safari hunt

Gary_K · #1 02-25-2006, 08:05 AM

I won a trip to Namibia for Gemsbuck, duiker or a steenbuck. The outfiiter is Duiker Safari. Has anyone heard of them? Any info on Namibia and the outfiter would be great.
Thanks

pomoxis · #2 02-25-2006, 08:43 AM

I have not been able to find anything on the net but not all safari operators run a website. The other thing you may want to do is to think about booking a second hunt for kudu and springbok. That can be done with the same outfitter or a 3-5 day hunt in a different part of the country.

Skyline · #3 02-25-2006, 09:23 AM

Gary..........congrats on your winning the trip. You must have been at an SCI Chapter convention or something like that.

You will love Namibia, it is absolutely gorgeous country. As Pomoxis said, not all safari operators have a website and there are hundreds of them in Namibia and South Africa.

There is a website that has excellent information on Namibia, the game animals, visas, firearms import info and may even have info on Duiker Safari if you e-mail them. Check out the Namibia Professional Hunting Association at:

www.natron.net/napha/english/index.html

I too would recommend contacting the operator and inquiring about upgrading your hunt. Most of them are planning on you doing that when they donate a hunt to a convention anyways.

As Pomoxis mentioned......you will want to add kudu and springbuck. Others to consider are red hartebeeste, warthog and zebra (the Hartmann's are beautiful). There may also be an opportunity for eland and a few others, depends on the operator.

I really enjoyed hunting in Namibia and plan to return. Have fun!

Gary_K · #4 02-27-2006, 12:37 AM

I already plan to go after a kudu and one or two more animals. I just haven't decided which ones. Which is a better time to go to Africa? March or April. Here is the Web site they gave me
http://www.elandpro.com

Skyline · #5 02-27-2006, 05:35 AM

Namibia is dry country but given the choice of March or April, I'd pick April. Last time I was there I went in May. Take some good sun screen.

Make sure you check out the website I gave you as it has lots of good general travel info about Namibia.

Gary_K · #6 03-01-2006, 07:56 AM

Got in touch with duiker safari. here is there web site.
Skyline I checked the site you gave me , great info. Thanks

http://www.duiker.iway.na/

Skyline · #7 03-04-2006, 09:40 PM

Gary_K...looks good. You will really enjoy Namibia. Besides the kudu and gemsbuck, they have some really good springbuck. I also took a 14 inch warthog in Namibia.

You will have to let us know how it went when you get back.

Gary_K · #8 03-05-2006, 09:14 PM

I can't wait. I will be going in April of 2007.
I have made a list of animals that I would like to take. I'm also going to take a fews days extra to visit safari lands there. springbuck is on my list. A zebra I keep going yes/no each day.

Skyline · #9 03-06-2006, 08:02 AM

I did the same thingthe first time I went to Africa......yes/no to the zebra, but finally decided that I needed a zebra rug. Now after hunting over there a few times, I would not even think about leaving zebra off my list. Lots of fun to hunt, in fact there are times when they can be one of the toughest animals to get......and they are physically a very tough animals as well. Your PH will no doubt be able to tell you horror stories about chasing wounded zebra.

In Namibia I took a Hartmann's zebra. They have a unique striping pattern, quite different from the Burchell's, and they are also a very large zebra.

A zebra rug is a classic African trophy and they wear like iron if you actually put them on the floor, unlike so many other animal skin rugs.

I suspect if you don't take one you will regret it later.

Just my two cents.

Gary_K · #10 03-06-2006, 09:25 AM

I think your right. I did see a beatiful shoulder mount of a zebra. The next 12 montha are going to go by so slow. Any tips on traveling?? AIrlines Recomdations?

Skyline · #11 03-06-2006, 12:19 PM

Several ways to go.........you could go via Europe on Lufthansa, but the simplest would be to go on a direct flight via SAA out of New York. Great airline and they take good care of their passengers.

Make sure you have a very stout rifle case for international travel.
I had an aluminum case squashed flat on one trip (on the way home fortunately). It blew out the corners and trashed a good scope.....looked like they drove over it. I checked the case through myself from SAA in New York to my connector with United.
When I picked it up at the airport in Vancouver it was squashed. So it was United or Air Canada.

pomoxis · #12 03-07-2006, 08:31 AM

You will be amazed how difficult it is to pick out the vital zone of a zebra that is in a heard and in a little brush. Most of the stuff you see on a video or TV they are standing in the open and they appear to be 50 yards away. Pull back to 150 to 200 yards with them milling about and figuring out if the black stripe is a shadow or part of the Zebra.

You may want to check out the use of a golf club case to transport your rifle. I would suggest the piano hinge style over the boot type because you can ge to the rifle very easy. They are also cheaper than a "rifle case" and it does not look like you are traveling with a rifle.

Skyline · #13 03-07-2006, 11:00 AM

That is a good idea, not being a golfer I had never thought of that. I will need to have a look at some of those.

I ended up buying a Pelican case. It holds two rifles and it is similar to the US military transport cases I have seen. It is made of that thick structural nylon material with a piano type hinge and it can be padlocked. The interior has very thick foram padding and their are valves so that it can adjust to air density. The manufacturers drop it out of helicopters to show how strong it is. I have used in on several flights now and it still looks like new.

Just bought a smaller version for my cameras and lenses.

Gary_K · #14 03-07-2006, 03:11 PM

I have an SKB bow case that I will use. I'm taking my Mathews Q2XL with me.

Josquin · #15 03-08-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Skyline
Several ways to go.........you could go via Europe on Lufthansa, but the simplest would be to go on a direct flight via SAA out of New York. Great airline and they take good care of their passengers.

Make sure you have a very stout rifle case for international travel.
I had an aluminum case squashed flat on one trip (on the way home fortunately). It blew out the corners and trashed a good scope.....looked like they drove over it. I checked the case through myself from SAA in New York to my connector with United.
When I picked it up at the airport in Vancouver it was squashed. So it was United or Air Canada.

I was interested in your comments re travelling to SA from Canada as I am hoping to do a plains game safari in 2007 (if I get my house finished in time.)

I was also thinking of a Pelican case as they are apparently pretty tough but the golf case might be worth looking into as well.

Is there anything particular that Canadians should know about travelling on Canadian airlines with firearms? I doubt it is a problem with SAA etc because they are probably used to having hunters aboard. I have heard that one should not travel via Europe (esp. not via Britain) due to firearms hassles.

Stuart