Our most common questions
Yes you can and with your taxidermist we make the process fast and easy. The immediate export of trophies from Namibia is possible only with a veterinary certificate, an export permit from the MET and the import permit as required by the country of final destination.
We chill or freeze your trophies until the hunt is finished. From there we will take them to our local taxidermist where he takes care of all trophies and arranges for shipment. Our taxidermist can give you an estimate based on how you would like it done, upon request...completely turn-key.
Our taxidermist cleans and treats all trophies with chemicals in a "dip and pack" process, then carefully crates it and delivers it to a shipping agent. From there the agent works with a broker of your choice in the United States to complete all paperwork before the crate is shipped.
No. At this time meat from your game cannot be brought back with you.
Yes, you can rent guns from us to use during your hunt at $40/day. Please understand ammunition is very expensive here, so we much charge for you to use it. Ammunition is price at cost.
Yes! Whether they choose to come with us on the hunt or would prefer to enjoy the many activities around us, we can help plan plenty of things to do. Namibia is English speaking and is one of the most tourist friendly countries in all of Africa. We can cater to all interests.
If you're travelling with family and would like to arrange for non-hunting activities to round out your epic African safari, Schalk & Amore Pienaar can accomodate and built any itinerary.
One of our most requested visits is to the Namib Sand Sea and the Skeleton Coast (view the video at right). It’s the world’s only coastal desert, with dune fields winding over its 3 million hectares. There are two dune systems at work here, one that is ancient and one that is young. It’s also known as the world’s oldest desert, believed to have been formed by the erosion of materials from thousands of kilometers away. The Namib Sand Sea was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013.
Schalk Pienaar has been a freelance professional hunter since 2006, guiding trophy hunters in all corners of Namibia and gaining extremely valuable experience. He hunts on average over 200 days a year! In addition to getting to know the country like the back of his hand, he is a fully licensed and experienced outfitter.
We do specialize in hunting most animals Free Range on private land in Namibia because of the quality, accessibility, and numbers on our exclusive properties to Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia, primarily on our 31,000 acre ranch near Gobabis. We also offer larger and more protected quality game that is huntable on Fair Chase fenced hunting land.
Yes we take a number of bow hunters every year. This is the ultimate challenge for a die-hard hunter that wants to experience the thrill of a true safari hunt in Namibia stalking game.
I am a very passionate bow hunter myself, and have competed at several world field archery championships as part of the Namibian archery team. We specialize in bow hunting most animals Free Range on private land in Namibia because of the quality, accessibility, and numbers on our exclusive properties, primarily on our 31,000 acre ranch near Gobabis. We also offer larger and more protected quality game that is huntable on Fair Chase fenced hunting land on up to 250,000 additional acres that we have exclusive access to.
If you hunt with us, we do hunt out of tree stands, but not over feeders, spotting and stalking on foot and shooting up or down hill predominately. Shots will vary from 15-60 yards. Requirements and recommendations for some of the game is below. It is legal to import bows for bow-hunting purposes. No import permit is required. None of the Big 5 game animals can be hunted with a bow.
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS:
- Long Bow – being a straight, one piece or take down bow
- Recurve Bow – being a bow with curved tipped limbs which bend away from the archer when the bow is held in the shooting position
- Compound Bow – being a bow which uses a cable and pulleys to increase its power or the velocity of the arrow shot from it, by means of the storing of energy
- Cross Bow – Illegal in Namibia
Arrows can be made out of:
- Wood, fiberglass, carbon or carbon compounds and aluminum
- The shaft must have a minimum length of 19.68 inches (500 mm)
BROADHEADS:
- Broadheads must consist of at least two fixed cutting blades with a minimum cutting edge length and width of 1 inch (26 mm+).
- Broadheads may not have barbed or serrated edges or contain poison or narcotics.
Mechanical broadheads are legal in Namibia. Special arrow points such as judo points, bird points or blunt points may be used for the bow hunting of game bird species only, a hunter may take no more than two members of the permitted bird species during the hunt, which will be listed in the trophy permit.
Requirements and recommendations for some of the game we are is below.
Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia - Bow Hunting Requirements
Every hunting client is allowed to enter the country with 2 hunting rifles and a maximum amount of 80 rounds per caliber. Entering Namibia with your hunting rifle is a very easy process. Once you arrive at the airport you will fill out a very short application form and they will issue you with a temporary import permit.
Refer to the Namibian Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) website for required minimum muzzle velocities for firearms for various game species. Only ammunition for the specific caliber may be imported. It is legal to hunt with black powder rifles in Namibia. (Refer to this website for the black-powder hunting regulations). It is illegal to transport black powder and percussion caps. These can be purchased in Namibia. Inquire with your trophy-hunting operator. It is legal to import bows for bow-hunting purposes. No import permit is required. (Refer to this website for the Bow Hunting requirements).
We recommend that you take out full insurance for all firearms before travelling anywhere in Africa. Where possible, we recommend selecting a direct flight into Hosea Kutako International Airport near Windhoek. This will minimize delays associated with firearm transport. Air Namibia offers a direct service.
It is suggested that you adhere to the following procedure to minimize problems when travelling with firearms:
- All bags need to be adequately marked with nametags for identification
- Pack an unloaded rifle in a sturdy carry case
- Have a separate lockable container in which to store your ammunition separate from your rifle in your checked luggage
- At the check-in counter at the point of departure, insist that the agent check your firearm through to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek. Your bag tag should read, for example: New York - Frankfurt - Windhoek OR Atlanta - Johannesburg - Windhoek. (This is sometimes not possible if the airlines that you are using do not have baggage agreements. Inquire about this before purchasing your ticket.) Windhoek Airport's International baggage code is WDH.
- Physically check baggage tag to ensure that it has been correctly printed and attached. Inquire if a colorful 'in transit tag' is necessary when travelling through another country.
- It is illegal to transport black powder and percussion caps.
- It is illegal to hunt for trophies at night and/or with an artificial light.
- It is illegal to hunt for trophies that do not qualify in terms of the minimum measurement requirements as specified by the MET, Namibian Quality Control.
- Prohibited firearms are: all handguns, all automatic firearms and all crossbows.
The driving licence requirements in Namibia state that you must have a full driving licence that is valid in your country of residence. An international driver's licence is also required if your driving licence is not in English. Hiring (renting) a vehicle is recommended for non-hunters if you would like to tour around during or after your hunt, we can recommend local companies should you need help.
We have universal adapters for your devices available for your use.
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.
As most of Namibia is covered by desert it is unsurprising that the climate is exactly what you would expect from a desert country. Daytime temperatures are hot (extremely hot in summer) and nights are cold, some areas frequently go below freezing in winter.
Dry season - May to October - Winter
There is little to no rainfall during the entire winter and humidity is low. Wildlife will gather around waterholes and rivers when other water resources dry up.
- May- It is the end of summer. The rains have stopped, but the scenery is still lovely and green. The nights aren't cold yet and daytime temperatures are, on average, around 24-28°C/75-82°F.
- June- The nights are getting cold and can drop below 10°C/50°F. In desert areas, it can be freezing. Daytime temperatures are still pleasant around 20-24°C/68-75°F.
- July & August- These are the main winter months. Be sure to pack warm clothing because morning game drives in open vehicles will be cold. The average maximum temperature is 21-25°C/70-77°F. The average minimum temperature is around 7°C/45°F, but can fall to below freezing at night in the deserts and higher areas.
- September & October- September is a lovely month. It isn't too hot yet, but the chill in the mornings is becoming less. It is dry and the skies are clear. During October the green vegetation is fading and the heat gradually builds up.
Wet season - November to April - Summer
- November- The heat continues to rise and by November it is very hot, but the humidity is still low, keeping it quite pleasant. On average, the daytime temperature is above 30°C/86°F, but can be a lot higher in the deserts. Clouds are starting to build up in the afternoons.
- December- The first rains usually arrive and with it the temperature drops. The landscape changes after the first rains and everything comes to life.
- January & February- This is midsummer. It tends to be hot and humid with maximum temperatures around 30-35°C/86-95°F with peaks of over 40°C/104°F in the desert. There may be torrential downpours in the afternoon but not every day. Mornings are usually clear.
- March & April- Rainfall will decrease and stops around April. It cools down after the rains and the nights start to get cold again. Average daytime temperatures are around 25-30°C/77-86°F
While exercising and working out before the hunt certainly pays off, you do not need to be in great shape. Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia guides for hunters of all ages and abilities. Your personal hunter will structure the hunt according to your abilities.
Shots vary depending on game being hunted and more importantly the range the hunter is comfortable with. For most game the typical shot is 150 to 200 yards.
The Namibian trophy hunting season opens on February 1 and closes on November 30 of each year.
We are located on our own private land in the central eastern part of Namibia near Gobabis. At Neuhof Farm we balance quality game & thrilling hunting experience with solid conservation – focusing on 20 clients per season. Quality over quantity…boutique & exclusive hunting over large scale cookie-cutter outfitting.
Air Travel:
Most flights arrive from San Francisco, L.A, New York City or Houston into Windhoek which is an overnight 18 hr to 35 hour flight depending on connections. A direct flight from JFK in New York is only 18 hours and the main carrier is South Africa Airlines. British Airways also conducts additional flights and have won numerous awards as an international airline. Travel insurance is recommended and a passport is required. A visitor’s visa is issued upon arrival into Namibia. Your Namibia final destination will Windhoek, where Schalk Pienaar will be waiting to greet you at the airport and guide you through customs.
Hunting Properties:
Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia primarily hunts on our own private 31,000 acre ranch in eastern Namibia, on the western edge of the Kalahari (close to the Botswana border), just a 2 ½ ride from the airport.However through long-term relationships and respectful usage, we have exclusive access to over 250,000 additional acres of prime hunting land. This access to many other ranches and concession areas in the region, gives you access to the most huntable land in Southern Africa, with the widest game of quality game. We’ve endeavored to cultivate both the relationships and access to give you the ability to hunt every species that Namibia has to offer.
Additional Questions:
If you have any questions that haven't been answered here, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hunting with you for the experience of a lifetime with Schalk Pienaar Safaris Namibia!
