Lake Kariba Hippo & Giant Crocodile Safari
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
The camp offers comfortable traditional safari accommodation with daily housekeeping, laundry service, WiFi, hot showers, and central dining and entertainment areas.
The hunting terrain in the Zambezi Valley consists of thick riverine bush, mopane woodland, dry river systems, and rugged wilderness areas stretching along the shores of Lake Kariba, creating classic free-range dangerous game hunting conditions.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Harare International Airport (HRE |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
| Air Charter Available: | Yes |
This dangerous game hunting safari takes place in Zimbabwe’s legendary Zambezi Valley, one of Africa’s last truly wild free-range hunting regions. For hunters planning hunting in Zimbabwe, this extended safari offers the rare opportunity to pursue multiple members of Africa’s Dangerous 7 within a single traditional African hunting expedition.
With trophy species including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo, and crocodile, this exceptional safari combines classic dangerous game hunting with vast unfenced wilderness, remote river systems, and the authentic safari atmosphere that has made the Zambezi Valley famous among professional hunters worldwide.
** (Includes Government Levies on Day Fees and Park Ranger Fees)
**** Observers are welcome at US$ 300 per day/per person
Trophy Fees (All Trophies are Exportable)
** Government taxes of 4% of trophy fee to be Added
** Cites Permit @ US$ 200 for Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Crocodile
Due to strict government quota regulations on dangerous game species in Zimbabwe, hunters should confirm species availability with GHS prior to booking to ensure preferred trophy permits remain available for the safari dates requested.
Dalton and his team have been conducting dangerous game safaris across Zimbabwe, Cameroon, and Mozambique for more than a decade, with a particular passion for free-range hunting in Zimbabwe’s wild and unpredictable wilderness areas. For hunters interested in traditional elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, the Zambezi Valley remains one of Africa’s last truly untamed dangerous game regions, renowned for its large elephant bulls, thick bushveld terrain, and challenging tracking conditions.
Dedicated to delivering authentic African safari experiences, Dalton and his team focus on providing professional, ethical, and highly personalized hunts tailored to each client’s expectations. Dangerous game safaris for elephant and Cape Buffalo are typically conducted from either Ume or Chifudzi Camp, depending on quota availability and target species at the time of booking.
Traveling to Nyakasanga in Zimbabwe’s remote Zambezi Valley marks the beginning of a true African dangerous game safari adventure. International hunters will typically arrive via Harare International Airport (HRE), Zimbabwe’s primary international gateway, with major carriers such as South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Qatar Airways offering convenient connections through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, and Doha.
Depending on international flight schedules, many hunters choose to overnight in either Harare or Johannesburg before continuing onward to the hunting area. Airlink remains a popular regional carrier for hunters traveling with rifles and ammunition, offering reliable connections and efficient firearm transfer procedures through OR Tambo International Airport.
Hunters may choose either a charter flight or road transfer into the concession depending on personal preference, timing, and safari logistics. The journey into the Zambezi Valley itself forms part of the experience, gradually transitioning from urban Africa into one of the continent’s last truly wild dangerous game regions.
Hunting six of Africa’s Dangerous 7 species in Zimbabwe’s remote Zambezi Valley offers one of the ultimate African dangerous game safari experiences. Pursuing lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, hippo, and crocodile on a single safari tests every aspect of a hunter’s patience, discipline, shot placement, and determination within one of Africa’s last truly wild hunting regions.
The lion, often referred to as the “King of Beasts,” represents the raw power and majesty of Africa’s dangerous game animals. Hunting free-range lion in thick Zimbabwean bushveld demands patience, composure, and precise shot placement, particularly as wounded lions remain exceptionally dangerous.
Leopard hunting presents an entirely different challenge, relying heavily on baiting, patience, and long hours of silence while waiting for a mature tom to commit to the bait. These elusive nocturnal predators remain one of Africa’s most respected dangerous game trophies.
Known as “Africa’s Black Death,” Cape Buffalo are infamous for their unpredictable temperament and sheer physical power. In the dense bush surrounding Nyakasanga, buffalo can turn from hunted to hunter in an instant, particularly when wounded or pressured in thick cover.
Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe remains one of the continent’s most physically and emotionally demanding safari experiences. Tracking elephant bulls through the Zambezi Valley often involves covering vast distances on foot through river systems, thick mopane woodland, and rugged wilderness terrain.
Traditional hippo hunts in the Zambezi Valley are conducted along river channels and shoreline systems where these aggressive animals spend much of their time in or near the water. Despite often being underestimated, hippo are considered among Africa’s most dangerous animals and require careful shot placement and experienced guidance.
Likewise, classic crocodile hunts along the Zambezi River demand immense patience, precision, and discipline. These prehistoric predators often expose themselves only briefly while basking along riverbanks, requiring hunters to remain calm and accurate before the crocodile slips silently back into the water.
Each successful hunt represents far more than simply harvesting a trophy, reflecting a deep respect for Africa’s wildlife, wilderness, and the traditions of sustainable safari hunting.
Dangerous game safaris in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley may be conducted throughout the year, although the cooler and drier months between early April and late October are generally considered the preferred safari period. During these winter months, vegetation becomes less dense, tracking conditions improve, and wildlife concentrates more consistently around permanent water sources.
As temperatures rise during the warmer months, insect activity increases significantly, including pepper ticks, mosquitoes, and other bush pests commonly encountered while tracking game through thick riverine habitat and mopane woodland. High temperatures and dry conditions also increase the risk of dehydration, making proper hydration and physical preparation important during extended days in the field.
Having said that, a dangerous game safari in the Zambezi Valley remains an unforgettable African hunting experience at any time of the year.
International and American hunters traveling to Zimbabwe for dangerous game hunting safaris may temporarily import sporting firearms and ammunition for use during the safari, with temporary firearm permits generally issued on arrival at the port of entry. There is currently no formal limit on the number of firearms a hunter may import for legal hunting purposes, although ammunition imports are normally restricted to a maximum of one hundred rounds per rifle.
Zimbabwe hunting regulations prohibit the use of automatic and semi-automatic rifles for dangerous game hunting, with the exception of certain semi-automatic shotguns used for bird hunting. Black powder rifles may also be used for hunting purposes provided they meet the minimum caliber requirement of .40 caliber.
Handguns may be permitted for hunting on private or communal land under special authorization from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA), although handguns are generally not permitted on government hunting concessions. There is currently no government fee charged for temporary rifle or shotgun import permits issued to visiting hunters entering Zimbabwe for safari purposes.
No matter which dangerous game species a hunter pursues in Africa, proper preparation, caliber selection, and an understanding of dangerous game shot placement remain essential for a safe, ethical, and successful safari.
If any further information is required re this plains game hunt in Zimbabwe, contact our team at Game Hunting Safaris, or message Dalton directly.
Please note that terms, conditions and price are subject to change without notice and rates at the time of the hunt will apply
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