Weather and insects in Namibia

[bsterns]

Can anyone on this forum play weatherman and give me some idea of the weather in Namibia for the last half of June? Also is there a problem with the infamous biting flies that time of year? What type of insect repellent is best and suitable for airline travel. I think aerosols are forbidding on planes.

Bob

[Duffy]

Well, it doesn't look like it will be too hard to predict June's weather in Namibia, though I wasn't able to find anything too specific.

A number of sites are available on the country which may help however, including http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/wa.html and http://www.namibian.org.

Have fun!

[bsterns]

Duffy, that was really helpful. There was a lot of info on those sites. Seems like the weather should be very nice. It will be starting winter at the end of June. Hopefully not as hot. I was wondering what to wear that time of year. Cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon and possibly cold at night. I wonder about the malaria possibility. Mosquitos? Deep Woods rub-0n probably will come in handy.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
About three weeks ago my wife and I visited Etosha Park which is in the Northern part of Namibia. We had to take anti malarials for 10 days. If your hunting will be in the southern or central parts of the country you shouldn't need malarial protection. We have never needed anything in the five years we've gone there, except as mentioned. Accutally there are very few bugs. In June it should be cool in the mornings and evenings. I used a sweatshirt for those times.
You'll be there at a great time for hunting. Good luck.
John

[bsterns]

John, I believe we are going to go to Etosha Part for the first week of hunting. One of our group is going northeast from there to hunt Cape Buffalo and perhaps look for wounded buffalo. I will not be going. Two reasons, 1. I cannot afford that particular animal at this time and 2. taking a wounded one at a lower fee sounds suicidal to me. I cannot imagine purposely searching for Cape Buffalo other hunters have wounded. Actually I would love to do it but not much chance that I will go. They charge an extra $1000 just to tag along. What is it and where do I get this anti-malarial drug?

[John Duarte]

Bob,
The anti malarial we used is called mallarone. You take a pill a day for three days prior to entering the malaria zone, and a pill a day for seven days after leaving. We experienced no side effects. I believe mallarone is the drug of preference. Have your doctor write a perscription.
Will your PH be taking you through Etosha? If so see if he will take you out through the west gate. The western side of the park is off limits to the non - guided public. We found a herd of twenty elephants after we entered that side .
Who will the other party be hunting cape buffalo with? I've never heard of a hunt for wounded buffalo. The PH involved should have cleaned up the wounded ones after they were shot.

[bsterns]

John, I do not know anything more than I mentioned about the Cape Buffalo hunt. The only thing I remember about it was the fee was $5000 to shoot a wounded one and $10,000 for a healthy one. I have never met the party hunting the buffalo since he is an out-of-town friend of the friend that invited me along. I know very little about what is in store for me. I did get an answer back from Reiser's Taxidermy. The price list was reasonable, I think. He spoke highly of you. I will look into using them. My PH probably has connections with a certain taxidermist there. I should know more about all this but my local friend has done the communications with the PH and I have not actually communicated directly with the PH but I was sent a copy of emails that were corresponded between my friend and him. Hopefully all will go smoothly. It will be a great experience. I will email him about the anti-malarial drug.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
Have a great trip. Cape Town will be a pain, but you should have enough time to get your bags and guns rechecked through to Windhoek.
As far as taxidermists go, you can insist on using Reiser or any other you wish.
I've got to ask my PH friend Fred about those buffalo hunts.
John

[bsterns]

John, Mallarone is about $5 a pop. I got 50 Doxicylcine tablets for $9.95. They kill or render the filaria or protozoans ineffective. You take them 2 days prior to, daily during, and daily for 28 days after you leave the exposure area. Side effects are rare and it is good for a number of other possible infections.

[grayghost]

Might want to consider this: If hunting with friends, you can share the cost of shipping your raw trophies back together. Average cost for a container shipped home is $1,600. Divide this with 2 friends and you come out a lot cheaper. Ship 5-8 mounted game heads home could run you $1,600 by yourself. Be sure you check into all the details, after all, it's the details that get us. I have a friend that hasn't received his mounts, and it's been over 18 months now. I checked into having my skins tanned in Africa and shipped home. I thought maybe I would save on shipping weight. However, I discovered two concerns: they would be chrome tanned and dry when received (loss of elasticity or stretch) and shipping charges are based on total weight OR dimension; which ever is greater. In other words, I pay what ever costs more. My Taxidermist uses wet tanned skins to allow for correct stretch. You don't want a Kudu to have a neck that looks like it belongs to a Giraffe. Do your homework while you can. Good luck on your hunt, grayghost

[bsterns]

Grayghost, what are the shipping costs to send skulls and skins home that are to be mounted in the U.S.? Does it still cost the same for a crate or is there a significant difference in crate size from that needed for finished mounts and skins or what? That is my biggest question at this point. I am packed and ready to go, I leave on tuesday.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
You are charged for the size of the crate. It should be a lot cheaper to send skulls and flat skins than shoulder mounts. The taxidermy may cost significantly more in the USA. In the end it may be cheaper overall to have the work done in Namibia.
Good luck. The trophy quality is good right now due the increased rainfall over the last few years.
John

[BradC]

Hey Bob,

While it is true that you are charged according to size, a reputable taxidermist should ship your trophies in a box designed for your mounts. I picked my six mounted heads up in Atlanta and there was a box right beside mine containing raw capes and skulls with no difference in the size of shipment. The way those guys at Taxidermy Africa design and package shipments is amazing.

BC

[bsterns]

John, I got back Sunday, July 2nd. Had a very good trip. We hunted south of Mariental about 30 miles. I killed kudu, gemsbok, black wildebeast, springbuck, and steenbuck. All except the springbuck were exceptional trophies according to the PH. They were culling the springbucks so I shot 5 of them, all rams. The longest horns were only 13 1/2". The kudu was 52", the gemsbok was a 41" cow. I wanted a bull but the PH said this one was exceptional and encouraged me to shoot it. The black wildebeest had a score of 76" and over 72" was supposed to be good according to SCI or Rowan Ward. I really don't know much about it. The Steenbuck had 4 1/2" horns and was good for that area I was told. Glad to be back. The Kalihari had a lot of grass this year from all the rain. We spent 3 days in the mountains west toward the ocean near the Namib desert and Sesseous Vlei. We shot some Kudu and Klipspringer. It was very cold. I thought we were going to Enosha Park but we didn't. All in all it was a great time and quite an experience. The PH recommended a taxidermist in Windhoek and he was closed when we got there. His prices were discounted to us so we probably will use him. The taxidermist is called Nyati Taxidermy.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
Sounds like a great trip. It's hard to get a 40+" bull gemsbok, the longest horns are usually on the females. The rains have made hunting more difficult in Namibia due to the bush being thick and the grass high. Did you hunt on a farm or concession?

How did the transfer through Cape Town go? I'm thinking of doing a hunt in the RSA next year, and was wondering about firearms entry.
John

[bsterns]

John, the entry through Capetown is not the same as Johanesburg. My hunting buddy had his rifle and shotgun passed through without checking in Joburg. He stayed in transit to Namibia. I had to check the gun on arriving and again on departing CapeTown. Very similar to the arrival into the states in Atlanta. I would recommend not going through Capetown. Direct into Namibia or through Johannesburg is best. Saps form 520 can be downloaded and filled out ahead of time just in case you are checked on entering RSA. The Namibian police form for rifle import/export is very simple and can be down loaded from NAPHA website. I hunted on a farm. I had opportunities to go on two additional farms but did not have transportation to do so. I could have killed warthogs and ostrich for free. I did shoot my Gemsbok on a farm next to the one I was hunting on since we could not find one early on. I did see a good bull later after the fact. I will try to post pictures here if I can figure out how.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
I had the same experience in Cape Town that you had. I was wondering if the procedure was as complicated as I've heard. The year we passed through Cape Town form wasn't too long and we had to sit with our baggage until it was time to head for Windhoek. Next year I may go to the RSA and we will go through Cape Town. Do you think a clearing service would have been helpful?

I'm curious as to the lack of transportation to nearby farms. Could you have taken the big bull gemsbok if you wanted? You're allowed two on your license.
John

[grayghost]

I leave on Monday for SA and we decided to hire Hunters Support to expedite our firearms permits; help with Customs and escort us through all the procedures and our departing flight on to P.E. Their fee was very reasonable and they answered all of my questions and kept us informed via email. Our temp firearms permits are all ready to go and when they meet us at the airport, it should be a smooth walk through. I'll be able to give you an update when we return in a couple of weeks. HS emailed us a package that contained all forms needed for entry into SA. We filled out the info, obtained our Customs paperwork, copied necessary documents and forwarded this to HS. You can download this info off the PHASA website, and they can assist you as well. You probably are aware of all of this but I'll post my experiences when I return. Glad to hear you had a great hunt Bob. Good hunting, grayghost

[John Duarte]

grayghost,
From what I understand getting hunting rifles into the RSA is tedious. Namibi is a piece of cake. I'll be looking for your report on your experiences. Have a great hunt.
John

[bsterns]

John, the initial point of entry into Africa as here in the U.S.A. will check the guns upon arrival according to the Capetown police. When you check your baggage to continue after clearing customs then you must check the guns again. I cannot speak for Johannesburg since I only went through Capetown but one of my hunting partners did not have to check or recheck any luggage or guns through Johannesburg entry. He waited in-transit and the baggage including his rifle and shotgun was sent on to Namibia without a problem. Capetown required me to check and recheck everything. If you have the South african import/export form filled out(SAPS form 520) then it is not a big problem getting through the police check in and out. There may be no ammo shipped with the case and one of the policemen in Capetown told me that the bolt must be separate from the rest of the rifle. The Namibian police form is brief and they were very easy to work with.

RE the transportation to other farms, we did not have access to transportation for those items I mentioned but we did get a lot of extra hunting including kudu and springbuck without charge. The bull we saw would have been an extra expense for me since I had already gotten my Gemsbok. I am happy with the one I got. The total trip was 19 days and my total cost minus taxidermy fees was $7000 including airfare.

[John Duarte]

Bob,
As you saw hunting in Namibia is a great deal. Where did you put your ammo? I carry mine in a locked metal box in the bottom of my Tuff Pak. The TSA likes the ammunition locked up and you can't lock your check thru luggage anymore except the gun case.

When going to Namibia it's easier to transit through Johannesburg as your luggage is sent through. Cape Town has no locked storage facility that's why you have to pick up your baggage and recheck it. It sounds like entry into the RSA shouldn't be too bad if you have the SAPS form ready and all your ducks in a row.
John

[bsterns]

Yes that is correct, ducks in a row is the secret. I had no problem with ammo. I had it in my bag with other gun accessories in my regular suitcase. They wanted it in a regular box and not loose. Otherwise there was no concern other than the amount I was carrying, not to exceed the permitted limit. American airlines made me sign a piece of paper that said my gun was unloaded. They did not even check it coming back. Going over the gun was checked but the ammo was not an issue in any of the checks that I had. One Capetown policeman made me remove the bolt in transit but that was not a problem with domestic carriers. If you fill out the forms ahead of time you should not have a problem. When you are in Africa you carry your passport and your import/export gun permit with you at all times. You need your permit to buy ammo in Namibia as well.

[grayghost]

Hunters Support/Air 2000 was worth every penny. They met us at the J'burg Int'l airport and walked us through every step of the way. We had our guns checked and registered but this was a smooth transaction. Our "guide" knew every step and assisted us with each movement. No problems at any station. We were delayed 5 hours in arriving due to having to refuel on Costa del Sol Island instead of Dakar, so we missed our flight down to P.E. They took care of the details and had us on the next flight which was only a short layover. They stayed with us until we departed. Upon our return to J'burg, we were once again greeted by a representative of H.S. He assisted us with gun departure and all went smooth. Key element was: Have your ducks in a row! Gun permits should be ready, along with your passport and airline tickets. My hunting partner forgot to take his permit out of his pants one night and they were washed the next day. Fortunately for him the serial numbers were still legible or he would have been in trouble. Thanks again to our HS rep; he helped us get through a sticky moment....TWICE! These folks are A-OK to us and we are going to use them again next year when we return. I wouldn't be without them. Even though I've been through the procedures once, I trust them to make it a smooth ride again. As mentioned before, their fee is very reasonable; almost cheap! Our 10 hunt in RSA was outstanding. I took 16 animals and my bud took 12. It is my understanding that all of them will score in SCI and some Roland Ward. I don't know, and don't care. I had a fabulous time and can't wait to return. Our PH's (Bowker Safari Co.) were unbelievable hosts and superb Professionals. We hunted with Denham and Meyrick Bowker. Both could field judge game with outstanding accuracy. Advising us on "shoot" "don't shoot" within seconds in some cases. I'll post my hunt later and hopefully post some of the great pictures they took for us. Good hunting, grayghost

[bsterns]

Grayghost, welcome back. I am glad you had a great hunt. Give us rundown of the game, gun performance, etc.

[grayghost]

Thanks Bob; I'll start a new thread shortly and see if I'm able to post pics. If I run into a snag I might give Petey a call for guidance. Your info on RSA was on target. We had no problems getting into the country. Since I was hunting in RSA, they checked our SAPS form and registered our guns coming in and leaving. It was made very simple since we contracted with Hunters Support. Others doing it on their own took a little longer, but generally had no problems. I had my ammo (.223 & .280; 80 rounds each in separate boxes) enclosed in two gallon zip lock baggies. Both were stored in my check in bag between clothes. No problems. Hopefully, I'll start my report tonight. Good hunting, grayghost

[bsterns]

Grayghost, I am thoroughly impressed with your thread about your 10 days in RSA. I posted a couple of pictures over there and I should have put them on this thread instead. I have been trying for awhile to figure out how to post the pictures. This time I got them to work somewhat. Hopefully you will forgive me for putting them on your thread. Your stalking sounds a lot more exciting than my pickup shooting. The kalahari probably doesn't allow as much stalking as other areas. The black wildebeast that I took measured 76 and the SCI record book lists 72 and up as trophies. I shot him broadside at about 150 to 175 yds. It was the only easy shot I had in my 16 days of hunting. I am going to do a European mount on him and maybe use his horns for a rifle rack. As you can see in the picture the rains they had in Namibia kalahari produced a rare crop of grass.

[grayghost]

Congrats on a very nice bull. If you have Photo Shop or any other editing program on your computer, you can reduce the image size and it will download faster when folks look at it. Any excess portion of the picture can be cropped also. good hunting, grayghost

[bsterns]

Thanks, I will try the programs that I have on my computer. Obviously I know next to nothing about posting pictures on this type of forum.

[bsterns]

I have about figured out the cropping and resizing problem. I have edited all the pics. Thanks for the help.

[bsterns]

My springbok was my longest shot ever on any animal. We had sighted the guns to zero at 200 meters due to the fact that Springbok hunting from a rattling old pickup chasing across the Kalahari requires very long shots. They seldom wait long enough for you to find them in the crosshairs no matter what the distance. The PH had a Swarovski 4 to 12x scope with built in laser rangefinder. That proved to be very helpful to identify the rams from the ewes and the distance. The ewes have horns as well as the rams so it was difficult, to say the least, to identify a ram at long distance. The PH told me which one to shoot and after several attempts at standing shots I decided to try to take him on the run. I shot over his neck near his head. The 139gr. Hornady 280 remington bullet caught him through the chest behind the shoulder. This amazed everyone since the distance was 365 meters. That is close to 400 yds. I had some luck on that one.