Cameroon Hunting Season

Cameroon is also referred to as "Little Africa" due to its' diversity of habitat; rain forest, forest glades with savannah and savannah with bush veld. Cameroon, like Central African Republic and Tanzania, is a historically significant hunting destination in Africa.

For many decades, French professional hunters, as well as some Italian, Spanish and Belgian professional hunters, led amazing safaris in Cameroon. Contributing to Cameroons' reputation as a prestigious big game hunting country of the former Afrique Equatoriale Fran霆喫se (French Equatorial Africa). Today, Cameroon remains one of the most beautiful destinations to hunt in Africa.

The political stability of the country assures Cameroon's reputation as an ideal destination for both hunting and tourism. This is also true for most of the formers French colonies in Western and Central Africa. Due to the French colonial influence many Europeans view Cameroon, as well as Burkina Faso and Benin, as perfect first safari destinations. All hunters are certain to discover the ancient atmosphere of Africa while experiencing the thrill of an authentic fair chase African hunt.

There are two major hunting regions in Cameroon, the North and the South/Southeast.

The northern terrain consists mostly of savannah with some lightly wooded areas and some dense forest. Hunting in northern Cameroon is famous for one of its most sought after species, the Lord Derby Eland (Tragelaphus Eurycerus Eurycerus). Hunting in Cameroon is also known for its' large variety of antelopes including Roan Antelope (Hippotragus Equinus), Western Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Buselaphus), Buffon's Kob (Kobus Kob), Defassa Waterbuck (Kobus Ellipsiprymnus Defassa), Bohor Reedbuck (Redunca Redunca), Harnessed Busbuck (Tragelaphus Scriptus Knutsoni), Orebi (Ourebia Ourebi) and various varieties of Duikers (Cephalophus Cephalophus).

West African Savannah Buffalo (Syncerus Cafer Nanus Savanensis) are found in large numbers, herds of several hundred animals are not uncommon. Lions are hunted but only by tracking, as is the case in all of Western and Central Africa and not with bait as in Eastern Africa. Elephants are also abundant. They do not have long tusks, but hunting them is allowed. Hippos provide yet another hunting opportunity. The neighboring parks and wildlife preserves ensure the continued presence of dense animal populations which migrate freely between the parks, preserves and the hunting areas.

Hunting in the Northern part of Cameroon begins with a drive in a 4x4 from the camps then, once in the bush, tracking on foot. The terrain is fairly flat and the hunting is not very physically demanding. As is true for all of West and Central Africa, the large hunting areas in Cameroon are open territories, not fenced.

The average hunting concession area is approximately 220,000 acres and is rented and managed by hunting outfitters who are usually French hunting companies and/or French professional hunters and members of the members of the A.C.P. (Association des Chasseurs Professionnels - Association of Professional Hunters).

In northern Cameroon the hunting camps are permanent. The bungalows are comfortable and are often air conditioned. In most cases, camps are built along rivers and many of the camps have swimming pools. The French style cuisine is excellent and offers many opportunities to taste the meat of various types of game.

In the northern region, hunting areas are accessible by road from Garoua (pronounced ga-roo-ah), capital of the Northern district. The roads are good and the drive is on average 3 to 4 hours. The hunting season runs from mid-December through mid-May.

The south and southeast of Cameroon along with neighboring regions in the Congo and the Central African Republic also provide for an excellent hunting experience. These regions are covered with dense rain forest and are home to the Forest Elephant. Hunting Forest Elephant is always very exciting but requires a fair amount of physical exertion. Good physical fitness is recommended.

The forest is also home to the magnificent yet stealth Bongo and as with the Forest Elephant, the hunt is usually led by pygmies. The equatorial forest in Cameroon is also home to the Dwarf Forest Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer Nanus Stricto Sensus), Western Sitatunga (Tragelaphus Spekei Gratus), Giant Forest Hog (Hylochoerus Meinertzhageni), Bushpig (Potamochoerus), Yellow-Backed Duiker (Cephalophus Silvicultor), Blue Duiker (Cephalophus Monticola), Black-Fronted Duiker (Cephalophus Nigrifrons) and the White Bellied Duiker (Cephalophus Leucogatser).

Rain forest hunting is only done on foot which requires significant physical exertion and should not be undertaken lightly. The hunting camps are generally tent camps, however hunting in the forest also sometimes requires making "flying camps".

As in the northern areas, the southern areas are most often managed by French hunting companies and professional hunters. These are often the same companies that own or operate the areas in the north.

In the Southern region, hunting areas are accessible by air from the capital of Cameroon, Yaounde (pronounced ya-oon-dey) and flights average 30 minutes.

The hunting season in the rain forest areas runs from end of May through end of July.

Climate in Cameroon

There are two distinct hunting areas in Cameroon, one in the south commonly referred to as the Cameroon Forest and one in the north known as the Cameroon Savannah. These hunting areas fall into the southern and northern regions of the country which possess two distinct climates.

In the southern Cameroon Forest hunting area, the average daily temperature during the hunting season ranges from a low of 70DF to high of 83DF (21DC to 28DC). There are two dry seasons, one which runs from November to February and June to July. The rainy seasons can also be divided into two periods, the little rains which fall from March to June and the big rains which fall during August and September.

In the northern Cameroon Savannah hunting area, the average daily temperature during the hunting season ranges from low of 65DF to high of 84DF (18DC to 29DC) and is very pleasant. The dry season in the north is from November to April and the rainy season is spread out from May to the end of October, although very little rain falls in this area considering it is so close to the equator and droughts are not uncommon.

World Weather Online provides a very detailed look at current weather conditions, weather forecasts, a history and almanac for predicting average weather conditions during the time while you will be traveling in that part of the world. Click here for Cameroon's climate and temperature forecast.

Cameroon Hunting Season & When Hunting is Allowed

• Hunting Season - December 1st to July 31st
  Most outfitters for Cameroon Savannah region run their hunting season from December 1st to May 31st and for Cameroon Forest region operate their hunting season from March 15th to July 31st.
• Trophy hunting may take place within the hours of daylight during the hunting season, no hunting is allowed at night and no hunting is allowed with artificial light.
• The government of Cameroon controls the minimum number of days for a hunting safari based upon certain species being hunted. Above and beyond the government regulations, the hunting outfitter may also impose their own guidelines as to the minimum number of days required to hunt certain species or combination of species.
• Shooting an animal from a vehicle is not permitted.
• Hunting from a vehicle is not permitted, though the vehicle can be used to reach the area from where hunting on foot can begin.
• Hunting of female, young and/or immature animals is prohibited and if shot, this animal will count as two animals taken from it's Group (See Cameroon Hunting Permits & Licenses section below to see what species are in each group) on your hunting license. The trophy fee will also be double the standard trophy fee for that species.
• The minimum legal weight of ivory for an Elephant is 11 pounds (5 kilograms) per side.

Species to Hunt in Cameroon

Cameroon offers a good selection of species for trophy hunting, including Elephant, Lion, Dwarf/Forest Buffalo, West African Savannah Buffalo, Western Bongo, Western Roan Antelope, Sing-Sing Waterbuck, Giant Forest Hog and a multitude of Duiker in addition to other species.



CAMEROON Species to Hunt

Hunting Licence Group and Species

Hunting licences are arranged for 3 Groups of animals. These may be either referred to as Groups 1-3 or Groups A-C.

Where outfitters operate both forest and savanna areas, you may find the animal species of both areas lumped together in the Groups.

A maximum of 1 hunting licence per Group can be purchased per hunter. Some outfitters offer an 'upgrade' on a 'Big Hunting Licence' with the option to buy an additional 'Medium Hunting Licence' but you still are not allowed to hunt more

It is not allowed to hunt two of the same species, irrespective of the licence.

This licence may be known as the 'Big Hunting Licence' and the hunter may select 2 animals from the Group 1/A and 4 animals from Group 2/B and Group 3/C.

Alternatively the hunter may take 4 animals from Group 2/B and 4 animals from Group 3/C on a 'Medium Hunting Licence'.

If you don't want any animals from Group 1/A or 2/B, you can be issued with a 'Small Hunting Licence' for any or all animals in Group 3/C.

Note, if you are intending to do both a forest and savanna hunt on the same safari, you won't be able to take both types of buffalo (forest and western savanna buffalo) or elephant (forest and savanna elephant) as they are considered as the same in Cameroon, so only 1 may be taken.

You will find some outfitters shift different animals into different Groups. For example, you may see the Sing-Sing waterbuck and harnessed bushbuck in savanna Group 1/A or in Group 3/C in some cases. This maybe because they maybe rather scarce in a particular area and an outfitter wants to conserve his quota.

These species may be available on the hunting license in the country; however they may not be available on quota anywhere in the country. Also individual hunting outfitters may or may not be given any quota or have any remaining licenses left for some species.

Some of these species may not be able to be imported back into your country of residence. You can find information on the importation of sport hunted trophies at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Permits or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) at www.cites.org.

Bird Hunting Season in Cameroon

From December 1st to July 31st, a hunter will need to request from his hunting outfitter a Group (3) - Small Game or Birds hunting license. This Bird hunting license under Group (3) allows you to harvest all of the different huntable species of birds listed under Group (3). This list is not yet available and quotas per bird species should be discussed with your hunting outfitter.

Bird hunting fees vary from hunting outfitter and by species.

Cameroon Hunting Trophy Export Restriction

Since February 2015, the EU Scientific Review Group has delivered a 'negative' opinion on wild lion conservation in Cameroon. Even though lion is still CITES II, now most EU member states will require and likely deny an import permit for Cameroon lion hunting trophies as part of EU 'stricter domestic measures'. Australia has banned all lion trophy imports since March 2015.
With an CITES export quota of 10 hippo hunting trophies from Cameroon, the same EU Scientific Review Group has delivered a 'negative' opinion on hippo conservation in Cameroon. This means EU member states require an import permit for CITES II/Annex B hippo hunting trophy items from Cameroon which they will likely deny.
Yellow-backed duiker is no longer available to hunt in Cameroon, due to their own Government directive.
Import of elephant trophies into the EU from Cameroon has been suspended since May 2015.
Import of of elephant trophies into the USA from Cameroon is not allowed.
There is no distinction between forest or savanna elephants in Cameroon as far as CITES, the EU or USF&W are concerned.

Bird Species

(click on bird name for detailed info and pictures)
Shot Placement Guide for the Perfect Shot
Click here to visit our shot placement guide, the most comprehensive shot placement guide of African game online.

Bow Hunting in Cameroon

Bow hunting in cameroon is legal during the hunting season. This country offers tremendous opportunities for bow hunters however few operators have the experience to conduct bow hunting safaris so careful selection of the hunting outfitter is important.

For bow hunting in Cameroon, I recommend the following parts of the country which are more suited to bow hunting because they are drier during these months, Cameroon Forest March 1st to July 31st and Cameroon Savannah December 1st to April 31st.

Importation of Bows & Arrows into Cameroon

It is legal for hunters to import bows for bow hunting purposes into Cameroon and no import permit is required.

Traveling with Firearms & Ammunition

Traveling to Africa usually requires taking at least a couple of different airlines as well as departing from several countries whose laws and regulations are constantly changing. And they all have their own rules, regulations and laws for which it is your responsibility to be aware and in compliance with all of them.

Permits & Importation of Firearms & Ammunition into Namibia

The following section contains the basic information you will need to know.

• Temporary importation of firearms and ammunition into Cameroon is NOT free of charge, please check with your outfitter or the as to the current charges, as they are based upon number of rifles, days of hunt and type of hunting safari. The process is usually quick and easy.
• Your hunting outfitter will send you a form to fill out and return to them so they can arrange for your firearms and ammunition temporary import/export permits months prior to your arrival as required by the government of Benin. This form must be accompanied by four ID photos (passport type) along with a copy of your passport. This permit will be based upon the firearm information you provide to your outfitter so it is very important that you carefully consider which firearms you will be bringing with you, as once you have submitted the form you will not be able to change your mind. It is very important that all weapons serial numbers be exactly the same when you arrive as what was issued on your import/export permit. Last minute changes of mind cause more problems regarding gun permits than any other reason. Exact number of ammunition is also important.
• Clearing of firearm(s) upon entry into Cameroon requires that someone who works for the hunting outfitter be present.
• There is a limit of two firearms per hunter that may be imported into Cameroon for trophy hunting purposes.
• A maximum of fifty (50) rounds of ammunition may be imported per hunting rifle, however you may encounter greater restrictions from the airline(s) you are traveling on or country you are departing from or other countries you may be visiting or transiting through.
• Only ammunition for the specific caliber(s) you are bringing may be imported.
• Semi-automatic firearms are allowed however sometimes the temporary importation permit is not granted by the Embassy where you apply for your permit.
• No automatic firearms are allowed.
• No handguns are allowed.

Cameroon Professional Hunters Association

There is no Professional Hunters Association in Cameroon.

Association of Bid Game Professional Hunters (AGGC - Association des Guides de Grande Chasse)

Many professional hunters in the former French colonies in Africa are French nationals and members of the Association des Guides de Grande Chasse. Click here to visit ACP web site for more information.

Association of Professional Hunters in France (ACP - Association des Chasseurs Professionnels)

Click here to visit ACP web site for more information.

Cameroon Hunting Permits & Licenses

The wildlife authorities and the government of Cameroon allocates quotas by species to each hunting block or hunting territory on an individual basis.

Your hunting license and permit will be applied for and obtained by your hunting outfitter well prior to your arrival, please check with your outfitter as to the current charges or if the cost of this paperwork is already included in the price of your hunt.

The following is required regarding permits for trophy hunting in Cameroon:

• To obtain your hunting license, it is mandatory to get a health certificate from your doctor stating that you are physically fit enough to participate in a big game hunting safari.
• A maximum of one trophy per species per hunting season may be harvested, per hunting client per hunting license.
  Note: Even though the Safari Club International recognizes the Dwarf/Forest Buffalo and the West African Savannah Buffalo as different species of Buffalo, Cameroon considers it the same, so only one can be harvested.
• Clients are only permitted to hunt animals for which a permit is issued.
• A maximum of one hunting license per Group can be purchased per hunter per hunting season (one for Group (1) - Big Game, one for Group (2) - Medium Game and one for Group (3) - Small Game).
• All animals are subject to quota availability.
• Permits must be issued prior to the hunt commencing.
• A separate permit must be issued for each individual hunting client.
• Trophy fee for wounded game that is not recovered is double the standard trophy fee for that species.
• Clients are expected to abide by all Wildlife Hunting Regulations in Cameroon.

Hunting Licenses are divided into 3 distinct Groups, which are as follow:

CITIES Permits & U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The importation of some individual sport hunted trophies requires a CITES permit (i.e. African Elephant, White Rhinoceros and Leopard to name a few), you will need to submit an application to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service if you are planning to import any of the species on their list. You can download the CITIES permit application forms by clicking here. CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, visit their web site at www.cites.org.

Visa & Travel Documents

All foreigners must be in possession of a passport that will remain valid for at least six months after the intended date of departure from Cameroon as well as a round trip airline ticket.

Temporary entry visas for Cameroon are required by visitors from almost all countries. As the list changes from time to time, it is important to verify if you need to obtain a visa based upon your country of citizenship. Entry visas must be obtained prior to arrival in the country. This should be done well in advance as it can take some time to complete the process which may require sending your passport to their Embassy or Consulate. Entry visa rules can change from time to time, it is important to verify the current regulations before obtaining a visa.

To find out if you need to apply for a Visa in advance, a great resource with free information is Travel Document System (TDS) at www.traveldocs.com. If you are in need of a visa, Travel Document System is nationally recognized as a leading authority in the field of international Travel Documents. Travelers are quite often not sure of the specific requirements or documentation required to enter into a foreign country. TDS helps international travelers easily understand what is specifically required of them in order to gain passage into another country and provides visa services for U.S. citizens to most countries for which an entry visa is required www.traveldocs.com.

Traveler's Health & Immunizations

A valid yellow fever inoculation certificate or International Health Certificate including yellow fever proof of vaccination is required upon arrival from all countries to enter Cameroon.

To obtain your hunting license, it is mandatory to get a health certificate from your doctor stating that you are physically fit enough to participate in a big game hunting safari.

CDC recommends that you see a health-care provider who specializes in Travel Medicine. Find a travel medicine clinic near you by clicking here. If you have a medical condition, you should also share your travel plans with any doctors you are currently seeing for other medical reasons.

Recommended Vaccinations Include:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Meningococcal Meningitis
• Rabies
• Tuberculosis
• Routine vaccination if you are not up-to-date including Influenza, Polio, MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) and DPT (diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus)

Malaria prophylactics medication is highly recommended and should be considered as mandatory, however we suggest that you visit the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for their recommendations for travel in Cameroon as mosquitoes in this country are resistant to some antimalarial drugs.

The CDC is most credible online resource for up to date health information. Click here to visit the section dedicated to Traveler's Health specific to Cameroon. Information about vaccinations, diseases, prevention, tips and much more can be found here.

Malaria Map of Cameroon

Click HERE to enlarge Cameroon Malaria Map.

Malaria Maps of Africa

Click HERE for Africa malaria maps, distribution model, endemic / epidemic risk areas, duration of malaria transmission season and duration of malaria transmission season.

Tourism in Cameroon

The Cameroon has no Official Government Tourism web site a good place to explore what options are available for travel outside of your hunting safari. Your hunting safari outfitter may also offer short excursions up to extensive touring through their company as well.

General Information about Cameroon

• Republic of Cameroon (Republique du Cameroun)
• Population 18,000,000
• Capital City Yaounde (1,500,000)
• Languages French (official), English (official) and numerous tribal dialects.

• Official Currency Central African CFA Franc (XAF). Denominations in 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 100 CFA Francs bank notes. To view images of these banknotes, click here.
• Electricity, the Cameroon standard is 220/240 volts, two-pin 15 amp outlets. Most lodges/camps have generator(s) to power the electricity through rechargeable batteries therefore it is recommended to bring a  mall power inverter that plugs into a cigarette lighter to invert 12V DC Power to 110V AC for recharging in the hunting vehicle. Generator(s) in most camps are only run during the morning and evening hours and sometimes can be run at other times by special request. Be sure to check with your hunting outfitter in Cameroon what they are using. Click here for more info.
• Country Dialing Code 237

Clothing

This extensive packing list is very complete and should be used as a guide to help you with your preparation. Adapt this list according to your preferences, weather and length of your trip, etc.

Safari hunting wear should be comfortably fitting and made of a sturdy fabric. Laundry is done on a daily basis so packing should be done with this in mind. The color of your hunting clothes from hats to boots including your backpack should be green, brown, khaki, olive, or neutral. Avoid light shades of any color and clothing that makes noise. Depending upon the time of the year, darker colored clothing might be recommended.

I recommend layering clothing since temperature changes from dawn to dusk can be significant depending on the time of year in Cameroon. You should test your layers before your trip, your outer layer should fit easily over the inside one(s) without binding and bunching up. Do not bring clothing items that you are very fond of, the African bush is unforgiving. Should you be traveling during the rainy season it is best to have at least some fast drying synthetic clothing that maintains its warmth when wet

• Long pants, pants should be comfortably fitting and made of a sturdy fabric, the thicker and tighter the weave the stronger and more impenetrable to thorns and insects. I suggest the Attack or Tiburon pants as they are great in the warmer weather. Alpine or Chinook pants with lots of pockets are a great functional piece of clothing.
• Shorts, some hunters are comfortable wearing shorts for hunting in warm climates which is fine but there can be drawbacks. I usually advise against wearing shorts for hunting due to the abundance of sharp thorns, twigs and nasty grass which can be hard on your legs. A pair of shorts for camp or travel may be good to bring if the weather is hot, but the choice to wear them while hunting is yours. The Tiburon Shorts are a super lightweight and breathable short that’s great for hot weather hunting.
• Shirts, long sleeved shirts for hunting will protect you from the sun and the bush to some degree.
• T-shirts
• A light waterproof, breathable jacket, for wind or rain
• Underwear
• Sleepwear
• Casual clothing for relaxing at camp and traveling
• Swimsuit if it’s a warm time of the year

Cold Weather Clothing

• Warm jacket or heavy weight fleece
• Warm wool sweater(s) or mid weight fleece
• Mid weight long underwear
• Warm headwear, one that covers your ears can serve a dual purpose.
• Warm gloves

Footwear

• Hunting boots, you should bring two pairs of well broken-in hunting boots or one pair of hunting boots and one pair of trail shoes. Your footwear should be comfortable, light weight, preferably leather, darker in color and have the advantage of a quiet sole for stalking or tracking.
• Extra shoe laces for your hunting boots
• Casual shoes for relaxing in camp and traveling
• Sandals, for wearing around camp when the weather is suitable
• Socks, high quality socks are a good idea and will help minimize the risk of blisters.

Accessories

• Gloves, that are functional for hunting, preferably leather and dark in color. Fingerless gloves used for biking or weightlifting are ideally suited for shooting and reloading and at the same time they will protect you hands if crawling through the bush.
• Headwear, a suitably colored baseball cap and/or wide brimmed safari hat for added sun protection for your neck and ears.
• Belt(s)
• Bandana/Neck Gaiter, a great multi-purpose item, sun protection (head or neck), wet it will cool you off, handkerchieve, dust mask, etc.
• Gaiters, above the ankle to keep your boots and socks free of nuisances such as sand, prickly seeds and sharp grass or to the knee to offer added protection from nuisances, such as bush, sharp weeds, snakes, etc.

Toiletries

• Hairbrush/comb
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Q-tips
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Razor and blades
• Shaving cream (Non-aerosol for carry on)
• Deodorant (Non-aerosol for carry on)
• Cologne
• Moisturizing lotion
• Nail scissors or clippers
• Tweezers
• Lip balm with high SPF
• Sun block with high SPF, We recommend waterproof sunscreen as it lasts longer. Even if sweating. Depending on the area you are hunting, repellant sunblock is an option but unscented is always a good idea.
• Ziplock bags, useful and versatile. A good way to contain items that may leak in your luggage.

Travel Accessories

• Flashlight, we suggest Ledlenser, their brilliant design and easy-use functionality insures great pleasure for your every need.
• Camera, lenses, flash, a second memory stick, charger and/or extra batteries.
• Video camera, tapes or memory card/stick, charger and/or extra batteries. Ask your PH to take pictures with his own camera too, it’s a great back up
• Lens cleaning kit
• Electric converters
• Plug adapters

Your Prescription Medication and First Aid

Bruce Watson Safaris has a first aid kit and basic medications are available such as aspirin, ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea pills and band aids.

If you bring prescription medication they should be packed in your carry on luggage and you should have enough to last you through your trip. Your medication must be prescribed in your name and be in their original prescription bottles to avoid problems at customs. If you are carrying liquid medication, be sure to place them in a zip lock bag for airport security.

• Your regular prescription medications
• Copies of prescriptions for medications that you are carrying
• Bee allergy shot or Epipen for those with severe allergies

For your personal needs you may wish to consider bringing some of the following:

• Treatments for jet lag
• Insect repellent
• Itch cream with cortisone
• Antibiotic cream
• Moleskin or Band Aid blister block or Band Aid cushions
• Laxative
• Antacid
• Eye drops
• Motion sickness remedies
• Decongestant
• Allergy medication

Personal Items

• Prescription glasses and/or clear shooting glasses. Theese will help protect your eyes, day or night, against sand, thorns and insects.
• Sunglasses.
• Contact lenses and solution if preferred. (Glasses are more practical and provide added protection)
• Earplugs (for hunting, travel or sleeping)
• Cell phone and/or satellite phone (Most hunting areas/camps have wifi access and/or local network; check with your telephone service provider to see if your phone has the capability to be activated.)
• Watch
• Field guide
• Shot placement guide or click here for the App.
• Small notebook and pen to keep journal or take notes
• List of addresses or pre-printed mailing labels for sending postcards back home
• Something to read
• Reminder list of things that you wanted to do or buy