Africa Hunting Safaris | Kowas Adventure

Namibia Tourist Information


Come lose yourself in a land as vast and big as the sky. A place where the mountains are made of sand and the plains stretch to an endless horizon.
Where the quiver tree speaks of the dawn of creation and the wild roams free from the intrusion of man. Come to NAMIBIA and find a land of never-ending discovery…!

  • CLIMATE

The best time to visit is during the cool, dry winter months of May to September. In summer, November to March, the landscape is verdant green, but expect high temperatures and heavy downpours.

Summers here are hot with daily highs of over 28° Celsius (82 ° F) between October and February; evenings are usually cooler. Winter days are milder, with maximum and minimum means of 20 ° C (69 ° F) and 6° C (43° F) in July, but early mornings and evenings are crisp with frost.

  • SIZE AND GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION:

Namibia is situated in south-western Africa on the latitude of the tropic of Capricorn. In the north it borders on Angola, iMap of Namibian the east on Botswana, in the south on South Africa and in the west on the Atlantic Ocean. The Caprivi, in the far north-east of the country, extends as far east as Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Namibia has a surface area of 823 144 km². It is four times the size of Great Britain, more than twice the size of Germany, and larger than Texas.

  • TOPOGRAPHY

The country has many contrasting landscapes. Thorn-bush Savannah in the central highlands, dense bushveld, woodland Savannah's and the endless plains of the Etosha Pan in the north, the majestic Fish River Canyon in the south, and finally the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert, in the west of the country, which borders on the Atlantic Ocean.

  • POPULATION:

According to a 1998 estimate, Namibia has a population of 1,8 million, with a population density of 1,7 people per square kilometer, and an annual population growth of 3,1%. The population is heterogeneous, with all eleven population-groups living together peacefully and giving the country a treasure house of diverse cultures.

The largest part of the population lives in rural areas. Windhoek, the capital, is the only city in the country with a population of approximately 250 000. Other bigger towns in the country are Keetmanshoop, Ondangwa, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo, Rehoboth, Rundu, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Tsumeb.

  • HIGH STANDARD OF ETHICS:

For the international hunting clientele, one of the main attractions of hunting in Namibia is the high standard of ethics maintained by the Namibian professional Hunting Association (NAPHA). All hunting resorts like Kowas Adventure Safaris, are under the strict supervision of the Directorate of Resource Management of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).

  • HUNTING SEASON:

The hunting season for huntable game is restricted to the trophy-hunting season, February to November of each year.

  • ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All visitors to Namibia must be in possession of a valid passport, and temporary residence permits for visitors are issued on arrival and allow tourists a period of 90 days in the country. Bona fide tourists and business travelers of the following countries are exempted from visa requirements: Angola, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Mozambique, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America, Zimbabwe. Visitors are, however, advised to confirm visa requirements with their travel agent.

  • RIFLE IMPORT PERMIT

Rifle hunters, who enter Namibia, must complete a temporary import permit for all rifle and/or ammunition in your possession. This permit could be faxed to you (in advance) in order to assist you and for your own convenience!

  • HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

Vaccinations against smallpox, cholera and yellow fever are not required. However, visitors travelling from or through countries where yellow fever is endemic must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination. This requirement does not apply to air travelers in transit. No AIDS screening test are conducted.

  • AIR TRAVEL

The Chief Hosea Kutako Airport (Windhoek International Airport), 45 km (28 miles) west of the capital, is the major point of entry into Namibia. There are landing strips throughout the country and air-charter services are available in Windhoek and Swakopmund (coastal town).

Flights depart on a daily basis from Atlanta, Chicago and New York to Johannesburg. There is also a daily connecting flight between Johannesburg and Windhoek International Airport (Chief Hosea Kutako Airport). Please contact DELTA AIRLINE International flight division for more information or us at Kowas Adventure Safaris. We will gladly assist you. Cost will range from US$ 1000 to approximately US$ 1300.

  • WHAT TO WEAR

During the day dress is generally casual, but in some of the more sophisticated hotel restaurants and bars, jeans, T-shirts and slip-slops are not acceptable during the evening when "smart casual" clothes are the norm.

Early mornings and evenings can be cold during the winter months (May to September), so pack warm clothing such as trousers, long-sleeved shirts, a jersey or anorak. During the hot summer months (October to April) loose-fitting clothes, a wide-rimmed hat and raincoat are essential. After rain, temperatures drop by quite a few degrees so include a light jersey for the occasional cool summer evening. Mosquitoes can be troublesome during summer, so remember to pack loose-fitting trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect legs and arms during the evenings. Warm clothing is necessary throughout the year along the coast where fog and a chilly breeze can create unpleasant conditions.

  • TIME

In summer, Namibian Standard Time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and the same as South African Standard Time; in winter, Namibian Standard Time is one hour ahead of Greenwich mean Time and thus one hour behind South African Standard Time. Summer time commences at 02:00 on the first Sunday of September; wintertime commences at 02:00 on the first Sunday of April.

  • ELECTRICITY

Electrical appliances operate on 220/240 volts. Plugs are 3-pin (round), 15 amp. The power source is a "generator", therefore, power would be available to recharge all your electrical equipment!

  • MONEY MATTERS

The Namibian currency unit is the Namibian dollar (N$), divided into 100 cents. Coins are issued in denominations of 5c, 10c, 50c, N$1 and N$5. Notes in denominations of N$10, N$50 and N$100. The Namibian dollar has the same value as the South African Rand, which is still legal tender in Namibia.

Currency exchange:

Foreign currency can be converted into Namibian dollars at banks and bureaux de change in Windhoek. Foreign currencies are not accepted at state-owned rest camps, nor are facilities to exchange foreign currency available. Chief Hosea Kutako Airport has currency-exchange facilities.

Currency Convertor

Click on the currency converter to convert our rates for your location.

Banks:

First National Bank and Standard Bank are represented throughout Namibia. Banking hours are from 09:00 to 15:30 on weekdays and 08:30 to 11:00 on Saturdays, except in country towns where banks close between 13:00 and 14:00.

Travelers’ cheques:

May be cashed at any bank and at major hotels in Windhoek. State-owned rest camps and resorts will only cash travelers cheques in South African Rand. Your host and hostess would gladly except your travelers cheques.

Credit cards:

Most hotels, restaurants, shops, car-hire firms and tour operators accept international credit cards (American Express, Visa, Diners Club and master Card). Some German-owned businesses, guest farms in remote areas and shops in rural areas do not accept credit cards. Petrol cannot be bought with a credit card; some banks, however, issue a special "Petrolcard" or "Autocard". We apologize for the inconvenience, but no credit card facilities are available at KOWAS ADVENTURE SAFARIS.

  • VALUE ADDED TAX:

VAT of 15% is levied on all goods. Prices displayed on all goods are inclusive of VAT and additional sales duty.

  • TIPPING:

It is customary to tip porters, waiters, waitresses, taxi drivers, room attendants and golf caddies, provided the service is satisfactory. It is usual to tip petrol attendants about N$1 when they offer to clean car windows or to check the water, oil and tire pressure. Gratuities for waiters/waitresses and taxi drives are usually 10% of the bill, and tips for porters are generally around N$2.

  • TRADING HOURS

Normal business hours are from 08:00 or 08:30 to 17:00 or 17:30 Mondays to Fridays and 08:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays. Shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays, but most supermarkets have restricted trading hours on Sundays and public holidays.

  • MEASUREMENTS

Namibia, like the rest of Southern Africa, uses the metric system.

  • MEDICAL SERVICES

It is advisable to take out medical insurance before your departure for Namibia.

Hospitals and Doctors:

Private and state hospitals are available throughout Namibia. Namibia’s medical care system is good. There is one doctor for every 4 450 people, and one hospital bed for every 166 people.

  • HEALTH HAZARDS

Malaria:

Malaria is endemic in the north and Northeast of the country and it is necessary to take precautions throughout the year. The disease is epidemic from the Etosha pan eastwards to Bushmanland and in the northern part of Kaokoland, occurring in particular during the rainy season. As the recommended anti-malarial drugs could change from time to time, it is important to consult your doctor or a pharmacist well in advance. It is equally important to take the tablets as prescribed and to continue taking the tablets for the advised period after leaving the malaria area.

No anti-malaria drugs are REQUIRED when visiting KOWAS ADVENTURE SAFARIS!

Aids:

Considering the size of Namibia’s population, the number of HIV positive cases is relatively high. However, provided the necessary precautions are taken, visitors need not fear contracting the disease. The Blood Transfusion Service of Namibia screens all blood for Hepatitis and AIDS. The blood is tested by qualified staff according to standard, internationally recognized methods, and is regularly submitted to strict quality controls.

  • CREEPY CRAWLIES

A wide variety of snakes, scorpions, spiders and stinging insects occur in Namibia, but most bites and stings will only cause discomfort. The changes of being bitten or stung are most likely when you are camping out in the open or undertaking walks and trail, and can be minimized by taking a few simple precautions.

Avoid scorpion bites by shaking out your shoes or boots before putting them on in the morning, and do not walk around barefoot or without a torch at night. Ticks are mainly encountered in grassy areas but being bitten does not mean that you will get tick-bite fever. The possibility of tick bites can be reduced by wearing long-sleeved trousers and by inspecting your clothes and body thoroughly during rest stops and at the end of the day. Remove ticks as soon as possible after they are detected by pulling them away from the body or covering them with a greasy substance.

  • TRAFFIC RULES & REGULATIONS

Remember to drive on the left hand side of the road in Namibia. There is a general speed limit of 120 km/h on open roads (although it is recommended you reduce speed on gravel roads). Safety belts must be worn.

Overseas visitors (not residents of neighboring countries) must be in possession of a valid international drivers license if they plan to hire or drive a vehicle in this country.

Road signs are internationally recognized symbols, and road and turnoffs are clearly signposted. Road signs warning against animals, particularly kudu, should be taken seriously, especially at night when they are blinded by headlights.


Africa Hunting Safaris by Kowas Adventure

African Fishing Safaris


COASTAL ANGLING:

We offer excellent Namibian coastal fishing at USD250 per day (minimum four days).

The angling potential of Namibia’s cost is regarded as one of the best in the world. Aspects that make angling from the beach especially enjoyable are the rich coastal bird-life, the peaceful desert environment adjacent to the coast, the fact that the beaches are relatively uncrowded. Best of all – the cool bracing climate which prevails throughout the year except on the odd day during the winter months when the hot berg wind, locally referred to as the Ostwind, blows from the interior.

The angling season is from September  to April for catching species such as west-coast Steenbras, cob (referred to locally as kabeljou), Galjoen, Blacktail (Dassie), Geelbek and White Stumpnose, while large predator sharks can be caught virtually all year round. The largest Copper Sharks, which can weigh anything from 50 kg to 180 kg, are caught from November to May. They are mostly measured for research purposes, tagged and returned alive to the sea (catch and release policy).

FRESHWATER ANGLING:

Fresh Water Angling tours at US$250 per day, (minimum of seven days).

Ever pitted your angling skills against what is regarded by many anglers as the finest freshwater sporting fish, size for size, in the world? Take off with Kowas Adventure Safaris to the Zambezi River in north-eastern Namibia and enjoy tiger fishing. The river offers some of the best tiger fishing in Southern Africa and it’s not uncommon to land specimens of 6,5 kg. The Zambezi is also the habitat of numerous other freshwater species, such as Nembwe, Large Mouth, Pink Happy and Catfish. Let Kowas Adventure Safaris help you experience a "fight" with a tiger fish…unforgettable!

This adventure could be combined with a game viewing safari at the Mahangu Game reserve where you could see the Big Five and rare species such as. Waterbuck, Lechwe, Puku and Sititunga. Trips to the Chobe Game Park and Victoria Falls can also be arranged.


Pronghorn: The Perfect Beginners' Big Game Animal
by Flint Stephens


Posted on: 06/04/08 from: http://www.biggamehunt.net

Imagine you were given the assignment of designing a perfect big game hunt for novice hunters. Your objective would be to make the hunt fun and exciting so the new hunter would come away with a lifelong love of hunting and the outdoors. It would be great if the hunt had some exotic appeal, something a little out of the ordinary so the new hunter wants to keep coming back for more. A high probability of success would be essential. No matter their age, beginning hunters don't want to wait several years to harvest an animal.

You'd probably want to eliminate most late season hunts. Dragging beginning hunters out into cold, wet, or snowy weather in pursuit of any animal carries high risk of disappointment. When someone is soaked and freezing it is hard to appreciate that it is the peak of the rut and you are holding out for a whopper.

Stand hunting probably isn't a great choice, unless it is an area crawling with game. Few things are more boring that sitting for hours, hoping that an animal will appear. That's especially true if you stick a first-time hunter alone in a tree stand and tell him you'll be back to pick him up in three or four hours. If an animal doesn't appear in the first few minutes, those hours are going to seem to take an eternity.

Forget about a wilderness hunt or one where you must backpack or camp in a tent. For someone not experienced in the outdoors, camping by itself can be stressful and frightening. I have a friend who introduced his brother to hunting by taking him on a backcountry elk hunt on horses. It snowed four feet the first night and the younger brother was convinced they would never make it out alive. In five days they did not see an elk and the brother has never gone on another hunt.

Chances are, no matter what criteria you defined for this perfect beginners' big game hunt, pronghorn antelope would rise to the top of the list.

The only real drawback of hunting pronghorns is that they are limited to the western third of the United States. But they still range over many states and populations have increased to the point that they are a nuisance in many areas.

Here are some of the factors, traits and behaviors that make pronghorn antelope a great choice as a first big game animal for beginning hunters:

Highly visible - Pronghorns prefer open country so they can see any approaching danger a long ways off. This also makes it possible for hunters to see them from long distances. Unlike other animals whose coloration blends in with the surroundings, pronghorns have a white rump patch that tends to stand out like a pimple on a prom date.

In wide open country even hunters with minimal experience in spotting game have little trouble picking out herds of antelope. My two-year-old granddaughter came along on an early fall ranch hunt for pronghorns this year. She had no trouble spotting them in the alfalfa fields several hundred yards away.

Spot and stalk - The fact that they are easy to see means the best hunting method is glassing large areas-generally from a vehicle. Antelope country tends to be flat with plenty of dirt roads. Once a herd is spotted, plans can be made for a stalk to bring the hunter within rifle range.

While hunting antelope can require long-range shots, in most cases it is possible to restrict shots to whatever distance is comfortable for the hunter. Most of the antelope killed by members of my family have been less than 200 yards away and many have been under 100.

Hunt friendly behaviors - Antelope have a high level of curiosity. In areas where hunting pressure is light, they respond quite well to decoys. Although their keen eyesight allows them to see things at great distances, if they don't recognize an object as a threat, they often ignore it or even walk toward it. Crawling on hands and knees while holding a leafy branch in front can sometimes get a hunter quite close.

During the rut, pronghorn bucks are just as stupid as the males of most species under similar conditions. They will seldom leave a hot doe no matter the circumstances. One year I had a late doe permit. Antelope in the area were spooky because they'd been hunted for weeks. After blowing stalks on several herds, I killed a nice doe with a 250+ yard shot (my longest ever on a speedgoat). The other does in the group took off, but a nice buck that was with the group stayed within about 75 yards as three of us began dressing the doe. He moved closer as we worked and by the time we finished, he was within handgun or bow range. Luckily for him, no one had a buck tag.

High population density - In areas where they are found, pronghorns are generally abundant. It is often possible to see many small herds in a single day of hunting. Unlike many other types of hunting where a good opportunity comes along once or twice a season, pronghorn areas often offer several good chances in a single day.

Trophy quality - The difference in horn length between an average antelope and an exceptional trophy is only three or four inches. Solid, representative bucks are easy to find and it takes an experienced hunter to tell a great buck from a good buck. In good pronghorn country, it is not uncommon to see a dozen decent bucks in a day of hunting.

Although their keen eyesight means blown stalks are common, that usually isn't a problem because chances are another good buck is just over the next hill. In comparing it to whitetail hunting, imagine if most of the bucks spotted were 120 to 150-class eight pointers. Now imagine seeing several in that size range each day.

Wide distribution - Although restricted to the western third of the U.S. Pronghorn antelope are widely dispersed across that area. They stretch from the Great Plains to the Pacific states and from Texas to Canada. While tags can be hard to draw in some states, there are areas in Wyoming and Montana where leftover tags are available almost every year. Other states offer easy-to-obtain depredation tags for antelope in agricultural areas.

Civilized hunting - Beginning hunters can get discouraged if they are cold, wet, or left alone on a stand for long periods. Most antelope hunts occur in September or early October when weather conditions are still quite mild.

As noted previously, much of the scouting can be done from a vehicle. If an overnight stay is required, a low-priced hotel in a small rural town is usually available nearby. While some hunters might still prefer to camp, it usually offers no strategic advantage.

Antelope also tend to be active throughout the day. There is no need to worry about being in position long before daylight. A 9 a.m. start is likely to be just as productive as 6 a.m.

I appreciate the flat terrain preferred by antelope. Worn knees and ankles make it hard for me to hunt the steeper terrain preferred by mule deer and elk. But pronghorns are polite enough to spend their lives on level ground where I can chase them without risking a heart attack or a broken leg.

No magnums needed - Because of their relatively small size, light caliber, low-recoil rifles work well for antelope. Beginners or small-stature hunters don't need to deal with the punishment of magnum rifles. Calibers like .243, 6 mm, 25-06, or 270 are perfect.

Easy field care - Once down, antelope are a cinch to handle. A big buck will weigh about 130 pounds live weight, making it fairly easy to dress and load even for a lone hunter.

Warm weather meat care is almost always a consideration on antelope hunts. I'm convinced that many hunters have bad experiences with antelope meat because they treat an early September pronghorn kill the same as a November deer. I usually carry a cooler with three or four blocks of ice. Once the antelope is gutted, I pack the body cavity with ice and keep it that way until I get it to a processor later that day. If I process it myself, I skip the traditional aging process and butcher it immediately.

Low cost exotic - Compared to other Western big game like elk or mule deer, antelope hunts are a bargain. A Wyoming non-resident youth buck tag for my son this past season cost $122. Non-resident doe tags were available for just $41, and in some areas, hunters could purchase multiple tags. Most hunts last just a day or two, further reducing costs.

There is also little reason to spend money for a guide. There are plenty of places where antelope are available and easy to find on public land. Even with the high cost of gasoline, most people in the U.S. could enjoy a do-it-yourself antelope hunt for under $1,000 with everything included. Those who live in the West can probably cut the cost to about $500 or so.

High hunter success - The combination of all these factors leads to very high hunter success rates. In many units, rates have been at or near 100% for years.

If you know a beginning hunter that you want to get hooked for life, or if you are an avid hunter who has never pursued pronghorns, you really ought to give antelope hunting a try. There is no other animal in the world like a pronghorn and hunting them is a uniquely pleasurable experience.