Bongo!

There are seven African spiral antelopes of the genus Tragelaphus. We add the Common and the Giant Eland for a total of nine; the much larger elands are of the genus Taurotragus. The Bongo is a species of Teurycerus and takes its name from the Kele language in Gabon. Weighing over 800 pounds, it is the largest antelope after the Eland. It is one of the most colorful animals in the world, ranging from almost mahogany to bright orange, with 10 to 15 bright white lateral stripes and a prominent white chevron on the nose. The horns are thick and slightly spiral, often with polished ivory tips.
The secret bongo is the grand prize of the African forest. It is incredibly elusive but fairly common throughout much of its range. There are three distinct bongo populations. The Eastern or Kenyan Bongo is confined to the higher elevations of Mount Kenya and the Aberdares. Slightly smaller and more orange, the Western Bongo is found in southwestern Sudan and continues through the two Congos, southern CAR, Cameroon, and Gabon. Northwest of Gabon, the forest breaks off at the Dahomey Gap – and so does the Bongo. To the west, the forest and the bongo begin again in Ghana. Although scarce and smaller in West Africa, bongos are found from Ghana west to Guinea.
Bongos are licensed in Liberia but have not been issued recently. The eastern Bongo has not been hunted since the closure of Kenya, so the best options today are Cameroon, CAR, and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).

Modern Bongo hunt

Bongo safaris are legendary for being difficult, physically challenging, and, in many cases, unsuccessful. Today, most bongo hunts take place in wild and inaccessible forests. The forest has a tropical climate – hot, oppressive, and humid. Constant crawling through vines and wild shrubs is required. Pygmy guides are no more than five feet tall, and their movement is more effortless, walking slowly in the shady forest. Although shipping and logistics are a nightmare, the camps are usually pretty good. This is not the area of ​​five-star lodges, but the organizers do a great job.
Bongo hunting is difficult but profoundly successful. There are three options: tracking, tracking with dogs, and waiting for elevated machans. Some people say the “clean” method is tracking without dogs. It’s harder, but the big problem is that the best you can hope for is to follow tracks and shoot a piece of red fur. There is almost no opportunity to see the horns to make a proper judgment.
Then add the pygmies and their dogs. There are no wild dogs in the forest, so the bongo’s reaction to the dogs is inconsistent. You follow the tracks of the antelope and when the pygmies sense that they are close, they release the dogs. Some bongos ignore the dogs and walk away. Others attack immediately. The desired result is for the bongo to stop to fight the dogs, allowing the hunters to get closer for a look. This method is not as “sporty” as pure tracking, but I think it is more ethical because it allows you to see the horns and make the right decision.
The machan’s hunting can be productive but requires a lot of patience, sometimes for days and nights. This is a good option for hunters who do not have the mobility to track and is often used in the dry season.