Cameroon

HUNTER- Larry Shores

OUTFITTER- Club Faune

PH- Yann La Bouvier

RIFLE- my old reliable 416 Remington Magnum made by Rifles , Inc.

400 grain Swift A Frame factory loads

AREA - Niwa Safari area

AIR TRAVEL - Delta , Air France and Cam Air

I have a lot to say about this later .

DATES -mid to late January 2025

HOTELS- I might not normally discuss this . However in this case , I have decided to for a variety of reasons.

We stayed at the La Falaise in Douala for three nights . The staff were quite helpful. Their English was good . The hotel was much better than I expected . Not the Four Seaons but far more than adequate.

One of the funniest things happened . We asked the guy at the front desk about a restaurant recommendation. He made one then he added that they had good food for white people. I broke out laughing. It was hysterical.

This was a long awaited trip which was supposed to be my first trip after I retired. Due to lunacy from some of my fellow shareholders, I had to call off the sale of my shares . I really looked forward to the trip.

CAMP- the camp was a pretty basic concrete hut . Adequate. Definitely not luxurious.

Before getting to specifics, let me make a few general comments -

WEATHER - as expected it was hot . Over 100 daily .

As we were flying into Garoua , I looked at the window . I told my friend and long time cameraman that we might have a problem. There was a lot of water in the rivers . That is usually not a good sign.

At some point , the PH confirmed that there was indeed an unusual amount of water . This definitely had an impact on the animals as they were more widely dispersed. Also, certain areas that were normally burned by now are still green . They won’t burn yet.

PH- Yann is an incredibly experienced guy. Came to Africa when he was 17. I think he said he is now 56. He has or had 21 different licenses in Africa . He has hunted about everything. He is very knowledgeable.

I might add that he helped develop this area over a 15 year period .

Yann has hunted with a variety of big name clients and other PHs.

I loved his stories. Personally, I found the stories about escaping the CAR quite interesting and scary as hell.

One thing I found particularly interesting was his ability to smell a bull eland at a distance . At first I didn’t believe it but he did it repeatedly . Absolutely amazing .




I will discuss the animals taken in the order they were taken.



KOB- I had never seen a kob in my life before this trip . We saw our first kob about a half hour before reaching camp.

This place is absolutely crawling with kob. I am sure we saw hundreds daily . It is not surprising that this was the first animal that I took.

On the first morning , we managed to get pretty close to a OLD male . From about 50 yards, I put him down on the spot . He was thick as his tips were worn . I was quite happy .

I might add that the kob was pretty good eating .

Also, on a couple of occasions, we saw a white kob. Had it been old , I might have whacked it .



LORD DERBY ELAND - this was the primary animal I came to Cameroon to hunt . We saw lots of LDE on this trip. On the best days , I am sure we saw over 100 daily . Some big herds as well as solitary animals , mostly bulls .

At any rate , the first afternoon, we spotted two bulls . One young and one old . We managed to get reasonably close , about 95 yards . I took a shot and hammered the bull hard . He ran but was down in less than 100 yards .

As we inspected the bull, we noticed that we were not the first predator that the bull had come into contact with . Lion claw marks were on one side .






ROAN- this was my 32nd safari . I have previously taken a single roan about 25 years ago . On prior trips , I occasionally saw one . Things just didn’t work out .

I can truthfully saw that I have never seen this many roan on all my trips combined . It was amazing . On our best days , I am sure we saw well over 100 roan.

At any rate, on the second day , not far from camp, I managed to spot an interesting roan . He looked emaciated. I had a difficult shot. Off balance, off hand and on my bad side (like I have a good side ) with some bush in the way . I decided to shoot anyway from about 75 yards .

At the shot , two things were clear . I hit some bush and I hit the roan. He ran. We followed . We spotted him about 125 yards away looking straight away . I gave him a 400 grain enema. He was going no where after that .

The roan was blind on one eye. Definitely emaciated . Lots of wear on his horns . He was on his last legs .



KORRIGUM- To be honest, I had never heard of a korrigum before this trip. It is also called a giant topi. While I have shot a lot of topi, the last one was about 30 years ago.

At first, I didn’t want to shoot one . They are expensive. I was told that this was the only place in the world with these animals . After much thought , I decided to go for it .

We saw korrigum daily . On some days we saw quite a few . We saw a bull following two cows. We repositioned ourselves several times . Finally , I got a shot at about 135 yards . Not the best angle but I was 100 % certain I could make it . I hammered him hard . He went off a few yards and I put him down with a second shot . He was an old brute .




BABOON- These baboons were definitely different than what I was used to seeing in Southern Africa . I was urged to shoot a big male . Much to the amusement of the trackers , I knocked him out of the tree with my 416.




WARTHOG- we saw a number of warthogs daily . Most of what we saw were sows or young ones . It appeared to me that these are not as big as their southern African cousins . Yann confirmed this .

We got up on a boar. Yann recons
I should shoot it . I took a shot from about 90 yards, slightly off balance . I hit is but a little far back . Regardless , the 416 anchored it . God knows how many warthogs I have shot . I have never seen one with hair like this .

I can truthfully say that this is the second smallest warthog I have ever shot .

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HARTEBEEST - I believe this species is called the Nagor hartebeest . We saw a lot of them but damn it, they just would not cooperate. They always ran at the slightest sign of us. We were getting frustrated. Lots of four letter words were exchanged . I finally told Yann that if I got one , we were going to have to go back to the camp for more ammo as he would be telling me to shoot it again , shoot it again , shoot it again. We laughed .

Finally , we chanced upon a solitary old bull. We got to about 140 yards. I hit him hard . He ran off a few yards and stopped . I hammered him again . He was down .

He was quite old with a lot of wear on his horns .



RED FLANKED DUIKER- I have to admit that I never heard of these until this trip. Several friends urged me to hunt them. We saw a small number (maybe 3) prior to the last day . I had zero hope of getting one as they never stand still . They are gone quickly .

On the last day, I was off with the trackers checking a hole for a python . When I got back , Yann told me that while he was sitting in the truck waiting , a male walked right in front of the truck . Dammit!

We left and crossed a river . In just a few yards after we crossed the river , Yann slammed on the brakes . We saw a red flanked duiker walking through some thick stuff . I got ready. As he walked into a small opening at about 100 yards. I pulled the trigger . Down he went . The trackers went nuts .

This was easily the best shot I made during the trip.




OTHER CRITTERS

I did not get everything I was looking for . Most importantly, savanna buffalo. The buffalo were a long way from camp. We tried these several times . They ways ended up in the tall grass. That ended those hunts .

The waterbuck also gave us fits . We saw some every day but could not close the dead .

After hearing the stories , I wanted to witness hunting a python. It sounds fascinating. Unfortunately, the python did not cooperate.

We also saw a big group of colubus monkeys. They are quite beautiful. This was a first for me .

IN COUNTRY TRAVEL- for this trip , one had to fly the local airline , Cam Air. They are notoriously unreliable. They stranded us in Douala for two days . That was two days of lost hunting that I will never recover . At the rates I paid , that is about $10,000 down the drain. I might as well try and drive my car to the far side of the moon as try to recover from Cam Air.

I tried for days that leave early so I could go to Nashville . No luck.

To compound all of this , the government does not allow charter planes .

After arriving in Garoua, we have a 7.5 hour drive to get to the camp. These have to be the worst roads on the planet. It was not fun.

OTHER INTERESTING THINGS- We burned a lot while we were there . It was interesting to see all the bugs fly off once the fire started. Even more interesting was the arrival of birds to devour those bugs .


There were some interesting termite mounds. They were shaped like mushrooms. Surely we saw thousands of them.



The bird life is a lot different than what I am used to further south. Far fewer game birds . Lots of doves but I believe they are a different species .

WOULD I GO BACK- I do not regret the trip. However , I will personally never set foot in Cameroon again if I have to deal with Cam Air. There is absolutely no certainty of when they will fly.

Great report. The Cam Air story really brought back memories. In 2008 I was on the first Cam Air flight from Douala to Garoua that arrived on time in the new century. (That's what they said anyway). Nobody was there to pick up my party and a group from Mexico because it never arrives on time. We had to negotiate our arrival with the local authorities. A long discussion with several officers, but only $20 to solve the "problem". I wish our country was so accommodating.

Again, great report and I am sorry you lost two days.

Really excellent report Larry, and sounds like a fantastic trip, Cam Air notwithstanding.

Sounds like a great trip Larry with the typical African and airline SNAFUs. Sorry you had to endure it and lose hunting time. I had a gripe with CamAir's boarding process... or lack thereof. More like a mad scramble!
I hunted with Yann in Benin back in 2008 and will heartily second that he is an interesting and knowledgeable gentlemen to spend time with. I look forward to seeing your pictures but don't count Cameroon out yet... there is still the forest and bongo to be had!

Sounds like, despite the screwups, you had a good time. And successful as well. Congratulations!

sounds a great time in central africa. did you see any tracks or heard any lions there Larry?

for camair you never dealt with air afrique as it was on par and even worst ...

Sounds like quite the adventure, Larry. Congrats on a rare chance at some unusual animals.

quote:

Originally posted by medved:
sounds a great time in central africa. did you see any tracks or heard any lions there Larry?

for camair you never dealt with air afrique as it was on par and even worst ...

Heard a lion one night . Saw tracks a couple of times.

Awesome hunt and report Larry. Monster LDE in that photo you sent me.

Sorry we'll miss you in Nashville. Late decision on our part to go after DSC shit the bed.

Congrats and we'll catch up later.

Fantastic, Larry. Congrats!

Yann is one of the very best.

And Niwa is one of the most game-rich concessions on the planet, bar none. People can’t believe it when I tell them about the sheer numbers of game animals there - and LDE in particular.

Based on your experience, I now feel lucky that I lost only one day’s hunting because of Cam Air! What a fiasco and never an explanation.

Great report and can’t wait for the photos.

Great report and congratulations! No surprise about Air Cameroon. When I was checking in with Air France 10 years ago in Yaoundé, the Air Cam checkin desk was next to AF. Every single flight on their board was cancelled or delayed for hours. Air Can(elled) indeed.

Thanks for your great report Larry. I was very happy to read of your success taking LDE. They are a major hunting prize IMO.
You describe Camair to a "T". My experience with them was pretty much identical. I've read that's not entirely their fault as the Cameroon govt has prority call on Camair when air services are needed. Civilian needs take second place so flight schedules are meaningless. Also, pre boarding Camair at Garoua airport on the homeward leg I think I counted 13 separate security, ticket check, bags checks etc, etc to go through before actually boarding the plane.
I absolutely loved hunting the savannah. Yes, it's a massive PIA getting there, hot and hard hunting, and not cheap, but I would hunt LDE again and again if I had the money and opportunity.
Will you post some pics of the game you bagged ?

Congrats on your LDE success! Thank you for sharing with us as it sounds like you had a great hunt.

I leave for Cameroon next week and your stories of Cam Air has left me a little anxious. I knew Cam Air was bad but it appears I've underestimated how bad it is given all the comments here. Guess I'll just cross my fingers and go with the flow.

Congratulations on a great hunt. Pity about the Savannah Buffalo but it does give you a reason to go back. Cam Air, like the Cameroon Government can't last forever.
Did you see any sign of poaching? We caught one with his home made musket.
On examining my Savannah Buffalo we found the explanation for his rank attitude. The front of his neck and chest were full of rough buckshot. Hopefully that poacher was not a fast runner!

quote:

Originally posted by PAGuardian:
Congrats on your LDE success! Thank you for sharing with us as it sounds like you had a great hunt.

I leave for Cameroon next week and your stories of Cam Air has left me a little anxious. I knew Cam Air was bad but it appears I've underestimated how bad it is given all the comments here. Guess I'll just cross my fingers and go with the flow.

Give very serious thought to scheduling your flight from Douala to home a day later. Yes, it’ll cost you some to change the return leg this close, but it’s better than what happened to me last year. Because the Garoua to Douala flight was cancelled we all had to reschedule our international flights home.

I was flying Turkish, while the other two were on Air France. I had to pay an extra $700 to fly a day later BUT was also bumped from Biz Class to economy class. That hurt! Pay more togoto the back of the plane.

quote:

Originally posted by DLS:

quote:

Originally posted by PAGuardian:
Congrats on your LDE success! Thank you for sharing with us as it sounds like you had a great hunt.

I leave for Cameroon next week and your stories of Cam Air has left me a little anxious. I knew Cam Air was bad but it appears I've underestimated how bad it is given all the comments here. Guess I'll just cross my fingers and go with the flow.

Give very serious thought to scheduling your flight from Douala to home a day later. Yes, it’ll cost you some to change the return leg this close, but it’s better than what happened to me last year. Because the Garoua to Douala flight was cancelled we all had to reschedule our international flights home.

I was flying Turkish, while the other two were on Air France. I had to pay an extra $700 to fly a day later BUT was also bumped from Biz Class to economy class. That hurt! Pay more togoto the back of the plane.

I wish someone had advised me of this very thing .

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Fantastic, Larry. Congrats!

Yann is one of the very best.

And Niwa is one of the most game-rich concessions on the planet, bar none. People can’t believe it when I tell them about the sheer numbers of game animals there - and LDE in particular.

Based on your experience, I now feel lucky that I lost only one day’s hunting because of Cam Air! What a fiasco and never an explanation.

Great report and can’t wait for the photos.

You would have been shocked . There were days when we saw very little .

On the first day, we saw a lot of game . A hell of a lot of game. Yann indicated it was nothing compared to what we would see due to the full moon. It never got better . In fact it got worse , a lot worse .


I am confident the water situation had a lot to do with it. There was a hell of a lot of water around . Animals will not be concentrated under those conditions.

Larry, Great Hunt Report...and Big CONGRATULATIONS!!
Outfitters should buy their own airplane and fly clients in private, vs hassles with Cam Air!! They seem to be deteriorating... while the hunting is INCREDIBLE!!
WOW!!- I'm Envious!!

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Sounds like you had an awesome hunt! Congratulations and I too look forward to the photos!

Thanks for the write up!

.

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:
Larry, Great Hunt Report...and Big CONGRATULATIONS!!
Outfitters should buy their own airplane and fly clients in private, vs hassles with Cam Air!! They seem to be deteriorating... while the hunting is INCREDIBLE!!
WOW!!- I'm Envious!!

The government has prohibited that.

I see that Cameroon remains one of the last vestiges of "old Africa" complete to questions of transport!

You got some critters that I did not, and saw more LDE than I did, but differing concessions and all.

When I was there, they still had a single company that was doing charter flights, and that was in the rainforest area. They did not complete their contract, and we drove from the capital to the concession area- a very long, and not very safe drive. The savanna hunt was Camair, and while it was not "on time" when I was there, it was close enough that local folks were commenting on it. Mike Fell was surprised how well that went.

I have to admit that my Cameroon hunts are some of the most memorable.

Congratulation on getting one of the more difficult species to hunt!

Thanks for the hunt report. It would be great to see some photos. Congratulations on a very successful safari!

quote:

Originally posted by Hannay:
Thanks for the hunt report. It would be great to see some photos. Congratulations on a very successful safari!

I’ll post some after I get home .

Thanks for the write up, Larry. Great LDE! Cameroon for forest species is somewhere I'd like to eventually experience, but honestly I'm afraid of the hassle involved in such destinations.

Safe travels home.

I was recalling the $28,000 charter fees going into CAR last year for Bongo, etc!!
I guess anything that competes with Country airlines is verboten!!
Still sounds like an incredible hunt, guess we would have to build in a few extra days to get into camp, even if you just cool your jets, getting in early??

.

Great looking LDE! One day!



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Thank you for the write up and all of the pics. And congrats on an excellent hunt with super trophies! Sounds like the transportation was ‘memorable’.

Thanks for posting your pics Larry. Enjoyed those as it revives my own fond memories. Actually reminded me how mhch I liked hunting Roan too, a very close second to LDE. If I ever return I'm adding savannah Buff for sure.
With the amount of game taken you would have had a very busy hunt. I know how much you have to work for success there.
The termite mounds are something else ! My safari boots which I used on two prior African hunts with lots of walking had perfect soles. After Cameroon the soles were toast and I got the boots resoled.

Larry,

Well done. Beautiful trophies. Cameroon is a different experience for sure.

We were lucky to have done our LDE when you could still take a charter. We avoided CamAir altogether.

Mark

Congratulations! I was hunting in early January at one of the Mayo Oldiri concessions (Nduell). I was also told it had been quite wet. Much of the grass was still green and would not burn well and some of the roads were still impassable.

very nice trophies and nice pictures. some of your trophies are very old and are very good. thank you for posting it,

Quality trophies and well done on the LDE

Congrats Larry, you sure took some amazing trophies! I'm looking forward to my 27 LDE safari... hoping my Cameroon travel goes smoother than yours but I'm always prepared for the worst. TIA

quote:

Originally posted by bwanajay:
Congrats Larry, you sure took some amazing trophies! I'm looking forward to my 27 LDE safari... hoping my Cameroon travel goes smoother than yours but I'm always prepared for the worst. TIA

Jay:

If you have to fly Cam Air, I'd give myself an extra day at minimum on both ends of the trip. It is hard to imagine anything as f'ed up as Cam Air.

Congrats on the very nice LDE, Larry!

I loved the hunting in Cameroon but that is about all I loved.

The airport is Douala was an interesting experience and one of the few places that I felt uncomfortable.

I'd probably go back for another LDE but I'd have to think about it a bit!

Chris P.

quote:

Originally posted by FishN4Eyes:
Congrats on the very nice LDE, Larry!

I loved the hunting in Cameroon but that is about all I loved.

The airport is Douala was an interesting experience and one of the few places that I felt uncomfortable.

I'd probably go back for another LDE but I'd have to think about it a bit!

Chris P.

Is is an insane place for sure . Lots of odd things going on.

Very nice report, still say that baboon is huge! Glad your flights went better coming home.

Larry,
I would love to follow in your footsteps if I can get my legs going again?? Probably more back surgery when we return from Africa in March??

The good news is, it looks like there are flights direct to GAROUA, from Europe on Ethiopian, Turkish, Swiss/Brussels Air with 1 or two stops! We can AVOID Cam-Air!!

Steve :

If you have back problems , I’d not recommend this . If the drive to camp is anything like i experienced, it will beat you to death. Constant pounding for 7.5 hours .

Great hunt Larry,

Nice pictures ... just maybe you could smile a little ...

thank you for sharing..