First Trip to Africa, Elephant hunt Advice?

[deewayne2003]

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?

The first animal I ever took in Africa was a Tuskless @11 paces with a double rifle; then a couple of plains game.

However I did shoot hundreds of rounds in practice beforehand.

 

[Hunt anything]

I just noticed a pretty decent priced elephant hunt in Zimbabwe by one of the sponsors here. I think it was Nyamazana Safaris ( sorry for butchering the company name) it’s in the “hunt / deal” section.

 

[efolmer723]

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?

As much as anyone else really near the age 30 has been able to in his young life. Mom is 63 and we likely are gonna get one good trip to Africa together with her getting new hips. She knows that elephant has always been the dream since I was 5. I’ve been the Africa nerd in class explaining how real conservation is hunting to classes full of liberal purple haired antis. When she said “what’s the one animal you’d like to hunt more than anything?” My mind said elephant instantly. If the lord chooses to bless me in this adventure so be it I’m just blessed to even be having the serious conversation with her about it. I’ve hunted elk, and public bowhunt as much as time allows but Africa will be the biggest luxardo cherry life could offer in adventure to me and I’m really really grateful.

 

[efolmer723]

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!

Wow what a bull sir! Thank you so much.

 

[Cls.44]

As much as anyone else really near the age 30 has been able to in his young life. Mom is 63 and we likely are gonna get one good trip to Africa together with her getting new hips. She knows that elephant has always been the dream since I was 5. I’ve been the Africa nerd in class explaining how real conservation is hunting to classes full of liberal purple haired antis. When she said “what’s the one animal you’d like to hunt more than anything?” My mind said elephant instantly. If the lord chooses to bless me in this adventure so be it I’m just blessed to even be having the serious conversation with her about it. I’ve hunted elk, and public bowhunt as much as time allows but Africa will be the biggest luxardo cherry life could offer in adventure to me and I’m really really grateful.

My plans came about in a similar way. I've always had more interest in hunting elephant than anything else (I would even be happy as an observer). After getting a good bit of travel in these last few years and crossing things off her bucket list, my mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She said "You never know what's coming, you've got the money, so go do it". I wanted to make sure it was booked while she's still with us, and if I spent less money on a plains game hunt then it would just put the dream hunt that much further away. So, go do it!

 

[Lancaster]

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?

+1 for CMS safaris, follow Buzz Charlton on Facebook for some great videos

There is a section on tipping on the site here https://www.africahunting.com/threads/tipping-guide.183/