6 weeks out to Namibia

[Sponxx]

Thanks for all the feedback!
I did miss adding to the list the following that I had thought about:

Light hunting jacket + thicker jacket for camp
Backpack
Boot Gaiters
Shorts

I do know one thing....the drivers, etc LOVE Lifesavers.....I handed them out daily to them, but not all at once because they'll eat them...all at once!

I will make sure to bring some. I emailed Ansie regarding sweets for the staff and she didn't get back to me on that one, but had thought about that.

What flight are you on? My family and I fly Ethiopian air on June 15th out of Dulles via Addis to Windhoek.

We're Flying out form HOU on Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the 19th.

We decided to skip Sossusvlei, as we have been exposed to multiple sand dunes and deserts in Peru, were both myself and my wife grew up, and see Etosha/Erindi as they will be more of an exotic exposure (though I will miss the ooportunity for a balloon trip over the desert!)

We will spend a night and Windhoek and Joe's Beer House has been recommended to me.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wow!
Time has flied, I recall scanning this forums for hours and hours.
Last year I placed a deposit and will be hunting plains game with Kowas Adventures in late june.
So far my list is
Kudu
Gemsbok
Impala
Mountain Zebra
and open to guides suggestions if something unusual and not crazy expensive comes by (after consulting with the wallet of course)

Regarding the outfitter, I don't believe I have questions left. I will rent rifle from them.
Trophies, I'm torn, but I believe I will get zebra rug in Namibia, and may do shoulders for the other 3 back in the US (If I take nice warthog, may do Euro at Namibia)

It is how to spend a couple days after the hunt that I am at a loss, my wife is coming along and we would like the experience of "Africa" which may not be fully done at the hunt camp - I mean seeing some big cats, elephants, giraffes, etc. Where we grew up we have plenty of beaches and dunes, so Sossusvlei and Skeleton Coast may be less exotic than Etosha
Any recommended lodges/trips to spend a couple days? Other sites to see around Windhoek?
Anyone traveled with International insurance?

Thanks a lot

@Sponxx
My wife son and I did Etosha mate and my non hunting wife absolutely loved it. Sitting 40 yards from the waterhole in the afternoon and after dark watching the animals come in to drink is a,wonderful sight.
Stop in at the Okahenja markets on the way it is definitely a different experience and before you leave Windhoek you h a very to do the iconic Joe's beer house.
You need to add black or blue wildebeest, Springbok and impala.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks for all the feedback!
I did miss adding to the list the following that I had thought about:

Light hunting jacket + thicker jacket for camp
Backpack
Boot Gaiters
Shorts



I will make sure to bring some. I emailed Ansie regarding sweets for the staff and she didn't get back to me on that one, but had thought about that.


We're Flying out form HOU on Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the 19th.

We decided to skip Sossusvlei, as we have been exposed to multiple sand dunes and deserts in Peru, were both myself and my wife grew up, and see Etosha/Erindi as they will be more of an exotic exposure (though I will miss the ooportunity for a balloon trip over the desert!)

We will spend a night and Windhoek and Joe's Beer House has been recommended to me.

@Sponxx
The only problem with all the planning is y ou know you have everything done and dusted ready to rock and roll, BUT that last week before departure seems to drag on for everything.
Don't forget to take photocopies of all your paper work and visas just in case. Also take along s o me broad spectrum antibiotics. I'm glad I did. My wife got quite I'll for a couple of days and i was glad i had them. What you don't use leave with the PH as medical services over there leave a lot to be desired.
Bob.

 

[Sponxx]

Don't forget to take photocopies of all your paper work and visas just in case. Also take along s o me broad spectrum antibiotics. I'm glad I did. My wife got quite I'll for a couple of days and i was glad i had them. What you don't use leave with the PH as medical services over there leave a lot to be desired.
Bob.

Planning on copies of documents, but thanks for the reminder.
Didn't think to leave antibiotics with them, but will do so.
Getting more and more excited as I get closer

 

[WAB]

Planning on copies of documents, but thanks for the reminder.
Didn't think to leave antibiotics with them, but will do so.
Getting more and more excited as I get closer

Good catch Bob. Never go without a course of Cipro! And take the malaria meds no matter what the in country folks say. They develop a level of immunity we don’t have. On about my 20th trip to Africa I got overconfident and didn’t take my malaria meds (it was winter, very few mossies). About 9 days after I got home I came down with a raging case of cerebral malaria. Easy to treat but a very high mortality rate if untreated. I will never do that again!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks for all the feedback!
I did miss adding to the list the following that I had thought about:

Light hunting jacket + thicker jacket for camp
Backpack
Boot Gaiters
Shorts



I will make sure to bring some. I emailed Ansie regarding sweets for the staff and she didn't get back to me on that one, but had thought about that.


We're Flying out form HOU on Lufthansa via Frankfurt on the 19th.

We decided to skip Sossusvlei, as we have been exposed to multiple sand dunes and deserts in Peru, were both myself and my wife grew up, and see Etosha/Erindi as they will be more of an exotic exposure (though I will miss the ooportunity for a balloon trip over the desert!)

We will spend a night and Windhoek and Joe's Beer House has been recommended to me.

@Sponxx
The only problem with all the planning is y ou know you have everything done and dusted ready to rock and roll, BUT that last week before departure seems to drag on for everything.
Don't forget to take photocopies of all your paper work and visas just in case. Also take along s o me broad spectrum antibiotics. I'm glad I did. My wife got quite I'll for a couple of days and i was glad i had them. What you don't use leave with the PH as medical services over there leave a lot to be desired.
Bob.

Planning on copies of documents, but thanks for the reminder.
Didn't think to leave antibiotics with them, but will do so.
Getting more and more excited as I get closer

@Sponxx
Any type of 1st aid stuff you can give is always appreciated even panadol/Tylenol
I was going to give one of the Skinnersblade a Svord Skinner but the PH said not to because the way they sharpen knives it would be stuffed in a,week. He kept it for them to use when he was around and it finally went blunt after skinning a giraffe and butchering half of it.
The Skinnersblade were happy using it and giving gv it to the boss to sharpen.
A lot of people forget the cook and hour staff but man they do A lot of work. Up before you to get breakfast and still working offer you go to bed.
I was very privileged to cook one night for our crew. I also cooked for the cook and her helper and served them. They had never had this done by a hunter before and they felt like royalty. The smile on thier faces and hug said it all. I love cooking and such a simple gesture bought so much joy to the staff.
Bob

 

[Sponxx]

I have a pretty decent First Aid Kit that I build myself, I think it is a great idea to bring a clone of it, with plans to leave with them at the end of the trip.

I love cooking and always think about the staff "behind the scenes" realizing how much effort they put in everything. I have cooked wild donkey however I've never cooked african game, I will offer to make my Peruvian Lomo saltado if they allow, and not that I type this, will probably bring some Pisco to drink with them.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a pretty decent First Aid Kit that I build myself, I think it is a great idea to bring a clone of it, with plans to leave with them at the end of the trip.

I love cooking and always think about the staff "behind the scenes" realizing how much effort they put in everything. I have cooked wild donkey however I've never cooked african game, I will offer to make my Peruvian Lomo saltado if they allow, and not that I type this, will probably bring some Pisco to drink with them.

@Sponxx
I didn't cook any game meat. My PHs wife was going into Windhoek and got some fresh Atlantic salmon for me and I did that with a crispy skin and a lemon cream sauce with veg and syrup dumplings for desert. Nothing flash or fancy just good old fashion home cooking Aussie style.
Bob

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

Unlike JGRaider I definitely recommend a pair of ankle gaiters. The PHs that I hunted with all wore them. However, to each their own.

 

[Jfet]

View from my room at Erendi Wildlife Preserve. Welcome to Team Kowas. I am booked for my 4th trip with them. They will spoil you!

 

[Tanks]

...
Anyone traveled with International insurance?

I would recommend Global Rescue.

 

[double rifle newbie]

Ive hunted Kowas and came back with a Kudu, gemsbok, impala, and warthog. Kowas is top notch. everything from the accomodations to the food to the great guides and unbelievable way they can seem to track an animal over any terrain! Jacques guided me for my Kudu and Mattheus for the rest of the animals. they work their tails getting you the animals that you want to take. i am going to go back for another hunt at kowas for black wildebeest, springbok, waterbuck, and red hartebeest. hughly recommended. make sure to post a hunt report!

 

[Sika98k]

Sounds like fun! I am not sure there is a more exotic place on the planet than Sossusvlei. You really have to see it and climb the dunes to understand. I have always spent my time hunting or visiting sheep farms and have not done much in the way of tourism per se. two years ago we chartered a plane in the middle of our hunt and went to Sossusvlei. Just the flight was amazing!
Ask your outfitter about a game park close to Windhoek as I am sure there are some. Got to Joe’s Icehouse and have some Namibian oysters.
What would be better is Etosha or something close to the hunt area.
I’m hunting the Eastern Cape annually he next few years but man I’ve got to plug Namibia in there somewhere!

A second recommendation for Joe’s Beerhouse. We went one night and had a great meal. Next day we were talking about where to go for dinner and damn if we didn’t go back the next night also.

 

[TN Traveler]

You will most certainly enjoy your hunt with Kowas. The Strauss family is wonderful and Jacque is a truly outstanding PH and host. It was a trip of a lifetime for us.

 

[Sponxx]

Thanks for all the recommendations. Looking forward to meeting them, working my tail off to get on animals and getting spoiled back at camp.
10 days for departure now!!

 

[WMU05]

Looking forward to your report up return! My family and I are going on my first safari with Kowas next July and I could not be more excited. I flew down to DCS in 2020 and met Jacque, which sealed the deal on who we'd be going with.

 

[mikecatt13]

Im starting to feel kind of ready. .375HH double with handloaded 300gr Aframes. 1 from each barrel at 190yds and the 3rd at 285yds off sticks.

less than 2 weeks. Getting both very excited and nervous, first safari