Hunting in Namibia

Namibia, which is located in the heart of central Africa, is considered as a hunter’s paradise. In between the semi-arid dunes of the Namib Desert and the sprawling metropolis of Windhoek, lies a fertile pasture where the wide diversity of Namibian wildlife resides. It is also where trophy hunters hang about during the hunting seasons.

History

There are too few records of ancient Namibian history. But based on the rock paintings and archaeological sites, Namibia appears to have been inhabited by hunters and gatherers. The original hunters who settled in Namibian territory were called the San. They use a language, called Khoisan, which is characterized by clicking sounds. Then, civilizations from the northern regions spilled towards Namibia.

Europeans came as early as the 15th century but widespread settlement began in the 18th century. Namibia became a German colony. However, this does not mean that the natives left Namibia. They fought the abusive and militarized state control of Germany and after the Second World War, Namibia came under the administration of the League of Nations.

By 1915, the rule of Namibia was transferred to South Africa and this lasted towards the 1960s. Namibian rebellion and international pressure forced South Africa to grant independence to Namibia in 1989. Since then, Namibia is on the path towards progress. It is one of the few countries in Africa that enjoys political stability. And its government is now focused on promoting Namibian tourism using the age-old tradition of the native San people: hunting.

Going to Namibia

Trophy hunters are welcome in Namibia. There is an abundance of wildlife and there is an increase of enterprising entrepreneurs that offer world-class African Safari-style trophy hunting. These entrepreneurs established hunting lodges and have their own game reserves. Thus, it is relatively easy for tourists to enter the country. If the visit is only for 90 days or less, visas are no longer required. If the tourists plan to stay for more than three months, then permits must be sought. Such permits can be effortlessly arranged by the travel agent.

The best time to go to Namibia is, of course, during the hunting seasons. There are two hunting seasons in a year, which are also the rainy months. The rain makes water available for many animals, many of which become the target of trophy hunters. The first hunting season is from January to April and the second hunting season is from October to December. Hunting is not allowed during the summer months because of the scorching temperatures that can be fatal for tourists who are not used to the Namibian climate.

Hunting Laws

When tourists decide to join the Safari trophy hunting in Namibia, there are several hunting laws that must be followed. These laws are established to protect both the hunter and the overall population of animals. Here are some of the hunting laws to remember. They are pretty basic and anchored primarily on good sense.

1. All tourist trophy hunters must be accompanied by a duly registered hunter guide. The guide can steer the hunters away from areas where hunting is not allowed. The guides also know the specified areas where archery hunting is allowed.

2. Bow hunting is not allowed for large game. Large game includes hippopotamus, elephants, and lions. There are two major reasons for this rule. First, taking down an elephant using arrows is not humane. It subjects the animal to great pain before the animal dies. Second, a wounded lion may turn towards the hunter. If large game is the target, a hunting rifle is required.

3. Targeting females and their offspring is discouraged. The hunting tourism in Namibia does not aim to wipe out all the wildlife species. Namibia hunting aims to promote the prehistoric nomadic culture of this country.

4. There is a maximum of two animals per species allowed for hunting. As stated before, the promotion of tourism hunting does not intend to endanger the wildlife in Namibia. There are also certain animal species that are off limits to trophy hunters. The government, now and then, bans the hunting of a particular species until such time that the said species has recovered their population.

5. Firearms, such as handguns and automatic weapons are prohibited. These weapons just take away the purpose of experiencing the bushman’s life. These weapons also give their owners an unfair advantage over other trophy hunters who utilize the traditional bow hunting tools.

6. And finally, the use of dogs is illegal. Dogs will only spook the herd and will cause a stampede. A real trophy hunter stalks and chases the game. The chase is the actual challenge. It is exhilarating. And it spikes up the body’s adrenalin.

Economics and Logistics

Although hunting in Namibia is a well-supported tourist activity, it does not mean that a tourist can simply enter a game preserve and find his target. A trophy hunter must make the necessary arrangements with a licensed hunting lodge. The average cost of hunting packages is $5,000. This amount includes the accommodation, food, water and transportation needed for the next 7 to 10 days. It may also include other amenities such as internet and computer accessibility.

But if the hunter wants a taxidermy service to have the dead animal prepared, stuffed, and mounted, he is usually charged more. Additional fees are also charged for the shipment of the trophies or for any additional kills.

There is no general guidelines regarding the hunter’s attire but it is recommended that the hunter wear long-sleeved garments. These will protect against the mosquitoes and the extreme heat of the sun.