Hunt Two Cape Buffalo in the Selous

2 × Cape Buffalo (per hunter)

2 Hunters / 1 Professional Hunter

10 Hunting Days / 11 Nights

Selous (Nyerere National Park), Tanzania

650,000-acre free-range hunting concession

Additional East African plains game available

Observers Welcome: US$400 per day

Rifle Hire Available: US$650

All-inclusive buffalo safari package

This all-inclusive Tanzania safari offers each hunter the opportunity to pursue two mature Cape buffalo in one of Africa's last great wilderness areas. Combining free-range dangerous game hunting with the option to add unique East African plains game, it delivers an authentic Selous hunting experience from start to finish.

2 × Cape Buffalo (per hunter)

Accommodation, meals, daily rates, professional hunting services, trophy fees, concession fees, community fees, Tanzania hunting licences, Dip & Pack and trophy export documentation included.

2 Hunters / 1 Professional Hunter

Observers Welcome: US$400 per day

Total Safari Cost: US$25,900 per Hunter

There are good buffalo hunting destinations across Africa.

Tanzania has always occupied a place of its own.

This isn't because buffalo are larger here, although outstanding bulls are taken every season. It's because of the scale of the country and the way hunting is still conducted. Vast unfenced concessions, low hunting pressure and free-ranging game create an experience that's becoming increasingly difficult to find elsewhere in Africa.

The Selous ecosystem, now protected as Nyerere National Park and its surrounding hunting concessions, remains one of the continent's last true wilderness areas. Here, buffalo move naturally across immense landscapes, sharing their habitat with elephant, lion, leopard, crocodile and a remarkable diversity of plains game.

For hunters planning Buffalo Hunting in Tanzania, that's part of the attraction. Every fresh track has the potential to lead deep into country where roads are few, wildlife is abundant and the hunt unfolds at its own pace.

This isn't a place where you measure the day by the number of kilometres driven.

You measure it by the tracks you've followed, the decisions you've made and the moment your Professional Hunter finally turns and whispers,

"He's just ahead."

Choosing the right hunting area is only part of the equation. The outfitter leading your safari has just as much influence on the experience you'll have.

Jaco has spent decades building a reputation as one of Africa's leading professional outfitters, operating across some of the continent's most respected hunting destinations. His experience extends far beyond Tanzania, with hunting concessions in Cameroon, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, giving him an exceptional understanding of African dangerous game hunting.

That reputation hasn't gone unnoticed.

Jaco is endorsed by Craig Boddington, one of the world's best-known hunting writers, and has received some of the industry's highest honours, including Dallas Safari Club Outfitter of the Year and Safari Club International's Outstanding International Hunter of the Year award.

Awards are impressive, but they don't put buffalo on the ground.

Experience does.

From the first planning email to the final handshake in camp, you'll be guided by a team that understands what international hunters expect from a premium Tanzania safari. Professionalism, honesty and attention to detail are part of every stage of the hunt, allowing you to focus on the experience rather than the logistics.

When you're investing in a buffalo hunt of this calibre, confidence in your outfitter matters just as much as confidence in your rifle.

Buffalo hunting in Tanzania isn't measured by how far you walk. It's measured by the quality of the tracks you find.

Every morning begins the same way. Long before the African sun starts warming the bush, you'll be out with your Professional Hunter and trackers looking for fresh spoor. Sometimes you'll find it within minutes. Other days you'll cover a fair amount of country before cutting the tracks of a mature bull.

That's buffalo hunting.

The Selous is vast, and buffalo have plenty of places to disappear. A hunting vehicle may be used to cover ground early in the morning, but once fresh tracks are found, the hunt continues on foot.

This is where Tanzania's trackers earn their reputation.

A good tracker doesn't simply follow footprints. He notices broken grass, freshly disturbed soil and the direction a herd has been feeding. Piece by piece, those small details become the story of where the buffalo has been,and where he's likely to be heading.

Old Dagga Boys rarely make life easy.

They favour thick cover, often leaving breeding herds to spend their days in smaller bachelor groups or on their own. If you've hunted buffalo before, you'll know they have an annoying habit of stopping just out of sight to see what's following them. Rushing the last hundred yards is usually a mistake.

Eventually, the moment comes.

Your PH studies the bull one last time, checks the wind, and quietly tells you to get on the sticks.  Before taking the shot, it's worth understanding Buffalo Shot Placement. A Cape buffalo's anatomy differs from many other large game animals, and correct shot placement is critical to achieving a quick, ethical harvest. Your Professional Hunter will always guide you on the best angle before you squeeze the trigger.

Everything that happened before that point is what makes the shot worthwhile.

Two Cape buffalo are the reason most hunters book this safari.

The plains game is the reason many leave with a bigger trophy crate than they expected.

While this safari is built around two exceptional Cape buffalo, Plains Game Hunting in Tanzania offers the opportunity to pursue several unique East African species found nowhere else, or in far greater numbers than in other destinations.

The standard 10-day hunting licence allows a selection of additional plains game to be added to your safari. Species such as Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Southern Impala, Burchell's Zebra, Niassa Wildebeest, Warthog, Olive Baboon and a variety of Gazelle Hunts make Tanzania one of Africa's most rewarding destinations for hunters looking to add something truly different to their trophy collection.

Specialist Bushpig Hunts and Hyena Hunts are also available, providing the opportunity to experience Tanzania's exciting nocturnal hunting after the day's buffalo hunt has ended.

The beauty of this package is its flexibility.

There's no pressure to add extra animals before you arrive. If the right trophy presents itself during the hunt, you can make the decision then. If not, you've still enjoyed one of Africa's finest buffalo safaris.

Sometimes the best trophies are the ones you never planned to hunt.

Getting to one of Africa's last great wilderness areas is easier than many hunters expect.

Your safari begins at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Depending on your international flight schedule, an overnight stay in the city may be worthwhile before continuing to the concession the following day.

Because the Selous is such a vast and remote wilderness, the final leg of the journey is by charter aircraft. The flight takes approximately one hour, delivering you directly to the concession and avoiding a lengthy road transfer through southern Tanzania.

If you're travelling from North America, the most common routes are via Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines or KLM, while hunters travelling through South Africa can connect from Johannesburg to Dar es Salaam with Airlink.

Should you choose to overnight in Johannesburg before continuing to Tanzania, African Sky Boutique Hotel is a popular choice. Located close to O.R. Tambo International Airport, the hotel offers airport transfers, secure accommodation and assistance with temporary firearm permits.

Once you arrive in camp, the travelling is over.

The hunting begins.

One of the great pleasures of hunting Tanzania is experiencing a traditional East African safari camp.

Accommodation consists of spacious canvas safari tents with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water and all the comforts expected on a premium dangerous game safari. It's the classic safari experience,comfortable without taking anything away from the feeling of living in the African bush.

Despite the camp's remote location, modern comforts are never far away. Internet access and Wi-Fi are available when needed, while attentive camp staff ensure your accommodation is cleaned and prepared each day.

Evenings are exactly as a Tanzanian safari should be.

Good food.

Cold drinks.

Stories around the campfire.

Tomorrow's hunt is usually discussed long before the first cup of coffee is poured the following morning.

It's a routine hunters never seem to tire of.

Tanzania's hunting season runs from 1 July to 31 December, with each part of the season offering slightly different hunting conditions.

The early months of July and August bring cooler temperatures and comfortable conditions for walking, while September and October are traditionally regarded as excellent months for buffalo hunting as vegetation begins to thin and game becomes easier to locate around water sources.

November and December can still produce outstanding hunting, particularly in the northern concessions, although afternoon thunderstorms become more common as the rainy season approaches.

No matter when you hunt, one thing remains the same.

Buffalo in the Selous are wild, free-ranging and never predictable.

That's exactly why hunters keep coming back.

Can I hunt additional species during the safari?

Yes. A selection of East African plains game species may be added to your hunt, subject to your hunting licence and current trophy fees.

Can I bring my own rifle?

Absolutely. Hunters are welcome to travel with their own firearms. If you prefer not to travel with a rifle, quality rental rifles are available for US$650 for the duration of the safari.

Is this a free-range buffalo hunt?

Yes. Hunting takes place on vast unfenced hunting concessions within the Selous ecosystem, where buffalo and other game move naturally across the landscape.

Can observers join the safari?

Yes. Non-hunting observers are welcome at US$400 per person per day.

What calibre is recommended for Cape buffalo?

Tanzania requires a legal minimum calibre of .375 H&H for Cape buffalo hunting. Larger calibres such as the .416 Rigby, .458 Lott and double rifles are also popular choices for hunters pursuing dangerous game.

There are few places left where buffalo hunting still feels as wild as it did generations ago.

The Selous remains one of them.

Vast unfenced concessions, experienced Professional Hunters, exceptional tracking and the opportunity to hunt two mature Cape buffalo combine to create a safari that represents everything dangerous game hunting should be.

If you're considering Buffalo Hunting in Tanzania, or would like to compare this safari with other Hunting Trips available across Africa, the Game Hunting Safaris team would be pleased to help.

Get in touch to discuss available dates, ask questions about the hunt or start planning your next African adventure.