How does "chasse libre " (self guided hunting in West Africa) work?

Many of you have asked a number of questions about “self guided” hunts offered in Cameroun and other French speaking countries. These are also known as “chasse libre” hunts, which literally means, “free hunting.” The gist of it is you can hunt these countries without a PH, which is one of the major costs of a West Africa hunt. Elephant, buffalo (two species), lion and many of the glory plains game like the lord derby eland and bongo are available on these hunts.
These are hunts conducted not much differently than Teddy Roosevelt did at the turn of the century with porters carrying your gear and camping in the open, albeit with less than his 100+ porters and no white gloves.
Anyone can pitch up in Yaoundé or Brazzaville to get a license and try to put together one of thse hunts. The legitimate concern is that you will not be able to negotiate all the necessary paperwork or get caught up in the local authority net, which is trying to constantly trying to catch you to squeeze a bribe out of you. This is a legitimate concern. Another concern is to find a place that actually has animals. With poaching a nationwide issue this is a real concern. No one wants to be “dumped out in the middle of nowhere.”
As many of you know I was born and raised in Cameroun. I have a network of contacts and a staff that has been with me over 20 years. I have been given the private hunting estate of a king in the north of Cameroun as well as know how to procure licenses, guides and such. I offer this service mostly for my friends in Cameroun, where unemployment is around 70%. There is not a whole lot of money to be made at my cost level in these corrupt countries.
For those of you who would like more information I will be at the Reno SCI show January 23-26 and welcome anyone who is interested in more information to stop by and chat. I will have a booth # 962. It is always so much easier to do this kind of conversation face to face. You can also or drop me a note here

As a summary of the basics here is what I offer:
BEFORE YOU LEAVE:
• You get a complete list of what to bring and what is provided, down to your toothbrush.
• I will recommend airlines and dates.
• I will work with you ahead of the hunt to get your gun import paperwork, visa (you acquire those) and hunting license in Cameroon completed (I acquire that).
WHEN YOU ARRIVE:
• I have a crew in-country that picks you up at the airport, Yaoundé. My staff is used to handling English and French speaking clients, but French is their primary language.
• I arrange local transportation, which includes trains, my vehicles and/or a hired car to take you to the village and drop you off. I have vehicles, but most of my hunts are foot safaris and you will only get to the game by walking a ways from civilization. In-country transport is included in your fee, except air travel. New zones in the far north are vehicle hunts without porters.
• I arrange to loan you some basic bulky and camp gear and give you a list of your personal gear you bring. You are responsible for all of your own personal gear. I do have rifles in-country to rent if you want.
• All your in-country food is purchased for you along with provisions for the staff. I pay for these. I highly recommend you bring some freeze-dried food and snacks, but basic food is provided. Almost all cooking, except the Kings concession, is done over an open fire. At the government concession there is a hotel/bar about an hour’s drive away.
• I arrange to have someone to boil water (not to be confused with a real cook) for you, trackers (usually pretty sharp) and porters (usually pretty dull). You will have a staff of 7-9 personnel unless hunting in the north where there are fewer due to use of a vehicle. I pay for them.
• My personal tracker (~20 years experience in this type of adventure) will go with you and most likely 2-4 others who have gone with me numerous times before. They have done this close to 100 times successfully. There are experienced skinners, but you are still responsible for the oversight of the skinning. I review this with you.
• On arrival and before departure in Yaoundé we leave you at a hotel and pick you up the next morning. A range of quality is available.
• If your baggage is delayed I can lend you everything, including rifles.
•
AT THE END OF THE TRIP:
• Trophy fees must be paid in local currency near the hunting location, very far from a bank or any wire service. Credit cards are not honored anywhere. You will need to bring local currency or pre-pay the trophy fees, which will be reimbursed if you do not collect your desired animal(s). Daniel, my Cameroun partner, will help you change money.
• I will arrange to have paperwork completed at the end of the trip so trophies can be exported. This includes all CITES and veterinary paperwork for export, even if you did not shoot any CITES controlled animal. I arrange for air shipping. You arrange for an import broker to receive the trophies and clear customs at your cost.

If you go, I require that you sign a waiver that you will not use my staff or go to any place I have shown you without my written permission. Some of the areas I hunt are open zones, but have taken me many years to develop and I am the only one who hunts them, other than local people.
I recommend a satellite phone and am on call 24/7 for assistance. My satellite phone may be available.

I can set up a hunt for any animal in Cameroun.

CUSTOM HUNTS: I am currently taking a few clients on custom hunts to Congo Brazzaville. Inquiries welcome.

Trophy fees For Cameroon Hunt

animal $ cost
Elephant * $ 4,000
Bongo * $ 4,000
Eland * $ 4,000
Buffalo * $ 2,500
Roan * $ 2,000
waterbuck $ 900
hartebeest $ 500
bushbuck/reedbuck $ 500
Red river/wart hogs $300
giant forest hog $ 1000
sitatunga $ 1500
Yellow back duiker
Temporarily blocked $750

peter & other duiker $ 400
Western cob $500
Oribi $400

* Denotes a group 1 animal, of which you are only allowed 2 on a hunt.
Four other animals are allowed per hunter/year (Group 2) You can not shoot more than two of group 1 or four of group 2. Only males may be shot. Six animals maximum. Wounded animals are charged at full rate. Females are charged at double (2X) rates.

These hunts are true African adventures for experienced hunters. Get a hold of me if you would like more information.

Cheers and safe travels to all.

camshaft

USA (650) 941-5671
Bombazihunting.com