First Trip to Africa, Elephant hunt Advice?

[efolmer723]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member here, although I’ve stalked the AH forums for years. I have the opportunity for my first African Safari to be with my mother and chasing Elephants. I know from what I read and watch that Botswana seems to be the holy grail, Tanzania is too expensive, and some places you may not see any bulls over 40lbs. I want real Africa, a representative bull over 50lbs and preferably a decent accommodation for my mother. I’ve found several outfits in the chobe area to be in the budget. But didn’t know if any experienced elephant hunters could offer up advice! We are looking 5 years out and just really want to do it right and not be blindsided by anything! Thank you.

 

[Russ16]

I haven’t hunted elephant but have been researching to do so. Look at Charlton McCallum in Zimbabwe. Based on my research that are in the top tier for sure.

 

[Jeff SN]

Russ is right! Cant beat CMS in the valley for real deal, wild africa ele! Did it a few years ago. Feel free to pm me if you need any info.

 

[JimP]

No elephant hunts for me either.

But I would start talking to trophy importers now so that you don't get that blindside of having to leave the tusk at the outfitters

 

[Mekaniks]

There are several good sponsor outfitters around here that can help you out. @Tokoloshe Safaris , Dalton and York, @KWALATA SAFARIS , @JKO HUNTING SAFARIS , and others....

Good luck with your planning. This is an excellent time of the year to get started. Many of the outfitters will be in the states for the shows over the next few weeks.

 

[375Fox]

Russ is right! Cant beat CMS in the valley for real deal, wild africa ele! Did it a few years ago. Feel free to pm me if you need any info.

Charlton McCallum gets my recommendation too. The Zimbabwe hunt with zim PH is supposed to be much more of a true tracking hunt than the way the hunts are conducted in Botswana from what I understand. It’s very unlikely you’ll get a 50 lb bull in valley though. You’d need to go to western Zimbabwe for those bulls.

 

[375Fox]

Another piece of advice regardless where you go is don’t put it off 5 years. It’s unlikely the elephant hunting or the permitting situation will improve. It’s more likely to run into problems. Put yourself on a 2 year timeline for more certainty.

 

[Rare Breed]

Hello everyone,

I am a new member here, although I’ve stalked the AH forums for years. I have the opportunity for my first African Safari to be with my mother and chasing Elephants. I know from what I read and watch that Botswana seems to be the holy grail, Tanzania is too expensive, and some places you may not see any bulls over 40lbs. I want real Africa, a representative bull over 50lbs and preferably a decent accommodation for my mother. I’ve found several outfits in the chobe area to be in the budget. But didn’t know if any experienced elephant hunters could offer up advice! We are looking 5 years out and just really want to do it right and not be blindsided by anything! Thank you.

I took my elephant this past April in Zim. He was fully exportable with an expectation of 15-25 pounds. Ended up at 20 pounds all for $15,000 all costs. Hunt was with Tokoloshe outstanding hunt in every way!!! The best quality hunt in my experience knowing you cannot export ivory to US is with @TSALA HUNTING for SAFARIS $33,000. you will see 200 elephants per day in Moz between 40-70 pounds per side. you just have to send your tusks to taxis like Colletts or Bullseye who will replicate your tusks by poundage look to where no one can tell the difference

Hope this helps

 

[wesheltonj]

For budget purposes, the fee that Conservation Force charges for permitting to bring the ivory into the USA is currently $3k.

 

[bakerb]

I went with Tholo and African Field Sports in Botswana. Hunted NG3 and had a true tracking hunt. 120+ miles walked in 15 days. They treated me very right and went above and beyond. I would HIGHLY recommend them. Great team and great hunt

66x61 lbs. Huge body. Mochaba taxidermy estimated 44 years old based on teeth

 

[efolmer723]

Russ is right! Cant beat CMS in the valley for real deal, wild africa ele! Did it a few years ago. Feel free to pm me if you need any info.

Thank you guys! I’ve been watching him on YouTube and his hunts do look old africa to me! I will have to get in touch with him!

 

[efolmer723]

I went with Tholo and African Field Sports in Botswana. Hunted NG3 and had a true tracking hunt. 120+ miles walked in 15 days. They treated me very right and went above and beyond. I would HIGHLY recommend them. Great team and great hunt

66x61 lbs. Huge body. Mochaba taxidermy estimated 44 years old based on teeth

Wow! What an animal, is that ivory exportable from Botswana? I will have to get in touch with them as they sound top notch!

 

[efolmer723]

For budget purposes, the fee that Conservation Force charges for permitting to bring the ivory into the USA is currently $3k.

Is this an agency in line with CITES or is that a whole added process and fee?

 

[efolmer723]

I took my elephant this past April in Zim. He was fully exportable with an expectation of 15-25 pounds. Ended up at 20 pounds all for $15,000 all costs. Hunt was with Tokoloshe outstanding hunt in every way!!! The best quality hunt in my experience knowing you cannot export ivory to US is with @TSALA HUNTING for SAFARIS $33,000. you will see 200 elephants per day in Moz between 40-70 pounds per side. you just have to send your tusks to taxis like Colletts or Bullseye who will replicate your tusks by poundage look to where no one can tell the difference

Hope this helps

Not having the ivory would be tough, but Mozambique sounds amazing. Is the law that you cannot import ivory from Moz?

 

[Cls.44]

I just booked a tuskless hunt with CMS for 2026 and they've been great to correspond with; quick and thorough. I reached out to 4 companies- 2 never responded to my emails and the offer from the third wasn't as practical for me as the CMS offer.

 

[dogcat1]

I have not read all of this thread but the best advice I can give based on 15 hunts is -

1. Go to the SAAM-FTW ranch school , and do the dangerous game course. You will get more practice there than anywhere else. Go and do what they teach you.

2. Go with a PH that is all in on elephants. You will be up close on one and you need a PH with ice water for blood.

Not advice - but realize that when you kill one there will be a very very large pile of gray dead flesh in front of you. It is very humbling and you need to realize what you just did.....

 

[Rare Breed]

Is this an agency in line with CITES or is that a whole added process and fee?

Entire separate fee. They are the group that sued the US government and won in court. They are worth every penny!!!!! They know exactly what the government expects to get approval and they work with your outfitter doing all the paperwork through to final approval

 

[Rare Breed]

Not having the ivory would be tough, but Mozambique sounds amazing. Is the law that you cannot import ivory from Moz?

To import ivory into the US an outfitter must perform many elements such as anti poaching and conservation practices as but two examples. Written documentation must be provided to US before approval is given. At this time in my conversations with Conservation Force Moz is not up to this task yet. Hopefully that changes in the future

 

[kpoynter]

Based on what you are saying Zim is a likely final destination. Note: you said “representative Bull” around 50#s (you may need to know 40# is far more likely for what you will end up doing based on budget)
Most Economical Destination for this @50+#s (and Exportable) is Western Zim specifically. Valley Bulls expect 40#s and smaller bodies (great hunt and where I killed my first Bull @43#)
Valley Hunts might be say 40k budget and Western Zim more like 60k (with 50-60# or more expected)
Botswana does have some hunts in areas for around 40k but many are 80k++ in prime areas. The tag cost to outfitter is 40k alone in Prime areas.
Mozambique not importable
Namibia has both Importable and Management hunts available. They have great options but likely higher cost than Zim but Karl and others have great options there in the Caprivi.

Plan on a cost of around $1,000 per pound of ivory as a budget. Zimbabwe and CMS (and others) are perhaps best combination for value/quality
Botswana has the most elephants and the Namibia and Western Zim Elephants are all part of this same Core Population bordering Botswana.

 

[375er]

Johan Callitz has a long standing reputation for big elephants and I believe is still operating in Botswana.