Free-Range Elephant & Buffalo Hunt in Botswana
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Stay in comfortable traditional safari camps located close to Botswana's premier dangerous game concessions, offering en-suite accommodation, attentive camp staff and hearty home-cooked meals. After each day's hunt, relax around the campfire beneath Botswana's star-filled skies while preparing for the following day's adventure.
Hunting takes place across Botswana's vast free-range wilderness, from the mopane woodlands bordering the Okavango Delta to the open Kalahari landscapes and remote bushveld. These diverse habitats provide exceptional conditions for both leopard and Cape buffalo, creating an authentic dangerous game safari in truly wild country.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Arrival Airport: Kasane (BBK) or Maun (MUB) – Confirmed with your hunting concession |
Few African hunting destinations carry the reputation of Botswana. Known for its vast wilderness, low hunting pressure and authentic free-range safaris, it remains one of the last places where hunters can pursue dangerous game across immense unfenced concessions. For those chasing the ultimate African hunting achievement, this safari offers the rare opportunity to hunt two members of Africa's legendary Big Five Hunting tradition during a single professionally guided adventure.
Combining the patience and precision of leopard hunting with the close-range intensity of tracking Cape buffalo, this twelve-day safari brings together two completely different dangerous game hunts. Success demands adaptability, sound judgement and confidence in the field, as each species presents its own unique challenge and rewards.
Designed for hunters seeking a traditional African safari rather than a simple trophy list, this package delivers an authentic wilderness hunt guided by experienced professional hunters and skilled San Bushman trackers. From checking leopard bait sites at first light to following fresh buffalo spoor through Botswana's remote bush, every day builds towards two of Africa's most respected dangerous game trophies.
Price: US$48,500 per hunter (Including Trophy Fees)
Duration: 12 Hunting Days / 13 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Species Included: Leopard • Cape Buffalo
Trophies: Fully Exportable
Observers: US$515 per person, per day (Including Government VAT)
Cameraman / Videographer: US$515 per day
Few dangerous game safaris combine two members of Africa's legendary Big Five quite like this one. Although both leopard and Cape buffalo rank among Africa's most respected trophies, the similarities largely end there. Each species demands a completely different approach, requiring hunters to adapt their mindset, pace and expectations throughout the safari.
Leopard Hunting is a lesson in patience and discipline. Every day begins by checking bait sites, studying fresh tracks and reviewing trail camera activity before deciding where to focus attention. Once a mature tom has committed to a bait, the pace slows dramatically. Hours may be spent quietly waiting in a well-positioned blind, knowing that the entire safari could come down to a single opportunity lasting only a few seconds.
Cape Buffalo Hunting could hardly be more different. Instead of waiting for the hunt to unfold, hunters head into the bush at first light with experienced professional hunters and skilled San Bushman trackers, following fresh spoor through Botswana's vast wilderness. Every track tells part of the story, and every kilometre covered increases the possibility of a close encounter with one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals.
Together, these two hunts create one of Africa's most complete dangerous game safaris. One rewards patience and absolute self-control, while the other tests endurance, fieldcraft and determination. It is this contrast that makes pursuing leopard and Cape buffalo in Botswana such a rewarding challenge for hunters looking to experience two classic Big Five safaris during a single adventure.
Botswana has earned a reputation as one of Africa's premier dangerous game destinations through its vast wilderness, healthy wildlife populations and commitment to free-range hunting. Unlike many parts of Africa where hunting takes place on smaller properties, Botswana's dangerous game concessions cover immense unfenced landscapes where wildlife moves naturally between ecosystems. Every hunt unfolds in truly wild country, adding an authenticity that few destinations can match.
This exceptional wilderness is what makes Hunting in Botswana so highly regarded by international hunters. Depending on the season and concession, safaris may take place along the fringes of the Okavango Delta, in mopane woodlands, or across the Kalahari's open landscapes, each offering its own unique hunting conditions and unforgettable scenery.
Equally important are the people behind the safari. Experienced professional hunters work alongside skilled San Bushman trackers whose ability to interpret fresh spoor, subtle ground disturbances and animal behaviour has been refined over generations. Whether following the movements of a mature Cape buffalo or identifying the tracks of a dominant leopard visiting a bait site, their knowledge often becomes one of the safari's greatest advantages.
Together, these elements create the classic African hunting safari that so many hunters have dreamed about. Vast wilderness, exceptional dangerous game and experienced trackers combine to deliver an authentic Botswana hunting experience that remains among the finest on the continent.
Every hunting day begins long before sunrise, when your professional hunter and San Bushman trackers gather to discuss the previous night's leopard activity and decide on the day's plan. Fresh spoor, trail camera photographs and changing wind conditions all influence where the team will hunt, ensuring no two days follow exactly the same pattern.
The first hours are usually devoted to checking leopard bait sites scattered throughout the concession. Every visit provides valuable information. A fresh set of tracks, movement captured on camera or signs that a dominant tom has returned overnight may completely change the day's strategy. Sometimes the decision is made to refresh an existing bait, while on other mornings attention shifts to a completely different part of the concession.
Once the bait run is complete, the safari often changes pace as the team begins searching for fresh Cape buffalo spoor. Working alongside experienced San Bushman trackers, every track, broken branch and patch of disturbed ground helps build the story of the herd ahead. Hours of patient tracking may eventually bring hunters within close range of one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals.
As afternoon slowly turns to evening, preparations begin for the final phase of the day. Hunters quietly settle into a well-positioned blind overlooking an active bait, waiting as Botswana's wilderness gradually comes alive after dark. Every sound becomes significant, every movement captures your attention, and the hours spent preparing during the day may finally be rewarded by the silent arrival of a mature leopard beneath the fading African sky.
One of the greatest advantages of this safari is the opportunity to pursue two iconic dangerous game species that demand completely different hunting techniques. While both are members of Africa's legendary Big Five, the methods, pace and challenges of each hunt create two unforgettable experiences within a single safari.
Leopard Hunting in Botswana is widely regarded as one of Africa's classic dangerous game pursuits. Success depends on careful preparation, experienced professional hunters and the ability to remain patient when the opportunity finally presents itself. Every mature tom is earned through planning, discipline and making the most of a single moment.
Equally respected is Cape Buffalo Hunting in Botswana, where the focus shifts from waiting to actively tracking one of Africa's most formidable animals. Working alongside experienced San Bushman trackers, hunters follow fresh spoor through Botswana's vast wilderness, often covering considerable ground before finally closing the distance for a shot at close quarters.
Together, these two hunts perfectly capture the spirit of dangerous game hunting in Botswana. One rewards patience and precision, the other endurance and determination, creating a safari that many hunters consider one of the finest combinations available anywhere in Africa.
Although leopard and Cape buffalo are both members of Africa's legendary Big Five, the shot opportunities they present could hardly be more different. A leopard may appear silently beneath a bait at last light, often offering only a brief window to take a calm, well-placed shot before disappearing back into the darkness. Cape buffalo, on the other hand, are typically encountered after hours of tracking through thick bush, where shots are often taken at close range and hunters must be prepared to react quickly should a follow-up become necessary.
For both species, accurate shot placement is far more important than simply shooting a powerful rifle. A well-placed first shot is the key to an ethical, efficient hunt and greatly improves the likelihood of a successful recovery. Hunters unfamiliar with dangerous game are encouraged to review our Dangerous Game Shot Placement guide before arriving in camp, ensuring they understand the vital anatomy and shot angles for both leopard and Cape buffalo.
Depending on the hunting concession and the time of year, international hunters will fly into either Maun or Kasane, with your final travel arrangements confirmed when the safari is booked. Both airports are easily reached via a short regional flight from Oliver Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, making Botswana surprisingly straightforward to access from South Africa. On arrival, your professional hunter will meet you for the road transfer to camp, where your dangerous game adventure begins.
The hunting season runs from April through September, when Botswana's cooler, drier weather creates ideal conditions for dangerous game hunting. Comfortable daytime temperatures, reduced vegetation and increased animal movement all contribute to excellent hunting conditions, while the cooler climate also makes long days tracking Cape buffalo or preparing leopard bait considerably more enjoyable than during the hotter summer months.
As this safari takes place in genuine wilderness areas, some concessions fall within malaria regions. Hunters should consult their physician before travelling regarding appropriate malaria prophylaxis and any recommended vaccinations. Those wishing to reduce travel time may also arrange private charter flights from Maun to selected hunting concessions, although most hunters find the scheduled regional flights and road transfers both convenient and efficient.
This safari is designed for hunters who want to experience two of Africa's most respected dangerous game hunts during a single traditional Botswana safari. It suits those who appreciate both patience and persistence, understanding that leopard hunting rewards careful preparation and self-discipline, while Cape buffalo hunting demands determination, physical effort and confidence when following fresh spoor through wild country.
Rather than repeating the same style of hunting each day, this safari constantly changes pace. One evening may be spent quietly waiting over an active leopard bait, while the following morning begins tracking buffalo through Botswana's vast wilderness alongside experienced San Bushman trackers. It is this contrast between two completely different Big Five hunts that makes the safari so rewarding.
For hunters exploring other Hunting Trips across Africa, Game Hunting Safaris offers carefully selected dangerous game, plains game and Big Five safaris in many of the continent's premier hunting destinations. Whether Botswana is the next step in your hunting journey or one of several African adventures still to come, this safari represents one of the finest opportunities to experience two legendary Big Five hunts in truly wild country.
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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