The Trip of a Life Time

August 2005

Namibia Africa was our destination. None of us had ever been there. Or had a clue what it would be like when we got there. All we did know was that it was in Africa and Dad wanted to shoot a Kudu. Dad had a lifetime dream of hunting in Africa. Teddy Roosevelt wrote books about it this and it was on all the hunting shows. So we did it; we booked a hunting trip with Holstein Ranch. This was the biggest adventure the Mullins Clan had ever went on. Traveling on a plane for 19 hours to South Africa. Then to get on another plane for two more hours to Windhoek, Namibia. Where we met our guide Erich (Eric). Then we drove another 5 hours to our new home for two weeks. We all felt like total tourists as we shouted and was excited to see Baboons for the first time. Sitting beside the railroad tracks eating garabge that people throw at them.


So the boys were the ones with the money and the muscles (to pull bows). So they got to be the hunters. The nice thing about Holstein is "observers" got to go free. So Mom, Rachel, and Rebecca went along. This was by far a new adventure for all of us! We all had to get passports and the boys had to get new equipment. Not to mention the hours and hours of practicing of shooting. Then we were all studying the names of these new creatures. I think this is when we became true archers!


Our first day there the boys were on the archery ranch practicing; when Dad's bow string came off. All this work and preparations gone to waste and being destroyed on the first day. Erich our PH (professional hunter) said he could fix it. He took the bow and was out of sight. Not knowing any better and fully trusting in our guide. None of us could imagine that he went behind the house hooked the bow up to a tractor to pull the string back on. What seemed like hours before Erich returned was truly hours. When he did return with his little brother's bow that was not tuned in or had any prep work. Dad was not at all happy. But what do you do. We traveled a billion miles and had two weeks of ahead of us. So Dad took his now VERY broken bow and this borrowed bow and made the best of the situation. This was defiantly a trip of a life time. One I am sure we are to never forget. The hunters were very successful and learned A LOT!!


Day 1 in Namibia:

* The Mullins Clan meets Erich and is drives to the Ranch.


Day 2 in Namibia:(First Morning)
*Dad's bow is broken


Day 3 in Namibia:
*Kris kills a Springbok

*Kalab kills a Gemsbok


Day 4 in Namibia:

*Kris and Rebecca see a massive Waterbok. Too bad our budget is low!!


Day 5 in Namibia:

*Dad's guide is getting very upset he wont shoot something!!


Day 6 in Namibia:

*Dad kills a Springbok at dark......the Hyena's finish
it :(


Day 7 in Namibia:
*Dad finds what is left of his Springbok.

*Kris kills a Warthog at dark......Erich finishes it off with a screwdriver to its head!!


Day 8 in Namibia:
*Mullins Clan goes to Etosha National Park. Rebecca gets to see LIVE/REAL Elephants :)


Day 9 in Namibia:

*Kris kills a Blue Wildebeest

*Dad kills a Gemsbok


Day 10 in Namibia:

*Kalab kills a Kudu

*Dad kills a Kudu


Day 11 in Namibia:

*Mullins Clan is almost eaten by Leopard.....okay not really ;) Dad has a chance to kill a Leopard.


We were traveling to find Kris and Kalab a Zebra. When we got out of the truck we were all put at a sudden stop when we heard "GRRRR" which was the Leopard when we interrupted his dinner. So Erich and Dad went on a run to chase this Leopard but never got a clear shot.

*Kalab kills a Zebra



Day 12 in Namibia:

*Time to say goodbye and fly home. :(