This hunting adventure is for a select handful of hunters and collectors who are committed to harvesting some of the most sought-after trophies Africa has to offer.
Hunting in Brazzaville (Congo) is a safari which is almost unparalleled to any other African hunt. Congo, along with the challenging hunting conditions, makes for a hunting adventure of a lifetime.
Not many international hunters have entered and hunted the jungles of Congo for Duikers and Red River Hogs with the aid of the famous local Pygmy hunters and gatherers. These trophies are only on display in a select number of trophy rooms worldwide.
If unique and rare trophies are on your list, Congo offers a variety of Duikers which can be hunted on this safari. Some of the most sought-after being the Yellow-Back Duiker and the Ogilby’s Duiker (7 varieties of Duiker are available), along with Bates Pygmy Antelope and the famous Red River Hog.
This safari is all about taking on the challenging conditions of the forest which makes this hunt so appealing for hunters wanting to hunt these mystical landscapes.
Meeting the Baka, also known as Pygmies, is a once in a lifetime opportunity, not even considering the privilege of hunting and tracking with these local forest dwellers. Hunting in the Republic of the Congo also offers the opportunity to see many rare, endemic and endangered animals such as Forest Gorillas, Bonobo’s, Okapis, Forest Elephants, and African Grey Parrots.
The Tala Tala hunting region is situated approximately three hours by road transfer from the city of Ouesso, which is a short domestic flight from Brazzaville.
The entire hunting concession is more than 600 000 acres, all free-range wild forests and dense jungles. There are no fences in Congo. This hunt will take place on an area of 80 000 acres.
Besides the Red River Hog and Yellow- Backed Duiker, the forest is also home to Forest Sitatunga, Bongo, Dwarf Buffalo and Forest Elephant.
This forest habitat also has a variety of dangerous insects and animals including (but not limited to), Mosquitoes, Tsetse Flies, Green Mambas, Cobra’s and Puff Adders. Harvesting these exceptional trophies does not come without associated risks.
The Republic of the Congo is also referred to as Congo, or Brazzaville. Congo is surrounded by numerous countries, namely Gabon, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and to the south, by the Angolan exclave of Cabina.
On the southwest border, Congo borders the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Congo is the fourth largest oil producer in the Gulf of Guinea which provides the country with a degree of prosperity. Congo was established on the 28th of November 1958 and gained independence from France in 1960.
The name Congo is derived of the “Kingdom of Kongo,” which was a Bantu kingdom based at the mouth of the Congo River when European setters first arrived during the 15th century.
The official game hunting season in Congo is from May to October, which is the dry season.
Hunting in Congo is exceptionally challenging due to high humidity levels throughout the year. Most hunting areas receiving a significant amount of annual rainfall, between 1600mm and 2000mm.
Hunters will need to be prepared for a hot and humid conditions within the jungle. The forest vegetation is thick, and when walking, you will be constantly bending and stooping to navigate pathways.
Guaranteed, you will be getting wet, muddy and will need to pack and prepare accordingly. Specialized gear will be required for these tropical conditions, being lightweight and moisture resistant. Excellent quality water resistant boots will be on the list.
The primary challenge on a duiker hunt in Congo is their illusiveness which is due to the Duikers size and shy nature. The forest habitat that these Duiker inhabit make it difficult to get a clear shot. Often all that the hunters manage to see is a glimpse of the Duiker as they move swiftly through the undergrowth.
With these Duikers having their horns lying close to their head, judging a trophy Duiker is very difficult. Compounding all these challenges is the fact that some Duikers are primarily active at night which limits visibility for hunters.
But, this is why the hunting safari will be conducted with the aid of the Baka people who are familiar with animal behavior within the forest and hunting in these conditions.
The Baka people have a close relationship to the forests and are adept with these hunting conditions.
Targeting a specific Duiker is most certainly a challenge. These amazing antelope take to the dense undergrowth, where due to their stature they can see hunters, before the reverse. Duikers can extract enough water from the plants they graze on and therefore do not need to frequent water sources.
Thus, traditional methods such as waiting next to a waterhole or a spot-and-stalk do not work that well in the dense forest.
The Baka people will assist with a variety of hunting methods, from spotting Duiker on the sides of open clearing, following fresh spoor, calling and in some instances even with the use of hounds.
When hunting these small antelope in forest conditions, shot guns are preferred to rifles.
Tracking and stalking this hog is going to be not only exciting, but nerve wracking. These hogs are the most colorful of all the world’s pigs, with striking red fur and make the most incredible full mount trophies.
An adult Red River Hog can weigh up to 250 pounds. The best hunting method, if not spotted by chance will stalking, tracking and spotting. In instances, a blind can be setup and the hog can be baited.
Hunting these Hogs will take you to the dense thickets and underbrush, and a shot gun filled with slugs will get the job done.
Day 1: Your international flight will see you landing in Brazzaville and transferring to your hotel of choice.
Brazzaville has many wonderful hotels and restaurants offering a variety of excellent cuisine choices. Brazzaville also has an array of options for tourists to visit. It may thus be a consideration to arrive a few days before the hunt or extend your stay following the hunt to take in some of the local attractions.
Day 2: Transfer from your hotel in Brazzaville to the airport for your domestic flight to Ouesso. Transfer to the hunting lodge from Ouesso will take approximately three hours by vehicle.
Days 3 to 12 will be full days of hunting.
Day 13: Transfer by road back to Ouesso and taking the domestic flight back to Brazzaville. Depending on the departure time of your flight from Brazzaville, you may need again to overnight.
Trophy Fees for animals available this 10-day safari: (Note: Trophy fees in Euro’s)
** Local authorities have the power to modify trophy fees without notice
** Trophy fees are due if an animal is wounded and lost. Double trophy fee applies to females or juvenile animals.
** If you are wanting to hunt any of the additional animals, due to the strict quota regulations, advise Cyrus at the time of booking the Buffalo hunt so that the necessary paperwork can be dealt with.
For any additional information relating to this hunt, or would like a custom safari in Congo, please message our team at Game Hunting Safaris or Cyrus directly making use of the quick message icons.
To check availability, insert preferred dates in “Request to Book” and Cyrus will revert.
Please note that terms, conditions and price are subject to change without notice and rates at the time of the hunt will apply
Needing assistance with firearm permits and international travel services, or good taxidermists? View our affiliated companies
View Affiliated Services