At home in nature’s splendour
Danene van der Westhuyzen is currently the president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association and the chairperson of the Operators’ and Professional Hunters’ Associations of Africa.
Justicia Shipena
Danene van der Westhuyzen started off her career journey as an optometrist.
In 2002 she graduated from Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) in South Africa with a degree in optometry.
Van der Westhuyzen told Careers that she loves practicing the profession of optometry and works as a locum whenever she gets time.
In 2012 Van der Westhuyzen qualified as the first female dangerous game professional hunter in Namibia and at the same time also became the business manager of Aru Game Lodges.
Aru Game Lodges is located in Dordabis, about 80 kilometres east of Windhoek.
Van der Westhuyzen is currently the president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association and the chairperson of the Operators’ and Professional Hunters’ Associations of Africa.
She is also a trustee of Hunters United against Poaching and a board member of the Nature Conservation Board of Namibia. She is married and is a mother of three children.
Hunting became a part of her life as her father is an avid hunter and he taught her the ropes.
Van der Westhuyzen said she started hunting at a young age.
She added that meat hunting plays a big role in Namibia, with many Namibians stocking up on their meat supplies for the year during the hunting season from May to the end of August.
“My father regularly took me with him on these types of hunts. My father always impressed on me the value of all species. He has a great appreciation for beautiful old trophy animals and loved to pursue them. He always hunted on foot, and was always careful about which animals he took,” she said.
Van der Westhuyzen said her father taught her that participating in nature is the biggest part of a hunt.
“Pitting your skills against an animal and many times walking away without success makes it very different to a meat hunt. Partaking in nature and the cycle of life and appreciating the life of the animal is what transforms hunting into a form of conservation,” she said.
She explained that what is most fascinating about hunting is every second of the camaraderie, the moment and being in the presence of nature.
“Being exposed every day to something as breathtakingly beautiful as nature, to the francolin greeting the dawn, a lion’s mighty roar, and the rush of meerkats back into their burrows, transforms every working day into a miracle. It helps to restore my focus. I aim to translate this feeling to all my hunters,” she said.
Van der Westhuyzen added that she has had many exciting hunting experiences.
Every single incredible hunting experience starts when she puts her boots on in the morning and watches the sunrise, with birds singing all around her.
She said hunting is all about not getting into a dangerous situations and the most exciting hunting experience is one where you walk away in awe, whether you were successful or not.
This has been the case with every hunt she has ever been on.
Besides hunting Van der Westhuyzen enjoys sport, photography, writing, nature, and singing.
Cooking and baking are also among her favourite pastimes, while also spending time with her family and dogs.
“It surprises you every day with small details and wonders. It really lies in the experience. How far you are able to push yourself and your client, how patient you can be, how fit you are, whether the wind turns on you quickly and you realise the dangerous animal ahead of you can suddenly smell you; anticipating what it will do and playing out different scenes in your mind,” she said.
There are three types of hunts available:
1. Management hunting;
2. Meat hunting; and
3. Selective hunting (trophy hunting)
Danene van der Westhuyzen started off her career journey as an optometrist.
In 2002 she graduated from Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) in South Africa with a degree in optometry.
Van der Westhuyzen told Careers that she loves practicing the profession of optometry and works as a locum whenever she gets time.
In 2012 Van der Westhuyzen qualified as the first female dangerous game professional hunter in Namibia and at the same time also became the business manager of Aru Game Lodges.
Aru Game Lodges is located in Dordabis, about 80 kilometres east of Windhoek.
Van der Westhuyzen is currently the president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association and the chairperson of the Operators’ and Professional Hunters’ Associations of Africa.
She is also a trustee of Hunters United against Poaching and a board member of the Nature Conservation Board of Namibia. She is married and is a mother of three children.
Hunting became a part of her life as her father is an avid hunter and he taught her the ropes.
Van der Westhuyzen said she started hunting at a young age.
She added that meat hunting plays a big role in Namibia, with many Namibians stocking up on their meat supplies for the year during the hunting season from May to the end of August.
“My father regularly took me with him on these types of hunts. My father always impressed on me the value of all species. He has a great appreciation for beautiful old trophy animals and loved to pursue them. He always hunted on foot, and was always careful about which animals he took,” she said.
Van der Westhuyzen said her father taught her that participating in nature is the biggest part of a hunt.
“Pitting your skills against an animal and many times walking away without success makes it very different to a meat hunt. Partaking in nature and the cycle of life and appreciating the life of the animal is what transforms hunting into a form of conservation,” she said.
She explained that what is most fascinating about hunting is every second of the camaraderie, the moment and being in the presence of nature.
“Being exposed every day to something as breathtakingly beautiful as nature, to the francolin greeting the dawn, a lion’s mighty roar, and the rush of meerkats back into their burrows, transforms every working day into a miracle. It helps to restore my focus. I aim to translate this feeling to all my hunters,” she said.
Van der Westhuyzen added that she has had many exciting hunting experiences.
Every single incredible hunting experience starts when she puts her boots on in the morning and watches the sunrise, with birds singing all around her.
She said hunting is all about not getting into a dangerous situations and the most exciting hunting experience is one where you walk away in awe, whether you were successful or not.
This has been the case with every hunt she has ever been on.
Besides hunting Van der Westhuyzen enjoys sport, photography, writing, nature, and singing.
Cooking and baking are also among her favourite pastimes, while also spending time with her family and dogs.
“It surprises you every day with small details and wonders. It really lies in the experience. How far you are able to push yourself and your client, how patient you can be, how fit you are, whether the wind turns on you quickly and you realise the dangerous animal ahead of you can suddenly smell you; anticipating what it will do and playing out different scenes in your mind,” she said.
There are three types of hunts available:
1. Management hunting;
2. Meat hunting; and
3. Selective hunting (trophy hunting)
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