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Hunting Calendar in South: The Thrill of Hunting Events and Traditions, Legislation & General Hunting Rules and Permits
Hunting Seasons and Legal Framework in the South Region
The South Region's hunting season officially runs from January to May, carefully timed between the two rainy seasons when dense rainforest trails become marginally passable. MINFOF sets variable closing dates based on annual fruitfall patterns in the Dja and Campo reserves, typically ending earlier (mid-May) than other regions due to early monsoon rains. Unique to this equatorial zone are canopy hunting regulations requiring special permits for arboreal species, with complete bans on hunting within 500m of fruiting trees from February-April. Since 2018, reforms have introduced mandatory camera traps on all permanent hunting blinds and DNA sampling of harvested forest buffalo and bongo to combat illegal wildlife trade.
Game-Specific Seasons and Peak Activity
Prime time for forest elephants (limited quota) and giant forest hogs peaks February-March when they follow migrating fruit bats to clearing zones. April-May offers exceptional duiker hunting as they venture into secondary growth forests. The region hosts the Lolodorf Bushmeat Alternatives Fair (March), where hunters demonstrate sustainable harvesting techniques, while the Ntem River Challenge (April) tests marksmanship from traditional pirogues. Bird hunters target January-February for Congo peafowl and hornbills before nesting season. Avoid June-December when daily rainfall exceeds 300mm and most animals become inaccessible in flooded forests.
Protected Species and Seasonal Restrictions in the South Region
Absolute bans protect forest elephants, lowland gorillas, and mandrills, with minimum weight limits for giant forest hogs (100kg). Special cultural bans apply during Baka pygmy honey-gathering seasons (April-May) in the Mintom basin. The entire region closes June-December, with additional moon-phase restrictions prohibiting hunting during new moons when nocturnal species are most vulnerable. Since 2022, all bongo hunts require MINFOF-approved trackers from local indigenous communities.
Licensing Process and Outfitter Requirements
Foreign hunters must obtain a Rainforest Zone Permit (≈$3,500 for 21 days) through licensed operators like Campo Safari, submitting tropical medicine certificates and satellite phone registration. Local hunters require Baka elder sponsorship for community hunting zones near Mengame Gorilla Sanctuary. The South Region Guides Consortium provides mandatory Pygmy trackers with generational knowledge of elephant migration corridors.
Penalties for Violations in the South Region
Poaching incurs fines up to 50 million XAF (≈$81,500) plus 10-year hunting bans, with particularly severe penalties for great ape offenses. MINFOF operates armed river patrols along the Ntem and Dja rivers, where illegal gold mining often masks wildlife crimes. All hunters must submit to daily bag inspections - refusal carries immediate permit revocation.
Tactical Recommendations
For forest game, .375 H&H Magnum with solid bullets is mandatory for buffalo, while .30-06 Springfield works best for duikers in dense undergrowth. Electrochromic camouflage that adapts to changing forest light is recommended. Hunt lichen-covered termite mounds at first light when forest hogs visit to regulate body temperature. Use Baka tree platforms overlooking natural forest clearings for optimal visibility.
Cultural Hunting Events in the South Region
The Baka Honeyguide Ceremony (January) trains hunters in traditional bird-led honey harvesting, while the Mvini Night Hunt (May) - the region's only authorized nighttime activity - uses torchlight to spotlight forest hogs. The Dja Biosphere Challenge (April) combines conservation work with regulated crop-raider culling.
Hunting in South Cameroon: Primeval Rainforests, Endangered Species, and Deep Cultural Ties in the Country’s Wildest and Most Biodiverse Region
Immense forest blocks, secretive wildlife, and ecological treasure troves
The South Region of Cameroon is a haven for tropical biodiversity, cloaked in vast expanses of evergreen rainforest, interspersed with rivers, swamps, and sacred groves. Bordering Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo, this region forms part of the great Congo Basin — the second largest rainforest on Earth. Towering hardwood trees, dense understory, and constant humidity create an environment that’s both breathtakingly beautiful and difficult to navigate. The Dja Faunal Reserve, Campo Ma’an National Park, and the Nyong River basin are just a few of the natural landmarks that define the South’s untamed character. It is a region where nature still speaks louder than man.
Forest heritage and the lifeblood of indigenous communities
In the deep forests of the South, especially near Djoum, Ebolowa, and Kribi’s inland areas, hunting remains an integral part of daily survival for many indigenous groups, including the Baka and Bagyeli pygmies. These communities have coexisted with the forest for centuries, guided by oral traditions, totemic laws, and a spiritual connection to the land. Blowpipes with poisoned darts, silent snares, and basket traps are still widely used. Hunting is not merely utilitarian here — it is a rite of passage, a cultural marker, and a sacred dialogue with the forest spirits.
What makes the South an unmatched hunting zone in Cameroon
South Cameroon is one of the richest ecological zones in Central Africa, both in species diversity and habitat complexity. Unlike the northern savannahs or coastal wetlands, this region hosts elusive forest megafauna and a dense web of flora and fauna interactions. While hunting safaris are fewer here compared to the East, the South offers a truly immersive rainforest hunting experience — one that relies on tracking by ear, smell, and subtle signs of passage. The remote nature of many areas means that vast stretches remain untouched by modern development, attracting researchers, trophy hunters, and poachers alike.
Species of interest and traditional forest hunting styles
The region shelters some of Cameroon’s most iconic forest species: forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees (all strictly protected), bongos, sitatungas, blue and red duikers, bush pigs, giant pangolins, and dwarf crocodiles. Hunting in the South involves stealth over speed — moving silently, often barefoot, through dense vegetation. Hunters use salt licks, fruiting trees, and mineral-rich streams to track game, often combining tracking with spiritual rituals. Bird species like hornbills, turacos, and forest doves are hunted with slings or shotguns for local consumption.
Hunting regulations and a sensitive conservation environment
The South is categorized as Zone III under Cameroon’s wildlife law, which prioritizes community-based and subsistence hunting while protecting endangered species and national parks. The hunting season typically aligns with the dry months from December to June. However, given the remoteness of many villages and lack of formal infrastructure, enforcement is inconsistent. The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) issues permits for hunting, but many traditional hunters are not formally registered. Law No. 94/01 provides the overarching legal framework, but its application depends heavily on local realities and enforcement capacity.
National parks, poaching, and fragile forest corridors
The presence of major protected areas like Campo Ma’an National Park and the Dja Faunal Reserve creates both opportunity and friction. While these areas serve as vital refuges for endangered species, their borders are frequently encroached upon by both subsistence and commercial hunters. Poaching remains a serious concern, especially for ivory, bushmeat, and rare animals used in traditional medicine. NGOs and eco-guards patrol the buffer zones, but the sheer size of the forest makes surveillance difficult. Some pilot programs involve local hunters in wildlife monitoring to bridge conservation and cultural needs.
Law, land rights, and indigenous voices
In the South, legal authority often overlaps with customary forest rights. Baka and Bagyeli communities argue for recognition of ancestral hunting zones, some of which now lie within or near conservation areas. Attempts at formalizing community forests have had mixed results, depending on how well they integrate local knowledge and traditions. The 1994 wildlife law recognizes the existence of community use zones, but actual implementation is uneven. There is growing momentum to involve indigenous groups in conservation planning, especially through participatory mapping and alternative livelihood training.
Cultural weight and spiritual meaning of the hunt
For the forest peoples of the South, hunting is a form of communion with the unseen. Certain animals — such as bongos or crocodiles — are considered messengers or incarnations of forest spirits. A successful hunt is often followed by specific rituals: meat is smoked and distributed according to age and gender hierarchies, and trophies such as skulls or skins may be placed on shrines. Storytelling around the hunt, mimicking animal calls, or dreaming of a specific animal the night before a hunt are all parts of a living spiritual ecosystem.
Rare insights and untold practices from Cameroon’s deep south
Some Baka hunters claim to follow elephants by interpreting vibrations in the ground or shifts in bird calls. In certain forest patches, hunters avoid entering when particular flowers bloom — seen as a sign of the forest being closed. Along the Nyong River, elders whisper that the crocodiles of old once guided hunters across treacherous waters, and that only those who offered tobacco or kola nuts could safely return.
