First Trip to Africa, Elephant hunt Advice?

[Scott CWO]

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 have hunted elephant in Botswana, Tanzania and am going with a friend on his hunt in Namibia. Currently, the USFWS has approved import permits for certain areas in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe on a case by case basis . I have heard that elephants from Tanzania might be approved soon. You will have to apply for an import permit after your hunt and should only hunt in an area/concession where the outfitter has done proven conservation work and has had clients whom have received import permits in the past if you want to get your ivory back home. I have used Conservation Force to manage and submit my applications for elephant and lion with 100% success so far.

 

[Rare Breed]

Scot, I believe you took a fantastic 70 pounder per side on your last hunt?

 

[ActionBob]

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

The current USFWS rules are a case by case basis. The simplest way to explain what it takes to get elephant ivory imported to the US is that by you hunting said elephant, it results in an enhancement to the survival of the species in that area. This is accomplished by the outfitter doing things with the money to improve the elephants situation. Such as convince the locals to not poach or poison elephants. Enhancements to the environment, etc. Theoretically this can be done almost anywhere including Mozambique.... The Outfitters just need to get on board and document their efforts. And convince USFWS they are doing this and getting results or at least making an all out effort.

Be careful you don't fall into the trap of an outfitter telling you an elephant is exportable. You need it to be exportable from the country you hunted (it may not be), as well as IMPORTABLE into the US. Seperate but connected issues. This is why a conversation with Conservation Force or Safaris Specialty Importers well ahead of time is a good idea. As mentioned, Conservation Force takes a proactive approach and are expensive but get the job done. I've had good results with SSI importing a lion from Tanzania, which is considered the other really tricky trophy to get imported.

There is lots of info on this site regarding all this. It takes some research and reading. Realize this all changed regarding elephant imports after Obama banned imports in 2014. Then Trump Tweeted to illegally stop the process during his first term. Conservation Force sued and got the process reversed back to the Case by Case basis. A side note, SCI complicated that process... the Conservation Force folks can fill you in....

The rest of what you need to do is to be on good shape to walk many miles per day through difficult terrain. Hold your nerve and know your shot placement. Have the ability to make the the shot and follow up. If your elephant drops head first, get another shot into the top of the head immediately and one through the chest isn't a bad idea. This is because you likely missed the brain and stunned it. You knocked it out so it's going to wake up and run away. If it tosses it's head up and the rear legs collapse first, you most likely brained it successfully. You probably know this all already if you've watched enough videos.

Then the most important part.... As eluded to by @dogcat1
Know what you are doing. You are killing an intelligent being that seems to have intense feelings and is quite intelligent. It will kill you given a chance, as will it's herd mates/family. It is also likely as old as a middle age human. Hunt it with the respect it deserves. Have your head straight about this. If you are doing it to square off with such a beast in it's environment and achieve an accomplishment, you are fully prepared, and know that doing this will enhance the species' lot in this World... By all means charge forward with the endeavor It is a grand mix of emotions, at least it was to me.

And yes we have all been saying to do it sooner rather than later as we have no idea how long we will be able to hunt these magnificent beasts.

 

[Scott CWO]

Scot, I believe you took a fantastic 70 pounder per side on your last hunt?

Yes thanks the ivory is in my office. 76 x 70.

 

[gizmo]

Well I have nothing to offer in the way of advice as I have never hunted elephant. The only advice I can give is practice, practice, practice until your shooting becomes muscle memory. Also, congrats! I hope you get a monster and soak in every bit of the experience.

 

[efolmer723]

Thank you all so much! You gentlemen are a wealth of helpful info, sounds like I’ll be looking in western zim or Botswana .

Also because I’ve never been, what’s a proper gratuity for your ph upon shooting a bull? Is there a customary percentage?

 

[gizmo]

Thank you all so much! You gentlemen are a wealth of helpful info, sounds like I’ll be looking in western zim or Botswana .

Also because I’ve never been, what’s a proper gratuity for your ph upon shooting a bull? Is there a customary percentage?

There is actually a thread on that here on AH. I would probably holler at @ActionBob or @Royal27, they are both very experienced DG hunters and both have taken elephants.

 

[gizmo]

Thread 'Tipping Guide'

Dec 1, 2008

Here is an article that I wrote about tipping, feel free to comment and discuss this subject further, give your opinion or share examples of what you have given as a tip.


Tipping Guide

Tipping is something that I get asked about quite regularly, I believe this is because there is a lot of conflicting advice and confusion surrounding this topic. I have heard complaints, usually from hunters who are very satisfied with their hunt, but then have felt pressured to leave more of a tip than they were comfortable with or even told what they should leave. I will let you know what...

• AfricaHunting.com
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• Forum: Safari planning guide

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[Hunting Hitman]

Botswana is typically the biggest Elephants although more expensive. I hunted with Tholo Safaris a few years ago and took a great bull of which the write up is on this forum. For what you are explaining I agree that Zimbabwe is your best bang for your buck and their are lots of good Outfitters of which some have been mentioned on here as well as others that have not. Feel free to PM me any questions and I will try to answer them in a timely fashion. Good luck with your Elephant Safari planning!

HH

 

[WAB]

I have only hunted elephant in Botswana. However, if I were going back I’d be looking to hunt the plum thickets in Zim along the Bots border. Len Taylor has killed some of the biggest bulls in Zim in recent years. I would contact him directly. He hunts with CMS quite a bit but also has access to other areas that may have even better potential for truly big bulls.

Good luck!!!

 

[VertigoBE]

Elephant hunt advice: make sure your boots are well worn in and you are used to walking a few kilometers in the heat. Keep gear on your person as basic and light as possible. A shoulder strap for your rifle will allow you to carry the rifle in many positions, easing the fatigue from doing great distances with it. Drink enough water.

As far as location, I like the idea of Zimbabwe prices and PH's, with Botswana elephant genetics:

 

[ACE (in CT)]

I have little, (ok none) practical experience to offer on the specifics of hunting Elephants, but I’m curious about your comment that your first trip to Africa will be an Elephant hunt. I’d have thought that was a target for those who have been several times, and have worked their way to the big and dangerous stuff, so to speak. Not criticizing just curious.

Have you hunted big game extensively in other parts of the world?

 

[Safari1]

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

How many bulls did you see?

 

[ActionBob]

I have little, (ok none) practical experience to offer on the specifics of hunting Elephants, but I’m curious about your comment that your first trip to Africa will be an Elephant hunt. I’d have thought that was a target for those who have been several times, and have worked their way to the big and dangerous stuff, so to speak. Not criticizing just curious.

Have you hunted big game extensively in other parts of the world?

Good advice. But elephant for me was my second trip and first dangerous animal. Shot a buffalo 2 days later. Another buffalo and lion 6 months later, a rhino a year after the elephant and leopard 2 years after the elephant. The elephant was definitely the toughest and most rewarding hunt with leopard a solid second

 

[Wahoo]

Good advice. But elephant for me was my second trip and first dangerous animal. Shot a buffalo 2 days later. Another buffalo and lion 6 months later, a rhino a year after the elephant and leopard 2 years after the elephant. The elephant was definitely the toughest and most rewarding hunt with leopard a solid second

First- Im positively jealous. Now that that’s out of the way… I am sort of in the same boat. First animal ever taken in Africa on my second day ever in Africa? Yep. Bull elephant at 15 yards with a double. Second bull elephant six days later at about same distance.

I’ve never understood the “cant do elephant until you’ve done a million dollars worth of plains game hunts” mentality. I certainly wish I could afford all that practicing to work up to hunting elephant but truth is no matter how much I didn’t hunt Africa before taking my first elephant- at the moment I pulled the trigger on my first elephant I had zero experience hunting elephants same as everyone else when they got to their first elephant.

And for the record it was a life altering and soulful experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. Be aware of that and embrace it. The second was amazing but the first. Well it can’t be recreated.

To the OP and any other future elephant hunters wanting to do it. Just go do it.

 

[Doubleplay]

You had a lot of good advice here but let me add my .05 cents.
Five years is a very long time to plan an elephant hunt and the info you have right know won't be relevant by then.
Two years in advance is plenty enough time to plan.
Also hunting elephants is not about the weight of the tusks but the experience as a whole.
I prefer tracking a 20# old bull for 2 days then killing a 80# crop raider at night with a spotlight.

 

[BnC 04]

We got our bull last September in Zim. My advice would be,
1. Have good broken in boots
2. Practice shooting (alot)
3. Watch (study) Buzz's elephant hunting video and any other ele hunting videos/clips you can get ahold of.
4. Contact Conservation Force and let them know what area(s) you are looking at doing the hunt. They can tell you if any approved import permits have been issued from there in the past.

If you want a bull of 50lbs+ then that will certainly narrow down the area(s) to look at. Bots, parts of Zim, Caprivi, to name a few.
If the export/import isn't a deciding factor then Moz is a viable option for big bulls as well.

Now if you were content hunting an area that has the possibility to produce a bull of 50lbs+
then that opens up more areas to look at.
You will probably look over alot of ele but whether or not you see or get a shot at the big bull your after will be based on several factors. Time of year, location and pure luck.
We got lucky with a 49x53lb bull and he was the only one we seen of that size. Rest of the bulls were under 30ish lbs.

The only guarantee that can be made when ele hunting is you can't get a big bull from the couch.

Hope you find your hunt and get a bull of a lifetime!

 

[Rare Breed]

Good advice. But elephant for me was my second trip and first dangerous animal. Shot a buffalo 2 days later. Another buffalo and lion 6 months later, a rhino a year after the elephant and leopard 2 years after the elephant. The elephant was definitely the toughest and most rewarding hunt with leopard a solid second

Bob I’m sure you’ve heard this many times before but congratulations on having taken the Big 5!!!!!

 

[bakerb]

How many bulls did you see?

I didn’t really count. NG3 wasn’t chock full of bulls when I was there. We generally worked pretty hard to get sightings. It wasn’t a hunt where you saw bulls every day from the truck.

 

[318AE]

Others have mentioned it, but…. Be prepared to walk, a lot. Everyday. “We kill them with our rifles, we hunt them with our feet”.

By they way, you’ll see some really cool country and really cool stuff along the way.