African Indaba Articles - wildlife-baldus.com

The visiting hunters will be accommodated in temporary tented safari camps that comply with the minimumrequirements for grading as determined by the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).Hunters, who are looking for a true adventure in Wild Africa should make plans quickly. The huntingseason ends in November and we are already in July! To some the rules might seem a bit stiff with regardsto a “Wild Africa” safari. It is my considered opinion, however, that these well-thought out norms andstandards will enhance the hunting experience for all those who are lucky enough to accompany John orAllan on a memorable safari. Last, but not least, I hope that this fine example of “incentive-drivenconservation”through the cooperative effort of the Namibian Government, NAPHA, an alliance of nonhuntingconservation NGOs, and outside donor agencies will find the attention of other African governments.Transparent hunting block allocations and “Good Governance” are alive and kicking in Africa – let’s spreadthe word!Contact DetailsJohn Wambach and Allan Cilliers have a well-established reputation as first class safari operators andskilled hunters. They are well known in local and overseas hunting circles. Their positive attitude towardstraditional fair chase hunts has been the talk at many camp fires in Africa and a number of internationalhunting magazines carried fascinating stories of their hunting adventures. Go and experience “Wild Africa”with them!Bwabwata Buffalo ConcessionContact Details: John Wambach, Pro-Guiding Safaris, PO Box 2288, Ngweze, Namibia, Telephone +264(81) 12888373, Fax +264 (61) 128 8373, email: proguide@iway.na, web: http://www.proguide.iway.na/Bwabwata Kwando ConcessionContact Details: Allan Cilliers; Allan Cilliers Hunting Safaris, PO Box 5703, Ausspannplatz (Windhoek),Namibia, Telephone: +264 (67) 232 676 or Mobile +264 (81) 129 0708, email allanc@iafrica.com.naHunters and Conservationists are Natural PartnersBy Gerhard R DammIn 2003, I wrote an article for African Geographic with almost the same title. I thought then that this mightbe the first step towards some sort of dialogue between the publisher of African Geographic (Peter Borchert),his foremost anti-hunting columnist Ian Michler and the South African and international hunting community. Acritical dialogue indeed, but based on facts, and not emotions, on scientific evidence and not personalassumptions! I presumed that this dialogue could and would lead towards focusing on what we have incommon and show areas of compromise, were we stand apart.In early 2006, Mr. Borchert invited me to write another article to contrast, as he said, a new Michler article“Trophy Hunting – An Obsolete Obsession”. My article – coauthored with Peter Flack – was sent to MrBorchert on April 21 st (and I received a confirmation of receipt). From then onwards my emails remainedunanswered and our article remains unprinted until today.Michler seems to be fixed on the consumptive/non-consumptive use controversy. He does not want to seethe fallacy of his arguments. The controversy is actually a myth, although one nurtured by Michler andcolleagues, since conflicts, real or constructed, are better suited to keep readership interested than complexdialogued compromise.There is just no such thing as non-consumptive use! All uses of nature are consumptive – one way oranother. Just contemplate that the CO 2 we produce – our carbon footprint – comes from what we eat, themode of transport we use and our daily lifestyle choices. Now put this statement into perspective whenlooking at a hunting block in Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, or at a game ranch in Limpopo. Comparethose to the luxury game lodges in the Serengeti, or to the proliferating luxury lodges in South Africa’s Sabi97