NAMIBIA: Neuhof Hunting

So I have booked a trip with Neuhof safari in the first week of September. I chose Neuhof because a spanish friend of mine have been there, and had a good time and good hunting.

The area is situated about 200km east of windhoek, about 45km south east of Gobabis.

My PH will be Japie Engelbrecht, which my friend spoke fondly off.

I will be hunting
Kudu, Oryx, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, mountain zebra, steenbuck, springbuck and warthog.

Does anyone have experiences with the area, or maybe even Japie or Neuhof..


best regards
Rasmus

Greetings Raseni,

yes i have hunted the area East of Windhoek some time ago (Okakarara / Gobabis / Aranos districts)
Your area sounds to be between the Botswana / Namibia border and Gobabis.
Unfortunately i do not know Japie Engelbrecht myself, but i am familiar with the Neuhof Safari Outfitter's name in Namibia.

We are experiencing exceptional rain in Namibia lately which will change the usual vegetation growth and density all over Namibia. Where last year one would have hunted in a fairly dense-type area, this year the same area will be very densely vegetated which chages the entire hunting strategy. Perhaps it would be a good idea if you remain in close contact with Japie Engelbrecht and re-confirm your cal / firepower you intended to bring along (unless you will hunt with a locally provided rifle)

For your mentioned speciesn a less-dense area or even savannha-type area, one could have planned for a long/flatter shooting caliber i.e 300 WM. After this seasonal exceptional rains - in the same area one could find yourself shooting at 80-150 meters - where something like a 30-06 or 375 will be a better option.

Anyway - enjoy your hunt. I myself will be hunting more to the North - Uis / Omaruru area.

Best Regards

Thank you for your advice. I would be bringing my cal. 270 with 150grain nosler partition, which I was hoping would do the job. I have spoken with Japie about this, and he says the oryx and the wildebeest are the tough ones, but a good placed bullet from my 270win should do the job.

what do you think?

what did you think of the area when you were hunting there?

besr regards
Rasmus

Hi fhm3006,
This area of Namibia you are talking about is one of the options I have in mind. Do you think a
9,3x62 would be fine?

Hi Rasmus / Nsok
will reply to you both here.

Rasmus,
yes Japie is spot on (expect no less from a PH) the Oryx and Wildebees are tough critters. I have hunted both up more North with .270 150 gr PMP Pro-Am ammunition and i had 100 % success so far (touch wood). Keep in mind that due to the desity of the veld where i hunted - the average shot distance was 80 - 150 metres. Personally i would say your .270 with Nosslers will do the job - if you do your part and ensure placement is spot on especially on the Oryx and Wildebeest....otherwise you must bring your hiking boots along .... If i was you, and you will be hunting walk & stalk, i would do regular range practise now allready up to just before the hunt in the standing and kneeling position (without a rest) from 100 - 200 metres to get my eye in and get used to these positions. They are difficult positions if you are not familiar with them, especially if you have walked a long way. However, should you be hunting from a vehicle exclusively, and will be shooting from a rest on the vehicle then the afore-said practising is not crucial now. Just make sure now your resting position shot placement is spot on at 100 - 200 metres with the same bullets you will be hunting with.
The are you will be hunting in is one of the preferred hunting areas in Namibia. You you should have a lot of contrast between savannha-type more open areas and then bushes / trees-type areras within the same hunting area. All depends where you find the critters and how big your hunbting area is. Just my 5c worth. Good luck.

Nsok,
a 9,3 x 62 will do perfectly fine -f you do your part off-course. Also - depending what you will be hunting - if your planned species is larger antelope like Kkudu / Oryx / Wildebeest etc then imo you're fine. Should you be hunting smaller antelope, personally i would take a lesser caliber. But your accurance and success is not up to your rifle / caliber - we all know it is the guy behind the tool that determine the outcome of a hunt. Good luck!

OMG...pardon all the spelling mistakes in my afore-going reply - i forgot to do a spell check before i posted my reply.

Hi fhm3006 and thank you for your answer.

Obviously I will try to do my best, which definitely is the most important.
I have two options in different areas. one is Nyala, Zebra and blue Wildebeest and another is Eland, Kudu and Gemsbuck

Personally i would go for the latter 3...

Raseni,
I know Japie and many of the areas he hunts in. He has many hunting concessions ranging from North of the tar road leading from Gobabis to Buitepos / Botswana border to quite far south of it. North is dense bush but to the south it opens pretty much.
It is very wet at the moment but the areas are rich in game. It is considered North West Kalahari, sandy areas in which the water just disappears. Japie will definitely work his ass of for you and persistence will pay off!
Concerning your calibre, bigger is better they say! Or at least so say some ladies….. I advise use the gun you have the most experience with / confidents in. If that is the .270, use it. Japie will know which shots to allow and which not. Look at shot placement many times, make sure you know where to aim. Squeeze and Diana will take care of the rest!!!
Weidmanssheil, the Germans say!
Enjoy Cattle country, locally known as little Texas.