Treemantwo
AH senior member
I know there are many great PH’s and Safari operations in Africa, but wanted to “briefly” share my experiences with one in particular that I had the great fortune of hunting with in 2021....Karl Stumpfe of @ndumo HUNTING SAFARIS.
I hunted with Karl in March and again, November of this year, 2021, having by just returned yesterday, 12/2/21.
In March I hunted Gemsbok, Steenbok, Red Hartabeast, and Springbok in one area, then flew to his camps in the Caprivi to chase Cape Buffalo, Zebra, and Impala. Yes, I was successful on all of the above, taking mature animals anyone would be proud of.
The simple things first....
The food was outstanding, and you had better request 5 miles of stalking a day or lose 15 pounds prior to your trip. If not, you’ll be 20lbs heavier upon you your return.
The accommodations far exceeded what I am used to as a registered guide in Alaska. The screened reed bungalows together with piping hot water are a welcome pleasure at the end of a long hard day....and you are greeted by a comfortable bed as a bonus.
Staff ? The camp help is friendly and always in the “pleasing” mode...never missing a beat. Be sure to pack light as your laundry is done daily and is returned to you pressed and folded....something foreign to me as a bachelor.
I can’t say enough about the trackers/ skinners and crew that I was in the company of each day.
Though the plains game was taken by spot and stalk techniques, my buffalo were taken via the fine art of tracking. I’ll just say.....Re-mark-able !
My goal was an old bull at close range...with a double, and Karl managed the first volunteer at about 11 yards. The 2nd, a non-trophy bull, was at long range...20 yards.
I strive to provide hunts of a lifetime to my clients, but hunting with Ndumo Safaris really puts things in perspective in that regard, and I can tell you I learned A LOT from Karl and his staff.
Many thanks to Karl Stumfe, Divan Labuschagne, and office manager Colleen Collen. While Karl, Divan, and their staff are the most visible components at Ndumo, Colleen does the work of four to make sure no detail is omitted, and every issue addressed. She gets my vote for employee of the year !
So, I guess I could end my review, but that would only serve to shortchange you of the results of my 2nd trip to Namibia less than a month ago.
After a 3 month stint guiding in Alaska, I returned home to a WhattsApp message that would fulfill my lifelong dream...one that were it not for Karl, I would be hopelessly chasing. A leftover tag was available that would provide me with an opportunity....as that is all I asked for. I was going on a leopard hunt !
With less than 2 weeks in recovery from Alaska, I found myself in Namibia on November 12th.
Master Guide Wenzel Badenhorst met me in Windhoek and the barrage of questions ensued.
Despite having bombarded Wenzel with questions the week prior, he happily answered them all again upon my arrival. Excited ? No, I was jacked beyond all recognition !
Prior to us meeting I told Wenzel it was important to me to participate 100% in the leopard hunting process...from checking trail cameras to baiting....and the building of blinds. I set my goal high. I just wanted to experience an active cat on a bait...on camera. The rest would be a bit of luck and hard work rewarded by a bonus...an opportunity.
Some remarkable things occurred on this hunt with the stars aligning in response to my promises to God. Though I had allotted in excess of 14 days for this hunt, we had 3 baits out, each with mature leopards hitting them....in daylight hours !
On the 4th day of my hunt I was graced with an old battle scarred leopard of 70kgs.
I guess Wenzel wasn’t ready to see me depart so early because he scoured the earth and bore the 90 degree heat with me in tow for 7 more days to deliver US to a 55” Kudu. We still hunted our way to within spearing distance of 3 great kudu bulls that were reluctant to leave the protection of the shade. Is there more ?
Yes !
Karl missed me so much that he invited me up to the Caprivi in an attempt to fill a spotted hyena tag. I’ll describe it like this.....
Three men sit in a blind and start the calling sequence....all 3 hearts can be heard beating.
Darkness approaches, and with only 10 minutes left. PH raises his head...pupils enlarge...hunter’s heart races wildly after seeing PH’s pupils dislocate. With three minutes left, “spots” are howling all around us in a WTF moment beyond all imagination. One makes a mistake, and is silenced by a .338, resulting in a very large spotted hyena, and heart stopping experience.
I guess I could have been more conservative and written, but 3 paragraphs to review my hunts with Karl Stumpfe in the hopes that he NOT be booked solid for the next 3 years, but....
Give credit where it’s due....I had an amazing experience and am willing to take a chance that you’ll second guess my evaluation just long enough to leave another opening for me !
Thanks Karl....You’re of The Best !
I hunted with Karl in March and again, November of this year, 2021, having by just returned yesterday, 12/2/21.
In March I hunted Gemsbok, Steenbok, Red Hartabeast, and Springbok in one area, then flew to his camps in the Caprivi to chase Cape Buffalo, Zebra, and Impala. Yes, I was successful on all of the above, taking mature animals anyone would be proud of.
The simple things first....
The food was outstanding, and you had better request 5 miles of stalking a day or lose 15 pounds prior to your trip. If not, you’ll be 20lbs heavier upon you your return.
The accommodations far exceeded what I am used to as a registered guide in Alaska. The screened reed bungalows together with piping hot water are a welcome pleasure at the end of a long hard day....and you are greeted by a comfortable bed as a bonus.
Staff ? The camp help is friendly and always in the “pleasing” mode...never missing a beat. Be sure to pack light as your laundry is done daily and is returned to you pressed and folded....something foreign to me as a bachelor.
I can’t say enough about the trackers/ skinners and crew that I was in the company of each day.
Though the plains game was taken by spot and stalk techniques, my buffalo were taken via the fine art of tracking. I’ll just say.....Re-mark-able !
My goal was an old bull at close range...with a double, and Karl managed the first volunteer at about 11 yards. The 2nd, a non-trophy bull, was at long range...20 yards.
I strive to provide hunts of a lifetime to my clients, but hunting with Ndumo Safaris really puts things in perspective in that regard, and I can tell you I learned A LOT from Karl and his staff.
Many thanks to Karl Stumfe, Divan Labuschagne, and office manager Colleen Collen. While Karl, Divan, and their staff are the most visible components at Ndumo, Colleen does the work of four to make sure no detail is omitted, and every issue addressed. She gets my vote for employee of the year !
So, I guess I could end my review, but that would only serve to shortchange you of the results of my 2nd trip to Namibia less than a month ago.
After a 3 month stint guiding in Alaska, I returned home to a WhattsApp message that would fulfill my lifelong dream...one that were it not for Karl, I would be hopelessly chasing. A leftover tag was available that would provide me with an opportunity....as that is all I asked for. I was going on a leopard hunt !
With less than 2 weeks in recovery from Alaska, I found myself in Namibia on November 12th.
Master Guide Wenzel Badenhorst met me in Windhoek and the barrage of questions ensued.
Despite having bombarded Wenzel with questions the week prior, he happily answered them all again upon my arrival. Excited ? No, I was jacked beyond all recognition !
Prior to us meeting I told Wenzel it was important to me to participate 100% in the leopard hunting process...from checking trail cameras to baiting....and the building of blinds. I set my goal high. I just wanted to experience an active cat on a bait...on camera. The rest would be a bit of luck and hard work rewarded by a bonus...an opportunity.
Some remarkable things occurred on this hunt with the stars aligning in response to my promises to God. Though I had allotted in excess of 14 days for this hunt, we had 3 baits out, each with mature leopards hitting them....in daylight hours !
On the 4th day of my hunt I was graced with an old battle scarred leopard of 70kgs.
I guess Wenzel wasn’t ready to see me depart so early because he scoured the earth and bore the 90 degree heat with me in tow for 7 more days to deliver US to a 55” Kudu. We still hunted our way to within spearing distance of 3 great kudu bulls that were reluctant to leave the protection of the shade. Is there more ?
Yes !
Karl missed me so much that he invited me up to the Caprivi in an attempt to fill a spotted hyena tag. I’ll describe it like this.....
Three men sit in a blind and start the calling sequence....all 3 hearts can be heard beating.
Darkness approaches, and with only 10 minutes left. PH raises his head...pupils enlarge...hunter’s heart races wildly after seeing PH’s pupils dislocate. With three minutes left, “spots” are howling all around us in a WTF moment beyond all imagination. One makes a mistake, and is silenced by a .338, resulting in a very large spotted hyena, and heart stopping experience.
I guess I could have been more conservative and written, but 3 paragraphs to review my hunts with Karl Stumpfe in the hopes that he NOT be booked solid for the next 3 years, but....
Give credit where it’s due....I had an amazing experience and am willing to take a chance that you’ll second guess my evaluation just long enough to leave another opening for me !
Thanks Karl....You’re of The Best !
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