Namibia, guiding programmes that promote sustainable natural-resource management, good governance and rural development. Before that, his years in Brussels as a policy adviser to the Central Association of European Forest Owners honed his understanding of the policy mechanisms shaping Europe’s approach to wildlife and land use. It was during this time that he contributed to EU advisory boards on rural development, wildlife management and biodiversity – an experience that would later prove invaluable when advocating for Namibia abroad.
An academic by training, Dr von Doderer holds a Bachelor’s in Forest Science from the University of Göttingen and a Master’s and PhD in Agricultural Economics and Management from Stellenbosch University. Yet it is his ability to translate academic understanding into practical conservation diplomacy that has made him a true force for nature.
When he joined the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) as an individual member in 2019, he brought
both intellect and passion to the table. Only a year later he was elected Head of the CIC Namibia Delegation, a position he continues to hold. Under his leadership, Namibia’s sustainable hunting success stories have gained global recognition, inspiring conversations across continents about the realities of community-based conservation.
Among his most notable achievements is his tireless advocacy against proposed European trophy-import bans, an issue threatening the very foundation of Namibia’s conservation model. Through careful engagement with European policymakers and global conservation bodies, Dr von Doderer has helped safeguard the principle that regulated ethical hunting funds, habitat protection and community livelihoods – not exploitation.
In acknowledging the award, Dr von Doderer humbly noted: “This is a great honour, which I share with several individuals within the CIC whose work has been vital to our success in advancing sustainable conservation.”
The recognition also highlights the powerful collaboration between NAPHA and the CIC, where shared values and coordinated advocacy continue to influence international policy and uphold frameworks such as CITES and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Dr von Doderer’s work embodies the CIC’s 2030 vision – that sustainable use must remain a cornerstone of global biodiversity conservation. His efforts remind us that conservation is not born of isolation but of partnership, persistence and a belief in nature’s ability to thrive when people are part of its story.
Through his leadership, Namibia’s model continues to illuminate the path forward: conservation through sustainable use, rooted in community, guided by science, and defended with passion.
Scars & Stars
Jackson Engel
Iwalked in circles around the fallen old warrior for several minutes, studying the scars and characteristics that told the 14year story of a rugged life lived in the furtherest shag of Mozambique’s northern Zambezi Delta. From the prominent snare marks encircling his neck and right hindfoot, to the smallest tick bites, each blemish in the bull’s weathered skin offered a glimpse into what he had endured since the day he was born, long ago when I was just eleven years old. As much as I wanted to know every episode of his feral life, imagination and speculation would be as close as I could get. The now-forgotten details of the battle that had once been so forceful as to snap his left horn in half will forever remain a mystery.
As I rubbed my hand across the polished bosses, my fingertips interpreting every crack and crevice, the gravity of having just hunted an old bull of this caliber began to sink into my still-shaking hands. It was the culmination of a life-long dream. I thought back to my childhood and imagined what my little-boyself would have thought about kneeling next to a bull of this quality as tears began to well up in my eyes. I think little Jackson would be proud. Very proud.
This particular hunt had started several days earlier, but the journey had actually begun over twenty years ago when I first accompanied my parents on a safari. Later, as my hunting interests continued to grow, I remember watching African hunting films with my dad and hearing stories about his buffalo hunting adventures, all of which inspired me to become a dangerous game hunter myself one day. I will never forget the most moving film of them all – In the Blood –the one that truly awakened my desire to hunt buffalo more than any other. This epic story of a then modern safari in the mid 1980s, which harkened back to the days of President
Theodore Roosevelt’s historic 1909 safari in East Africa, planted a hot coal in my hunter’s heart, the embers of which have never been extinguished.
Growing up in Africa as I did made fulfilling that dream somewhat easier. I had lived vicariously by accompanying friends and family on numerous dangerous game safaris and spent several years apprenticing on buffalo, hippo and croc hunts under a wellknown professional hunter in Namibia – the land where I was raised and which will forever be my home. I had collected quite a bit of experience on dangerous game, but the fact that I had never been the one to pull the trigger on a buffalo always left a nagging void in my hunter’s soul. Finally, after more than two decades of hunting all over southern Africa, my chance to fill that void had come to fruition.
In August of 2024, I embarked on a journey to Mahimba, my family’s newly acquired hunting area in Mozambique. I was filled with a tangible anticipation that I hadn’t felt on previous safaris. Everything about this hunt was going to be special from start to finish. I would be sharing camp with my good friend Everett Headley, led by my “big brother”, PH Kyne Edwards, and filmed by his younger brother Kolby who, like Kyne, I count as a brother of my own. Most importantly, I would have my dad and favorite hunting buddy by my side. I couldn’t have picked a better group to surround me during this momentous experience.
The first week of this safari had been filled with adventures of its own. Everett and I both harvested huge crocodiles on the beautiful Mucarau River which runs along Mahimba’s northern border. The hunt for Everett’s Cape buffalo was an adrenaline-packed adventure in its own right, with some too-close-for-comfort
moments that ended with a magnificent bull being dispatched in the thickest stuff one could imagine.
On day nine of the safari, I awoke to the pitter-patter of rain on my bungalow’s corrugated roof. As I lay there in the early morning darkness, a grin began to form across my face and a knot of excitement churned in my stomach. Today would be another day “on buffalo” and the rain would be good for cutting fresh tracks. Carefully slipping out from under the mosquito net, my legs and back screamed in aching defiance from the hard miles of buffalo tracking in the previous day’s oppressive heat, and from the backbreaking work of hauling countless pounds of Everett’s buffalo carcass through the thick mud and matted riverine vegetation the day before that.
At the breakfast table, Kyne paused from his chewing and turned towards me. “Just think, Jack, your bull is somewhere out there right now. He’s walking around with that swagger that only old bulls have and he’s been out there for years, doing that very same thing every day. I have a feeling that this might be his last one though.” I chuckled at his optimism and something inside of me agreed that this might very well be our day. Sipping my coffee, I sat there pondering the image that Kyne had painted. I envisioned my dream bull – old beyond the telling with polished bosses and a hairless face, slowly moving through the grass somewhere out there not too far from where I now sat. Little did I know then that the buffalo manifesting itself within my imagination would be the bull that I would end up shooting.
With a light drizzle of rain still falling, we loaded up the Cruiser and set off to find fresh tracks. Standing on the back of the Toyota as we weaved our way through a wetted
landscape, I told our head tracker, Joào, that I had a feeling today was going to be a “buffalo day”. He gave me a cheeky grin while gesturing to an imaginary watch on his wrist and saying, “8 o’clock” repeatedly. True to his word, it was 07:55 when we cut the first spoor and Joào jumped off the vehicle to investigate. The track was from a lone dagga boy – exactly what I wanted – but signs of rain on top of the tracks were a clear indicator that it wasn’t fresh enough to follow.
We continued onward to find another lone dagga boy track an hour later. Although slightly fresher and normally worth following, the bull’s tracks were headed in the direction of a massive thicket that our team was all too familiar with. A day earlier, we had spent several gruelling hours tracking a large herd into the same thick jungle. Twice, we had a hundred or more buffaloes a mere twenty yards away and never even saw a glimpse of them. Our only knowledge of their presence had been the telltale bovine stench, their intermittent bellowing, and finally the thunderous roar of a spooked herd crashing through the nearby brush. To find a lone bull in that same thicket would be nearly impossible. That said, we gave it a go and followed the track for nearly two hours only to confirm that this bull had indeed retreated into the hellish rat’s nest. With a familiar sting of disappointment, we turned around and headed back to the waiting Cruiser.
As midday approached, most tracks from the early hours of the morning were beginning to grow stale, so we decided to change tactics and drive a long, tedious loop to a large treeless area that we had dubbed “Buffalo Pan”. This open stretch of land had a few small pools of water and mud that buffalo frequented, along with some supple new-growth grass resulting from burns that our team had conducted earlier in the season. Despite these favourable conditions, finding buffalo in the open during the middle of the day is a rare occurrence, so we went in with relatively low expectations.
A first glance of the pan from a distance yielded a lifeless scene, but the northwestern corner was hidden by a small row of Lala and Borassus palms and required a closer look. We approached slowly, straining our eyes to see through the thick palm leaves and hoping to uncover what the other side might hold. Suddenly, the flash of a flitting oxpecker, followed by the swishing of dark tails, broke the visual silence. “Buffalo!” I croaked in a hushed tone.
Sure enough, a herd of fifty-some buffalo were grazing two hundred yards away. Although it was not the lone dagga boy or bachelor group that I had hoped for, we knew that the old bulls often filter in and out of the larger herds this time of year, so there was still a chance that one of the old boys could be mixed up between the cows and young bulls.
With a complete lack of cover, unfavourable wind, and the herd methodically moving away from us, a frantic stalk ensued. Ash and dust filled my lungs and coated my eyes as we leopard-crawled on hands and knees like madmen across the fire-scorched pan. The black earth burned my hands and radiated the already intense heat that was beating down on us from above. The floodgates of adrenaline began to unleash and course through my body. My stomach felt unsettled, and yet I remember thinking that this was one of the greatest stalks of my life.
A short wall of reeds in front of us was now the only thing that separated us from the buffalo. Every thirty yards or so, Kyne would stop to poke his head up and see where the herd was, then continue crawling at breakneck speed. When we finally reached the reeds, Kyne set up the shooting sticks and we slowly rose into position. Instead of a single bull standing perfectly in front of me as I had so often envisioned, I faced a chaotic sea of black bodies.
The large, undulating black blob of buffaloes looked like one monotonous shape, punctuated here or there by a bull’s head that would suddenly appear above the backs of the cows. Each time Kyne and I would call it out to one another only to be met with the disappointment of a soft-bossed bull. Minutes went by and nausea started to set in as my
eyes strained through the scope, panning left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse of something shootable I had not yet seen. I lifted my head and began scanning the herd with my naked eye instead. In my mind, it was the final act before admitting defeat.
I slowly took inventory of every single bull I could see, panning from left to right. I had nearly reached the far end of the herd when the black sea of beasts parted to create a gap that serendipitously framed a single buffalo, lingering behind the chaos of the large herd. The ghostly figure stood silhouetted in a thick cloud of dust, its silvery face and polished horn bosses glinting in a midday mirage. I immediately knew I was looking at my bull. “There’s an ancient old dagga boy at the back of the herd! A definite shooter”, I said excitedly. By the time I described where the bull was, the sea of animals had swallowed him up again and he had vanished before Kyne could locate him. I kept my crosshairs locked onto the spot, desperately waiting for another gap to appear, with the memory of a white, balding face and what had looked to be a broken horn replaying in my mind.
Finally, a weathered, hairless rump appeared behind some cows. Without even seeing the head, I knew it was him. Kyne had seen the same, and we waited in nervous anticipation for the cow in front of him to move. My thumb was applying pressure to the safety, waiting for Kyne to call the shot. The cow eventually took a step forward and I had an open view of the bull standing broadside. “That’s a freaking awesome bull, Jack – take him on the shoulder”, Kyne said. Without hesitation, I steadied the crosshairs as best I could and focused on the sensation of my lungs exhaling. The shot broke the silence, followed by the meaty thwaap of the bullet penetrating the buffalo’s muscular shoulder. The herd erupted and the bull immediately disappeared in the ensuing cloud of dust, but I knew that he was finished. Several seconds later, lingering far to the back of the now departing herd, my bull stumbled in the ash. Two quick insurance shots ended the battle, and the grand old brigadier fell to his final resting place. A hand on my back and the familiar sound of my dad’s voice saying, “You just shot your first buffalo, Jackson”, was all I remember hearing after that, followed by a storm of back slaps and heartfelt bear hugs.
Minutes later, we walked up to the fallen buffalo. What lay before me was truly mind-blowing. From a traditional trophy perspective, the bull was below mediocre and would not stand a chance in any record book, even if he still had two full horns. Yet, the old warrior was more than I ever could have hoped for and exactly what I had dreamt of. His polished bosses reflected the clear Mozambique sky, and the remaining half of his broken left horn was worn into a rounded
stump. The gray, grizzled face told the story of a long, well-lived life in what is now one of my favourite places in all of Africa. I then noticed the scar on his ankle from an old snare wound, and another on his throat. It was sobering and angering, as it was a visible reminder of the war on poaching in our area, but it also added to the bull’s story of survival. My dad and Kyne were in just as much awe of the bull’s grandeur, with Kyne calling me the “luckiest bugger alive”. Dad and Kyne encouraged me to sit in quiet reflection before we started the long process of capturing photos and skinning the bull.
As I sat next to the wizened old nyati, my hand gently stroking its side, I waxed into a state of reverent contemplation. To many, the ethos of hunting older animals is merely a means to justify the conservation benefits of hunting. While conservation will always be at the core of my desire to hunt older animals, there is also an intangible reward that cannot be so easily explained. I believe that old things have a spirit which can be felt by the person holding it, just like old rifles or antique furniture have. Yes, the wear-and-tear and unique visible characteristics tell a more substantive story than something of lesser
years, but there is also a more subtle story within those items that is beyond what merely meets the eye. Hunting an old buffalo like this one is no different for me. His battle scars and aged appearance tell dozens of stories, but the untold stories of a long-lived spirit create a lasting soberness that weighs heavily on the discerning hunter.
After my time of reflection, we carried on with the other rituals so common to a hunt of this nature: the seemingly endless photos, the countless retelling of the story, and then the preservation of the trophy and the butchering
of the great animal. Having already fetched the Cruiser from where it was last parked hours ago, Kyne turned the key only to hear a silent, but deafening click. The battery was flat, and the ground made it impossible to push-start the vehicle. We were now stuck in the middle of nowhere and faced a long wait for help to arrive from camp – a perfect finale to an already unforgettable saga. As the sun began its relentless slide over the western horizon, a fire was lit, and we were hungry.
Dusk turned quickly into darkness, and I sat listening to the crackling of the fire under a star-filled sky, looking at my bull’s horns glistening in the flickering light of the flames. The smell of fresh buffalo meat cooking over the open fire evoked my deepest instincts as a hunter. Roughly 175 years earlier, the great Scottish explorer David Livingstone had trekked through what is now Mahimba and at some point likely found himself in a similar setting under the same timeless stars. A day like this has a feeling that one cannot bottle up. It can only be felt by living it, then living it again over and over in our memories. I am eternally grateful to that old dagga boy for beckoning me to this special patch of earth, and for inviting me into one of the greatest adventures a man can experience.
Jackson Engel grew up in Namibia and has hunted extensively throughout the country both for himself and with hunting clients. Jackson is a regular contributor to HuntinNamibia. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee (USA) with his wife Kelly where he works in digital marketing for 3plains and is the Marketing Manager for Huntersinc.com.
MAHIMBA SAFARIS is owned and operated by Huntersinc.com LLC, which is headquartered in Texas, USA and Windhoek, Namibia. Huntersinc.com was co-founded by Namiban Manfred Egerer and long-time Namibia resident Scott Engel.
Photos taken by Mutambo Films / Kolby Edwards Production managed by Red Sand Films / Reinhardt Brönner
Coexistence in Action: Namibia’s Problem Animal Programme
Madeleen Duvenhage
From the rural reaches of Namibia’s expansive wilderness to the often monotonous moments spent collating data at a cluttered desk, Richard Freyer’s work rarely follows a routine. As a Control Warden with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Freyer is part of a team tasked with maintaining one of Namibia’s most delicate balances: conserving wildlife while supporting
the people who live alongside it. Each year, Freyer contributes to setting wildlife quotas, a cornerstone of sustainable resource management in the country. These quotas are not arbitrary numbers: they are based on field data, aerial surveys and close cooperation with all 86 communal conservancies in Namibia. This annual process then determines quotas for the next threeyear cycle.
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The reality of conservation, he emphasises, "is that every choice carries weight. Not just for wildlife, but for the people who share the land.”
The quotas are guided by the Quota Setting Coordinating Committee, a body within Namibia’s Department of Natural Resource Management. The committee brings together representatives from the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks, the Directorate of Scientific Services, and the Namibian Association for Conservancy Support Organisations (NACSO), while also consulting closely with conservancies and hunting operators. According to Freyer, this collaborative approach ensures that quotas are based on solid data, practical experience and a shared commitment to environmental balance and community benefit.
But Freyer’s role extends far beyond policy and numbers. As the officer managing the Problem Animal Control Programme, he confronts one of conservation’s most complex challenges: mitigating conflict between people and wildlife. It is where livelihoods, safety and the needs of the community often intersect. He admits that confronting the on-the-ground realities of human-wildlife conflict can be “emotional” work, and one that requires empathy.
THE PROBLEM ANIMAL CONTROL PROGRAMME
So, what exactly qualifies an animal as a “problem animal”? Freyer emphasises that it is not the species itself that is at fault, but the individual that repeatedly causes harm. A lion that occasionally preys on livestock is not automatically labelled a problem, but one that repeatedly returns to farms or settlements may be. The same principle applies to elephants, leopards, hippos and crocodiles: the programme targets the conflict-causing individuals, not the species as a whole.
Once a report is received, the response process begins immediately. Wardens investigate and verify the incident, then implement appropriate strategies depending on the situation. Non-lethal interventions, such as deterrents or relocation, are preferred, while removal or destruction is only considered as a last resort. The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) is informed through a private WhatsApp group that includes outfitters. This ensures rapid dissemination of crucial information without causing public alarm. “We don’t want the animal to create more havoc”, Freyer notes, highlighting the need for swift action to secure a PH.
Translocation is a key component of this programme. In the northwestern region, for example, a lion was recently captured and relocated to Bwabwata National Park, demonstrating that problem animals are not only hunted but also safely moved to reduce conflict. Each intervention is carefully documented and monitored to prevent recurrence and minimise ecological impact.
A recent real-life example of where this system worked effectively involved a farmer in the ≠Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy who lost 35 sheep in a single night. The problem-causing animal, a lion, was removed and hunted, resolving the immediate threat to the community’s livelihood. The programme has not been without its critics. But Freyer maintains that one needs to – put simply – listen. “We must consider people's side of the story, especially to someone who has just lost their entire income in one go. How do you put food on the table? Get your kids through school? These are the real, tangible hardships and we need to examine both sides of the story.”
For Freyer, working in the field has shaped a perspective that cannot be gained from behind a desk. “It’s easy to make assumptions, if you’re not out in the field. I have been to meetings in communal conservancies. One must listen. It’s always going to be a difficult decision”, he says. “The reality of conservation”, he emphasises, “is that every choice carries weight. Not just for wildlife, but for the people who share the land.”
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism’s mandate has always been clear: to conserve wildlife while prioritising communities. “We need our conservancies. The
one cannot exist without the other”, Freyer explains, underscoring the interdependence of healthy ecosystems and thriving local communities in Namibia.
HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT SELF-RELIANCE SCHEME
As for losses caused by wildlife, Freyer clarifies: “We don’t compensate, but we give an off-set not related to market value.”
In Namibia it is not government policy to provide full compensation to farmers for livestock or crop losses resulting from wild animals. Past compensation schemes implemented elsewhere have often proved problematic and susceptible to abuse, highlighting the need for alternative approaches that both mitigate losses and encourage self-reliance among communities.
Under the Human-Wildlife Conflict SelfReliance Scheme, payments are made to partially offset the impact of livestock losses, with rates deliberately set below the full market value of the animals. The scheme also provides specified payments for crop damage and, in cases of human injury or death, support to affected families. While the government cannot be held legally responsible for the death of a person caused by a wild animal, it acknowledges a moral responsibility to assist families by covering basic funeral costs.
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
Freyer points out that impactful conservation relies not only on policies and fieldwork, but also on comprehension. “Familiarise yourself with Namibian laws and policies which are available to the general public, before being quick to post negative comments. It has a ripple effect”, he stresses.
Greater understanding of these frameworks helps build trust and accountability among all stakeholders. By promoting awareness and encouraging constructive dialogue, Namibia can continue to strengthen its conservation efforts and ensure that decisions made in the field are supported and appreciated by the broader public. “Wildlife-human conflict will always be there, but we can learn to manage it better.”
The from the giantwoodlands
Sebastian Fechter
We were kneeling in the hot sand. It was early April, yet the sun was burning down on us mercilessly. Poldi was sitting behind me. It was his second visit to Namibia and therefore he now knew that in Africa, too, the scorching heat and biting flies do come to an end.
In situations like this you sometimes wish you were relaxing in a pool instead, with an icecold gin and tonic in hand. I briefly glanced back at Poldi and was delighted by the sight of his fine .470 NE double-barrelled rifle.
It brought to mind the exciting buffalo hunt of the last few days in the Zambezi Region (formerly Caprivi), and suddenly I was fully focused again.
After his buffalo hunt, Poldi wanted to try to go for a very good eland. The plan was to stalk up to close range and deliver a lethal shot with the .470 over open sights. A real challenge!
But I was happy to go along with that. We chose a 15,000 hectare hunting area directly adjacent to the so-called Bushmanland in northeastern Namibia.
With other hunting friends I had previously hunted for eland in this area and I was fairly certain that here, in the deciduous forest, the quest for a trophy bull could work out.
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In the morning we were lucky enough to find promising tracks of a small group of eland bulls. The tracks were easy to follow in the thick sand, and it quickly transpired that there had to be at least one trophy bull among them.”
FRESH TRACKS
In the morning we were lucky enough to find promising tracks of a small group of eland bulls. The tracks were easy to follow in the thick sand, and it quickly transpired that there had to be at least one trophy bull among them. We thought that the group consisted of four bulls.
Initially the tracks led into a small but dense patch of woodland, characteristic of this area. Based on the tracks, the eland seemed
to have been browsing there for quite some time. Fresh droppings made us hopeful, and so we continued to follow the tracks with utmost attention.
Suddenly, I spotted an animal in the shade between some half-height bushes! All of us crouched down cautiously, and I explained to Poldi where I had seen something and that I thought it was at least one of the bulls.
THE FAMOUS CLICKING SOUND
“That must be the group”, I whispered to Poldi. Fortunately, the wind was blowing towards us, and so we stayed put for a few minutes to see if we could spot some more animals. Then I heard quick clicking, a sound that never fails to give me goosebumps. “There it is again, do you hear it, Poldi? Click... click.”
Then we saw the bull slowly moving out of the bushes and to the right. A massive body leisurely pushed its way through the dense vegetation. Looking through my binoculars, I could only guess at the size of the trophy, but I was convinced it was a good one. “That must be a trophy bull”, I whispered to Poldi.
We let the two trackers, John and Gideon, stay behind, and crouching down we tried to move to the right, parallel to the bull. He was feeding in the bushes just fifty metres ahead of
us, but he was virtually invisible. All of a sudden the clicking stopped and the bull had disappeared from sight, too. Surely he had moved into the nearest shade again.
Extremely cautious and with all our senses focused ahead of us, we laboriously crawled forward through the thick sand. I assure you, dear reader: Thorns and sharp stones may be unpleasant enough, but hot sand in the midday heat feels like a stove turned to maximum heat!
When after about thirty metres we still couldn’t see an eland, I dared to stand up slowly and look around a little.
FACE TO FACE
I hadn’t even straightened up completely when, less than twenty metres ahead of us, I caught sight of the horns and massive head of an eland bull! In slow motion I knelt back down beside Poldi and whispered softly, “There is a huge bull right in front of us, facing our way, but I don’t know if he has noticed us yet. We’ll wait a few minutes, then you can rise slowly, slowly. He will probably spot you. As soon as you get the chance, aim straight for the chest!”
Poldi took a moment to collect himself and run the situation through his mind, then he was ready.
I gave him a hand signal to let him know he could rise now. Half at the ready and with slightly trembling knees, Poldi got up in slow motion. I tried to rise as well, at an angle behind him. My heart was pounding in my ears. It is unbelievable how tense one becomes after strenuously stalking so close to such shy and alert game. Now we had to hold our nerves! One wrong move and the giant would bolt in an instant.
When I noticed that the eland was scenting in our direction, everything happened very fast.
Poldi was at the ready, stood up fully and aligned the sights on his target. I saw the bull lift his head and neck still higher to get a better look at us. At that very moment, the thunderous crack of the .470 Nitro Express broke the silence.
The bull reacted instantly to the heavy bullet from the double rifle. He flinched noticeably at the front, then turned sharply to the left. When Poldi had clear vision at about forty metres through a gap between the bushes, he diligently released again. That shot struck perfectly as well, entering behind the last rib and travelling forward into the bull’s chest cavity.
The powerful bull moved only a few more metres before we heard a loud crashing and cracking in the thicket. The bull was down!
INDESCRIBABLE MOMENTS
Neither of us could quite believe what had just happened. We stood motionless for several minutes, listening intently into the dense bush. Gideon and Johnny approached cautiously, full of expectation. Both smiled and patted Poldi on the shoulder – a good sign!?
Everything was dead silent, except for the shrill whining of the cicadas. It seemed as if the bull had succumbed. We slowly moved forward in the direction of the last sounds, scanning the sandy ground for blood. We found none, but the heavy tracks of the mighty antelope were clear to see.
After about seventy metres we suddenly stood next to an enormous body. Poldi reverently knelt down beside the fallen bull, tears of joy in his eyes as he looked at the magnificent trophy. “That truly is a giant!” he said. I nodded in agreement and slapped his shoulder. “You have really earned this one, Poldi! This is something one doesn’t experience every day.”
The giant of the forest will certainly stay in our memory forever. Despite the burning sand, the biting flies and the tremendous effort it takes to get such a magnificent animal in your sights, I think I could hunt old eland bulls every single day.
The eland is simply an absolutely fascinating species. One can try to describe it, but it is something you definitely have to experience yourself.
www.ana-namibia.com
Hagen Denker
There is a saying that “friendship isn’t a big thing, but a million little things”. I like to think the same about hunting: hunting isn’t a big thing, it’s a million little things.
Hunting for me goes beyond the obvious, beyond the daily grind and the collecting of trophies. Even beyond the now hackneyed phrase of “collecting memories” ‒ something probably nobody can really define. Once you allow yourself as a hunter to actually and consciously take in moments and breathe in air, you realise that there is so much more to hunting, and being a hunter.
While I was preparing for my hunting season clearing the road of thick grass from the good rainy season, I had to brake abruptly because I saw a small movement on the track in front of me - it was a Common Buttonquail with three chicks that immediately froze when I stepped closer to them. As they were in the tyre track I had to move them to the side ‒ three chicks that were barely the size of my thumb nail. While I was busy getting them out of the way, the mother came walking back along the track. She got to about two metres from me but decided that this was too close for comfort, hastily leaving again. I did not want to disturb the hen with her brood any further and left.
This trivial little episode showed me once again that creation is full of wonders if we just open our eyes and shift our focus. At the same time it also made me think back to similar moments I have had in the past while out hunting, and sharpened my senses to notice these moments in the season to come. Moments that make being out in the bush so much more of an experience.
Not long after, two days into the first safari, we had been stalking along a wide and shallow dry riverbed in the afternoon. This particular riverbed is lined with big Ana and Camel thorn trees, with the odd Leadwood or Umbrella thorn tree among them. It is an area that attracts wildlife because of the deep shade and furthermore, many animals traverse the river on their way to the waterhole in the evening.
We hadn’t yet seen anything worth taking a closer look at, when we had to leave the riverbed and head back towards the Land Rover, as the hunting area ended half a mile upstream. As we came out the riverbed, I thought that I saw an animal some 350 yards north of us. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be a kudu cow. As it was the middle of the rut, we closely glassed the small ridge. Little by little more and more kudus became visible. And finally a stately bull with deep curls and a half-wide spread made his
appearance. Although my hunter had not come for kudu specifically, he mentioned that if the right bull would show itself, he would consider trying his luck.
So we moved in closer up to about 170 yards behind a scanty stinkbos (Boscia foetida subsp.) from where I had a better view of the bull and his harem. I noticed pretty soon that he was too young, with his bases still white and softlooking and his stature one of a bull moving into his prime. While we were enjoying the kudus as they were slowly browsing up the ridge and then along and over the crest in the last sunrays, I noticed a slight movement to the left of my head.
It turned out to be a tiny yellowish spider that was dancing between two branches of the stinkbos. It looked like it was inspecting the strings of its web. The strings were so delicate and fine that it was not possible to see them, not even against the light. Therefore it seemed like a dancing spider in the air, bathed in the last soft rays of the sun.
A small moment that was so unimportant to our hunt, yet gave me a feeling of gratitude and contentment.
A little later in the season, with another hunter, we were on our way down to the dry
riverbed again. In the afternoon, with the westerly wind in our faces, we had the heavy sweet smell of the blooming Ana trees in our noses. Like the game, I knew what this smell meant: lots of tasty Ana pods later in the year. They are like a magnet to game and turn such dry riverbeds into a vital lifeline in the tougher times of the seasons. Slowly stalking along the beautiful riverbed, we happened upon a springbok ram with three ewes and a magnificent gemsbok bull that was in its prime ‒ we decided that it still “needed” a couple or so years before it should be hunted. Around a bend in the river ‒ an island of Ana trees in the middle of the riverbed ‒ there is a white-grey granite slab on the eastern bank. On this slab we could now observe a yellow mongoose darting up the granite, presumably to get away from us. The mongoose, however, made a sudden turn and went into a small
patch of grass growing from a crack in the granite. Then it flew back out into our direction and zig-zagged across the slab: completely oblivious to us, it was hunting a lizard. After a while it disappeared over the slab and continued its hunt on the other side, as we continued our hunt along the riverbed. The rest of the stalk was uneventful, only laden with images of the setting sun in dusty air filled with insects swarming underneath one of the blooming Ana trees.
A highlight for me as a hunter is observing other predators, especially in an area where they are not persecuted “to the full extent of the law.”
One such memory worth collecting, happened on an early winter morning while hunting for kudu. We had left the old Land Rover ‒
serving as the hunting truck ‒ in a small bushy area to climb up Dik Dik mountain and spend the next few hours glassing for kudu in the surrounding hilly landscape. We hadn’t even started our ascent of the mountain yet when we heard a jackal howling and yapping to our right, not far away. We couldn’t see him, and not giving it much thought we continued and went up the hill to a suitable glassing spot almost at the top. Looking down to where we had come up and heard the jackal, I saw an unfamiliar object lying in a clearing near a small riverbed. Putting my binoculars to my eyes, I immediately had what seemed to be a dead baby giraffe and two jackals in sight. And then: a big leopard! While still trying to figure out how a leopard could kill a giraffe, albeit a small calf, we could witness a fascinating spectacle. The leopard was lying under a tiny tree ‒ presumably with his stomach full ‒
while two jackals tried to get closer to the kill. They weren’t courageous enough yet to come closer than a respectful distance and always back-tracked before the leopard had to do more than growl. After a while the jackals split up and came from two different sides, a tactic that seemed to be more effective. One jackal approached from the left while the other waited at a safer distance to the right. The left jackal came too close to the kill, prompting the leopard to get up and chase the jackal away ‒ which gave the second jackal a chance to try his luck. However, he only got as much as a sniff of the giraffe before the leopard was back to defend his kill. The leopard went to lie down at his little tree again. The whole game started anew again and again. At one point the leopard took a few bites ‒ as if he was considering finishing the whole giraffe before anyone else could steal something ‒ and then made a futile attempt to cover his kill.
After a while we saw a third jackal approaching and I thought that now the leopard would definitely be outsmarted. The other two jackals were still busy with their game and the third one seemed to jump right in. But when the other two noticed the third jackal, it quickly became clear that he was an intruder. The first two immediately gave chase to the third one. One in particular was going with tenacity after the outsider, who first made a few sidesteps but then dashed off, with one of the pair in hot pursuit. They went through a little ravine, and when they came out on the other side, a steenbok also appeared, a little confused. The steenbok ran up a little incline and from there watched the two jackals swerving to the left and then back again. The steenbok somehow decided that he needed to get out of the way, but in his efforts he ran right across to where the jackals were coming back. The first jackal had already
A MILLION LITTLE THINGS
passed when the second jackal noticed the fleeing steenbok. He stopped chasing off his kind and rather went after the steenbok. The jackal quickly closed in, but before we could see any drama unfolding, they both disappeared behind a slope.
Back at the kill, the leopard was under his tree again and there was no sign of the remaining jackal.
I took the chance to disappear behind the bushes over the top of our lookout spot for a few minutes. When I returned, both jackals were back and at that moment the leopard was walking towards his giraffe. He probably saw me coming over the crest, as he looked up at me and then quickly disappeared from the scene, crouched down low. I was a bit mad at myself for disturbing him but at least this gave the jackals a chance to get to the kill and eat their fill. For us the excitement was gone for now and we finally, after more than an hour, could focus on looking for our actual quarry. We saw lots of game, and just as we were about to call it a day for the morning a young kudu bull traversed across our field of view. Although he was not a shooter, this seemed to round off an eventful morning. When the bull had disappeared, we started to pack up. Before we could leave though, the penultimate scene unfolded. A group of giraffes approached from the northeast. At first it seemed as if they were just on their way to the waterhole or to change browsing areas. However, they directly came to the site of the morning spectacle and apparently the previous night’s drama. It quickly became obvious that this was the group from which the baby giraffe had been taken. The giraffes all went to the site of the kill and for a while nervously walked around the dead baby giraffe until
one cow went to sniff it, while the others just stood by in a semicircle. What an eerie and chilling atmosphere!
When they left, we could finally go down. On our way to the car we investigated the leopard kill, as I was still curious about how the leopard had managed to kill the little giraffe, especially considering that the mother would have fiercely protected her calf. Upon closer inspection we noticed that ‒ although there were bite marks on the throat ‒ the skull of the giraffe was completely smashed. Our only logical explanation was that in her efforts to protect her calf, the cow must have kicked the baby in the head, thereby killing it. Tragic from the human perspective, but a “normal” occurrence in nature.
A few days later, only a few tufts of hair and tiny pieces of bone were left ‒ nature had done its work.
Some little moments a hunter experiences while out in the wilds are also forgotten or shift into the subconscious and only pop up when triggered by certain sightings or being in the same area. One such memory that I had completely repressed came to mind again when we (successfully) hunted klipspringer in August. We were hunting in an area dominated by grey-black rock that is of volcanic origin and has a very high iron content, often “clinking” metallically when two rocks hit each other as you walk over them.
I remembered that in this exact same area, five or six years ago, I had watched how one of the endemic black mongooses was chasing back and forth around a klipspringer during the course of maybe 5-10 minutes. The klipspringer was obviously too big to fall prey to the mongoose, and it almost seemed as if
- tented camp at the foot of the Erongo Mountains- indigenous game- honest hunting -
they were playing a game. Again, it was one of those sightings that was completely trivial to our hunting quest but what makes being out there worthwhile.
Every hunter probably has similar memories that pop up every now and then (or not). For me they are a vital part of why I hunt. I, for example, have memories from 15 years back of a completely golden shiny beetle that I found while hunting elephant in the Bushmanland hunting concession. Or the moments of camaraderie shared with San (Bushman) trackers while helping out with a leopard hunt as a teenager (being the driver for the hunting party sitting in the blind and me waiting at the truck with the trackers).
Or of an early morning on my property where I was able to observe two brown hyenas returning to their denning area in a magnificent granite area in the first sunlight.
“Actual” hunting, of course, also makes up these “million little things”.
One of the moments being when you stalked an old gemsbok bull, and he is even closer than you “planned”. Where you can see every hair on his hide and the reflection in his eyes. The hunter slowly raising his open-sighted rifle and taking the shot at less than 30 yards.
Or the relief and feeling of fulfilment after having carried the quartered meat of a Hartmann’s Zebra or Kudu bull from the mountains to the nearest place the hunting truck could reach.
Or late nights spent at the campfire in deep conversation with hunters who have become mates.
Or watching your own children experiencing the small wonders of our natural world.
In our evermore fast-paced world, which has also found a grip on hunting, where one often gets the impression that the experience or the collecting of memories is dominated by bagging as much as possible in a time as short as possible, and bragging about it at the evening dinner gathering, I wish and hope that every hunter can now and then find the little moments and things – and cherish these. Because I truly believe that hunting isn’t a big thing, it’s a million little things.
Standing Together: Securing the Future of Ethical Conservation Hunting in Namibia
Kristin Maritz
Namibia’s hunting community stands at a pivotal juncture. For five decades, professional hunters, trackers, operators, conservancies and rural partners have protected wildlife and ensured that land remains dedicated to conservation. Our model, grounded in ethical hunting and sustainable use, is recognised worldwide as one of the most successful conservation systems. Yet today, we face increasing external pressure from anti-hunting activists, misinformation campaigns, international policy interference and transport restrictions. These groups present a united front and do not distinguish between ethical and unethical hunting, between a conservancy and a freehold farm, or between a professional hunter and a conservation biologist. Their aim is absolute: to end hunting entirely.
At the same time, internal division does more harm than we often
realise. While anti-hunting lobbyists coordinate their efforts, our sector sometimes allows personal differences or competition to undermine the broader vision. Unity is not simply desirable – it is essential. Without it, even the strongest conservation model can be weakened. Together, however, we hold enormous strength. Namibia’s success did not come from isolation or individual voices, but from collaboration, sciencebased wildlife management and a shared conviction that wildlife must have value if it is to survive.
Ethical hunting remains central to this success. It ensures that wildlife is protected and managed responsibly, that land stays under natural habitat instead of being converted, and that rural livelihoods are supported. Trophy hunting alone contributes approximately N$350 million annually on freehold lands, forming part of a tourism sector worth more than N$2 billion. These funds support conservation
programmes, anti-poaching units, research, habitat management and community benefits. Thousands of jobs exist because ethical hunting exists, from professional hunters and trackers to taxidermists, hospitality staff, mechanics, pilots and artisans. When conservation produces tangible economic value, wildlife thrives. When it does not, poaching, habitat loss and humanwildlife conflict increase. Countries that have banned hunting, such as Kenya, have seen severe declines in wildlife populations, proving that funding for conservation must be practical, sustainable and rooted in reality.
Namibia’s future hunting professionals are central to safeguarding this system. Many already possess natural skills in tracking, understanding wildlife behaviour and navigating our environment. With proper training, mentorship and ethical grounding, they become ambassadors for sustainable wildlife management. Becoming
Africa (MRA),
Tel: 912 within Namibia or +264 83 339 0033 Internationally Mail: mra@westair.com.na www.medicalrescueafrica.com
a hunting professional is not simply a job: it is a meaningful career, offering financial stability, opportunities for entrepreneurship, and the chance to contribute directly to the conservation of our national heritage. Importantly, it is a path open to those with dedication, discipline and a passion for nature.
Training remains a cornerstone of our profession. From theoretical and practical examinations to specialised courses in butchery, caping, photography, first aid and field techniques, we continue to build competence and confidence. Over recent years, additional emphasis has been placed on training Previously Disadvantaged Namibians, because sustainable conservation must be inclusive. Involving a broad range of Namibians strengthens public understanding of the role of hunting and ensures that our conservation model is supported and understood across society.
NAPHA has upheld the interests of the hunting community since 1974. Founded by a group who recognised the importance of unity and collective representation, NAPHA has grown into a respected organisation both locally and internationally. Today it plays an active role in policy discussions, member support, training, regulatory engagement and defending Namibia’s conservation record in the media and at global forums.
From working with MEFT on leopard tag processes and engaging in the National Spatial Master Plan with FENATA to assisting members with airport firearm procedures, NAPHA consistently advocates for practical
solutions and fair regulatory systems. Our representation at major hunting shows in Germany, Austria and the United States continues to position Namibia as one of the world’s leading ethical hunting destinations. Ethics remain central to everything we do. A single unethical act damages not only an individual reputation, but also the perception
The message is simple and clear. Namibia’s conservation hunting model works. It protects wildlife, sustains rural economies and preserves our natural heritage.” "
Knowledge must also be passed on, and experience must be shared. History is filled with examples of important knowledge disappearing when it is not transferred to the next generation. The same could be true for professional hunting. If we do not guide, encourage and mentor future leaders, we risk losing skills, traditions and values that have supported Namibia’s wildlife for decades. Our future depends on the young hunters and aspiring professionals who are stepping forward today. They are not competitors – they are the continuity of our conservation legacy.
The message is simple and clear. Namibia’s conservation hunting model works. It protects wildlife, sustains rural economies and preserves our natural heritage. However, it requires unity, professionalism and unwavering ethical conduct. Our strength lies in standing together, supporting one another and speaking with one voice. The challenges we face will not disappear, but united we will continue to lead the world in ethical, sciencebased conservation hunting.
of all hunting professionals. Upholding ethical standards protects our collective credibility, ensures sustainability and maintains public trust in our conservation model. It is our duty to ensure that every member and every training candidate understands that responsibility.
The time for division has passed. The future belongs to those who collaborate, uphold high standards and remain committed to sustainable use. Namibia’s hunting professionals are custodians of the land, protectors of wildlife, and ambassadors for a system that balances human needs with nature’s wellbeing. With unity, integrity and pride in our profession, we will ensure that ethical hunting in Namibia remains strong for generations to come.
NAPHA AWARDS 2024
MEDAL
SALES AWARDS 2024
Individual Category Winners:
The Media House of the Year: Namibia Media Holdings (Ellanie Smit)
International Promotion of Namibian Conservation Hunting Award: Krieghoff International (Ralf Müller)
Loxodonta Award 2024: Mr. Koos Pienaar
3rd Place: Mr. Robert Pack (represented by Harald Pack)
1st Place: Mr. Jacques Strauss
2nd Place: Mr. Rainer Halenke
ART Trophy of the Year: Bergzicht Game Lodge
Most Top 10 Entries 2024/2025: Bergzicht Game Lodge
3rd Place: Aru Game Lodge
2nd Place: Otjiruze Safaris CC
1st Place: Onduno Hunting Safaris
2024 Most Active Member / Committee Award – Young Hunters Committee: Mr. Eddie Agenbach, Ms. Joana Hagmann, and Mr. Sven Günzel
The Most Approachable NAPHA Member of 2024: Mr. Tobias Günzel
The Conservationist of the Year Award: Dr Clemens von Doderer
3rd Place – Otjiruze Pumbas (Alex Rogl); 2nd Place – Smallgameexperts (Hoekus van Niekerk); 1st Place – Gobabis A Span (Schalk Pienaar)
FUN SHOOT AWARDS
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD
Honouring the unsung Heroes of Namibia’s Hunting Industry
HONOURING THE UNSUNG HEROES OF NAMIBIA’S HUNTING INDUSTRY
Each year at the Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) Annual General Meeting the spotlight turns toward those who uphold the country’s proud hunting traditions through quiet dedication, skill and humility. The 2024 awards once again reminded the industry that the heartbeat of conservation and safari excellence lies not only with professional hunters but also with the men and women working alongside them – in the camps, the kitchens and in the wilderness.
HUNTING ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR 2024 – ERASTUS HASHIPALA
The first accolade of the afternoon was presented by veteran professional hunter Kai-Uwe Denker, who took to the stage to pay tribute to a man he described as the “embodiment of reliability and quiet strength”.
Erastus Hashipala has been a core member of Denker’s team for the past twelve years – he is a trained hunting assistant, expert skinner, tracker and camp hand, who occasionally also lends a helping hand at Siggi Denker’s guesthouse. Known for his calm, composed demeanour, Erastus lets his work speak louder than words.
Kai-Uwe shared a memorable story from the past season near the Kuiseb River, where a late-afternoon gemsbok hunt turned into an overnight stay in the desert. With remarkable composure, Erastus processed the meat, built a wind shelter, kept the fire alive through the night, and prepared the liver over the coals – a traditional gesture that deeply impressed their international hunter, who later described the evening as a “five-star experience”.
“Erastus is more than a skilled assistant”, Denker concluded. “He is a man of great character – the kind of man who embodies the spirit of the Namibian wilderness.”
CAMP ATTENDANT OF THE YEAR 2024 – VERONICA MATIAS
Introducing the next award, the Master of Ceremonies reminded guests that behind every seamless safari experience are the camp attendants –
the steady hands who keep operations running smoothly. Ansie Strauss stepped forward to announce this year’s recipient, describing her as “the backbone of hospitality and the quiet force behind countless unforgettable client experiences”.
Veronica Matias joined Kowas Adventure Safaris in January 2022 as a student intern from the Nakayale Vocational Training Centre. Her dedication quickly earned her a permanent role by the end of that year. Today she serves as supervisor, chef, stock controller and trainer, setting high standards for service and mentoring her peers. Known for her attention to detail and deep care for guests, Veronica embodies the professionalism and warmth that define Namibian hospitality.
CHEF OF THE YEAR 2024 – ANGELA GABRIEL
The final award of the day celebrated a woman whose story is as rich and inspiring as the meals she prepares.
Hentie van Heerden delivered a touching tribute to Angela Gabriel, whose culinary journey began at age sixteen on a farm near Gobabis. Over the decades she has cooked in Namibia’s farthest corners – from the Khomas Hochland Mountains to Mahango National Park – first with Boet Nel Hunting Safaris, and for the past fifteen years with Ondjou Safaris.
A single mother of three, Angela has built a reputation for humility, resilience and excellence. Whether cooking over open fires or managing fly-camp kitchens, her grace and dedication have nourished hunters and guests alike.
These three award recipients remind us that Namibia’s hunting heritage is sustained by teamwork, integrity and a deep respect for the land – values shared by everyone who is a true conservationist at heart.
Camp Attendant of the Year 2024: Ms. Veronica Matias Chef of the Year Award 2024: Ms. Angela Gabriel Hunting Assistant of the Year 2024: Mr. Erastus Hashipala
Our Hunting Farm lies in the beautiful and endless rolling hills of the Khomas Hochland, some 60 km west of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.
Unlike the flat savanna land to the east of Windhoek, the Khomas Hochland boast bushy river valleys contrasted by high rocky outcrops and hillocks offering breathtaking views over the natural landscape, as far as the eye can see. Our Farm covers an area of 13 800 acres of breathtaking and unspoilt natural environment.
The farm offers abundant game and more than 20 species. Also a bird paradise for the bird lovers.
Die Keiler gives hunters and outdoor enthusiasts access to Namibia`s diverse wildlife and unique landscapes. Perfect for beginners and experienced hunters. Non-hunting family and friends are very welcome.
• Adventures trophy and management hunts
• Exclusive hunting safari. No multiple bookings
• Comfortable staydelicious food
• Napha member and NTB registered www.namibianhunting.com
SUBSCRIBE TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON
Die Keiler Offers: www.venture.com.na
SUBSCRIBE TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON www.venture.com.na TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON www.venture.com.na TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON www.venture.com.na TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON www.venture.com.na TO TRAVEL NEWS NAMIBIA ON www.venture.com.na
Hunting professionals registered with the Namibia Professional Hunting Association
Surname Initials Name
Operation Name
Agenbach E J Eduard Johannes "Eddie" Union's End Safaris
Email Website
eddie@unionsendsafaris.com unionsendsafaris.com
Ahrens E G Ernst Gernot RW Rowland Hunting Safaris info@geva-sales.com
Alberts C J Christiaan Joahnnes "Chris" Hunters Pride Taxidermy huntpride@iway.na
www.hunterspridetaxidermy-namibia.com
Arnold W J Werner Jost Wildacker Tourism (PTY) Ltd t/a Wildacker Guestfarm arnold-erbach@t-online.de www.wildacker-namibia.com
Badenhorst C Chris Farm Mimosa chris@farmmimosa.co.za www.farmmimosa.co.za
Bank J Joseph Oshingulu Hunting Safaris oshi@africaonline.com.na www.africasafari.hu
Barreras Garcia Reboredo L G Luis Gaspar Na-Gumbo Lodge & Safaris l.barreras@bartap.com.na www.nagumbo.com
Bartlett D D Danny Dudly Onguma Game Ranch (Pty) Ltd carmen.onguma@gmail.com
Barz PA Patrick Alexander Rechtsanwalt Barz pb@rechtsanwalt-barz.de
Basson J M Johannes Marthinus 'Marius" Okamapu (Pty) Ltd t/a Osprey Safaris Namibia nbasson@ospreysafaris.com www.ospreysafaris.com
Bauer A K Axel Karl Aigamas Hunting bauer@iway.na www.aigamas.com
Baumann H Horst hbaumann@nubibmountain.com
Beyer M.A B Malte Anselm Beyer ma.beyer@yahoo.de
Bezuidenhoud S B Stephan JSB Safaris stephan@jsbsafaris.com jsbsafaris.com
Binding H R Heiko Rainer Kataneno Hunt kataneno@iafrica.com.na
Blaauw J N Jacobus Nel "Japsie" Dzombo Hunting Safaris japsie86@gmail.com www.dzombo.com
Blauwkamp T A Terry Allyn Dallas Safari Club blauwkampt@gmail.com
Böckmann H Horst Farm Rudelsburg
Böhmcker A D André Doglef Moringa Jagd & Gästefarm moringa@iway.na www.moringasafaris.com
Brits J J Jan Justus Africa Hunt Safari justus@afrihuntsafaris.com www.afrihuntsafaris.com
Brönner AB Andries Ratau Safaris ratausafaris@protonmail.com; www.ratausafaris.com
Bross K A Klaus Alfred Klipkop Farming CC brossklaus@aol.com www.klipkop.de
Brüsselbach G M W Guido Maria Werner guidomwb@gmail.com
Campbell AA Andrew Alan Okangawa Farming & Hunting Safaris andrewac16@gmail.com www.okangawahunting.net
Chapman A C Anna Christine Huntafrica Namibia info@huntafrica.com.na www.huntafrica.com
Chapman J W James William Huntafrica Namibia info@huntafrica.com.na www.huntafrica.com
Cilliers A D Allan David Allan Ciliers Hunting Safaris allancilliers56@gmail.com www.cillierssafaris.com
Cilliers W A Wynne Anthony "Wayne" w.cilliers@icloud.com www.cillierssafaris.com
Cisse-Bross C Clothilde Klipkop Farming Okhota Namibia Safaris clocisse1@yahoo.com klipkop.de
Clausen K P Kurt Peter Okosongoro Safari Ranch info@okosongoro.com www.okosongoro.com
Cloete G Gideon Omujeve Hunting Safaris (Pty) Ltd okuwirasafaris@gamil.com omujeve.com
Conservation Force JJ John Jackson III Conservation Force JJW-NO@att.net www.conservationforce.org
Cooper Z D Zane Dirk Mahonda Hunting Safaris info@mahondahunting.com www.mahondahunting.com
Cramer A G Axel Günther Namibia Hunting Experience - p56 info@namibia-hunting-experience.com www.namibia-hunting-experience.com de Bod D W Dirk Willem Dirk de Bod Safaris Namibia info@safarisnamibia.com www.safarisnamibia.com de Lange PJ Petrus Jacobus "Pieter" Hemingway Hunting Safaris delangp@gmail.com hemingwaysafari.com
Deloch H G Hans Georg Hans Hunt Safaris hanshunt@iway.na
Deloch H P Hans Peter Oryxhunt oryxhunt@iway.na www.oryxhunt.com
Delport J H T Jan Hendrik Tobias "Jannie" Toekoms Hunting Safaris toekomsbowhunting@gmail.com www.toekomshunting.com
Delport P J Petrus Jacobus "Pieter" Eintracht Jagd Safaris pieter@delportlaw.com www.eintrachtjagd.com
Denk H C Hans Christian Jagdfarm Mecklenburg denk@jagdfarmmecklenburg.com www.jagdfarmmecklenburg.com
Denker H Hagen Lewo Safaris - p74 hagen@lewosafaris.com www.lewosafaris.com/hunting
Diekmann W G Wilhelm Hamakari Safaris hamakari@iway.na www.hamakari.com www.hamakarihunting.com
Dietz H Horst Askari Tours & Hunting etendero@iway.na www.askari-hunting.com www.namibiatours.de
Doman J F Johan Frederik Aloegrove Safari Lodge aloegrove@afol.com.na www.aloegrovehunting.com
Donhauser J Jürgen Forst Eibenstein juergen.donhauser@forst-eibenstein.eu www.forst-eibenstein.de
Dorfling B T Barend Tromp Hartland Hunting Safaris Namibia bd@hartlandhunting.com www.hartlandhunting.com
Dressel E G Ernst Gunther Jagdfarm Hairabib hairabib@gmail.com www.hairabib-hunt.iway.na
Dresselhaus D Dieter Heja Game Lodge dieterd@afol.com.na
Dreyer D Divan Sandheuwel divan@delm.co.za
du Plessis P J Petrus Johannes "Hannes" Bergzicht Game Lodge - p34 hannesd@africaonline.com.na www.bergzicht-hunting.com du Toit C J Cornelius Johannes "Neels" Omutati Game & Guestfarm neels@ingplan.com.na omutatisafaris.com
Düvel M Marco Farm Omambonde Tal marcoduvel@gmail.com Omambonde.com
Ebach E.H U Haus Udo hagen@omatjete.com www.omatjete.com
Egerer M Manfred Nyati Wildlife Art - p54 nyati@nyati-wildlife-art.com.na www.nyatiwildlifeart.com
Eggert H B Hagen Bendix Omatjete Safaris hagen@omatjete.com www.omatjete.com
Eichhoff E Elfried
Otjitambi Guestfarm elfried@iway.na
Eichler K U Kai-Uwe Namibia Safari Services/Smartdip - p68 kai@namsaf.com.na namibia-safari-services.com
Engelhard G Georg Jagdfarm Georg-Ferdinandshöhe - p88 info@kovahange-safaris.com www.jagdfarm-namibia.de
Epler C F G Clemens Florian Gerd Otjikaru Farming otjikaru@iafrica.com.na www.otjikaru.de
Erni E W Ernst Wilfried Hunting Farm Urusis erniurus@afol.com.na www.namibiahuntersguide.com
Erpf H R Hans Rudolf "Hansi" Jagdfarm Otjenga otjenga@gmail.com www.otjenga.com
Erpf H W Hans Werner "Bunsi" Oase Guest & Hunting Farm bunsi@jagdoase.de www.farm-oase.com
Esterhuizen A Antonie "Anton" Estreux Safaris CC info@estreuxsafaris.com www.estreuxsafaris.com
Esterhuizen W Wanda Estreux Safaris CC info@estreuxsafaris.com www.estreuxsafaris.com
Falk W A Wolfgang Adam Ondjondo Jagdfarm ondjondjo@iway.na www.ondjondjo.iway.na
Fechter H F Horst Friedrich Falkenhorst Safaris falcon@iway.na www.falkenhorst.jimdo.com
Fechter M L H Michael Ludwig Hubertus Nababis Hunting mfph@iway.na www.jagd-hunting-nababis.com
Fechter SF Sebastian Authentic Namibia Adventures info@ana-namibia.com www.ana-namibia.com
Fietz A E Armin Erhard Etemba Jagd info@etemba-hunting.com www.etemba-hunting.com
Fourie I V Isabelle Verena Chapungu - Kambako Hunting Safaris hunting.isabelle@gmail.com www.emantumbe.com
Friedensdorf K Karsten Hunting & Guestfarm Ondombo kfriedensdorf@iway.na www.namibia-jagdfarm.com
Surname
Website
Friedensdorf S Sylvia Hunting & Guestfarm Ondombo kfriedensdorf@iway.na www.namibia-jagdfarm.com
Friederich H H Helmuth Heinrich Baobab Game Ranch driehoek@mweb.com.na www.baobab-namibia.com
Fritsch H R J Harald Rainer Josef International Huntrs Bavaria h.fritsch@arbitas.de
Fug G German Terranova Tourism & Farming majavonreekenfug@gmail.com
Gall E Edmund The Riflemaker CC theriflemaker@yahoo.de
Garbade B T Bernd Thodo Onduno Hunting - p88 onduno@gmail.com www.onduno.com
Garbade H H Henner Helmut Onduno Hunting - p88 onduno@gmail.com www.onduno.com
Garbade T B H Thodo Bernd Hermann Onduno Hunting - p88 onduno@gmail.com www.onduno.com
Gorn M W K A Manfred Walter Karl August manfred@kgss.com.na
Grahl I Ilona Scheidthof Hunting Safaris grahl@iway.na www.scheidthof293.com
Groenewald J C Johannes Christoffel Okarusewa okarusewa.j@iway.na
Gruhn B W Bernhard Winfried Bellerode Hunting Jagd Safaris pbgruhn@iway.na www.bellerodejagd.com
Grünschloss K Karel "Kabous" Hunting Africa CC kgrunschloss@yahoo.com
Günther HM Hans Martin AD Hunting info@ad-hunting.com www.ad-hunting.com
Günzel G G T Götz Georg Tobias Ovisume Jagdfarm info@ovisume.eu www.ovisume.com.na
Haag A G F Andreas Georg Felix Otjikoko Game Ranch haag@otjikoko.com www.otjikoko.com
Haase H P Hans Peter Haasenhof Gästefarm haase@iway.na www.haasenhof.com
Haase O Olaf Jagd & Gästefarm Wilhelmstal Nord olaf85@gmail.com haase-wilhelmstal.com
Hagmann J.G Joana Gabriela Advenbia Safari CC joana.hagmann@bluewin.ch www.advenbia.com
Hakenjos G E Günter Eugen Hetaku Safari Lodge hetaku@iway.na www.hetaku.com
Halenke R Rainer Hohenau Hunting Ranch hohenau@namibianhunting.com www.namibianhunting.com
Hauffe W E G Wilko Ernst Georg Beenbreck Safaris wilkohauffe@gmail.com www.huntnamibia.info
Hegele C Christoph Albert christophhegele22@gmail.com
Heger G E Gudrun Ellen Otjiruse Hunting gudrun@otjiruse.com www.otjiruse.com
Heger N O Nikolai Otto Otjiruse Hunting nikolai@tandelta.biz www.otjiruse.com
Heimstädt K-D Klaus-Dieter Game Ranch Transvaal klausheimstadt@yahoo.com www.namibiahuntingandsafaris.com
Hennig G-C Georg Christiaan christiaanghennig@gmail.com
Hennig O W Oloff Walter Desert Holdings christo.hennig@deserthold.com
Hennings S P Steven Philip Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris - p50 philip@khomas-highland-hunting.com www.khomas-highland-hunting.com
Herbst H Helmut Bull River CC t/a Kansimba Game Lodge kansimba@iafrica.com.na www.kansimba.com
Herzog H Hubert Herzog Hunting hubert@herzoghunting.com; ulrike@herzoghunting.com www.herzoghunting.com
Hess S B Sigurd Bernhard "Sigi" Zighenzani-Africa Safaris sigurd@zighenzani.com www.zighenzani.com
Hihuilepo AH Ambrosius ARU - p20 danene@arugamelodge.com
Hill O Ollie Sybarite Sporting ollie.hill@sybaritesporting.com www.sybaritesporting.com
Hillermann M Marc Blaser Safaris Ltd namibia@blaser-safaris.com www.blaser-safaris.com
Hobohm H G Horst Gustav Abachaos #2025 Farming heide@fpc.com.na Holzinger W Wolfgang Holzinger GTML wolfgang.holzinger@gtml.at www.gtml.at
Horsthemke B Birgit Jagdfarm Stoetzer hbhorst@iway.na www.hunting-stoetzer.com
Horsthemke (Jnr) H H Harald Helmut Jagdfarm Stoetzer hbhorst@iway.na www.hunting-stoetzer.com Horsthemke (Snr) H W Helmut Werner Jagdfarm Stoetzer hbhorst@iway.na www.hunting-stoetzer.com Hübner MGH Marion Gisela Hella Namibia Safari Services - p68 weffie@iway.na namibia-safari-services.com
Hufnagl Y Yorck IFN Airfright Logistics - inside back yorck@ifn.com.na ifn.com.na
Hurt R A Robin Anthony Robin Hurt Safari Company (Pty) Ltd robinhurtnamibia@gmail.com www.robinhurtnambia.com www.robinhurt.com
Ipinge J A John Ali Ovitoto Game and Hunting Safaris (Pty) Ltd hafeni2@gmail.com
Irvine DSI Duncan Stuart Hunters Lens dunc.irv@gmail.com
Jacobs Francois Jakob Stream and Field Safaris streamandfieldsafaris@gmail.com
Jacobs S M Stephanus Marthinus "Stephan" SMJ Safaris info@smj-safaris.com www.smj-safaris.com
Janse van Rensburg J F Janse Francois Portsmut Hunting Safaris jansej@tgh.na www.phs.com.na
Jansen A Alichia IFN Airfright Logistics - inside back alichia@ifn.com.na www.ifn.com.na
Jansen J A B Jan Adrian Botha Acacia Hunting Safaris acaciahunting@gmail.com www.acaciahunting.com
Jansen van Vuuren L Lodewyk "L'wyk" Leopard Legend Hunting Safaris info@leopardlegend.com www.leopardlegend.com
Jochelson H M F Helena Maria Francesca "Helen" Ganeib Jagd & Gästefarm ganeib@iafrica.com.na
Joubert S J Stephan-Johann "Steph" Bergzicht Game Lodge - p34 steph@bergzichtgamelodge.com www.bergzicht-hunting.com
Jupke P G R Peter Günther Reinhard Jagdportal Namibia peter.jupke@t-online.de www.jagdportal-namibia.eu
Kaiser P Petra Kuhwerder Jagdfarm kaiser@iway.na www.jagdfarm-kuhwerder.de
Kaiser D U Dirk Ulrich Kuhwerder Jagdfarm kaiser@iway.na www.jagdfarm-kuhwerder.de
Langner A Anthea Omuramba Hunting Lodge info@omuramba.com www.omuramba.com
Leisler R Rudolf RL Hunting Farm office@rl-farm.com www.rl-farm.de/en Leuchtenberger JM Jan Munir Barg Büttner GmbH leuchtenberger@barg-buettner.com www.barg-buettner.com
Leuschner L I Lorenz Ingo Glenorkie Hunting Farm glenorkie@iway.na www.glenorkie.com
Thiessen J Johann Otjimbuku Hunting Farm otjimbuk@iway.na www.otjimbuku.com
Traut P J Peter James "Jamy" Jamy Traut Hunting Safaris info@jamyhunt.com; jamytraut@gmail.com www.jamyhunt.com
Tröh Michael Hairabib Jagd mgtroh@gmail.com hairabib-jagd.com
Trümper B Bernhard "Max" Airport Hunting & Guestfarm max.trumper@gmail.com www.airportfarm-namibia.com
Trümper U Uwe Airport Hunting & Guestfarm info@airportfarm-namibia.com www.airportfarm-namibia.com
Uffindell AF Arthur Frederick Aloe Hunting Safaris aloesaf@mweb.com.na
Utz G Gerrit African Safari Trails african-safari-trails@afol.com.na Utz (Snr) W Wilfried wilutz@iway.na
van den Berg WJ Wynand Johannes "Johann" Mashété Safaris info@mashete.com mashete.com
van der Merwe J S Jacobus Schalk "Jaco" Namibia Safari Corporation - p88 jaco@jsvdm.com www.namibiasafaricorporation.com
van der Merwe R Roy Otjandaue Hunting Farm otjandaue@iway.na www.otjandauehuntingsafaris.com
van der Westhuizen N H Nicolaas Hermanus "Nico" Quadrant Namibia (Pty) Ltd / Ikhanas - p82 nico@ikhanas.com www.ikhanas.com van der Westhuyzen D Danene Aru Game Lodges - p20 info@arugamelodges.com www.arugamelodges.com van der Westhuyzen G N Gysbert Nikolaas Aru Game Lodges - p20 gysbert@arugamelodges.com www.arugamelodges.com van Dyk C Christiaan Chui Hunting Safaris chuihunting@gmail.com van Heerden B H Barend Hendrik "Hentie" Van Heerden Safaris, Ondjou Safaris - p74 vhsaf264@gmail.com www.vanheerdensafaris.com van Heerden C A Carl Alexander "Callie" Namibia Trophy Hunting Safaris namibiatrophy@gmail.com van Heerden P W J Pieter Willem Johannes "Johann" JJ Hunting Safaris johannjjhs@iway.na jj-safaris.com van Niekerk H H Hugo Hendrik "Hoekus" Uhlenhorst Hunting Safaris hoecon@afol.com.na www.huntuhlenhorst.com van Rooyen JA Dr Johannes, Albertus, "Jean" Kalahari Hunting Safaris - p88 drjavr@iafrica.com.na www.kalaharihuntingsafaris.com van Rooyen Q Quinton Portsmut Hunting Safaris qvr@tgh.na www.phs.com.na van Schalkwyk PB Philippus Bauke "Phil" Farm Marienhof Trust philvs@afol.com.na Van Wyk HVW Jan Hendrik Beenbreck Safaris wvw@afol.com.na van Zyl A J L Antonie Johannes Louw Track A Trail Safaris trackatrailsafaris@hotmail.com www.trackatrailsafaris.com Veldsman J F Johann Frederik Shona Outdoor Safaris and Lodging CC shona@africanhuntingnamibia.com; shonaoffice@africanhuntingnamibia.com www.AfricanhuntingNamibia.com
Viljoen E P Enrico Pierre "Rico" Tactical Sports CC rico@tac-sport.com www.tac-sport.com Vogel I W Immo Wode Hunting & Guestfarm Gross Okandjou immo.vogel@gross-okandjou.com www.gross-okandjou.de Vogl M Markus info@pferde-vogl.de Voigts R W Reinhard Wolfgang Voigtskirch voigtskirch@iway.na Voigts U D Ulf-Dieter Krumhuk ud.voigts@krumhuk.com.na www.jagdfarm-krumhuk.de Volek C J Conway James Blaser Safaris Ltd namibia@blaser-safaris.com www.blaser.de von Gossler O Ortwin Orua Hunting Farm (Die Keiler) - p82 orua@iway.na www.namibianhunting.com von Hacht H J Hans-Joachim "Achim" Okatjo Jagdfarm okatjo@iway.na www.namibia-jagd.net von Koenen S A Sebastian Andreas Zighenzani Africa Safaris svkoenen@afol.com.na www.zighenzani.com/en von Schuman H W Hans Wolf Omupanda Jagd Safari CC info@omupanda.com www.namibiajagd.com von Seydlitz-Kurzbach H S Hartwig Sigismund Schoenfeld Hunting & Safaris schoenfeld.safaris@gmail.com www.schoenfeld-namibia.de von Seydlitz-Kurzbach W Werner Immenhof Hunting & Guestfarm - p40 werner@immenhofhunting.com www.immenhofhunting.com von Treuenfels M J G Michael-Jasper Gebhard "Michi" CIC michivt@t-online.de
Walker C J D Clifton John Douglas "Cliff" Cliff Walker Safaris cliff@cliffwalkersafaris.com www.cliffwalkersafaris.com
Weiken CFH Christian Fritz Heinrich Maria christian@weiken.de
Wenske M C B Markus Christian Benjamin Klipkop Farming CC wenske_m@hotmail.com klipkop.de
Werner CH Christian, Hermann Blumen_werner@t-online.de
Wiedenroth S Sven Harald Stolzenberg Farming sven@bsmr.com.na; stolzenb@iway.na www.stolzenberg.com.na
Wiggins W William H. Namibia Safari Services - p68 SmartDip@namsaf.com.na
Wilckens H Henner Okaturua Hunting okaturua@afol.com.na www.okaturua-hunting.com
Wilckens S Siegfried "Siggi" Omateva Hunting omateva@iway.na
Willnegger L Ludwig l.willnegger@gmail.com
Willnegger (Dr) E Eva ew@montgomery-ip.eu
Witjes T G F Theodorus Gougerius Frederikus "Theo" european@planet.nl
Woortman H C Harm Curt Omatako Hunting & Tourism (Pty) omatako@omatako.com www.omatako.com.na
Woortman V H H Volker Heinz Harm Omatako Hunting & Tourism (Pty) omatako@omatako.com www.omatako.com.na
Wrede A F A Aschwin Friedrich Arthur Gurus Farm wredemad@africaonline.com.na
Ziller H H Hans hansziller@hotmail.com
Zimny M Michael Haasenhof Gästefarm michizimny@gmail.com www.haasenhofhunting.com
S U P P O RT N A P H A
B E C O M E A
M E M B E R !
Since 1974, NAPHA has promoted conser va tion hunting in Namibia to protect wildlife and suppor t r ura l communities. This a pproac h maintains hea lthy wildlife popula tions, funds antipoac hing, and aids ha bita t preser va tion, ensuring biodiver sity while benefiting loca l communities.
Sponsoring Member - NAD 2,700.00 per annum
A per son who would like to suppor t NAPHA’s objectives who does not ear n an income from hunting in Namibia.
Ordinar y Member - NAD 5,070.00 per annum
A cer tified Namibian hunting professiona l who has passed the of ficia l Namibian examina tion.
Young Hunter - NAD 2,535.00 per annum
A cer tified Namibian hunting professiona l under 30 year s of a ge Group Member - NAD 2,535 00 per annum
A hunting professiona l under contract with an Ordinar y or Extraordinar y NAPHA member.
Extraordinar y Member - NAD 5,070.00 per annum
A Namibian resident or per manent resident who ear ns an income from trophy hunting as a full or par t-time occupa tion.
Hunting Assistant / Camp Attendant - NAD 350.00 per annum
A hunting assistant / Camp a ttendant employed by an Ordinar y, Honorar y, or Extraordinar y member who does not possess an of ficia l hunting qua lifica tion
NOTE
Member ship cyc le: 1 September - 31 August annua lly.
A pplica tions are subject to a pprova l from NAPHA's Executive Committee.
Member s must adhere to NAPHA's code of conduct and constitution
Admission fee: NAD 200 00 for a ll member ship a pplica tions. Sustainable
For more info visit: www.kalaharihuntingsafaris.com
Email us at: LisMarie Hansen lismarih@gmail.com /Jean van Rooyen- drjavr@iafrica.com.na
Down-to-earth hunting with down-to-earth people
Welcome to our family ranch (since 1908). Within 13 000 ha of beautiful and varied thorn-bush savannah (riverbeds, plains, moountains, granite outcrops and many waterholes), you experience personalised hospitality in a rustic atmosphere. We offer exceptional hunting possibilities on more than 22 wildlife species e.g. Kudu, Oryx, Eland, Impala, Damara Dik-Dik etc. (also special offers). We are looking forward to welcome you at our ranch.
