Free-Range Elephant & Buffalo Hunt in Botswana
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Depending on the concession being hunted, accommodation may range from comfortable permanent safari lodges to well-appointed tented camps overlooking some of Botswana's most remote wilderness areas. Regardless of location, hunters can expect comfortable lodging, excellent hospitality, and a true African safari experience.
Depending on the hunting area being utilized, terrain ranges from Kalahari sandveld and mopane woodland to river systems, floodplains, and the wildlife-rich habitats associated with northern Botswana. These diverse environments create ideal conditions for elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo while ensuring that each safari offers a unique hunting experience.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Kasane International Airport (BBK) or Maun International Airport (MUB) |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Few African safaris combine elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo within a single hunt. Conducted across Botswana's renowned free-range hunting concessions, this 18-day dangerous game safari offers hunters the opportunity to pursue three of Africa's most respected species while experiencing some of the continent's last truly wild hunting areas.
For American and international hunters researching Hunting in Botswana, the country's reputation is built on vast wilderness, healthy wildlife populations, and limited hunting quotas. Combined with experienced professional hunters, exceptional trackers, and carefully managed concessions, this safari represents one of the most complete Dangerous Game Hunting experiences available in Southern Africa.
Whether tracking elephant through remote wilderness, checking leopard baits at first light, or following buffalo spoor through thick cover, every day presents a different challenge. It is a safari built around traditional hunting methods, patience, and the pursuit of exceptional trophies in genuinely wild country.
US$ 115,600
Few African safaris offer the opportunity to pursue elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo during a single hunt. Each species presents a completely different challenge, creating a dangerous game safari that tests a hunter's tracking ability, patience, decision-making, and shooting discipline in very different ways.
Botswana is uniquely positioned for this type of safari. Home to Africa's largest elephant population and vast areas of free-range wilderness, the country has earned a reputation as one of the continent's premier big game hunting destinations. Combined with healthy buffalo populations and highly sought-after leopard concessions, it remains one of the few places where a true multi-species dangerous game safari can still be experienced.
This is not a hunt built around a single trophy. One day may be spent tracking elephant through remote wilderness, the next checking leopard baits and trail cameras, and another following buffalo spoor through thick cover with trackers and professional hunters. The variety of hunting methods, terrain, and species is one of the reasons many experienced hunters consider this type of safari the ultimate African hunting adventure.
One of the unique aspects of this safari is the opportunity to hunt alongside members of the San Bushmen community, widely regarded as some of Africa's most accomplished traditional trackers. Their ability to read spoor, interpret animal behavior, and move through the bush with remarkable efficiency has been developed over generations of living in some of Southern Africa's most challenging environments.
Whether following the tracks of a mature elephant bull, assessing the movement of a buffalo herd, or identifying leopard activity around bait sites, the trackers play an important role throughout the safari. Details that many hunters would walk straight past can reveal the age of a track, the direction of travel, the condition of an animal, and whether it is worth continuing the pursuit.
For international hunters, spending time in the field with these trackers becomes one of the most memorable parts of the safari. Their knowledge of wildlife, tracking, and the African bush adds a dimension to the hunt that cannot be replicated on fenced properties or more heavily managed hunting areas.
In a world where truly wild hunting experiences are becoming increasingly rare, tracking dangerous game with the San Bushmen remains one of the authentic highlights of a Botswana safari.
The following items are not included in the safari price:
Clive and his daughter Kim have been conducting dangerous game hunting safaris across Botswana since 1992. Over the years, they have developed access to a range of carefully selected hunting concessions, allowing safaris to be conducted in areas best suited to seasonal wildlife movements and hunting conditions. Their experience guiding Elephant Hunts throughout Botswana has provided them with an intimate understanding of the country's wildlife, hunting areas, and seasonal game movements.
Rather than operating from a single hunting block, Clive works across multiple concessions throughout Botswana. Depending on the time of year and the species being pursued, safaris may take place in areas ranging from the Kalahari ecosystem to the fringes of the Okavango Delta and the wildlife-rich regions of northern Botswana.
This flexibility is one of the advantages of hunting with an experienced Botswana outfitter. As wildlife movements, water availability, and seasonal conditions change throughout the year, hunting locations can be matched to the areas offering the best opportunities for Leopard Hunts and other dangerous game species.
As a family-owned safari operation, Clive and Kim work closely with local communities, including members of the San Bushman community, and remain committed to ethical hunting practices, conservation, and the long-term sustainability of Botswana's wildlife resources. In addition to elephant and leopard safaris, many of their hunting areas are also well suited to Cape Buffalo Hunts, creating opportunities for hunters seeking a classic African dangerous game experience.
This 18-day Botswana dangerous game safari includes:
Because this safari may take place in different hunting areas depending on the season and the species being pursued, hunters will typically fly into either Kasane or Maun. Final travel arrangements and arrival details will be confirmed once the hunting area has been selected.
For safaris conducted in the Chobe region, including CH8 Buffalo Camp, CT5 Ivory Camp, and CH12 Bottlepan Camp, hunters should fly into Kasane International Airport. Depending on the camp location, road transfers typically range from approximately 1½ to 3 hours.
For safaris conducted in the Kalahari concessions, including NG3, NG8, and NG9, hunters should fly into Maun International Airport, Botswana's primary gateway to the Okavango and Kalahari regions.
One of the advantages of hunting with Clive and his team is the flexibility to operate across multiple concessions rather than being restricted to a single hunting block. As wildlife movements, seasonal conditions, and hunting opportunities change throughout the year, safari locations can be matched to the areas offering the best prospects for elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo.
Both Kasane and Maun are easily reached via regional flights from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hunters wishing to charter a light aircraft to camp may find Maun particularly convenient, as many of Botswana's charter operators are based there. All travel and transfer arrangements will be finalized before arrival to ensure a smooth start to the safari.
Botswana's hunting season runs from April through September, coinciding with the cooler months of the year. These conditions are generally more comfortable for hunters spending long days on foot and provide excellent hunting opportunities as wildlife becomes increasingly concentrated around reliable water sources.
This safari involves tracking elephant, buffalo, and leopard across large areas of free-range wilderness. Hunters should arrive with a reasonable level of fitness and be prepared for long days in the field, often covering considerable distances alongside professional hunters, trackers, and members of the San Bushman community.
Hunters bringing their own firearms will require a temporary Botswana firearm permit. The outfitter will assist with the application process and provide guidance regarding the required documentation before arrival. Botswana generally permits a maximum of two rifles and one shotgun per hunter, subject to current import regulations.
As with any African safari, hunters should consult their physician regarding recommended vaccinations, malaria precautions, and any personal medical requirements before departure.
One of the reasons this safari appeals to experienced dangerous game hunters is that each species requires a completely different approach. Success is not determined by a single skill, but by the ability to adapt to different hunting situations over the course of the safari.
Elephant Hunting in Botswana is largely a tracking exercise. Days often begin at first light, following fresh spoor through vast wilderness areas while assessing tracks, wind direction, herd composition, and trophy quality. Patience and good decision-making are essential, as opportunities can develop quickly after many hours on foot.
Leopard Hunting in Botswana presents an entirely different challenge. Success often depends on careful bait placement, reading animal movement, monitoring activity, and waiting for the right opportunity. Leopard hunting rewards patience, discipline, and attention to detail, with many hunts building toward a single moment that may last only a few seconds.
Buffalo Hunting in Botswana combines tracking, fieldcraft, and close-quarters dangerous game hunting. Following fresh spoor through thick cover requires concentration and teamwork between hunter, professional hunter, and trackers. When the opportunity finally presents itself, accurate shot placement and composure become critical.
Together, these three species create a dangerous game safari that few destinations can offer. Each hunt demands a different mindset, ensuring that no two days in the field are ever the same.
The hunting areas used for this safari range from Kalahari sandveld and mopane woodland to river systems, floodplains, and the wildlife-rich habitats associated with the Okavango ecosystem. These varied landscapes support healthy populations of elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo while providing hunters with a truly diverse free-range hunting experience.
Accommodation may vary depending on the hunting concession being utilized, ranging from comfortable permanent safari lodges to well-appointed tented camps in more remote wilderness areas. Regardless of location, hunters can expect comfortable lodging, excellent hospitality, and an authentic African safari atmosphere.
At the end of each day, hunters return to camp to relive the day's events, plan the next morning's strategy, and enjoy the unique camaraderie that develops during a dangerous game safari. Whether overlooking a waterhole, sitting around the campfire beneath the stars, or listening to the sounds of the African bush after dark, these moments often become some of the most memorable parts of the safari.
Few hunts offer the opportunity to pursue elephant, leopard, and Cape buffalo during a single free-range safari. Combined with experienced professional hunters, San Bushman trackers, multiple hunting concessions, and some of Africa's most productive dangerous game country, this safari delivers the type of hunting experience many sportsmen spend a lifetime planning.
The variety of hunting methods is part of what makes this safari special. Tracking elephant through remote wilderness, monitoring leopard activity around bait sites, and following buffalo spoor through thick cover create a constantly changing and rewarding hunting experience over the course of 18 days.
For hunters traveling with a spouse or observer, Botswana also offers some of Africa's finest wildlife and tourism opportunities. Chobe National Park, the Okavango Delta, photographic safaris, birdwatching, cultural experiences, and river-based wildlife viewing can all be incorporated before or after the hunt, creating an unforgettable African adventure for both hunters and non-hunters alike.
If you would like to learn more about this Botswana dangerous game safari, current availability, travel planning, or trophy expectations, contact our team at Game Hunting Safaris.
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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