Return to Namibia’s Otjozondjupa District

Nov 11, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

It’s light and friendly, snaps to the shoulder and gives 85% of what a .375 H&H delivers. Loaded with a handload using 250-gr Swift A-Frames I felt I was well appointed for the hunt. Sleep came early as I was bone-tired from the flight and the hunt would start early in the morning.
Over breakfast we discussed what we would look for first. Janneman wanted me to take a really good eland bull. Plans were made and off to the bush we went. While driving along the two tracks it wasn’t long before we cut a set of fresh tracks of five bachelor bulls. This was worth pursuing. Well into the tracking, misfortune struck like a hammer. Going around an antbear hole the sand gave way under my boots and I hit the ground hard. Twisting to the side while falling to prevent my rifle from hitting the ground I managed to pull some muscles in my back. I didn’t think much about it at the time, but it would come back to haunt me. Because of the rains the thorn bush was extremely thick. We got close several times but never laid eyes on the eland. But that’s hunting. Nothing in the salt the first day, but a day well spent.

The next morning dawned cool and brisk – and brother Murphy raised his ugly head. The fall the previous day made itself known in a big way. Bending over or twisting my torso let me know really quick that I was in no shape to be stalking through the bush. Gerrit gave me a local something to ease the pain. It was decided that I would sit in a blind over a waterhole that attracted a variety of game.

Within a half hour or so we had plenty of game coming into the waterhole – impala, blue wildebeest, a fine but young kudu bull and several cows. A band of mongoose was a treat to watch as they moved through the area. As much as I admired that kudu bull he needed another year or two to fully mature. He’ll make a future hunter a fine prize one day. Then things got interesting. For some reason I really like hunting impala. Not only do they have some of the best venison (in my opinion) but I really like the horns. A very nice ram came in for a drink. He was a solitary ram, no youngsters following in his wake. He was as nice as, or slightly better than the last impala I had taken on a previous trip. The decision was made to take him and finally I had game in the salt.

The 9.3X62 with a Swift A-Frame is probably overkill for impala. But, like the .375 H&H it’s a well-balanced cartridge and has a flat enough trajectory to be very versatile on a wide range of game. Returning to the ranch house that evening we were treated to a great supper. Afterwards, sitting outside by the fire having a sundowner, I reflected that days like this was why I keep coming back time after time to hunt in Namibia.

Up the next morning and over breakfast Janneman asked me how my back was feeling. I thought I might be up for some stalking, and said, “I’m up for it.” Strange as it may seem, especially with the large numbers available, I’ve never been able to connect with a good springbok. My luck was soon to change. About mid-morning while glassing an open savannah area we spotted a lone ram off in the distance. The wind was in our favor so we ducked back into the bush to make a wide circle in order to cut the distance. Coming out to the edge we found we were within 120 yards of the ram. Getting on the sticks while Janneman looked him over, he finally told me that it was a very nice ram and to take him if I wanted him. My back was still sore, but as the crosshairs settled on his shoulder the shot broke and I finally had my springbok. I couldn’t have been happier. His horns are a little further apart than normal but with very heavy bases. I was most pleased.

Going in for lunch, Janneman asked if I still wanted to try for a waterbuck. He said he had spotted a couple of rather nice bulls in a field only a kilometer from the ranch. I’ve always wanted a waterbuck, so yes; I was game to give it a go. He told me they were very wary and only came out to the edges of the field right at dusk. Plans were made and now the waiting till the right hour to make our stalk began. This gave me the opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee sitting in the shade of a tree while a cool breeze blew around me.
The time finally arrived to begin our hunt. Binoculars on, rifle ready, I grinned at Janneman and said, “Let’s do this.” Because of the close proximity of the field to the ranch, we wouldn’t be going out in the truck. We started down the two-track and when several hundred yards out we slowly made our way into the brush surrounding the field. Easing up to the edge we started glassing. We spotted three cows and a calf to our front and a young bull to the left front. We ducked back into the brush and made a circle to the right. Slowly easing back to the edge we spotted a very good bull facing to our left approximately 140 yards out. Janneman set up the sticks.

“Hit the point of the shoulder,” he whispered to me. I slightly pulled the shot, hitting five inches back and just below the spine, we found later. The shot knocked him down but in an instant he was back up! The second shot as he spun away hit him in front of the hip and ranged forward into the offside shoulder. He went about 80 yards before going down.

I finally had an animal I have dreamed of taking. Waterbuck are very stocky and heavy built antelope. I believe they are as tough as a zebra to put down. This was a prize and hunt I shall cherish for all time. As this was a low-key trip, with these three animals in the salt, my hunting came to an end. This would give me time to visit with the family and get my gear sorted at leisure before heading home in a couple of days.

The conditions this trip were amazingly different from my trip in 2019. Because of the drought back then, everything was burnt brown, hardly any grass or browse on the brush, and sand blowing everywhere. This trip was just the opposite. Grass was three to five feet high, the brush was green and thick. As an example, while tracking those eland early in the hunt, we bumped a kudu at less than 40 yards but never laid eyes on him. All we heard was his bark and crashing brush as he went away.

Fury at Bay

Aug 12, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

Hunters who have had the privilege to hunt leopard over hounds or over bait will know the anticipation and excitement of the hunt, from the day you book it, to the day you start hanging baits or dragging roads, through to the day you first lay eyes on your leopard. For Todd this all started in 2017 when he and his hunting mate John booked a double leopard hunt with us and our hounds in the Lowveld of Zimbabwe. A coin was flipped, and John was first up. On Day 9 of 14 the hounds closed in on John’s leopard and, after a very exciting ground fight, a superb, old, trophy tom cat was harvested. We rested the hounds on day 10 and then spent the next 4 evenings being blown off the tracks by the August winds. Long story short, we did not manage to connect with Todd’s leopard on that hunt. Unfortunately, that is leopard hunting!

Fast forward to 2019 and Todd was ready to return to fulfil his leopard hunting dream. This time he booked for May 2020, braving the heat in return for some moisture and greenery for the scent to stick to. With everything booked the countdown began. In March 2020 our season was just getting under way when we were knocked with the Corona Virus, a lockdown was implemented along with strict traveling restrictions. I remember thinking to myself that this would all blow over in a few months and we would get this hunt in before the end of the season… well, 2021 is here and so is Covid! We stuck to the same dates for 2021 and had our fingers crossed we could make this happen.

Thursday May 6th, my alarm was set for 02:00, 02:05, 02:10 and again for 02:30 just in case my snooze button was hit by accident. Before the 02:30 alarm I was forced to get up as the hounds had seen and heard Sakkie (my tracker) heading towards the vehicle to load the final bags. It’s incredible how the hounds know when it’s their turn to hunt. We opened for the 12 hounds that were coming on the hunt for a quick run around in the yard to clear their stomachs before the long journey ahead. Our plan was to drive 15 hours from Nottingham Road, Kwa Zulu Natal, through Beitbridge Border and on to Mbalabala where we would spend the night before collecting Todd in Bulawayo on the morning of the 7th. As most things in life, things didn’t quite go to plan. The trip to Johannesburg ran smoothly but once there we were delayed for 4 hours trying to sort out dog harnesses as I was told a few days before that “Oh I forgot to tell you, camp is right on the Zambezi River which almost makes it an island when the water levels are high.” So extra precautions were taken to make sure no dogs could get off their chains and end up swimming in the Zambezi. Anyways, we managed to get the harnesses and let the dogs off for a quick stretch and water before continuing through to Zimbabwe. We arrived at the border at around 7pm and sailed through the South African side and started with the Zimbabwean side at around 8pm. Everything was looking good until we were held at the border for 5 hours due to us not having an original stamp on the dog permits. I tried explaining that it was sent via email from head office in Harare so I couldn’t have the original, but it was a losing battle. Eventually we were allowed to leave, we had been on the road for nearly 24 hours and still had another 4 hours to go. Sakkie took over the wheel and I still don’t know how he knew where we were going, but he is an expert tracker after all. We had only stayed there once before, but needless to say he woke me up and asked if we should let the dogs off to run around before driving into the yard. After getting the dogs fed, watered and onto their chains we had 3 hours to sleep before leaving for Bulawayo.

Friday May 7th, with Todd now in the vehicle we set off on a 5-hour drive to our final destination, Sidinda Conservancy in Hwange. I booked this hunt through a good friend and PH Pierre Hundermark. We met up with Pierre in Hwange town to fill up with diesel before heading to camp. About 30km from camp we opened for the hounds to run around and get some water knowing that when we reach camp, they will have to be taken off one by one to make sure none get close to the water’s edge. With the fading light we quickly got Todd familiar with the rifle he was to use as tomorrow morning we were getting up before daybreak to check some baits. We arrived in camp and got settled in and discussed our plans for the morning. A big male leopard had been feeding the nights leading up to the hunt and last night he ate, but lightly.

Day 1 of Todd’s 14-day Safari started with our 3am wakeup call followed by a quick cup of coffee and then collaring and loading up the hounds. The night’s sleep wasn’t the best as all I could think about was one of the hounds getting off their chains and whether the cat had fed again. We drove for an hour to the bait where the cat had been feeding, but it felt like forever! The anticipation of not knowing how the next few hours is going to play out will kill anyone. We arrived at the bait site just as the sun was coming up. The walk to the bait was about 400m down into a valley. Todd, Pierre, and I got all our things together and started the walk to the bait. As we walked up it was clear that he had been back and had fed last night. Although he hadn’t eaten a lot a decision was made to drop the dogs and see how they pulled the track. I radioed Sakkie to drop my 4 start hounds. I checked on my GPS and saw they were on their way; I called a little bit and before I knew it, they were at the tree. Without any idea of the times he fed and how many times he came to and from the tree we gave the hounds time to work out the correct line to take. Within a matter of minutes, they had worked out what seemed to be a solid line. I went along the river whilst Pierre and Todd walked higher up on the ridge, which proved to be the smarter route. With the incredible rainfall that Southern Africa received this past season the bush was lush, green, and extremely thick. The hounds were quickly getting out of hearing distance when Pierre radioed to say he thinks they may have jumped the cat. At this point I was stuck in the bottom of the valley trying to wriggle my way through the thickets. I radioed Sakkie and asked him to drop the rest of the pack if he could hear the other dogs and to start heading towards them. I managed to get out of the thickets and onto the side of the mountain wearing a new designer ‘crop top’ due to it being ripped off when trying to run to the dogs. I met up with Pierre and Todd, and we checked the GPS and saw that the radio collars were not picking up, so we immediately started heading up to get a better connection. As we got on top my GPS showed the dogs were standing. I quickly ran towards them and as I got close to the edge of the hill, I could hear the hounds followed by the growls of the leopard. I signalled to the trackers to tell Todd to get to me fast as the cat was bayed on the ground in the bottom of the valley in grass taller than me! With the rest of the pack on their way, we tried to get into a shooting position as we knew that the minute the rest of the dogs joined in the cat was going to explode from the pressure.

The rest of the hounds arrived and as predicted the cat started to feel the pressure. The hunt intensified as the cat had chosen fight over flight. Those that have heard a leopard in this situation or similar, will understand the feeling of having hairs standing up in places you never thought hairs existed. We started moving slowly down the steep incline towards the cat: he rushed the hounds a few times and knew of our presence, but he stuck to the thick grass. As we got into position, I heard Todd say, “my glasses are misted up”. As he said that the cat rushed the dogs and came straight our way, stopped, and stared straight into our eyes. “There he is, shoot him” ………. “shooooot”….. Bang! The shot rang off and the cat retreated. Todd’s glasses had misted up and he had shot just over the cat. The dogs chased up the opposite bank where the cat found some more extremely thick grass to bay in. I hear the cat give one “brrrrrpppp” and again he came straight towards us, the dogs turned him and, as he ran through the smallest of clearings heading back up, Todd shot. It was one of the best shots I have seen on a running leopard. He hit the cat right between the shoulder blades dropping him in his tracks. I ran down towards to the dogs to make sure the cat was dead and not about to give one last bite. “Whoooowhoooo…. Whoooowhooo” rang out throughout the valley, this is my way over praising my hounds for doing well. Todd arrived at the cat and the emotion behind the smile could be seen from a mile away.

We moved the huge cat into a more open area. This is where it all started to sink in for Todd. It was an absolute giant of a Valley cat. His teeth had started to wear down and, with prominent dark yellow staining, this is a good indication of an older leopard. For Todd, this was Day 1 of his 14-day leopard safari, and we had got it all done within the first 2 hours of the hunt. It’s funny how these things work, I always tell my clients, “We will do everything humanly possible to get you your cat but if it’s meant to be it will be” and this was definitely meant to be.

The leopard hunt dream was fulfilled and, with 13 days left of the safari, we sought out more of Todd’s bucket list animals. We were very fortunate to take an ancient elephant bull, which was nearly through his last set of molars, a beautiful Dugga Boy and to test our fishing and drinking skills whist celebrating and catching vundu on the mighty Zambezi River.

Hunting Wildebeest in Africa

Aug 12, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

African Black Wildebeest

The Black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) is sometimes referenced to as the white-tailed gnu. Its average weight runs between 250-425 pounds, and shoulder height is four feet. The overall length 65 inches to 90 inches. The black wildebeest has a dark brown to black coat with a rather incongruous white tail. Males are darker than females. Both sexes have forward-curving horns up to 30 inches long with the female’s being shorter but similar in shape to the that of the male.

It is a herbivore, existing almost exclusively on grass. It needs to drink daily, but can survive if water is scarce. They are active during the early morning hours and after the heat has gone out of the day. They are capable of speeds up to fifty miles per hour. Life expectancy is 20 to 22 years in the wild. They are prey to lion, hyena, Cape hunting dog, leopard, cheetah, and crocodile, the latter especially during the wildebeest migration when the animal is forced to cross rivers. Crocodiles wait for a sick, old, or young black wildebeest to cross, then rise out of the water and drag the unfortunate animal under. Lions hunt the mature black wildebeest, while calves are hunted by hyenas.

Black wildebeest belong to one of three distinct groups. The male herds consist of young males, or those past the breeding age. The female herd consists of adult females with their calves. Then there are the mature males who establish their own territory and maintain it throughout the year. Males become sexually mature at three years of age, females at one or two years. They breed yearly.

A dominant male will control a number of females and not allow other males to breed with them. Gestation lasts eight and one half months on the average, with births taking place from mid-November to the first week of January. The calves weigh about 25 pounds at birth. They are able to stand and run shortly after birth – necessary for survival.

Wildebeest hunting at first glance looks fairly simple. The animal, sometimes nicknamed “the poor man’s Cape buffalo”, lives on the open plains in vast herds. Easy to locate, he is anything but easy to stalk. As the hunter tries to close with the black wildebeest, the animal will turn and run in the opposite direction. Sometimes it will run but a short distance, then stop and look back. Sometimes the black wildebeest will run, jump, gyrate, spin, and leap into the air seemingly all at once. Sometimes it will do all this for no discernible reason whatsoever.

Expect shots to be long, up to 250-300 yards, unless the lie of the land allows stalking closer. Look for a fold in the land, or some trees that will give some cover. Some success has been seen by approaching the black wildebeest at an angle, not looking directly at the animal, and seeming to walk parallel while actually closing.

Determining sex when hunting the black wildebeest will require good optics as the female and male are very similar. Males have heavier horns than the females. Rely on your Professional Hunter for advice. Using shooting sticks helps when shooting black wildebeest at distances.

Choice of caliber is very important for two reasons, distance, and toughness of the animal. They can be dangerous when wounded. Minimum caliber should be a .270-7mm with a premium 150-grain bullet. A better choice would be any of the .300 Magnum – .338 Magnum family of cartridges, with a bullet weight between 180 grains and 225 grains.

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Seven Black Wildebeest Facts

1. Scientific name: Connochaetes gnou
2. Male weight: 250-425 pounds
3. Shoulder height: four feet
4. Gestation period: 81/2 months
5. Mating season: March-May
6. Horns: both sexes
7. Birth: one calf

African Blue Wildebeest

The blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), also known as the white-bearded wildebeest, common wildebeest, or brindled gnu, is one of the two species of wildebeest. It is a herbivore primarily consuming short grasses, and is widely spread over Angola, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, and Tanzania. It was extinct in Namibia but is being reintroduced with success. Also, private game farms and conservancies are breeding the blue wildebeest.

The blue wildebeest is an extremely wary animal, prone to leaping about and running around when even slightly disturbed. Males are considerably larger than females and can weigh up to 600 pounds and stand five feet tall. Females seldom weigh over 500 pounds, but occasionally can go as high as 550 pounds. They breed at the end of the rainy season and give birth eight and one half months later. When the calf is about eight months old, it will leave its mother and join a juvenile herd.

Mature blue wildebeest have a brown, or silver-gray coat with black manes. Both sexes have horns, the male’s being larger and heavier than that of the female. Herds average 25-50 animals, sometimes more in open grasslands. They are tough animals and seen in company with zebras, impala, and hartebeest. They need to water twice a day, so tend to stay near a good supply. Average life span in the wild is 19-20 years.

They are most active in the early morning and after the heat of the day has dropped in the late afternoon. Blue wildebeest will gather at night in groups ranging from 10-20 up to thousands. Their major predators are crocodiles, lions, and hyenas. Also, packs of wild dogs can, and do take down the calves or infirm animals.

Males are very territorial, especially during the breeding season. Blue wildebeest males become aggressive and excited as they compete for mating rights. They make testosterone-driven displays towards other males, bellowing, snorting and locking horns with other competitors. A male blue wildebeest neither eats, nor rests when a female is present in his territory.

African blue wildebeest hunting can be quite exciting. The total number of blue wildebeest in Africa is near 1.55 million. The first time a hunter sees an enormous herd spread over the plains, he’ll think all 1.55 million are standing in front of him. Sorting out a 600-pound male blue wildebeest from these herds can be quite difficult. The professional hunter will be a great help in this endeavor. Older males will be a darker color, and their stripes will be wider.

One of the most common methods of hunting the blue wildebeest on African plains is by walking and stalking. Check the wind and start from downwind. There will be many pairs of eyes watching for danger, including sharp-eyed zebras that have melded with the blue wildebeest. Trying to move when eyes aren’t watching is very challenging. A method that usually works well is to never approach the blue wildebeest straight on. Walk at an oblique angle never looking directly at the animals, but watching them out of the corner of your eye. Move slowly and quietly. Plan on taking a long shot. Out to 200 yards, a good, flat-shooting .30 Magnum with premium 180-grain bullets works well. However, blue wildebeest are tough animals, and should the shot not anchor the animal, longer range shooting will be necessary. For that, a heavier bullet, .338 to .375 caliber isn’t overkill. A wounded blue wildebeest can open distance in very short order.

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Aim point on a broadside shot is along the back side of the front shoulder and one-third up from the bottom of the blue wildebeest’s body. For head-on shots, place the bullet in the center of the body, a handspan up on the chest. Don’t quit shooting until the animal is down. A wounded blue wildebeest can be very dangerous. Always approach the animal from the back and be ready to give it a finisher. They can, and will, get up and charge.

Seven Blue Wildebeest Facts

1. Scientific name: Connochaetes taurinus
2. Male weight: 600 pounds
3. Male height: four-five feet
4. Top speed: 50 mph
5. Life expectancy: 19-20 year
6. Mating season: March-April
7. Horn length male: 30-33 inches

The Orange Grove Bushbuck

Aug 12, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

I met Sydney in Kentucky in 2020, just before Covid, and we immediately started talking about a family trip with her, her father and her boyfriend coming to Africa. It was planned for the end of 2020, but obviously Covid ruined our plans. 

One evening in early 2021 she and her dad said that they needed to get out of America and get away from the madness. They called me, and it happened that I would be hosting them the very same day our first flights reopened into South Africa.

We immediately started planning the trip and it was scheduled for May of 2021.

One of her wish-list animals was a bushbuck – she was keen to have the horns. I knew there was one very big bushbuck that I’d seen in my orange grove. He was extremely clever, coming out just before dark and always staying deep in the grove.

Apart from other hunts, late every afternoon we would go to the orange grove and walk the big dongas and try to find him just before he disappeared into the grove. Once he was in the grove it would be very difficult for us to get near him because he could see underneath the trees, and we were walking from row to row trying to spot him. We nearly got lucky one afternoon when we passed one donga and I could just see the back half of him. He was obviously feeding behind a bush. It was only 25 yards, but after putting the shooting sticks down, and with Sydney looking too far trying to see where he was, the the bushbuck heard her and jumped off.

We were persistent in trying every afternoon, hoping luck would eventually be on our side, and as I was walking through the orange grove just before dark, going from one row to the next, I spotted the the bushbuck. As luck would have it, he was feeding with his back away from us and it gave me time to put the shooting sticks up and give Sydney a chance to get the rifle in. Meanwhile, the bushbuck turned and started feeding towards us. She didn’t want to shoot it while it was walking and subsequently it grazed all the way towards us from about 60 yards to about 30 yards, and she was able to give a clean shot to the chest. It jumped and ran three yards past us and fell 30 yards away.

It was satisfying to see the end of a very good hunt, and for anybody wanting to get one of these magnificent animals, truly the right way to hunt them is to spot and stalk, take your time, and do everything slowly.

Hunting Buff with Stephen Bann

Aug 11, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

While most folks spend a lifetime dreaming of hunting Cape buffalo, I was lucky enough to make that dream a reality.

Cape Buffalo, known as The Black Death for their aggressive and angry nature, are one of the most dangerous big game animals not only in Africa, but in the world.

Early on, we had identified the old warrior of a bull that I wanted to hunt, instantly recognizable for his scarred face, worn horns, hard bosses, and wide spread – all the character a hunter could want in a Cape buffalo.

Stalking bachelor herds of bulls was exhilarating, to say the very least. The buffs were incredibly wary, even as we climbed the rocky kopjes and snuck through the thorns. We were busted over and over again.

When we finally caught up with the herd once again, the shot opportunity came fast. I was confident in the shot placement, just behind the shoulder as PH Stephen Bann from SB Safaris instructed. As the rest of the herd ran off, this buff immediately dropped, then rose again and disappeared into the thick bush. Stephen proved himself an expert on the tracks in the red sand.

Though moments seemed like hours as we pursued the wounded beast, it was to be a short track. A wounded Cape buffalo will charge in a flash, with pure intent to kill. Our group of four, each armed with a big bore rifle, were on highest alert. With a great crashing in the bush ahead of us, the bull gave his final death bellow, a guttural sound that pierces your very core. We froze momentarily and then were running in that direction.

It couldn’t have been scripted much better. We found the buff had dived headlong, nearly upside down, into some brush. Few Cape buffalo are harvested with one shot, and even I was surprised at the performance of my Henry lever action in .45-70 Gov’t. After a prayer of thanksgiving for this amazing hunt and harvest, our group celebrated the trophy – and memories – of a lifetime with hugs and more than a bit of emotion that is difficult to explain until one has experienced it all.

Hunting Zebra in Africa

Jul 9, 2021 | Hunting Stories, News

Burchell’s Zebra

The Burchell’s zebra Equus burchelli, is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It differs from that zebra by a number of features, most prominent being shadow stripes which are overlaid on the white stripes on the African zebra’s hindquarters. The dewlap that is common on other zebras is missing. Burchell’s zebra stands around 52 inches at the shoulder and stallions will weigh between 550 to 600 pounds. Each Burchell’s zebra has a unique stripe pattern. When seen at a distance the stripes run together and the animal appears light brown.

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Burchell’s zebra has the longest migration pattern of any land animal in Africa. They travel from the Chobe River in Namibia to Nxai Pan National Park in Botswana – a distance of 160 miles each way. Its habitat is open woodlands and grass-filled savannah close to water and has to drink regularly while grazing. Usually they travel in small herds of 10 animals consisting of the stallion and a number of mares and foals.  Excess males are booted out of the herd and form bachelor herds. A single 12-15 pound foal is born between November and January after a gestation period of approximately one year. Foals are weaned at 11 months.

Burchell’s zebra mother and foal in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa

Stallions and mares are almost the same size, so determining sex can be difficult. Listen to your PH as he’s had a lot of experience doing this. More than one hunter has shot a stallion only to see a sex change before reaching the animal.

Their major predators include lions, leopards, wild dogs, cheetahs and hyenas.  During migration, Nile crocodiles will hunt them during river crossings. Sometimes baboons will take a foal – however adults are safe from them. The Burchell’s zebra is a very formidable fighter with a nasty bite and a kick that can kill predators. They will stand their ground with smaller predators, but will try to outrun the larger ones.

Burchell’s zebra herds mix with other species such as wildebeest. They act as early warning devices for the highly skittish wildebeest. At night they will relocate to open grassy areas where visibility is good. While the herd sleeps, one zebra will be on guard, barking or snorting if danger is detected.

Burchell’s zebra drinking at a waterhole at Etosha National Park, Namibia

Hunting Burchell’s zebra in Africa will require patience and skill as they have incredible eyesight and will run if they sense danger. Their eyesight is excellent and whole the herd watches their surroundings. Approaching a herd without being seen requires the hunter to only move when there are no eyes on him. Even then, hunting Burchell’s zebra means you have to outwit them. As difficult as sex determination is, there are some hints as to which one is the stallion. When grazing, it will stay away from the herd.  When moving, the mare will lead and the stallion will take up the rear guard.

Should the herd be spooked and run, watch for the stallion to run for a bit, then stop and look back. There will be a few seconds when a shot can be made. Depending on what kind of trophy is preferred, different types could be hunted. The herd stallion’s hide will show battle scars and be worn. The young stallion or mare will make a better rug.

As with other large plains game, the .30 caliber guns with good bullets of 170-200 grains work well. However, there’s been a number of them hunted with the .30s that decided to run instead of go down. They gave the hunter a number of hours to appreciate the African scenery while tracking the wounded animal. A better choice would be the trusty .375 with 270 or 300-grain bullets.

Burchell’s zebra running in grassland, Khwai concession, Okavango delta, Botswana

Seven Burchell’s Zebra Facts

1. Scientific name: Equus burchelli
2. Male weight: 550-600 pounds
3. Male height: 52 inches at shoulder
4. Shooting distance: 80-200 yards
5. Mating: year round
6. Gestation: one year
7. Life span: 20-22 years

Mountain Zebra in Namibia

The Namibian Hartmann’s mountain zebra Equus zebra hartmannae, is one of two species of mountain zebra. The other is the Cape mountain zebra found in provinces of Western and Eastern Cape in South Africa. The Hartmann’s is located in Namibia and Angola. Specifically, its habitat is the broken terrain east of the Namib Desert and the western parts of Etosha National Park.

Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra

It has black and white stripes on every part of its body except the belly. Mountain zebra hooves are hard, but wear fast on the rocky terrain, but grow rapidly to compensate for the extreme wear. On the Hartmann’s mountain zebra the white stripes are wide and the black between is narrow, just the opposite of the Burchell’s zebra. The mountain zebra is the smallest of the various species. Stallions stand three to four feet at the shoulder, and weigh anywhere from 500 to 750 pounds. Females are larger than the males.

Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra

Hartmann’s mountain zebras are grazers and consume leaves, bark, roots, grasses, fruits and similar. Their water intake is quite high, so they stay near sources of liquid.  They use their hooves to dig for water when necessary. Should the food supply dwindle, or water become scarce, they will migrate to find what is needed. They usually don’t form large herds, except near water where it’s not uncommon to see 200-250 zebras gathered together.

Herds number four to six animals: stallion, mares and foals. Mountain zebras sleep standing up with one of the herd always on guard duty. If bothered, they will run, capable of speeds over 40 miles per hour. They try to lose a predator by dodging through the rocks, or climbing which they are very good at, even up at high altitudes.

The average lifespan of a Hartmann’s mountain zebra is 23-25 years. Mares mature after two years; stallions usually take six years. The mare produces one foal after a year’s gestation. Foals can stand and run shortly after birth. The male foal is weaned away from the herd after 10 months, staying alone, or joining a bachelor herd.

Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra

To hunt the Hartmann’s mountain zebra, the hunter has to be in excellent shape. The terrain is rough, walking is difficult, and air can get a bit thin. The best chance to hunt one is to go along well-travelled paths to water holes early in the morning, or at last light. During the day the zebra will melt into in the shade and be difficult to find.

As with other zebras, the Hartmann’s mountain zebra is a tough animal. Minimum caliber recommended is .30, with preference to the Magnums and 180-200-grain bullets.  Larger calibers are better at anchoring a large male. Something in the .338 family, say a .338 Winchester Magnum whose 250-grain bullet is still cooking along over 2,000 feet per second at 300 yards, should put the zebra in the salt. The rifle should be zeroed to 200 yards.  Mountain zebras have excellent senses and closing on one to a sub-100 yard range is very hard.  Here, shot placement is all-important. Considering the terrain, doing a tail chase on a wounded zebra would be a great way to check out your heart’s stamina.

For a frontal shot, place the cross hairs in the middle of the neck equidistant from the forelegs. Side shots need to be placed one-third up the body and behind the foreleg.  Any higher than that could produce a wound, but not a fatal result.

Seven Mountain Zebra Facts

1. Scientific name: Equus zebra hartmannae
2. Male weight: 500-750 pounds
3. Male height: 3-4 feet shoulder
4. Longevity: 22-25 year
5. Gestation: one year
6. Birth: one
7. Birth weight: 70-75 pounds
   

   Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra

   

   Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra