Hunting in East Cameroon: Journey Through Vast Forest Frontiers, Elusive Game, Indigenous Traditions, and Conservation Challenges in a Wild Borderland

An expansive forest wilderness shaped by rivers and isolation The East Region of Cameroon, sprawling and sparsely populated, is a vast domain of thick lowland rainforest, winding rivers, and remote forest trails. It borders the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo, creating a continuous belt of tropical forest that ranks among the richest in biodiversity in Central Africa. Its terrain is humid, layered, and often difficult to access, which makes it one of the last bastions of traditional forest hunting. Rivers like the Dja and Boumba carve through this green expanse, forming natural corridors for both humans and wildlife. The Dja Faunal Reserve — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — sits at the heart of the region, symbolizing both its biological wealth and conservation tension. Forest people and hunting as a way of life In the East, hunting is not just an activity — it is deeply tied to survival, culture, and territory. Indigenous Baka and Bakola pygmies, who have lived in these forests for centuries, possess unmatched tracking skills and an intimate knowledge of animal behavior. Their traditional tools include hand-crafted bows, blowpipes with poison-tipped darts, and complex trap systems. For these communities, hunting is closely linked to spiritual beliefs, territorial identity, and medicinal practices. In parallel, Bantu-speaking farmers also hunt for bushmeat, often using shotguns or wire snares, sometimes in ways that intersect with conservation boundaries. What distinguishes East Cameroon from all other hunting zones The East Region is considered the most important big game hunting destination in Cameroon. Unlike the Centre or Littoral regions, it offers forest-based trophy hunting on a commercial scale, with several established hunting concessions operating under official regulation. Safari operators bring international hunters seeking species like the forest elephant, bongo, and sitatunga. The vastness of the region, combined with its relatively low human population density, makes it a prime area for regulated sport hunting. However, the proximity to international borders has also made it a hotspot for poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Game species, forest giants, and hunting modalities in East Cameroon East Cameroon is home to some of the continent’s most sought-after forest species: the bongo antelope with its striking stripes, the stealthy sitatunga, giant forest hogs, red river hogs, duikers of various types, and forest buffalo. More elusive species include the golden cat and even pangolins. Trophy hunting concessions are mainly focused on bongo and forest buffalo, using baiting and still-hunting methods that demand precision and patience. Indigenous hunters, meanwhile, rely on silent stalking and traps placed along animal paths. Bird species such as hornbills and guinea fowl are also pursued for local consumption. Hunting seasons and the regulatory structure The official hunting season in the East typically extends from April to July, aligned with the drier part of the year when forest tracks become passable and animal movement increases. All hunting, whether for subsistence or sport, is regulated under Law No. 94/01, with the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) responsible for issuing permits and overseeing hunting zones. The East is primarily designated as Zone III — covering both local and international hunting activities under control. Species like gorillas, chimpanzees, and elephants are fully protected, though enforcement remains difficult in remote areas. Concessions, local organizations, and the fight against poaching The East has the most active professional hunting concessions in Cameroon, many of which operate in proximity to national parks or reserves. These safari zones are legally mapped and must report annual hunting quotas, client information, and species taken. In rural zones, traditional hunting groups still function, although coordination with authorities varies. A growing network of anti-poaching units, often backed by international NGOs, operates in high-risk areas like the Boumba-Bek and Nki National Parks. Despite these efforts, the region remains vulnerable due to porous borders and limited surveillance capacity. Legal framework and enforcement in the forest frontiers The East lies at the frontline of Cameroon’s conservation laws. Law No. 94/01 forms the backbone of legal hunting, but its application is highly complex here. Enforcement is especially difficult in zones far from administrative centers, where illegal arms, unregistered guides, and undocumented trophy transport continue to pose challenges. However, major safari operators are typically compliant, and collaborations between them and local authorities have resulted in some positive conservation outcomes. Community forests and buffer zones are emerging as tools to involve locals in regulated hunting while limiting ecological damage. Hidden stories and unusual facts from East Cameroon’s hunting world The East is one of the few places on Earth where hunters may track a bongo antelope for days without ever seeing it — such is its camouflage and elusiveness. Some pygmy elders still identify animal calls and scat with such precision that they can predict when a specific animal will return to a trail. In parts of Boumba-et-Ngoko, forest guides claim to have spiritual bonds with certain species, refusing to hunt them out of ancestral respect.