Some African trophies are measured in inches.

Others are measured by what they represent.

Standing over a mature Lord Derby's Eland is one of those moments few hunters ever forget. Africa's largest antelope is not simply another plains game species; it is one of the continent's rarest and most prestigious hunting trophies, found only in a handful of remote wilderness areas across Central and West Africa.

This 15-day Lord Derby Eland Hunting in Cameroon safari takes hunters into the vast savannas of northern Cameroon, where miles of open woodland, rolling grasslands, and rugged hills provide the perfect habitat for these magnificent giants. Unlike the dense rainforests of southern Cameroon, this is classic West African safari country where long days on foot, experienced local trackers, and patient glassing combine to create one of Africa's finest antelope hunting experiences.

For hunters seeking an authentic Hunting in Cameroon adventure, few safaris offer the combination of prestige, wilderness, and species diversity found here. Alongside the Lord Derby's Eland, hunters have opportunities to pursue several exceptional West African species, creating an expedition that is remembered long after the trophies have reached home.

Safari Overview

Duration: 15 Days / 13 Full Hunting Days

Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter

Package Price: US$46,000 per Hunter (Excluding Trophy Fees)

Hunting Licence & Species Allocation

This safari package includes the hunting licence allowing the hunter to pursue the following species during the safari.

Trophy fees for animals harvested or wounded are charged separately and are not included in the package price.

Licence Allocation

• 1 × Lord Derby's Eland
• 1 × Additional Group A Species (Hunter's Choice – Western Roan or North Western Buffalo)
• Up to 4 × Additional Group B or Group C Species

Observers

Observers are welcome at US$300 per person, per night.

Rifle Hire

Should you prefer not to travel with your own firearm, quality rental rifles are available.

• .416 Rifle: US$300 per safari
• 12-Gauge Shotgun or .22 Rifle: US$180 per safari

Ammunition

• .416 and larger calibres: US$30 per round
• .458, .375 and smaller calibres: US$25 per round

This safari has been designed for hunters pursuing one of Africa's rarest and most prestigious antelope. With thirteen full hunting days in Cameroon's vast northern savannas, hunters have the time needed to properly pursue a mature Lord Derby's Eland while also experiencing the exceptional diversity of West African plains game found nowhere else on the continent.

More Than Just a Lord Derby's Eland

While the Lord Derby's Eland is undoubtedly the headline trophy, one of the greatest attractions of hunting northern Cameroon is the remarkable diversity of West African game found across its vast savannas.

This safari has been designed around a Group A hunting licence, allowing hunters to pursue a mature Lord Derby's Eland together with either Western Roan Hunting in Cameroon or North Western Buffalo Hunting in Cameroon. Combined with the opportunity to hunt up to four additional Group B or Group C species, this becomes far more than a single-species expedition. It is one of Africa's most diverse Plains Game Safaris, offering serious collectors the chance to add several rare West African trophies to their collection during a single unforgettable safari.

Species regularly encountered include Western Hartebeest, Harnessed Bushbuck, Nigerian Bohor Reedbuck, Central African Cob, Warthog, Hyena, Red-flanked Duiker, Western Bush Duiker, Sudan Oribi, Civet, Baboon, and several other uniquely West African species seldom available elsewhere on the continent.

For hunters who enjoy collecting Africa's regional trophies, northern Cameroon offers something increasingly difficult to find, a genuine opportunity to hunt species that cannot simply be added to another safari elsewhere in southern Africa.

Why Thirteen Hunting Days Matter

Lord Derby's Eland are built for big country.

Unlike many plains game species that spend much of their time within relatively predictable home ranges, mature eland bulls may cover vast distances across Cameroon's northern savannas in search of fresh grazing, water, and breeding herds. Finding the right bull often means covering plenty of ground, glassing distant hillsides, and allowing experienced trackers the time they need to slowly piece together the movements of the herd.

Some days begin with fresh tracks only to end many miles from where the hunt started. Other days reward patience with an opportunity that develops within the first few hours. That unpredictability is simply part of hunting one of Africa's largest and most prestigious antelope.

Thirteen full hunting days provide the flexibility to hunt without rushing decisions, adapt to changing conditions, and pursue a truly mature Lord Derby's Eland while still enjoying the remarkable diversity of northern Cameroon's unique plains game species.

Hunting a Giant of the African Savanna

Standing over a mature Lord Derby's Eland is a humbling experience. Mature bulls can weigh close to a ton, making them Africa's largest antelope, yet despite their immense size they move through the bush with surprising ease. Herds may appear almost ghost-like as they drift quietly between woodland and open grasslands, disappearing into the trees far quicker than their size would suggest.

Unlike many plains game species, Lord Derby's Eland seldom rely on speed alone. Their exceptional eyesight, cautious nature, and ability to detect movement at long distances often force hunters to begin careful stalks hundreds of yards away. Every approach becomes a test of patience, using the wind, terrain, and sparse cover to slowly close the distance without alerting the herd.

When the opportunity finally presents itself, hunters quickly understand why this animal commands such respect throughout Africa. It is not simply the size of the bull standing before you, but the journey required to reach him.

The Trophy That Starts Conversations

Every hunter has a favourite trophy.

It is not always the biggest, nor the most expensive. More often, it is the trophy attached to the greatest story.

Years after returning home, many hunters find themselves standing quietly in their trophy room, looking at the immense spiral horns of a Lord Derby's Eland and remembering far more than the shot itself. They remember the first distant glimpse of the herd through the binoculars, the miles walked beneath Cameroon's vast skies, the whispered conversations between trackers, and the careful final stalk that brought Africa's largest antelope within range.

Unlike many trophies, a mature Lord Derby's Eland is instantly recognised by experienced African hunters. It is one of those animals that immediately starts conversations. Friends stop, study the horns, and inevitably ask the same question.

"Where did you hunt him?"

That single question often leads to stories lasting far longer than anyone planned. Stories about the country, the trackers, the long days on foot, the campfire each evening, and the unforgettable moment when years of dreaming finally became reality. For many hunters, those memories become just as valuable as the trophy itself.

If collecting Africa's great antelope has always been part of your hunting journey, few experiences compare to pursuing a mature Eland Hunt in the wild savannas of northern Cameroon. Very few hunters will ever own a Lord Derby's Eland. Fewer still will forget what it took to earn one.

The First Glimpse of a Lord Derby's Eland

Hours may pass before the trackers suddenly stop and point towards what appears to be nothing more than a distant shadow beneath an acacia tree. Through the binoculars, the outline slowly takes shape. Long spiral horns. Enormous shoulders. A mature Lord Derby's Eland bull quietly feeding with the herd.

The distance may still be several hundred yards. From that moment, everything changes.

Conversations become whispers, movements slow almost to a crawl, and every member of the hunting party focuses on closing the distance without being detected. Wind direction becomes critical, the terrain dictates every step, and even the smallest mistake can send the entire herd disappearing across the savanna.

It is these final moments that make hunting Lord Derby's Eland so memorable. The shot may last only a second, but the careful stalk leading up to it is often remembered for a lifetime.

 Returning to Camp After the Hunt

There is something deeply satisfying about returning to camp after a long day following Lord Derby's Eland across Cameroon's northern savannas.

Boots are dusty, the rifles are safely stored away, and the conversations begin almost immediately. Every stalk is replayed, every decision discussed, and every close encounter analysed over a cold drink while the sun slowly disappears beyond the acacia trees. Whether the day ended with a magnificent trophy or simply another lesson from the African bush, each evening becomes part of the experience.

The permanent hunting camps offer comfortable accommodation with private en-suite facilities, hearty meals, and everything required to rest and prepare for another day in the field. More importantly, they provide a place where hunters, professional hunters, and trackers come together to share stories, plan the following day's hunt, and enjoy the unique camaraderie that has always been part of a traditional African safari.

Many hunters remember the trophy for a lifetime. Just as many remember the evenings in camp, where friendships were forged, stories grew longer with every retelling, and tomorrow's hunt was already beginning around the campfire.

Reaching One of West Africa's Last Great Hunting Areas

Part of what makes northern Cameroon such a remarkable hunting destination is that it remains genuinely remote. Long before the hunt begins, the journey itself reminds hunters they are travelling far beyond the traditional African safari circuit.

International hunters arrive in Douala before taking a scheduled domestic flight north to Garoua, the gateway to Cameroon's vast hunting concessions. From there, the final drive into camp takes between five and eight hours, depending on the concession being hunted. The scenery gradually changes from busy towns to open savannas, traditional villages, and the endless landscapes that have made northern Cameroon famous among experienced African hunters.

By the time the hunting camp comes into view, the modern world already feels a long way behind. Mobile reception becomes unreliable, traffic disappears, and the only agenda for the coming days is finding fresh tracks at first light. For many hunters, the journey into camp marks the moment they finally realise they have arrived somewhere truly special.

Is This Lord Derby's Eland Safari Right for You?

Not every African safari belongs on every hunter's bucket list.

This expedition has been designed for sportsmen who value the journey as much as the trophy itself. It is for hunters prepared to spend long days on foot across Cameroon's vast northern savannas, trust experienced professional hunters and local trackers, and appreciate that some of Africa's greatest trophies are earned through patience rather than luck.

Whether your ambition is to complete a collection of Africa's great antelope, experience the unique wildlife of West Africa, or simply hunt one of the continent's rarest and most prestigious trophies, few safaris offer the combination of challenge, authenticity, and exclusivity found in northern Cameroon.

Long after the safari has ended, the measurements of the horns will matter a little less than the memories attached to them. You'll remember the first glimpse of the herd through the binoculars, the miles walked beneath the African sun, the campfire conversations after a hard day's hunting, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing you earned every step of the journey.

For hunters seeking an authentic, free-range African hunting safari where every opportunity is earned rather than guaranteed, few destinations offer the challenge, prestige, and lasting memories found while hunting Lord Derby's Eland in the wild savannas of northern Cameroon.