Who has experience with the “other buffalo” in Africa?

375Fox said:

Congo Forrest Safaris was selling that hunt for Congo Brazzaville as described in my first post. It looked like a very interesting opportunity.

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That is not the area I am referring to. Tala Tala in the north is primarily a hunting area for Bongos. I mean the area in the south, towards Pointe-Noire. Unfortunately, the hunting opportunities for foreigners in the Congo are very limited overall, and when the French residents who hunt in some areas are moreover not cooperative, things get even more complicated.

grand veneur said:

That is not the area I am referring to. Tala Tala in the north is primarily a hunting area for Bongos. I mean the area in the south, towards Pointe-Noire. Unfortunately, the hunting opportunities for foreigners in the Congo are very limited overall, and when the French residents who hunt in some areas are moreover not cooperative, things get even more complicated.

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Unless burnt savanna and rolling hills is a bongo area now, it’s stands to reason they operate in more than one area of the country.

grand veneur said:

I don't know who are these outfitters in Gabon or Congo. Anything that is not in a catalogue of a reputable French outfitter should be treated with caution. None of these countries are comparable to the ones most of us know from Southern Africa.

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One of my friends was involved with the Outfitter in Gabon, he has since moved on & back to Ghana .

I hear that Gabon Outfit - hasn’t exported any trophies as yet, or at less last couple of years, always a concern when trying to open or reopen new Areas/Country's.

375Fox said:

Unless burnt savanna and rolling hills is a bongo area now, it’s stands to reason they operate in more than one area of the country.

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That might be the case, and it would explain why there are few appointments available. It only concerns one hunting area, the others are not open for non-resident foreigners.

I believe all the buffalo in Northern Uganda are classed as being Nile buffalo, but we took 3 and only the last one had Nile traits.

I hunted last year with Congo Forest safaris in the Tala Tala area. Second trip. Got my bongo first day and spent the balance of the hunt hoping for a dwarf forest buffalo. They are spooky and far and few inbetween. I got to see one cow when we snuck into a machan to spend the night. It would not be my first choice for a DF buffalo hunt. I have a detailed report on AH should you have interest.
The year before that I hunted with them and didn't get my bongo. I don't recall seeing any buffalo on that hunt. I did get a tremendous forest Sitatunga on that hunt. Again there is a report on AH should that interest you. So in 20 days of hunting there and 14-15 nights in a machan I saw one DF buffalo. One part of their area, where we saw the cow, I was told there was not a bull in that area.
Bruce

grand veneur said:

I don't know who are these outfitters in Gabon or Congo. Anything that is not in a catalogue of a reputable French outfitter should be treated with caution. None of these countries are comparable to the ones most of us know from Southern Africa.

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Be careful. Hunting in Gabon is not open to foreign hunters, and the buffalo is fully protected, as are the elephant, panther, hippotamus, giant forest hog, bongo, great apes, and certain duikers.

That is why I warn against some outfitters who offer hunts in countries where hunting for foreigner is normally prohibited.

grand veneur said:

I don't know who are these outfitters in Gabon or Congo. Anything that is not in a catalogue of a reputable French outfitter should be treated with caution. None of these countries are comparable to the ones most of us know from Southern Africa.

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Congo Forest Safaris has a dedicated dwarf forest buffalo area farther south than where they hunt bongo. They also hunt yellow backed duiker there and I’m told it’s pretty good for both.

Northern Operations runs dwarf forest buffalo hunts in Gabon. I ont know how successful they are but an acquaintance is going there in couple months so I’ll find out.

DLSJR said:

Congo Forest Safaris has a dedicated dwarf forest buffalo area farther south than where they hunt bongo. They also hunt yellow backed duiker there and I’m told it’s pretty good for both.

Northern Operations runs dwarf forest buffalo hunts in Gabon. I ont know how successful they are but an acquaintance is going there in couple months so I’ll find out.

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#47

grand veneur said:

#47

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Yes, I saw that. This does concern as the fellow I know is booked with Northern Operations. I’m certainly going to dig into this deeper.

Just my impression but I believe Congo Forest Safaris area in southern Congo May be the best opportunity for DFB.