Hunting Central African Republic

Page Updated: FEB 2022

Central African Republic Hunting Season

• 1st January until 31st May

Central African Republic Climate

• CAR has 2 climate zones - equatorial in the south where you do forest hunting and sub-tropical where savanna hunting happens.
• The savanna dry season is between December and March/April.
• In the savanna region there is a short rainy season from May to June and a long rainy season from October to November/December.
• The temperatures range between 21°C and 34°C

Central African Republic Current Weather Forecast

Central African Republic Map

Central African Republic Hunting Areas Map

On this land use map of CAR, the red hatched areas are the hunting zones. The majority are savanna hunting blocks in the east, surrounding 4 National Parks. The main forest hunting blocks are in the south west. However there are hunting blocks in the south east which have both forest and savanna habitats - one minute you could be in thick rainforest, the next on an open savanna plain.

Getting To Your Hunt Area In CAR

As with other western and central African hunts, your European hub airport will be CDG Paris from where you get a direct Air France flight to Bangui, the capital of CAR. You will be met here by your outfitter and assisted with firearm import procedures. Depending on your arrival time, you may need to overnight in Bangui. Your onward travel into your hunt area will be a 2 to 3 hour charter flight.

Hunting Accommodation In Cameroon

Most hunting accommodation is in permanent camps with chalets with all mod-cons and French cuisine. Some even have swimming pools and air conditioning. Some outfitters do offer more basic tented fly camps.

Central African Republic Hunting Terrain

The typical savanna terrain is dry with bushes and small woodland areas that can be quite thick. Hunting is done by driving out from camp, then tracking on foot. Rainforest hunting is on foot through the steamy thick vegetation.

Central African Republic Game Laws

• All trophy hunting to take place between the hours of daylight.
• No hunting is allowed at night.
• No hunting is allowed with artificial light.
• Minimum number of days for a hunting safari based upon the species being hunted and set by the outfitter.
• A maximum of one trophy per species may be taken by 1 hunting client per hunting permit. The exception is buffalo and baboon when 2 or 3 may be taken depending on length of hunt.
• Hunting of female, young and/or immature animals is not permitted. If a female or young animal is shot, double the trophy fee must be paid and the permit for that species is fulfilled - ie. you can't have another go and take a male of that species.
• The trophy fee is payable if an animal is wounded and lost or used as a bait. Also the permit for that species is fulfilled - ie. you can't have another go and take another of that species.
• Shooting from a vehicle is not permitted, though the vehicle can be used to reach the area from where hunting on foot can begin.
• Clients are only permitted to hunt animals for which a permit is issued.
• All animals are subject to quota availability.
• Hunt permits must be issued prior to the hunt commencing.
• A separate permit must be issued for each individual hunting client.
• There is a tax on fired cartridges payable on departure at the airport.
• Minimum calibre requirement is .375 for dangerous game.
• Camouflage clothing is illegal in Central African Republic and may not be worn.

Central African Republic Hunting Species

The length of hunt you book will determine how many 'big game' species, sometimes referred to as 'precious' game, that you can hunt. For example, a 12 day hunt will allow you to hunt 1 big game species + other smaller game. A 26 day hunt will allow you to take 3 big game species + other smaller game.

Some outfitters offer 'upgrades' where you can add another 'big game' animal (or ordinary game animal) that you want for an additional fee only if quota is available. For example, you might be booked on a 12 day hunt for a LDE as your 1 big game animal, but decide you want a giant forest hog too. So if the quota is available, you can hunt the GFH for an extra fee + trophy fee if you are successful/wound & lose.

The 'big game' or 'precious game' species list is not cast in stone. Outfitters will include/exclude species as they feel fit.

Forest Big Game/Precious Game

• Western Bongo
• Giant Forest Hog

Savanna Big Game/Precious Game

• Giant/Lord Derby's Eland
• Lion - CITES II
• Leopard - CITES I

Other Forest Game

• Forest Buffalo
• Western Sitatunga
• Yellow-Backed Duiker - CITES II
• Peter's Duiker
• Bay Duiker
• Blue Duiker - CITES II
• Red River Hog
• White-Bellied Duiker

Other Savanna Game

• Central Savannah Buffalo
• Western Roan
• Lelwel's Hartebeest
• Sing Sing Waterbuck
• Greater Western Kudu
• Western Kob
• Bohor Reedbuck (Nigerian)
• Korrigum/Tsessebe/Giant Topi
• Oribi
• Harnessed Bushbuck
• Olive Baboon - CITES II
• Warthog
• Western Bush Duiker
• Red-Flanked Duiker
• Civet
• Genet

CAR Hunting Trophy Export/Import Restrictions

Leopard is available to hunt in CAR with a CITES export quota of 40 animals but the US Fish & Wildlife Service has never issued a permit for leopard from Northern or Central Africa.

Get A Flavour Of Hunting CAR

More Hunting Central African Republic Resources

• What to wear and take with you on an African rainforest hunt.
• Firearm Import Regulations for Central African Republic
• Central African Republic Travel for information on money, health & malaria, electricity, international travel and visas for Benin.
• Association Des Guides De Grande Chasse is the Association of Big Game Professional Hunters, to which most French PHs working in Africa are members. (Many hunting outfitters and PHs in CAR and elsewhere in former French west African countries are French nationals).
• Association des Chasseurs Professionnels is the Association of Professional Hunters in France.

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