14-Day Leopard & Cape Buffalo Safari in Zambia
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Relax in comfortable riverside chalets overlooking the Zambezi River, complete with en-suite bathrooms, excellent cuisine and spectacular views across one of Africa's great wilderness areas.
Hunt across shifting sandbanks, reed-lined channels, floodplains, Jesse bush and mopane woodland where the ever-changing Zambezi shapes every day's strategy.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Hunting Ground Size: | 80000 ha |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), Lusaka, Zambia |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Few African hunting safaris capture the spirit of the Zambezi quite like this one. Conducted in one of Zambia's renowned free-range hunting concessions, this ten-day adventure combines a trophy Hippo Hunt with a giant Crocodile Hunt, two dangerous game species whose lives are inseparable from the river itself. Every day unfolds along one of Africa's great waterways, where shifting sandbanks, deep channels and quiet backwaters create a safari unlike any other.
Unlike many dangerous game hunts that revolve around tracking a single species, this safari constantly evolves with the rhythm of the river. A morning may begin quietly judging a mature crocodile basking on an exposed sandbank before attention shifts to watching a trophy hippo surface along the river's edge. Water levels, river conditions and animal behaviour influence every decision, ensuring that no two hunting days are ever quite the same.
Designed for hunters who have always dreamed of pursuing dangerous game in true African wilderness, this safari combines experienced professional hunters, comfortable riverside accommodation and fully exportable trophies in one of the continent's most respected hunting destinations. While hippo and crocodile remain the stars of the safari, the surrounding wilderness also supports exceptional Plains Game Hunts, world-class Sitatunga Hunts and some of Zambia's finest buffalo and leopard hunting, making every day along the Zambezi a reminder of just how remarkable this country truly is.
Price: US$19,500 per hunter (Daily Rates)
Duration: 7 Hunting Days / 8 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Dangerous Game Professional Hunter
Observer Rate: US$350 per observer, per day
Arrival Airport: Lusaka, Zambia
Rifle Rental: US$50 per day (US$10 per round)
This safari is offered on a daily rate plus trophy fee basis. Trophy fees are settled at the conclusion of the hunt and apply to animals successfully harvested or wounded and not recovered.
Your US$19,500 safari price includes all daily rates, government concession fees, Zambian hunting licence fees, return road transfers, and dip & pack of your trophies, providing a straightforward and transparent pricing structure before trophy fees are applied.
There is a reason Zambia continues to hold legendary status among dangerous game hunters. Unlike many modern safari destinations, large areas of the country remain genuinely wild, with vast government-managed concessions, low hunting pressure and experienced professional hunters operating across some of Africa's last great free-range wilderness areas. Every safari is shaped by the landscape rather than fences, creating the authentic hunting experience that has drawn international hunters to the Zambezi Valley for generations.
The mighty Zambezi River lies at the heart of this wilderness. Its deep channels, floodplains and islands provide ideal habitat for trophy hippo and giant Nile crocodiles, while the surrounding bush supports an incredible diversity of wildlife. It is not unusual to encounter elephant, Cape buffalo, leopard and a wide variety of antelope while travelling between hunting areas, a constant reminder that every day unfolds in one of Africa's richest ecosystems.
A safari to Zambia is about far more than pursuing two remarkable dangerous game species. It is about hunting one of Africa's last great wilderness areas, where vast free-range concessions, experienced professional hunters and the mighty Zambezi River combine to create an authentic safari unlike anywhere else. It is this unique combination that has earned Zambia its reputation as one of Africa's finest destinations for Big Game Hunting.
Unlike many dangerous game safaris where the terrain changes very little throughout the season, the Zambezi is constantly evolving. Rising water levels during the rains flood vast areas of the surrounding floodplains, while the dry season gradually exposes sandbanks, islands and narrow channels that create ideal conditions for Crocodile Hunting in Zambia. As the river changes, so too do the movements and behaviour of both crocodiles and hippos.
These changing conditions influence every decision made by the professional hunting team. One morning may be spent quietly glassing exposed sandbanks for a mature crocodile, while another begins following fresh hippo paths leading from the river to nearby grazing areas. Depending on water levels and the section of river being hunted, travel may take place by boat, vehicle or on foot, with each day requiring a slightly different approach.
Rather than following a fixed routine, the Zambezi dictates the rhythm of the safari. Understanding the river becomes just as important as understanding the animals themselves, making every successful hunt the result of patience, careful observation and adapting to conditions that change throughout the season.
The Zambezi is more than a remarkable hunting destination. Along much of this safari, it also forms the international border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. While the river creates outstanding habitat for hippo and crocodile, it also presents challenges found in very few hunting areas anywhere in Africa.
A mature crocodile does not recognise international boundaries. A bull that spends the morning basking on a Zambian sandbank may slip into the water and surface hundreds of metres away in Zimbabwe only minutes later. The same applies to hippo, which move freely between the two countries as they follow the river's ever-changing channels and feeding areas.
This is why experienced professional hunters work closely with government game scouts throughout the safari. Every stalk requires patience, careful planning and an understanding of exactly where the animals are positioned before the opportunity presents itself. Good judgement becomes just as important as accurate shooting, particularly when hunting one of Africa's busiest international waterways.
Pursuing a trophy hippo along the Zambezi is very different from hunting the species on a small dam or isolated stretch of water. Here, the river is alive with movement. Hippos travel between deep channels, feeding areas and sheltered backwaters, often following the same well-worn paths that have been used for generations. Understanding these daily movements is one of the keys to successful Hippo Hunting in Zambia, where patience and careful observation are rewarded far more often than rushing the opportunity.
Judging a mature bull requires experience. Much of the animal remains submerged for long periods, leaving only brief moments to assess its size, position and behaviour before it disappears beneath the surface once again. Wind direction, light conditions and the constantly changing river all influence when and where the final opportunity may present itself, making every successful hunt the result of careful planning rather than chance.
While the trophy itself is undoubtedly the goal, the memories often come from everything surrounding the hunt. Watching the river come to life at first light, listening to fish eagles calling overhead and sharing the day with experienced professional hunters who know every bend of the Zambezi creates the kind of safari that hunters remember long after they have returned home.
This safari takes place in the vast Rufunsa Game Management Area (GMA), situated in Zambia's Lower Zambezi Valley along one of Africa's most celebrated river systems. Bordering the Zambezi National Park and lying directly opposite Zimbabwe's famous Chewore Safari Area, Rufunsa forms part of an immense free-range ecosystem where wildlife moves naturally across one of the continent's last great wilderness landscapes.
Although this safari focuses on hippo and crocodile, Rufunsa is renowned for far more than its aquatic species. The concession also supports exceptional Cape Buffalo Hunting, with old dagga bulls regularly encountered throughout the mopane woodland and thick Jesse bush. The same diverse habitat produces outstanding Bushbuck Hunts, greater kudu, eland, Sharpe's grysbok and a wide variety of other plains game species, making it one of Zambia's most versatile hunting destinations.
Years of responsible wildlife management and relatively low hunting pressure have helped preserve the area's outstanding game quality. Rufunsa has also developed a strong reputation for producing exceptional leopard, while the mighty Zambezi offers world-class catch-and-release tiger fishing for hunters wishing to extend their stay. It is the remarkable diversity of wildlife, combined with the sheer scale of the concession, that makes Rufunsa one of Zambia's premier safari destinations.
After each day on the river, hunters return to a comfortable riverside camp overlooking one of Africa's most famous waterways. Three well-appointed permanent chalets provide en-suite bathrooms and modern amenities while maintaining the relaxed atmosphere of a traditional Zambian safari camp. It is the ideal place to unwind, review the day's encounters and prepare for another morning on the water.
The central dining and entertainment area quickly becomes the heart of camp. Overlooking the Zambezi, it is the perfect setting to enjoy a cold drink while watching wildlife along the riverbank or even casting a line for one of the river's many freshwater fish species. As the sun disappears beyond the floodplains and hippos begin calling from the water below, hunters are reminded that the safari continues long after the rifles have been put away.
Meals are very much part of the experience. Fresh local ingredients, traditional African cuisine and expertly prepared game dishes are served throughout the safari, with hippo backstrap and grilled crocodile tail providing memorable additions to the menu when the opportunity arises. There are few better ways to end a successful day than sharing stories around the table while looking out across the mighty Zambezi.
Although the camp feels wonderfully remote, Wi-Fi is available for hunters wishing to stay in touch with family or friends during their safari.
Travelling to the Rufunsa Game Management Area is straightforward for international hunters. Most safaris begin with an international flight into Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, Zambia. Many North American hunters choose to connect through Johannesburg, with Airlink offering a reliable regional service that also accommodates hunters travelling with their own firearms.
Your safari includes return road transfers between Lusaka and the hunting concession. The journey takes approximately five hours, providing an opportunity to experience Zambia's changing landscapes before arriving on the banks of the mighty Zambezi.
For hunters wishing to maximise their time in camp, a private charter flight can also be arranged. Flying directly to the concession reduces travelling time to approximately forty minutes, allowing you to begin your safari soon after arriving in Zambia. The cost of the charter can be offset against the included road transfer; however, charter pricing is subject to aircraft availability and fluctuating fuel costs. We recommend confirming the latest charter rates with the Game Hunting Safaris team when planning your safari.
Some hunting safaris are remembered for the trophies taken. Others are remembered for the places where they unfolded. Days spent watching giant crocodiles bask on sunlit sandbanks, quietly waiting for a mature hippo to surface and sharing evenings beside the Zambezi create memories that extend far beyond the animals themselves.
For many international hunters, a safari on the Zambezi represents the very essence of Africa. Vast free-range wilderness, experienced professional hunters, thriving wildlife populations and one of the continent's most iconic rivers combine to deliver an authentic dangerous game safari that few destinations can still offer today.
Whether this is your first safari to Zambia or another chapter in a lifetime of African hunting, this expedition offers far more than two remarkable trophies. It is one of those unforgettable Hunting Trips that leaves hunters wanting to return to the Zambezi long before they have even reached home.
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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