MB-
Hunted with Nick this year. Just got back in late May. I had Leopard, Kudu, Oryx, Springbuck, Hartman's Zebra, and warthog on my list. I originally had also wanted Impala, Wildebeest, and Eland as well but changed my mind once I got there for those animals. The Impala and Wildebeest are only available on high fenced ranches (I wanted only freerange animals) and the Eland I ran out of time for. Eland are a very tough trophy to obtain with Nick if you want to hunt free range animals only.
This was my first trip to Africa to hunt but I have done plenty of other hunting before. I felt that my experience was good. Accommodations were nice...bomas with thatched roofs and ensuite bathrooms. Very nice to stay there for your hunt. Food was simple but good. You'll eat game every night (mostly Oryx) unless you request different. I tried their free range grass-fed beef while I was there and that was good too...In addition vehicles, hunting areas, trackers, skinners, housekeepers, laundry, etc were all excellent.
Of my animals on my wishlist, I shot a huge Oryx (they are everywhere in almost annoying quantities), monster Springbok (maybe one of the largest in Namibia this year), very nice Hartman's stallion, very big warthog (also everywhere), and shot a very old and beautiful Red Hartebeest (not originally on my wishlist but they are gorgeous animals and a fairly tough trophy to obtain - mine was a great hunt). I did not get a Kudu...Nick said I was the first client he's had (ever?) to not get a Kudu when I was specifically after one. I did have a very brief chance to shoot one that was prob 48-50" but he was running and only stopped for about 1 sec and I did not get off a shot. I saw a handful of shootable bulls but nothing spectacular and nothing where I had a decent shot attempt. I think Nick was almost as upset that I didn't get a Kudu than he was that I didn't get a leopard. He was genuinely upset. Rabies has hit Namibia VERY hard and seeing large bulls now is not a given. In fact, seeing many bulls at all is not a given. I was hunting in the thick of the Kudu rut and had real trouble finding animals. If the rabies keeps up for another year or two, either trophy fees are going to skyrocket or there may not be many Kudu to shoot regardless of the trophy fee. I was pretty disappointed, to say the least. Oh well, now I have an excuse to go back.....!! ha ha.
There were a handful of minor-moderate complaints that I had while I was there. Some of these were in Nick's control, some were not. I wish I had some additional experience in Africa to compare this to, but I don't. Overall, I loved my African trip. I'd love to go back sometime in the future. I would probably hunt with Nick again, depending what was on my trophy list. Have a great time and take lots of pics.
CB
