14-Day Free-Range Cape Buffalo Safari | Bushmanland, Botswana
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Stay in a traditional luxury safari camp featuring spacious en-suite tents, attentive camp staff and exceptional dining in the heart of Botswana's remote Bushmanland. Depending on the movements of the elephants, comfortable fly camps may also be established deeper within the concession, keeping hunters closer to the action while preserving the authentic character of a classic African safari.
The NG4 and NG5 Bushmanland concessions encompass vast unfenced wilderness where fossil river systems, natural pans, lightly wooded savannah and open sandy country provide ideal habitat for mature desert elephants. Expect long days on foot following fresh spoor across generally flat terrain, with every stalk shaped by the wind, the trackers and the movements of truly wild elephants.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Maun International Airport |
| Air Charter Available: | Yes |
For American and international hunters, very few opportunities compare to pursuing a exportable elephant in Botswana. Strict government quotas, limited permits and vast free-range wilderness have made Elephant Hunting in Botswana one of the most exclusive dangerous game safaris available anywhere in Africa. For many sportsmen, this is not simply another hunt, it is the culmination of years of planning and a lifelong ambition to follow one of Africa's greatest animals through some of the continent's last truly wild landscapes.
This fourteen-day safari takes place in Botswana's renowned Bushmanland concessions (NG4 and NG5), where mature desert elephants move along ancient migration routes between Botswana and neighbouring Namibia. Conducted by internationally recognised outfitter Jaco and his experienced team, the hunt combines exceptional trophy quality with ethical wildlife management, professional guiding and one of Africa's most respected elephant hunting destinations.
The package includes a fully exportable trophy elephant between 55 and 70 pounds, with both the trophy fee and Botswana hunting licence already included in the price. Every safari is conducted under strict government regulations that ensure sustainable wildlife management while providing hunters with the rare privilege of pursuing a mature bull in true free-range country.
For hunters seeking the ultimate Hunting in Botswana adventure, few safaris rival the exclusivity, scale and significance of a traditional elephant hunt. This is a journey measured not only by the trophy you take home, but by the privilege of walking among Africa's largest land mammals in one of the world's last great wilderness areas.
Price: US$74,000 per Hunter (1x1)
Duration: 14 Hunting Days / 15 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Professional Hunter
Primary Trophy: One Fully Exportable Trophy Elephant (55–70 lb Ivory)
Hunting Area: NG4 & NG5 Bushmanland Concessions, Botswana
Observer Rate: US$400 per Person per Day
Rifle Hire: US$60 per Hunting Day (Ammunition Charged at Cost)
Permit Availability: Strictly Limited Government-Issued Elephant Permits
Africa offers several outstanding elephant hunting destinations, but Botswana occupies a category of its own. Strict government quotas, tightly controlled permit allocations and vast expanses of unfenced wilderness have created one of the world's most exclusive dangerous game hunting opportunities. Every safari is conducted under carefully managed regulations that balance sustainable wildlife management with the privilege of pursuing a mature bull in true free-range country.
The NG4 and NG5 Bushmanland concessions have earned an international reputation for producing exceptional desert elephants. Situated along ancient migration routes between Botswana and neighbouring Namibia, these remote hunting areas allow hunters to follow mature bulls across enormous wilderness landscapes where elephants have moved freely for generations. Here, every track tells a story, every stalk is earned and every successful safari becomes part of a hunting tradition stretching back more than a century.
Pursuing an elephant in Botswana represents one of the defining milestones of the Big Five Hunting challenge. Every permit represents a rare opportunity, every safari follows strict conservation principles, and every successful hunt contributes directly to wildlife management and neighbouring communities. Botswana is not simply another elephant destination, it remains one of the few places where a traditional free-range elephant safari continues much as it has for generations.
This safari takes place in Botswana's renowned NG4 and NG5 concessions, situated in the remote Bushmanland region close to the Namibian border. Together these adjoining concessions cover vast tracts of unfenced wilderness, forming part of ancient elephant migration routes that have been followed by mature bulls moving freely between Botswana and neighbouring Namibia for generations.
Unlike smaller hunting areas, Bushmanland offers the scale and freedom that define a true wilderness safari. Fossil river systems, natural pans, scattered rocky outcrops and lightly wooded savannah provide outstanding habitat not only for exceptional elephant bulls, but also for impressive Cape Buffalo Hunts and some of Africa's finest leopard hunting opportunities. It is this remarkable diversity that has established Bushmanland as one of the continent's premier dangerous game destinations.
The remoteness of NG4 and NG5 remains one of their greatest strengths. Hunting pressure is exceptionally low, wildlife populations are healthy, and every day in the field carries the possibility of encountering mature elephant bulls, buffalo, leopard and numerous plains game species moving naturally through one of Africa's last great wilderness landscapes. Hunters considering a return safari will also discover why Leopard Hunting in Botswana has earned such an outstanding international reputation, with these concessions offering classic free-range habitat for one of Africa's most elusive predators.
Not every safari is measured by the number of trophies taken. Some are measured by the opportunity itself.
A fully exportable Botswana elephant hunt sits among the rarest opportunities available to today's international hunter. Strict government quotas, limited permits and carefully managed concessions mean only a select number of hunters will ever follow the spoor of a mature Botswana bull. Among Africa's great Elephant Hunts, few offer the same combination of wilderness, exclusivity and hunting tradition found in Botswana's Bushmanland.
The pursuit itself reflects everything that defines traditional African dangerous game hunting. Days may be spent following enormous tracks across ancient migration routes, reading subtle signs left in the sand and trusting experienced professional hunters and trackers to slowly close the distance. Success cannot be measured by ivory alone, but by the patience, discipline and respect shown throughout the hunt.
Long after the ivory has been mounted and the photographs placed in an album, it is often the journey that remains most vivid. The miles walked, the conversations around the campfire and the privilege of sharing Africa's wilderness with people whose knowledge has been passed down through generations become part of the story.
Some hunts produce remarkable trophies, and the finest hunts create stories that are shared for generations.
Among professional hunters, there is an old saying that elephant hunting is measured in miles rather than hours, and often, a mile is walked for every pound of ivory eventually carried home. Whether literally true or not, the saying perfectly captures the patience, endurance and determination required to hunt Africa's largest land mammal. Elephant hunting is not a pursuit of shortcuts. It is a hunt earned one track, one step and one decision at a time.
Every day begins by searching for fresh spoor, reading the direction of travel and deciding whether the tracks belong to a mature bull worth following. Once the right spoor has been found, the real hunt begins. Hours may pass as hunters, trackers and professional hunters quietly follow ancient migration routes, stopping only to study broken branches, fresh dung, disturbed sand or the distant sound of branches breaking somewhere ahead.
Eventually, the distance begins to close. Conversations become whispers, every footstep becomes deliberate and the pace slows almost to a standstill. Success is rarely determined by physical endurance alone. It belongs to the hunter who remains patient, trusts the experience of the professional hunter and trackers, and recognises the single opportunity worth taking when it finally presents itself.
Your safari begins with an international flight into Oliver Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) before connecting to Maun International Airport, the gateway to Botswana's renowned hunting concessions. Depending on international flight schedules, an overnight stay in Johannesburg may be advisable before continuing to Maun. From there, hunters can either enjoy a scenic four-hour road transfer to the concession or choose a private charter flight, reducing travel time to approximately one hour.
The hunt takes place in Botswana's remote NG4 and NG5 Bushmanland concessions, where vast unfenced wilderness, fossil river systems, natural pans and lightly wooded savannah create ideal habitat for mature desert elephants. Expect long days on foot following fresh spoor across generally flat terrain, with experienced professional hunters and trackers guiding every stage of the hunt through one of Africa's last truly wild elephant ranges.
Botswana's elephant hunting season runs from April through September, with the cooler months between late April and August generally offering the most comfortable conditions for walking. Reduced vegetation and dry conditions also make it easier to read spoor and follow elephant movements across the concession.
Firearm permits are arranged well in advance by the outfitter, helping to simplify your arrival in Botswana. Hunters travelling with their own rifles should ensure all documentation is completed before departure, while quality rifle hire is also available for those who prefer to travel without firearms.
After long days following elephant spoor across Botswana's vast wilderness, the safari camp provides a comfortable retreat without losing the authentic character of a traditional African hunting expedition. Spacious luxury safari tents feature en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds and all the amenities needed to relax and recharge before another day in elephant country, while attentive camp staff ensure every detail is taken care of throughout your stay.
Depending on where the hunt leads, temporary fly camps may also be established deeper within the concession, allowing hunters to remain close to active elephant movements rather than losing valuable hunting time travelling back and forth. These comfortable mobile camps add another level of authenticity to the safari, placing hunters even closer to the wilderness while maintaining the high standards expected from a premium Botswana hunting experience.
Evenings are spent in the central lapa beside the campfire, where stories from the day's hunt are shared over exceptional meals prepared by the camp's private chef. As darkness settles across Bushmanland, the sounds of Africa replace the distractions of everyday life, creating the atmosphere that has defined classic safari camps for generations. It is here, after the rifles have been cleaned and the following day's strategy discussed, that many hunters discover some of their most memorable moments are made.
Can I legally import an elephant trophy into the United States?
Elephant trophy import regulations can change over time and depend on both the country where the elephant was hunted and the hunter's country of residence. Although this safari is conducted under strict government quotas and CITES regulations, hunters should always confirm the latest import requirements before booking. For hunters comparing premium Hunting Trips across Africa, exportability is one of the most important details to confirm early, and your outfitter and taxidermist will assist with the necessary documentation.
Why are Botswana elephant permits so limited?
Botswana operates one of Africa's most tightly controlled elephant management programmes. Annual quotas are carefully determined by the government to ensure only a limited number of mature bulls are harvested each season. This controlled approach is one of the reasons Botswana remains such a respected elephant hunting destination.
How physically demanding is this elephant hunt?
This safari is best suited to hunters with a reasonable level of fitness. Following fresh elephant spoor often involves walking long distances across natural terrain, sometimes for several hours at a time. Your professional hunter will always hunt at a pace suited to conditions, but good physical preparation will make the safari considerably more enjoyable.
What size elephant can I realistically expect?
This package is designed around a fully exportable elephant carrying ivory between 55 and 70 pounds. While exceptional trophies are taken each season, every safari is conducted ethically under government regulations, and the final decision to hunt a particular bull will always be made together with your professional hunter.
Can I bring my own rifle?
Yes. Most international hunters bring their own dangerous game rifle, although quality rifle hire is also available. Firearm permits are arranged well in advance by the outfitter, helping to simplify your arrival in Botswana.
What rifle calibre is recommended for elephant hunting?
Botswana requires a minimum calibre of .375 H&H for dangerous game hunting, although many experienced hunters prefer larger calibres such as the .416 Rigby, .458 Lott or .470 Nitro Express. Understanding proper Elephant Shot Placement is equally important, as precise bullet placement remains the key to a clean, ethical harvest.
Will I stay in the same camp throughout the safari?
Usually, yes. However, depending on the movements of the elephants, comfortable fly camps may be established deeper within the concession to keep hunters closer to active game and maximise valuable hunting time.
When is the best time to hunt elephant in Botswana?
The elephant hunting season runs from April through September, with many professional hunters favouring the cooler months between late April and August. Comfortable temperatures, thinner vegetation and dry conditions make tracking mature bulls easier while making long days on foot more enjoyable.
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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