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/

 

[Franco]

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.

You've gotten some great responses, let me add my perspective if I may.

My first hunting trip to Africa was at age 65, having shot nothing but pheasants and quail for the previous 45 years. I went with no expectations, agenda, or "Trophy" limitations; I was going for the experience. Armed with that mental approach, a 450/400 DR, a 375 H&H, and 300 Wthrby - I shot 31 trophies in 18 days including 4 cape buffalo in excess of 40", the biggest 48".

My second trip yielded 2 elephants, a record book hippo, a rhino, and numerous plains game.

On my third trip, I got elephant #3, a lion, a huge croc, and more plains game.

The point I'm trying to make is simple, decide beforehand your order of priorities - put them wrong and you might just be setting yourself up for disappointment.

I have hunted Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. As with real estate, it's "Location, location, location", which greatly affects price. The more plentiful the game - the more $$$ to hunt them. Passing on the first animal in hopes of a bigger one, might prove fruitless in an area of low population.

There's an expression, "Never spend your last day hoping to find the animal you passed up on the first day".

Your order of "wants" is not unreasonable, but may limit or disappoint you.

1. Real Africa - think "Location, location, location" and there's lots of locations.

2. A representative bull over 50lbs - not sure what you mean by representative, but setting a minimum of 50 lbs might set you up for failure.

3. Decent accommodations for your mother - I'm sure she's thrilled to know that was last on your list - just kidding - you can find decent accommodations, it just depends on your definition of decent. You might find yourself in a "Fly Camp" - roughing it.

I think your dream is a good one, and certainly attainable. Look at your second sentence, "I have the opportunity for my first African Safari to be with my mother and chasing elephants", that, says it all. What you are looking at is fulfilling a dream and creating a memory - don't risk it by limiting your elephant to tusk weight. You have a choice of location, a choice of accommodations, give yourself more of choice to succeed with the elephant.

It's the hunt you want to memorialize, not come home empty handed because the tusks weren't big enough.

Having said that, you could go out on your first day and see a 100 lb bull standing there looking at you, or go the entire hunt and see a 30 lb bull on your last day.

My last elephant was the biggest bodied, stood taller than the bulls around him, worn pads (feet), saggy skin, sunken in at the checks and shoulders, broken tusks indicative of years of abuse and fighting, well into his last set of molars - we picked him because that's what the conservation aspect of hunting is all about - not, "How big a trophy can I hang on my wall?"

You have to ask yourself ahead of time, "What thought will be foremost years from now when you look at the tusks, a cherished memory or the size? I have a full-sized alligator mount in my shop, he was 12'8" - not the biggest I've taken; I didn't have him mounted because of size, it was because I shot him point blank in the eye as he was climbing in the boat.

Go for the experience, trophies will come.

Take heed of the advice you've been given:

Prepare yourself (and your mother) for the physical demands of the hunt. You kill elephants with your feet.

Talk to the Outfitters on this forum, ask how many elephants their client have successfully imported.

Ask the hunters on this forum what they liked or disliked about their hunt, would they hunt with the PH again.

Contact Conservation Force, they can tell you which areas are best for importing.

DO NOT wait 5 years, policies may change.

Go to FTW or something similar and practice, when you're done - practice some more.


Enjoy your hunt, best of luck realizing your dream - may that 100 pounder be standing by the road just out of camp.

 

[BnC 04]

You've gotten some great responses, let me add my perspective if I may.

My first hunting trip to Africa was at age 65, having shot nothing but pheasants and quail for the previous 45 years. I went with no expectations, agenda, or "Trophy" limitations; I was going for the experience. Armed with that mental approach, a 450/400 DR, a 375 H&H, and 300 Wthrby - I shot 31 trophies in 18 days including 4 cape buffalo in excess of 40", the biggest 48".

My second trip yielded 2 elephants, a record book hippo, a rhino, and numerous plains game.

On my third trip, I got elephant #3, a lion, a huge croc, and more plains game.

The point I'm trying to make is simple, decide beforehand your order of priorities - put them wrong and you might just be setting yourself up for disappointment.

I have hunted Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. As with real estate, it's "Location, location, location", which greatly affects price. The more plentiful the game - the more $$$ to hunt them. Passing on the first animal in hopes of a bigger one, might prove fruitless in an area of low population.

There's an expression, "Never spend your last day hoping to find the animal you passed up on the first day".

Your order of "wants" is not unreasonable, but may limit or disappoint you.

1. Real Africa - think "Location, location, location" and there's lots of locations.

2. A representative bull over 50lbs - not sure what you mean by representative, but setting a minimum of 50 lbs might set you up for failure.

3. Decent accommodations for your mother - I'm sure she's thrilled to know that was last on your list - just kidding - you can find decent accommodations, it just depends on your definition of decent. You might find yourself in a "Fly Camp" - roughing it.

I think your dream is a good one, and certainly attainable. Look at your second sentence, "I have the opportunity for my first African Safari to be with my mother and chasing elephants", that, says it all. What you are looking at is fulfilling a dream and creating a memory - don't risk it by limiting your elephant to tusk weight. You have a choice of location, a choice of accommodations, give yourself more of choice to succeed with the elephant.

It's the hunt you want to memorialize, not come home empty handed because the tusks weren't big enough.

Having said that, you could go out on your first day and see a 100 lb bull standing there looking at you, or go the entire hunt and see a 30 lb bull on your last day.

My last elephant was the biggest bodied, stood taller than the bulls around him, worn pads (feet), saggy skin, sunken in at the checks and shoulders, broken tusks indicative of years of abuse and fighting, well into his last set of molars - we picked him because that's what the conservation aspect of hunting is all about - not, "How big a trophy can I hang on my wall?"

You have to ask yourself ahead of time, "What thought will be foremost years from now when you look at the tusks, a cherished memory or the size? I have a full-sized alligator mount in my shop, he was 12'8" - not the biggest I've taken; I didn't have him mounted because of size, it was because I shot him point blank in the eye as he was climbing in the boat.

Go for the experience, trophies will come.

Take heed of the advice you've been given:

Prepare yourself (and your mother) for the physical demands of the hunt. You kill elephants with your feet.

Talk to the Outfitters on this forum, ask how many elephants their client have successfully imported.

Ask the hunters on this forum what they liked or disliked about their hunt, would they hunt with the PH again.

Contact Conservation Force, they can tell you which areas are best for importing.

DO NOT wait 5 years, policies may change.

Go to FTW or something similar and practice, when you're done - practice some more.


Enjoy your hunt, best of luck realizing your dream - may that 100 pounder be standing by the road just out of camp.

Great reply and suggestions but I must ask about the aligator climbing into the boat ordeal.

 

[Franco]

Great reply and suggestions but I must ask about the aligator climbing into the boat ordeal.

It was on an alligator hunt in Southern Louisianna. Standard practice is to bait a hook with chicken, fish, or some other smelly delicacy, suspend it from a tree limb, or pole to leave it hanging about 12 to 18" above the water. The other end of the line is secured to something substantial enough to restrain an alligator.

Simple tactic, the bait is out of reach of turtles and well within striking distance of an alligator (I have caught gar occasionally).

We were checking bait lines which had been set the previous afternoon. We were in a 16' aluminum johnboat - a flat-bottom open hull design with a couple bench seats, and a transom mounted outboard motor. They have low sides and a shallow draft.

We had just launched the boat and were entering a large channel with baits set on either side. I could see the first bait was down and there was tension and movement on the line - a good sign. In anticipation, I moved to the bow where I could retrieve the line and shoot the gator. Suddenly, the engine quit and the boat stopped. I turned back to see if something was wrong and saw my friend Mark take a line with a treble-hook on one end and cast it like a lasso out into the water. "I saw bubbles, I think there's a big one down there" he said as he gave a hard yank on the line. Instantly the line yanked back.

"It's a big one, grab your gun" Mark got the words out as he struggled to hold on to whatever was on the other end of the line. I pulled my pistol from its' case and as I turned my head to look back toward Mark, about 20' off the side this big alligator came to the surface, shaking violently.

We could see the alligator was hooked by his left hind leg, and as he struggled to flee, the tension Mark was holding on the line forced the gator in an arc directly back towards the boat.

When you hook one on bait, the line is in his mouth and you have some ability to direct the head. With only his hind leg hooked, every part in front of and behind the leg were free to move.
Great - we've got a big alligator by the leg and he's headed straight at the boat.

Alligators typically don't look happy - well, this guy was pissed!

"Oh he's mad, get ready - he's comin'". After hearing that, all I could think was, no shit - you COULD let go of that line. Too late, using the power in his tail, the gator propelled his head and right leg up and over the side of the boat, aimed directly at Mark, passing just off my right. As his head slid along the rail, I put the muzzel of my pistol on his right eye and squeezed. The bullet went straight into his brain and he rolled off the side into the water.

I've shot close to 100 alligators, that one remains foremost in my memory.

 

[WAB]

It was on an alligator hunt in Southern Louisianna. Standard practice is to bait a hook with chicken, fish, or some other smelly delicacy, suspend it from a tree limb, or pole to leave it hanging about 12 to 18" above the water. The other end of the line is secured to something substantial enough to restrain an alligator.

Simple tactic, the bait is out of reach of turtles and well within striking distance of an alligator (I have caught gar occasionally).

We were checking bait lines which had been set the previous afternoon. We were in a 16' aluminum johnboat - a flat-bottom open hull design with a couple bench seats, and a transom mounted outboard motor. They have low sides and a shallow draft.

We had just launched the boat and were entering a large channel with baits set on either side. I could see the first bait was down and there was tension and movement on the line - a good sign. In anticipation, I moved to the bow where I could retrieve the line and shoot the gator. Suddenly, the engine quit and the boat stopped. I turned back to see if something was wrong and saw my friend Mark take a line with a treble-hook on one end and cast it like a lasso out into the water. "I saw bubbles, I think there's a big one down there" he said as he gave a hard yank on the line. Instantly the line yanked back.

"It's a big one, grab your gun" Mark got the words out as he struggled to hold on to whatever was on the other end of the line. I pulled my pistol from its' case and as I turned my head to look back toward Mark, about 20' off the side this big alligator came to the surface, shaking violently.

We could see the alligator was hooked by his left hind leg, and as he struggled to flee, the tension Mark was holding on the line forced the gator in an arc directly back towards the boat.

When you hook one on bait, the line is in his mouth and you have some ability to direct the head. With only his hind leg hooked, every part in front of and behind the leg were free to move.
Great - we've got a big alligator by the leg and he's headed straight at the boat.

Alligators typically don't look happy - well, this guy was pissed!

"Oh he's mad, get ready - he's comin'". After hearing that, all I could think was, no shit - you COULD let go of that line. Too late, using the power in his tail, the gator propelled his head and right leg up and over the side of the boat, aimed directly at Mark, passing just off my right. As his head slid along the rail, I put the muzzel of my pistol on his right eye and squeezed. The bullet went straight into his brain and he rolled off the side into the water.

I've shot close to 100 alligators, that one remains foremost in my memory.

I hope Mark paid for your new underwear!

 

[ActionBob]

You've gotten some great responses, let me add my perspective if I may.

My first hunting trip to Africa was at age 65, having shot nothing but pheasants and quail for the previous 45 years. I went with no expectations, agenda, or "Trophy" limitations; I was going for the experience. Armed with that mental approach, a 450/400 DR, a 375 H&H, and 300 Wthrby - I shot 31 trophies in 18 days including 4 cape buffalo in excess of 40", the biggest 48".

My second trip yielded 2 elephants, a record book hippo, a rhino, and numerous plains game.

On my third trip, I got elephant #3, a lion, a huge croc, and more plains game.

The point I'm trying to make is simple, decide beforehand your order of priorities - put them wrong and you might just be setting yourself up for disappointment.

I have hunted Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. As with real estate, it's "Location, location, location", which greatly affects price. The more plentiful the game - the more $$$ to hunt them. Passing on the first animal in hopes of a bigger one, might prove fruitless in an area of low population.

There's an expression, "Never spend your last day hoping to find the animal you passed up on the first day".

Your order of "wants" is not unreasonable, but may limit or disappoint you.

1. Real Africa - think "Location, location, location" and there's lots of locations.

2. A representative bull over 50lbs - not sure what you mean by representative, but setting a minimum of 50 lbs might set you up for failure.

3. Decent accommodations for your mother - I'm sure she's thrilled to know that was last on your list - just kidding - you can find decent accommodations, it just depends on your definition of decent. You might find yourself in a "Fly Camp" - roughing it.

I think your dream is a good one, and certainly attainable. Look at your second sentence, "I have the opportunity for my first African Safari to be with my mother and chasing elephants", that, says it all. What you are looking at is fulfilling a dream and creating a memory - don't risk it by limiting your elephant to tusk weight. You have a choice of location, a choice of accommodations, give yourself more of choice to succeed with the elephant.

It's the hunt you want to memorialize, not come home empty handed because the tusks weren't big enough.

Having said that, you could go out on your first day and see a 100 lb bull standing there looking at you, or go the entire hunt and see a 30 lb bull on your last day.

My last elephant was the biggest bodied, stood taller than the bulls around him, worn pads (feet), saggy skin, sunken in at the checks and shoulders, broken tusks indicative of years of abuse and fighting, well into his last set of molars - we picked him because that's what the conservation aspect of hunting is all about - not, "How big a trophy can I hang on my wall?"

You have to ask yourself ahead of time, "What thought will be foremost years from now when you look at the tusks, a cherished memory or the size? I have a full-sized alligator mount in my shop, he was 12'8" - not the biggest I've taken; I didn't have him mounted because of size, it was because I shot him point blank in the eye as he was climbing in the boat.

Go for the experience, trophies will come.

Take heed of the advice you've been given:

Prepare yourself (and your mother) for the physical demands of the hunt. You kill elephants with your feet.

Talk to the Outfitters on this forum, ask how many elephants their client have successfully imported.

Ask the hunters on this forum what they liked or disliked about their hunt, would they hunt with the PH again.

Contact Conservation Force, they can tell you which areas are best for importing.

DO NOT wait 5 years, policies may change.

Go to FTW or something similar and practice, when you're done - practice some more.


Enjoy your hunt, best of luck realizing your dream - may that 100 pounder be standing by the road just out of camp.

Now that's some great advice! And a really great post!!

My one and only elephant was 51 and 53 pounds. The tusks are on display at Afton Safari Lodge in Johannesburg. I took him late in 2014 during the Obama ivory ban so I have replicas cast from the originals by TCI in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

It was a memorable hunt where we tracked a group of something like 27 bulls. Which later joined a group of 23 cows... tracking that herd as they devastated the veld was an experience ill never forget.. We had to "escape" twice and circle way around when a young bull got on our track and was hunting us.

The best looking bull was younger with perfect symmetrical long tusks. At first the PH thought 40 pounds but then decided 30 as he said in spite of being very long, the tusks were thin. I decided not to shoot that bull as I felt strongly that he had great genetics and needed to breed and grow for another 20 years. He was the Ascari bull to an old bull of about 45 pounds on one side and 9 to 12 inches broken off the other side. His temples were sunken in, backbone prominent. The younger bull would push over trees for the old bull to feed on. Got relatively close twice but not in a position to take a brain shot and both times very near the South African border so the PH definitely wanted a brain shot to avoid the bull running across the border to die. That was the bull i wanted and the longer we hunted him. The more I wanted to take him.

Never got that bull but was suddenly presented, on day nine, with my bull just appearing under a big fig tree on the river bank early morning on day 9. The PH was looking through his binos from the side where he looked thick but short. Then the bull turned to face us and the PH put his binos down and "this is your bull, let's go get him. It was a group of 3 so relatively easy to stalk.

I never did hear if the broken tusk was taken. However it pissed me off that two weeks later with a different, non resident PH, a client shot the younger bull. 32 pounds. I'm guessing the PH miss judged the thickness of the ivory and the client was infatuated with how great he looked. I'm sure the broken tusk bull was right there.....