More About Namibia Elephant Hunting

A herbivore, the African elephant weighs 4,000-14,000 pounds, with females weighing 6,000-8,000 pounds. Elephants have tough, grey, and wrinkly skin, with a large trunk used for feeding, breathing, drinking, and smelling, amongst others. Although quite calm and relaxed, when injured or threatened, elephants can become extremely aggressive and dangerous.

Shot Placement when Hunting Elephants in Namibia

Your elephant hunting safari in Namibia will start either at a water source, such as a river or water hole, or somewhere where a track has been spotted. Elephant hunting in Namibia is usually undertaken on foot, using trackers who will track and follow the fresh spoor. When it comes to shot placement, as with all game hunting safaris, if you are unsure or your shot isn’t precise, don’t take it. The rule with elephant hunting is to shoot the largest caliber with which you feel comfortable and with which you can shoot accurately. The last thing you want to be doing is tracking a wounded, dangerous member of the Big 5 through the veld!

With shot placement remember: Use large caliber rifles that can penetrate the elephant’s thick skull bones, Forty and fifty caliber rifles loaded with 400 – 500 grain solids will be an excellent choice. The hunter needs to be prepared for what happens after the first shot is taken and be ready for a fast follow-up. Penetrating a large herd and identifying a mature trophy bull is what elephant hunting in Africa is all about. Harvesting the trophy bull can be the finest sport in the arena of big game hunting.

What Caliber Rifle is used when Elephant Hunting in Namibia?

When elephant hunting in Namibia, as with any of the Big 5 dangerous game, the minimum legal requirement is a .375 with a 300-grain bullet. Calibers 450 grain and up are recommended, such as a .416 Rigby, .458, or .458 Lott. Double rifles are also often used to target these large land animals and include options such as 470NE and 500NE. A reminder that only solid bullets should be used on an elephant hunting safari.