Hunt the Elusive Bongo & Sitatunga in Cameroon’s Rainforests

Some African hunts are measured by horn length. Others are measured by the number of miles walked. A Cameroon rainforest safari is different. Success is measured by patience, perseverance, and those unforgettable moments when one of Africa's most elusive antelope suddenly appears between towering trees before disappearing just as quickly into the forest.

This 16-day rainforest safari takes hunters deep into the equatorial forests of Cameroon to pursue two of Africa's most coveted trophies. Combining Bongo Hunting in Cameroon with exceptional Sitatunga Hunts, this expedition offers a style of hunting unlike anywhere else on the continent. Towering rainforest replaces open savanna, visibility is often measured in yards rather than hundreds of yards, and every successful stalk depends on experienced local trackers interpreting subtle signs that most hunters would never notice.

For hunters seeking an authentic Hunting in Cameroon experience, few safaris are as rewarding. Alongside giant bongo and elusive sitatunga, this expedition also provides opportunities to pursue several unique rainforest species, creating a true African hunting safari rather than simply another trophy hunt.

If you've already hunted buffalo on the southern African savannas or pursued plains game across Namibia, Zimbabwe, or South Africa, Cameroon offers something entirely different. Here, the rainforest dictates the pace of the hunt. Every day unfolds differently, every opportunity is earned, and success is remembered not by the tape measure, but by the experience of hunting one of Africa's last great wildernesses. 

Safari Overview

Duration: 16 Days / 14 Full Hunting Days

Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter

Package Price: US$44,000 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 are charged separately and are not included in the package price.

Licence Allocation

• 1 × Bongo
• 1 × Sitatunga
• Up to 4 × Additional Group B or Group C Species (Hunter's Choice)

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

This safari is designed for serious hunters seeking one of Africa's most authentic rainforest hunting experiences. With fourteen full hunting days in the field, it provides the time needed to pursue two of the continent's most elusive antelope while experiencing one of Africa's last great wilderness areas.

Additional Costs to Budget For

• Trophy fees for animals harvested (see Trophy Fee Schedule)
• Government Big Game Hunting Licence
• Shared charter flight from Douala to the concession
• Rifle hire (optional)
• Dip & Pack and international shipping
• A 10% Conservation & Community Levy, calculated on trophy fees and payable in camp

Hunting Where the Rainforest Sets the Rules

The first thing most hunters notice in Cameroon is how quickly the rainforest changes your expectations.

Forget glassing distant hillsides or watching herds move across open plains. Here, visibility is often measured in yards rather than hundreds of yards. Massive trees block the sunlight, tangled vines restrict movement, and every step must be taken carefully to avoid making unnecessary noise. It is a hunting environment that rewards patience far more than speed.

Fresh spoor may only tell part of the story. Experienced local trackers study broken leaves, disturbed forest litter, bent saplings, fresh droppings, and barely visible feeding sign to determine where animals have passed. To an untrained eye the forest often appears unchanged. To the trackers, it tells the story of everything that has moved through it during the previous hours.

Success in Cameroon is rarely measured by the number of opportunities you receive. Instead, it is measured by the quality of the experience. Every sighting of a giant bongo or elusive sitatunga has been earned through teamwork, persistence, and countless small decisions made throughout the day.

That is what makes rainforest hunting so addictive. The trophies are remarkable, but it is the challenge of hunting one of Africa's last great wildernesses that keeps experienced hunters returning.

Why Fourteen Hunting Days Matter

Rainforest hunting works to its own timetable.

Unlike open-country safaris where hunters may glass vast areas or quickly relocate to fresh game, hunting in Cameroon's dense rainforest is a slower, more methodical process. Every day begins with trackers searching for fresh sign before quietly following animals through thick forest where visibility is often measured in only a few yards.

Some mornings everything comes together quickly. On others, hours may pass before fresh spoor is located or the first glimpse of game is seen. That uncertainty is simply part of rainforest hunting and one of the reasons experienced hunters allow plenty of time for the safari.

Fourteen full hunting days provide the flexibility needed to hunt both bongo and sitatunga properly while still allowing opportunities to pursue several of Cameroon's unique rainforest species. Rather than rushing from one objective to the next, the extra time allows the hunting team to adapt to changing conditions, weather, and animal movement, giving hunters the best possible opportunity to experience everything this remarkable wilderness has to offer.

More Than Just Bongo & Sitatunga

While giant bongo and sitatunga are the primary objectives of this safari, few hunters leave Cameroon talking about only two species.

The country's equatorial rainforest supports an extraordinary variety of specialised game found in very few other hunting destinations in Africa. During fourteen full hunting days, opportunities often arise to pursue unique rainforest trophies such as the Red River Hog Hunting in Cameroon experience, Giant Forest Hog, Peters' Duiker, Bay Duiker, Blue Duiker, Black-fronted Duiker, Ogilby's Duiker and the tiny Bates' Pygmy Antelope.

Many hunters arrive with a clear plan to hunt bongo and sitatunga, only to discover that Cameroon offers the chance to add several exceptional rainforest species to an already unforgettable safari. For collectors pursuing Africa's most elusive antelope and forest game, few destinations can match the diversity found within these ancient forests.

This safari includes a Group A hunting licence for bongo and sitatunga, together with the opportunity to pursue up to four additional Group B or Group C species. Trophy fees apply only to animals harvested or wounded and are charged separately from the safari package. Current trophy fees are listed below.

Please note that Cameroon's hunting regulations allow only one trophy of each species to be harvested under the licence issued for this safari.

Returning to Camp After a Day in the Rainforest

After spending the day following fresh sign through Cameroon's dense rainforest, returning to camp becomes part of the experience. Comfortable permanent bungalows with en-suite bathrooms provide a welcome opportunity to shower, dry clothing and boots, and relax before sharing stories from the day's hunt over dinner.

The camp operates on a full-board basis, with hearty meals, soft drinks, and beer or wine served with dinner. A daily laundry service means hunters can pack surprisingly light, an advantage when travelling internationally to one of Africa's most remote hunting destinations.

When hunting takes the team deeper into the concession, a comfortable semi-permanent fly camp may also be used. Staying closer to the hunting area reduces travel time each morning and allows hunters to maximise valuable time in the rainforest while experiencing an even greater sense of wilderness.

Whether based in the main camp or a fly camp, the focus remains exactly where it should be, spending as much time as possible hunting one of Africa's last truly wild rainforest ecosystems.

The Rainforest Rewards Patience

One of the biggest adjustments for hunters visiting Cameroon for the first time is learning to slow down.

Unlike hunting on the open plains, where game may be spotted hundreds of yards away, the rainforest reveals very little and rarely offers instant rewards. There may be long periods when all you hear are birds, insects, and the distant sounds of the forest before everything suddenly changes. A tracker freezes, quietly points towards fresh sign, and within moments the entire hunting party is moving silently through the trees.

A successful rainforest hunter quickly learns that this is not a numbers game. Every opportunity is earned through patience, teamwork, and trusting the experience of the professional hunter and local trackers. Reading broken leaves, fresh droppings, feeding sign, and barely visible tracks often tells a far more important story than simply covering miles through the forest.

Hunters who enjoy Cameroon the most are those who embrace every part of the experience. The early morning starts, the humidity, the challenge of moving quietly through dense vegetation, and the anticipation of never knowing what may appear around the next bend all become part of the safari itself.

The trophies are undoubtedly world-class, but the memories most hunters carry home are often the moments between the opportunities. Following fresh bongo sign through towering rainforest, watching skilled trackers interpret clues invisible to everyone else, and knowing that every encounter has been earned are experiences that stay with hunters long after the measurements have been forgotten.

That is why so many experienced African hunters describe Cameroon not simply as another safari destination, but as one of the continent's last great hunting adventures.

Want to Learn More About Rainforest Hunting?

Rainforest hunting is unlike any other safari in Africa. If you're planning your first forest expedition, our guide, The Unwritten Rules of Hunting Africa's Rainforests, explains what to expect, how to prepare, what equipment to bring, and why patience and teamwork are the keys to success. It's essential reading for hunters considering Cameroon, Gabon, or the Republic of Congo. 

Getting There Is Part of the Adventure

One of the reasons Cameroon remains one of Africa's premier rainforest hunting destinations is because of its remoteness. Reaching camp is not simply a transfer from the airport; it marks the beginning of the expedition.

International hunters arrive in Douala before boarding a shared charter flight into the southeast of the country. From the remote airstrip at Lokomo, the journey continues by road into the heart of the rainforest, where modern infrastructure quickly gives way to towering forests, winding tracks, and one of Africa's last truly wild hunting frontiers.

Depending on the hunting concession and current camp location, the final road transfer may take anywhere from twenty minutes to several hours. Rather than seeing this as time lost, most hunters quickly realise it is part of leaving the modern world behind. Mobile phone reception disappears, the rainforest closes in around you, and the adventure truly begins.

By the time you arrive in camp, there is little doubt that you have travelled to one of the most remote and authentic hunting destinations remaining in Africa.

Hunting That Helps Protect Cameroon's Rainforests

Conservation is an important part of every safari conducted within Cameroon's rainforest concessions. In addition to the applicable trophy fees, a 10% Conservation and Community Levy is collected in camp and invested directly into anti-poaching operations and community development projects surrounding the hunting areas.

These remote concessions provide employment for professional hunters, trackers, camp staff, drivers, and neighbouring communities while creating a long-term financial incentive to protect wildlife and preserve vast areas of rainforest that might otherwise be vulnerable to illegal activities.

For many hunters, knowing their safari contributes towards protecting wildlife and supporting local communities adds another meaningful dimension to an already unforgettable hunting experience. Responsible, well-managed hunting continues to play an important role in ensuring these remarkable forests remain wild for future generations of hunters and wildlife alike.

Is This Rainforest Safari Right for You?

Not every African safari is the same, and neither is every hunter.

This expedition is designed for hunters who value the experience as much as the trophy itself. It suits those prepared to spend long days on foot, trust experienced local trackers, and embrace the challenges that come with hunting one of Africa's last great rainforest ecosystems.

If your goal is to pursue two of the continent's most elusive antelope while experiencing a style of hunting that few sportsmen will ever know, Cameroon deserves a place at the very top of your hunting bucket list. The opportunity to combine giant bongo, elusive sitatunga, and several remarkable rainforest species during a single safari makes this one of Africa's most rewarding expeditions for serious collectors and experienced African hunters.

For hunters seeking an authentic, free-range African hunting safari where every opportunity is earned rather than guaranteed, few destinations offer the challenge, diversity, and lasting memories found in the rainforests of southeastern Cameroon.