Elephant Hunting, Hyena and Night Critters in Zimbabwe

Set within Zimbabwe’s renowned Save Valley Conservancy, this outstanding safari offers hunters the opportunity to enjoy traditional elephant hunts across prime lowveld habitat, combining experienced professional guidance with access to one of southern Africa’s most respected dangerous game regions.

Safari Includes:

This Zimbabwe hunting safari includes the following species within the advertised package price:

• 1 x Non-Trophy Elephant up to 25 pounds (non-exportable)
• 1 x Spotted Hyena (exportable)
• 1 x Porcupine (exportable)
• 1 x Large-Spotted Genet Cat (exportable)

This combination offers hunters a unique opportunity to experience both traditional elephant hunting and exciting predator and nocturnal species hunting within the Save Valley Conservancy. 

Included in the Safari:

The following services and amenities are included within the advertised safari package price:

• Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepared in camp
• Road transfers between Harare and the hunting concession
• All transport within the hunting area during the safari
• Soft drinks, beer, wine, and selected alcoholic beverages (in moderation)
• Services of professional hunters, trackers, skinners, camp staff, and camp chef
• Government fees and National Parks ranger fees associated with the safari 

Costs for this Hunt in Zimbabwe

CAMPFIRE Program

The Save Valley Conservancy operates under Zimbabwe’s CAMPFIRE program — a community-based conservation model designed to promote sustainable wildlife management while directly benefiting local communities living alongside wildlife areas.

Through regulated safari hunting revenue, local communities receive financial support for infrastructure, employment opportunities, education initiatives, healthcare projects, and broader community development programs. The program also allows communities to participate in wildlife management decisions and the long-term protection of natural resources within the region.

Guided by sustainable hunting quotas and responsible wildlife management practices, the Save Valley Conservancy continues to play an important role in anti-poaching efforts, habitat protection, and maintaining healthy populations of both dangerous game and plains game species throughout southeastern Zimbabwe.  

Excluded from the Safari:

The following items are excluded from the advertised safari package price:

• International flights and travel costs
• Pre- and post-safari accommodation
• Taxidermy and trophy shipping expenses
• Dip and Pack services for trophies
• Zimbabwe visa fees (approximately US$ 30 for single entry and US$ 45 for double entry)
• Gratuities for professional hunters, trackers, and camp staff (entirely at the hunter’s discretion)

To assist with a smooth arrival process, Chris and his team will help coordinate the required Zimbabwe rifle import permits upon arrival in the country. 

Traveling to the Save Valley  

American and international hunters will fly into Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city and primary international gateway, before continuing onward to the Save Valley Conservancy in southeastern Zimbabwe. The road transfer from Harare to the hunting concession takes approximately five hours, depending on seasonal road conditions and departure times.

For hunters arriving on afternoon or evening international flights, an overnight stay in Harare is generally recommended before departing for the concession the following morning.

Another popular travel route is to fly via Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport before connecting on a direct flight to Harare with airlines such as Airlink or Air Zimbabwe. This remains one of the most convenient and commonly used travel options for international hunters visiting Zimbabwe. 

Tented Safari Accommodation

Accommodation during the safari is provided in comfortable tented safari camps positioned within the Save Valley Conservancy, allowing hunters to remain fully immersed in the African wilderness while still enjoying modern comforts. Spacious safari tents feature en-suite bathrooms, hot and cold running water, comfortable beds, and relaxing communal areas where hunters can unwind after a day in the bush.

Guests can expect hearty home-style meals prepared daily by the camp chef, including traditional safari cuisine and game dishes harvested during the hunt. Evenings are typically spent around the fire sharing stories from the day’s hunt beneath the African night sky, creating an authentic and memorable Zimbabwe safari experience.

Elephant Hunting in the Save Valley

The Save Valley Conservancy in southeastern Zimbabwe is renowned for authentic free-range Elephant hunting conducted across vast lowveld wilderness areas of mopane woodland, granite outcrops, thick bushveld, and river systems. Hunting in this rugged environment requires patience, physical endurance, and experienced tracking, with many stalks taking place on foot through dense cover and challenging terrain.

Non-trophy Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe remains one of Africa’s most demanding dangerous game experiences. Success depends heavily on wind direction, stealth, communication between the hunting team, and the ability to approach within close range under controlled conditions. Due to the size and resilience of African Elephant, hunters are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper Elephant shot placement before arriving in camp to ensure safe, ethical, and effective shot placement opportunities in the field.

Close-range encounters with Elephant in thick bushveld are often intense and unforgettable, making this style of traditional Zimbabwe dangerous game hunting one of the continent’s most respected safari experiences. 

Other Available Species to Hunt

While this safari is centered around Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe, the Save Valley Conservancy also supports exceptional predator and plains game hunting opportunities throughout the course of the safari. Hunters may encounter opportunities for traditional hyena hunting in Zimbabwe, with Spotted Hyena frequently encountered throughout the conservancy’s river systems, bushveld, and open plains.

This safari package also includes a Porcupine and Large-Spotted Genet Cat, offering hunters the rare opportunity to experience traditional nocturnal hunting within Zimbabwe’s lowveld wilderness areas. Night hunts for these smaller species require patience, accurate shooting, and careful spotlight work, adding a very different dynamic to the safari experience.

Beyond dangerous game and nocturnal species, the Save Valley Conservancy is also home to exceptional plains game hunts, with species such as Kudu, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Eland, Zebra, Wildebeest, Warthog, and numerous smaller antelope species available depending on quota and safari duration.

To view the complete list of available species and associated trophy fees, please refer to the trophy list below. 

Terrain and Hunting Conditions

The Save Valley Conservancy offers classic lowveld hunting conditions across a landscape of mopane woodland, river systems, rocky outcrops, dense bushveld, and open plains. Hunting in this remote wilderness often involves long hours on foot, with hunters and trackers covering significant ground while following spoor through thick cover and challenging terrain.

Temperatures in Zimbabwe’s lowveld can become extremely hot during the hunting season, particularly during midday tracking sessions. Water sources and river systems naturally attract large concentrations of wildlife, including Elephant, Buffalo, Hyena, and numerous plains game species, creating dynamic and unpredictable hunting conditions throughout the safari.

Traditional tracking remains a major part of successful dangerous game hunts in the Save Valley. Experienced local trackers carefully interpret tracks, broken branches, feeding signs, and subtle movement patterns to guide hunters closer to game in thick bushveld conditions where visibility is often limited and shot opportunities can develop quickly at close range.

What continues to make the Save Valley one of southern Africa’s most respected hunting areas is the combination of exceptional game quality, enormous unfenced wilderness areas, and authentic fair-chase hunting conditions. For many hunters, a traditional Zimbabwe safari is as much about the terrain, tracking, and campfire atmosphere as it is about the trophies themselves. 

A Traditional Zimbabwe Safari Experience

The Save Valley Conservancy continues to rank among Zimbabwe’s most respected hunting regions, offering hunters the opportunity to experience authentic free-range dangerous game hunting within one of southern Africa’s last great unfenced wilderness areas. From tracking Elephant through thick mopane bushveld to evening campfires beneath the African night sky, this safari combines challenging hunting conditions, exceptional wildlife, and traditional safari atmosphere in a way few destinations still can.

For hunters seeking a classic Zimbabwe dangerous game safari built around fair-chase hunting, experienced professional guidance, and genuine wilderness conditions, the Save Valley remains one of Africa’s truly special hunting destinations. 

If any further information is needed re this hunt in Zimbabwe, please message the team at Game Hunting Safaris.