A few words about Namibia...

MAD DOG · June 11, 2000, 02:10 PM

The following is the text of an email I received from Aubrey, the Mad South African I will be hunting/fishing in Namibia with.
I had asked him for a bit of info about what to expect on the drive from Jo'Burg, RSA to Namibia.
(I lightly edited it for clarity)

**********************
Aubrey Wrote:
Namibia ....land of sand and game.

*****************

Capital ... Windhoek
Okahandja .... 100 miles north of Windhoek
Otjiwarongo ... 100 miles north of Okahandja
Hunting location ... in between the last two mentioned with a random heading just for fun.
Settled by Germans, administered for 50 years by RSA ... culture is a mix of
Afrikaans & German... They drink lots of beer.
Population density ... 2 people per million hectares.
National bird ...house fly.
Best known feature .......Namib desert ..oldest desert on earth.
How far from Jo'burg ..... If you travel until your butt has died and you feel your spine sinking into the seat .....you are 3 hours away from the RSA/Namibia border
and less than half way there. By the time that your butt has changed into a stone
object that fits the cushion like a cement filled glove .....your muscles have shrunk away from non use .... you are there.
Fall out of the 4x4 and enjoy the fresh sea air. By the time that life has returned to your bottom half and you have regained full use of your legs ....you will be on pension.

Though we could save all the driving and hunt in my back yard, in memory of a great American hunter we will drive ... and drive ...and drive .... and drive ... get the picture?

You have been confirmed for a Gemsbok (Oryx) and a Kudu ...I am taking a Gemsbok.... With all that meat, we will be fat from excess ;-)

Your friend

Aubrey
**********************

I can't wait. This will really be a trip to remember.

San Francisquito Bill · June 12, 2000, 03:52 AM

OK Mad Dog! I'm really jealous!

Have a great trip, and don't let your lower half get too sore!

P.S. If you could e-mail me some info or a web site, etc. I'd really appreciate it! I'd be really interested. I'm young and poor, but I've always wanted to hunt in Africa! Maybe sometime in the future!

Thanks,
SFB

Al Thompson · June 12, 2000, 05:51 AM

Hi Bill,

Try reading some Capstick for the feel of Africa. Check your local library for other writings..

I'll post some URLs this evening.

Giz

TABING · June 14, 2000, 01:23 AM

Robert Ruark is also a great African author.

San Francisquito Bill · June 14, 2000, 01:59 AM

Thanks! I'll check 'em out.

MAD DOG · June 14, 2000, 11:24 AM

Ruark is my absolute favorite. I collect first editions of all of his works.
Suggested reading includes, but is certainly not limited to the following Ruark titles.

Something of Value
Uhuru (sequel to Something of Value)
The Horn Of The Hunter (all African Hunting stories)
The Old Man and the Boy
I Didn't Know It Was Loaded... (satire)
Poor No More
The Honey Badger
Grenadine Etching... (satire)

There is another title called "Use Enough Gun". It was published posthumously, and is an anthology of articles and excerpts from his other works. It is badly edited, and not recommended.

[This message has been edited by MAD DOG (edited June 14, 2000).]

June 14, 2000, 11:44 AM

I particularly liked a quote from "Horn of the Hunter" about trophy hunting: "Better I should have him than the hyenas, because my memory is longer."

Coinneach · June 14, 2000, 03:14 PM

On the subject of Aferka stories, I like Haggard. Gory as hell (how about when the guide in King Solomon's Mines gets in the way of a wounded elephant

), funny, and well-written.

June 11, 2000, 02:10 PM	#1
MAD DOG Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: Arizona. Posts: 853	The following is the text of an email I received from Aubrey, the Mad South African I will be hunting/fishing in Namibia with. I had asked him for a bit of info about what to expect on the drive from Jo'Burg, RSA to Namibia. (I lightly edited it for clarity) ******************** Aubrey Wrote: Namibia ....land of sand and game. ************* Capital ... Windhoek Okahandja .... 100 miles north of Windhoek Otjiwarongo ... 100 miles north of Okahandja Hunting location ... in between the last two mentioned with a random heading just for fun. Settled by Germans, administered for 50 years by RSA ... culture is a mix of Afrikaans & German... They drink lots of beer. Population density ... 2 people per million hectares. National bird ...house fly. Best known feature .......Namib desert ..oldest desert on earth. How far from Jo'burg ..... If you travel until your butt has died and you feel your spine sinking into the seat .....you are 3 hours away from the RSA/Namibia border and less than half way there. By the time that your butt has changed into a stone object that fits the cushion like a cement filled glove .....your muscles have shrunk away from non use .... you are there. Fall out of the 4x4 and enjoy the fresh sea air. By the time that life has returned to your bottom half and you have regained full use of your legs ....you will be on pension. Though we could save all the driving and hunt in my back yard, in memory of a great American hunter we will drive ... and drive ...and drive .... and drive ... get the picture? You have been confirmed for a Gemsbok (Oryx) and a Kudu ...I am taking a Gemsbok.... With all that meat, we will be fat from excess ;-) Your friend Aubrey ******************** I can't wait. This will really be a trip to remember.

June 12, 2000, 03:52 AM	#2
San Francisquito Bill Member Join Date: May 27, 2000 Location: Newhall, CA, USA Posts: 78	OK Mad Dog! I'm really jealous! Have a great trip, and don't let your lower half get too sore! P.S. If you could e-mail me some info or a web site, etc. I'd really appreciate it! I'd be really interested. I'm young and poor, but I've always wanted to hunt in Africa! Maybe sometime in the future! Thanks, SFB

June 12, 2000, 05:51 AM	#3
Al Thompson Staff Alumnus Join Date: May 2, 1999 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,611	Hi Bill, Try reading some Capstick for the feel of Africa. Check your local library for other writings.. I'll post some URLs this evening. Giz

June 14, 2000, 01:23 AM	#4
TABING Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: White Mountains, AZ & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Posts: 663	Robert Ruark is also a great African author.

June 14, 2000, 01:59 AM	#5
San Francisquito Bill Member Join Date: May 27, 2000 Location: Newhall, CA, USA Posts: 78	Thanks! I'll check 'em out.

June 14, 2000, 11:24 AM	#6
MAD DOG Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 1998 Location: Arizona. Posts: 853	Ruark is my absolute favorite. I collect first editions of all of his works. Suggested reading includes, but is certainly not limited to the following Ruark titles. Something of Value Uhuru (sequel to Something of Value) The Horn Of The Hunter (all African Hunting stories) The Old Man and the Boy I Didn't Know It Was Loaded... (satire) Poor No More The Honey Badger Grenadine Etching... (satire) There is another title called "Use Enough Gun". It was published posthumously, and is an anthology of articles and excerpts from his other works. It is badly edited, and not recommended. [This message has been edited by MAD DOG (edited June 14, 2000).]

June 14, 2000, 11:44 AM	#7
Jeff, CA Guest Posts: n/a	I particularly liked a quote from "Horn of the Hunter" about trophy hunting: "Better I should have him than the hyenas, because my memory is longer."

June 14, 2000, 03:14 PM	#8
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	On the subject of Aferka stories, I like Haggard. Gory as hell (how about when the guide in King Solomon's Mines gets in the way of a wounded elephant ), funny, and well-written.