Plains game. Here are some details from the booking agent:
65,000 acre game ranch, owned by a wealthy german. Hunting is a hobby for him and he limits the total number of hunters to only 25 per year. Not much of a future for a booking agent but just great for the hunters. There is very little hunting pressure, abundance of game, and one of the best licensed Namibian PH's as resident farm manager.
Until recently, all of the hunting clients have been European. To help me attract more American hunters, the owner is allowing me to offer 2006 rates and trophy fees. Due to the strength of the Euro, this is like getting a 35% discount off the top.
Otjikoko has an American package that is even better. For 1 x 1 , it is a 7 day hunt @ $4,950. It is inclusive of everything, no hidden or additional charges. It includes transfers from Windhoek to the farm and return, PH, vehicles, trackers, trophy prep., hunting permits, first class board and lodging, beer and wine, daily maid and laundry service. Also included are the following: 1 bull kudu, 1 gembok, 1 impala, 1 warthog, and 1 springbok. You can delete and swap for a mountain zebra which is on an adjoining property. You will probably have to pay an additional $250 for the zebra.
The facilities is first class with restaurant quality food. The Doctor owns three adjoining farms totalling about 170,000 acres. He has within Otjikoko, a 12,500 acre high fence game park to contain certain species like eland, waterbuck, black and blue wildebeest, giraffes, and ostrich. The rest of the species is free ranging. Eland are valuable and a 6 ft. fence will not restrain them.
50" bull kudu is average. Since you are in good shape, you may wish to hunt on the adjoining Osera Omewa farm where the terrain is mountainous, but 55" kudu is given and must be worked for. Baboons and jackals are unlimited and free.
For Namibia, the property is quite large. The Omaruru River runs thru it. There are nice riverines with heavily forrested and brush areas giving good attractive cover for both game and hunter. There are many natural and man made waterpoints that retain the desired game. Hunting pressure is minimal. The PH, Tommy Hall, is one of one 15 Namibian PH's licensed for all big five. He is world renowned. Tommy is also the resident farm manager.
May and June are the best times to hunt. May is filled and the first three weeks of June is open.
Otjikoko is one of Namibia's best kept hunting secrets.
To take zebra, you must travel by car to an adjoining farm. It's a little over an hours drive. The trophy fee is 500 Euros. or $700-$750, subject to the exchange rate at the time you hunt. I will delete the springbok and you can pay the difference. So far, Tommy's hunters for the last two years have been 100% successful with zebras.
Baboons and jackals are UNLIMITED and FREE.
For every baboon you kill, the doctor's wife will also give you a kiss. She hates baboons and will go out alone to hunt them. They almost killed her dog.
Fortunately, a very good veteranarian was able to save the dog.
The only mandatory immunization shots is Yellow Fever for international travel. Otjikoko is in a malaria free area. Check with you physician and he will recommend additional shots like mine did. I took everything like tetanus, Hepatitis A, etc, etc. If you go up north to Etosha Nat'l Park, then malaria pills are mandatory. Malarone is preferred as it gives you less nightmares.
Please don't look only at the low cost offered by Otjikoko. The extremely high value for price mainly lies with the PH, the facilities, the property, the abundant game, and mostly the people involved. Your hosts are extremely nice and high class. They make sure that you are the most important person during the visit. You are treated with more attention than you would receive in a 5 Star resort.
As I indicated the owner limits to only 25 total hunters per year. I am allowed to book only 10 Americans. The other 15 are regular Europeans.
They do not advertise. They do not WANT a website. Why, the owner has told me that he wants everything to be "perfect" for the guest hunter. I told him that in this world, nothing is perfect, and we argued that point for quite a few minutes. He's a very German, and an extremely wealthy one. He is not money motivated. He used to hunt but his age and failing health prevents him from enjoying his "backyard" to the fullest. Thus, he is happy to hear about your hunting experience and will make try to have lunch and dinner with you each day.
We were fortunate that the farm owner had hired Tomas, a retired German chef who emmigrated to Namibia. Tomas is fabulous. His wife's family are also German bakers. Tomas made desert, "Stassburg knockle".
(sic?) souffle filled with sweetened whipped cream. Good German beer is on tap with frosted mugs, anytime. Just walk over to the "lapa" (eating
pavillion) and help yourself. Even your breakfast is sit-down with waitresses.
On Otjikoko, aka MWFarms all beer and wine is included at no charge. Schnapps is also served at no charge if you indulge after dinner. The lady of the house enjoys her champagne so she will inevitably open a bottle of very fine champagne of offer you some. The doctor enjoys his scotch. So, if you also like scotch, get a bottle from duty free. The beer is terrific German beer on tap. It is made in Windhoek. You have frosted mugs in the fridge and you can help yourself anytime in the open lapa.
Inevitably, you will be served.
With airfare (under $2000 more than likely) and the hunt, you are looking at around $7000 - anything else is discretionary. I'm predicting when all is said and done, dip/pack paid for trophies, some sightseeing, shopping, etc. it will still be under $9000 total for two weeks.
