Hello, what in your opinion is the least known country in Africa that allows hunting? I'd love to find out about more opportunities in these lesser known destinations! My vote would go to Gabon for duiker hunting.
Here are some threads from a long time ago regarding Angola which you may be interested in:Any idea what kind of game would be in Angola?
I hunted right along the border of Angola in the Caprivi. We saw red lechwe, reedbuck, roan, impala, duiker and others on the Angola side. In that area anything in Caprivi is on other side of border too.Any idea what kind of game would be in Angola?
Places that I've never heard about that surprise me that they are not on the list: Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi. Especially Malawi. Geographically it was part of the Northern Rhodesian territories at one point and you'd think if Zambia is good, Malawi would be good too.
Isn't there also some hunting in Northern Africa? Ethiopia, etc?
Of course, Cameroon is off the beaten path and is a go-to for Bongo and forest buffalo.
Mozambique is a less common destination that has significant perils but also good game populations apparently.
Places that I've never heard about that surprise me that they are not on the list: Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi. Especially Malawi. Geographically it was part of the Northern Rhodesian territories at one point and you'd think if Zambia is good, Malawi would be good too.
Not sure about hunting in Lesotho.
You can hunt in Swaziland. There are around a half dozen types of pg available from a few places.
There have been threads on Malawi. Don't think it is against the law to hunt there. The problem is there is no game. Malawi probably has the densest human population in Africa. At one point southern Malawi had great elephant and buff populations. Not sure when game became depleted, but it was probably between WWII and independence. When I was a youngster, friends from Malawi would come hunt with us in Tanzania. I believe the visitor license cost 50TZS in those days. (That visitor license may have only been available to Commonwealth members. Probably originated in the days of the Empire.) I don't remember everything on the nonresident license, but they usually shot buff, zebra, impala, warthog and went home with their vehicle overloaded. About the only thing I remember the friends having in Malawi around their place was leopard and maybe bushbuck.
Ethiopia is a great place to hunt, although very expensive. They have a few endemic species, like mountain nyala and a couple of bushbuck subspecies (even baboon rarities!). Northern Operations is also an excellent outfitter.Nassos and Jason Roussos from Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris are well known for especially Mountain Nyala.
You're right about the French, but almost everyone who comes into contact with hunters will speak English as well. Trackers and skinners might not, but that's the same just about everywhere. I don't think Burkina Faso is open for hunting (if it is, it's currently not very safe). But Benin is a wonderful place to hunt. Roan, Western savannah buffalo, Western hartebeest, harnessed bushbuck, Sing Sing waterbuck, kob, endless hippo, lots of game including little guys like oribi and red duiker. Atacora Safaris is a great outfitter there - Christophe Morio is one of their PH's - you won't find a better hunter or someone more fun to hunt with.You may check west African countries, as well - keep in mind there may be French as official language
And some great rewards. Sleeping under the stars in Benin - as I imagine hunting would have been before or during the "Golden Age."However, going to less beaten track to unknown country, will also bring some risks.
The rewards are great, and there is a good chance we may be the last generation to have the privilege.
When did that happen? Jean-Luc Damy, the owner, had just upgraded the camp a couple of years ago.I believe Benin is done, Christophe is no longer hunting there, may be other outfit's to hunt with but Atacora Safaris is no longer
Up until the above thread, I'd have said Benin. Totally wild, huge areas surrounding Penjari National Park, all free range. After I hunted there I wrote a report and compared Benin with South Africa in terms of cost, and I think demonstrated that Benin could be hunted for less than South Africa, depending on what you wanted to hunt.Hank, thanks for comments.
And you are absolutely right with this thought. This is my thought as well, a sentence that I very frequently say to other hunters who consider hunting Africa, but never hunted there yet.
We are maybe the first generation of hunters where middle class can afford safari in Africa, and possibly we may be the last generation to have that privilege.
I was reading many reports, articles or books - about hunts in tropical rain forest, bongo, but the price is over my budget, on every offer I could find. Moreover, political situation, has worsened lately in some countries limiting options for hunting bongo.
The question, therefore which comes to mind is this.
From your experience, and all countries you have visited - which of the less visited hunting countries, could be more economic, and worth looking into? And which species could be hunted on lower budget level?
The motivation would be experience of hunt in African wilderness, not some specific species for trophy, just to hunt locally what is local species.
All of the other "wild" places I've visited have been pretty expensive when compared to southern Africa - although great value for money from my perspective.