Trophy Hunting in Zimbabwe, Plains Game in Matetsi Unit 2
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Moderate
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Hunters stay in comfortable safari lodges featuring private en-suite chalets, excellent meals, and welcoming communal areas designed for relaxation after a day in the field. Evenings are often spent around the campfire sharing stories from the hunt while enjoying the atmosphere of the African bush.
The Lowveld region is characterized by Mopane woodland, thick bushveld, open grasslands, and seasonal river systems that provide ideal habitat for Cape buffalo and a wide variety of African game. The diverse terrain creates a classic fair-chase hunting environment where tracking and stalking are central to the safari experience.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Bulawayo International Airport (BUQ) |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
This free-range Cape buffalo hunt takes place within one of Zimbabwe's largest private Lowveld conservancies, covering more than 850,000 acres of diverse wilderness. Designed for hunters seeking the challenge and excitement of buffalo hunting rather than record-book measurements, this safari focuses on mature bulls over twelve years of age and offers outstanding opportunities to combine buffalo with a variety of classic African plains game species.
7 Hunting Days | 8 Nights
1 Hunter × 1 Professional Hunter
This safari is designed for hunters seeking the challenge and excitement of traditional Cape buffalo hunting rather than focusing solely on horn measurements. The hunt targets mature, hard-bossed bulls with spreads of less than 38 inches, many of which carry the heavy bosses, character, and age that experienced buffalo hunters value most.
For American and international hunters wanting to experience Zimbabwe's famous Lowveld region, track buffalo on foot through vast free-range wilderness, and enjoy the opportunity to add quality plains game species to their safari, this hunt offers exceptional value and an authentic African hunting experience.
Few destinations have earned the reputation that Zimbabwe enjoys among dangerous game hunters. From the legendary Zambezi Valley to the vast Lowveld conservancies of the south, the country has long been regarded as one of Africa's premier destinations for hunting in Zimbabwe, offering hunters exceptional wildlife, experienced professional hunters, and some of the continent's finest free-range safari areas.
For those specifically interested in buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe, the country continues to set the benchmark. Healthy buffalo populations, strong genetics, extensive wilderness areas, and a long hunting heritage have made Zimbabwe a favorite destination for hunters seeking mature bulls and traditional tracking safaris on foot.
The Lowveld region is particularly well suited to Cape buffalo. Large conservancies, limited hunting pressure, diverse habitat, and abundant water sources support healthy buffalo populations throughout the year. Hunters can expect a mixture of Mopane woodland, open grasslands, river systems, and thick cover, creating the ideal environment for both buffalo and the challenging style of hunting they are famous for.
Beyond the buffalo itself, Zimbabwe offers a complete African safari experience. Elephant, lion, leopard, plains game, spectacular scenery, and world-famous destinations such as Victoria Falls all contribute to making Zimbabwe one of the most respected hunting destinations on the continent.
For hunters dreaming of a traditional free-range Cape buffalo safari, few places combine wilderness, wildlife, and hunting heritage as successfully as Zimbabwe's Lowveld region.
Package Particulars
Observers: US$300 per person per day
Rifle Hire: US$80 per hunting day (excluding ammunition)
This safari is designed for hunters seeking a challenging and authentic free-range Cape buffalo hunt in one of Zimbabwe's largest Lowveld conservancies.
Old Bulls, Heavy Bosses & Lowveld Buffalo Country
The Lowveld region of Zimbabwe has earned a reputation as one of Africa's premier buffalo hunting destinations, producing healthy buffalo populations, experienced old dagga boys, and the type of free-range hunting experience serious hunters seek. This safari focuses on mature bulls over twelve years of age with spreads under 38 inches, animals that have survived years of droughts, predators, and hunting pressure to reach old age.
Many experienced buffalo hunters place greater value on age, character, and heavy bosses than sheer horn width alone. These mature bulls often represent some of the most rewarding and challenging buffalo hunts Africa has to offer.
The conservancy itself is divided into several professionally managed hunting areas, each designed to provide hunters with excellent game densities and an authentic wilderness experience. Diverse Lowveld habitat, ranging from Mopane woodland and thick bush to open grasslands and seasonal river systems, creates ideal conditions for both buffalo and a wide variety of plains game species.
Accommodation is provided in comfortable hunting lodges built to blend naturally into the surrounding landscape. Private en-suite chalets, welcoming communal areas, excellent meals, and evenings around the campfire create the perfect setting to relax after a long day tracking buffalo through the African bush.
Hunters stay in comfortable private chalets positioned throughout the conservancy, each offering en-suite facilities and all the amenities needed after a long day in the bush. The lodges have been designed to blend naturally into the surrounding landscape while providing a relaxed and welcoming safari atmosphere.
Communal dining and lounge areas provide the perfect setting to share hunting stories, enjoy a cold drink, and plan the next day's hunt. After tracking buffalo through the Lowveld, many hunters choose to unwind around the campfire or cool off in the swimming pool before dinner.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Dean has spent more than two decades guiding hunting safaris throughout some of Africa's most respected hunting destinations. His experience extends beyond Zimbabwe to South Africa, Namibia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Benin, and Mozambique, providing him with a deep understanding of dangerous game hunting and the challenges that make African safaris so rewarding.
Buffalo hunting remains one of Dean's greatest passions, alongside elephant, lion, and leopard hunting. His approach is built around fair-chase principles, ethical hunting practices, and creating memorable safari experiences that hunters will talk about long after returning home.
Whether tracking old buffalo bulls through the Lowveld or sharing stories around the campfire at the end of the day, Dean and his team are committed to delivering a professional, enjoyable, and authentic African hunting safari.
Dean is a firm believer in fair-chase hunting, and every buffalo safari follows traditional tracking methods on foot. This is not a sit-and-wait hunt. The objective is to locate fresh spoor, follow the buffalo through the Lowveld bush, and close the distance until a suitable shot opportunity presents itself.
A typical hunting day starts before sunrise with a light breakfast and hot coffee before heading out to check waterholes, roads, and crossing points for fresh buffalo activity. Once a promising track has been identified, the trackers and professional hunter will begin the pursuit, often spending several hours following a herd or old dagga boy through thick bush, Mopane woodland, and open country.
Buffalo hunting is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Distances can be deceptive, conditions can change quickly, and old bulls have an uncanny ability to disappear into cover when least expected. When the opportunity finally arrives, proper Cape buffalo shot placement becomes one of the most important factors in ensuring a quick, ethical harvest.
As many experienced buffalo hunters will tell you, it often takes only one well-placed shot to kill a buffalo, but several more to convince him that he is dead. A wounded buffalo demands respect, concentration, and absolute trust in your professional hunter and hunting team.
For hunters seeking a traditional dangerous game safari built around tracking, patience, and close-range encounters, few experiences compare to following fresh buffalo spoor through the African bush.
While Cape buffalo are the primary focus of this safari, the Lowveld region is also renowned for exceptional plains game hunting. Hunters with additional days available often choose to add species such as kudu, waterbuck, zebra, impala, and warthog, creating a well-rounded African hunting experience.
The area is particularly attractive for hunters interested in specialty species. Opportunities exist for a memorable bushbuck hunt along riverine habitat, while those seeking one of Africa's most striking spiral-horned antelope may wish to enquire about a Nyala hunt on special request.
Predator and night hunting opportunities are also available, with spotted hyena, brown hyena, civet, jackal, bushpig, and other elusive nocturnal species occurring throughout the conservancy.
Additional species may be available subject to quota and seasonal regulations.
International hunters will arrive via Bulawayo International Airport, the primary gateway for this safari. Most international routes connect through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, or Doha before continuing to Zimbabwe.
Depending on flight schedules, some hunters choose to overnight in Johannesburg before connecting to Bulawayo. Airlink is a popular choice for hunters travelling with firearms and offers regular regional services between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The road transfer from Bulawayo to the conservancy is included in the safari package and will be arranged by your outfitter.
A .375 H&H loaded with quality ammunition remains the practical minimum caliber for Cape buffalo hunting. Larger calibers such as the .404 Jeffery, .458 Winchester Magnum, .458 Lott, and classic double rifles including the .470 and .500 Nitro Express are also popular choices among dangerous game hunters.
Regardless of caliber, familiarity and accurate shot placement are far more important than raw stopping power alone. Hunters may import up to three firearms into Zimbabwe, with temporary firearm permits issued on arrival. A maximum of 100 rounds of ammunition may be imported per rifle, and there is currently no fee for standard rifle import permits.
Cape buffalo may be hunted throughout much of the year, although the cooler and drier months from April through October are generally preferred. During this period, vegetation is less dense, temperatures are more comfortable, and tracking conditions are often at their best.
Buffalo hunting in Zimbabwe remains rewarding regardless of season. Success ultimately depends on patience, preparation, physical fitness, and working closely with your professional hunter to identify the right mature bull and make the shot count when the opportunity finally presents itself.
Not every buffalo hunter is searching for record-book horn measurements. Many experienced hunters are drawn to old bulls carrying heavy bosses, worn tips, and the scars earned from years of surviving droughts, predators, and rival buffalo.
This Lowveld safari is designed for hunters who value the experience of tracking mature buffalo through vast free-range wilderness and who appreciate the challenge of hunting age, character, and hard-earned experience rather than simply chasing inches.
Combined with comfortable accommodation, experienced professional hunters, excellent plains game opportunities, and one of Zimbabwe's most productive buffalo regions, this safari offers exceptional value for hunters seeking an authentic African dangerous game hunting experience.
If your goal is to follow fresh spoor, hunt fair-chase buffalo on their terms, and return home with stories that will be told around campfires for years to come, this hunt deserves serious consideration.
To learn more about this Cape Buffalo hunt, discuss available dates, or customize your safari with additional species, contact the Game Hunting Safaris team. We will be happy to help you plan a Zimbabwe hunting safari tailored to your goals, experience level, and hunting preferences.
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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