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.
The Gwayi ECA and Sikumi East concessions bordering Hwange National Park offer classic Zimbabwean hunting terrain made up of thick Mopane woodland, dry river systems, dense bushveld, scattered acacia flats, and sections of open plains. Certain areas allow for longer visibility and glassing opportunities, while others require careful tracking and close-range stalking through heavier cover. The landscape varies throughout the concessions, with well-worn game paths, sandy riverbeds, and dense pockets of teak forest shaping the pace and style of the hunt. Combined with large unfenced wilderness areas and traditional walk-and-stalk hunting conditions, the region provides an authentic free-range African safari environment.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Hunting Ground Size: | 100000 ha |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Victoria Falls International |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
This free-range safari combines tuskless elephant and Cape buffalo in Zimbabwe’s renowned Gwayi ECA and Sikumi hunting areas bordering Hwange National Park. Conducted in large unfenced concessions, the hunt offers clients a traditional African dangerous game hunts experience focused on tracking, close-range encounters, and authentic safari hunting in wild country.
Long days on foot through Mopane woodland, thick bushveld, and dry river systems are all part of these traditional elephant hunts, with experienced professional hunters and trackers guiding the safari in areas known for healthy elephant and buffalo populations.
Hunters looking to expand the safari can also add additional Cape buffalo hunts or a range of African plains game hunts available throughout the region.
Experience two of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species on a traditional free-range hunting safari in Zimbabwe's renowned Gwayi ECA and Sikumi hunting concessions. Bordering the world-famous Hwange National Park, this safari combines the challenge of tracking mature elephant bulls with the excitement of pursuing hard-bossed Cape buffalo in vast unfenced wilderness areas alongside experienced professional hunters and skilled local trackers.
This all-inclusive dangerous game safari includes accommodation, trophy fees, government levies, road transfers, CITES documentation, professional hunter services, and all hunting activities as specified within the package.
Combining elephant and Cape buffalo on a single safari offers hunters the opportunity to pursue two members of Africa's legendary Dangerous Game species while experiencing some of Zimbabwe's most respected free-range hunting areas. For hunters seeking an authentic African hunting adventure, few safari combinations provide the same level of excitement, challenge, and variety as elephant and buffalo hunted together in wild Zimbabwean country.
Trophy Hunting in Zimbabwe
For hunters seeking authentic Zimbabwe hunting safaris, the country remains one of Africa’s most respected dangerous game destinations. Large unfenced hunting areas, experienced professional hunters, and traditional free-range safari conditions continue to attract hunters looking for a true African hunting experience in wild country.
From tracking elephant through thick bushveld to following buffalo spoor across dry river systems and Mopane woodland, Zimbabwe offers the type of classic safari environment many hunters travel to Africa to experience.
Traditional elephant hunting in Zimbabwe is conducted on foot, with hunts often beginning once fresh spoor has been located along roads, riverbeds, or near active water sources frequented by elephant herds. From there, hunters and trackers may spend hours following tracks through Mopane woodland, thick bushveld, and dry river systems while carefully closing the distance on mature bulls.
Patience and communication with your professional hunter are an important part of the safari, particularly when approaching elephant at close range in heavy cover. Wind direction, herd movement, terrain, and shot angles all play a major role during the final approach.
Accurate shot placement is critical on any elephant safari, especially when hunting free-range bulls in thick country where immediate follow-up opportunities may be limited. Hunters preparing for the safari are encouraged to familiarize themselves with proper elephant shot placement before arriving in camp.
Hunters looking to expand the safari can add an additional Cape buffalo hunt for US$5,500 plus the applicable 4% government levy. Combining buffalo with tuskless elephant creates a classic African dangerous game safari focused on tracking, close-range encounters, and traditional free-range hunting in Zimbabwe’s wild concessions.
Known for their toughness and unpredictable nature, Cape buffalo remain one of Africa’s most respected dangerous game animals and are a natural addition to this safari. Hunters wanting a more varied safari can also include a range of African plains game hunts during their stay, with additional species available throughout the concession and trophy fees listed in the table below.
Trophy Fees 2026: (Excluding Gov Levies at 4%)
Tiaan, Keenan, and their team of professional hunters conduct authentic dangerous game hunts across Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa, focusing on traditional free-range safaris in well-managed wilderness concessions. With years of experience guiding international hunters on elephant, buffalo, leopard, and plains game safaris, the team has built a reputation for professional service, experienced field guidance, and quality hunting areas.
Working closely with local communities, conservation programs, and concession owners, the outfit supports sustainable hunting practices and the long-term management of wildlife habitat throughout the regions in which they operate.
Safaris are conducted in a range of hunting areas, from remote concessions bordering National Parks to large private conservancies known for exceptional dangerous game and plains game hunting. Backed by experienced trackers, camp staff, and professional hunters, clients can expect a professionally managed safari from arrival through to departure.
Traveling for the Hunt
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 across the concessions varies from thick Mopane woodland and dense bushveld to dry river systems, open plains, scattered acacia flats, and teak forests. Some areas allow for longer spotting opportunities, while others require careful tracking and close-range stalking through heavy cover.
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 forest terrain and strong predator habitat. In addition to elephant and buffalo, the concessions also support free-range leopard hunts, hippo hunts, and crocodile hunts, together with a wide variety of African plains game species throughout the region.
The Hunting Lodge
After long days in the field, hunters return to a comfortable safari lodge set within the Zimbabwean bushveld. The camp offers comfortable accommodations, hot showers, daily laundry service, and a relaxed atmosphere where clients can unwind after the day’s hunt.
Meals are prepared daily by the camp chef, with a mix of traditional safari cuisine and hearty home-style meals often served around the fire in the evenings. Fresh game meat from the safari frequently features on the menu, adding to the overall African hunting camp experience.
The lodge is also well suited to observers and non-hunting guests, with a comfortable camp environment and nearby attractions around Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park available during the safari.
Firearms Permits
Zimbabwe allows visiting hunters to temporarily import firearms for hunting safaris, although semi-automatic and military-style rifles are not permitted. While there are no official minimum caliber requirements, most professional hunters recommend a .375 caliber or larger for dangerous game species such as elephant and buffalo.
Prior to arrival, hunters will need to complete the required firearm declaration paperwork for each rifle and all accompanying ammunition. These documents, together with the outfitter’s invitation letter, must be presented to customs officials upon arrival in Zimbabwe before a temporary firearm permit is issued.
Hunters traveling through South Africa will also need to comply with the firearm import procedures at OR Tambo International Airport, including clearance through the South African Police Service firearms office before continuing onward to Zimbabwe.
Few African hunting safaris offer the opportunity to pursue both elephant and Cape buffalo in the same free-range wilderness concession. Conducted in the renowned Gwayi ECA and Sikumi hunting areas bordering Hwange National Park, this safari combines two of Africa's most respected dangerous game species in a traditional hunting environment where success depends on tracking skill, patience, and fieldcraft.
The combination of a tuskless elephant and Cape buffalo creates a challenging and rewarding safari that showcases two very different dangerous game hunting experiences. From tracking elephant through thick Mopane woodland to following buffalo spoor across dry river systems and bushveld, hunters experience the diversity and excitement that have made Zimbabwe one of Africa's premier hunting destinations.
With experienced professional hunters, vast unfenced hunting concessions, healthy game populations, and the opportunity to add additional dangerous game or plains game species, this safari delivers an authentic African hunting adventure in one of Southern Africa's most respected free-range hunting regions.
If you would like additional information regarding this free-range elephant and Cape buffalo hunting safari in Zimbabwe, discuss available hunting dates, or build a custom dangerous game safari including additional hunters or species, please contact the Game Hunting Safaris team.
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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