NAMIBIA: Khomas Highland Hunting Safaris

Sorry for the delay in the report been busy catching up with our fallow deer cull, and supervising junior on mucking out the sheep sheds which are still standing just.

BenKK said:

Nice! Namibia in February would be warm! I’m looking forward to reading more.

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luckily we hit a bit of a rainy patch in the weather. The day would start clear and sunny but cloud up in the afternoon. The hottest day low 30's but mainly mid to high 20's not to bad.

BRICKBURN said:

Did you at least get some payback?

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well not really no the only payback i can think of was me emptying his wallet .

So afternoon of day two and we resume our hunt for Eland we picked up one of the local farm guides who had just past this theory PH test and asked Philip if he could come with us to get more experience of guiding more eyes a bit of local knowledge what was not to like. We basically drove to vantage points to scan the area and quarter the property using the dirt tracks looking for our quarry and stopping to observe various wildlife along the way , this continued for a couple of hours without success. This was when I really appreciated the physical size of Okambara.

The hills in the distance are where we start viewing from and we still had not reached the edge of the property.
As we drove one of the sandy tracks through some scrubby brush, stood on the track was an Eland the tap on the roof came as we slowed to a stop. We could make out possible 8 to 10 eland just off in the scrub. As we looked deeper into the group we could see a deep blue coloured bull hiding in the rear. Then the group spooked and took off in to the bush, as I turned to Philip and said " I made that 16 " as the rest of the group began to cross the track ahead of us, I stopped counting at 30. We waited ten minutes hoping they would settle before heading off after them. So we get geared up and set off in pursuit following the tracks in the soft red sand with the sun bearing down on us.

we followed the tracks for 45 minutes when Philip said we were close so we left the kids, Hendrick and Chukka while Me,Philip and the farm tracker crept in for a closer look as we carefully approached Philip froze ahead of me and we ducked down behind a thorn bush no more than 25 meters away was an Eland cow feeding on a bush just its head visible the cover was so thick. We could hear the other Eland walking around but could not see them so we sat and waited to see what would happen. After a couple of minutes all hell broke loose the heard must of caught us on the breeze and the crashed off into the scrub even deeper. When the clicking of the Elands hoof disappeared we stood up to make a new plan. We decided to sent Hendrick and the kids back to the truck and we would continue on after the heard as it was hot and we did not bring much water with us and we could be gone for some time.

We set off again following the tracks through thick scrub and open areas across several tracks we walked for over an hour when again Philip froze in this tracks but to late we were already busted the heard had doubled back on us they were passing to our right about 60 meters away on our down wind side and they took off again. we decided to call up the truck get some water and think on our next move, the only floor in the plan was Philips new radios could not get reception. We headed back to one of the tracks and set off in the direction were we hoped Hendrick would be waiting Philip trying the radios every now and then with no success. As we reached the Giraffes again, Still where we had left them in the morning, We could here the truck, they had come looking for us Philip tried the radios and this time it worked although they could already see us by this point. We loaded up and took some water on board and Philip suggested we head back to the rocky outcrop and see if we could locate the group from there. We arrive at the top of the lookout point and head to the edge as we arrive we see the Eland about 500 meters away emerging from the scrub first a few females then a couple of young males then some more females. After about 20 animals have emerged from the scrub a couple of nicely coloured mature bulls emerge much bluer in colour than the last bull I shot. Philip explained that we were in the middle of the eland rut and the bulls colour deepens during this period but only lasts a short time, As we discussed this colouration while still scanning the heard with our binoculars I can only describe as an" OH WOW" moment a huge bodied eland bull stepped out into the open pushed the other bulls away and began chasing the females around. The colour on this bull was amazing describing his colour the best I can his rear end was dark slate blue which became progressively darker the further forward it went until it turned black at his neck with a huge mop of black hair on his forehead he was that impressive I never looked to see what size his horns were I was just fixed on this bulk and colour. we wait to see where the heard are heading, After watching for a while we decide to make a move the kids and hendrick stay and watch from above while the three of us head off down the cliff to try one last stalk on the heard. when we reach the bottom of the outcrop Philip turns to me and says " I don't have to tell you which bull to shoot do I " my reply was " I think I have this one " we spend the next hour playing cat and mouse with them working the wind which kept changing making things difficult, every now and then Philip would ask for guidance from hendrick on the radio as to our location to the heard. We slowly kept gaining on the heard several times tracking back as Eland split from the main group and headed out past us. Eventually we spotted him in the middle of a group of cows rear end on he lifted his head looked at us and then the whole heard took off again. It was now becoming dark so Philip called hendrick to come and collect us at a water hole not to far off. When the truck arrived the kids told us all that they had watched from their vantage point, it seems that even more eland had emerged from the scrub after we left them. Several times we had been surrounded by eland with animals walking past us without us or them noticing each other . Although not successful it was a fun afternoon and I would not hesitate to do it all again.

Enjoying your report. Looking forward to more.

Nothing like sneaking into the middle of a herd of Eland!

Good report so far, please keep it coming.

BRICKBURN said:

Did you at least get some payback?

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Lots of Beer and Biltong!!

I anyways need some beer and Biltong as I await the story till we get into the Highlands for some more action ! Especially the one trophy every Africa Hunter will be jealous of, even myself!

At dinner that evening we made a plan we were originally to leave Okambara in the morning and head to farm Huesis but I asked could we try once more for the eland in the morning. Philip disappeared off to enquire when he returned he said as long as we had cleared our room by 11am we could do this. So we organised a packed breakfast to take with us in the morning and would meet at first light. These two guys joined us for our evening meal tonight much to my daughters delight.

Day 3 Okambara :

I woke extra early today ended up packing all the suitcases ready for departure before the kids had got out of bed. we met Philip for a quick cup of tea and set off in pursuit of the eland again. Over the next few hours we drove the area but could not locate the large group we did put in a stalk on another large bull but he watched us all the way to him and then took off it had now become very hot and as the eland would now have laid up we decided to head back to the lodge we did see this on our journey back my first ever live sable.

The other positive was my daughter decided she you like to hunt a blue wildebeest after watching them for the last couple of days.
A quick change of clothes and we loaded up ready to head to Farm Heusis as we head out my daughter gives some sweets to the local workers children and we hit the gravel road to Windhoek. We again stop at the small shop by the main tarmac road for biltong and coke luckily we did as when we stepped out the truck we could hear the hiss of a deflating tyre all hands on and a quick tyre change was made. After a quick stop in Windhoek for essential supplies, Tafel , tea bags , sweets etc. we were off on the last leg of our journey.

Great report, need more!

We made good time and arrived early afternoon at Farm Heusis Philip backed the truck up to the chalet where we would be staying for the next couple of days. we grabbed our luggage and Philip went to get the keys. They had certainly be busy since my last stay 16 months earlier. All of the buildings had been given a new colour scheme and the area generally had be smartened up new paved areas had been laid and a few walls had been taken out. There was also a major project taking place in the form on a game / security fence being erected around the farm and taking in 250 acres I believe . When complete the old fence close to the house will be removed to give a more open aspect and allow Philip to stock the enclosed area with animals just for viewing a non hunting area while we were there they began work on a water hole in front of the house where you could view animals from the veranda. When we entered the chalet I chose the room I had stayed in before, but where there had been only two single bed rooms this had changed. The old wash room and adjoining office had been converted into a very swish bedroom with bathroom suite, much to my daughters delight she opened the door and instantly claimed the room as hers. Louis was left with two single bed rooms to chose from with his own bathroom as well, but not quite so smart. We got changed and went for afternoon tea and cake and to plan our afternoons hunt.

So our plan in the afternoon was to look for a blue wildebeest for my daughter Bronwyn. The kids sat on the back with hendrick and me and Philip sat up front in the cab we began slowly driving the farm tracks look for our quarry we were soon seeing zebra and red hartebeest off in the distance along with a few steenbok close to the truck after we began to drive into the more hilly area we spotted so blue wildebeest feeding on a hill side two valleys away Philip decided they were worth a closer look but the wind was wrong to approach from our present location and to avoid spooking them we should drive on come around behind them and approach down wind from the next valley over. We drove for another 1.5km past them and then cut around behind them . We parked up and set off on foot heading to where we had last seen the blue wildebeest as we crested the small ridge of the valley we could see a group of red hartebeest which were between us and where we were heading, we waited awhile until the heard moved on away from our destination. As we reached the dry stream in the floor of the gentle valley we made out a large group of vultures that seemed to be squabbling over something as we watched a jackal came running towards the action only to see us turn tale and run. the vultures rose into the air as we approached closer only to sit in the trees near by, but while we had a quick look we could not find any carcase that may have attracted them, So we carried on after the blue wildebeest. As we reached the top of the next hill Philip signalled us to stop he had spotted the blue wildebeest bull about 350 meters away, now the stalk began in earnest. We swapped positions Philip leading Bronwyn next then me carrying the rifle and louis at the rear we closed up tight and when the bull fed or moved behind cover we would move closing the distance. We reached a large slab of rock which would make a good rest to shoot from and we began to get into position I handed Philip the rifle while louis took his coat off to rest the rifle on the bull was broadside at just over 250 meters just as Bronwyn was getting set the bull moved off behind a small scrubby area. Philip got up with the rifle and said quick lets go we did a short dash to a large bush and Philip set the sticks short so Bronwyn could sit to take the shot. Bronwyn was set on the sticks with Philip sat next to Bronwyn giving her instruction on placement and making sure she was comfortable and ready to take the shot it was all nice an relaxed I was nervous enough for both of them. Me and louis sat a few yards back watching through our bino's waiting for the sound of the shot and the reaction from the blue wildebeest. As I watch the wildebeest I thinking through the process, take your time wait he's stopped broadside good position, breath and shoot no anytime now don't wait to BANG the rifle roared the wildebeest bucked in the air and took off doubled back on itself and began to carry its front leg we watch as it continues uphill 50 meters comes to a halt wobbles and drops, at the same time me and louis say " Its down" Philip had lost sight as it moved behind cover and asked is it dead I replied " its legs are up in the air I should hope so" . We headed off to locate the wildebeest Philip and Bronwyn with her first African animal in fact her first hunted animal ever and a very nice specimen it was to

Chukka the dog photo bomb a specialty of his

A beast of a blue wildebeest

Enjoying the read!

Love the pic of the dog in front of the camera! Also awesome color on the wildebeest!

Great report, your kids will remember it forever.

Day four Sunday :
We were up early today 6am for breakfast then we were to head right up into the mountains on a neighbouring property only 30km away. Today we were going to look for some nuisance blue wildebeest and we were being accompanied by more of Philips PH's and trackers in a second vehicle. We travelled completely on farm tracks the whole way into the mountains and saw lots of wildlife along the way, two much to list but everything you would expect to see. We arrived at the neighbours farm house and Philip went to speak with him. When Philip returned he said we could shoot a young oryx for the owner if we see one, and anything that else we would like is ok. We collected one of the farm hands as extra guide and drove up a bit further to wait for the second team to catch up. When they arrived we got set up and went to look for the blue wildebeest it did not take long about 5 minutes and their they were. I quickly took aim and fired and from that moment on the day just fell apart. A shot I would take at home without a second thought went just about as wrong as it could. Everyone thought it was a good solid hit but I knew better. The group took off over the next valley with the other guys going around to turn them while we waited to see where they would head, after a couple of minutes they reappeared heading back down the valley past us we tried to position ourselves for a shot but to no avail. we then spotted the second team in hot pursuit so we left them to carry on after them. We then went in search of oryx for louis and the farm house me and Philip also discussed kudu and if we saw one with a narrow upright set of horn I would be interested. As we searched for oryx it began to get very hot and all the animals we had seen earlier had began to melt away with just the occasional sighting of an oryx in the distance . On Top Of The World

As we begin to think about head back there come a call from the back of the truck Hendrick had spotted a kudu up on one of the mountain sides. he was so well camouflaged that it took me an age to find him. Philip tells me it is just what I was looking for a nice upright narrow horns. The kudu stands watching us we decide me and Philip with hendrick will leave the others head back down the track out of sight then using some thorn as cover will double back hopefully unnoticed. This worked a treat and the old bull was still stood watching the truck unaware of our presence , I move into a spot and rest the rifle in a v in a thorn bush and settle down it took an age to find the kudu again in the scope of the rifle. I placed the cross hair on the shoulder and squeezed the trigger " CLICK " I cursed my stupidity looked at Philip who had an amused look on his face whisper sorry and loaded a round in the chamber. Philip said aim a bit high so I did, I found the old bull in the scope again aimed and fired I saw the shot impact on the rock above his shoulder, the old bull looked at where the shot had impacted then took off only to stop fifty meters away I took aim and fired again same result shot high and this time he didn't hang around. We climbed up to where the old bull had been just to check but as we already knew no signs of any hit, we headed off in the direction he had last been seen heading and after 200 meters we bumped a group of kudu cows which took of up the mountain side as we turned to look back we see the old bull again trying to sneak out through an narrow gully we quickly run to a spot were Philip could set the sticks and I take another shot as he clears the thorn bushes heading away from us but again the shot misses this time down the side of him. Again we scrabble down over the rocky gully and up the other side to confirm the miss no signs of anything so we call the truck to the road and and make our way across one more rocky gully to the vehicle.

We reach the truck and the with much delight the kids start ribbing their poor old dad. It had now become very hot and was now nearing midday so we returned the farm tracker and headed back to farm heusis .

Congratulations to your daughter on taking a fine African trophy!