Cape Buffalo & Plains Game Hunting Safari in Zimbabwe
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
The hunting lodge offers comfortable accommodation in the heart of Zimbabwe's bushveld, providing hunters with a welcoming place to relax after long days in the field. Excellent meals, attentive camp staff, and traditional African hospitality ensure an enjoyable and memorable safari experience.
This safari takes place in remote unfenced concessions bordering Hwange National Park in northwestern Zimbabwe. The terrain includes thick bushveld, Mopane woodland, dry river systems, reed-lined waterways, and open riverbanks that create ideal conditions for both hippo and crocodile hunting. Large river systems and natural water sources shape much of the hunting in the area, with hunters spending long hours glassing muddy banks, sandbars, and shallow crossings while moving carefully through wild African bush country.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Hunting Ground Size: | 100000 ha |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Victoria Falls International |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
Experience two of Africa's most fascinating dangerous game species on a traditional free-range hunting safari in Zimbabwe's renowned river systems. This 8-day, 9-night safari combines hippo hunting and Nile crocodile hunting in remote African wilderness areas where experienced professional hunters and trackers guide clients through some of Zimbabwe's most productive aquatic hunting environments.
This all-inclusive dangerous game safari includes accommodation, trophy fees for one hippo and one Nile crocodile, government levies, road transfers, professional hunter services, and all hunting activities as specified within the package.
Combining hippo and Nile crocodile on a single safari offers hunters the opportunity to pursue two of Africa's most unique dangerous game species while experiencing Zimbabwe's remote river systems and wild aquatic habitats. For hunters seeking a traditional African safari focused on waterways, tracking, and challenging shot opportunities, few safari combinations offer the same level of excitement and variety.
This safari includes the following trophies: (No Size Limit)
· 1 x Nile Crocodile
· 1 x Hippo
Hunters looking to expand the safari can also include a range of African plains game hunts during their stay, with additional species available throughout the concession. From kudu and sable to zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, and smaller specialty plains game, the region offers a diverse selection of trophies that can be added to the safari based on individual preferences and available hunting days.
Available species and trophy fees are listed in the table below.
Traveling to the Zimbabwe
American and international hunters will fly into Victoria Falls Airport, with regular regional connections available from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Airlines servicing the route include Airlink, Cemair, Safair, and South African Airways, making travel to the hunting areas straightforward for both American and international hunters.
Upon arrival in Victoria Falls, Tiaan and his team will meet clients before the approximately 2½-hour road transfer to the hunting concessions bordering Hwange National Park. The drive into camp passes through classic Zimbabwean bushveld and remote safari country, offering hunters an early introduction to the river systems, terrain, and wilderness areas that shape this safari.
The Hunting Concessions
This safari takes place in the renowned Gwayi ECA and Sikumi East hunting areas bordering Hwange National Park in northwestern Zimbabwe. These large unfenced concessions form part of a vast free-range ecosystem where wildlife moves naturally between the National Park and surrounding safari areas, creating an authentic African hunting environment in truly wild country.
The terrain throughout the concessions includes thick Mopane woodland, dry river systems, dense bushveld, open plains, and scattered teak forests. River courses and natural water sources shape much of the hunting in the area, particularly for hippo and crocodile, with hunters often spending long hours glassing riverbanks, sandbanks, and reed-lined waterways.
Gwayi ECA generally offers a mix of more open country and thicker bushveld, while Sikumi East, forming part of the greater Ngamo-Sikumi Forest region, is known for denser cover and remote wilderness terrain. In addition to hippo and crocodile, the concessions also support free-range lion hunts and elephant hunts, together with a wide variety of African plains game species.
The Hunting Lodge in Zimbabwe
Luxury accommodation provides the perfect home-away-from-home for hunters, and the perfect respite after a challenging day in the bush. From comfortable beds, warm showers, and all the comforts of home, hunters can relax and unwind.
A resident chef prepares tasty fare for guests, including local game meat (venison) that is prepared in various ways, including the traditional braai (BBQ). Families are also taken into consideration, with a range of activities to enthral and entertain non-hunting guests.
Traditional crocodile hunting in Zimbabwe is widely regarded as one of the most challenging dangerous game safaris in Africa. Mature Nile crocodiles are extremely wary, spending much of their time partially submerged along riverbanks and sandbanks where they can disappear into deep water within seconds if disturbed.
Most hunts involve long hours glassing river systems and carefully approaching crocodiles along muddy banks, reed-lined channels, and shallow crossings where they regularly bask in the sun. Patience, steady shooting, and careful attention to wind and movement all play an important role during the final approach, as mature crocodiles are exceptionally alert to vibration and motion near the water’s edge.
Accurate shot placement is critical when hunting crocodile, as a poorly placed shot can allow the animal to slide back into the river and disappear beneath the water. Hunters preparing for the safari are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper crocodile shot placement before arriving in camp.
Traditional hippo hunting in Zimbabwe is typically conducted along river systems, shallow crossings, and reed-lined waterways where hippos spend much of the day submerged beneath the water’s surface. One of the challenges during the hunt is identifying a mature bull, often with only the eyes, ears, and nostrils visible above the waterline.
Most safaris involve patient spot-and-stalk hunting along riverbanks, although certain situations may also allow for careful approaches by canoe or opportunities to intercept hippos as they move onto land to feed during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Hippos are exceptionally tough animals with heavy bone structure and thick skulls, making proper caliber selection and shot placement extremely important. Most professional hunters recommend a minimum caliber of .375 using quality 300-grain bullets for hippo hunting. Hunters preparing for the safari are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper hippo shot placement before arriving in camp.
Retrieving a hippo after the shot can also present its own challenges, particularly in river systems shared with crocodiles and other dangerous game species commonly found along the water’s edge.
For hunters looking to experience authentic hippo hunting in Zimbabwe or pursue trophy Nile crocodile in remote African river systems, this safari offers a rare opportunity to hunt two of the continent’s most challenging aquatic dangerous game species in truly wild country. Combined with experienced professional hunters, free-range concessions, and traditional safari hunting conditions, this hunt delivers the type of African dangerous game experience many hunters travel to Zimbabwe to find.
This safari is ideally suited to hunters looking for something different from the traditional African dangerous game experience. Combining trophy hippo hunting and Nile crocodile hunting on a single safari, the hunt focuses on Zimbabwe's remote river systems where patience, precision, and traditional spot-and-stalk hunting methods play a central role in the experience.
Conducted in large free-range concessions bordering Hwange National Park, the safari offers authentic hunting conditions, experienced professional hunters, and the opportunity to pursue two of Africa's most unique dangerous game species in truly wild country. For hunters seeking a classic river safari and an adventure beyond the more commonly pursued dangerous game animals, this hunt deserves serious consideration.
For availability, preferred hunting dates, or additional information regarding this Hippo and Nile Crocodile hunting safari in Zimbabwe, please contact the team at Game Hunting Safaris.
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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