After my report on those first safaris in
Congo last month some might think I would warn hunters away from this destination. Well, not exactly. Although the first safaris did not go well at all, due to a run in with local authorities, it doesn't mean successful safaris cannot be done there. My story knocked loose some feedback from that part of the world that I think the hunting community should know.
To start with, I am hearing that the Congolese government is truly interested in making hunting safaris work and that several NGO's there are coming to the position that safari hunting could have a positive role in conservation, especially in buffer areas around the parks. One source said, "I think this was always the case, and the closure of bongo hunting in 2000 was an individual's motivation (by a WCS researcher) and not WCS policy per se." This person went on to say that the timing of operator Gert Saaiman's problems on his first safaris there and the subsequent publicity came just as the Congolese government has re-opened bongo hunting and is working with at least one other organization to establish safari hunting. "This bad publicity will undermine marketing and attempts to find interested safari operators to occupy hunting concessions. I do not believe the picture portrayed is a true reflection of conditions in Congo, but rather the result of shortcuts, absentee management, 'connections'…
