Saw this in a booking agent's newsletter.



We are pleased to announce the re-opening of Gabon for 2024. For rainforest hunters, this is great news. Liberia is closed and Gabon ascends to the top spot for collecting a variety of duikers, including blue duiker, bay duiker, Peter’s duiker, Gabon duiker, black-fronted duiker, and the most coveted yellow-backed duiker. Dwarf buffalo, red river hog and sitatunga are also available. Hunting will begin mid-March and end in mid-September. We offer 10-day and 13-day hunts. Quotas are limited, so early booking is recommended.

I wonder how last night's coup factors in...

Military coup going on, best not send any deposits.

"Africa will be for the Africans". Translates to, give africa a chance to screw up any chance at a good outcome and it will.

Wow... got Bob's email and was considering it as a possibility for a cool adventure. Now, not so much!

Shit in a hand bag?? That’s the message I received. Whatever that means???

I have been watching FLIGHT RADAR.

Which shows flights in the air.

Gabon has been empty.

Any country with political instability should be avoided.

Years ago, someone was trying to convince me to go to Chad. It was a little hot then but not terrible. I raised the security issue and in an attempt to convince me to go, the outfitter said that Chad had the highest concentration of French troops of anywhere in Africa. I figured they weren't there on holiday. I didn't go.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Years ago, someone was trying to convince me to go to Chad. It was a little hot then but not terrible. I raised the security issue and in an attempt to convince me to go, the outfitter said that Chad had the highest concentration of French troops of anywhere in Africa. I figured they weren't there on holiday. I didn't go.

My sister been in Chad the last 3 months we met up in Greece last week, not so impressed with Chad

I figure Ghana isn't much better at least right now.

Sorry, Gabon.

quote:

Originally posted by lavaca:
Years ago, someone was trying to convince me to go to Chad. It was a little hot then but not terrible. I raised the security issue and in an attempt to convince me to go, the outfitter said that Chad had the highest concentration of French troops of anywhere in Africa. I figured they weren't there on holiday. I didn't go.

A friend hunted Chad this year and had a great hunt. Said there were no safety issues. He did some due diligence prior to booking and felt good with the situation.

I was in Zambia during the coup. The African news was making it sound like the president’s own guard turned on him after he stole the second election in a row.

His family had been in power for half a century. He was not popular and in typical African fashion, rigged the election.

France had been propping him is as he was trading Gabon’s resources for their support.

Who knows what is true…

But watching his plea for help during his house arrest makes me believe that the coup was justified.

I still wouldn't send a deposit at least until his successor has spoken on the reopening.

I received this in a booking agent's newsletter today.



The country has stabilized after the recent military coup and all has returned to normal. In fact things are better – at least for hunting. One of the partners in the safari company has been appointed Deputy Minister of the Interior, which assures us of all the permits we will want! We are pleased to announce dwarf crocodile and water chevrotain have also added to the game list, which also includes: blue duiker, bay duiker, Peter’s duiker, Gabon duiker, Ogilby’s duiker, black-fronted duiker, and the most coveted yellow-backed duiker. Dwarf buffalo, red river hog and forest sitatunga are also available. Hunting will begin mid-March and end in mid-September.

quote:

which assures us of all the permits we will want!

“All we want” eh? Sounds like a long term strategy

CAR was stable up to the time it was not anymore. french troops cannot guarantee anymore the safety of anyone. thinking differently will attract you some bad issues ...

quote:

Originally posted by medved:
CAR was stable up to the time it was not anymore. french troops cannot guarantee anymore the safety of anyone. thinking differently will attract you some bad issues ...

I hunted CAR in 2012, during a relatively safe political climate. Even then, Joseph Knoy and the LAR were being hunted where we were. The CIA had agents in the bush hunting him.

These oddly politically unstable African nations will never be as stable as say, Tanzania or Zambia. You’re taking your chances traveling and hunting those hot-spots

Some savvy words from someone who knows