Admittedly, I am an African addict. I love the variety of game, the presence of truly dangerous game, the different cultures, the kaleidoscope of unforgettable sights, the unique smells, and the aura of the Dark Continent's historical hunting. However, South Africa has got a little tame for me, and countries like Tanzania, Botswana, and Zambia are beyond my budget.

Enter Namibia, located just above South Africa on the Atlantic coast. This independent nation is stable and safe, and the national language is English. Hunting opportunities abound in Namibia, from the famous Kalahari Desert, to the hill and mountain country, to the Caprivi Strip that can be as wet and wild as anywhere on the continent. Namibia has its game ranches, but it has plenty of quality free-range hunts, too.

A couple of years ago I met professional hunter (PH) Roger Coomber on the Accurate Reloading African Forums (http://forums.accuratereloading.com). Our mutual passion for bowhunting surfaced early, we became fast friends, and before long I was planning a bowhunt with Roger and his Vieranas Safaris. Roger saves the bulk of his land for bowhunting only.

After months of anticipation, a couple of friends and I took off from Cincinnati on our way to Windhoek, Namibia, via London. With a 15-hour layover in London, we spent the day sightseeing and made the final leg of the trip that evening. Roger met us in Windhoek and personally drove us to his place in the northern part of the country.

Before we began our hunt, Roger made us all pass a shooting proficiency test, which included shooting with broadheads through a narrow window frame that simulated a blind window. All of us passed, so we were good to hunt.

My number one priority was to take an eland. Roger had been seeing a herd at one of his waterholes, but they were drinking only every two to three days. He explained that this herd was ranging up to 30 miles and was likely leaving the property at times. With Cuddeback trail cams on most of his waterholes, he had identified two mature bulls in the group, one an ancient old bull with incredible mass and another with slightly longer horns that veered out into a wide "V."

When eland bulls grow old, their color turns from tan to slate gray, and they get a distinctive tuft of longer hair on the forehead. These old boys are commonly called blue bulls, and I had decided I would shoot only a blue bull. Knowing from Roger's trail cam photos that two such bulls roamed here, I vowed not to shoot any other animal until I got a shot at one of the big guys.

Well, I waited, and waited. During three full days in the blind, I saw giraffes, warthogs, and many other animals, including one tempting mature kudu bull. But I kept my resolve and passed on the shot.

Finally, a half hour before sundown on the third afternoon, a huge shadow passed over the window of the blind. Peeking out, I saw a bull eland standing 25 yards away but immediately realized he was a tan bull and not one of the old guys.