Elephant Hunting in Zimbabwe: Expect 30lb and Larger!
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Comfortable chalet-style accommodation provides a welcome retreat after long days spent tracking elephant through the Matetsi wilderness. Guests can enjoy hearty meals, attentive service, daily laundry, and relaxed evenings around the campfire sharing stories from the day's hunt.
The Matetsi Community Areas consist of vast unfenced wilderness made up of mopane woodland, river systems, thick bush, and open grasslands. This varied terrain creates ideal elephant habitat and provides the challenging tracking conditions that have made the region one of Zimbabwe's premier dangerous game hunting destinations.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Victoria Falls International Airport |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
For hunters seeking exceptional Elephant Hunts, few destinations can match the vast wilderness and free-range opportunities offered by Hunting in Zimbabwe. This 7-day safari provides the chance to pursue an exportable 30lb+ trophy bull while experiencing the type of authentic African hunting adventure that has made Zimbabwe famous among dangerous game hunters worldwide.
Tracking elephant on foot through miles of untamed bush is an experience unlike any other. Working alongside experienced professional hunters and local trackers, you will follow fresh spoor through river systems, woodland, and thick cover in search of a mature bull. For many hunters, an African elephant remains the ultimate dangerous game trophy, combining physical challenge, patience, and the possibility of a close encounter with the world's largest land mammal.
Recognized as one of the premier destinations for Elephant Hunting in Zimbabwe, the Matetsi region offers healthy elephant populations, vast unfenced hunting areas, and the opportunity to pursue mature bulls in truly wild African country. Whether this is your first African safari or another chapter in a lifetime of hunting adventures, this hunt delivers the authentic free-range elephant hunting experience that many hunters spend years dreaming about.
For hunters seeking exceptional elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, this safari offers the opportunity to pursue exportable trophy bulls of 30lb and larger in the renowned Matetsi hunting areas. Conducted on vast unfenced concessions, this is authentic free-range dangerous game hunting where every day is spent tracking one of Africa's most iconic animals through truly wild country.
Following fresh spoor at first light, hunters can expect long days on foot alongside experienced professional hunters and trackers, searching for mature bulls in an area famous for producing quality trophies. Combining adventure, challenge, and the possibility of a close encounter with the world's largest land mammal, this safari represents African dangerous game hunting at its finest.
US$31,000 – All Inclusive
Observers: US$250 per person, per night
Rifle Rental: US$50 per day (ammunition charged at cost)
Duration: 7 Days / 8 Nights
The following items are not included in the safari package price:
There are plenty of places in Africa where a hunter can pursue an elephant. Far fewer offer the opportunity to do so in genuinely wild country where the hunt revolves around tracking, patience, and bushcraft rather than simply locating game.
The Matetsi Community Areas have long been regarded as one of Zimbabwe's premier destinations for elephant hunts, not only because of the quality of the trophies available but because of the hunting experience itself. These vast unfenced concessions form part of a larger wildlife landscape stretching across north-western Zimbabwe, allowing elephant to move naturally between feeding and watering areas throughout the year.
A typical hunting day begins before sunrise. Fresh spoor is sought along sandy roads, game trails, and water sources before trackers determine the age, size, and direction of travel of a bull or breeding herd. Once a suitable track is located, the vehicle is left behind and the hunt becomes a matter of boots on the ground.
Some days the elephants are found quickly. Other days may involve several hours of tracking through mopane woodland, thick bush, and dry river systems before the first glimpse of grey skin appears ahead. Hunters quickly discover that elephant hunting is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. Patience, concentration, and the ability to move quietly become every bit as important as marksmanship.
One of the advantages of hunting this area is the diversity of wildlife encountered during the safari. While tracking elephant, it is common to encounter buffalo, sable, zebra, giraffe, and numerous plains game species. The region also supports healthy populations of lion and leopard, making it one of the most productive dangerous game ecosystems in Zimbabwe. Hunters interested in combining species often enquire about opportunities for Cape Buffalo Hunts or Leopard Hunts either before or after their elephant safari.
For international hunters considering hunting in zimbabwe, Matetsi represents the type of Africa many have imagined for years. There are no high fences, no artificial feeding programs, and no guarantees about where the next track will lead. Every day unfolds differently, and every successful elephant is earned through the combined efforts of hunter, professional hunter, and tracker.
That uncertainty is precisely what makes the experience so rewarding. When the trackers finally stop, point ahead, and indicate that a mature bull is standing somewhere in the thick bush only yards away, few hunting experiences anywhere in the world can compare.
Elephant hunting is often described as the ultimate Dangerous Game Hunt, not because of the size of the trophy, but because of what happens during the final approach.
By the time a mature bull is located, the easy part of the hunt is usually over. Hours may have been spent following fresh spoor through mopane woodland, dry riverbeds, and thick bush before the trackers finally indicate that the elephants are close. From that point forward, every movement matters.
Unlike hunting in open country, visibility in the Matetsi bush can be extremely limited. A bull standing thirty yards away may be completely hidden behind brush, while other elephants in the herd move silently through the surrounding cover. It is not uncommon for hunters to hear elephants before they see them.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that mature bulls are rarely alone. Tuskless cows, younger animals, and breeding herds may all be nearby. While the hunter's attention is focused on the bull, the professional hunter and trackers are constantly monitoring the surrounding elephants. A nervous cow can quickly become far more concerning than the bull itself.
Many experienced hunters favour large-calibre rifles such as the .416 Rigby, .458 Lott, or traditional double rifles chambered in .470 Nitro Express for exactly this reason. In thick bush, where encounters are often close and follow-up shots may be required, confidence in both rifle and ammunition becomes critical.
One of the greatest misconceptions about elephant hunting is that the shot is easy because the animal is so large. In reality, elephant shot placement is among the most demanding in African hunting. Thick cover, moving animals, poor angles, and the constant pressure of the moment can make identifying the correct aiming point surprisingly difficult. Hunters preparing for this safari are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper Elephant Shot Placement before arriving in camp.
When the opportunity finally presents itself, there is rarely time for hesitation. The trackers fall silent. The professional hunter confirms the bull. Years of preparation, practice, and anticipation come down to a single moment.
That combination of tracking, close encounters, mental pressure, and precise shot placement is what makes elephant hunting one of Africa's most respected hunting experiences.
After a long day following elephant spoor through the Matetsi bush, hunters return to a comfortable safari camp situated within easy reach of the hunting concessions. While the days are spent in rugged wilderness, the camp provides a welcome opportunity to relax, recharge, and prepare for the following day's hunt.
Accommodation is provided in comfortable chalets with private facilities and traditional African character. Evenings are often spent around the campfire discussing the day's events, replaying close encounters, and planning the next morning's strategy with the professional hunter and tracking team.
Meals are prepared by the camp chef and typically include a mix of traditional favourites and locally sourced ingredients, with game meat often featuring on the menu. Daily laundry service, attentive camp staff, and a relaxed atmosphere ensure hunters can focus entirely on enjoying their safari.
For accompanying spouses or observers, the camp also provides a comfortable base from which to experience this remarkable part of Zimbabwe.
One of the advantages of this safari is its proximity to Victoria Falls, one of Africa's most famous natural attractions and a destination many hunters choose to visit before or after their hunt.
Victoria Falls offers a wide variety of activities for both hunters and non-hunters, including guided tours of the falls, scenic helicopter flights, sunset cruises on the Zambezi River, fishing excursions, wildlife viewing, local markets, and luxury spas. Many hunters choose to extend their stay by a few days, allowing both themselves and their partners to experience one of Africa's most iconic destinations.
The hunting camp is located approximately 43 miles from Victoria Falls Airport, making travel logistics straightforward. Upon arrival, hunters are met by the safari team and transferred directly to camp.
Not every hunter dreams of hunting elephant.
For some, the appeal of Africa lies in pursuing a variety of plains game species. Others are drawn to buffalo, lion, or leopard. Elephant hunting is different. It demands patience, concentration, and a willingness to spend long hours following tracks through thick bush without knowing exactly what the day will bring.
The reward is not measured solely in ivory weight or trophy photographs. It is found in the early mornings, the miles walked behind experienced trackers, the close encounters in dense cover, and the knowledge that every opportunity must be earned.
The Matetsi region remains one of the last places where hunters can still experience this style of free-range elephant hunting on a truly meaningful scale. Vast unfenced wilderness, healthy elephant populations, and traditional tracking methods combine to create a safari that feels increasingly rare in today's world.
If your goal is simply to add another trophy to the collection, there may be easier hunts available. If your goal is to experience Africa at its wildest and most authentic, few hunting adventures can compare to following a mature elephant bull through the Zimbabwean bush.
Whether this is your first safari or the culmination of decades of hunting dreams, contact Game Hunting Safaris to discuss this hunt, additional trophy opportunities, or other African Hunting Trips available throughout Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa.
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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