World renown for its ethical and sustainable hunting practices, Namibia
has become one of the top hunting destinations in Africa. Hunting options range
from trophy hunting on private guest farms to big game safaris in concession
areas in the northwest, east and northeast of the country.
Namibia has strict game laws, requiring all hunting farms to
register with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET). All hunting
guides, master hunting guides and professional hunters are required to meet the
stringent requirements set by the Ministry.
Trophy hunting is allowed between February and November. The
Nature Conservation Ordinance provides for four classifications of game:
huntable game, specially protected game, protected game and huntable game
birds.
Huntable game includes kudu, gemsbok (oryx), springbok, warthog
and bushpig. The hunting season for huntable game on farms is usually in June
and July. Written permission must be obtained from the farmer before a permit
will be issued by the MET.
Specially protected game such as elephant, Hartmann’s mountain
zebra, hippo, impala, black-faced impala
and Burchell’s zebra, and protected game such as lion, blue wildebeest, eland,
cheetah, red lechwe, roan, sable, sitatunga, steenbok, tsessebe and waterbuck,
may be hunted only with a permit issued by the MET.
Game-bird hunting is growing in popularity, with some farmers
managing their game-bird populations to offer this form of hunting. Huntable
game birds include Burchell’s and Namaqua sandgrouse, red-billed, crested and
Orange River francolins, crested guineafowl, Egyptian goose and Cape and
red-billed teal. The bag limits and hunting seasons for the respective species
are published in the Government Gazette.
Namibia also offers bow hunting. Several farms have been approved
for bow hunting by the MET, and on some of these farms, the San or Bushmen
trackers who are masters at bow hunting join in the hunt. Professional hunters, master hunting guides
and hunting guides are all required to qualify as bow-hunting guides.
To learn more, visit:www.napha.com.na