Dangerous game safari info

[Trentmullikin]

I second what others have told you. Hunt in a free range area for dangerous game. It’s a very different experience than a game farm. I’d choose buffalo over elephant. I’ll likely never take another elephant. It was a good hunt but just didn’t create a spark for me. I’d look at Zimbabwe or the Caprivi for buffalo. Keep this in mind. You don’t pay by the inch in free range concessions but you do pay for the area. Part of the cost may be potential trophy quality, but usually higher cost areas have more game and better anti-poaching. There are very marginal areas sold at low prices but they can be a very tough hunt. Stick to well known areas and reputable PHs to get the best experience. If you aren’t concerned about exporting the trophy. Namibia offers non-exportable buffalo bull hunts in Caprivi. This allows hunting a top area at a significantly reduced price. Also a very stable country.

Are the non exportable buffalo hunts in Namibia still mature bulls? I'm not worried about size I don't hunt with a tape measure, but would still like to hunt an old mature bull. What areas in Zimbabwe are good areas? Was there something specific about the elephant hunt that turned you off compared to hunting buffalo?

 

[ActionBob]

Elephant interests me more also but both would be brand new to me so would just like the input from people that have done both. I'd rather do a non trophy bull I honestly didn't know that was an option. Zimbabwe was where I was looking for the Elephant. I'm a couple years out from going just trying to get as much info as possible.

I did trelephant in Zimbabwe on my second trip to Africa. It was in November 2014 right after the Obama Administration put the ban on imports of ivory from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Tanzania. The cost for a trophy hunt dropped from $37,000 to $20,000.

It was a fantastic experience. Roasted and frozen (rained and got wet). Has 12 flat tires in 12 days. Ran out of spares one night two hours from the nearest mud hut that had possession of a "new" used inner tube.

Saw elephant every day. Endured long days and short nights. Elephant are amazing! Mom used to yell at us kids that we sounded like a herd of elephants going up and down the stairs. Well Mom, elephants can walk completely silent. They are all wearing sneakers First stalk we were inside a napping herd before we knew it. Had to hide out in some rocks to let them move off. Had several similar encounters. Never felt in as hairy situations hunting buffalo. I've been on several buffalo hunts. They are just wild cattle and behavior is predictable if you know cattle... Just that cape buffalo are the devil's red eyed cattle

Got my elephant on day 9 and as a bonus also got my first buffalo on day 11.

Another bonus to me was hunting in a CAMPFIRE unit, the whole village came out to get meat. Rather humbling to have the village women kneel and thank you for the meat.

I'm including a picture of the local Walmart and a shot of a Kalahari Ferrari in the parking lot. Interestingly, the people on foot beat the donkey carts to the kill site..... They don't have to first catch the donkeys and harness them

Tokoloshe has an elephant hunt advertised on here. I would consider them and Dalton and York. And others... my wife plans to hunt elephant in Southern Botswana with Limpopo Big Game Safaris as they are running a special with a rhino dart and she really likes Bossie and Lizzy.

 

[375Fox]

Are the non exportable buffalo hunts in Namibia still mature bulls? I'm not worried about size I don't hunt with a tape measure, but would still like to hunt an old mature bull. What areas in Zimbabwe are good areas? Was there something specific about the elephant hunt that turned you off compared to hunting buffalo?

Legally they can be any buffalo. Talk with the operators there about what you want, but most are targeting old buffalo just with lesser trophy characteristics such as broken horn or non-trophy widths. Difficult to explain on elephant. I almost feel it was disrespectful that I don’t place it as a higher trophy than other game I’ve hunted and don’t plan to take another.

 

[Scott CWO]

Are the non exportable buffalo hunts in Namibia still mature bulls? I'm not worried about size I don't hunt with a tape measure, but would still like to hunt an old mature bull. What areas in Zimbabwe are good areas? Was there something specific about the elephant hunt that turned you off compared to hunting buffalo?

I know of outfitters in Botswana who offer management hunts for some really old big-bodied bulls with broken tusks. If that is of interest, let me know.

 

[Trentmullikin]

I know of outfitters in Botswana who offer management hunts for some really old big-bodied bulls with broken tusks. If that is of interest, let me know.

Yes I'm interested in any and all info I can get. It would be 2028 at the earliest just so you know. I know prices can change a lot in three years but it would at least give me an idea of what kind of money I need to save up. I was in Botswana last year they were the ones telling me about the option of non trophy elephant hunts. They only did plains game hunting.
Thanks

 

[DLSJR]

You’ve gotten lots of great advice on where to go and that you’d be better served hunting buffalo before elephants. Having shot both, I certainly agree that you should probably hunt buffalo before elephant. Elephants bring an intensity that is hard to match with any other animal. I think elephant bulls are the greatest game there is, but buffalo are great too and will prepare you a bit for the adrenaline of an elephant hunt.

As to your question about non-trophy, non-export buffalo; I’m doing exactly that hunt on the Savé Valley Conservancy in May. I’ll be shooting the oldest, most worn down, broken bull we can find. And it costs what a deer hunt in the west costs. It’s a very good option to consider.

 

[375Fox]

Are the non exportable buffalo hunts in Namibia still mature bulls? I'm not worried about size I don't hunt with a tape measure, but would still like to hunt an old mature bull. What areas in Zimbabwe are good areas? Was there something specific about the elephant hunt that turned you off compared to hunting buffalo?

Quality areas in Zimbabwe would include Zambezi Valley areas like Dande, Chewore, Nyakasanga, Makuti. The Matetsi safari blocks. Save valley, bubye valley, nuanetsi. There are other areas and areas adjacent these that might be good but ask questions on lesser known areas and speak to recent references.

 

[Trentmullikin]

You’ve gotten lots of great advice on where to go and that you’d be better served hunting buffalo before elephants. Having shot both, I certainly agree that you should probably hunt buffalo before elephant. Elephants bring an intensity that is hard to match with any other animal. I think elephant bulls are the greatest game there is, but buffalo are great too and will prepare you a bit for the adrenaline of an elephant hunt.

As to your question about non-trophy, non-export buffalo; I’m doing exactly that hunt on the Savé Valley Conservancy in May. I’ll be shooting the oldest, most worn down, broken bull we can find. And it costs what a deer hunt in the west costs. It’s a very good option to consider.

What outfitter are you hunting with?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Not all of South Africa is 'by the inch' and it would be dead simple to establish that with a simple question. In fact by the number of SA outfitters advertising really decently priced all in buffalo hunts on AH I would say the by inch crowd are a minority. I have also seen exceptionally good buffalo in SA, so don't write them off. The fences are seldom seen and more to keep the local population out than game in.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I don't know Mozambique at all, and only a bit of Tanzania, so not much to tell you about those, but Zimbabwe offers some very good buffalo hunting. As others have said it is as much about the area and feel as the animal and in Zimbabwe you can get both. The whole trophy vs non trophy thing in Zimbabwe revolves around the quota that the concession owners are allocated. 36" is the magic number and they can charge less for sub-36 because they get overlooked by most and unless hunted bring no value. They still make a fantastic hunt and even harder to find one, and they will kill you just as dead.
The Zambezi valley, in particular Nyakasanga is first prize, but Save is also very nice, it is where I hunted both of my sub-36" buffalo.
Then there is Zambia that has it's own Zambezi valley and Kafue areas.
I have only seen a very little of Caprivi, but it offers something very different and unique.
You are spoilt for choice man, start saving! I hope you shoot a double rifle, if not add a dose of salts to the saving!

 

[DALTON & YORK SAFARIS]

I've done two plains game hunt with a third planned. I'm wanting to do a dangerous game hunt looking probably like 2028. I was looking at either tuskless/ nonexportable elephant or a buffalo hunt. For those that have done both what do you all recommend? I've seen a lot of buffalo hunts offered but several are priced different by horn width. That really doesn't interest me as I'm not shopping I'm looking for a hunt for the right animal. Also is a turn off for me, why should you pay several thousand more for a half inch over? Mainly would just like an authentic hunt where we would cut tracks and hunt that way.
Thanks

Good morning sir we have both tuskless and buffalo options available in the omay and cost is per buffalo and no size restrictions or ugrades

Dalton

 

[Trentmullikin]

I don't know Mozambique at all, and only a bit of Tanzania, so not much to tell you about those, but Zimbabwe offers some very good buffalo hunting. As others have said it is as much about the area and feel as the animal and in Zimbabwe you can get both. The whole trophy vs non trophy thing in Zimbabwe revolves around the quota that the concession owners are allocated. 36" is the magic number and they can charge less for sub-36 because they get overlooked by most and unless hunted bring no value. They still make a fantastic hunt and even harder to find one, and they will kill you just as dead.
The Zambezi valley, in particular Nyakasanga is first prize, but Save is also very nice, it is where I hunted both of my sub-36" buffalo.
Then there is Zambia that has it's own Zambezi valley and Kafue areas.
I have only seen a very little of Caprivi, but it offers something very different and unique.
You are spoilt for choice man, start saving! I hope you shoot a double rifle, if not add a dose of salts to the saving!

Who did you hunt with for your buffalo?

 

[Philip Glass]

I've done two plains game hunt with a third planned. I'm wanting to do a dangerous game hunt looking probably like 2028. I was looking at either tuskless/ nonexportable elephant or a buffalo hunt. For those that have done both what do you all recommend? I've seen a lot of buffalo hunts offered but several are priced different by horn width. That really doesn't interest me as I'm not shopping I'm looking for a hunt for the right animal. Also is a turn off for me, why should you pay several thousand more for a half inch over? Mainly would just like an authentic hunt where we would cut tracks and hunt that way.
Thanks

That would be a game farm hunt you are describing and it is fine. I believe you sound to be leaning towards something like a Zimbabwe Safari. I would suggest you look at @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS for a 2028 buffalo and tuskless hunt. This is the type of hunt you are looking for and one that I have done several times. 2028 is a good time frame to get booked and make all of your plans for a great first DG safari!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

@Tokoloshe Safaris had a recent post offering a great deal on an elephant hunt. Talk with them and maybe your 2028 plan will move up a year or two.

Thread '10 Day Trophy Elephant Hunt Available 2025'

Sunday at 12:20 AM

10 day trophy elephant $18000 all inclusive

We have 2 elephant left for 2025 dates available April May and Beginning June .

These elephants can be hunted as Non trophy or trophy the choice is yours as our elephants in the Binga district are not big elephants.

All inclusive
Trophy fee
Daily fee
Ph fee
Airport transfer from Vicfalls to camp and back to vicfalls
Laundry
Food and drinks
Does not include
Tips
Dip n pack
Please WhatsApp or Email Sean and I directly

• Tokoloshe Safaris
• Replies: 8
• Forum: Deals & offers

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[Kevin Peacocke]

Who did you hunt with for your buffalo?

First hunt was with Mokore Safaris. The second hunt was with David Mann, who freelances. It was out of Hammond section.

 

[Longwalker]

I also had a very good management / free range buffalo hunt experience with Mokore, in the Savé of Zimbabwe and another hunt in Mozambique Coutada 9. Both areas highly recommended!
I also suggest getting some experience with buffalo before hunting elephant. That worked best for me anyway. Charlton-McCallum in Zimbabwe are a top choice for elephant hunting.