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Growing up on his family’s ranch in northern Namibia shaped the hunter and Professional Hunter Emile Kirchner would become. Today, alongside his wife Kirstin, he runs Kou Kuas Adventure Safaris and has become a familiar face within the Rigby world, working with us at the major hunting shows and sharing campfires, adventures and stories with clients from across the globe.
In this Q&A, Emile reflects on growing up in the bush, the realities of modern conservation, his approach to hunting and guiding, and what Rigby rifles mean to him as a professional hunter.
You’re the third generation to run Kou Kuas. Can you share your earliest memories of growing up on the ranch?
While my wife Kirstin and I run Kou Kuas Ranch as the third generation; my father and grandfather were not outfitters but ranchers who hunted for themselves and to feed the family and staff. I grew up hunting on the ranch from a very young age. As long as I can remember, I would accompany my father on hunts for meat for us. I grew up with the rule that if you hunt an animal, you also had to eat it.
As a young boy, around seven years old, I would go out into the bush with the older kids from the San Bushman community with my pellet gun, and we would hunt for edible birds and prepare them on the fire in the bush, often staying out all day, eating wild berries and drinking from the cattle troughs, much to the disgust of my mother.
Later on, older staff members from our San employees would accompany me hunting for kudu, warthog and other game. They initially taught me tracking, stalking and what was edible in the bush.
Did you always know you would become a PH and outfitter, or was there a particular moment or experience when you consciously chose this path?
Even though I have been an avid hunter all my life, I initially started studying mechanical engineering when I finished high school but began an apprenticeship as a Professional Hunter at the age of 19 after talking to an outfitter and professional hunter during a semester holiday.
As soon as I got licensed, I started Kou Kuas Adventures and slowly but surely began taking over the family ranch and converting it into a hunting ranch, while also working as a freelance Professional Hunter and gathering experience, especially on dangerous game, all over the country.
How would you describe Kou Kuas to someone who has never visited Namibia?
Namibia is a very sparsely populated country, with the third-lowest population density in the world. Large parts of the country are very arid, but Kou Kuas lies in the northern parts of the country, which on average receives more rain and forms the ideal habitat for most species.
Kou Kuas Ranch has a variety of landscapes, from dry riverbeds to very thick riverine forests and bush, to open floodplains and savannah bushveld, forming habitats for most species occurring in Namibia.
What makes your area unique from a hunter’s perspective?
We currently own and operate two areas in Namibia: Kou Kuas Ranch and Bwabwata West Concession.
Kou Kuas Ranch is the perfect place for anyone, from an Africa first-timer to a seasoned hunter. It offers a variety of species on relatively easy, flat terrain with lots of exciting opportunities for stalks on different species.
Bwabwata West Concession is more of an area for the veteran African hunter. It’s a wild area where we mainly hunt dangerous game like buffalo, elephant, hippo and leopard. Through this, we can offer hunters the unique opportunity to experience a variety of terrains and species all with one outfitter.
Can you tell us, what gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction at the end of a hunt?
Having a client leave us as a friend and with a newfound appreciation of Africa, its people and its animals, along with a longing in his heart to return.
And what is the hardest lesson this profession has taught you?
That we can’t stop progress and development, and because of that, unfortunately less and less space is left for wildlife. Also, not everyone in the hunting business has the right attitude or heart. Hunters are still perceived by a large portion of the public as destroyers of wildlife, even though we are among the biggest contributors to conservation.
When did you first come across Rigby rifles?
I can’t recall when I first encountered a Rigby rifle, most likely through advertisements in hunting magazines and books that I used to read as a child.
It was only when I started guiding professionally that I actually got to hold a Rigby in my hands, when a visiting hunter brought one along for his hunt. Rigby rifles were always synonymous with hunting Africa: a high-end, reliable rifle for the most dangerous game hunts.
Do you own or use a Rigby? If so, which calibre and why?
I am proud to say that I own a Rigby bolt-action rifle in .450 Rigby. In my opinion, it is one of the best calibres for a PH, as it possesses tremendous penetrating power, enabling me to reach the vitals of any dangerous game animal from all angles.
What does conservation mean in practical terms on your ranch?
Over the years, we have reintroduced species that once roamed the area and were either driven out or killed off by commercial farming practices.
Water points have been established, giving animals year-round access to water, whereas in the past it would only have been seasonal. Predators that would once have been killed while cattle farming are now being tolerated again, and the vegetation is returning to what it once was instead of being cleared for grazing pastures or crop fields. Game numbers have bounced back to historic levels.
Are there any misconceptions that you hear people share about hunting in Namibia today?
That Namibia is a difficult destination to travel to and is unsafe. Namibia can easily be reached from across the globe and is very hunter friendly. Rifles can easily be imported into the country for the purpose of hunting.
Another misconception is that Namibia is mainly a plains game destination with hunting only taking place on private ranches, but Namibia is also an excellent dangerous game destination and one of the few countries where you can legally hunt all of the Big Five free-range.
You run Kou Kuas alongside your wife Kirstin, how do think your roles complement each other?
As I am also the main Professional Hunter for Kou Kuas Adventures and therefore spend a lot of time in the bush, Kirstin helps run the business, especially the administrative side.
She also plays a big role in making our camps feel homely and welcoming, adding a feminine touch to everything. She gives women hunters or spouses of hunters a female counterpart to chat to, providing a change from all the gun and hunting talk that the men like to discuss. As a foreigner from a developed country (Australia), she also understands what it is like to come to Namibia as a first timer, and the beauty and challenges of that cross-cultural experience and learning about life in Africa.
Would you love to see a fourth generation of your family take over?
Obviously, it’s always a parent’s dream to see your children take over the business or family land, but we also understand that it is not always an easy way of life, even though it is very rewarding.
We would love for the next generation to take it over, but only if it turns out to be their passion too and if it is still possible in the future.
Is there a landscape, view or moment that still stands out to you, even after all these years?
On our ranch, it would probably be just after the rains, when all the natural pans have filled up with water and the lilies are blossoming while the sun sets behind them, dipping the sky in beautiful purple, red and pink colours.
In our Bwabwata concession, it would be the sun setting over the floodplains of the Okavango, with herds of buffalo and elephant in the background and hippos grunting from the river’s edge.
And finally… what must never change in your world?
The appreciation of the African bush, its animals and the people who inhabit it.
In this Q&A, Emile reflects on growing up in the bush, the realities of modern conservation, his approach to hunting and guiding, and what Rigby rifles mean to him as a professional hunter.
You’re the third generation to run Kou Kuas. Can you share your earliest memories of growing up on the ranch?
While my wife Kirstin and I run Kou Kuas Ranch as the third generation; my father and grandfather were not outfitters but ranchers who hunted for themselves and to feed the family and staff. I grew up hunting on the ranch from a very young age. As long as I can remember, I would accompany my father on hunts for meat for us. I grew up with the rule that if you hunt an animal, you also had to eat it.
As a young boy, around seven years old, I would go out into the bush with the older kids from the San Bushman community with my pellet gun, and we would hunt for edible birds and prepare them on the fire in the bush, often staying out all day, eating wild berries and drinking from the cattle troughs, much to the disgust of my mother.
Later on, older staff members from our San employees would accompany me hunting for kudu, warthog and other game. They initially taught me tracking, stalking and what was edible in the bush.
Did you always know you would become a PH and outfitter, or was there a particular moment or experience when you consciously chose this path?
Even though I have been an avid hunter all my life, I initially started studying mechanical engineering when I finished high school but began an apprenticeship as a Professional Hunter at the age of 19 after talking to an outfitter and professional hunter during a semester holiday.
As soon as I got licensed, I started Kou Kuas Adventures and slowly but surely began taking over the family ranch and converting it into a hunting ranch, while also working as a freelance Professional Hunter and gathering experience, especially on dangerous game, all over the country.
How would you describe Kou Kuas to someone who has never visited Namibia?
Namibia is a very sparsely populated country, with the third-lowest population density in the world. Large parts of the country are very arid, but Kou Kuas lies in the northern parts of the country, which on average receives more rain and forms the ideal habitat for most species.
Kou Kuas Ranch has a variety of landscapes, from dry riverbeds to very thick riverine forests and bush, to open floodplains and savannah bushveld, forming habitats for most species occurring in Namibia.
What makes your area unique from a hunter’s perspective?
We currently own and operate two areas in Namibia: Kou Kuas Ranch and Bwabwata West Concession.
Kou Kuas Ranch is the perfect place for anyone, from an Africa first-timer to a seasoned hunter. It offers a variety of species on relatively easy, flat terrain with lots of exciting opportunities for stalks on different species.
Bwabwata West Concession is more of an area for the veteran African hunter. It’s a wild area where we mainly hunt dangerous game like buffalo, elephant, hippo and leopard. Through this, we can offer hunters the unique opportunity to experience a variety of terrains and species all with one outfitter.
Can you tell us, what gives you the greatest sense of satisfaction at the end of a hunt?
Having a client leave us as a friend and with a newfound appreciation of Africa, its people and its animals, along with a longing in his heart to return.
And what is the hardest lesson this profession has taught you?
That we can’t stop progress and development, and because of that, unfortunately less and less space is left for wildlife. Also, not everyone in the hunting business has the right attitude or heart. Hunters are still perceived by a large portion of the public as destroyers of wildlife, even though we are among the biggest contributors to conservation.
When did you first come across Rigby rifles?
I can’t recall when I first encountered a Rigby rifle, most likely through advertisements in hunting magazines and books that I used to read as a child.
It was only when I started guiding professionally that I actually got to hold a Rigby in my hands, when a visiting hunter brought one along for his hunt. Rigby rifles were always synonymous with hunting Africa: a high-end, reliable rifle for the most dangerous game hunts.
Do you own or use a Rigby? If so, which calibre and why?
I am proud to say that I own a Rigby bolt-action rifle in .450 Rigby. In my opinion, it is one of the best calibres for a PH, as it possesses tremendous penetrating power, enabling me to reach the vitals of any dangerous game animal from all angles.
What does conservation mean in practical terms on your ranch?
Over the years, we have reintroduced species that once roamed the area and were either driven out or killed off by commercial farming practices.
Water points have been established, giving animals year-round access to water, whereas in the past it would only have been seasonal. Predators that would once have been killed while cattle farming are now being tolerated again, and the vegetation is returning to what it once was instead of being cleared for grazing pastures or crop fields. Game numbers have bounced back to historic levels.
Are there any misconceptions that you hear people share about hunting in Namibia today?
That Namibia is a difficult destination to travel to and is unsafe. Namibia can easily be reached from across the globe and is very hunter friendly. Rifles can easily be imported into the country for the purpose of hunting.
Another misconception is that Namibia is mainly a plains game destination with hunting only taking place on private ranches, but Namibia is also an excellent dangerous game destination and one of the few countries where you can legally hunt all of the Big Five free-range.
You run Kou Kuas alongside your wife Kirstin, how do think your roles complement each other?
As I am also the main Professional Hunter for Kou Kuas Adventures and therefore spend a lot of time in the bush, Kirstin helps run the business, especially the administrative side.
She also plays a big role in making our camps feel homely and welcoming, adding a feminine touch to everything. She gives women hunters or spouses of hunters a female counterpart to chat to, providing a change from all the gun and hunting talk that the men like to discuss. As a foreigner from a developed country (Australia), she also understands what it is like to come to Namibia as a first timer, and the beauty and challenges of that cross-cultural experience and learning about life in Africa.
Would you love to see a fourth generation of your family take over?
Obviously, it’s always a parent’s dream to see your children take over the business or family land, but we also understand that it is not always an easy way of life, even though it is very rewarding.
We would love for the next generation to take it over, but only if it turns out to be their passion too and if it is still possible in the future.
Is there a landscape, view or moment that still stands out to you, even after all these years?
On our ranch, it would probably be just after the rains, when all the natural pans have filled up with water and the lilies are blossoming while the sun sets behind them, dipping the sky in beautiful purple, red and pink colours.
In our Bwabwata concession, it would be the sun setting over the floodplains of the Okavango, with herds of buffalo and elephant in the background and hippos grunting from the river’s edge.
And finally… what must never change in your world?
The appreciation of the African bush, its animals and the people who inhabit it.
