Just returned from two weeks in Namibia with my son and had I a blank sheet of paper to have designed the hunt, I would not have done half so well as it actually developed. Jack Atcheson Jr. arranged for us to hunt with Nick Nolte Hunting Safaris. I hunted with Nick and my son with one of his PHs (about his own age - 24). We spent two days at Dirk de Bod's place in "Bishop Hills" and the remainder of the hunt operating out of Nick's camp in Omaruru. There, we were also under the gentle care of Nick's lovely bride Isabel. My son and I each took kudu, blue wildebeest, impala, oryx, warthog, and mountain zebra. He also took a couple of Hartebeest while I shot a spring buck and a leopard. All but three of the animals were gold medal quality trophies. My kudu went 58"x57" - the trophy of a lifetime, as, of course, was the cat. Fabulous weather, no bugs, no snakes, and great food. Would gladly head back tomorrow morning, but am making plans for 2010. Couldn't recommend an outfitter more confidently.
Brought a Merkel KR1 in .270 and never took it out of the slip. Used my custom mauser .338 with 250 gr. partitions for everything and couldn't have been more pleased. I always had a through shot and an easy follow up. My son was using a 30-06 with 180 gr scirocos and almost never had one leading to a couple of tricky recoveries (all successful). The zebra and the antelope were all shot at 200+ yards - big, big low fenced country.
Leopard hunting was facinating, a lot of work, and characterized by very long - very still hours sitting motionless in a cold blind. We got him the very last night of the hunt. What a conclusion for the trip.
