A ceasefire was negotiated in mid-January, and, as I wrote this, peace was holding in the country. Unfortunately, the hunting season has been a casualty of war, at least in many cases. Club Faune and Rudy Lubin Safaris have canceled their seasons, along with several other operators. I received reports that numerous hunting camps were looted and destroyed, along with vehicles and anything that could not be taken. What's worse, I'm hearing that the damage, in many cases, was not done by rebels, but by locals, including some who have worked with the hunting operators.
What this means for hunters booked into CAR this year, and even next year, is that your operator may not be able to conduct the safari you purchased. The timing of events could not have been worse, coming after operators had set up camps, hired staff and paid for supplies and workers to clear trails, which means overhead expenses have been lost. If you are booked to hunt CAR, we urge you to have a frank discussion with your operator. Ask about lost........(continued)
