2026 Elephant Hunt Recommendations?

[Safariswestcam]

I am doing my best to nail down an elephant for this next year and was hoping to garner some feedback, advice or wisdom from the group based on members personal experiences. My best friend and I will be doing this hunt together and are looking for the best value for money hunt. Who doesn't want the biggest ivory possible for the least amount of money? That being said, just as important to us is the overall experience. I have had friends that have done the crop raiding elephant hunts at night with a torch, and I know it has its place, that is not the hunt we are looking for. If I only get to do this once, I want to hunt elephant by following tracks and covering country. We do want to hunt bulls and we want them to be exportable. Ideally we are looking for a 40+ pound elephant each, I know it is hunting and we are not collecting but I have talked to outfitters who openly said that is highly unlikely in their areas so we look elsewhere. From all the hunting I have done and research I have completed, it seems that Zim is our best option but interested to hear what others may have to say. We have a a short list of two potential outfits, but hoping to either affirm our choice or potentially find another option.Thanks in advance for your help.

All the best,
CK

 

[LIMPOPO NORTH SAFARIS]

Will send you a dm sir we have exactly what you are looking for.

Regards
Sampie

 

[Tanks]

CMS is the way to go. I have shot 3 elephants with them so far. I would also make sure that they can be imported into the US if you choose a country other than Zim.

 

[Uintaelkhunter]

What is your budget? That can narrow down a lot. The Caprivi in Namibia has some great elephant hunts. Botswana does as well. But are they in your budget or not?

 

[DIVAN SAFARIS]

Good day Sir.

Please have a look at my website www.divansafaris.com

We hunt and operate in Namibia’s famous Caprivi strip and can help you.
Please drop me a mail at huntingdivan@gmail.com

Yours truly
Divan

 

[VertigoBE]

A few well respected members on this forum, including myself have had great success with Vaughan Wilson from Mapassa safaris in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. +40lbs a side is not guaranteed but is feasible:

This was 44 and 48lbs.

I can share contacts in pm

 

[DALTON & YORK SAFARIS]

I’m sure we can assist we have multiple options available

 

[HTK Safaris]

Good day sir,

I'll send you a DM with our info about an Zimbabwe Elephant hunt.

Regards
Brendan Jonker

 

[kpoynter]

Well… you are getting replies and will get more…
It’s pretty simple really to some extent. Budget is important here but for what you described it’s basically Zim or Caprivi (with possible limited exceptions without increasing budget above 35-40k)
Simple Rule of Thumb is $1,000 per pound of ivory particularly above 40#
I’ve hunted Zim and Caprivi… I’d say Zim based on what you said.
You see that Dalton &York joined here and replied above. Highly reputable and have what you want.
CMS as mentioned…also top top notch and have exactly what you want
Both at the budget and areas you likely want.
I’ll be hunting Zim in May for the fourth time this year for what it’s worth.
You want to increase budget from 35/40 to 60/75 (or 85) that’s the next step up in terms of quality and size

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Lots of options but need a budget to truly get the right advice.

HH

 

[Rockwall205]

I hunted on the border of Gonarezhou National park several years ago and shot the bull in my heading . Over six feet a side 70 plus pounds. I am going back with my wife in May with Zane Bronkhorst of Backcountry African Safaris. I have hunted with him 3 times in the last 3 years extremely professional and has produced exceptional animals on every safari taking 2 Buffalo croc hippo and leopard among other PG. Not to mention saving me on an unwounded buffalo charge !

He just picked up Sengwe also bordering the Gonarezhou National Park. Massive bulls live in the park . I was able to negotiate a deal for 2 trophy bull elephants. One for me and one for my wife. We leave May 5th I will have a report after .

Last year they took four bulls off of the safari area if I remember right all in the 60 pound range. I believe one pushing 70 . Only a few years ago a 90 pounder was taken there .

Trophy fees on a sliding scale elephant less than 50lb $16,000 50 to 69 pounds $20,000. 70 plus pounds $23,000 .

I believe it’s a 14 day hunt at $1,400 a day = $19,600 . If you want to do it right hunt big bulls and not break the bank this is your guy ! Like I said will have pictures and a story when we get back . My wife is also hunting a leopard. I would definitely put Zane on your list of Safari outfitters to contact .

Good hunting for your elephant safari!

 

[Philip Glass]

I am doing my best to nail down an elephant for this next year and was hoping to garner some feedback, advice or wisdom from the group based on members personal experiences. My best friend and I will be doing this hunt together and are looking for the best value for money hunt. Who doesn't want the biggest ivory possible for the least amount of money? That being said, just as important to us is the overall experience. I have had friends that have done the crop raiding elephant hunts at night with a torch, and I know it has its place, that is not the hunt we are looking for. If I only get to do this once, I want to hunt elephant by following tracks and covering country. We do want to hunt bulls and we want them to be exportable. Ideally we are looking for a 40+ pound elephant each, I know it is hunting and we are not collecting but I have talked to outfitters who openly said that is highly unlikely in their areas so we look elsewhere. From all the hunting I have done and research I have completed, it seems that Zim is our best option but interested to hear what others may have to say. We have a a short list of two potential outfits, but hoping to either affirm our choice or potentially find another option.Thanks in advance for your help.

All the best,
CK

@DALTON & YORK SAFARIS have several areas for elephant that will match what you are looking for. They do a great job so quota for next year may be slim but contact them and find out. Many of our AH'ers have taken elephant with them.

 

[Safariswestcam]

@DALTON & YORK SAFARIS have several areas for elephant that will match what you are looking for. They do a great job so quota for next year may be slim but contact them and find out. Many of our AH'ers have taken elephant with them.

Thank you sir... I did already send them an email and will be looking forward to hearing from them about what they may have available. It was nice meeting you at SCI briefly this year, I was working in the booth of The Safaris of Graham Jones as you were making your rounds welcoming and thanking outfitters.

CK

 

[Safariswestcam]

Lots of options but need a budget to truly get the right advice.

HH

Not a hard and fast budget but based on outfitters we are considering with great reviews and seem to find success, I am seeing options from 25-35K. This is not saying I am not flexible depending on the right opportunity but as originally stated, looking for the best value for money. If money was not an object, I would already be booked in Botswana.

 

[Philip Glass]

Thank you sir... I did already send them an email and will be looking forward to hearing from them about what they may have available. It was nice meeting you at SCI briefly this year, I was working in the booth of The Safaris of Graham Jones as you were making your rounds welcoming and thanking outfitters.

CK

I had an epic time at SCI this year. I love working on the convention team!

 

[TexasBlueDevil]

I really like the Caprivi. I've shot 4 bulls in the Caprivi. There is awful lot of buffalo in the Caprivi also.

 

[Scott CWO]

I hunted on the border of Gonarezhou National park several years ago and shot the bull in my heading . Over six feet a side 70 plus pounds. I am going back with my wife in May with Zane Bronkhorst of Backcountry African Safaris. I have hunted with him 3 times in the last 3 years extremely professional and has produced exceptional animals on every safari taking 2 Buffalo croc hippo and leopard among other PG. Not to mention saving me on an unwounded buffalo charge !

He just picked up Sengwe also bordering the Gonarezhou National Park. Massive bulls live in the park . I was able to negotiate a deal for 2 trophy bull elephants. One for me and one for my wife. We leave May 5th I will have a report after .

Last year they took four bulls off of the safari area if I remember right all in the 60 pound range. I believe one pushing 70 . Only a few years ago a 90 pounder was taken there .

Trophy fees on a sliding scale elephant less than 50lb $16,000 50 to 69 pounds $20,000. 70 plus pounds $23,000 .

I believe it’s a 14 day hunt at $1,400 a day = $19,600 . If you want to do it right hunt big bulls and not break the bank this is your guy ! Like I said will have pictures and a story when we get back . My wife is also hunting a leopard. I would definitely put Zane on your list of Safari outfitters to contact .View attachment 664643

Good hunting for your elephant safari!

Are you talking about the Mozambique side? That is a great option if you’re not worried about importing to the USA.

 

[John Telford]

What’s your budget?
Botswana has top end hunts in the north and more budget oriented hunts down south. Most of the operators are sold out for 2025 and almost so for 2026.

 

[Rockwall205]

Are you talking about the Mozambique side? That is a great option if you’re not worried about importing to the USA.

No Zimbabwe side exportable. Spoke with Zane Friday previous outfitter has left the camp and concession unattended for some time . He has been working on the buildings and roads for several weeks now .
Good news lots of rain and he is seeing lots of elephant and buffalo sign in the area.

I plan on writing my first hunt report when we get back only two months to go !

 

[Northern Shooter]

As someone who also dreams of a future elephant hunt, nothing out of South Africa is exportable, correct?

I'm not even sure if I can import ANY ivory back here to Canada with the recent changes..