In Namibia, the habitat of the hunting areas is composed of dense thorny savanna, shrub savanna and large semi-desert plains. The terrain in some hunting areas can be challenging, even mountainous. The elevation of the high plains in much of the country where many of the prime hunting areas are located can also cause hunting to be more strenuous for those who are not used to it.
Namibia along with South Africa are the only two countries in Africa where one can hunt the entire big five; Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino (White as well as Black Rhinoceros). Most of the plains game hunting safaris, along with Leopard hunting, take place in the lower two thirds of Namibia. Leopards are hunted both with dogs and on bait and can be found in many areas. While Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhino are hunted on a very limited basis and primarily harvested in the Northern most part of the country, including the Caprivi Strip. Cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) can be found throughout Namibia and can also be hunted.
Namibia is most well known for the availability of numerous species for plains game hunting. The most famous and emblematic animal of Namibia, the Oryx (Oryx Gazella), is found throughout the territories of Namibia. The following species are also found in abundance; Cape Eland (Taurotragus Oryx), Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros), Blue Wildebeest (Connochaetes Taurinus), Black Wildebeest (Conochaetes Gnou), Blesbok (Damaliscus Pygargus Phillipsi), Impala (Aepyceros Melampus), Steenbok (Ourebia Ourebi), Klipspringer (Oreotragus Oreotragus), Warthog (Phacochoerus Aethiopicus)...
Hunting in Namibia is most often done on foot, sometimes directly from the lodge or camp, but more often by driving a 4x4 from the lodge to the area to be hunted, then tracking on foot once in the bush. The spot and stalk hunting technique is quite often used as well.
In most of the private hunting areas the accommodations are permanent lodges and/or bungalows. These lodges are very comfortable and some are even quite luxurious. A few outfitters provide tent camps for special occasions such as remote hunts from the main lodge.
Hunting areas are accessible by road from the country's capital, Windhoek. Depending on the location of the hunting area, the drive is on average 2 to 5 hours. The roads are excellent however, since many hunting areas have their own airstrip, transfer by chartered plane is also possible, but not required.
Climate in Namibia
Namibia's climate is the driest in Africa with generally sunny, warm days and cooler nights throughout the year. During the winter months, June to August, occasionally temperatures can drop below freezing at night. The seasons are opposite since Namibia is below the equator in the southern hemisphere. No matter what the season, you should expect lots of sun as Namibia receives on average about 300 days of sunshine a year.
The central plateau region, where a majority of the hunting outfitters in Namibia are located, has a semi-desert climate, with low humidity and extremes in temperature between day and night, somewhere between a 30 degree F to 40 degree F in variation.
The most popular time to travel to Namibia is between March and October, in particular May to August, when rainfall is almost non existent and temperatures are mild. Rainfall can occur during the months of November through March and generally will average about 14 in (35 cm) in the central region and 1 to 6 in (2.5 to 15 cm) in the south. The rains can fail and droughts occur roughly every ten years or so. Some areas of the Namib desert have gone nearly a century without a drop of rain.
Conversely, the fertile northern region of Namibia, including the Caprivi Strip is always much warmer with high humidity, having a climate more similar to that of southern Zambia with rainfall of more than 28 in (70 cm).
World Weather Online provides a very detailed look at current weather conditions, weather forecasts, a history and almanac for predicting average weather conditions during the time while you will be traveling in that part of the world. Click here for Namibia's climate and temperature forecast.
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