Right, that’s why it would be two different hunts, plus to go to ideal areas for each as to trophy quality.
Which first……
First, off I have not hunted LD, so thats why I pick the Bongo. That will be a future hunt after my daughters graduates. I had planned on going several times with Alain Lefol in the 90's but school/life got in the way.
Long winded now....
I have hunted in several jungles (only including "Rain/Tropical Forest") through the years (83-2000) and each one was a little different. For the sake of the argument, I am not including jungles in East Africa, as they don't apply here. I just read a hunting report on AH for Liberia and I can relate to the camp conditions and the hunt. Read it, it’s a good report. Here are some examples of different types of junge hunts that I have experienced in Africa, I won't go into other continents as it does not apply.
Liberia-(short hunt last minute) Very think jungle, walking on people trails and cutting our own path with mungas. This was very loud, we saw signs of duiker nothing larger, only had a quick shot and I missed. There was too much human traffic in the area. It was a good hunt to cut my teeth on. I was in my early teens at the time and my dad figured since I was "seasoned veteran" he would stay in Monrovia while I trekked in the jungle. Long story, I got the better end of deal, as Liberia was a bit crazy in the mid 1980's. Overall, great people, fun hunt, and very appreciative for the experience.
CAR-(88/89) 21 day hunt was for Bongo, pygmy antelope and whatever else we saw. BTW, I normally the one hunting and my dad is the observer. He switched positions after only are second or third safari. My dad figured we would father take pictures, drink beer, watch me hunt and just love being in Africa. Not mention after the elephant charge only his third animal he hunted he figured it was just as much fun enjoying the experience. Which I agree. Back to the hunt.... We hunted with Alain Lefol (a AH sponsor) a top notch operation and one hell of a hunter. By this time, I switched to a pistol which is awesome in the jungle by the way. I as mentioned earlier I got my Bongo the first full day and was the first international hunter to take one with a pistol. We drove and walked a lot and since I shot my Bongo the first day, we kind of switched up the hunt. My dad would take a bongo if say one and we would mainly hunt for duiker with the occasional overnight hunt in a salt pan for bongo and sitatunga. Once in the jungle there was a variety of a trails. Some old logging trails, human trails, animal trails and no trails at all. We no longer took dogs with us as they were not needed. I would say 75% of the trails were fairly open, meaning you could see for about 15-20 yards, maybe more, not crazy under brush, thick canopy, so not a lot of direct sunlight. We would run across the occasional fly bush camp (poachers) that had been not used in some time and set them a blaze. We saw several gorillas and one time a huge silver back. Eric the PH, told us to take a knee, keep our head down and the pygmies would beat their chest to get him to come closer. Hell, when he mocked charged us beating his chest, I nearly shit myself. I unholstered my pistol in case he ripped one my arms I still get a shot off and Eric just looked at me and said don't we are just funny a little fun. I am never been so sacred well I am not sure sacred is the right emotion, nevertheless I can still visually see him right now. In short in CAR, depending on the area, the jungle environment is going to vary you might not be constantly hacking away with a munga and will be able to see further than your hand. This makes the hunt more enjoyable.
Congo (91/92). 21 days- Virgin Area, first hunters in. Most the trails were elephant trails with some bong/animal trails, old logging trails and old human trails. We saw eight poached elephants withing in walking distance of the camp. All had been killed prior to our hunt the carcass were weeks old. We walked by two almost on a daily basis. Saw sitatunga the first day, to small the horns were the saw a monster bushbuk. Never saw another one. Saw several bongo, no permit for them, as I had already shot one, so I did not want to hunt for them. We were there for dwarf forest buffalo (the one in my profile), sitatunga and pygmy antelopes. We rarely had to cut our way through the jungle as the trails were good. Not like a cattle trail on the open range, but wide enough to move silently through the bush calling for duikers and looking for sign. Overall, the hunt was an adventure of lifetime.
Overall, on Jungle Hunts. Several things to point out. Expect the unexpected. We never had bug problems during the day, I wore Deet every day. Had a few run ins with the leaf cutter and giant ants where I had to strip my clothes to get them off me. My dad duct taped his pants a few times to try and keep them out. Check for sand flees at night had one lay eggs under a toe nail. Bring a face net, the gnats and mosquitoes are thick at salt pans and if you build a blind, you will want it. Killed Gabon vipers on every safari, one actually ripped the pant leg on the tracker’s overalls, but it not get his skin. So, keep an eye out for snakes. Bring two pair of good shoes. I read several reports about shoes. I have never hunted in boots, except our first hunt. I picked up a pair of local sneakers in Zimbabwe like my PH was wearing, they were kind of like low top converse all stairs, and wear them for years till I out grew them. The hunted in converse all-stars, that were died green. There were great jungle shoes. Modern technology, got rid of the all-stars. Bring a small pair of binos that gathers good light, no need for 10x. Bring a Tilley hat, neck scarf, small knives, and tweezers. Lastly you will sweat a lot its hot and humid. I grew in South Texas, so I like the heat and humidity and did not think the weather was a problem.
Depending on the location, time and funds, CAR might be your best best for both. Looking at Lefol Safaris game camera pictures you could Bongo and LD on the same trip. Maybe in this area you could also get a few other savanna species as well.
