Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa NW Namibia - Jun 2022 Small Group Hunt Sebra Safaris

OK, I know everyone is either starting or getting ready to start US based hunting seasons and for a lot of people even thinking about Africa for 2022 is somewhere over the horizon. But, for some who need to start sorting out/scheduling vacation time for 2022, I want to get this posted up now. Also, it might be a good time for guys in the deer camps or duck blinds to have an opportunity kick it around together. So.....

For 2022, I have the following dates locked in with Sebra Safaris with Jan & Mariesje du Plessis.

Pick up in Windhoek on 22 Jun 2022.
Hunt 23 Jun thru 2 Jul - that's 10-full hunting days
Travel home 3 July and should be home on the 4th.

Those hunting dates are centered over prime full dark of the Jun/Jul moon.

I understand the travel details are still sketchy and for now, 7 full months out, is fine. There are way too many unknowns and still unknowable at this time. All of these revolve around what airlines will be flying then, what routes work for everyone, Covid related testing and travel requirements etc. The MOST important thing at this point is deciding if you want to go. Everything else can be sorted out along the way.

For example, being picked up in Windhoek on 22 Jun. Depending on the available flights in and arrival times, IF we land in Windhoek early in the morning, say 10 am or before, we'd be picked up at the airport and drive straight to Jan's (about a 6-hr drive) Otherwise, we'll have to arrive in Windhoek a day before (21st) and stay overnight in Windhoek. Not to worry, I know several TERRIFIC places to stay and several TERRIFIC restaurants in town. Jan would pick us up the next morning (22nd) and drive to Sebra. Would be there early afternoon, light lunch, a little unpacking, hit the range for rifle checks and still time for an afternoon orientation hunt.

Coming back on 3 Jul is similar situation depending on departure flight. If it's a late afternoon departure, we'd go straight from Sebra to the airport. If we get early morning departure, we'd stay overnight either in Okahandja or Windhoek and fly out the next morning. Again, all this is still too early to try and sort out.

Jan & Mariesje's lodging/bungalow you see on their website consists of two private rooms each with en-suite private shower/toilets. Each room can be configured for either a queen size or two twin size beds. My bunk will be in the PH room off the skinning shed. So, this means the "small group" can be me +2 if each want private rooms or if willing to share a room, up to 4x.

This will be a "closed camp". Our group will be the ONLY people hunting on the approximately 50,000 US acres between his and his father's farms. Both are low-fence, free range. He also has access to several large (5000-37000 acre) high-fence properties for non-endemic PG species. Native/endemic species would be, Damara land Dik-Dik, steenbok, gray duiker, klipspringer, springbok, gemsbok, kudu and mountain zebra. Other species on the list below would be hunted "off property" on neighboring farms but, all less than an hour away. You have to remember the general sized of the farms there are very large so, travel time between farms takes a bit.

Last of the admin notes - because of all the travel/Covid unknowns at this time, anyone seriously interested in wanting to go and willing to make a serious commitment just needs to say so publicly here. No deposit money is required at this time. I have money on deposit with Jan to lock in those dates. No deposit (50% of the total daily rate) until 120-days before we arrive unless your are seriously committed absolutely want to lock in. I will also keep a list of the those publicly committing and alternates in case any of the first to commit change their minds. That 120-day cut-off still allows an alternate time to get packed, paperwork and airline tickets.

Now that all the opening admin queep is done here's the price list. Note - these are the SAME prices posted for 2020!!!

2022 DAILY RATES AND TROPHY FEES:
* All prices are in U.S. Dollars

1 Hunter / 1 Guide (1 x 1) $350.00 per person per day
2 Hunters / 1 Guide (2 x 1) $275.00 per person per day
Observer $150.00 per person per day
Daytrip to Etosha $400.00 per person per day
*Arrival and departure days will count as transport days and will be charged at the observer rate.

2022 TROPHY FEES:

Giraffe $2000.00 Duiker $550.00 Eland $2750.00
Klipspringer $1750.00 Kudu $1750.00 Steenbok $500.00
Gemsbok $850.00 Damara dik-dik $2500.00 Springbok $650.00
Baboon $200.00 Blue W/B $1650.00 Cheetah $3000.00
Black W/B $1650.00 Spotted Hyena $1750.00 Red H/B $900.00
Brown Hyena $1750.00 Hartmann’s Zebra$1350.00 Caracal $650.00
Warthog $650.00 Impala $850.00 Jackal $50.00
Sable (Price on Request) Waterbuck (Price on Request)

**Other species available on request**

Leopard package: (contact us for details)
14 days: $17,500.00
21 days: $21,500.00

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
•Full room and board accommodation. •Issuing of permits for some species is subjected to changing quotas. •Lost, wounded game considered “taken” and charged at full price. • Daytrip fee replaces normal daily rates. • The issuing of permits for some species is subjected to quotas additional limited government imposed quotas. •No hidden costs!

PRICES INCLUDE:
•Hunting permit. •PH services. •Use of hunting vehicles. •Initial preparation of trophies – skinning, salting/drying and delivery to local taxidermist. •Accommodation. •All meals, soft drinks, wine and beer. •Daily laundry and maid service •Government mandated 15% VAT on daily rates. •There are no hidden fees!

PRICES EXCLUDE:
•Any and all taxidermist fees. •Dipping, packing and shipping of trophies. •International phone calls. •Insurance and medical expenses. •Tips and Gratuities. •Hard alcohol/liquor

TERMS OF BUSINESS:
• Confirmation of a plains game hunt booking will require a deposit of $1500.00. • Confirmation of a leopard hunt booking will require a deposit of $3000.00. • The balance of the total daily rate is due 60-days prior to the start of your safari. •Trophy fees and any safari extras, are due and payable at the completion of your safari. • Payment must be paid in cash or wire transfer before leaving Namibia. Namibian banks do not accept non-Namibian based bank issued personal checks, travelers checks, cashiers checks, certified checks or money orders.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
• Safaris cancelled more than 180-days prior to scheduled safari date - 50% of the deposit will be refunded. • Safaris cancelled between 180-days and 60-days prior to scheduled safari date - no deposit will be refunded. • Safaris cancelled less than 60-days prior to scheduled safari date - total daily rate will be forfeited unless the client finds a replacement. • Rescheduling, instead of refunding, is possible on a case by case and open date available basis.

A little weekend update on things in Namibia.

Did a little airline and airfare check just now. It looks like Lufthansa will be offering daily flts from Frankfurt to Windhoek by this June. Most Frankfurt arrivals going over seem to be overnight from the US with morning arrivals and 8-12hr layovers. We've done this route in the past and gotten a "dayroom" just off terminal for a good hot shower a long nap, dinner and back to the terminal. Returns seem to be a 4-8hr layover in Frankfurt. For the shorter layovers, there are showers available in the terminal for a few bucks and worth every penny.

Arrival in Windhoek is about 8am and departure is about 6pm so no need to stay overnight going in or on the way home....unless you'd want to spend a day/night in Windhoek doing a little souvenir shopping and dinner a Joe's Beerhouse. Economy class from Tampa was about $1500 US. Not bad.

M3Taco; is that Lufthansa or one of their subsidiaries that fly in and out of Windhoek? This September I flew with Eurowings Discover, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, to and from Windhoek.

There were a few issues with EW Discover since they were so new; relating to trying to upgrade seats to "economy plus", as well the fee they charged to fly a rifle out was outrageous.

Perhaps check those out before booking with Lufthansa just so you know exactly what you are contacting for.


All the best.


GRF

Thanks GRF. Originally, I didn't look that closely. I was just doing a little digging around just to see what might be available CURRENTLY. You were correct, the flt from the US to FRA is on Lufthansa proper but then from FRA to WDH it is on Euro Wings Discovery.

Delta/KLM used to have daily flts from Amsterdam (AMS) direct into WDH that we've taken several times BR (Before Rona) but, even that looks like it now only routes from AMS to Frankfurt (FRA) and transfers to EW Discovery into WDH too.

Ethiopian Air has flts 3x per week direct flts from Addis Ababa and then there is going thru J'berg that shows just SA Airlink as the primary connection carrier between.

One more possible route is British Airways via London. That has a number of obstacles: Can US travelers even transit London without the "show me your papers" jab. Next you have to transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick - not economically feasible with firearms and not sure if the leg from London is with BA direct or with their sub-partner Condor Air that I think may not allow firearms.

Between the Rona and SA Airlines and Air Namibia going tits up, not a lot of choices left.

I sent an email to EW Discovery to see what their fees are supposed to be for "sporting firearms" carriage are and also if luggage is still held in transit baggage during long layovers like BR or if it has to be claimed and rechecked.

Looks like as of NOW anyway, the ways to get into Namibia are pretty limited.

M3; if I recall correctly I paid something like $4300 Nam for my rifle to go in my luggage. If the rifle is checked through to your final destination the German government does not require any paperwork for the firearm.

If the firearms leaves the control of the airlines and needs to be "touched" no matter how briefly you need German government approvals. On my way home this September my rifle ended up "in Germany", I needed to claim it and check it with Air Canada. This involved a short but reasonable conversation with the German police. I detailed this little adventure in the last instalment of my post on hunt.

The situation in Ethiopia raises concerns with that route.

Despite all the concerns about travel I most enthusiastically encourage any who is interested to go and hunt Africa.

Best of luck in getting this trip booked up.

GRF

GRF:

$4300 ND is about $250 US, give or take. Seems like more and more airlines are charging extra fees for firearm carriage. Ethiopians' website says $100 US each way. SA Airlink and Air Botswana charge between $35-$50 US each way for just their short hops. Lufthansa's web says it something like $80 each way. Delta show extra fee only if you exceed the 2x fee checked bag limit. Seems like most airlines are adding some sort of extra fee now for firearms.

I'm pretty sure it has to do with the extra paperwork and handling that has to take place for firearm carriage in addition to specialized handlers/security people that are actually allowed handle the cases and transfer them between flights etc. Think of firearms as having to be handled now like US Registered mail. Has to be signed for between each and every person who touches it or moves it from point A to B.

Again, my original comment about airlines/routes was just about seeing what kind of possibilities CURRENTLY existed. The trip is still 6-months out and things can change a bit by then.

Did a little checking over the weekend on airlines and routes from the US to Windhoek. Getting to Windhoek pre-Covid (with firearms) was not the easiest and now that SAA and Air Namibia are tits up, choices are a bit more limited. Looks like "generally" and currently the route options are limited to flights that route thru three main "hubs" if you will. Johannesburg, Frankfurt and Addis Ababa.

From Frankfurt, the connector airline is SA Airlink. There is another Namibia based regional carrier that is trying to pick-up for Air Namibia but it is not showing up in the on-line flight booking info that code shares with the majors. The flights I found online via Frank all seemed to route thru Jberg in some fashion. Same with Qatar Air, United and Delta. All route via Jberg.

Ethiopian Air from Newark to Addis Ababa does go straight in to Windhoek three days a week without going thru Jberg.

Just passing on some general info if anyone is thinking about going.

Thanks pondering a trip this year.

Ribka and everyone else.

Whether someone decides to go with me on one of these small group things I put together or not, you'll always notice I encourage anyone with a desire for a first trip or 30th trip, make a plan and GO! The countries are changing rapidly, in some ways for the better and some ways not so much. It will likely never be better than NOW. If you've made a trip a few years ago and decide to go back again to say, Namibia, you will be astonished at the amount of development that has occurred.

The number of NICE housing developments and shopping malls that have been built in and around Windhoek and the other major cities is astonishing. And yet, 10-15 minutes drive outside of them is still "bush". Besides the housing and commercial developments the biggest change is the huge influx of Chinese, both people and businesses and money. This alone, in my few anyway, will have the most long lasting and likely irreversible impact on all of Africa.

I envy those who got to experience "Africa" thirty, forty, fifty years ago but, I'm equally grateful I got to experience for the first time nearly 25 yrs ago. All I'm saying is don't wait so that someday in the future you can say, "man, I'm so glad I got to experience "Africa" then". As I have told so many, the reason I do these small group hunts is to help people get their first trip and maybe only trip under their belts. My bet is, IF you go once, you'll start "making a plan" for your next trip before you leave your first one.

Happy New Year to all!

P.S. New Year's resolution - Make a Plan.

Michael

M3Taco: Does Namibia still require foreign visitors provide proof of insurance covering COVID hospitalization in the event of a positive COVID test while in country? It’s my understanding that without the proof of insurance travelers will be denied boarding flights to WDH or if arriving in WDH without the proof will be immediately be denied entry and sent hone on the next available flight.

News to me.

Have you got links (current) to any official US or Namibian govt websites stating it's required or just interweb rumors.

The US Embassy Namibia in Windhoek's web site doesn't say anything about it. But, then what do they know?
US Embassy-Namibia

I emailed them just in case you know something they don't.

I haven't dug too deep into the Covid travel requirements other than testing times before beginning of travel etc. Mostly because there is still close to 6-months before my little group trip and lots can change between now and 30-60 days out. One big one is the CDC has recalled or is suspending the the use of the RT-PCR tests effective 1 Jan 2022 and as of yet not stated what the replacement authorized test will be. This should be fun.

I guess if someone was concerned about it, you can find travel medical insurance coverage that includes Covid care coverage for $400-$600 and up to cover the typical two-week trip.

Edited to add:

One thing I did notice on the Embassy website that was not related to Covid is they gave the names of the air carriers providing service into/out of Windhoek. Ethiopian, Air West and as GRF mentioned on the forum Euro Wings SA Airlink.

You can go to the Ethiopian Air website and find r/t tickets into/out of Windhoek pretty easily. Connections in Addis Ababa look to be a challenge. Euro Wings doesn't seem to show up, at least this past weekend on Lufthansa's website as a connection from Frankfurt to Windhoek and Air West didn't show up on any of the major carriers website listed routes connecting thru Jberg. Seems you can book tickets directly online on their websites.

GENERALLY, if the major air carrier doesn't list them on their routes, there is LIKLY not to be a code share of baggage handling agreement between them. This doesn't mean that a registered travel agent can't see them in the central reservation booking system called AMODAUS and book connecting tickets together with them but, without those code share/baggage handling agreements it could mean you'll have to collect up and recheck your luggage (means clearing immigration & customs) and security between connections or maybe botched seating assignments.

The other protection by making sure you use code share airlines is IF you miss a connection due to flight delays, weather etc., the major carrier is responsible for sorting you out. Otherwise, you'll need to rely on your travel agent.

Just a few thoughts.

M3Taco: If you go to the Travel Forum on AR, there’s a thread regarding the need for COVID insurance to enter Namibia with first hand accounts from as recent as October 2021.

The thread is entitled “Travel insurance during COVID”

Bud - you might want to go back and re-read that thread again.

1. It is historical info going back to Oct 2021. Oct 2021 info, especially regarding anything Covid related, is pretty much irrelevant to what is CURRENT and likely little to do with 5-6 months from now.

2. There were NO specific links provided in any of the posts stating Covid coverage insurance was required. It was just one statement from one person who claimed it was required and he even said in the same post, nobody in Namibia check/asked them for it when they arrived. Where did the OP there get his info it was required? NONE of the posts in that link provided any solid proof - it was all "someone told me" BS.

3. The date of the info in the US Embassy Namibia link I provided is dated 28 Dec 2021. Still historical but only two days old. I would "presume" official US Embassy data is somewhat more accurate/reliable. At any rate, I sent an email to the Embassy (just line anyone can) to confirm/cross-check. I will post up the results.

4. Any requirements that were in the past, may or may not have any bearing on current requirements and even less so 5-6 months from now. To me, it's pointless worry.

5. If someone is worried, then I would suggest you start setting aside a few extra $$$ every month so that IF in the event it does become "mandatory" then it's not a big deal. In less then 10-min of simple "Goggle Foo" I found multiple travel medical insurance providers that DID cover Covid in with their other medical care coverage so, it wasn't just Covid coverage only. Costs were as I stated above - $400-$600 and up to cover a 10-14 day trip. IF on the odd chance it does become required or you personally decide to obtain the extra coverage just by choice, it takes 15-min to fill out the online application, pay the fee and your policy is in your email box a few minutes later. BFD! If it turns out it is not required or you choose not to, then guess you've saved some coin of the realm to put towards an extra trophy.

The sky is not falling.

Michael: The two posters who mentioned the insurance requirement (Pondoro and Tim Carney) are both AR regulars and veteran Namibia hunters. I hope you’re correct, but I’d hate to see a newbie arrive in WDH and then be sent straight home, losing thousands in deposits and bitter disappointment.

Is Covid vax required now to enter Namibia? Seeing conflicting info.

Bud - I understand that. However, being a "regular" poster on a website doesn't necessarily correlate with the accuracy, currency or relevance of the info they post, does it. Not disparaging those two individuals in any way. However, the info they post doesn't seem complete to me. Who told them? A travel agent perhaps who also got a little commission off selling a policy and used the dreaded Covid to release the coin? Point is, they gave incomplete info and others seem to have picked it up as gospel to spread without trying to verify it. And again, at this point it would appear to be historically irrelevant on a time-line basis.

Got to tell a bit of a joke/story. While I was on active duty at HQ CENTCOM, I was on one of my short trips into Iraq. with a side stop in Kuwait. A US Army Col. was giving a situation brief to a new incoming US Marine 2-Star. The Col tried to blow some sunshine up the 2-Star's kilt and the 2-Star KNEW it was BS and unloaded on the guy. "Colonel, stop right there. Why don't you pull your head out a your ass and use it to think with instead of as a butt plug!" We all most $hit ourselves!!! I will ALWAYS remember that line.

Ribka - The Embassy website could be written a bit clearer. From what I can decipher is that the jabs are CURRENTLY NOT required for US Citizens to enter Namibia. US Citizens can get jabs if they want while in Namibia. The website does say they US Govt isn't planning to pay for them so, I'm presuming out of your pocket. They three types that are available in Namibia are: Sinopharm, J&J and Pfizer.

I've cut and pasted this directly from around the center of their page:

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes
All non-Namibian travelers arriving in Namibia are required to present a negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result from their country of departure that is not older than 72 hours calculated from the date of sample of test. If the traveler meets this requirement, no quarantine or additional testing is required.
Effective Wednesday, December 01, 2021, only COVID-19 certificates obtained from providers participating in the Trusted Travel platform or verified on the Global Haven system will be valid for entry into and exit from Namibia. To supplement your certificate(s), the U.S. Embassy strongly recommends travelers also bring paper copies of all COVID-19 test results to the airport or port of departure.

It also seems to say that even IF you have the jabs you still need to have the negative PCR test. No special treatment if your fully jabbed up or full of natural antibodies from having it and recovering from it.

Then below that they explain where and how to get a test and upload the results into a website. It also seems to say that if you don't get it uploaded, you just take a hardcopy with you.

As always, ALL of this is subject to change many times between now and departure time. Just be flexible and things just seem to work out.

Are they libtard morons like everyone over there on that pathetic forum, where if you don't kisss the muslim's asss you get banned. Screw that place and everyone over there.

That place has turned south pretty bad.

I will very happily aqueous to anybody that posts more current/relevant OFFICIAL links by either the US or Namibian governments with current info.

The only thing that matters to me and to everyone else should be - is the info CURRENT and ACCURATE and not hearsay or a travel/booking agent said, "xyx". Have them provide the hard links to official govt websites. That helps take the guess work out as much as possible.

Thanks for posting. That's what I saw too. Not vaxxed but have had Covid and still have decent anti bodies according to recent test. Id rather not get vaxxed to travel.