Hunting elephant in zimbabwe

Where Elephant Hunting Happens in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's elephant hunting areas stretch from the country around Hwange and Victoria Falls to the Zambezi Valley, the South-East Lowveld and the communal hunting areas surrounding Lake Kariba. These regions offer different terrain, hunting conditions and elephant opportunities.

The following areas are worth understanding before choosing a safari, particularly when comparing the type of elephant available, the hunting conditions and the time needed to locate a suitable animal.

Hwange and Matetsi Hunting Areas

The hunting concessions around Hwange National Park and Matetsi, near Victoria Falls, provide established opportunities for elephant safaris. During the dry season, water availability influences elephant movement across this landscape, although the presence of large herds does not necessarily mean a suitable mature bull will be found.

Matetsi is particularly interesting because individual hunting concessions can offer quite different experiences. Some have relatively accessible tracking country, while others require longer searches for fresh spoor. A hunter pursuing an old ivory bull may spend several days evaluating tracks and passing younger elephants, even in country where elephants are regularly encountered.

For hunters arriving through Victoria Falls, Matetsi can also be convenient from a travel perspective. Transfer arrangements depend on the camp, but access is generally worth considering when planning the overall safari. The hunting opportunity, however, should always take priority over convenience. 

During our own visit to the region, we explored Matetsi, Gwayi and the surrounding community hunting areas, meeting professional hunters and examining the differences between concessions. You can read more about what we found in our Zimbabwe hunting expedition through Matetsi, Gwayi and ECA.

Zambezi Valley

Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe's Zambezi Valley can involve long days following tracks through thick jesse bush, riverine woodland and broken country. Visibility may be limited to a few yards, and a hunter can spend hours on fresh spoor without seeing the elephant. Even when the tracks belong to a promising bull, getting close enough to judge him can take considerable time.

The physical demands deserve attention. September and October can be extremely hot in the lower Zambezi Valley, and tracking through dense bush in those conditions is hard work. An elephant may be feeding slowly ahead, or he may have moved several miles since leaving the tracks. Some days end without an encounter, regardless of how much ground the hunting team covers.

This is hunting country for someone who enjoys tracking and is prepared for the uncertainty involved. The Zambezi Valley covers a large and varied landscape, however, so the particular concession and the hunting team's recent experience there remain more important than the reputation of the valley as a whole. 

Save Valley Conservancy

Save Valley Conservancy, in Zimbabwe's south-eastern Lowveld, offers elephant hunting in a different setting from the Zambezi Valley or the concessions around Hwange. This extensive conservancy consists of privately managed wildlife properties, with hunting country ranging from thick bush and riverine vegetation to more open woodland.

One important distinction is that elephants can move between different parts of the conservancy as feeding and water conditions change. A property that regularly holds elephants during one period may offer a different opportunity several weeks later. For a hunter pursuing a mature ivory bull, recent information about which animals are using the hunting area is particularly valuable.

Save Valley should not automatically be regarded as an easier elephant hunt simply because it is a managed conservancy. Tracking conditions can still be demanding, and a successful safari may depend on spending several days locating a suitable bull. The important advantage to investigate is how the particular property is managed and what hunting opportunities are available there. 

Gonarezhou and the South-East Lowveld

The hunting concessions adjoining Gonarezhou National Park and elsewhere in Zimbabwe's South-East Lowveld cover varied country, from open woodland to thick riverine bush. Gonarezhou itself is a national park; elephant hunting takes place only in areas where it is legally authorised outside the park.

Elephant movement between protected areas and surrounding hunting concessions can influence the opportunities available during a safari. Some concessions may hold elephants for extended periods, while others depend more heavily on animals moving through them. That distinction matters when choosing dates and deciding how much hunting time to allow.

Tracking conditions also vary across the Lowveld. Open woodland may make locating elephants easier, while thick bush can turn a promising track into a long day's work. Hunters considering this region should pay particular attention to where the concession lies in relation to established elephant movement routes and what recent activity has been recorded there. 

Mateke Hills

The Mateke Hills in Zimbabwe's southern Lowveld offer elephant hunting in extensive mopane woodland, broken terrain and thick bush. Some safaris take place in large communal hunting areas under Zimbabwe's CAMPFIRE arrangements, where tracking free-ranging elephants can involve covering considerable ground.

One important distinction is the type of elephant hunt available. Mateke Hills offers both trophy and non-trophy opportunities, but these are not interchangeable. A non-trophy hunt may carry an ivory-weight restriction, while a conventional trophy-bull safari is arranged under different conditions. The distinction affects both the elephant a hunter may pursue and the price of the safari.

The size of the hunting area also matters. Some opportunities may be restricted to a particular concession, while others may permit hunting across a broader authorised area. That difference can influence how much country the hunting team can cover when searching for suitable bulls.

Sebungwe, Omay and Binga Hunting Areas

The Sebungwe region, along the southern side of Lake Kariba, is an established part of Zimbabwe's elephant hunting country. Omay and Binga offer different hunting opportunities across a landscape of mopane woodland, river valleys, steep hills and broken ground. The terrain can make tracking physically demanding, particularly where elephants move through the hillier country.

Omay has a long history of elephant hunting and wildlife management in communal areas adjoining the Lake Kariba ecosystem. Hunting can involve extensive country where the distribution of water, steep terrain and movement between neighbouring areas influence where elephants are found. Conditions can vary considerably between different parts of Omay.

Farther west, Binga also offers elephant hunting, sometimes alongside opportunities for buffalo, hippo or crocodile. These combinations depend on the particular concession and the quota available for each species, rather than simply their presence in the wider district.

One characteristic of the Sebungwe region is the relationship between wildlife and communal land use. These are not entirely uninhabited wilderness areas. Settlements, access routes and wildlife-management arrangements can influence where hunting takes place and how the safari is conducted. 

When to Hunt Elephant in Zimbabwe and How Many Days to Allow

Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe is commonly arranged between April and November, although some concessions offer hunts outside those months. The best dates depend on the hunting area, available quota and the type of elephant being pursued. There is no single month that offers the best conditions throughout the country.

During April and May, vegetation can still be relatively thick following the rains, while June, July and August generally bring cooler, drier conditions. As the dry season progresses, elephants may concentrate around remaining water sources or move between hunting areas. September and October can offer favourable tracking conditions, but temperatures in the Zambezi Valley can become extremely demanding, particularly for hunters spending long days on foot.

Many traditional trophy-bull safaris are arranged for approximately 10–14 hunting days, while some tuskless and non-exportable opportunities are offered over shorter periods. The duration should reflect the hunting objective. A hunter prepared to take a suitable mature bull may have more flexibility than someone determined to find an exceptional ivory trophy.

An important detail when comparing packages is the number of full hunting days included. A ten-day safari that includes arrival and departure days may provide less hunting time than expected, particularly when reaching a remote concession involves additional travel. 

What an Elephant Hunt in Zimbabwe Is Really Like

An elephant hunt in Zimbabwe often begins before sunrise, with the PH and trackers checking roads, riverbeds and waterholes for fresh spoor. Finding elephant tracks is not always difficult in country holding good numbers of animals. The challenge is deciding which tracks are worth following and whether they might lead to the kind of bull the hunter has come for.

Once a promising track is found, the day can change completely. What begins as an easy walk may turn into hours of following spoor through thick bush and broken country. Trackers stop occasionally to examine a footprint, disturbed vegetation or another small sign. The bull may be feeding somewhere ahead, or he may have covered several miles since leaving those tracks. Sometimes the hunters never catch up.

Even when the hunting team finds a mature bull, there may be no opportunity to approach closely enough for a proper assessment. A hunter can spend an entire morning following an elephant only to discover that he is younger than expected or simply not the bull they are looking for. Passing an unsuitable elephant is part of the hunt, not necessarily a wasted day.

When an opportunity finally develops, it can happen quickly. Hours of patient tracking may end with a brief encounter in thick cover, where the hunter and PH need to understand their responsibilities. Familiarity with the rifle and a sound understanding of elephant shot placement are important long before that moment arrives. 

What Kind of Elephant Bull Are You Looking For?

There is a difference between wanting to hunt a good, mature elephant bull and insisting on a particular weight of ivory. Both are legitimate objectives, but they are not necessarily the same hunt. A hunter who would be pleased with an old bull carrying respectable ivory may have considerably more flexibility than someone who intends to pass every elephant that falls short of a specific weight.

Elephant ivory varies enormously, even between bulls of similar age. Some old bulls carry long, relatively slender tusks, while others have shorter, heavier ivory. Broken tusks, uneven pairs and years of wear can also change the appearance of an otherwise impressive elephant. Judging ivory in the field takes experience, and photographs seldom tell the whole story. The weight of a tusk is not something a PH can determine precisely simply by looking at it.

Age deserves just as much attention. An old bull may show the wear of a long life in his body condition, head, skin and tusks, although no single characteristic establishes his age with certainty. A younger elephant with attractive ivory is not automatically a better hunting prospect than a truly mature bull carrying less weight. Much depends on the hunter's objectives and the judgment of the professional hunter.

This is a conversation worth having before the safari begins. If a hunter hopes for a 50-pound bull, he should say so. If he would be happy with an old, mature elephant regardless of whether the ivory reaches that figure, the PH needs to know that too. The discussion should include what has been taken in the concession in recent seasons, what bulls are currently being encountered and whether the hunter's expectations are realistic for the time available.

There is nothing wrong with setting a high standard. The mistake is booking a hunt without understanding what that standard may mean. A hunter who passes a suitable mature bull early in the safari in the hope of finding something exceptional might make exactly the right decision, or he might spend the remaining days looking for an elephant that never appears. Neither outcome should come as a surprise if the expectations were discussed properly beforehand. 

How Elephant Hunting Quota Works in Zimbabwe

Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe operates under allocated hunting quotas. These authorise a specified number of animals to be hunted in particular areas, rather than giving an outfitter unrestricted access to elephants throughout a region.

Zimbabwe's hunting arrangements include government safari areas, private conservancies and communal lands participating in programmes such as CAMPFIRE. Hunting rights and quota arrangements differ between these systems. An operator must have legitimate access to the hunting area and the appropriate elephant allocation for the safari being offered.

The distinction between trophy-bull, tuskless and non-exportable opportunities is important. Having elephant quota does not automatically mean an operator can offer every category of hunt. The authorised category, any trophy restrictions and the conditions attached to the allocation determine what the hunter may legally pursue.

Before paying a deposit, the hunter should receive confirmation of the hunting area, the agreed elephant category and what happens if the advertised opportunity becomes unavailable. An allocated elephant is also not a guaranteed trophy. The quota permits the hunt; finding a suitable animal remains part of the safari. 

Why Elephant and Buffalo Are Often Hunted Together

Elephant and buffalo are often hunted in the same parts of Zimbabwe, making a combination safari an attractive option for hunters who want to pursue both species on one trip. Where the concession has suitable quota for each, the same professional hunter, tracking team and camp can often be used throughout the safari. That can be more practical than arranging two separate hunts, particularly for someone travelling from the United States.

The important consideration is how much time to allow. An elephant hunt can absorb several days following bulls that ultimately prove unsuitable, while buffalo hunting brings its own uncertainties. Adding buffalo to an elephant safari does not necessarily mean that a few spare days will be enough. If both animals are serious priorities, the hunting schedule should reflect that rather than treating one species as an afterthought.

Before booking a combination hunt, establish whether both species are available in the same concession, whether the outfitter has the necessary quota and how the daily rates and trophy fees will be structured. Hunters considering this option can also explore our guide to buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe, which covers the country's buffalo hunting opportunities in more detail. 

Hunters considering several dangerous game species on one safari can also explore our guide to big game hunting in Zimbabwe, which covers the country's broader hunting opportunities. 

Import Considerations for U.S. Hunters

For American hunters considering an exportable elephant hunt in Zimbabwe, trophy import arrangements need to be discussed before paying a deposit. An elephant may be legally hunted under Zimbabwe's allocated quota and its trophy may qualify for export, but that does not automatically mean the ivory and other trophy parts can be imported into the United States.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulates African elephant trophy imports under the Endangered Species Act and CITES. The process involves a U.S. import permit and conservation-related requirements, including conditions affecting the country from which the trophy is exported. Regulations have changed in recent years, and hunters should establish the current position for Zimbabwe and their proposed safari before assuming that an exportable elephant trophy can be brought home.

This distinction matters when comparing safari offers. If bringing home the ivory is an essential part of the hunt, confirm the current requirements through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's official African elephant trophy import guidance and consult an experienced trophy-import specialist before committing to the booking. The outfitter should also be able to explain the Zimbabwean export documentation and the responsibilities involved in preparing and shipping the trophy.

A hunter primarily interested in the experience of elephant hunting may consider a specifically authorised non-exportable safari. However, the conditions attached to that hunt should be understood from the outset, including what happens to the ivory and other trophy material afterward. 

Hunters from countries other than the United States must also establish their own country's import requirements before booking an exportable elephant safari. Zimbabwean export approval does not automatically guarantee permission to import the trophy elsewhere. 

Planning Your Elephant Hunt in Zimbabwe

Choosing an elephant hunt in Zimbabwe involves more than finding an available package at the right price. Two safaris may offer the same number of hunting days and a similar trophy category, yet differ considerably in hunting conditions, the professional hunter, recent elephant activity and what is included in the quoted price.

At Game Hunting Safaris, we help hunters compare those differences before committing to a particular outfitter. If you're considering a Zimbabwe elephant hunt, tell us your preferred dates, approximate budget and whether you're looking for an exportable trophy bull, a tuskless elephant or a non-exportable hunt. If you have a particular hunting area or ivory expectation in mind, include that too. We'll help you narrow down the suitable opportunities and establish the details that matter before making a booking.

You can contact Game Hunting Safaris to discuss your Zimbabwe elephant safari, or explore our broader selection of African hunting trips if you're considering other hunting opportunities across the continent.