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On Saturday morning the 21st of May we left Pretoria on our way to Stampriet in Namibia. Excitement was high and we didn’t worry about the long road ahead. First stop was at Ventersdorp where we had to drop off a couple of things at Johan’s brothers on the farm. Johan’s cousin decided he was coming along and quickly we had to re arrange a couple of things and off we went. The evening at about 19h00 we went through the border, while checking our rifles, my 308’s number did not correspond with my rifle license, then I remembered that the gunsmith had rechambered my rifle and that the number might be hidden by the stock. Out came the Leather man and I stripped the riffle. Problem sorted out we were through the border in about a hours time. We arrived at Granau 01h00 the Sunday morning. Very tired we clocked in at the only motel in the town.

This is about all that is in town

The next morning we left at 07h00 on our way to Marienthal where we must meet Arno at 13h00. It is a very flat country and you pass the beautiful Karras mountains.
I have never seen such long flat straight roads in my life, not even in the Northern Cape where I grew up.

We arrived in time at Marienthal and after a quick meal we left for Stampriet. After about 30 km out of Stampriet we turned on a dirt road for the last couple of kilo’s to the farm.

The only other traffic on the road

Our arrival at the farm gate

What we did not know when we entered the farm is that it would be the last time we will see the boundary of the farm until we leave, the farm is 38000ha big.

Monday morning we checked the rifles and we were off to the bush. I ook my Sako 375, my 308 Winmag and the 22-250 for the culling part of the hunt. Johan took 2 Gemsbok and I took 1at about 250m the afternoon. The Tuesday morning we went after Springbok, my first one I took at 330m, checked it with the rage finder, with the 308. I took another 4 and Johan got 3. That was our quota for Springbok.

One of my Springboks, it just missed Roland Ward but made SCI

We had a feast in the bush with fresh kidneys, heart and liver. There is nothing to beat this heavenly food

The afternoon I went after 2 more Gemsbok. Both were taken with the 308 at 220 and 270 m

This one measured 42 inches

Our quotas were full and the next morning we started culling Springbok for the butchery on the farm and for a abattoir. On this farm alone a 1000 Springbok was to be culled during the hunting season. The Wednesday evening we slept on a dune, this was quite an experience and an amazing sunrise woke us the next morning.

A load of Springbok on the Cruiser, the hooks work very well.

The two trackers who did a tremendous job

By Thursday evening we had shot 70 Springbok between 4 of us. It was the longest headshots that I have ever attempted. I used my 22-250 with a 6x24 Lynx scope and 55gr V-Max bullets. All the shots were over 300m.

The Friday we spent getting ready to tackle the long way back.

The last evenings sunset

We left Saturday morning at 06h00 on the 2100 km trip back home. We had no trouble at the borders even with permits that was not completed properly. After an 4 hour sleep in Ventersdorp we arrived in Pretoria at 08h00 the Sunday morning. My bum was sore and my legs could hardly bent after the long drive. Will I ever go back to Namibia? Only if I can fly. It is a total different hunting experience than what I am used to. It is vast open land compared to the bushveld that I am used too. It was a lot of fun.

It took me 3 days to work the meat, make biltong and wors. I brought back 380 kg of meat, it should last me a little while, though not to long I think.

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Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience