Hunting
How much time should I set aside for my hunt in Namibia?
Our suggestion would be a minimum of 7 days, this way you can get well acquainted with the area and will be able to enjoy your hunting experience. If you’re able to do a longer trip we will defiantly recommend a 10 day hunt. With 10 days we can hunt more areas and have less pressure to harvest your desired trophies.
How big are the areas/properties you hunt? What type of landscape/vegetation can I expect?
- We offer our hunters the unique opportunity to hunt different areas in Namibia ranging from the red sand dunes of the Kalahari, the open Savanna, the thicker thorn brush and the beautiful Naukluft mountains.
- In our immediate Uhlenhorst vicinity we have ± 100 000 acres of private hunting land available to us for trophy hunting. We have most of the plains game species on offer, including excellent Oryx/Gemsbuck, Greater Kudu and Wildebeest trophies. Terrain; mostly open savanna, red sand dunes and some rocky hills partly covered in thorn brush to the northern part.
- We have access to ± 50 000 acres of private hunting land in the West of Namibia in the Naukluft mountains, well known for the abundance of Hartmann Zebra, Leopards, Springbuck and Greater Kudu. Terrain; rocky mountain ranges, with short vegetation and a few dry riverbeds.
- We also have access to ± 30 000 acres of private hunting land that we hunt in the Central – North East of Namibia close to Hochfeld. This area has some of the best Warthog and Red Hartebeest hunting Namibia has to offer, along with other plains game species. Terrain; thick and tall brush with some cleared fields.
How much game will we see during a hunting day?
You can expect to see hundreds of game animal’s every day. Namibia has an abundance of wildlife. You will most defiantly not be disappointed with the number of game sightings during a hunting day. Will it be possible for the non-hunter/my wife to go along on the daily hunt?
This is actually something we encourage. Namibia has so much to offer for a non-hunter. The bird and plant life is so interesting; a non-hunter that like to learn new things will love to go on the daily hunting trips. If we pursue a trophy animal, the non-hunter can choose to take part in the pursuit or enjoy the surrounding scenery while we go after the animal. The opportunities to take pictures are endless. If I If I book a 7 day hunt, does that mean I have 7 full days of hunting?
The easiest way to look at this is to count the number of nights that you spend. If you book a 7 day hunt you will spend 7 nights at our camp. In the case of a 7 day hunt, the day of arrival and the day of departure together counts as one day and you will have 6 full days of hunting. You are more than welcome to hunt on the arrival and departure day if time permits.
Should I be worried about snakes, scorpions or other reptiles?
You will find snakes all over the world and yes, we do have venomous snakes in Namibia but snake bites are extremely rare. All the snakes will make an attempt to get away from you rather than attack. We rarely even see snakes, because most of our hunting takes place during the winter months when they hibernate. Scorpions are quite common, but normally not a threat to anyone.
Do I need to apply for any hunting permits/licenses?
You will need a Namibian trophy hunting permit, but this is something that we apply for before your trip to Namibia. You do not have to take care of any hunting licenses or permits prior to your hunting trip.
Are there restrictions on the number of trophies?
Yes, according to Namibian hunting law you can harvest only two trophy animals per species.
Can I create my own hunting package?
You are more than welcome to send us a list of animals you plan on hunting and the number of days you want to spend hunting and we will create your own custom package
Can I add trophies to my hunting package during the hunt?
Yes. If time allows and permits remain available, you can add trophies to your package throughout your visit at the present pricelist prices.
What happens if I wound an animal that is not recovered?
On the rare occasion a hunter wounds an animal and is unable to find it, we will make the best effort possible to recover the animal including the use of dogs and trackers. If the animal was not recovered after all methods and resources have been exhausted, the hunter must pay the trophy fee for the wounded animal as it is likely it will eventually die or become lame an unwanted as a trophy.
When is an animal considered wounded?
An animal is considered wounded when blood is drawn.
Will there be other hunters in camp during our hunt?
Uhlenhorst Hunting Safaris is a family operated business, so we book one group of hunters at a time. You will be the only hunters in our lodge at the time of your hunt. We sometimes have situations where hunters book their hunt a year or two in advance and when it comes to booking airfare, they have to move a few days earlier of later. This might cause a short overlap with another group, but be assured that this will not affect the quality of your hunting trip with us.
Say I don’t have another hunter/non-hunter to accompany me on my hunting trip and I don’t want to go by myself. Do you have any suggestions?
We get people every year in this exact situation. They want to do a hunt in Namibia, but they don’t want to do it by themselves. If you are in this situation, inform us about it and we will see if we have another group or hunter in the same situation to combine the trips.
What is a typical day of hunting like at Uhlenhorst Hunting Safaris?
- We can customize our schedule to fit your needs! We plan our hunting day depending on the animal we are pursuing and the time of year. Some of our hunters want to make the hunting trip a relaxed and lay back experience while others want to hunt hard for their desired trophies. We accommodate everyone and try to plan your hunt in such a way that you can have the experience you desire.
- With the relaxed hunters; we normally start the day with a breakfast around sunrise after which we go out for a morning hunt. Around noon we return for lunch and a couple hours of relaxation and then at about 3o’clock we go hunting for the afternoon again.
- With the more avid hunters; we normally finish breakfast before sunrise, so that we can be hunting at the break of day. Some days we come back for lunch, other days we have n nice lunch packed and with us to enjoy under a tree surrounded by the beautiful Namibian landscape.
- Most of our hunter prefer somewhere in the middle, but please make sure to let us know how you want to hunt.
What are the shooting conditions like?
When out stalking, shots are mostly taken from 3 legged shooting sticks. Practice shooting from sticks as much as possible before your upcoming Safari. If you feel more comfortable using your own sticks, you are more than welcome to bring your own, but we have shooting sticks that we use. A lot of our terrain makes it very difficult for shooting in a laying down position, so this is not something you should bargain on. The vegetation here in Namibia is mostly thorny, so there are not a lot of situations in which you can make use of the bushes/trees to steady your shot.
What is the weather conditions like?
-Our diverse climate makes it very difficult to tell you about our temperatures. Normally in the hunting season the nights are cool to cold and it warms up during the day, especially in the sun.
- Average Daily Temperatures - low/high (Fahrenheit)
FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV
60 /93 59/90 55/90 41/86 37/72 28/65 41/77 52/91 59/95 63/99
What should I pack for my trip?
We have a Check list/Pack list with suggestions of what you should pack for your hunting trip. If you did not already receive it from us, just send us an email requesting the UHS Trip Checklist. |
Firearms/Rifles
What important information do I need to know and what documentation is required, in order to bring my firearms into the country?
You may temporarily import only one firearm per calibre, and no semi- or full-auto rifles are allowed. No hunting may be done with hand guns.
This is the procedure when coming from the USA - but the general idea is the same from most European destinations.
- Get a U.S. Customs Form 4457 "Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad" for proof of prior-hunt ownership of your guns. This is available at all U.S. international airports, but we recommend doing so days before your flight, as you don't want to risk delay on your departure date. This form has no expiration date, and is valid for unlimited returns home. (Many clients laminate theirs). If you are not near an international airport, a letter from your local LEO will suffice. (Even a notarized letter of ownership will probably satisfy U.S. Customs.)
- Take good digital pictures of your hunting firearms, and keep them with you on CD or USB drive in case they are lost in transit.
- Record the serial numbers (don't forget the scope), and keep the paper with you.
- Use a very sturdy rifle case. Wide orange or yellow tape with your name/flights in black marker will distinguish your case from all others. Have digital photos of your case on hand so that you may quickly identify it if it is lost or delayed.
- You can complete the Namibian Import/Export permit before your trip or upon arrival in Namibia. We have a print out version of the application form available if you want to complete it beforehand.
- Remember that some of the airlines have different regulation when it comes to traveling with rifles, so make sure that you comply with the rules of the airline you book with.
TSA firearm travelling:
The key regulatory requirements to transporting firearms, firearm parts or ammunition in checked baggage are:
- You must declare all firearms to the airline during the ticket counter check-in process
- The firearm must be unloaded
- The firearm must be in a hard-sided container
- The container must be locked
- We recommend that you provide the key or combination to the security officer if he or she needs to open the container. You should remain present during screening to take the key back after the container is cleared. If you are not present and the security officer must open the container, the airline will make a reasonable attempt to contact you. If they can't contact you, the container will not be placed on the plane. Federal regulations prohibit unlocked gun cases (or cases with broken locks) on aircraft
- You must securely pack any ammunition in fiber (such as cardboard), wood or metal boxes or other packaging that is specifically designed to carry small amounts of ammunition
- You can't use firearm magazines/clips for packing ammunition unless they completely and securely enclose the ammunition (e.g. by securely covering the exposed portions of the magazine or by securely placing the magazine in a pouch, holder, holster or lanyard)
- You may carry the ammunition in the same hard-sided case as the firearm, as long as you pack it as described above. Note; this might not apply to all airlines
- You can't bring black powder or percussion caps used with black-powder type firearms in either your carry-on or checked baggage
Upon arrival at Windhoek International Airport:
- Go through passport control
- Collect your checked luggage at the baggage claim. Do not wait for your gun case to arrive on the same conveyor belt as your other checked luggage. It's collected by airport personnel, and will be waiting at the police kiosk in front of baggage claim. (NOTE: If travelling with partners, have one collect the checked luggage, and the others to oversee the rifle cases)
- Proceed on the GREEN line through customs
- While at Uhlenhorst, you won't need to keep the gun permit on your person, but you must do so when travelling off the ranch. Police checkpoints are random events, but you'll have no trouble if your permit is on hand.
What caliber of rifle should I bring?
We consider 7mm /.284 to be the reliable minimum caliber for larger game. Many international hunters like the .270, but some of our larger and tougher game (wildebeest, zebra, gemsbok, and eland) really do need a .30 caliber and 180+gr bullets. Any .30 caliber will be a good choice for plains game hunting in Namibia.
It is important to be well-practiced and reliable with your rifle, whatever the make or caliber. "A good man with an average gun will outperform an average man with a great gun". I always tell clients; “the rifle that you always take Deer/Elk hunting. That is the rifle you should bring to Namibia, because you know how it shoots and what it’s capable of doing.”
How much ammunition am I allowed to bring?
The holder of an import permit may not possess more than 200 cartridges for each firearm mentioned on the import permit.
So, we would suggest you bring about 80 rounds for your main hunting rifle and 40 rounds for your secondary rifle. This will provide you plenty for zeroing (and re-zeroing if your sight malfunctions). Most airlines have a 5kg/11lb ammo weight restriction, but this is not often strictly enforced. Use a proper ammo box, such as the green plastic boxes from MTM-Case guard. For transport a locking hard case (airline approved) is required. You can use a soft gun case, or sock case, for when you are in the bush.
Should I bring more than one Rifle?
You are allowed to bring more than one rifles of different calibers into Namibia. Some people like to bring a smaller caliber (ex;.243/.270) for the smaller game like Duiker, Springbok, Impala and then a bigger caliber (ex;.300/.325) for bigger game like Kudu, Zebra and Eland. Other hunters bring two rifles in the medium to higher class (ex.; a 7mm and a .300), that way if something goes wrong with the one rifle. They still have a back-up that’s able to do the job.
What if I decide to bring only one rifle and something is with it?
We have a selection of rifles you can rent from us, so if you have a problem with your own rifle you can use one of our rifles.
If I decide not to travel with a rifle, do you have rifles I/we could use?
We have rifles of different calibers that you can rent from us if you decide not to bring your own. We charge U$50- per day plus cost of Ammunition.
If I do a guided tour with you after the hunt, is there a place that my rifle/s can be stored?
You can leave your hunting rifles at the local taxidermy while on tour. They have a strong room on their premises and your rifle will be safe there.
Will I have a chance to shoot my rifle before the hunt start?
We have a shooting range at the lodge. Before we do any hunting, we take the hunters to the range to check the rifles. |
Travel
Are vaccinations necessary when travelling to Namibia?
Vaccinations are recommended but not necessary. Many of our guests get vaccinated for Polio, Hepatitis A & B and Typhoid. We recommend you consult with your physician about the trip approximately 8 months prior to your travels. A benefit of our arid climate is the absence of mosquitoes carrying malaria or yellow fewer. You will not hunt in malaria or yellow fever problem areas. Overall we have a very low biting insect population for Africa, though common flies are occasionally bothersome in game areas.
Should I get special trip insurance?
We require clients to protect themselves against trip cancellation, and strongly advise insurance to protect against baggage loss / delay, and emergency medical issues.
What are Namibia's entry regulations?
All visitors require a passport, valid for no less than 6 months after the expiry of the intended visit. Travelers must ensure passports contain at least one (we recommend at least 2) unused (blank) page.
Do I need a Visa to travel to Namibia?
Visitors from America, Canada and Europe do not need anything other than a valid passport to travel to Namibia.
Can I book my own airfare or should I use a booking agent?
A lot of people book their own airfare online and there is nothing wrong with it. However, there is a few advantages of booking trough a travel agent that specialize in African hunting trips. One of them being Gracy Travel: http://www.gracytravel.com
The travel agents are;
- Up to date with all the airline requirements when it comes to travelling with firearms and ammunition.
- Familiar with all the airports and they have people on the ground that will assist you if you have any problems. |
Payment
Are there any hidden fees? Anything not listed on the pricelist?
No. If you book one of our packages or customize a package to your desires, all expenses are covered in the package price while at Uhlenhorst Hunting Safaris. The packages do not cover tips or expenses outside of Uhlenhorst Hunting Safaris such as airline tickets, taxidermy work and shipping of your trophies. The package prices do cover your hunts, trophy fees, trophy permitting, meals, lodging, skinning and dressing, transportation to and from the Windhoek International Airport, daily transportation while on hunts. If I book a 7 day hunt, does that mean I have 7 full days of hunting? The easiest way to look at this is to count the number of nights that you spend. If you book a 7 day hunt you will spend 7 nights at our camp. In the case of a 7 day hunt, the day of arrival and the day of departure together counts as one day and you will have 6 full days of hunting. You are more than welcome to hunt on the arrival and departure day if time permits.
Does Namibia have any tax that will affect the cost of my trip?
Yes, Namibia has a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15%. VAT only applies to accommodation/daily rates and animals that were not harvested for export purposes. So if you do management/cull hunting those animals will be taxed. Trophy animals that you export will not be taxed. On all our hunting packages, the VAT is included.
What about gratuities?
We have excellent staff to serve you, and gratuities are most appreciated. We can discuss suggested amounts and the system we make use of once you're here, but a rule of thumb to consider in the meantime is about 10% of your bill. Cash is easiest for this, payable at hunt's end to the operator, who will distribute to the individuals on your behalf to ensure that 'backroom' staffs also get their share. Gratuities are at the hunters own discretions. Please do not hand cash to any of the staff without discussing it with us firs!!! Some of the workers have a very bad drinking habit and this can negatively affect your hunt or the group that comes after you.
Can I also bring the staff gifts to hand out during the hunt?
You are welcome to bring small gifts to hand out while on the hunt. Here is a few suggestions;
- T-shirts (Mediums & Large), this is something that is easy to pack and the staff absolutely loves it!
- Knifes for the skinners and trackers makes for great gifts
- Cotton gloves, During the winter months May-August
- Ball caps
- Sweets
We normally have about 6-10 staff members involved; trackers, skinners, camp staff and laundry ladies depending on the size of the hunting party. You can check with us beforehand.
How do I make a deposit?
We accept cash deposits or bank transfers. Bank transfers is the easiest and safest way for both parties. We will supply the bank details upon request.
How does the payment work? When do I pay for my hunt?
We take a deposit to lock in your hunting date and prices. The deposit amount is U$2500- per package or 50% of the daily rate. The balance is payable at the end of the hunt. Please note that our back no longer accept checks or traverser's checks.
Can I make down payments leading up to the hunt?
Yes, we have clients that book a year or two ahead of time and then they do payments trough out the year. This has to be cleared with us first. No down payments after the hunt. |
Shipping & Taxidermy
What shall I do with my trophies?
There are two ways to go: have them mounted and tanned here in Namibia. The taxidermist we use is Trophaendienste Website: http://www.trophaendienste.com - Email: marsha@trophaendienste.com - Feel free to contact them for a price list and any other questions you may have. Alternatively the taxidermist can "dip and ship" the trophies to have them done in the States. In the US I can highly recommend Brush Country Studios owned by Chris & Felicia Cammack. They do great work for clients all over the US! Website: http://www.brushcountrystudios.com - Email: office@brushcountrystudios.com - Phone: (281) 256-0742 - Cell: (713) 202-8956
How does the shipping of my trophies work?
You are more than welcome to shop around to find the shipper that seems best to you. We will deliver all the trophies at your chosen shipper or taxidermist in Windhoek.
We have a trusted shipper that we have use for 8 years now; Namibia Safari Services Website: http://www.namsaf.com.na E-mail: Harald Preschel - harald@namsaf.com.na
Should I hire someone to clear my trophies in the US? What do I need to supply to the shipper?
The shipping company will take care of the whole shipping process. They normally have a company they work with to clear the trophies in the US, so you do not have to make prior arrangements. You should just bring the shipping instructions with you when coming on your hunt;
What does it cost to get the trophies shipped?
Dipping and shipping is done by the shipper (the shipper we normally use/ a shipper of your choice).
It is very difficult to give and exact price for shipping because there is a lot of factors to take into consideration, for example: weight of crate, size of crate, where the shipment is being send, where the shipment clear customs. For budget planning you can work at about U$250- per trophy animal. |