A hunting safari in Namibia is not simply a matter of leaving the lodge in the morning, finding an animal and returning at the end of the day. Every day in the bush is different, and the decisions made throughout the day depend on the weather, the terrain, the species being hunted and what the animals are doing.
At Otjandaue Hunting Safaris, our hunting days take place across a 24,700-acre private ranch in central Namibia. The ranch is owned and operated by Roy and Janet Van der Merwe. The property is home to a variety of African plains game species and wild predators, with dry riverbeds, granite kopjes and red savannah bushveld creating very different hunting environments across the ranch.
While there is a general rhythm to a hunting day at Otjandaue, the actual experience is shaped by what happens in the field. Some mornings may involve driving and glassing for animals before getting out to stalk. On another day, changing wind conditions or the behaviour of a particular species may require a completely different approach.
Starting the Day in the Bush
A typical hunting day begins around sunrise with an early breakfast at the lodge. Once everyone is ready, we head out into the bush with the day’s hunting plans in mind.
The early morning is an important part of the day because temperatures are generally cooler and animals are often more active. Rather than following a fixed route, we drive through the hunting area looking for signs of animal movement and suitable opportunities to begin a stalk.
Glass becomes an important part of the morning. From suitable vantage points, we look across the terrain for animals, movement or other signs that could indicate where a trophy animal is travelling. The varied terrain at Otjandaue means that each area can require a different approach. Dry riverbeds, rocky granite kopjes and bushveld provide different opportunities for spotting, tracking and getting within shooting range.
When an opportunity presents itself, the hunt changes from searching to stalking. This is where patience becomes important. The objective is not simply to find an animal, but to find the right opportunity to make a safe and ethical shot.
The Hunt Does Not Always Follow the Plan
One of the most important things for a first-time safari hunter to understand is that a hunting day is not necessarily predictable.
You may leave the lodge with a particular species in mind, but conditions in the field can change the plan. The wind may strengthen, change direction or become less favourable. Animals may move differently than expected, or a promising area may not produce an opportunity.
This is where the experience of the outfitter and Professional Hunter becomes particularly important. Knowing when to continue searching, when to change locations and when to leave an area alone can make a significant difference to the day’s hunting.
A successful safari is therefore not about forcing a particular plan to work. It is about adapting the plan to the conditions.
Hunting Around the Heat of the Day
By late morning, the increasing temperatures begin to influence animal behaviour. At around 10:30, a typical hunting day at Otjandaue may move towards a waterhole and a blind.
As the temperature rises, many animals seek shade and may become less active. This makes the middle of the day a natural time to change tactics rather than continuing to drive and stalk through the heat.
A waterhole can provide a completely different hunting opportunity from the morning’s spot-and-stalk hunting. Instead of covering ground looking for animals, the hunter waits and observes what comes to the water.
However, sitting at a waterhole is not automatically the right choice for every species. The behaviour of the animal being hunted has to be considered. Mountain Zebra, for example, rarely drink during the day, so spending the middle of the day sitting at a waterhole would not necessarily be an effective strategy when hunting this species.
This is one of the reasons why there is no single formula for hunting every animal. The species, its habits and the conditions on the particular day all influence the decisions made in the field.
Returning to the Lodge for Lunch
After the morning’s hunting, we normally return to the lodge around 12:30 to 13:30 for lunch.
The middle of the day is also an opportunity to take a break from the heat. After lunch, hunters can enjoy a short siesta before preparing for the afternoon hunt.
A midday rest is more than simply a break in the schedule. Hunting in Namibia can involve long periods outdoors, walking through uneven terrain and spending hours concentrating on the surrounding bush. Resting during the hottest part of the day allows hunters to recover before heading out again in the afternoon.
It also gives everyone an opportunity to discuss what happened during the morning, consider what was seen and think about the plans for the afternoon.
The Afternoon Hunt
The afternoon hunt normally begins at around 16:00, once the worst of the midday heat has passed.
We head back into the hunting area and continue driving, glassing and looking for opportunities to spot and stalk. Depending on the species being hunted and the conditions, the afternoon may involve covering different areas from those hunted earlier in the day.
Late afternoon can be an especially productive period because temperatures begin to fall and animals become more active again. However, the wind remains an important consideration, and conditions can change throughout the afternoon.
A stalk may begin with spotting an animal from a distance, followed by a careful approach using the terrain and available cover. In other situations, the best opportunity may develop after spending time watching an area and waiting for an animal to move into a suitable position.
There is no guarantee that a particular afternoon will produce an opportunity. That uncertainty is part of hunting, and it is also what makes the moment when everything comes together so rewarding.
Weather Can Change the Hunt
Weather is one of the factors that can have the greatest influence on a hunting day.
Wind is particularly important. Strong winds can affect how animals behave and can make certain hunting approaches more difficult. Plains game may stand still or lie down during strong winds, changing the way they move through the hunting area.
A sudden change in wind direction can also affect a stalk. An approach that looked promising a few minutes earlier may no longer be possible if the wind begins carrying the hunter’s scent towards the animal.
Rather than trying to work around the weather with a fixed schedule, the hunting approach has to adapt to what the conditions are doing.
This can mean changing the area being hunted, spending more time glassing, waiting for conditions to improve or changing the hunting method altogether.
The Species Determines the Strategy
The animal being hunted is another major factor in deciding how a hunting day unfolds.
Different species have different habits, preferred habitats and responses to weather and human activity. An approach that works for one species may be completely unsuitable for another.
For example, a waterhole can be an important part of a hunting strategy for species that regularly visit water during the day. It is less useful for a species such as Mountain Zebra, which rarely drinks during daylight hours.
The terrain can also influence the approach. Some hunts may involve covering open ground and glassing from a distance, while others require careful movement through thicker vegetation or rocky areas.
This is where the knowledge of the hunting area becomes important. The Professional Hunter is constantly assessing what is happening and using that information to determine where to go and how to approach the hunt.
Knowing When to Wait
Patience is one of the most important parts of hunting in Namibia. Not every animal that is spotted will provide an opportunity. An animal may be too far away, moving in the wrong direction, standing in unsuitable cover or simply not presenting a safe shot.
Rather than rushing an opportunity, the hunter and Professional Hunter may wait, reposition or leave the area and return later.
Sometimes the right decision is to do nothing. That can be difficult for hunters who are used to the idea that seeing an animal means taking the shot. On a trophy hunting safari, however, the objective is not simply to shoot the first animal you see. The goal is to make a considered decision and, where possible, find the right trophy and the right conditions for a responsible shot.
Back at the Lodge After Sunset
As the sun begins to set, the day’s hunting comes to an end and we make our way back to the lodge.
After a full day in the bush, dinner provides an opportunity to relax and talk about the day’s experiences. Around the fire, hunters can discuss animals that were seen, stalks that were attempted and opportunities that may have developed during the day.
Some days end with a successful hunt and the excitement of bringing a trophy back to the lodge. Other days may end without a shot being fired.
Both are part of a hunting safari. A day without a successful stalk is not necessarily a wasted day. Time spent learning the terrain, understanding animal movement and working with the Professional Hunter can contribute to the next opportunity. In some cases, the information gathered during one day can directly influence the hunting strategy on the following morning.
Every Hunting Day Is Different
The schedule described here gives an idea of what a typical hunting day at Otjandaue can look like, but it should not be regarded as a strict timetable. Hunting is influenced by conditions that cannot be controlled. The weather may change, animals may move at unexpected times and a promising opportunity can appear when it is least expected.
The species being hunted also matters. Some animals may require long periods of glassing, while others may call for careful tracking or a patient ambush. The terrain can determine how quickly a stalk can progress, while wind direction can determine whether a stalk is possible at all. The ability to adapt is therefore an important part of the hunting experience.
More Than Just a Day in the Field
One of the attractions of a hunting safari is that the experience extends beyond the moments when a rifle is carried or an animal is spotted.
The early morning departure, the changing Namibian landscape, hours spent watching the bush, conversations with your Professional Hunter, the anticipation of a stalk and the stories shared around the fire all become part of the safari.
At Otjandaue, the rhythm of the day is built around the conditions in the bush. Early mornings provide an opportunity to find animals while they are active, the heat of the day offers a chance to rest or use a waterhole strategy where appropriate, and the afternoon provides another opportunity to return to the field as temperatures become more favourable.
No two hunting days are exactly the same, and that is precisely what makes a safari different from simply following an itinerary.
The plan may provide the framework, but the bush determines what happens next.
Experience a Hunting Day at Otjandaue
Otjandaue Hunting Safaris offers plains game hunting and bowhunting in central Namibia on a private ranch covering approximately 24,700 acres. The combination of dry riverbeds, granite kopjes and red savannah bushveld provides a varied environment in which every hunt presents its own challenges and opportunities.
For hunters considering their first African safari, understanding the rhythm of a hunting day can help set realistic expectations. You will spend time searching, glassing, waiting, walking and adapting to conditions. There may be excitement, long periods of patience and days when the animals simply do not cooperate.
That is hunting in Namibia. And when the right animal, the right conditions and the right opportunity finally come together, the hours spent in the bush make sense.