The Small Rain

 So here we are at the hunting lodge.  In the family for 90 years, and a hunting lodge for a long long time, it is a bit of a compound.  Sheep farming.  We are told some horses but we haven’t seen them.  And a huge tract of land with all sorts of antelope and the like and other animals.  This place also fits into the puzzle of Namibia, with a role in the economy as well as conservation.   Like everything else, it is complicated. 

Example:  Jim and Karen met the owners years ago at a hunting /sportsman show and have spoken with him for years about coming here.  Jim has long had hopes of hunting a couple of the antelopes found here. He has been successful.   

This brings into question what happens to the animal that is shot.  Nothing is wasted is the short answer.  The hunter typically elects to take the horns or the skin.   The meat is given to the schools.  The bones (which still have meat on them) are cut up and given to the community.  The water used in the process is captured and used to water the garden.  The entrails and organs are composted.  

The family used to have much of the butchery done offsite, but last year took advantage of Covid and built a huge barn with attached facility to do it onsite, thereby being able to employ a fair number of the community both for the building and also for the operation.  

Also guests here at this moment are 3 men from Siberia.  They were a late addition and an odd one.  They clearly have loads of money given their hunting approach (each animal, based on its relative population and other factors including a cut that goes to the government, has a price.  It ain’t cheap).  We have been uncomfortable with what they are doing which is clearly just trophy hunting with little expertise and care. You want more details, I can provide.   We hardly interact with them as only one speaks English and they keep to themselves.  

This is a sable. 

(These are roan)

Regardless, we are having a good time.  We got to see some of the lambs being fed.  There are birds, of course....and we got to go on a fun game drive / sunset drive yesterday.  It actually clouded up and very lightly rained!!!   Which was awesome.    No geocaches, but you can’t have everything!