PROBLEM ELEPHANT HUNT IN NAMIBIA

A last-minute phone call and less than forty-eight hours later, Keenan was packing rifles, booking flights, and heading for OR Tambo International Airport for a free-range problem elephant hunt in Namibia. With the Namibian hunting season closing at the end of November, one of our partnered dangerous game outfitters had secured a late problem elephant permit near Grootfontein and asked us at Game Hunting Safaris to help market the opportunity.

With such limited time available, arranging international flights, firearm permits, and travel logistics for overseas hunters from the United States and Europe proved nearly impossible. Rather than let the hunt go to waste, we decided to take up the opportunity ourselves and send Keenan to Namibia for the safari.

Namibia has long been regarded as one of Africa’s premier destinations for dangerous game hunting safaris, offering excellent infrastructure, safe travel conditions, and outstanding free-range elephant hunting opportunities. Regions such as Bushmanland and the Zambezi Region continue to produce exceptional elephant, Cape buffalo, and plains game hunts for international hunters seeking a true African safari experience.

After landing at Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek, the safari was delayed slightly while waiting for final documentation from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET). Two days later, Keenan and professional hunter Philip Fourie finally headed north toward the hunting area near Grootfontein.

Free-range elephant hunting in Namibia remains one of the last truly traditional dangerous game safaris in Africa. There are no fences, vehicles, or shortcuts — simply locate a suitable track and start walking. November in Namibia is brutally hot and dry, making hydration essential, while the thick bushveld in this region limits visibility to only a few yards in places, very different from the more open floodplains of the Caprivi Strip.

After several days of tracking through dense bush and dry river systems, the team eventually located a mature bull. Closing the distance carefully through extremely thick cover, Keenan suddenly found himself only a few yards from the elephant. At approximately seventeen yards, he was forced to make a split-second decision and take a side brain shot under immense pressure. When dangerous game hunting at such close range, proper elephant shot placement becomes absolutely critical, especially in thick bushveld where visibility is limited and follow-up opportunities may disappear within seconds. Although the first bullet narrowly missed the brain by roughly an inch, the sheer impact stunned the bull long enough for several immediate follow-up shots to bring the hunt to a successful conclusion.

Moments later, the bull was down, bringing an end to an unforgettable free-range elephant hunting safari in Namibia. For Keenan and Philip, it was a classic elephant hunt — physically demanding, mentally exhausting, and a reminder of why elephant hunting remains one of Africa’s most respected safari experiences.