Traditional Cape Buffalo Hunting Safari in Tanzania
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Stay in comfortable en-suite safari tents overlooking one of Africa's last great wilderness areas. Outstanding hospitality, excellent cuisine and evenings around the campfire complete the authentic Selous hunting experience.
Track Cape buffalo through vast Miombo woodlands, open floodplains, winding river systems and dense riverine cover. Millions of acres of unfenced wilderness provide one of Africa's finest traditional dangerous game hunting environments.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Air Charter Available: | Yes |
Few African hunting packages offer the flexibility of a traditional Tanzanian safari licence. Built around one mature Cape buffalo bull and an outstanding selection of East African plains game, this eight-day safari allows hunters to shape each day according to the opportunities the Selous presents rather than following a fixed itinerary.
Rather than focusing on a single trophy, this safari unfolds naturally as the hunt progresses. One day may be spent following fresh Cape buffalo spoor through the Miombo woodlands, while the next presents opportunities to pursue zebra, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, wildebeest, warthog, bushpig or baboon under the same licence. Every day in the Selous brings a different challenge, making this an outstanding choice for hunters wanting a true East African safari rather than a single-species hunt.
For sportsmen planning Big Game Hunting in Africa, few destinations combine authentic free-range hunting, exceptional wildlife densities and the timeless atmosphere of a traditional safari as naturally as Tanzania's legendary Selous. Here, success is measured not only by the trophies taken, but by the privilege of hunting one of Africa's last great wilderness ecosystems.
Price: US$18,990 per Hunter (1 Hunter × 1 Professional Hunter)
Duration: 7 Hunting Days / 8 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Primary Species: Cape Buffalo (Trophy Fee Additional)
Additional Species Available: Zebra, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Bushpig, Warthog, Baboon and other licensed East African plains game.
Hunting Area: Selous (Nyerere) Hunting Concessions, Tanzania
Observer Rate: US$590 per Person per Day
Safari Style: Traditional East African Dangerous Game Licence
One of the features that makes Tanzania so different from most African hunting destinations is its licensing system. Rather than booking separate hunts for every species, hunters purchase a government-issued licence that allows them to pursue a carefully managed combination of dangerous game and plains game within the concession's approved quota.
That flexibility transforms the safari into something far more dynamic than a traditional package. While Cape buffalo remains the primary objective, every day presents opportunities to add outstanding East African species as they are encountered naturally during the hunt. Instead of following a rigid itinerary, the safari evolves with the bush, allowing hunters to make the most of every opportunity the wilderness presents.
It is this traditional licensing system that has helped make Tanzania Hunting Safaris some of the most respected in Africa. Strict wildlife management, carefully controlled quotas and vast free-range hunting concessions combine to create the authentic East African safari that has attracted serious hunters for generations.
One of the greatest advantages of this traditional Tanzanian licence is the opportunity to combine dangerous game with an outstanding selection of Plains Game Hunts as the safari unfolds. While Cape buffalo remains the primary objective, hunters can tailor the remainder of the safari around the opportunities encountered in the field, creating a hunting adventure that reflects their personal goals rather than following a fixed package.
Additional species available under this licence include Cape buffalo (US$3,800), Lichtenstein's hartebeest (US$1,450), zebra (US$1,990), wildebeest (US$1,790), bushpig (US$790), warthog (US$790), baboon (US$220) and two impala (US$890). Trophy fees apply only to animals successfully harvested, wounded or lost, giving hunters the flexibility to make decisions as the safari develops.
One species that often surprises visiting hunters is the baboon. Tanzania is home to both the Olive Baboon and the Yellow Baboon, each occupying different habitats within the country. While often overlooked when planning a dangerous game safari, both present alert, intelligent and surprisingly challenging Baboon Hunting opportunities, making them a rewarding addition for hunters wishing to take home a uniquely East African trophy.
One of the greatest skills a professional hunter brings to a Tanzanian safari is knowing when not to pull the trigger. The Selous supports large buffalo populations, but that does not mean the first mature bull encountered will always be the right choice. Age, horn development, condition, herd dynamics and the hunter's personal goals all influence the decision to continue tracking or wait for a better opportunity.
Throughout the safari, hunters may encounter solitary dagga boys, bachelor groups or large breeding herds, each presenting very different hunting situations. Learning to recognise mature trophy bulls and exercising the patience to let younger animals walk away forms an important part of the experience and often leads to a more rewarding safari.
Our Cape Buffalo Hunting in Tanzania guide explains what hunters can expect from buffalo safaris in the Selous, including trophy quality, hunting methods and why this legendary wilderness continues to produce some of East Africa's finest free-range buffalo hunting.
Some hunting areas are measured in acres. The Selous is measured in horizons. Stretching across millions of acres of protected wilderness, this remarkable ecosystem allows hunters to experience Africa on a scale that has become increasingly rare elsewhere on the continent. There are no crowded hunting blocks, no neighbouring vehicles and no fixed schedule beyond the one created by the bush itself.
That sense of space changes the entire character of the safari. A day's hunt may cover miles on foot following fresh spoor through towering Miombo woodland, crossing open floodplains and winding river systems before finally catching sight of the buffalo that left those tracks hours earlier. Success is rarely rushed because the wilderness, not the clock, determines the pace.
It is this freedom that has drawn generations of professional hunters and international sportsmen to the Selous. Long after the trophies have been shipped home, many hunters remember something far less tangible, the silence, the vastness and the feeling of hunting in one of Africa's last truly wild places.
Your safari begins with an international flight into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's primary international gateway. On arrival, Pierre or a member of the hunting team will assist with firearm clearance before you continue your journey to the Selous. Hunters can either travel by private charter flight directly into the concession or choose a return road transfer, depending on their preferred travel arrangements and overall safari budget.
Accommodation is provided in a traditional East African tented safari camp, combining the authentic atmosphere of a classic African hunting expedition with the comforts expected by international hunters. Spacious en-suite tents, excellent cuisine and attentive camp staff provide a welcoming retreat after each day in the field, while evenings around the campfire offer the perfect opportunity to reflect on the day's hunting and prepare for the next adventure.
Tanzania's hunting season runs from 1 July through 31 December, with many professional hunters favouring the cooler, drier months between July and October. During this period, vegetation is generally less dense, tracking conditions are excellent and wildlife naturally concentrates around permanent water sources, creating ideal conditions for both Cape buffalo and East African plains game.
Observers are welcome to accompany the safari and experience one of Africa's last great wilderness areas firsthand. Whether watching wildlife around camp, enjoying the spectacular scenery or simply relaxing between game drives, the Selous offers a memorable African safari experience for hunters and non-hunters alike.
Every African hunting destination has its own character, but few leave the same lasting impression as Tanzania. From the vast wilderness of the Selous to the legendary plains of Maasailand, the country has become synonymous with classic East African safaris, where success is measured not only by the trophies taken but by the miles walked, the skills of the trackers and the privilege of hunting landscapes that have changed little over generations.
This safari captures that tradition perfectly. Built around a mature Cape buffalo bull and the flexibility to pursue outstanding East African plains game, it offers hunters the freedom to experience Tanzania as it has always been meant to be hunted, patiently, ethically and at the pace set by the wilderness itself.
For sportsmen comparing Hunting Trips across Africa, Tanzania continues to stand among the continent's most respected destinations. Long after the trophies have been shipped home, it is often the sunrise over the Miombo woodlands, the excitement of following fresh spoor and the memories created around the evening campfire that remain the greatest rewards of all.
Tanzania has earned its reputation through vast free-range hunting concessions, strict government wildlife management and some of Africa's most iconic safari landscapes. Unlike many destinations, hunters pursue game across enormous wilderness areas where fair chase, experienced professional hunters and carefully managed quotas remain central to the hunting tradition. These qualities continue to make Big Game Hunting in Tanzania one of Africa's most respected safari experiences.
Depending on the licence, hunting area and available quota, Tanzania offers opportunities to pursue Cape buffalo, leopard, elephant, lion, hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, alongside a remarkable selection of East African plains game. Hunters interested in pursuing one of Africa's most elusive predators should also explore our Leopard Hunting in Tanzania safaris, which are conducted under dedicated government licences.
Yes. One of the advantages of a traditional Tanzanian hunting licence is the flexibility to add selected East African plains game as opportunities arise during the safari. Depending on the licence and quota, hunters may pursue species such as zebra, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, wildebeest, bushpig, warthog, baboon and impala, allowing every safari to develop naturally rather than following a fixed itinerary.
The Selous is one of Africa's largest protected wilderness ecosystems, covering millions of acres of unfenced habitat. Its vast Miombo woodlands, river systems and open floodplains support exceptional populations of dangerous game and plains game while providing the scale, solitude and authentic safari atmosphere that have attracted international hunters for generations.
Tanzania's hunting season runs from 1 July to 31 December, with many professional hunters preferring the cooler, drier months between July and October. During this period, tracking conditions are generally excellent, vegetation is less dense and buffalo often concentrate around permanent water sources, creating ideal hunting conditions.
Yes. For hunters who are physically prepared and comfortable shooting from sticks, a traditional Cape buffalo safari can be an outstanding introduction to African dangerous game hunting. Experienced professional hunters guide every stage of the safari, from judging mature bulls and planning stalks to ensuring safe, ethical shot placement and professional follow-up after the shot.
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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