PROBLEM ELEPHANT HUNT IN NAMIBIA

This Elephant hunt was a last moment rush and prepare, with less than 48 hours to pack, book tickets and head off the OR Tambo International Airport.

With Namibia’s game hunting season closing 30^th November, one of our prominent big game hunting outfitters secured a late tag for a problem Elephant, which we at Game Hunting Safaris were asked to market and sell.

The Elephant hunt would take place near the town of Grootfontein, which is a seven hour road transfer from the capital city of Windhoek.

With limited time available before the hunt and taking cognisance of the fact that most of our hunting clients are from the United States of America and Europe, logistically it was a challenge for our international clients to arrange flights, firearm permits and arrive in Namibia within the required timeframe.

With the Elephant hunt being offered at such a discounted price, we decided to take up the opportunity ourselves and send Keenan off for this hunt in Namibia.

Namibia is well known for big game hunts and is a popular destination for American hunters. The country is safe, with great infrastructure and Elephant hunts produce quality trophies at affordable rates.

Landing at Hosea Kutako International Airport, the safari was off to a relatively slow start due to a delay from MET (Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism) in issuing the permit, but two days later Keenan and Philip managed to head out.

Hunting Elephant in these free-range areas is old school, find a suitable track and start walking. In the month of November in Namibia, it is hot and dry and staying hydrated is critical. The bush is thick, and visibility is at a minimum in this area unlike the open areas of the Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip).

Finding suitable tracks a few days in, a bull was spotted, and it was game on. After stalking through thick brush, Keenan managed to take a side brain shot at 7 yards.  The first bullet missed the brain by an inch, but the impact and energy stunned the bull enough to drop him flat and allow for follow up shots.

A few quick follow up shots were fired and the result, Keenan and his new elephant hunting partner, professional hunter Philip Fourie hunted a great bull.