Adrian
AH fanatic
Outfitter: Eureka Hunting Safaris.
PH: Chrisjan Potgieter.
Tracker: Franz.
Driver: Tertius Potgieter and Amon.
Rifle: Mauser M03 in .375H&H.
Scope: Steiner Ranger 2-8x42 illuminated.
Bullets: Norma Oryx 300gr.
September 2019 found me once again en route to Namibia. I had booked with Chrisjan and Tertius Potgieter of Eureka Hunting Safaris for their Surf and Turf hunting and fishing combination over a period of ten days, seven hunting and three fishing.
Included in the price were the trophies of a Hartmann's Zebra, Kudu, Springbok, Impala and Baboon.
I flew Heathrow - Johannesburg - Windhoek with South African Airways. I had booked after the firearms handling charge cut off date so had to pay this for the first time in my travels.
The flights went smoothly and during my lay over in OR Tambo while paying for my coffee I noticed an Africa Hunting Forum baseball cap a few people behind me. I went over and shook hands with Royal27 and his good lady.
Arriving in Windhoek I was surprisingly quick to get through immigration and collect my rifle and ammunition.
Chrisjan found me on the other side and we were soon out in the car park to load the truck and meet Franz who would be both tracker and skinner over the next week.
Before I left the UK, Chrisjan had explained that due to the drought conditions The Hartmann's Zebra were very scarce on the farm that was the base for Eureka so we would be hunting for this animal in the Khomas Hochland where they were more plentiful but also a nuisance to the farmers there as this was the best grazing for many, many miles and therefore eating the meagre grass, depriving the livestock of their food.
We met Chrisjan's brother Peter in Windhoek who had a contact farmer who wanted zebra culled and soon after we were out of the city and heading for the parched landscape of the Khomas Hochland.
Pulling up in the farmyard I made a quick change out of my travel clothing and put on some shorts and t-shirt under the gaze of several chickens and who I can only guess was the farm workers wife who must've had a surprise to see a stranger removing his clothes in her yard but to her credit, she didn't laugh and point.
I unpacked my rifle, attached the scope, got some bullets, backpack and camera and soon we were off hunting, stopping only to put a few shots through the rifle to check the zero which wasn't very far off where I expected.
Sitting in the back of the truck my fatigue from travelling soon dissipated and we were looking for game.
We drove around for a while through the rolling hills and dusty tracks, little did I know that this would be the least dusty part.....
A small herd of zebra crossed the track a few hundred metres in front of us so we stopped, dismounted and started the hunt.
Franz followed the tracks followed by Chrisjan and myself bringing up the rear, a familiar pattern to be repeated over many hours and miles over the next week.
We tracked for a while, never finding the zebra, they always were one ridge ahead of us. We did see warthog, duiker and steenbok.
Calling time on the stalk Peter brought the truck and we were back on board to drive and glass again.
Before long, Franz and Chrisjan spied a lone zebra a distance away and spent some time discussing it. It was alone which suggested a stallion but also looked small to be a stallion.
We went on a stalk anyway, picking our way through the tangled thorn bush and keeping the zebra and the wind in our favour.
It was heading away from us, grazing slowly so we made ground on it and soon it was within shooting distance. Franz and Chrisjan had further discussion and relayed their thoughts to me. It was a mare but surprisingly alone, no young or other herd members within sight.
It wasn't an old mare but neither was it young and her hide was nice. I was offered the opportunity to take a shot if I was happy to do so. We discussed it some more and I made my decision to take her.
I got up on the sticks and levelled the Mauser, chambering a round as I did so. I flicked the illuminated reticle on and placed the red dot in the centre of the cross hairs on the shoulder.
The rifle went off and the sound of the hit was clearly audible. The zebra spun around and ran, Chrisjan urged me to shoot again but the mare described a circle and then came back to almost where I had shot her and went down, kicking in the dust.
We approached slowly and she had expired. Hand shakes all round, I made the Mauser safe, it was the first animal I had shot at and taken with it, a very nice way to christen my new rifle.
We set up and took a few photos. Fortunately she had dropped by the side of a track and Peter was soon there with the truck.
We took the zebra back to the farm and dropped her in the skinning shed whereupon Franz went about his business.
There was still some light left in the day so we had the decision to make the journey north to the Eureka farm or stay and do some more hunting here. Peter had a request from a contact for a Gemsbok if he could supply one so as we were here, the day wasn't over and I enjoy hunting in the highlands we set off for a Gemsbok with a couple of the farm workers on board.
We didn't see any Gemsbok but soon found a reasonable size herd of zebra. As the landowner still wanted them off his land we could still cull some for him for a small fee for the right. I agreed to the $100, it's not every day you get the chance to hunt a Hartmann's Zebra for such small money.
I followed Chrisjan and one of the farm workers and we approached the herd. They were grazing and moving halfway up a slope which was in shadow now. Every time I looked I saw more zebra than the time before, now it was a matter of picking a shootable animal and trying to get into a position to shoot.
This was easier said than done. The herd stallion was on the lookout, there was no cover between them and us except for the large smooth rock sticking up from the earth like a massive dragon scale and the one next to it that was flat on the ground.
It was clear air across the ravine between us.
The stallion was unsure. He knew something was amiss but as we were hidden apart from our eyes and binoculars looking back at him. The rest of the herd milled about, not apparently aware of us.
After what seemed an eternity but in reality was only a few minutes, the stallion moved and Chrisjan motioned to me to get into a prone position on the flat rock. It took some doing in full view of the zebra but somehow we managed it. Unfortunately the angle of the rock was an issue to bring the rifle to bear so I rested on my backpack after more furtive shuffling.
Still not right.
I slid out of my binocular harness and used them on top of my rucksack under the fore end as a makeshift bipod. This just about worked with the addition of a folded hat.
Chrisjan was studying the zebra. There were two noticeably large animals, the stallion and another. We made sure I knew which ones to be aiming at and shooting at if I got the chance.
The second animal presented a chance first but the stallion was moving and coming into my line of fire. He was a little low to start with but he was moving higher, I asked Chrisjan to range him, just about 200m on the nose.
Unbelievably the stallion kept moving into my shot and so I aimed a little high, supported by mother earth and my binoculars and squeezed the shot away.
The sound of the hit came back in amongst the echos from the slopes and rocks around us. I saw the stallion go down on his backside and start kicking. I said a silent payer that he would not kick himself into the shallow ravine but he lay still where he dropped.
The rest of the herd milled about, the echo confusing them. Some headed over the ridge, some hardly moved.
The second largest animal that we had considered shooting was one of them, it moved towards the fallen stallion and Chrisjan said to shoot it. My rifle had already been reloaded after the first shot so I fired again and the hit was once again loud.
This zebra reared and ran, through the thorns, over rocks, stumbling and falling, blood appearing on the chest area before laying down and kicking weakly.
The rest of the herd disappeared.
The light was now going quickly so Chrisjan and our farm worker friend went back to the truck. I opted to go over to the fallen zebra and wait there. The second one was still moving and I wanted to make sure it was dead.
Chrisjan went one way and I made my way across the 200m to find the second animal was still clinging to life so I dispatched it with a shot to the chest. My original shot had been a little too far forward and while undoubtedly a mortal wound I was not happy to watch an animal suffer.
Unfortunately this zebra had damaged it's hide on the sharp rocks and thorns in it's death throes which was a shame but the meat would still be valuable.
The truck arrived and we set up the stallion for a few pics beneath the rising moon. This was a massive animal. It was solid and heavy and everything about it was just big.
Somehow we got both beasts into the back of the truck and headed back to the farm. I had only been in Namibia a few hours and somehow had taken three zebra in that time. It was an awesome way to start my trip.
Chrisjan suggested to me that I take the big stallion as my trophy animal and if is was paying $100 bucks for the privilege of hunting I should also take the hide from the first animal from earlier was well.
It was a good deal to me.
The guys skinned late into the night by the headlights of the truck. I opted for a cape and back skin from the big stallion.
By now I was hanging. I had managed a few hours sleep on the plane but I had been on the go for over 24 hours by now so tried to make myself useful by holding my torch.
Chrisjan asked if I wanted to go the the farm tonight, a four or five hour drive or if I wanted to spend the night at Peter's house in Windhoek. The latter seemed the best option so we arrived the late at night, Peter's wife had cooked us some food which we gratefully consumed and I was shown to my room to take a much needed shower and then sleep.
So ended my first day in Namibia, eventful, exciting and very worthwhile.
To be continued.......
PH: Chrisjan Potgieter.
Tracker: Franz.
Driver: Tertius Potgieter and Amon.
Rifle: Mauser M03 in .375H&H.
Scope: Steiner Ranger 2-8x42 illuminated.
Bullets: Norma Oryx 300gr.
September 2019 found me once again en route to Namibia. I had booked with Chrisjan and Tertius Potgieter of Eureka Hunting Safaris for their Surf and Turf hunting and fishing combination over a period of ten days, seven hunting and three fishing.
Included in the price were the trophies of a Hartmann's Zebra, Kudu, Springbok, Impala and Baboon.
I flew Heathrow - Johannesburg - Windhoek with South African Airways. I had booked after the firearms handling charge cut off date so had to pay this for the first time in my travels.
The flights went smoothly and during my lay over in OR Tambo while paying for my coffee I noticed an Africa Hunting Forum baseball cap a few people behind me. I went over and shook hands with Royal27 and his good lady.
Arriving in Windhoek I was surprisingly quick to get through immigration and collect my rifle and ammunition.
Chrisjan found me on the other side and we were soon out in the car park to load the truck and meet Franz who would be both tracker and skinner over the next week.
Before I left the UK, Chrisjan had explained that due to the drought conditions The Hartmann's Zebra were very scarce on the farm that was the base for Eureka so we would be hunting for this animal in the Khomas Hochland where they were more plentiful but also a nuisance to the farmers there as this was the best grazing for many, many miles and therefore eating the meagre grass, depriving the livestock of their food.
We met Chrisjan's brother Peter in Windhoek who had a contact farmer who wanted zebra culled and soon after we were out of the city and heading for the parched landscape of the Khomas Hochland.
Pulling up in the farmyard I made a quick change out of my travel clothing and put on some shorts and t-shirt under the gaze of several chickens and who I can only guess was the farm workers wife who must've had a surprise to see a stranger removing his clothes in her yard but to her credit, she didn't laugh and point.
I unpacked my rifle, attached the scope, got some bullets, backpack and camera and soon we were off hunting, stopping only to put a few shots through the rifle to check the zero which wasn't very far off where I expected.
Sitting in the back of the truck my fatigue from travelling soon dissipated and we were looking for game.
We drove around for a while through the rolling hills and dusty tracks, little did I know that this would be the least dusty part.....
A small herd of zebra crossed the track a few hundred metres in front of us so we stopped, dismounted and started the hunt.
Franz followed the tracks followed by Chrisjan and myself bringing up the rear, a familiar pattern to be repeated over many hours and miles over the next week.
We tracked for a while, never finding the zebra, they always were one ridge ahead of us. We did see warthog, duiker and steenbok.
Calling time on the stalk Peter brought the truck and we were back on board to drive and glass again.
Before long, Franz and Chrisjan spied a lone zebra a distance away and spent some time discussing it. It was alone which suggested a stallion but also looked small to be a stallion.
We went on a stalk anyway, picking our way through the tangled thorn bush and keeping the zebra and the wind in our favour.
It was heading away from us, grazing slowly so we made ground on it and soon it was within shooting distance. Franz and Chrisjan had further discussion and relayed their thoughts to me. It was a mare but surprisingly alone, no young or other herd members within sight.
It wasn't an old mare but neither was it young and her hide was nice. I was offered the opportunity to take a shot if I was happy to do so. We discussed it some more and I made my decision to take her.
I got up on the sticks and levelled the Mauser, chambering a round as I did so. I flicked the illuminated reticle on and placed the red dot in the centre of the cross hairs on the shoulder.
The rifle went off and the sound of the hit was clearly audible. The zebra spun around and ran, Chrisjan urged me to shoot again but the mare described a circle and then came back to almost where I had shot her and went down, kicking in the dust.
We approached slowly and she had expired. Hand shakes all round, I made the Mauser safe, it was the first animal I had shot at and taken with it, a very nice way to christen my new rifle.
We set up and took a few photos. Fortunately she had dropped by the side of a track and Peter was soon there with the truck.
We took the zebra back to the farm and dropped her in the skinning shed whereupon Franz went about his business.
There was still some light left in the day so we had the decision to make the journey north to the Eureka farm or stay and do some more hunting here. Peter had a request from a contact for a Gemsbok if he could supply one so as we were here, the day wasn't over and I enjoy hunting in the highlands we set off for a Gemsbok with a couple of the farm workers on board.
We didn't see any Gemsbok but soon found a reasonable size herd of zebra. As the landowner still wanted them off his land we could still cull some for him for a small fee for the right. I agreed to the $100, it's not every day you get the chance to hunt a Hartmann's Zebra for such small money.
I followed Chrisjan and one of the farm workers and we approached the herd. They were grazing and moving halfway up a slope which was in shadow now. Every time I looked I saw more zebra than the time before, now it was a matter of picking a shootable animal and trying to get into a position to shoot.
This was easier said than done. The herd stallion was on the lookout, there was no cover between them and us except for the large smooth rock sticking up from the earth like a massive dragon scale and the one next to it that was flat on the ground.
It was clear air across the ravine between us.
The stallion was unsure. He knew something was amiss but as we were hidden apart from our eyes and binoculars looking back at him. The rest of the herd milled about, not apparently aware of us.
After what seemed an eternity but in reality was only a few minutes, the stallion moved and Chrisjan motioned to me to get into a prone position on the flat rock. It took some doing in full view of the zebra but somehow we managed it. Unfortunately the angle of the rock was an issue to bring the rifle to bear so I rested on my backpack after more furtive shuffling.
Still not right.
I slid out of my binocular harness and used them on top of my rucksack under the fore end as a makeshift bipod. This just about worked with the addition of a folded hat.
Chrisjan was studying the zebra. There were two noticeably large animals, the stallion and another. We made sure I knew which ones to be aiming at and shooting at if I got the chance.
The second animal presented a chance first but the stallion was moving and coming into my line of fire. He was a little low to start with but he was moving higher, I asked Chrisjan to range him, just about 200m on the nose.
Unbelievably the stallion kept moving into my shot and so I aimed a little high, supported by mother earth and my binoculars and squeezed the shot away.
The sound of the hit came back in amongst the echos from the slopes and rocks around us. I saw the stallion go down on his backside and start kicking. I said a silent payer that he would not kick himself into the shallow ravine but he lay still where he dropped.
The rest of the herd milled about, the echo confusing them. Some headed over the ridge, some hardly moved.
The second largest animal that we had considered shooting was one of them, it moved towards the fallen stallion and Chrisjan said to shoot it. My rifle had already been reloaded after the first shot so I fired again and the hit was once again loud.
This zebra reared and ran, through the thorns, over rocks, stumbling and falling, blood appearing on the chest area before laying down and kicking weakly.
The rest of the herd disappeared.
The light was now going quickly so Chrisjan and our farm worker friend went back to the truck. I opted to go over to the fallen zebra and wait there. The second one was still moving and I wanted to make sure it was dead.
Chrisjan went one way and I made my way across the 200m to find the second animal was still clinging to life so I dispatched it with a shot to the chest. My original shot had been a little too far forward and while undoubtedly a mortal wound I was not happy to watch an animal suffer.
Unfortunately this zebra had damaged it's hide on the sharp rocks and thorns in it's death throes which was a shame but the meat would still be valuable.
The truck arrived and we set up the stallion for a few pics beneath the rising moon. This was a massive animal. It was solid and heavy and everything about it was just big.
Somehow we got both beasts into the back of the truck and headed back to the farm. I had only been in Namibia a few hours and somehow had taken three zebra in that time. It was an awesome way to start my trip.
Chrisjan suggested to me that I take the big stallion as my trophy animal and if is was paying $100 bucks for the privilege of hunting I should also take the hide from the first animal from earlier was well.
It was a good deal to me.
The guys skinned late into the night by the headlights of the truck. I opted for a cape and back skin from the big stallion.
By now I was hanging. I had managed a few hours sleep on the plane but I had been on the go for over 24 hours by now so tried to make myself useful by holding my torch.
Chrisjan asked if I wanted to go the the farm tonight, a four or five hour drive or if I wanted to spend the night at Peter's house in Windhoek. The latter seemed the best option so we arrived the late at night, Peter's wife had cooked us some food which we gratefully consumed and I was shown to my room to take a much needed shower and then sleep.
So ended my first day in Namibia, eventful, exciting and very worthwhile.
To be continued.......