Recent content by ablebonus

Day 16 - Wingshooting Although this is our departure day we are squeezing every bit of joy out of it. I awake at 3:30am, load the truck with my guns and Mystery Ranch pack, and depart with Andreas for Namibia's only feedlot, just outside of Windhoek. This operation is run by Werner's uncle...

Day 15 - Leopard Mountain We have saved Leopard Mountain for the last day and we've all been nervously looking forward to the climb. We awake at 4:45am, a little bleary from the schnapps fueled Hartebeest celebration. 5am breakfast and the truck is out by 5:30am. The morning is windy...

Day 14 - Birds and More Today is a birdhunting day. Our wives enjoy a free morning as we have the full crew of children with us. Having already found a francolin I'm after guinea fowl and sand grouse. There are dozens of tame guineas around the lodge but the ones in the bush are difficult...

Day 13 - Eland This morning we meet for breakfast at 4:30 and are driving by 5 to reach a new cattle ranch at first light. The ranch is immense - something like 60,000 acres, low fenced. It is the most well managed ranch we've seen - cross fenced for cattle, lots of game, and knee high grass...

Day 12 - Back to Immenhof Game in Namibia behave differently in the presence of vehicles versus walkers. When a truck approaches they often stand motionless as long as the truck continues moving. Guinea fowl and francolin can seem dumb as chickens when you drive by them at 30 yards. So this...

Day 11 - Etosha National Park Etosha National Park is like the Yellowstone of Namibia. When you enter the park, you may only leave your car at designated spots. We see a variety of plains game, leopard, male and female lion, black rhino, elephant, black faced impala. That night we stop at...

Day 10 - Mushara Lodge Today we drive to Etosha Park. We arrive at Mushara Lodge (just outside the park) early afternoon. We are greeted with fluted stemware and a beautiful tourist tent camp. Accommodations are luxurious - mahogany framed canvas tents with concrete floors and tiled...

Day 9 Continues - Warthog Werner's sister Charissa handles bookings and logistics for Immenhof. Before our trip we asked if we could bring anything to help locals, and Charissa mentioned an orphanage that she helps support in nearby Kalkfeld. Charissa has volunteered to take us for a visit so...

Day 9 - Jurassic Park I enjoy large trophies as much as the next person but I am not concerned with scores or measurements. Before our trip I let Werner know I am after mature, representative animals...except I really hope to find an exceptional impala. The antelope species represent Africa to...

Day 8 - Return to Immenhof Day 8 - A late breakfast (8am) to let the fog lift. We fly the Skeleton Coast and a pass around Brandenburg on the way back to Immenhof. As always, Leopard Mountain dominates the landscape around Immenhof. I tell Werner we need to climb that before we leave. I am...

Day 7 - Swakopmund Happy Birthday Claire! Walvis Bay with Captain Hans, another friend of Werner's. Captain Hans has reserved his catamaran and the weather - dead calm - for our two families. A few orphaned seals grew up around the dock and now spend time visting...

Day 6 - Swakopmund Thanks for all the kind comments, I'm having a lot of fun remembering our adventure. Thank goodness I took notes. When planning this safari I expected to endure rather than enjoy the non-hunting portions but each day was a highlight. Werner's wife and two children...

Day 5 - Grey Ghost Today Werner will be flying us to Swakopmund for a few days of family vacation. We have a few hours in the morning before the coastal fog lifts and Werner, knowing we love to hunt, asked last night if we would like to hunt with Willie first thing. Yes, of course. Our grey...

Day 4 - Warthog Quest Day 4 - Warthog Quest Today Theo is ready to hunt all day. Which means we are after warthog. Our leopard hunter from night 1 wants a crack at the mountain zebra today and Werner asks if we are comfortable hunting with Willie so Werner can take him to the Erongos...

Texas hunter here - I used Gracy for my July trip to Namibia, there were a few snafus. They clearly do this frequently but in my case I didn't get the seats I requested and they reserved a day room for a party of 2 in Frankfurt even though we were a family of four which they had booked through...