John Simmons:
You folks have a great operation in your niche of the Dark Continent. I am sure you remember my saying one evening that you and you staff made us feel very comfortable in your presence. The three folks on your cooking staff were great to be around as was the great food. Your prayers at meal times and your Christian camp reminded us to think beyond ourselves, and we appreciated that. Besides the pleasure of your company, Neil and Karen; my main contact was of coarse Johan and his faithful tracking dog Trixie. I really did enjoy Trixie; she was a comfort on the seat beside me. Also she did track down some of the dying game that had moved out of our sight. I had the pleasure of close contact with both of your PH’s. Johan and Anton both were very in tune with providing Brian and I the best possible service. Their interests and their thinking closely parallel my personal makeup; they were really comfortable to be with. Both are very observant to all our surroundings. Anton and I ran into the Cobra that one cold morning and we had no problems. Although Johan spent most of the time with my wants, Anton was very helpful with the Impala and he and Johan both were so important to my taking of the Duiker. I couldn’t have asked for anyone to have worked harder than those two. I am sure everyone had some concern about our potential performance with the Single shot Ruger # ones. I am very happy with our shooting over there. Your guys got us with-in a good comfortable range. I really felt thankful about being able to take the six animals with the seven shots; actually it was nine shots counting the two Reedbuck warm-ups. There is nothing better than a one shot kill or at least a very quick kill. I am glad we both practiced a lot before we came over. We also got to see an example of Johan’s shooting abilities when he made a running shot on the injured Kudu with the borrowed rifle from Brian. Of coarse Brian and I wouldn’t have done so well if the guys hadn’t given us such good opportunities I should have practiced a little more on the running and jumping shot, for that Reedbuck. I don’t believe the wife would have rolled a tire down a hill very many times for me to shoot at, if I had asked her to role it back up so we could start the process over. It may surprise everyone but the several challenges of the Reed buck were really enjoyable for me, the adrenalin really pumps when one of those Guiney fowl jumps out of the tall grass, from under your feet. Of coarse the most excitement is when the antelope jump out just a few feet away weather they are the females or the male. Hunting is not just about the final taking, some have to get away to keep up the real hunting challenge. As for my running shot I should have practiced a bit on my Africana language also. I later told the guys if you don’t want me to shoot, don’t use the word Shoot in the command. Just say NO. I told them if they say something like dun shoo or don’t shoot. I am only tuned to hearing the last word of their statement, Shoot! The last day hunting was a great one. I am glad I traded the Warthog hunt for the Eland. I believe if I had ran into an Eland earlier I would have told the boys I am SHOOTING. We actually saw some a couple of days before but they were on the move and a little far away. That last morning there was a lot of celebration when the shooting was over. I was a bit concerned with my opportunity at the moving shot but he wasn’t moving near as fast as the Reedbuck. There was also an emotional moment that Johan and I shared with the passage of the Grand old Bull… Thanks for the great time! John Simmons , Montana, USA 406-328-4163
Letter of recommendation:
We hunted their principal property, Oryx Ranch, west of Mokopane. Taking warthog, wildebeest, blesbok, impala, gemsbok and kudu, we had the hunt of a lifetime. Our trip was marked by incredible attention to detail, superb food and accommodations, and the warm, outgoing friendliness that seems to characterize everyone we met in South Africa. We were met at the Johannesburg airport by Neal and Jurie, one of NBSafaris’ professional hunters, who efficiently ushered us through the firearms licensing process. Driving to the ranch, we had a nightcap and were conducted to our bungalows. Luxurious is hardly too strong a word to describe our accommodations. Arising the next morning, we commenced hunting under the guidance of Jurie and Johan, two of Neal’s principal professional hunters. Both of these men were born and raised in the veldt, and are experts to their fingertips not only in hunting the game native to their home country, but in the ecology and lore of their quarry. We were constantly amazed at their efforts to ensure that we were given the opportunity to take record-class specimens. These folks are professionals in the finest sense of the word. We hunted for several days at Oryx and another nearby ranch, and were completely successful in taking those species that we desired. At the end of our hunt, we opted to visit Kruger National Park, and Neal and Karen graciously conducted us there. What an amazing experience!
If you have the opportunity to hunt, or just to sight-see with these great folks, waste no time in confirming your reservations, packing your gear, and going! Like us, you will have the hunt of a lifetime, and like us, you will arrive as clients and leave as close friends. We recommend NBSafaris in the highest possible terms. Howard E. Morton (Hunt: 17 – 28 May 2008)
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Imagine for a moment that you are hunting in AFRICA - every hunter's dream. You are there with your 20-year-old son, it is his first time hunting ever. The first morning of the first day, your son is out with the Professional Hunter, and with his first shot ever hunting, brings down a Greater Kudu bull with a set of horns close to 55 inches long! Wow! And can you believe it, that afternoon after lunch, your son goes out again and this time shoots a Waterbuck bull (31 plus inch horns,) with a single shot - he drops him in his tracks. Over the next week or so, my son also got a fine Impala, a Blue Wildebeest, a good sized Warthog (with a wonderful, fast, offhand shot,) and a beautiful Bushbuck. In the meantime, you get an impressive Impala buck, a Plains Zebra, a Blesbok, a large Red Hartebeest, and a huge Livingston Eland bull! Eleven animals of ten different species. If that is the kind of hunt you can envision, I have to tell you, it is a dream that my son, wife and I lived. This dream came true when we went hunting with N.B. Safari's, run by Neil Barnard and his wonderful wife Karen. When you book a safari with N.B. Safaris, you get a first class hunting experience. First, Neil or one of his professional hunters guides you and helps you find and take the kind of trophy animals that make any hunter proud. Second, the accommodations are very comfortable, individual chalets with thatch roofs, and all of the modern conveniences. In addition, the staff pampers you with wonderful lunches and dinners of game meat, prepared and presented to standards of a top quality restaurant. It is an amazing experience. The main lodge is used for eating, and there is a bar there as well, and it isn't unusual for some of the local people to drop over in the evenings for dinner or a drink. And they were all very charming, wonderful people. Of course, the greatest assets of N.B. Safaris are its people. Neil and Karen are a delightful young couple, who truly enjoy what they are doing, and the people who share their enthusiasm. It is impossible not to love Neil and Karen, they are simple great people, and you can't help it - they become good friends. That is true as well of Johan Pretorious, who also hunted with us in South Africa, and accompanied us when my wife, son and I booked a side trip to the Chobe national Park in Botswana, and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Johan is a fun loving, energetic young man who is not only a certified Professional Hunter, but also a Professional Guide who knows the plants, birds and animals of Southern Africa. We are, even now, looking forward to seeing Neil, Karen and Johan when they come to the States for the SCI annual convention in Reno. It will be a reunion of friends. |
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I would like to point out another important aspect to hunting with N.B. Safaris, something of great importance to any hunter - N.B. Safaris is a reasonable and cost effective way to hunt in Africa. A top-end hunt, with Professional Guides, and all meals and accommodations is never 'cheap', but when I have compared what we spent for the hunting in South Africa, as well as the additional trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe, for three people, we believe that we got a great VALUE for our money. N.B. Safaris is competitively priced compared to other African safaris that I have seen advertised. And, for the kind of money that a comparable hunting trip for two would cost to go to Colorado or Canada, to get a trophy Elk and MAYBE one other animal (usually no guarantees,) my son and I took eleven great trophies in Africa. So if you have ever had the desire to take an African safari, I would urge you to contact Neil and Karen, and have the once-in-a-lifetime experience that N.B. Safaris provides. As for my son and I - well, we are saving up our pennies because we still need to take a good Gemsbok, a Black Wildebeest, a Springbok, maybe a Nyala, and a Sable would look really nice on our walls. Maybe even a Cape Buffalo. And when we are ready, I know that Neil and Karen will help us make THAT dream real too. Sincerely, Richard,
Peggy and Daniel Minnich |
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What
can I say? I was apprehensive. I had waited 55 years to go to Africa.
It was a life long dream of mine. When I bought the hunt at a Friends
of the NRA dinner, I though to myself "You better know what
you're doing". When I arrived in South Africa, there was Neil at the airport waiting to help me. He got me together with his guy that knows the ins and outs of getting guns into Africa. We breezed right through. I was feeling a lot better. But it got a whole lot better. Wow- did it ever. I hunted with Neil for the next 10 days. What a consummate professional he is. He showed me everything from bugs to birds and everything in between. He explained the plants, trees, game and the weather. It was fantastic. Neil is so very proud of his country and the wildlife. Neil put me on awesome trophy animals the first hour of the first day and it never slowed down from there. I was able to kill zebra, kudu, warthog, blesbuck, wildebeest, impala and gemsbuck. At least two of the animals will most likely go SCI Gold. I'm a little bit old fashioned. I respect the animal and the land. What a refreshing first day it was when Neil asked me to pose with my trophy with the rifle behind the animal to show respect for the animal. Classy guy-Neil Barnard. I was treated like a king for 10 days. I was fed gourmet food. My laundry was done every day. The trucks were cleaned every day. My chalet was cleaned every day. I have never been treated as well before-anywhere in the world. (except home of course, right Honey?) The animals were cleaned immediately and the meat processed. The skinners know their stuff and got the trophies ready for taxidermy, like the experts they are. After the first half of the first day, I was over the apprehension and was feeling elated that I had the honor and privilege of hunting with NB Safaris. Neil and Karen Barnard will do whatever it takes to make your hunt the best of your life. Thank you Neil and Karen for making my lifelong dream come true in such a positive way. E-mail me and I will bore you to tears with all the details. And one thing I learned from Neil-ask the question. It's okay. Randy
Raymond Sr. |
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Neil and Karen,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for one of the most outstanding and exhilarating experiences that my wife Suzi and I have had in out lives. Our safari experience with you both was extremely enjoyable and totally satisfying! Having
hunted for 40 years of my life, I was in disbelief over the amount
and variety of animals that I saw on a daily basis. It was enjoyable
just to watch the animals in the wild and to be able to interact
with them in their daily lives. Through the expert guidance of my
Professional Hunter Johan, I was able to collect nine wonderful
trophies that I will remember and enjoy for the rest of my life.
Johan's ability to quickly and accurately judge an animal and to
make the decision if the animal was a trophy for "me"
was The Oryx
Ranch was an absolutely wonderful experience and the individual
cottages made you forget that you were away from home. Your staff
that provided the wonderful meals were unbelievable and I have never
had food that was as delicious and well prepared (except for my
wife's). Every aspect of the experience was well thought out and
you did not miss any of the Suzi throughly enjoyed the five day tour to Victoria Falls and experienced parts of Africa that could not have been experienced if she had stayed in just one location. She is very appreciative to Neil for providing a wonderful tour and helping her experience the Africa that she had only heard about. We have
become friends with all of you and this trip will be an experience
that we will cherish for the rest of our lives! We are coming back
and are looking forward to another great experience with NB Safair's! |
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October 19, 2006 N B
Safaris Dear Neil & Karen: I wanted to take a moment to thank you for an amazing safari experience! Every aspect of my safari was well thought out and of the highest quality. It was terrific to have the privilege to hunt on four absolutely outstanding properties of such high quality and variety. Each was a treat and together they made for a truly memorable trip. It was a great adventure to hunt in the Kalahari for a few days and then Limpopo for a several more. Each ranch and terrain will be in my memory for the rest of my life. Without ever having triggered my release, the trip would have been wonderful. Taking ten trophies in ten days was far greater than my pre-trip expectations. Each animal is magnificent in its own way. I will cherish their mounts for all my days and look forward to the memories they will inspire in me when ever I gaze upon them. The accommodations were of exceptional quality and very comfortable. The owners and staff members were so warm and friendly that I felt at home from the first minute of my trip. Meals were well thought out to reflect the local culture and game. Meal preparation and service were superb. I was looking forward to experiencing the local flavor of South African food and drink. You certainly made that wish come true. What I will remember most about my African safari are all the great characters that I met on the journey. Charl and Franz were like life long friends from the moment we met. They and their families made my stay at the Kalahari unforgettable. In fact, health permitting, I may just come back to take revenge on the Cape Buffalo that horned my new friend Franz in five years as we spoke about. Although we were not as intimately involved with the staff at Oryx Ranch, they were equally terrific in every respect. The owners of Nyala Land Ranch and the Botswana border property were also both great guys that I was privileged to meet. I could not have been paired with a better PH than Diekie. Diekie is a great Professional Hunter, but more importantly, he was a wonderful person to spend ten days of my life with. His knowledge of the game, birds, plants, history and terrain were the key to making those days of hunting so special. Diekie worked extremely hard to make sure that I got all the pictures and video of my hunt that were possible. His efforts helped create a permanent record of my trip that I can savor for the rest of my days. I will consider him a friend for life. |
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That leaves just Neil, Karen and "Killer". No where in this world could anyone find better hosts than you! You treat your clients like treasured family members. You think of the smallest details to assure each guest is happy and comfortable. The entire safari experience is well thought out and planned to meet everyone's needs and desires. You provided the best overall experience I can imagine. You, Africa and all the amazing animals exceeded my expectation. Who could ask for anything more? Prior to my trip, you promised that there would be no bugs during the winter safari months in Africa. You forgot about one. The "Africa Bug". I am definitely bitten. I will be back. Sincerely, Tom DeVries |
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"In 2001, I realized one of my lifelong dreams - to go on an African hunting safari. That first trip was done with an outfitter with whom I was pretty satisfied. Then, another opportunity presented itself, to hunt Africa again. A friend of mine who had hunted with Neil Barnard, also in 2001, recommended that I contact Neil to see what he could put together for me. Well, I had absolutely no idea what an exceptional time I was going to have.
Neil
took care of every detail, he even brought in a gourmet chef to cook for
us! Also, I felt very honored that he chose my hunt on which to ask his
wife Karen, to marry him. We had more fun and more excitement than I could
ever have imagined. With a bow I was able to take 5 SCI animals, with
the Impala going in the top 20 and on the same hunt got to join a Kalahari
desert springbok hunt with is dad. BTW, Neil was a World Champion Archer
at the age of 17 and is very knowledgeable about hunting with a bow and
rifle."
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"Neil is more than a professional hunter, he is an ambassador of outdoor sports" - this is a quote from Martin Larson and I'll sincerely second that. Neil will customize your hunt to fit your dreams. When you hunt with Neil, he will become your friend as he has become mine. Doug
Watt |
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A Lifelong Dream Accomplished
Several years ago I accomplished one of my lifelo
ng dreams, to go on an African safari to hunt. Two of the most spectacular weeks of my life were spent bow hunting in South Africa with professional Hunter Neil Barnard. During that time I had the opportunity to kill several different species of African antelope and other game.
Neil is more than a professional hunter, he is an ambassador of outdoor sports with trophy potential of many species including dangerous game. In time, I hope to return to Africa to hunt a lion with Neil's assistance.
Martin A. Larson
SCI Southwest Ohio Chapter
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July 5, 2006
To Whom It May Concern: My wife and I hunted with Neil in South Africa. This was our third trip to the country and most certainly our best. |
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Neil is truly a professional and a gentleman. His concessions are first class. The accommodations and food were second to none. In addition to seeing lots of game and collecting several trophy class animals, we simply had fun, that’s very important. If you can locate a copy of the November/December 2005 issue of Safari, the SCI magazine, you can read a full account of our hunt. I would give Neil my highest recommendation if you are considering an African hunt, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
Roy
K. Keefer |
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Beyond Words! June
2001 After an experience like this one, I am hooked for life and will certainly be returning every year.
Keith Kirkconnell |
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"My African Experience"
Neil was called in at the last moment to try to rescue a self-designed Safari that was running onto the rocks. Neil proved himself a true professional in salvaging my Safari experience even though the hunts were not on his normal concessions, and were in fact on areas of much lower game density than he would ever have chosen.
When I return to Africa you can bet that Neil will be the first man involved in the planning."
Don G.
Cincinnati
Ohio
USA
South
African Safari
"A dream fulfilled"
July
2001
Our safari to South Africa was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for
me. Neil Barnard’s expertise as a professional hunter and outfitter
caused it to exceed my high expectations. Neil has an exceptional ability
to judge trophy animals and to choose only those that meet his high
standards. When Neil said, "this is the one we are looking for",
I could be confident that
it was a very, very good animal. I was successful in taking 9 animals
of 8 species, and all of the trophies were above average; at least one
was exceptional.
My
wife and I appreciate the way Neil custom designed a safari so that
both of us would enjoy it to the fullest. He is a very good planner.
He handled all details beginning with our arrival at the airport and
concluding with our departure. He provided us with the appropriate
documents to get our guns in and out of the country, and made sure everything
was in order before we left. He arranged for all trophies to be correctly
processed and shipped. We were well taken care of, and didn’t need
to worry about a thing.
Neil has broad knowledge of Africa, including animal and bird life, and habitat. He knows where to go to hunt the animals a client desires, and he has the connections to make it happen.
With Neil, we traveled some distances throughout the country, including hunting days and added vacation days. We are able to identify over 30 species of animals that we observed. Neil caused us to fall in love with South Africa......and to hope to return and hunt with him again someday. We would consider no one else.
The accommodations were superb; the food was great, and we enjoyed being with Neil, who is a personable and knowledgeable young man. With his professionalism and attention to detail, we expect that NB Safaris will become the premier outfitter in South Africa.
| Gene
McGee 1856 Wade Court Santa Maria CA 93454 Tel: USA (805) 922-2047 email: GeneLaVonneMcGee@Compuserve.com |
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A bowhunter's dream - Doug Blythe |
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August
2001 I have recently returned to the USA from an extraordinary bowhunt in South Africa with NB Safaris. |
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| Since this was my first safari, you can imagine my concern about what to expect when I arrived. Not to worry, however, as Neil Barnard's expertise, planning and execution of his duties made this trip truly the "trip of a lifetime." This started with Neil meeting us at the airport and concluded with him "walking us through the process of checking our weapons and baggage" when we left. A trip to the best curio shop in Johannesburg was included as well. Neil, as well as his staff, exceeded my expectations in all respects. His choice of concessions to hunt coincided with my list of animals I wished to hunt perfectly. His ability to judge the caliber of the trophy animals was without question. In fact, of the ten animals I took with my bow, nine qualify for the SCI record book. This safari was a custom designed one for me and my friend who also harvested many SCI trophies with his bow. Being a native of South Africa and growing up on a farm there, Neil has extensive knowledge of the country, the animals, the customs, and the best places to harvest the trophies. The accommodations were great, the food was superb, and the wonderful fellowship led to what I consider to be a lifelong friendship with Neil and his staff. Neil is a personable and knowledgeable young man, far exceeding what I expected and far exceeding his years. With his attention to detail, his professionalism, and his passion for the country and the animals, I fully expect that his company will become the most sought after safari operator in South Africa. |
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I am already planning my next trip with Neil, and plan on going to the Kalahari for the next "trip of a lifetime." I feel very comfortable recommending NB Safaris to anyone, "first timers" and veterans alike. Doug
Blythe |
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Unbelievable African Hunting Experience - Scott Gordon"My father and I bought hunts to South Africa and to Namibia at the 2004 Sportsman Coalition banquette in Bellavue WA. Putting the two hunts together back to back, we planned an extended trip spanning April & May 2005. I am priviledged to say that my father (Gary) started taking me hunting with him at a very young age, and 35 years later it is still my favourite pastime. Early in 2005, after we had already committed to dates with our Namibian guide, the donor of the South African hunt stopped being a professional hunter. To his credit he asked a friend Neil Barnard of NB Safaris, to take over the hunt. Neil very graciously agreed to accept all of the ten donated hunting days and the four animals included in the fee. Now came the tiresome, but necessary, process of checking references, memberships in professional hunting associations and hunting areas. All looked good, but the references seemed a little too flowery for me: 'Neil is a great hunter and friend' or 'Big animals- great time.' Most had not yet recieved their trophies back from Africa as all were 2004 hunters. About Neil's seemingly higher prices everyone assured me it was well worth the cost, 'he will put you on some very big animals, well worth the price'. Then I asked the references (I called all at least once) if there were any problems on their hunt and all said no. Well then how did Neil handle the little bumps in the road and the unexpected? 'Did not have any problems anywhere,' was the common reply. After voicing my concern one of the references did finally tell me that 'Neil's biggest problem is that he is always asking you when you are coming and seems like he is unorganized, but don't worry he'll be at the airport waiting for you.' At the time I really felt that these references must have been 'canned' in some way. But in for a penny! Neil, Gary & I then discussed which animals were our priority and Neil really went out of his way to accommodate us." After booking our tickets, Neil suggested that we contact Johan Coetzer of Optima services. Optima expedites arrival, gun permits, luggage pickup and then make sure you connect with your PH when they convey you through customs. For us they also assisted our exit to Namibia and our transfer through South Africa back home. For the small charge of $50/person, they provided gate to curb-side and curb-side to gate service, no lines, little to no waiting, not even for gun permits, it really is a must use service.
Next we went to Shelanti, Neil's main hunting area: 60 000 acres complete with all the plains game, and the big five. The lodge had just been finished. Gary and I each had our own master suites. This facility was truly beautiful and as comfortable as any hotel I have ever stayed in. A local hotel/restaurant owner and his wife regularly leave their own establishment and come to cook and care for Neil's guests. Each night was a feast for the eyes and the palate. From the starter to the desert, this was true five star service. The hunting at Shelanti was very well suited for the crossbow, bow or rifle. We took some very nice Wildebeest, Impala, Zebra, Warthog, Duiker and saw any number of 52" + Kudu, sometimes with three and four big Kudu bulls within yards of the blind. Our last hunting day was on the Limpopo river bordering Botswana. We hunted on Piet and Tokki's crocodile farm. When we arrived we sat, had tea and chatted. Piet was pleased to hear we were going to help him out by killing some Waterbuck as two big bulls had been fighting and killing the younger animals. When Neil asked how big they were, Piet said to make sure we shot the 37" buck as he was the real problem. When we left to drive to the hunting area Neil confided in us that we should'nt expect to see anything over 30" and that would be very good, Piet's very nice but there are no 37" Waterbuck.
Just a few weeks after we left another hunter took a 31" from this same farm. According to Piet the 37" buck is still there wreaking havoc. That night we had a wonderful "Potjie" (stew) on the banks of the Limpopo complete with linen table cloth, candles, moonlight and Crocodiles and Hippos in the river, and lowing as only hippos can adding to the atmosphere and starlight. In short (I am very long winded) I have been to Africa 4 times, and our trip with Neil was certainly the most memorable. I highly recommend him, and now, like many other hunters before me consider him a great hunter, "no problems - big animals" , and my friend.
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Orphanage recieves game meat from clientsNB Safaris and Jack Rall as well as Jacaranda Orphanage would really like to thank Spencer and Rich for their contribution in all ways to Africa, wildlife and the sport of Hunting!!" We took the Waterbuck along with a monster Kudu Rich harvested with his 458 Winchester and made into sausage and other meats. The Jacaranda orphanage was more then happy with the donation!! |
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