SELF-GUIDED HUNTING IN BURKINA FASO By
Yaya Ouattara & Andre DeGeorges

Burkina Faso is prime hunting country for West African Savanna species. Since 2003, traditional Dozo hunters from the Comoé-Leraba Reserve have been undertaking anti-poaching and taking out overseas sporthunters, primarily from Europe. The Dozo hunter/warriors date back to the Malian Empire of the 1200s and are the standing army for Conté in Guinea, managing the peripheral zones in the new Park of Upper Guinea.


Dozo “Professional Huntersâ€
The origin of the Donso (Dozo) hunting guilds date back to the 1236 A.D. under the Mandingo Empire of Sundiata Keita. They consider themselves professional. Their hunting garb consists of an earthy dyed tunic and a special hat that looks like a wig. Gris Gris are special amulets prepared by Moslem marabous and worn by the Dozo to protect them from evil sprits. The apprentice hunter “donso dewn†and his hunting over a 3-6 year period are controlled by the “master hunter†or “donsofa, donso-koutigui or kalanfaâ€. He is steeped in the traditions of hunting, transformation into lion and other creatures, traditional medicine and protection against the genies of the bush whose livestock is the game you will hunt. You will have a chance to learn about these traditions and taboos and the required precautions you must take while on your hunt in order to assure it is both successful and safe.

The uniqueness of this program is that the government has turned over the management and operation of the reserve to the local community, numbering 17,000 people in 17 villages that border the reserve. A community organization AGEREF overseas reserve management and the organization of hunting trips.


Dozo hunters being trained to undertake anti-poaching against outsiders coming into their reserve

Tshwane University of Technology’s Involvement

It all started when professional hunter Richard Rouget was invited by Jean-Michel Pavy of the World Bank to consider taking over the area. He was not interested. Somehow, my name came up. I had known Jean-Michel before he joined the Bank. He is a keen hunter and was born and raised in Mali. His goal has always been to give something back to the people and natural areas of Africa whose survival is so intertwined. I had lost contact with Jean-Michel over the years.

With Richard’s help, and the modern technology of email, we discussed the idea of Chasse Libre (self-guided hunting) where in fact a local hunter guides you. In collaboration with the Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and Jean-Michel, a student was placed in the reserve to help with jump-starting this program.

Meanwhile, the community has selected a student from the Dozo clan, Yaya Ouattara to study for a diploma in nature conservation at TUT. The goal is to expose Yaya to the Southern African wildlife model and to train him in modern day wildlife and range management principles, which upon his return he will integrate into the traditional Dozo management system. He is also being exposed to the incredible economic potential for wildlife based upon the South African model. South Africa offers a potential market, since local sporthunters are accustomed to hunting on their own with local trackers. He is one of the best students in his class and there is no doubt that he will be a candidate for a B-tech and maybe even a masters degree, hopefully to be undertaken on an applied subject concerning the management of wildlife in the Comoé-Leraba Reserve.

Though I have visited the hunting zone when we placed a student, Morgane Echappé there about three years ago, I have not had the pleasure of hunting this area with the Dozo. I have however hunted from 1982 to 1988, the same species of game with relatives of the Dozo, the Mandingue (Mandinka/Malinké) hunters in the Zone d’Intérêt Cynégétique de la Falémé, Senegal along the Mali and Guinean borders as well as in the Fouta Djallon mountains of Guinea.

HUNTING ZONE
The Comoé-Léraba Reserve is located in the southwestern part of Burkina Faso, on the border with the Ivory Coast, 530 Km southwest of the capital, Ouagadougou. Although a civil war continues across the border, this hunting area and its wildlife remain not only untouched but perfectly safe for visitors. The 2004-2005-206 hunting seasons have been conducted without difficulties and hunters have been satisfied.
Comoé-Leraba Reserve covers a total surface area of about 125,000 ha. A zone located between the savanna and dense humid forest, the dominant vegetation is savanna. However, the zone is also characterized by vast grassy plains and beautiful gallery forest along the Comoé and its affluent the Léraba Rivers. In addition, natural pools scattered throughout the reserve results in a good distribution of game in the central part that constitutes the hunting area.

Hunting Camps
There are 2 types of camps available to hunters:
The village camp is located close to Folonzo village, and consists of 4 ventilated rooms with a table, chairs, beds and kitchen). The solar system of electricity supply allows the use of computer facilities (laptop computers, digital cameras, etc.). In between hunting, staying here offers a unique opportunity to learn about local village life, culture, and to discover brotherhood of hunters through traditional dances and rituals.
The bush camp consists of in straw huts along the border of Comoé River in the center of the reserve. Opportunities also exist to fish for capitaine (Nile perch), reaching up to 50 kg and for bird watching. From both camps wives can be taken on nature drives and learn about village life.
Bring your collapsible rod, reel and some rapala lures for the capitaine (Nile perch)

Camping Gear & Clothes
It is advisable to bring light weight sleeping bags. A light weight backpacker cook kit and a “Camping Gas†stove (puncture type canisters purchased in-country) to make a quick cup of coffee or tea. Granola bars and instant oatmeal in individual packets offer a quick breakfast and/or snack. Vacume packed biltong may be useful until game is taken. All other food can be bought in-country.
It is recommended that you dress as per your preference, when hunting in South Africa, the climate and habitat being very similar.
Hunting Rifles

The following are recommended

• 300 or 338 Winchester Magnum for plains game,
• 375 H&H Magnum/416 Remington/Rigby for plains game and buffalo,
• 458 Magnum (Winchester, Lott, Watt, etc.) for buffalo

Two rifles are authorized per hunter along with 20 rounds of ammo per rifle. For buffalo the 375, 416 or 458 calibers or larger are required. The advantage of the 375 H&H and 458 Winchester Magnum is, as over much of Africa, ammo can be found if by chance your rifle arrives but your ammo does not. Shots will be under bush conditions from close up to very likely under 150 meters. Don’t forget, if there is a problem like a charge, you are your only backup so “use enough gun!â€

WILDLIFE

Only 6-8 sport hunters are allowed into this area each year. Savanna species that can be hunted include, buffalos, western roan, western hartebeest, singsing waterbuck, kob de buffon, harnessed bushbuck, various duikers, warthogs and baboons. The area is extremely rich in hartebeest and roan as noted:
Speces Nomber per 1,00km2 in 1999
Hartebeest 2,472
Roan antelope 1,438
Kob 1,124
Buffalo 120

HUNTING METHOD: WALK & STALK
Hunting is walk and stalk on foot by cutting fresh tracks and or from visual sightings. You need to be in excellent condition, capable of walking 5-8 hours a day. You will be guided by some of the best traditional hunters in West Africa. It will be your responsibility to judge the trophy and ultimately to decide if you should shoot. If wounded, the Dozo hunters will track the animal down, but you, the overseas sporthunter, must be prepared to sort the problem out once the animal is found, even a charge from an angry buffalo. You have no backup, other than yourself, unless a hunting buddy accompanies you. Hunting is legal from 6 in the morning until to 6 at night. It is strictly prohibited to hunt during the night. Shooting from the vehicle is illegal, though the vehicle can be used to reach various localities from which hunting on foot can begin. As American hunter John Darr exclaims, “What we got was a real, old-time African hunt without the interference and cost of a professional hunter. We walked our legs off, but enjoyed every minute of our experience. We are already planning to go back in 2008.â€

HUNTING SEASON
The hunting is during the dry season from from December 1st to May 31st. The three first months (December to February) are the most pleasant. The temperatures oscillate between 25° to 30° C in day, and from 12° to 18° in night. From March, the temperatures increase a little and can reach 36°. A light jacket is recommended for early morning, especially in the early season. By 1000 hours, it is normally taken off.

TYPICAL HUNTING TRIP ITINERARY
Upon arrival at Ouagadougou:

- Day 1: Welcome at Ouagadougou airport in evening and first night at hotel;
- Day 2: move towards the hunting zone, welcome on the site and ranging fire for adjusting rifles;
- Form day 3 to the last day : Hunting; and
- Last day: Departure to Ouagadougou, visit of handcraft (artisanal) village and flight to France in the night.

SERVICES PROVIDED COMPRISED AS COST OF HUNT

COST OF HUNT (Not including trophy fees):

ï¶ Buffalo Safari (14 days) : 1 Buffalo, 2 grand antelopes (Hartebeest, Roan Antelope,), 1 middle antelope in choice (Kob, Bushbuck), 1 Warthog + baboon or patas (red monkey): 4500€ (R 44,235)

ï¶ Grand antelopes Safari (10 days) : 3 grand antelopes (Hartebeest, Roan Antelope, waterbuck), 1 Warthog + baboon or patas (red monkey): 3500€ (R 34,405)

ï¶ Duikers Safari (7 days) : 1 Gray or Common duiker, 1 Red-flanked duiker, 2 warthogs + 1 monkey: 2665€ (R 26,196)

When one considers that a roan hunt alone in South Africa can cost as much as R 190,000, anyone wanting the experience of hunting a roan will find this an affordable even after adding the small trophy fee and travel expenses. Putting aside the incredible adventure, this is one heck of a bargain!

The costs shown below include:

• Assistance of hunters customs upon arrival and departure to Ouagadougou airport;
• Travel to the hunting camp (the round trip);
• Accommodation and restaurant fees during the stay;
• Organisation of hunting by private vehicle 4X4 including rental and trackers;
• Fees for the importation and exportation of rifles arranged for you in Burkina Faso;
• Obtaining big game hunting license; and
• Potable Mineral water.

Services not provided include:

• The trip ticket (round trip);
• Hotel accommodations before & after hunt
• Administrative taxes: Visas, fees for packaging and transfer of trophies, veterinary taxes, certificates of origin (about 5€/trophy)
• Camp beverages except mineral water (alcohol, soda, etc.)
• Food
• Trophy shipment

TROPHY FEE: Trophy fees are to be paid in the field upon taking a trophy and are very reasonable:


Species Cost in €
Buffalo 430
Roan Antelope 460
Hartebeest 230
Waterbuck 370
Cob 340
Bushbuck 340
Oribi 46
Warthog 125
Red-flanked Duiker 115
Gray or common Duiker 46
Baboon 31
Monkey 23
Note: Shooting a female or young is double the above trophy fees.

Formalities, Vaccinations

AGEREF will help the overseas hunter with all administrative formalities. However, the hunter must arrive with a:

• A valid passport
• 4) identity photos for the hunting license application
• Vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory
• Vaccination against tetanus and other anti-fevers are recommended (Go to Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/).

Getting There

An airline ticket good for one month costs roughly R10,500. Clara at SAA City Center Park Travel can arrange your flight at 012-343-4923. Unfortunately, the cheapest route is through Benin that requires spending one night upon your return in Cotonou. A visa is not needed by South Africans to Benin, but it will be necessary to go to the French Embassy in Joburg to obtain a visa for Burkina Faso. The French embassy website is www.consulfrance-jhb.org where an application (same one as for the EU) can be obtained and all requirements explained. Information on proper but affordable hotels in Cotonou can be emailed to you.


RESERVATIONS
Remember, when you make a reservation, you are reserving the entire Comoé-Leraba Reserve for yourself. No other sport hunter will be allowed in during your stay. We recommend that two sport hunters come as a team. Reservations must be made no later than one month before the opening of hunting season and will be confirmed by the payment of a deposit of 50% not redeemable. The transfers will be done on the following account:

AGEREF/CL
BP: 181 Banfora (Burkina Faso)
Compte BACB n° 300051732420-9
Code swift: CNCBBF-BF

For questions and reservations contact Mamadou Karama at: mfkarama@yahoo.fr

CLIENT REFERENCES

Jean-Michel Pavy, jpavy@worldbank.org

John Andrew Darr, darr@bc.edu

Richard Stephen Darr, rsdarr@earthlink.net

Morgane Echappé (Bilingual and lives in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou – can provide first hand knowledge having spent nearly a year in the reserve, taking out many hunters), escapemorgan@yahoo.fr


SOUTH AFRICAN REFERENCES

Yaya Ouattara, yayhus@yahoo.fr and 078-183-0824

Andre DeGeorges, degeorgespa@tut.ac.za and 083-945-3135

Stop in any time at TUT, Building 5, for some coffee or tea, and Yaya and myself will gladly talk hunting, rifles, calibres and the supernatural side of hunting that is so important across the subcontinent in assuring your success in getting a good trophy and safety.

Here a message from one of our client you can also contact him for more information

Question:
Do you know what is a DOZO?
Do you want to hunt at low price with local hunters?

Choices:
You will know more with AGEREF
Contact us

 

Yaya,

Very intersting hunt! I had dealt with Richard Rouget quite some time ago when he was starting that venture but last I knew he was in prison somewhere.

It is good to see that the option to hunt in Burkina is still available.

Have you got lion, elephant and leopard available?

SELF-GUIDED HUNTING IN BURKINA FASO By
Yaya Ouattara & Andre DeGeorges

Burkina Faso is prime hunting country for West African Savanna species. Since 2003, traditional Dozo hunters from the Comoé-Leraba Reserve have been undertaking anti-poaching and taking out overseas sporthunters, primarily from Europe. The Dozo hunter/warriors date back to the Malian Empire of the 1200s and are the standing army for Conté in Guinea, the rebels in the Northern Ivory Coast, managing the peripheral zones in the new Park of Upper Guinea.


Dozo “Professional Huntersâ€
The origin of the Donso (Dozo) hunting guilds date back to the 1236 A.D. under the Mandingo Empire of Sundiata Keita. They consider themselves professional. Their hunting garb consists of an earthy dyed tunic and a special hat that looks like a wig. Gris Gris are special amulets prepared by Moslem marabous and worn by the Dozo to protect them from evil sprits. The apprentice hunter “donso dewn†and his hunting over a 3-6 year period are controlled by the “master hunter†or “donsofa, donso-koutigui or kalanfaâ€. He is steeped in the traditions of hunting, transformation into lion and other creatures, traditional medicine and protection against the genies of the bush whose livestock is the game you will hunt. You will have a chance to learn about these traditions and taboos and the required precautions you must take while on your hunt in order to assure it is both successful and safe.

The uniqueness of this program is that the government has turned over the management and operation of the reserve to the local community, numbering 17,000 people in 17 villages that border the reserve. A community organization AGEREF overseas reserve management and the organization of hunting trips.


Dozo hunters being trained to undertake anti-poaching against outsiders coming into their reserve

Tshwane University of Technology’s Involvement

It all started when professional hunter Richard Rouget was invited by Jean-Michel Pavy of the World Bank to consider taking over the area. He was not interested. Somehow, my name came up. I had known Jean-Michel before he joined the Bank. He is a keen hunter and was born and raised in Mali. His goal has always been to give something back to the people and natural areas of Africa whose survival is so intertwined. I had lost contact with Jean-Michel over the years.

With Richard’s help, and the modern technology of email, we discussed the idea of Chasse Libre (self-guided hunting) where in fact a local hunter guides you. In collaboration with the Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and Jean-Michel, a student was placed in the reserve to help with jump-starting this program.

Meanwhile, the community has selected a student from the Dozo clan, Yaya Ouattara to study for a diploma in nature conservation at TUT. The goal is to expose Yaya to the Southern African wildlife model and to train him in modern day wildlife and range management principles, which upon his return he will integrate into the traditional Dozo management system. He is also being exposed to the incredible economic potential for wildlife based upon the South African model. South Africa offers a potential market, since local sporthunters are accustomed to hunting on their own with local trackers. He is one of the best students in his class and there is no doubt that he will be a candidate for a B-tech and maybe even a masters degree, hopefully to be undertaken on an applied subject concerning the management of wildlife in the Comoé-Leraba Reserve.

Though I have visited the hunting zone when we placed a student, Morgane Echappé there about three years ago, I have not had the pleasure of hunting this area with the Dozo. I have however hunted from 1982 to 1988, the same species of game with relatives of the Dozo, the Mandingue (Mandinka/Malinké) hunters in the Zone d’Intérêt Cynégétique de la Falémé, Senegal along the Mali and Guinean borders as well as in the Fouta Djallon mountains of Guinea.

HUNTING ZONE
The Comoé-Léraba Reserve is located in the southwestern part of Burkina Faso, on the border with the Ivory Coast, 530 Km southwest of the capital, Ouagadougou. Although a civil war continues across the border, this hunting area and its wildlife remain not only untouched but perfectly safe for visitors. The 2004-2005-206 hunting seasons have been conducted without difficulties and hunters have been satisfied.
Comoé-Leraba Reserve covers a total surface area of about 125,000 ha. A zone located between the savanna and dense humid forest, the dominant vegetation is savanna. However, the zone is also characterized by vast grassy plains and beautiful gallery forest along the Comoé and its affluent the Léraba Rivers. In addition, natural pools scattered throughout the reserve results in a good distribution of game in the central part that constitutes the hunting area.

Hunting Camps
There are 2 types of camps available to hunters:
The village camp is located close to Folonzo village, and consists of 4 ventilated rooms with a table, chairs, beds and kitchen). The solar system of electricity supply allows the use of computer facilities (laptop computers, digital cameras, etc.). In between hunting, staying here offers a unique opportunity to learn about local village life, culture, and to discover brotherhood of hunters through traditional dances and rituals.
The bush camp consists of in straw huts along the border of Comoé River in the center of the reserve. Opportunities also exist to fish for capitaine (Nile perch), reaching up to 50 kg and for bird watching. From both camps wives can be taken on nature drives and learn about village life.
Bring your collapsible rod, reel and some rapala lures for the capitaine (Nile perch)

Camping Gear & Clothes
It is advisable to bring light weight sleeping bags. A light weight backpacker cook kit and a “Camping Gas†stove (puncture type canisters purchased in-country) to make a quick cup of coffee or tea. Granola bars and instant oatmeal in individual packets offer a quick breakfast and/or snack. Vacume packed biltong may be useful until game is taken. All other food can be bought in-country.
It is recommended that you dress as per your preference, when hunting in South Africa, the climate and habitat being very similar.
Hunting Rifles

The following are recommended

• 300 or 338 Winchester Magnum for plains game,
• 375 H&H Magnum/416 Remington/Rigby for plains game and buffalo,
• 458 Magnum (Winchester, Lott, Watt, etc.) for buffalo

Two rifles are authorized per hunter along with 20 rounds of ammo per rifle. For buffalo the 375, 416 or 458 calibers or larger are required. The advantage of the 375 H&H and 458 Winchester Magnum is, as over much of Africa, ammo can be found if by chance your rifle arrives but your ammo does not. Shots will be under bush conditions from close up to very likely under 150 meters. Don’t forget, if there is a problem like a charge, you are your only backup so “use enough gun!â€

WILDLIFE

Only 6-8 sport hunters are allowed into this area each year. Savanna species that can be hunted include, buffalos, western roan, western hartebeest, singsing waterbuck, kob de buffon, harnessed bushbuck, various duikers, warthogs and baboons. The area is extremely rich in hartebeest and roan as noted:
Speces Nomber per 1,00km2 in 1999
Hartebeest 2,472
Roan antelope 1,438
Kob 1,124
Buffalo 120

HUNTING METHOD: WALK & STALK
Hunting is walk and stalk on foot by cutting fresh tracks and or from visual sightings. You need to be in excellent condition, capable of walking 5-8 hours a day. You will be guided by some of the best traditional hunters in West Africa. It will be your responsibility to judge the trophy and ultimately to decide if you should shoot. If wounded, the Dozo hunters will track the animal down, but you, the overseas sporthunter, must be prepared to sort the problem out once the animal is found, even a charge from an angry buffalo. You have no backup, other than yourself, unless a hunting buddy accompanies you. Hunting is legal from 6 in the morning until to 6 at night. It is strictly prohibited to hunt during the night. Shooting from the vehicle is illegal, though the vehicle can be used to reach various localities from which hunting on foot can begin. As American hunter John Darr exclaims, “What we got was a real, old-time African hunt without the interference and cost of a professional hunter. We walked our legs off, but enjoyed every minute of our experience. We are already planning to go back in 2008.â€

HUNTING SEASON
The hunting is during the dry season from from December 1st to May 31st. The three first months (December to February) are the most pleasant. The temperatures oscillate between 25° to 30° C in day, and from 12° to 18° in night. From March, the temperatures increase a little and can reach 36°. A light jacket is recommended for early morning, especially in the early season. By 1000 hours, it is normally taken off.

TYPICAL HUNTING TRIP ITINERARY
Upon arrival at Ouagadougou:

- Day 1: Welcome at Ouagadougou airport in evening and first night at hotel;
- Day 2: move towards the hunting zone, welcome on the site and ranging fire for adjusting rifles;
- Form day 3 to the last day : Hunting; and
- Last day: Departure to Ouagadougou, visit of handcraft (artisanal) village and flight to France in the night.

SERVICES PROVIDED COMPRISED AS COST OF HUNT

COST OF HUNT (Not including trophy fees):

ï¶ Buffalo Safari (14 days) : 1 Buffalo, 2 grand antelopes (Hartebeest, Roan Antelope,), 1 middle antelope in choice (Kob, Bushbuck), 1 Warthog + baboon or patas (red monkey): 4500€ (R 44,235)

ï¶ Grand antelopes Safari (10 days) : 3 grand antelopes (Hartebeest, Roan Antelope, waterbuck), 1 Warthog + baboon or patas (red monkey): 3500€ (R 34,405)

ï¶ Duikers Safari (7 days) : 1 Gray or Common duiker, 1 Red-flanked duiker, 2 warthogs + 1 monkey: 2665€ (R 26,196)

When one considers that a roan hunt alone in South Africa can cost as much as R 190,000, anyone wanting the experience of hunting a roan will find this an affordable even after adding the small trophy fee and travel expenses. Putting aside the incredible adventure, this is one heck of a bargain!

The costs shown below include:

• Assistance of hunters customs upon arrival and departure to Ouagadougou airport;
• Travel to the hunting camp (the round trip);
• Accommodation and restaurant fees during the stay;
• Organisation of hunting by private vehicle 4X4 including rental and trackers;
• Fees for the importation and exportation of rifles arranged for you in Burkina Faso;
• Obtaining big game hunting license; and
• Potable Mineral water.

Services not provided include:

• The trip ticket (round trip);
• Hotel accommodations before & after hunt
• Administrative taxes: Visas, fees for packaging and transfer of trophies, veterinary taxes, certificates of origin (about 5€/trophy)
• Camp beverages except mineral water (alcohol, soda, etc.)
• Food
• Trophy shipment

TROPHY FEE: Trophy fees are to be paid in the field upon taking a trophy and are very reasonable:


Species Cost in €
Buffalo 430
Roan Antelope 460
Hartebeest 230
Waterbuck 370
Cob 340
Bushbuck 340
Oribi 46
Warthog 125
Red-flanked Duiker 115
Gray or common Duiker 46
Baboon 31
Monkey 23
Note: Shooting a female or young is double the above trophy fees.

Formalities, Vaccinations

AGEREF will help the overseas hunter with all administrative formalities. However, the hunter must arrive with a:

• A valid passport
• 4) identity photos for the hunting license application
• Vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory
• Vaccination against tetanus and other anti-fevers are recommended (Go to Center for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/).

Getting There

An airline ticket good for one month costs roughly R10,500. Clara at SAA City Center Park Travel can arrange your flight at 012-343-4923. Unfortunately, the cheapest route is through Benin that requires spending one night upon your return in Cotonou. A visa is not needed by South Africans to Benin, but it will be necessary to go to the French Embassy in Joburg to obtain a visa for Burkina Faso. The French embassy website is www.consulfrance-jhb.org where an application (same one as for the EU) can be obtained and all requirements explained. Information on proper but affordable hotels in Cotonou can be emailed to you.


RESERVATIONS
Remember, when you make a reservation, you are reserving the entire Comoé-Leraba Reserve for yourself. No other sport hunter will be allowed in during your stay. We recommend that two sport hunters come as a team. Reservations must be made no later than one month before the opening of hunting season and will be confirmed by the payment of a deposit of 50% not redeemable. The transfers will be done on the following account:

AGEREF/CL
BP: 181 Banfora (Burkina Faso)
Compte BACB n° 300051732420-9
Code swift: CNCBBF-BF

For questions and reservations contact Mamadou Karama at: mfkarama@yahoo.fr

CLIENT REFERENCES

Jean-Michel Pavy, jpavy@worldbank.org

John Andrew Darr, darr@bc.edu

Richard Stephen Darr, rsdarr@earthlink.net

Morgane Echappé (Bilingual and lives in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou – can provide first hand knowledge having spent nearly a year in the reserve, taking out many hunters), escapemorgan@yahoo.fr


SOUTH AFRICAN REFERENCES

Yaya Ouattara, yayhus@yahoo.fr and 078-183-0824

Andre DeGeorges, degeorgespa@tut.ac.za and 083-945-3135

Stop in any time at TUT, Building 5, for some coffee or tea, and Yaya and myself will gladly talk hunting, rifles, calibres and the supernatural side of hunting that is so important across the subcontinent in assuring your success in getting a good trophy and safety.[/QUOTE]

Aspen
I`m sorry we don`t have animals as Lion Elephant Leopart available for hunt but they are in the park.
Please can have your email address?

Yaya, now I know who you are, you are the guy studying with my daughter Elzet, she has told me a lot about you. Welcome aboard.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
Yaya,

Very intersting hunt! I had dealt with Richard Rouget quite some time ago when he was starting that venture but last I knew he was in prison somewhere.


Ann
Richard is out, no doubt. . Nothing linked with hunting.

Yaya

I have had a chat with Toufic Hanna. He told me that in his camp during 2 dayts he has explained a delegation of dozos how to manage a hunting operation. It seems that last year You have quite a couple of hunters. Most of them for the red-flanked duiker and the bushbuck.
Your zone has very little buff and no lions.

This is a self guided zone with villagers.
Anyhow, the gossip around expresses that there is much poaching and smuggling, and worse,military incursions from the rebels from the Ivory coast.
I am not very sure You offer a quiet hunting?

What are the chance to get a full bag (1 buff + 1 roan + 1 hartebeest).

Is Richard still in Irak?

thanks

IO just had a friend come back from there she is a Christian and obviously went for different reasons, she hasnt ever traveled much in her life but said it was great. I never heard of the place until she told me, somehow i missed it on the map. sounds interesting. Might be fun for a change from the usual hunts.

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but not long ago, Burkino Fasco was on the OFAC list. Prospective hunters should probably take this into account. Not sure if it still is, I haven't checked.
Peter.

Here is the OFAC web page:

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/

Edit: This is the link they call "List of Sanctioned Countries":

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/

Of course the list changes regularly. Don't rely on anything I post. Do your own due diligence. Caveat Emptor.

Thanks Charles! I should have checked first. My apologies to anyone affected.
Peter.

Has anyone translated prices into U.S.A. figures?

1.00 EUR = 1.308 USD

http://www.xe.com/ucc/


Should Help

Yaya

Are you connected in any way with this poster?

Armand Biko'o

AR Thread: Self-guided hunting in Cameroon

***

Edited

Freischutz answered this on another thread. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, so we know who we would be dealing with. Thanks.

quote:

Although a civil war continues across the border, this hunting area and its wildlife remain not only untouched but perfectly safe for visitors.

Anybody want to buy some beach front property in Yuma, AZ.

quote:

Two rifles are authorized per hunter along with 20 rounds of ammo per rifle.

Not enough with the above situation.

Hog Killer

I`m a student from the Dozo Caumunity studying at Tschwane universuty of technologie(Pretoria) as Armand Bikoo. Armand from Cameroon doing a Master Degree

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Yaya

Are you connected in any way with this poster?

Armand Biko'o

AR Thread: Self-guided hunting in Cameroon

***

Edited

Freischutz answered this on another thread. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, so we know who we would be dealing with. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Thomasjohn:
Only a fool or somebody with a death wish would go hunting in Burkina Faso.

It would be safer hunting Marco Polo sheep on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

This is probably the most uninformed post I have read here in a very long time...

quote:

Only a fool or somebody with a death wish would go hunting in Burkina Faso.

It would be safer hunting Marco Polo sheep on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

?????????????????????

quote:

Originally posted by Thomasjohn:
Only a fool or somebody with a death wish would go hunting in Burkina Faso.

It would be safer hunting Marco Polo sheep on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

As jokes go it doesn't rank very high. Have you thought about contributing to the Humor threads?

Did you get your Marco Polo sheep?

ThomasJohn, hope your mission went well. The firm I work for has quite a few people in Afghanistan, and has for several years. Fortunately for me I get the Africa jobs and have fun visiting Southern Sudan and Liberia. By the way, I got married in Burkina Faso (lived there for three years) and there are several posters on AR who hunt there regularly. Most of us do a lot of homework before hunting, anywhere in the world for that matter, and there is a wealth of information and people who know how to get it on AR, for just about any locale you can name. Welcome aboard.

im currently in baghdad iraq and you guys must think before you write something about a country you dont know anything of, such as burkina faso, and comparing it to afgan or iraq. its not the same thing and saying such things show how narow minded you are. you're hurting an industry that doesnt deserve it and could be a a good place to go hunt.( hunting is already under enough pressure from other sections of the community and doesnt need more) besides im in contact with them thinking of going there myself end next year.

quote:

Originally posted by Thomasjohn:
It was a joke. If that was the most "uninformed" post you have read in a very long time, then you haven't been reading much. Oh, but you are from Norway. One of the most uninformed countries.

What I said was that your post was probably the most uninformed post I have read here in a very long time. I suggest you reread what was posted.

And it is clear that I wasn't the only one who didn't understanding that your post was meant as a joke...

quote:

Originally posted by Thomasjohn:
Whatever, I have been to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area and it probably was safer than a self guided hunt in Burkina Faso. I had enough firepower to take care of buisness.

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quote:

Originally posted by Thomasjohn:
I was providing ground support for a few of America's finest in the hunt for 2 legged animals.
I didn't see any sheep. I was trying to make a point that Burkina Faso is not a safe place.

Hmm. according to the first post I quoted, you were only joking about Burkina Faso being dangerous. In other words, Burkina Faso isn't so dangerous after all. But then you turn around yet again and state that Burkina Faso is probably less safe than the Paki/Afgani border. So apparently Burkina Faso is dangerous, according to you (which is pure uninformed BS by the way).

Either way, it seems that you have a hard time making up your mind if Burkina Faso is dangerous or not, and if you were joking or not. How will anyone here on AR be able to know what you really mean, when you keep changing your mind?

As for Norway being an uninformed country, you are absolutely correct in many regards. So at least we can agree on one thing.

Finally, I think it is safe to say that Burkina Faso is generally not a dangerous country. In fact it is much safer than a number of other nearby African countries in my opinion, that I've been to nevertheless. I for one would have no problem returning to Burkina Faso not only by myself, but with my wife and samll children for that sake.

I hope Yaya Ouattara has luck in setting up self guided hunts for tourist hunters. Although I have no idea how much game there might or might not be in the area he provides. Caveat emptor.

Just posted on Armand Biko'o's threads in AR about self-guided hunts in Cameroon.

"After Armand's first post early this month (which no one replied for a while), I did some research and have signed up for a Bongo hunt (hopefully with my long bow) in March 2007.

So assuming that all goes well (and I'm still posting on AR then), I may be able to say something about how it goes. Also hoping to bring along a cameraman to document what this is all about.

This is my research so far (I'm as "dumb" as anybody about this so please don't think I'm trying to promote something until after I have first hand experience with it):

What Armand and Yaya from Burkino Faso have in common is that both studied or graduated from Tshwane Univerity of Technology's Nature Conservation program). Tshwane University was formed a few years ago from the merger of three technology institutes, and is now South Africa's largest residential University. A project manager in the Department named Dr. Andres DeGeorge has worked with both Armand, Yaya and other students now studying with the Department in Pretoria. Andres has been on the self guided hunt with Armand and wrote about it in a SA hunting magazine. Andres was formerly the head of SCI's Africa office (hired by former SCI President, John Jackson, who now is leading Conservation Force - a very significant hunting conservation advocacy group in the US). Andres was involved with Project Noah - the project funded by the charitable Shikar Safari Club from Chicago (entirely different from the commerical Shikar Safaris outfitter run by a Mr. Khan from Turkey). Project Noah sought to provide educations for native Africans in conservation in an effort to involve a future generation in wildlife management and conservation.

Armand's NGO only formed in Dec 2004 and has only gone through one season. They've had 3 successful bongo hunters.

The idea of Armand's NGOs is to attempt to involve local villagers/hunters directly in arranging hunts for overseas hunters (the standard model till now is that a concession is bought usualy by someone overseas and hunts are run on it with employed local staff). The intention is that if local villagers, hunters, poachers? see that wildlife is highly valuable to overseas hunters, there will be a strong incentive to conserve it rather than using it for meat, skins, etc. A similar idea has worked extremely well in Pakistan in bringing the Markhor back from the brink of extinction).

The post of Yaya and Armand probably sound the same because they both studied at the same place, under the same teachers, and are trying to do the same thing in their respective countries. From what I can gather, both of them are also recent graduates in conservation who have little experience in the commerical trophy hunting world, espeically in marketing and managing the expectations of overseas hunters.

(and in a side note to the deleted debate about Marco Polo sheep on the Afghan-Pakistan border: I didn't see any Macro Polo there either. Maybe someone should throw a fleece on a Markhor and tried to convince SCI/ GSOC / FNAWS that a new sheep species has been found? ha! ha!)

Anyway, I am in communication with Armand about my upcoming hunt. I have not been in communication with Yaya (though I have heard of him in my research). I won't have seen first hand what they are trying to do. But hopefully by April, I will have and could tell you more.

There are a lot of hunting scams out there (as many of you know first hand . . . . maybe from both sides?). But shouldn't we try to give these guys some benefit of the doubt? If they are a con, I will probably be their first victim. So there's no need to throw too much flack around AR this early on.

Hope this helps."

quote:

I was providing ground support for a few of America's finest in the hunt for 2 legged animals. salute
I didn't see any sheep. I was trying to make a point that Burkina Faso is not a safe place.

Erik

Recently, Norway was elected the nicest country on earth.
Some might be jealous.

Concerning Armand and Yaya.

I wish You plenty of luck.
I insist that Burkina Faso is a safe place. If my memory serves, the last time there was a trouble was when the government wanted the sellers to rent their spaces in the new Ouagadougou Central market. That was almost a non-event. When in Burkina Faso, I never stored my goods or my wallet, anybody could enter my bungalow, and the outfitter (Touffic) encourage this incitement to crime. The risk in Burkina is just on the border with the Ivory coast that is in state of rebellion.
Concerning Cameroon, just some suburbs are unsafe.
My concern is how You can treat sophisticated customers such as Americans.
They are funny. They crave for self guided hunts. In fact the African govs are greedy. They rent any areas they can find out so as to suck as much money as possible from the outfitters. Remain areas such as the gameless zones and the remote places where the law cannot be applied.

In other respects, the American hunter is the most demanding concerning safety, comfort and reliability. An offered bag should be easily found and shot. Many are far from being athlets and ascetics, but anyhow the PH must fulfill the contract and the desired games obtained.

Consequently, I am not sure precarious novice outfits would satisfy the American hunters. I know many respected and successful outfitters who deal only with Italians, Germans, Spaniards and Frenchmen because they doubt to meet the high requirements of the English-speaking hunters.