Being proudly NAMIBIAN!
Just sharing some information on our beautiful Country.
NAPHA Namibia's Professional Hunting Association
NAPHA History
A proud 40-year history of ethical, reasonably priced trophy hunting of the highest standard in Namibia has revealed that sustainable utilization of wildlife resources has been a major factor in protecting our game populations. Even depleted game species, which formerly populated areas of Namibia, have been re-introduced through effective game management based on the principle of conservation through selective hunting. NAPHA is therefore convinced that mans' oldest cultural heritage, namely hunting, carried out through sustainable game utilization, is an effective tool to ensure the survival of wildlife and the well-being of local communities.
Mission Statement
High standard of ethics
For the international hunting clientele, one of the main attractions of hunting in Namibia is the high standard of ethics maintained by the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA). All hunting resorts are under the strict supervision of the Directorate of Resource Management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
Why Namibia...
A Hunter's Paradise
by Kai-Uwe Denker
Along the south-western coast of Africa lies Namibia. Barren, the Namib Desert, which stretches inland from some of the most desolate and lonely beaches on earth. It has been called Africa's harsh paradise, a good description of Namibia with its abundance of natural assets.
Hunters who have come to know the country well and who can appreciate something special, like to call Namibia "Africa's best kept secret". Why the country is still relatively unknown, remains somewhat of a mystery, but this aspect is often smiled upon by international trophy hunters, because in its unique way, Namibia is second to none.
Namibia is Africa's harsh paradise indeed and, moreover, it is a hunter's paradise. Its northern coastline is called the Skeleton Coast, because many an early sailor whose ship fell prey to the unpredictable waters and who had made it to the shore, died there of thirst. Towards the interior the Namib gives way to the harsh and inhospitable Kaokoland, where today the last remaining population of desert-adapted elephant and black rhino can be found.
The world's largest shifting sand dunes are found in the southern parts of the Namib, affording breathtaking panoramas in the soft light of the early morning and later in the afternoon. To the east the Namib changes into barren mountains, which rise towards the central plateau. From here the country, lying at an altitude of some 1 500 m to 1 600 m above sea level, becomes increasingly fertile.
At first the traveller's eye meets with dry thorn-bush steppe, and in the eastern and north-eastern parts with lovely savannahs, dotted here and there with picturesque camel-thorn trees. In the far north-eastern part of the country, in the Caprivi, the landscape becomes lush green with riverine forests and swamplands along the Okavango, Kwando and Zambezi rivers. In the south the country never loses its desert character. Here the Namib merges with the semi-desert regions of the great Namaqualand, which to the east give way to the red sand dunes of the southern Kalahari. Namibia is home to a great variety of huntable game species, but the great attraction is the abundance of thirst-land animals such as the greater kudu, gemsbuck and springbuck. The majestic greater kudu, found in Namibia in an unparalleled density, has an average trophy quality, while gemsbuck and springbuck have an exceptional trophy quality, and more important, can be hunted surrounded by impressive scenery.
The far northern and north-eastern parts offer rewarding big game hunting. Namibia has become well known for exceptional elephant trophies. Very successful leopard hunting can be done in some parts of the north-east, and in the Caprivi there are even possibilities for fine buffalo hunting.
High standard of ethics
For the international hunting clientele, one of the main attractions of hunting in Namibia is the high standard of ethics maintained by the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA). All hunting resorts are under the strict supervision of the Directorate of Resource Management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
Hunting season
The trophy hunting season for huntable game is restricted from the 1st February to the 30th November of each year.
Conservation
Huntable Species
The fundamental purpose of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) is to enhance and maintain, by effective management, an organizational infrastructure that can serve professional hunting members, clients and other interest groups. Our intent is to ensure and promote ethical conduct, sustainable utilization of natural resources and to secure the industry for current and future generations.
Carnivora
Odd-toed Ungulates
Even-toed Ungulates
Elephantidae
The Medal System
Medals are available following your safari at the NAPHA office in Windhoek. Your hunting professional must supply the trophy measurements, the date on which the hunt took place, the farm where the hunt took place, the name of the professional hunter who guided the hunt and the permit number.
Medals can also be purchased retroactively for trophies taken in Namibia in years gone by, on submitting the trophy measurements, the date on which the hunt took place, the farm where the hunt took place, the name of the professional hunter who guided the hunt and the and permit number.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal
The Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, together with the appropriate certificate, are obtainable for mature trophies that qualify. The SCI record book is the recording standard for the NAPHA medals system. Trophies making the minimum scores for entrance into the SCI record book are rewarded the Silver medal.
Trophies that are 5% below this minimum score are awarded with the Bronze medal.
Trophies that are 5% above this minimum are honored with the Gold medal.
The Conservation Medal
Trophies that do not qualify for the above-mentioned medals because of old age or because the trophy is deformed or broken, qualify for the Conservation Medal minted in "Old Silver".
The Game Field Medal
The prestigious Game Field Medal is to reward the hunting client for harvesting a gold medal trophy of extreme age. It is crucial for the hunters of the future that the hunters of today preserve strong gene pools by harvesting trophies that are past their prime - thereby ensuring superior genetics for future generations.
Hunting professionals apply for the Game Fields Medal following the same procedure as for the other medals, with the exception that a trophy photo must be supplied to substantiate the application.
Benefits With NAPHA
The Benefit of Hunting with a NAPHA Member
You have dreamed about hunting in Africa for a long time. You have been planning for months to visit Namibia as a trophy hunter. People talk about the best-kept hunting secret on the African continent. You read about the land of contrasts, the wide-open spaces, the abundance of free roaming wildlife, the never-ending hunting opportunities in Namibia. You were confused about the choice of an outfitter, the best time to hunt, the packages offered, the services rendered. You have therefore drawn comparisons and have contacted references... At last, you make your final decision, the final preparation starts - you are on your way to live your dream...
You have made sure that your passport is in order. You have booked your flight (after numerous communications with your potential outfitter about available dates). You checked and re-checked your ammunition and firearm / bow equipment. You have applied for a visa well in advance, you have compiled your list of "things-not-to-forget". Your credit cards are in order and your foreign currency is in your wallet. You are finally on your way - well prepared... ARE YOU?
Protect your rights
Trophy hunters to Namibia can eliminate misunderstandings and clarify any confusion so as to fulfil their expectations and avoid disappointment by taking the below mentioned aspects into consideration.
Contract/Agreement
Your outfitter should compile a contract or agreement to be signed and mutually agreed upon prior to your arrival to Namibia. Aspects which should be clarified, are the following: hunting area, hunting method, qualification of hunting guide/ master hunting guide/ph, hunting duration, prices, game species, services rendered and whether additional costs, for e.g. transfers are included or excluded, the cancellation of the hunt, deposit, etc.
Ombudsman
Due to the fact that NAPHA considers YOU, the trophy hunter as important as you consider your mounted trophy, NAPHA certificate and medals, so has NAPHA appointed an Ombudsman to handle all written complaints against NAPHA-members. Complaints could vary from:
Ombudsman:
Volker Grellmann
Tel + 264 62 540423
Procedure for Lodging complaints
It is your right as a trophy hunter to Namibia to lodge complaints with NAPHA (relating to aspects of your hunt), which have occurred during the duration of your hunting excursion in Namibia. Unfortunately NAPHA can only deal with written complaints against NAPHA members. After a written complaint has been lodged, the Ombudsman will conduct an investigation, after which feedback will be provided to the complainant.
Purpose
Our purpose is to refine and perfect the quality of NAPHA Members, now and in the future. NAPHA would be most grateful if you would assist us by reporting positive and negative incidents. Your assistance is just an email away.
Source: NAPHA Namibia
Just sharing some information on our beautiful Country.
NAPHA Namibia's Professional Hunting Association
NAPHA History
A proud 40-year history of ethical, reasonably priced trophy hunting of the highest standard in Namibia has revealed that sustainable utilization of wildlife resources has been a major factor in protecting our game populations. Even depleted game species, which formerly populated areas of Namibia, have been re-introduced through effective game management based on the principle of conservation through selective hunting. NAPHA is therefore convinced that mans' oldest cultural heritage, namely hunting, carried out through sustainable game utilization, is an effective tool to ensure the survival of wildlife and the well-being of local communities.
Mission Statement
High standard of ethics
For the international hunting clientele, one of the main attractions of hunting in Namibia is the high standard of ethics maintained by the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA). All hunting resorts are under the strict supervision of the Directorate of Resource Management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
Why Namibia...
A Hunter's Paradise
by Kai-Uwe Denker
Along the south-western coast of Africa lies Namibia. Barren, the Namib Desert, which stretches inland from some of the most desolate and lonely beaches on earth. It has been called Africa's harsh paradise, a good description of Namibia with its abundance of natural assets.
Hunters who have come to know the country well and who can appreciate something special, like to call Namibia "Africa's best kept secret". Why the country is still relatively unknown, remains somewhat of a mystery, but this aspect is often smiled upon by international trophy hunters, because in its unique way, Namibia is second to none.
Namibia is Africa's harsh paradise indeed and, moreover, it is a hunter's paradise. Its northern coastline is called the Skeleton Coast, because many an early sailor whose ship fell prey to the unpredictable waters and who had made it to the shore, died there of thirst. Towards the interior the Namib gives way to the harsh and inhospitable Kaokoland, where today the last remaining population of desert-adapted elephant and black rhino can be found.
The world's largest shifting sand dunes are found in the southern parts of the Namib, affording breathtaking panoramas in the soft light of the early morning and later in the afternoon. To the east the Namib changes into barren mountains, which rise towards the central plateau. From here the country, lying at an altitude of some 1 500 m to 1 600 m above sea level, becomes increasingly fertile.
At first the traveller's eye meets with dry thorn-bush steppe, and in the eastern and north-eastern parts with lovely savannahs, dotted here and there with picturesque camel-thorn trees. In the far north-eastern part of the country, in the Caprivi, the landscape becomes lush green with riverine forests and swamplands along the Okavango, Kwando and Zambezi rivers. In the south the country never loses its desert character. Here the Namib merges with the semi-desert regions of the great Namaqualand, which to the east give way to the red sand dunes of the southern Kalahari. Namibia is home to a great variety of huntable game species, but the great attraction is the abundance of thirst-land animals such as the greater kudu, gemsbuck and springbuck. The majestic greater kudu, found in Namibia in an unparalleled density, has an average trophy quality, while gemsbuck and springbuck have an exceptional trophy quality, and more important, can be hunted surrounded by impressive scenery.
The far northern and north-eastern parts offer rewarding big game hunting. Namibia has become well known for exceptional elephant trophies. Very successful leopard hunting can be done in some parts of the north-east, and in the Caprivi there are even possibilities for fine buffalo hunting.
High standard of ethics
For the international hunting clientele, one of the main attractions of hunting in Namibia is the high standard of ethics maintained by the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA). All hunting resorts are under the strict supervision of the Directorate of Resource Management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
Hunting season
The trophy hunting season for huntable game is restricted from the 1st February to the 30th November of each year.
Conservation
Huntable Species
The fundamental purpose of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) is to enhance and maintain, by effective management, an organizational infrastructure that can serve professional hunting members, clients and other interest groups. Our intent is to ensure and promote ethical conduct, sustainable utilization of natural resources and to secure the industry for current and future generations.
Carnivora
Odd-toed Ungulates
Even-toed Ungulates
Elephantidae
The Medal System
Medals are available following your safari at the NAPHA office in Windhoek. Your hunting professional must supply the trophy measurements, the date on which the hunt took place, the farm where the hunt took place, the name of the professional hunter who guided the hunt and the permit number.
Medals can also be purchased retroactively for trophies taken in Namibia in years gone by, on submitting the trophy measurements, the date on which the hunt took place, the farm where the hunt took place, the name of the professional hunter who guided the hunt and the and permit number.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal
The Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, together with the appropriate certificate, are obtainable for mature trophies that qualify. The SCI record book is the recording standard for the NAPHA medals system. Trophies making the minimum scores for entrance into the SCI record book are rewarded the Silver medal.
Trophies that are 5% below this minimum score are awarded with the Bronze medal.
Trophies that are 5% above this minimum are honored with the Gold medal.
The Conservation Medal
Trophies that do not qualify for the above-mentioned medals because of old age or because the trophy is deformed or broken, qualify for the Conservation Medal minted in "Old Silver".
The Game Field Medal
The prestigious Game Field Medal is to reward the hunting client for harvesting a gold medal trophy of extreme age. It is crucial for the hunters of the future that the hunters of today preserve strong gene pools by harvesting trophies that are past their prime - thereby ensuring superior genetics for future generations.
Hunting professionals apply for the Game Fields Medal following the same procedure as for the other medals, with the exception that a trophy photo must be supplied to substantiate the application.
Benefits With NAPHA
The Benefit of Hunting with a NAPHA Member
You have dreamed about hunting in Africa for a long time. You have been planning for months to visit Namibia as a trophy hunter. People talk about the best-kept hunting secret on the African continent. You read about the land of contrasts, the wide-open spaces, the abundance of free roaming wildlife, the never-ending hunting opportunities in Namibia. You were confused about the choice of an outfitter, the best time to hunt, the packages offered, the services rendered. You have therefore drawn comparisons and have contacted references... At last, you make your final decision, the final preparation starts - you are on your way to live your dream...
You have made sure that your passport is in order. You have booked your flight (after numerous communications with your potential outfitter about available dates). You checked and re-checked your ammunition and firearm / bow equipment. You have applied for a visa well in advance, you have compiled your list of "things-not-to-forget". Your credit cards are in order and your foreign currency is in your wallet. You are finally on your way - well prepared... ARE YOU?
Protect your rights
Trophy hunters to Namibia can eliminate misunderstandings and clarify any confusion so as to fulfil their expectations and avoid disappointment by taking the below mentioned aspects into consideration.
Contract/Agreement
Your outfitter should compile a contract or agreement to be signed and mutually agreed upon prior to your arrival to Namibia. Aspects which should be clarified, are the following: hunting area, hunting method, qualification of hunting guide/ master hunting guide/ph, hunting duration, prices, game species, services rendered and whether additional costs, for e.g. transfers are included or excluded, the cancellation of the hunt, deposit, etc.
Ombudsman
Due to the fact that NAPHA considers YOU, the trophy hunter as important as you consider your mounted trophy, NAPHA certificate and medals, so has NAPHA appointed an Ombudsman to handle all written complaints against NAPHA-members. Complaints could vary from:
- Unethical hunting aspects
- Impairment of human rights
- Unlawful hunting practices
- Violation of a contract / written, mutual agreement or malpractice
Ombudsman:
Volker Grellmann
Tel + 264 62 540423
Procedure for Lodging complaints
It is your right as a trophy hunter to Namibia to lodge complaints with NAPHA (relating to aspects of your hunt), which have occurred during the duration of your hunting excursion in Namibia. Unfortunately NAPHA can only deal with written complaints against NAPHA members. After a written complaint has been lodged, the Ombudsman will conduct an investigation, after which feedback will be provided to the complainant.
Purpose
Our purpose is to refine and perfect the quality of NAPHA Members, now and in the future. NAPHA would be most grateful if you would assist us by reporting positive and negative incidents. Your assistance is just an email away.
Source: NAPHA Namibia
