I've noticed a few posts lately about a self-guided hunt in the Cameroon. Has anyone done one of these? I was looking at a website about these hunts and they seem like a great and cost effective way to hunt the Cameroon in a classic safari style.

I'm really curious about the pros and cons of this hunt. You have trackers and porters, so it seems like you might be a little better off than if you were dropped off in the middle of Montana to hunt elk. On the flip side, Africa has many more animals that will bite and/or run you over; No PH to back you up if something charges. Then there's the it's Africa thing and on the flip side it's Africa. Potentially more animals to hunt, potentially more problems if your injured ... and the list goes on.

It seems like there are as many pros as there are cons leaving this hunt at neutral. Opinions? experience? Crazy idea for a city boy?

One of the guys that posts on here did one this year. Search this forum and the hunting report forum for Chase Libre (sp) hunts in Cameroon. I think his name might be Robert Johnson?

Brett

Sevens,

M Lindsay has done self guided Lord Derby and other plains game hunt with his son as well as hunting Bongo with Geofrey de gentiles on 3 occasions.
Lot of experience

A great book on this is ( buffalo, elephant & Bongo ) by Reinald von Meures. safari press.

he has done more solo hunts hear than anyone i have heard of , lots of info on doing this and a good read to boot!

Allso at this years dallas SCI their was an auction from ( last name was cameroon ,first name ?) I have read hunt reports of his in "the Hunting Report" on some of his solo hunts their. the auction was for him to assist you on one of these .

good luck ,im interested in one of these myself and ill post any more info as i find it.

Markus

Here you go.. http://www.shakariconnection.c...-books4.html#meurers

I have hunted Cameroon twice and would not consider it without a PH and an organization that knows the country.

You would need to fluent in French, need knowledge of local dialects, and have unlimited time to organize yourself there. Then work out areas that you could hunt without encroaching on a concession, or some chief's private domain.

You'd need to know whose palms to grease, and what to avoid. I can't really see this as viable for an outsider. This isn't 1910 anymore. I know there is a book out about this, but you'd really have to be an adventurous soul to attempt such a thing.

If truly interested, contact Cam Greig at cam.greig@yahoo.com, he's the guy organizing these hunts.

Cam posts on AR under "camshaft" and you can do an Advanced Search to see what has been posted thus far.

This type of hunting is not for everyone but it can be done especially in the north. In the forest it is very hard, very few can be truly successful there.

Cam is a friend of mine and he can organize things for someone who is willing.

Mike

Robert Johnson on here has done it and posted a report.

+1 on Cam Greig. Be sure to talk to Cam though and not his brother. His brother will talk you out of it.

Reading about Cam and his operation is what actually sparked the idea. It is merely a dream and aspiration right now. I read all these stories about John Pondoro Taylor and other great African hunters, next to a time machine, this seemed like the closest way to experience Africa in the way they did.

This type of hunt is about adventure it's not a trophy hunt and it's not for everyone! In fact 95% hunters would hate it! Zone banal areas (areas open to self guided hunting ) can be heavily poached or offer limited animals. There are areas that still offer reasonably good hunting but you must be willing and able to walk many miles from any roads. Its hard to truly understand how much harder this type of hunt is! Once your group is dropped off everything is carried by porters. You will walk 5-15 miles a day in 100 temps and 90% humidly! On my hunt I know we packed over 100 miles ( I lost 20 lbs ) Some days were very grueling! During my hunt I shot Harnessed bush buck, Western heartabeast, Red river hog, Western roan, Northwestern buffalo, I had opportunities but passed on Oribi, Warthog, and Duikers.

Would I go back? Yes! ( My wife would kill me ) I love adventure, exploring new areas, and hunting. There noting like hunting and tracking with true African bushmen. If you ever go on this type of hunt you will come back with a new sense of respect for the African bushman and have a hunting experience you will never forget! (good and bad)

There is a book called African hunter guide to NYATI Chapter 5 really explains this type of hunt. You can all so email Cam and he will email you a full description of his hunts (25 pages).

Robert,
a question about your experience with the Cam's hunt:
how is the accomodation? Also the tents are carried from the porters? Or ther'is a permanent camp?

You hunt on the fly, there are no permanent camps. You go were you think the animals are, set up camp and hunt a few days. If you don't see anything you move a few miles. I never stayed more that three days in one area. You sleep in small light weight tents. If I knew how to post pictures I could show you some of my camps. If you want I could email you some pictures. Just pm me with your email.

I would be very happy to post for you if you like.
Frank

fmhydes@suddenlink.net

Frank
I emailed you 10-15 pictures, if you have time I have lots more.

Thanks Robert

Here are photos for Robert Johnson.
Sorry I was not able to add tags at this time.

Wow, looks like you got some great trophies. I wonder what the average amount of animals taken is on a hunt?

Thanks for posting some of my pictures Frank. I will try to give a little information about the pictures.


#1 Pictures is a Bush buck With my two trackers shot on the first day. I made a really quick ( lucky ) off hand shot that impressed my trackers.
#2 Picture Red river forest hog
#3 Picture is sleeping area for the camp staff. They sleep on leaves no need any blankets it 80-90 at night
#4 Picture is camp staff making "their " dinner. We ate freeze dried meals
# 5 Picture of a sleeping hutt the locals use during the rainy season.
#6 Picture of Wheel traps we found.
#7 Picture of Sweat fly harmless but they bother you during the heat of the day.
#8 North western Buffalo, Not a huge trophy but to me a better trophy than a 40" buffalo I shot years ago.
#9 African filtered water, don't ever try this you will get very sick!
#10 Trackers found a bee hive under ground. They will never pass up honey!
#11 Wheel trap we dug up.
#12 Bee hive, Tracker followed flying bees to their nest.
#13 Roan wounded and tracked for two days. Again not huge but a great trophy to me.

copy

Here are some more.


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#1 Nothing is wasted!! Even the guts are dried out and packed back to the village , They don't even wash off the crap or blood.

#2 Heartabeast butchered, They leave all the bones in the meat, even the esophagus is left in the meat. Only the grass in stomach and intestines is left on the ground.

# 3 After the meat air dried for a day. Its dried over hot coals to kill fly eggs and dry the meat out completely If you look close you will see they leave the hair on pigs. When the meat is cured it smells like a burnt hair barbecue.

Great Pictures! Did you encountered any difficulties during the safari?

Difficulties? You can't hunt a third world corrupt African country with out expecting difficulties.
You have to remember corruption is a way of life, One way or a another everyone (Black and White) is cheating the system.

Examples a train ticket sells for say $80. Some how you can never buy one at the train station they are "sold out". You send a trusted black guy outside and he finds somebody that has extra tickets,but they cost $120. If you want on the train you pay $120

Road blocks with armed policemen that wanting to find a problem with your paper work. Most of the time they looked at your paper work and wave you by, Sometimes they hinted at a small bribe. We never paid any money but we "shared" a few lofts of bread and soft drinks. Cam or his head man always took care of any problems.

I did get sick for a week, probably food poison or just a hard time adjusting to the heat. I lost 20 lbs, but I still went out hunting everyday. By far they worst difficulties for me was the heat! 100+ and 80-90 %. humidly ( I went at the hottest time of year)

This is camshaft. Robert has done a nice job of detailing the hazards of the hunt but also noting his was very successful. I welcome any questions. I also would like you all to know that I have just got a call that one of my hunters has postponed his hunt from 2009 to 2010. I am fully booked this year otherwise and only one slot for 2010 left. This call leaves an opening in May this year. Middle two weeks. If you are interested in going it will actually be with me personally, much like Robert did. I will be going to a new area that is reported to have good game populations. I have only had one hunter hunt it so far and he took roan and hearabeast. He missed a bunch of animals, but I am not sure why. He is a new to hunting and that is most likely the rason. He saw lion twice and heard them most nights. I am looking into how to secure a permit as they are on license. He turned down buffalo and although they got on fresh eland tracks never caught up. You stay in a permanent camp on this hunt and go out daily in my vehicle to find tracks coming out of the national park and into the hunting area. It is a much easier hunt than Robert had and I want to check it out for future hunters. I am looking for 2 guys to come along with me. It will cost is $6000 each and the fees noted in the hunt offering section. (I think I am not supposed to post hunt offerings in this section).
Camshaft

Camshaft ,first off ,glad you saw this post and are around to give advice on this , I looked all over for you at dallas .Do you have a web site that would have prices on game licences and other info ?

As to this area what game would one expect to have an chance to collect ?

thanks Markus

quote:

Originally posted by Penetrater:
Camshaft ,first off ,glad you saw this post and are around to give advice on this , I looked all over for you at dallas .Do you have a web site that would have prices on game licences and other info ?

As to this area what game would one expect to have an chance to collect ?

thanks Markus

I believe this might answer one of your questions and provides a link to what Cam is referring to above:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...2100588/m/8731009201

Jorge400 thanks for the help on the link. The only difference on what I have just posted is that on the hunt in May 2009 I will personally be with the hunters all the way out and into the field. I will just not actually hunt with them, which is probably a good thing. I will be along to handle all the issues until they are actually in the field. They will go to the same area I am now exploring and will have their choice of where to hunt each day. I will go another direction or even leave the area as I have made friends with the King of Cameroun, known as The Lamido of Rey Bouba and need to go pay him my respects. His father and mine were friends and he is the king over all of the northern part of Cameroun. He lives in a mud walled palace and yet has internet access in his palace! A man stuck between two worlds. Anyone who comes and wants to meet a live king is welcome to come along with me when I go.
Any more questions just ask. Penetrator I hope your questions are answered. On this hunt you will have good chances at savanna or equinox buffalo, western hearabeast, with oribi, bhor reedbuck, red river hogs, wart hogs, harnessed bushbuck, and the holy grail of lord derby eland all available for just trophy fees.
Camshaft

I am sorry I missed anyone at Dallas. I even had an AR sign posted in my booth. I attended the soiree and was next to Don Heath when he gave his rousing toast at the Comfort Inn...I will be glad to call anyone who has questions, just leave me a number.
Camshaft

quote:

Originally posted by camshaft:
Jorge400 thanks for the help on the link. The only difference on what I have just posted is that on the hunt in May 2009 I will personally be with the hunters all the way out and into the field. I will just not actually hunt with them, which is probably a good thing. I will be along to handle all the issues until they are actually in the field. They will go to the same area I am now exploring and will have their choice of where to hunt each day. I will go another direction or even leave the area as I have made friends with the King of Cameroun, known as The Lamido of Rey Bouba and need to go pay him my respects. His father and mine were friends and he is the king over all of the northern part of Cameroun. He lives in a mud walled palace and yet has internet access in his palace! A man stuck between two worlds. Anyone who comes and wants to meet a live king is welcome to come along with me when I go.
Any more questions just ask. Penetrator I hope your questions are answered. On this hunt you will have good chances at savanna or equinox buffalo, western hearabeast, with oribi, bhor reedbuck, red river hogs, wart hogs, harnessed bushbuck, and the holy grail of lord derby eland all available for just trophy fees.
Camshaft

Good Lord this is tempting!! I just can't do it now though.

George

Hunting just isn’t about hunting; it’s also about dreaming and planning. Put it on your list and keep dreaming, it actually makes it more fun to have it come to fruition that way.
Just my opinion. It took me many years to set up my first Cameroun trip, probably an honest 4-5 after I had been out of the country for high school, college and some work. My final plans landed me in the jungle with the pygmies and I ended up shooting a bongo and a forest buffalo and the only giant forest hog I have ever seen. Fantastic trip! I enjoy the planning as much as anything and hope this next trip will be as fun as I envision. I love new areas and adventure! Plan on coming along some day and start to dream.
Camshaft.

I know Cam personally and several that have taken his self-guided hunts...Cam is A+++ and your hunt is what you make it. That said, there are others out there trying to imulate what Cam does, inlucluding those written about recently in African Sporting Gazette-Camnares...be VERY careful, all are NOT created equal!! Enough Said...if you are up to it, do it with Cam Greig, Portage Safaries. Yes, he was the donor at DSC.

Camshaft,

Have you ever hunted southern Cameroon ? near the ocean ?

I spent some time near the southern frontier, (Equatorial Guinea) working in a cacao plantation. Have you ever been in Malabo ?

There was a kingdom there, the Bubis or Boubis, but we can only enter the area with a special permit given by the goverment (they were Fang or something similar, of Bantú origin, much more agresive than the Boubis).

The place was infested by duikers and some kind of porkupine that we buy from the locals to have some meat.

My hat of to anyone hunting alone those jungles...

L

As a child I hunted all the southern part of Cameroun. I hunted into Equatorial Guinea as well. One of y boyhood friends lived in Bata. Lots of elephant skulls at that time al oer the place! There is a large park along the Kribi border now, which does not allow you to enter any more.
There is a real problem with the way conservation is handled in Africa. The big boys in the capitol are paid a lot of money (that somehow always disappears) to draw a line on the map and Presto! you have a national park. Now all of the legitimate people stay out and all the poachers and government protected people continue to use it….I have had at least 4 of the best hunting spots in the world ripped out from under me! Very frustrating, as I am usually the only legally licensed one hunting them. I could go on forever, but will stop my ranting.
Yes, the porcupines are very good meat!
Cam