Cameroun – self guided hunt

Hunting area: Concession 1 Benoue national park

Game: Northwestern Buffalo, Western Roan, Harnessed Bushbuck, red flaked Duiker

Gun: Browining cal 416 Rem. Mag.

Ammo: 400 gr A frame and solid .

Period: April 12 th – April 24 th. 2010.

Dear Friends

With my I’m returned from the self guided hunt in Cameroun, booked trough Cameron Greig. This time was with me my friend Luca, a great companion for the whole trip.
Was a really interesting and succesful safari but also a a very tough trip because of the terrible heat ( from 30° to 40 ° celsius ), the length of travel and the accommodation less than rustic.

The Trip.
After the flight from Milan to Paris to Yaoundè, we met Cam. The next day all togheter we took the train to the town Ngaundere. A journey of over 1500 km of fifteen hours. We stayed in cabin bed uncomfortable and dusty. The train was incredibly crowded and dirty. Once in Ngaundere the next day, we reached the camp that was dark.

The camp

Was not the typical Cam’s portage safari as we had a permanent camp: called “ Le campement du bel eland”.
But I must say that this place was not like the camps we are usually use in a normal guided-safaris. Built at least 40 years ago, was virtually abandoned. No electricity nor refrigerator. The only water available had to be hand-harvested in the well. The temperature was terrible: over 30 degrees at night inside the bungalow. I always slept outdoors. The food was cooked in a fire on the ground. The camp-staff was a single cook-factotum that, in the absence of Cam, we were not able to control as due.

The hunt.

The hunting area was a concession at the border of the Benoue national park. Cam has assigned us two trackers each. The hunt was made following the classic systems: driving on the road between the park and the concession looking for fresh tracks or walking up the few waterholes looking for tracks of animals that had drinked at night an and then follow.
Seen the previous reports about the Cam’s safaris, I’ was surprised of number of the animals we saw. In fact we encountered the buffaloes several times as well as Roan. Also many Duikers and Bushbucks. A bit rarer Buffon kob, waterbuck Defassa and Bubale but still present. Instead completely absent the Derby eland, that we all saw in the park a few miles away.
Unfortunately was so hot that, after ten o'clock in the morning, walking was almost impossible. In the afternoon we began hunting only at four o clock when the heat was a bit less.
We drank at least 7 liters of fluid a day, sweating profusely and continuously. After a few days in these conditions we were hit by an annoying erythema. Was so hot that after the first shot the rifle borrowed from Cam( a bolt action not an express!!) was impossible to open. Is the first time in my life that I saw or hear this thing!

Despite the short time we spent hunting, the safari was really successful. Also because the trackers were really able. So I was lucky to reach a small buffalo’s herd the morning of the second day and killed a good old bull. Fortunately, the first shot was very good because the gun was locked and I had to wait at least five minutes before he could reload and shoot the second.

In the days after I took a Duiker, a Bushbuck and a beautiful 25,5 inches solitary old Roan bull. I missed a wonderful Defassa and a Kob de Buffon. As you will see from the photos, the quality of trophies was superb. As those taken by Luca who got 5 trophies and met the buffaloes many times.

After 3 days at the camp we had an invasion of wild bees. In addition all perishable food had gone bad because of the heat. So we moved to sleep in the lodge of the national park. This too is poorly maintained and not clean but at least we had running water, 3 hours (…) of air conditioned at night and sometimes …fresh beverages.

I think that this place is better for lodging the hunters that the first camp that I would not recommend to anyone.

Excluding the heat and bad housing, the safari was great. Indeed, the self-guided hunt, for who have a bit of experience like us, has not proved so difficult. Especially since, thanks to the ability of the trackers, we had only to be careful to the wind following the animals and shoot straight.

the bungalow


the fire

the buffalo





the result of the first shot

following a roan fresh track: a small tree broken from the Hippotrague.

duiker at the waterhole






my duiker


the car

Hi Mario,
thx for the report. Sounds good. A dream hunt.
Check pm.

Dennis

where's the pic of the roan????? don't hold back man!!

That RF Duiker looks HUGE to me. Granted, I've shot one and only seen a few, but that looks to be a stud.

Roan Pics Please.

Did any part of the hunting party see elands?

Ah, Mario !!! I am so proud of you !! Bravo and well done, indeed !!! It looks like you had Daniel with you ... and I think that I recognize a couple of other guys in the photo. ??? Where I hunted before we never saw any large water holes like in the photos ... just springs every now and then ... a rare waterhole might give a sneaky person a chance to hide and see what might come for a drink during those blistering hot days. ??? My driver of that green truck was Pascal. He and Daniel had quite a shouting match the last day I was in Cameroon so am not sure if he is still in the business ??? I might be going nuts but I am getting the urge to go back for a jumbo ... and I am not even short on them ... I just like the idea of not going with a PH ... and it is such an adventure ... might not go when it is quite so hot ... Did you have much grief with the 'clowns' in uniform at the airport that demand bribes for sort of doing their regular jobs ... ??? Once again .. congratulations !!!

Mario Looks like quite a adventure! What do the trackers have in there hands? Fish maybe?

What an outstanding adventure!!! Congratulations!!!

Brett

Bravo Mario!

Tough hunting conditions but no bitching from you....you enjoyed yourself!

Sei Cacciatore Vero!

Very nice, Mario!! Let's see that Roan.

You must have some ancient Roman blood in your veins, Mario. What a great hunting achievement.

Wonderful trip!

What language did the trackers speak?

Congrats on your adventure and welcome home.

Thanks for sharing your great adventure!

Great story and pictures! Thanks for sharing them.

Thanks for the report - what an adventure.
Nice shot on the buffalo! Were you using handloaded ammunition?

Very nice Mario.
Thanks for the report

Mario

Congratulations. I applaud your courage. Not my cup of tea but a grand adventure none the less.

Mark

An excellent adventure. Nice Post.

Thanks

ddj

Mario, congrats on your true, African safari. Not many would walk in your shoe's after this
Cheers,
David

Geez now that was an adventure... I am sure all of the trophies you took on that trip have an extra-special meaning to you! Congrats on an unusual trip.

Mario,

Great AFRICAN SAFARI....WOW, it sounds like you folks really roughed-it out there!

This hunt is a GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT that few ever pursue!

A true WILD ADVENTURE!!!!

Hats off to you and your friend

Mario,

Was there an airstrip nearby?

What was the first aid and communications like?

Were you happy with the trophy preparation, salting of skins etc?

What would you have paid for a cold beer?

Cheers

Thanks Guys. Yes was a real adventure.
About your questions:
Scruffy- Daniel was with Cam to his new area on the other side of the national park. For this reason the camp was runned badly.
about four hours far from us. Pascal drove our car to and from the station.

Chris, yes one night the trackes got lot of catfish in a waterhole ( and a small python also).

Sgraves: All speak french in Cameroun, so we speak french with our trackers.

Boghossian:
Cam gave us guns and ammo. Yes the 416 were handloaded.
Fairgame: I do no know is ther'is an airstrip in the area. The closer airport I think is in Garoua.
The first aid, maybe..., was in the lodge at the national park. But I do no trust too much in this place. No one car.
But incredibly in almost all the area the cellular telephone, ( even our european) works very well. So every day we could talk to home.

About the trophies: I wanted only european mounts so was very easy to make that. But Luca asked also for the skins and he was satisfied.
A cold beer? Ho my god. A dream...we put the bottles in the well but the bees was almost impossible go close as they were very aggressive.

see more pictures:
bees invasion




the roan bull:





in this photo you can see the 400 bullet under the skin on the opposite side of the shot:

the bushbuck:


carry home the meat:



Lot of meat. The trackers were very happy. Is the first time a tracker tell me: " mercì patron" after I've shot an animal.


our regards to the wwf


A big eland's herd in the national park ( only few miles from the hunting area)




Kob de buffon:




The Benouè river in the national park.



End of the story:

Well done on the Roan Mario.

Mario great shooting and you dont look to baked from the heat.

Mike

Beautiful animals and one outstanding adventure! Thanks. Jim

What a great adventure!! I would love to go there sometime.. Thanks for sharing!

I can see a video camera in the last picture. Any hopes for a video?

Anders,
the cameramen was for my friend Luca. They make a video for an Italian TV. I hope they pur some promo in you tube in the future.

Thanks, Mario!
If it happens please let us know.. It would be very interesting to watch!

Great hunt. That Roan is a beauty, welldone.

Congratulations. Your hunt is on my wish list minus the heat!!! Great trophies.

Best regards, D. Nelson

Well done, Mario ! Congratulations on such a dreamed hunt !

thanks guys.

when would be the best period to go, heat wice with very hot being bad and less heat being good

best

peter