Rolling in for the kill
Nic Kruger; KTE Custom founder and professional hunter; “I try to adapt my hunting cars to be practical and to work well.”
Getting to that perfect spot for your shot can be so much more comfortable in a proper hunting vehicle.
Hunting is sometimes frowned upon in our modern age, but hunting in Namibia is something exceptional, even within that context.
Namibia’s wide open spaces, incredible scenery, breathtaking vistas and abundance of diverse wildlife make the country a prime destination for hunting enthusiasts from around the world.
But getting to Namibia to hunt is only the beginning. For any serious hunter, it is obvious that the real test starts with getting to where the desired game is. For that, you will need a serious vehicle, and not every automobile will be able to take you out to the far reaches of the land, to the lonely places where wild animals roam, hunt and have reigned supreme since the dawn of time.
So, for a serious hunting excursion, you will need a serious hunting vehicle.
Of course, you could buy or rent something like the Mahindra Pik Up 2.2 SC S4 4x4 6MT Gameviewer, customised locally, combining robust performance with practical features. Yet, every true hunter has their own preferences, own needs and desires, and their own idea of what the perfect hunting vehicle is.
Enter Nic Kruger, the owner of Kruger Trading Enterprises (KTE) Custom Steel Works in Windhoek.
Since founding the business in 2013, the range of services has been expanded from protective coating to steelworks, game-viewer vehicle customisation, truckbed improvements, tour vehicles and of course, hunting vehicles. With ten years of professional hunting experience to his name, and still an enthusiast today, Kruger knows first-hand what works and what is best in a vehicle fit for hunting.
“I try to adapt my hunting cars to be practical and to work well. We outfit many hunting vehicles for clients from all over the country. I know many people in the industry and the feedback we get is positive,” he said.
His advice when acquiring a vehicle with the idea of adapting it for hunting is to remember that the vehicle may need to work a little harder than your average transportation.
“These vehicles cover long distances with hunters, between farms and concessions and so forth. And remember, your hunting vehicle becomes your office. You and your hunter or your guide, will spend up to 14 hours a day in that vehicle, so it has to be comfortable and you need to think of all the people that will need to go along. The tracker, the luggage and the weapons, and the convenience of being able to load your hunt will also help. The engine has to be in good condition and must be strong. Most people use the LandCruiser that we all know as a workhorse,” he added.
Among the accessories and modifications common on hunting vehicles include benches, a winch to load your kill, high-lift jacks, shovels, pangas and shooting racks, which Nic said are particularly popular in southern Namibia. "In the south, hunters often like to shoot from the back of a bakkie because it can be harder to walk and stalk on the flat open terrain."
Convenience is valued as demonstrated by a ladder with which climbing up is easier.
On the flip side, lights are not as important as trophy hunting at night is prohibited in Namibia, Kruger said.
These days, hunters are also becoming more "fancy" and thus appreciate USB connections and cup-holders, he said.
KTE employs almost 30 people at the Prosperita premises where they offer everything from upholstering and paintwork to pipework, rock sliders and game-viewer accessories,
The business also boasts a plate department with bend and cut machines and CNC plasma cutters that produce neater finished products.
Namibia’s wide open spaces, incredible scenery, breathtaking vistas and abundance of diverse wildlife make the country a prime destination for hunting enthusiasts from around the world.
But getting to Namibia to hunt is only the beginning. For any serious hunter, it is obvious that the real test starts with getting to where the desired game is. For that, you will need a serious vehicle, and not every automobile will be able to take you out to the far reaches of the land, to the lonely places where wild animals roam, hunt and have reigned supreme since the dawn of time.
So, for a serious hunting excursion, you will need a serious hunting vehicle.
Of course, you could buy or rent something like the Mahindra Pik Up 2.2 SC S4 4x4 6MT Gameviewer, customised locally, combining robust performance with practical features. Yet, every true hunter has their own preferences, own needs and desires, and their own idea of what the perfect hunting vehicle is.
Enter Nic Kruger, the owner of Kruger Trading Enterprises (KTE) Custom Steel Works in Windhoek.
Since founding the business in 2013, the range of services has been expanded from protective coating to steelworks, game-viewer vehicle customisation, truckbed improvements, tour vehicles and of course, hunting vehicles. With ten years of professional hunting experience to his name, and still an enthusiast today, Kruger knows first-hand what works and what is best in a vehicle fit for hunting.
“I try to adapt my hunting cars to be practical and to work well. We outfit many hunting vehicles for clients from all over the country. I know many people in the industry and the feedback we get is positive,” he said.
His advice when acquiring a vehicle with the idea of adapting it for hunting is to remember that the vehicle may need to work a little harder than your average transportation.
“These vehicles cover long distances with hunters, between farms and concessions and so forth. And remember, your hunting vehicle becomes your office. You and your hunter or your guide, will spend up to 14 hours a day in that vehicle, so it has to be comfortable and you need to think of all the people that will need to go along. The tracker, the luggage and the weapons, and the convenience of being able to load your hunt will also help. The engine has to be in good condition and must be strong. Most people use the LandCruiser that we all know as a workhorse,” he added.
Among the accessories and modifications common on hunting vehicles include benches, a winch to load your kill, high-lift jacks, shovels, pangas and shooting racks, which Nic said are particularly popular in southern Namibia. "In the south, hunters often like to shoot from the back of a bakkie because it can be harder to walk and stalk on the flat open terrain."
Convenience is valued as demonstrated by a ladder with which climbing up is easier.
On the flip side, lights are not as important as trophy hunting at night is prohibited in Namibia, Kruger said.
These days, hunters are also becoming more "fancy" and thus appreciate USB connections and cup-holders, he said.
KTE employs almost 30 people at the Prosperita premises where they offer everything from upholstering and paintwork to pipework, rock sliders and game-viewer accessories,
The business also boasts a plate department with bend and cut machines and CNC plasma cutters that produce neater finished products.
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