DG&Doubles
AH member
I've decided to write about one of my experiences in Namibia, albeit a slightly different one to what we are used to here on the forum.
Due to my previous Army experience, I was invited on a rare opportunity to tag along on a carnivore survery in the Khaudum National Park with PH/warden of Ministry of Enviorement and Tourism and one of their head Veterinary specialists.
First off, I will start by saying the Khaudum is a hidden treasure. When one talks of Namibia, places like Etosha and the Caprivi are always at the forefront of the conversation (and for good reason), but if you are seeking a truly wild experience, the Khaudum is for you.
The park itself sits below Angola and above Botswana and is roughly 1,500 square miles. Situated to the west of the Caprivi strip, it is home to I believe the largest amount of elephants, lions and wild dogs in Namibia.
Our mission was to dart and collar viable candidates of any carnivores we saw (Lions, Leopards, Wilddogs and Hyenas), along with recollaring of those previously done.
As many of you know, to bring in the species, baits are needed. So we got to do some 'hunting'/culling.
Baits taken included Kudu, Hartebeest, and the biggest pig I have personally ever seen (weighed 112kgs). Would have made an amazing trophy (even with so much tusk being broken off).
It was a hard weeks work. With waking up at pre-dawn hours to go check baits to staying up til after dark hours using predator calls and spotlights while sitting atop the Cruisers, waiting for animals to come in.
As previously mentioned, this park is truly wild. Entry requirements requires for groups to be fully self-sufficient, including at least 2 4x4 vehicles with towing capabilities. Transportation is done via tracks in sand, which are so thick, that Martin and Pete (PH/Warden and Vet) literally didn't have to steer the vehicles, they just had to touch gas as if the Cruisers were on an automated track.
I had never seen herds of elephants in these numbers before. I'm talking numbers of upto 300 in one herd. Truly astounding numbers. And let me tell you, using only spotlights and on sand tracks so thick you can't turn around (only reverse) it can get real hairy, real quick when you roll up on some elephants in the middle of the night within 15 yards or less.
We were fortunate enough to have the park to ourselves (minus the guards at the entry gates). They had cleared it all of tourists and closed.it for the entire week so we could work undeterred and the animals could be undisturbed as possible.
One of the preivously collared breeding female lioness' in one of the Parks main prides. Nothing like doing some lion darting at 2am, knowing her 3 sons (all 1500+lbs of angry cat are nearby).
Information gathered included travel distances, blood and DNA biometrics along with teeth measurements etc.
Being able to truly watch these animals undisturbed and in their natural environment was just majestic. I truly struggle for words.
From being able to witness 2 of the above coalition of males take down this Giraffe, to waking up due to me being a light sleeper, and waking up to a crunching noise, flicking on my headlamp to see a damn Hyena eating the bones of someone's T-bone letter from dinner at our camp, at the foot of my cot.
And yes, when I say this place is wild, we literally slept under the stars on cots. To waking up, hearing one of the above males, announcing his presence that he is the baddest motherf@#$er in the valley and he is coming to the waterhole.
BTW, we learned the hard way that Hyenas are far more resilient to drugs than lions are.
This high ranking female, possible Matriarch of one of the clans took 3 rounds of sedatives. After the 2nd darting, she was 'down', we moved up and turns.out she was not down. I had to literally kick her in the face and jump on the bonnet of the Landy and hit her with a 3rd round of Ketamine and wait for that to take effect. Much to the chagrin of everyone else...
That's about all I have for this write-up and I hope you all have enjoyed it. I will say, if you are ever in Northern Namibia, and haven't been yet, try and check out Khaudum National Park!
Due to my previous Army experience, I was invited on a rare opportunity to tag along on a carnivore survery in the Khaudum National Park with PH/warden of Ministry of Enviorement and Tourism and one of their head Veterinary specialists.
First off, I will start by saying the Khaudum is a hidden treasure. When one talks of Namibia, places like Etosha and the Caprivi are always at the forefront of the conversation (and for good reason), but if you are seeking a truly wild experience, the Khaudum is for you.
The park itself sits below Angola and above Botswana and is roughly 1,500 square miles. Situated to the west of the Caprivi strip, it is home to I believe the largest amount of elephants, lions and wild dogs in Namibia.
Our mission was to dart and collar viable candidates of any carnivores we saw (Lions, Leopards, Wilddogs and Hyenas), along with recollaring of those previously done.
As many of you know, to bring in the species, baits are needed. So we got to do some 'hunting'/culling.
Baits taken included Kudu, Hartebeest, and the biggest pig I have personally ever seen (weighed 112kgs). Would have made an amazing trophy (even with so much tusk being broken off).
It was a hard weeks work. With waking up at pre-dawn hours to go check baits to staying up til after dark hours using predator calls and spotlights while sitting atop the Cruisers, waiting for animals to come in.
As previously mentioned, this park is truly wild. Entry requirements requires for groups to be fully self-sufficient, including at least 2 4x4 vehicles with towing capabilities. Transportation is done via tracks in sand, which are so thick, that Martin and Pete (PH/Warden and Vet) literally didn't have to steer the vehicles, they just had to touch gas as if the Cruisers were on an automated track.
I had never seen herds of elephants in these numbers before. I'm talking numbers of upto 300 in one herd. Truly astounding numbers. And let me tell you, using only spotlights and on sand tracks so thick you can't turn around (only reverse) it can get real hairy, real quick when you roll up on some elephants in the middle of the night within 15 yards or less.
We were fortunate enough to have the park to ourselves (minus the guards at the entry gates). They had cleared it all of tourists and closed.it for the entire week so we could work undeterred and the animals could be undisturbed as possible.
One of the preivously collared breeding female lioness' in one of the Parks main prides. Nothing like doing some lion darting at 2am, knowing her 3 sons (all 1500+lbs of angry cat are nearby).
Information gathered included travel distances, blood and DNA biometrics along with teeth measurements etc.
Being able to truly watch these animals undisturbed and in their natural environment was just majestic. I truly struggle for words.
From being able to witness 2 of the above coalition of males take down this Giraffe, to waking up due to me being a light sleeper, and waking up to a crunching noise, flicking on my headlamp to see a damn Hyena eating the bones of someone's T-bone letter from dinner at our camp, at the foot of my cot.
And yes, when I say this place is wild, we literally slept under the stars on cots. To waking up, hearing one of the above males, announcing his presence that he is the baddest motherf@#$er in the valley and he is coming to the waterhole.
BTW, we learned the hard way that Hyenas are far more resilient to drugs than lions are.
This high ranking female, possible Matriarch of one of the clans took 3 rounds of sedatives. After the 2nd darting, she was 'down', we moved up and turns.out she was not down. I had to literally kick her in the face and jump on the bonnet of the Landy and hit her with a 3rd round of Ketamine and wait for that to take effect. Much to the chagrin of everyone else...
That's about all I have for this write-up and I hope you all have enjoyed it. I will say, if you are ever in Northern Namibia, and haven't been yet, try and check out Khaudum National Park!
