After hunting 3 times in Zimbabwe and 3 in South Africa, I decided that my next trip across the pond should be something different. I initially booked a hunt to the CAR through Aaron Neilson, however the rebel uprising in that country forced me to cancel my hunt. I mentioned to Aaron that I was very interested in a buffalo hunt in Burkina. He quickly put me in touch with Arjun Reddy and plans were put in place for a 14 day buffalo/roan hunt plus some other plains game.

After a direct flight from Houston to Paris, a connection to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso with a short stop in Niamey, Niger, I was finally back. Going though customs and clearing my gun was a breeze as the outfitter arranged multiple people to assist me through the process. I then spent the night at the Hotel Laico and was picked up the next morning for the 7 hour drive to camp by Tony, my interpreter, and Abraham, the driver.

Approximately half way through the drive, we stopped at a small hotel to take a break and have a drink. Below is a picture of me and Tony at the hotel.


Transportation was provided by relatively new Toyota Land Cruisers.



After settling in to my room and sighting in my rifle, we decided to make a quick drive around the hunting area. We saw plenty of animals in just a few hours. I was lucky enough to snap a quick photo of this lioness sitting on the bank of a small water point.


The next morning began with a wake-up at 4:00 AM and then off to hunting at 4:30 AM. A luxury is that the camp is situated in the middle of the hunting concession, so you can begin hunting immediately. After about an hour, Sayouba, my hunting guide, found fresh buffalo tracks at a water point. We then began tracking like any other buffalo hunt. After a couple of hours we found the buffalo herd and were able to locate a nice black bull in the herd. My shot was off the sticks at about 100 yards with the buffalo quartering away. Unfortunately, I completely missed the shot and the herd quickly ran off. We were lucky and found the herd again after an hour of more tracking. We set up under some small trees and the herd walked within 30 yards of us out in the open. It could not have been a better situation. After locating a red/black bull, my first West African Savannah Buffalo was down.


Next on the list was a roan. Fortunately, it did not take long to connect with this solitary bull.


The number of roan in this area was unbelievable. We saw at least two herds and a couple of mature bulls every day.





After the roan and buffalo, it was time to focus on a second buffalo. It was early one morning around 5:00 AM and we came across one of the most welcome sights to a buffalo hunter.



Sayouba was able to see this before it was light and from the top of the cruiser. So we stopped and waited until it was light enough to start tracking. I always enjoy listening to the sounds of Africa and this morning we were serenaded by a lion roaring in the distance.

We began tracking and after a couple of hours located the herd and a mature bull. I took a quartering shot at just over a hundred yards and did place my shot in the appropriate location. However, Sayouba did an excellent job tracking the wounded buffalo and I was able to finish the job.



Next on the list was a defassa waterbuck and I was able to connect with this solitary bull late one evening.


Next I connected with this reedbuck.


Finally, I was able to take this western kob.


Panga, where the local villagers came to offer a sacrifice. Usually a chicken on Sundays.




Some pictures of camp.







The hunting vehicles were well worn, but reliable. We did not have a break down or even a flat tire. I can't say this about some of the better looking vehicles I have hunted in the past!


Me, Arjun and Kareem, the camp manager relaxing before dinner.



In closing, my general thought is that Burkina Faso is a hidden gem that not many American hunters have been fortunate enough to experience. The people were very accommodating and did everything to try and accommodate me. The hunting in Burkina is not as well developed as one would experience in the southern African countries, but I looked at this as a plus. I refer to Sayouba as a hunting guide and not a PH as I did not feel he was the equivalent of those I have hunted with in Zimbabwe in the past. However, his tracking skills and ability to judge trophies were outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed hunting with him and felt this set up allowed me to be closer to the hunt. The quantity and quality of game were outstanding.

Every night we ate wild game which far exceeded any food that I had on any of my previous safaris.

The heat was almost unbearable and we generally finished hunting around 10:00 AM and did not start again until around 4:00. The pool after the hunt was always a welcome sight.

I believe that a lion hunt in Burkina would be second to none and hope that I can return soon to experience this hunt.

Brian,
Nice work mate. Great trophies.
I am going to hunt BF next year!
Best
Steve

Great stuff and just love the flare on the horns of your Roan. Most impressive.

Brian,
Good to see you made it home, looks like a great adventure. Congrats. Dare I ask why you made Arjun put on a dress after a week in the bush?

Great hunt with impressive Trophies

Brian, nice report and photos. I'd love to get together and compare notes on BF. If you're interested, send me a PM and we can make plans for when you're settled back into life here.
Forrest

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Brian,
Good to see you made it home, looks like a great adventure. Congrats. Dare I ask why you made Arjun put on a dress after a week in the bush?

What goes on tour stays on tour.

quote:

What goes on tour stays on tour.

hmm, seems I remember someone else in a similar predicament.

Great report. Thanks. It is on my list...

BA,

Great report and congrats on a very cool adventure. Can you tell me what other game you saw in huntable numbers on your hunt?

THX

Mark

Excellent and rare trophies. Thanks for this report.

ForrestB: I'll drop a pm.

Brad: Not sure about Arjun's skirt, but there wasn't enough booze in Burkina.

Mark: plenty of Duikers, More common than red. Lots or Oridi, a few reedbuck, tons of waterbuck, tons or roan and buff. Kob are everywhere. a few warthogs. Some baboons. We saw a lot of lion sign. I didn't get a hartebeest as I didn't see one. Arjun shot at one and saw a few.

Nice

505 Gibbs

Lungi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungi

is what Arjun is wearing.

I think it would be a perfect fit for Leon DuPlessis

Great one!

Thanks for the report. Neat horns on the roan. I thought they only had sing sing waterbuck in Burkina.

Glad you had a great hunt! Thanks for sharing!

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:
505 Gibbs

Lungi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lungi

is what Arjun is wearing.

I think it would be a perfect fit for Leon DuPlessis

Thanks Beretta, that is indeed a Lungi, I promise you its the most comfortable attire one can wear for knocking around camp. I have worn one all my life pretty much and once walked down kings road in London on a dare and one a bet!

Outstanding hunt and fine animals.

Mike

Love the Buffalo, thanks for sharing. Definitely on the bucket list
Scott

Well done. Neat hunt in a unique area!

BA- did you deal with any issues of shooting multiple animals per day? I know they have some interesting laws there?

Also, did you see any of the collector small guys? What about Hartebeests? How many animals could you take on this safari?

thanks for the info!

Great report. My bucket list keeps growing.

quote:

Panga, where the local villagers came to offer a sacrifice. Usually a chicken on Sundays.

We sacrifice alot of chicken on Sundays in Alabama as well.

Very well done. Love that roan.