Cape Buffalo Hunting in Zimbabwe incl Impala, Zebra & Baboon
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Accommodation is provided in comfortable safari-style tented camps with private en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water, and excellent hospitality. Evenings are spent around the campfire enjoying great food and sharing stories from the day's hunt.
The Save Valley Conservancy features a diverse mix of rolling granite hills, open grasslands, Mopane woodland, and riverine habitat along the Save River. This varied terrain supports exceptional wildlife populations and provides ideal conditions for traditional Cape buffalo tracking safaris on foot.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Hunting Ground Size: | 50000 ha |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Harare International Airport (HRE) |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
The Save Valley Conservancy is widely regarded as one of Africa's premier wildlife conservancies and remains one of the most respected destinations for buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe. Covering more than 750,000 acres of diverse Lowveld habitat, the conservancy supports healthy populations of Cape buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and a wide variety of plains game species.
For hunters researching hunting in Zimbabwe, few areas combine the scale, wildlife density, and conservation success found within Save Valley. Vast unfenced wilderness, limited hunting quotas, and professionally managed wildlife programs have helped establish the conservancy as one of Southern Africa's leading free-range hunting destinations.
The landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from rolling granite hills and open grasslands to Mopane woodlands, riverine habitat, and seasonal watercourses. This variety creates ideal conditions for Cape buffalo, allowing large breeding herds and mature bulls to thrive throughout the concession.
The Save River forms the lifeblood of the conservancy, supporting an abundance of wildlife and creating one of Zimbabwe's richest ecosystems. For hunters seeking an authentic dangerous game safari in a true Big Five environment, Save Valley continues to set the benchmark for free-range hunting in Africa.
US$14,600 All Inclusive
Your safari includes:
Observers: US$300 per person per day
Rifle Hire: US$65 per day
This free-range Cape buffalo hunt takes place within Zimbabwe's renowned Save Valley Conservancy, one of Africa's largest private wildlife reserves. Home to the Big Five and covering more than 750,000 acres of diverse wilderness, Save Valley offers hunters an authentic fair-chase safari in a professionally managed conservation area renowned for exceptional buffalo trophies and abundant wildlife.
One of the advantages of hunting within the Save Valley Conservancy is the opportunity to extend your safari and experience some of Africa's finest dangerous game hunting. The conservancy supports healthy populations of elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, and crocodile, allowing hunters to customize their safari and pursue additional species where quota is available.
The Save River system provides exceptional opportunities for hippo hunting and crocodile hunting, with both species thriving throughout the conservancy's extensive waterways. Hunters wishing to extend their safari may also enquire about elephant, lion, and leopard hunting opportunities, subject to available quota and government regulations.
Government Levy: 4% of Trophy Fee
Additional hunting days may be added at US$750 per day, allowing hunters to pursue elephant (including exportable tuskless elephant), lion, leopard, hippo, crocodile, or a second Cape buffalo where quota is available.
Additional Cape Buffalo Trophy Fee: US$6,000
As one of Zimbabwe's premier wildlife conservancies, hunting opportunities within Save Valley are limited and quota is carefully managed each season.
One of the biggest attractions of buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe is the opportunity to hunt truly free-range animals in vast wilderness areas. Unlike fenced properties, Cape buffalo in the Save Valley Conservancy move naturally across hundreds of thousands of acres, creating an authentic fair-chase hunting experience.
Most hunting days begin at first light, checking waterholes, roads, and crossing points for fresh spoor before setting off on foot. Once suitable tracks are located, the real hunt begins. Depending on conditions, hunters may spend several hours following a buffalo herd or an old dagga boy through Mopane woodland, riverine habitat, and thick bush country before an opportunity presents itself.
Buffalo hunting is often described as a game of patience and persistence. Distances can be deceptive, the terrain can be challenging, and a mature bull can disappear into thick cover surprisingly quickly. When the moment finally arrives, proper Cape buffalo shot placement becomes critical to a successful and ethical hunt.
Save Valley's experienced professional hunting team has spent many years guiding dangerous game safaris throughout Zimbabwe and will work closely with hunters throughout the stalk to ensure the best possible opportunity for a safe and successful shot.
For hunters seeking a traditional tracking safari rather than a stand-and-wait hunt, few experiences compare to following fresh buffalo spoor through the African bush.
Chris has been guiding hunting safaris throughout Africa for more than three decades and is widely respected within Zimbabwe's hunting industry. Specializing in dangerous game hunting, her experience spans Cape buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, and a variety of plains game species across some of Southern Africa's most respected hunting concessions.
What makes Chris particularly unique is her diverse background. In addition to her extensive hunting experience, she holds a PhD in Medicine and is one of a small number of women operating at the highest level of professional hunting in Zimbabwe. Her attention to detail, commitment to ethical hunting practices, and passion for wildlife conservation have earned her a loyal following among returning international hunters.
For hunters visiting the Save Valley Conservancy, Chris and her team provide a professional, well-organized safari experience built around fair-chase hunting, quality trophies, and exceptional client service.
While Cape buffalo are the primary focus of this safari, the Save Valley Conservancy also offers outstanding plains game hunting opportunities.
Hunters with additional days available often choose to add species such as kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, or even a memorable giraffe hunt, while those seeking a more unusual trophy may consider a spotted hyena hunt in one of Zimbabwe's most productive wildlife areas.
The Save Valley is also well known for its night hunting opportunities, particularly for hunters seeking bushpig, civet, jackal, and other elusive nocturnal species. Combined with exceptional birdlife, specialty game, and Big Five wildlife, the conservancy offers far more than a traditional buffalo safari.
The Save Valley Conservancy is one of Africa's most successful wildlife conservation stories. Covering more than 750,000 acres of diverse Lowveld habitat, the conservancy supports healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, rhino, hippo, crocodile, and a wide variety of plains game species.
The landscape ranges from rolling granite hills and open grasslands to dense Mopane woodland and riverine habitat along the Save River. These varied ecosystems create ideal conditions for wildlife and provide hunters with a true free-range safari experience in one of Zimbabwe's most respected hunting destinations.
Limited hunting quotas, professional wildlife management, and active community involvement help ensure the long-term sustainability of both wildlife populations and local conservation initiatives. For hunters, Save Valley represents the very best of modern conservation and traditional African hunting working together.
International hunters will arrive via Harare International Airport, Zimbabwe's primary international gateway. From Harare, the road transfer to the Save Valley Conservancy takes approximately five hours, depending on seasonal road conditions. Many hunters choose to overnight in Harare if arriving later in the day before continuing to the concession.
Accommodation is provided in comfortable safari-style tented camps with private en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water, excellent meals, and traditional Zimbabwean hospitality. Evenings are often spent around the campfire sharing stories from the day's hunt while enjoying freshly prepared meals and the sounds of the African bush.
Cape buffalo hunts are generally most comfortable during the cooler, drier months from April through September, when vegetation is less dense and tracking conditions are at their best. However, hunting is conducted throughout much of the year, with each season offering its own unique challenges and rewards.
Hunters may bring their own rifle or make use of quality rental rifles available in camp, including a .375 H&H, .458, and other suitable dangerous game calibers. As with any buffalo hunt, accuracy and familiarity with your chosen rifle are far more important than sheer caliber alone
Not every buffalo hunt is the same. Some hunters are looking for convenience, while others are searching for a truly wild African hunting experience built around free-range wildlife, vast hunting areas, and traditional tracking on foot.
The Save Valley Conservancy appeals to hunters who value wilderness, conservation, and the opportunity to pursue mature Cape buffalo in one of Africa's most respected Big Five ecosystems. With more than 750,000 acres of diverse habitat, limited hunting quotas, and exceptional buffalo genetics, Save Valley continues to attract hunters from around the world seeking an authentic dangerous game safari.
If your goal is to follow fresh spoor through wild country, hunt buffalo on their terms, and experience one of Zimbabwe's premier hunting conservancies, then Save Valley deserves serious consideration.
Contact the Game Hunting Safaris team to discuss availability, travel arrangements, observer options, or additional hunting opportunities available within the Save Valley Conservancy.
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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