Elephant Hunting in Zimbabwe 10 Days Action in Save Valley

There are few hunting experiences left in Africa that still feel truly wild. Tracking a mature bull elephant through the vast Save Valley Conservancy is one of them.

For hunters interested in elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, few areas can match the reputation of Save Valley. This immense wildlife conservancy is home to the Big Five, thriving populations of black and white rhino, and some of the country's highest concentrations of free-range elephant. Here, every day begins by cutting fresh tracks and following them on foot through mopane woodland, open grasslands, granite hills, and river systems in search of an old bull.

The area has developed a reputation for producing quality trophy elephants, with bulls averaging around 50 pounds and larger trophies regularly encountered. Combined with an experienced dangerous game team, excellent success rates, and a fully exportable trophy with no size restriction, this safari offers one of the most attractive elephant hunting opportunities currently available in Zimbabwe.

For hunters seeking a genuine dangerous game experience, few safaris can match the challenge, excitement, and authenticity of tracking a trophy elephant through the wild landscapes of Save Valley.

Hunt Trophy Elephant in Zimbabwe – US$ 27,930

This all-inclusive dangerous game safari takes place in Zimbabwe's renowned Save Valley Conservancy, one of Africa's most respected free-range elephant hunting areas. The safari offers the opportunity to hunt a fully exportable trophy bull elephant with no size restrictions, accompanied by an experienced dangerous game professional hunter.

Safari Highlights

• 10 Full Hunting Days
• 1 Trophy Bull Elephant Included
• Fully Exportable Trophy
• No Size Restrictions
• Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe
• One Hunter, One Dangerous Game Professional Hunter
• All Government Levies and VAT Included
• Dip & Pack Included
• No Hidden Costs

Important Information for U.S. Hunters

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has resumed processing elephant import permit applications from Zimbabwe, providing hunters with a pathway to import legally hunted Zimbabwe elephant trophies into the United States, subject to permit approval requirements.

Observer Rates

Observers are welcome to accompany the safari at:

US$ 350 per person per day

Rifle Rental

Quality dangerous game rifles are available for hunters who prefer not to travel with their own firearms.

• Rifle Rental: US$ 40 per day
• .375 H&H Ammunition: US$ 25 per round

This safari represents an outstanding opportunity to experience authentic elephant hunting in Zimbabwe while pursuing one of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species in a world-class hunting area.

Elephant Hunting in Zimbabwe's Save Valley

Zimbabwe has long been regarded as one of Africa's premier elephant hunting destinations, and the Save Valley Conservancy continues to play an important role in that reputation. For hunters considering hunting in Zimbabwe, the area's combination of extensive wildlife habitat, experienced management, and healthy elephant populations has made it a sought-after destination for pursuing mature trophy bulls in a genuinely wild setting.

Elephant hunting in Save Valley is conducted on a free-range basis, with hunters and professional hunters spending long days tracking fresh spoor through mopane woodland, river systems, and open country. Success is rarely measured by distance covered in a vehicle. Instead, it comes from locating a suitable bull, reading the sign correctly, and closing the final distance on foot.

The conservancy has consistently produced quality trophy elephants, with bulls averaging around 50 pounds and larger specimens regularly encountered. While trophy size can never be guaranteed, the combination of strong elephant numbers and extensive hunting areas provides hunters with realistic opportunities to evaluate multiple bulls during the course of a safari.

Perhaps most importantly, hunting elephant in Save Valley still feels like a traditional African safari. Vast landscapes, abundant wildlife, experienced trackers, and close-range encounters combine to create an experience that many hunters spend a lifetime dreaming about. 

The African Outfitter

With more than three decades of hunting experience in Africa, Chris has established herself as one of Zimbabwe's most respected dangerous game outfitters. Specializing in elephant hunts, buffalo, lion, and leopard safaris, she has spent years guiding international hunters through some of the country's most productive hunting areas, including the renowned Save Valley Conservancy.

As one of the few female outfitters operating at this level within Zimbabwe's hunting industry, Chris has earned a reputation for professionalism, attention to detail, and consistently successful dangerous game safaris. Her extensive knowledge of wildlife behavior, tracking, and concession management is supported by an experienced team of professional hunters, trackers, skinners, and camp staff who work together to deliver a first-class safari experience.

Hunters pursuing elephant in Save Valley benefit from a team that understands the area intimately. From locating fresh spoor at first light to assessing trophy quality and planning safe approaches in thick cover, every aspect of the hunt is managed with patience, experience, and a deep respect for the game being pursued.

Should your elephant be successfully harvested early in the safari, Save Valley offers a variety of additional hunting opportunities. Buffalo are a particularly popular addition, while several plains game species can also be pursued depending on available time and licensing.

Zimbabwe remains one of Africa's premier elephant hunting destinations, but with a limited number of tags issued each year, opportunities to hunt quality bulls in established concessions such as Save Valley remain highly sought after.

Additional Species Opportunities

While elephant are the primary focus of this safari, Save Valley offers exceptional opportunities for hunters wishing to extend their stay and pursue additional African game species.

Cape buffalo hunts are a popular addition, particularly for hunters looking to complete two of Africa's most iconic dangerous game animals on the same safari. Save Valley is well known for producing mature "Dugga Boys" and remains one of Zimbabwe's premier buffalo hunting destinations.

The conservancy also supports healthy populations of kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, giraffe, bushpig, and spotted hyena. Hunters interested in extending their safari may wish to consider hunting kudu in Zimbabwe, one of the country's most sought-after plains game experiences, or adding a hyena hunting in Zimbabwe opportunity where permits are available.

The Save River system and surrounding habitats create exceptional biodiversity throughout the concession, while specialized night hunts may provide opportunities for species such as civet, jackal, duiker, grysbok, and klipspringer. Bird hunters can also enjoy a variety of wing-shooting opportunities, including ducks, francolin, geese, pigeons, and doves.

For hunters looking to experience more than one African species during a single safari, Save Valley offers outstanding dangerous game and plains game hunts within one of Zimbabwe's most productive wildlife conservancies.

The Save Valley Elephant Hunting Grounds

Few hunting areas in Africa combine wilderness, wildlife diversity, and conservation success quite like the Save Valley Conservancy. Covering vast tracts of unfenced habitat in southeastern Zimbabwe, Save Valley is widely regarded as one of the continent's premier wildlife conservancies and remains one of the last places where hunters can experience what many describe as "Old Africa."

The conservancy is home to the Big Five and supports healthy populations of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, and both black and white rhino. Save Valley has also become internationally recognized for its conservation efforts, particularly the protection of endangered African wild dogs and the ongoing management of threatened rhino populations. For hunters who value sustainable wildlife utilization, Save Valley stands as one of Africa's great conservation success stories.

The landscape itself is incredibly diverse. Rolling granite hills give way to open grasslands, dense mopane woodland, and towering teak forests, creating ideal habitat for elephant and a wide variety of plains game species. This diversity of terrain makes every day's hunt different, whether tracking fresh elephant spoor through thick cover or following fresh sign across open valleys and riverine habitat.

Flowing through the conservancy, the Save River provides a permanent water source that supports wildlife throughout the year. The river system attracts large concentrations of game and is also home to healthy populations of animals such as hippo and Nile crocodile, creating additional opportunities for hunters interested in extending their safari with hippo hunts or crocodile hunts. The riverbanks are particularly productive during the dry season when animals congregate around dependable water sources.For elephant hunters, the combination of vast hunting areas, healthy elephant populations, varied terrain, and genuine wilderness conditions creates the type of safari experience that has become increasingly difficult to find elsewhere in Africa.

Elephant Hunting Methods

Elephant hunting in Save Valley is conducted as a traditional tracking safari. Each morning begins with professional hunters, game scouts, and experienced trackers searching roads, river crossings, and watering areas for fresh spoor. Once a suitable track is located, the hunting party sets out on foot to follow the bull through the conservancy, often covering considerable distances before an opportunity presents itself.

Patience and discipline are essential. Multiple bulls may be encountered during the course of a safari before a final decision is made. The objective is to locate a mature trophy bull and then carefully close the distance for a safe and ethical shot.

Unlike many other dangerous game species, elephant are typically taken at very close range. Shots are often measured in feet rather than yards, requiring calm decision-making and absolute confidence in shot placement. For this reason, hunters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper elephant shot placement before arriving in camp.

A successful elephant hunt is a team effort involving the professional hunter, trackers, game scouts, and the hunter. From reading fresh spoor to evaluating bulls and planning the final approach, every stage of the hunt contributes to one of Africa's most challenging and rewarding dangerous game experiences.

Elephant Hunting and Community Conservation

Zimbabwe's elephant hunting industry operates within a conservation framework that helps ensure wildlife remains a valuable resource for both local communities and future generations. In many areas, hunting revenue contributes directly to wildlife management, anti-poaching initiatives, habitat protection, and community development projects.

The hunting operation in Save Valley supports the principles that have made Zimbabwe one of Africa's most successful wildlife conservation models. Revenue generated through legally regulated elephant hunting helps create economic incentives for wildlife conservation while also supporting employment opportunities for trackers, camp staff, game scouts, and other local service providers.

Community development initiatives funded through hunting often contribute to improvements in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and community services in rural areas where wildlife and people live alongside one another. By placing measurable value on wildlife conservation, regulated hunting helps ensure that large wilderness areas remain protected and managed for future generations.

For hunters, knowing that their safari contributes to both conservation and local communities is an important part of the overall hunting experience and one of the reasons Zimbabwe remains a respected destination for sustainable elephant hunting.

Accommodation & Cuisine

Accommodation on this safari is comfortable, practical, and designed for hunters spending their days in the field rather than at the lodge. Guests stay in traditional safari tents equipped with beds, basic furnishings, and en-suite bathroom facilities with hot and cold running water.

The camp provides everything needed for a comfortable stay while maintaining the authentic atmosphere of a classic African hunting safari. Daily laundry service is available, and camp staff ensure hunters can focus entirely on the hunt.

Meals are hearty and prepared with hunters in mind. Expect substantial breakfasts before first light, field lunches when required, and relaxed evening meals shared around the camp after a day of tracking elephant. Fresh game meat often features on the menu, providing a true taste of the African hunting experience.

While the accommodation is not intended to be luxurious, it is clean, comfortable, and perfectly suited to a traditional dangerous game safari in one of Zimbabwe's wildest hunting areas.

Traveling to the Hunting Area

International hunters will typically arrive in Zimbabwe via Harare International Airport, the primary point of entry for this safari.

From Harare, the journey to Save Valley takes approximately five hours by road, depending on seasonal conditions and road quality. Hunters arriving on afternoon or evening international flights may wish to spend a night in Harare before transferring to the hunting area the following day.

Many international visitors choose to route through Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport before connecting to Harare via regional carriers such as Airlink. The flight between Johannesburg and Harare is relatively short and offers a convenient connection for hunters traveling from North America and Europe.

Assistance with firearm import permits, airport procedures, and safari logistics can be arranged prior to arrival, ensuring a smooth transition from airport to hunting camp.

Dangerous Game Rifles & Equipment

Elephant hunting demands reliable equipment and proper preparation. Due to the size and anatomy of African elephant, most professional hunters recommend medium-to-large caliber dangerous game rifles loaded with quality solid bullets designed for maximum penetration.

Hunters who prefer not to travel with their own firearm may rent a suitable rifle from camp. Available options include proven dangerous game calibers such as the .375 H&H and .458, both of which have earned legendary reputations on African elephant safaris.

Because elephant are often encountered at close range, shot placement is far more important than raw caliber size. Hunters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper elephant shot placement before arriving in camp to ensure they are fully prepared when the opportunity presents itself.

Your professional hunter will discuss rifle setup, ammunition selection, and shooting angles before and during the safari to ensure every hunter is equipped for a safe and ethical hunt.

Why Consider This Hunt?

This safari combines many of the qualities experienced elephant hunters look for when planning a dangerous game adventure in Africa. Save Valley Conservancy offers vast free-range hunting areas, healthy elephant populations, diverse wildlife, and an authentic wilderness experience that has become increasingly difficult to find elsewhere on the continent.

Hunters benefit from an experienced dangerous game team, a proven hunting area, fully transparent pricing, and the opportunity to pursue a fully exportable trophy elephant in one of Zimbabwe's most respected conservancies. The ability to add additional species such as buffalo, kudu, hyena, hippo, or crocodile further enhances the overall safari experience.

Whether this is your first elephant safari or another chapter in a lifetime of African hunting adventures, Save Valley provides the type of traditional tracking hunt that continues to draw serious dangerous game hunters back to Zimbabwe year after year.

To learn more about availability, preferred hunting dates, or safari customization options, contact us and we will gladly assist with planning your Zimbabwe elephant hunting adventure. 

If you would like to learn more about this elephant hunting safari in Zimbabwe, check availability, or discuss preferred hunting dates, please contact the Game Hunting Safaris team.