14-Day Leopard & Cape Buffalo Safari in Zambia
Booking Season: 2026
Hunt Difficulty: Difficult
Designed by Hunters, for Hunters
Stay in comfortable riverside chalets overlooking the Zambezi, with en-suite facilities, excellent meals, Wi-Fi, and a relaxed safari camp atmosphere.
Hunt across more than 800,000 acres of mopane woodland, thick Jesse bush, river systems, and seasonal drainage lines that support mature leopard, old dagga boys, and diverse plains game.
| Fence Type: | Free-range |
| Hunting Ground Size: | 800000 ha |
| Nearest Airport Name: | Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), Lusaka, Zambia. |
| Transfer From Airport: | Yes |
| Air Charter Available: | Yes |
American hunters have long regarded Leopard Hunting in Zambia as one of Africa's most authentic dangerous game safaris. Conducted across more than 800,000 acres of free-range wilderness in the Rufunsa Game Management Area, this 14-day hunt combines the pursuit of a mature leopard with the opportunity to add Cape buffalo and selected plains game in one of the Lower Zambezi's most respected hunting regions.
Unlike tracking buffalo or elephant through the bush, a leopard safari unfolds at its own pace. Every day revolves around reading fresh sign, monitoring bait sites, studying trail camera activity, and allowing a mature tom to make the next move. Success is rarely determined by luck. It is earned through careful preparation, patience, and disciplined decision-making long before the shot is ever taken.
As one of Africa's legendary Big Five, the leopard has earned its reputation as perhaps the continent's most elusive dangerous game animal. Hunting a mature tom demands patience, precision, and respect, qualities that have made leopard safaris one of the highest achievements in African hunting. Learn more about Big Five Hunting and discover why the leopard continues to captivate dangerous game hunters from around the world.
Package Price: US$39,300 (Excluding Leopard Trophy Fee)
Leopard Trophy Fee: US$10,000 (Payable only upon successful harvest)
Duration: 14 Hunting Days / 15 Nights
Hunter Ratio: 1 Hunter : 1 Dangerous Game Professional Hunter
Optional Add-On: Cape Buffalo Hunt from US$ 3,800
Observers: US$350 per person, per day
Rifle Rental: US$30 per day plus ammunition
This professionally guided Zambia leopard safari has been structured to include virtually every major hunting expense before you arrive, allowing you to focus entirely on the hunt.
Your package includes:
The following items remain the hunter's responsibility:
Transfer Options: The package excludes (US$ 1800) return road transfers between Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (Lusaka) and the Rufunsa hunting concession. Hunters who prefer to minimise travel time may upgrade to a private air charter, subject to availability. Charter pricing varies depending on aircraft availability and group size and will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Leopard hunting in Zambia is conducted under a strict government quota system, with only a limited number of mature male leopard permits issued each season. Availability is therefore extremely limited, and early booking is strongly recommended to secure preferred hunting dates.
Because quota availability can change during the season, all leopard safaris remain subject to the confirmation of an available government-issued leopard permit before a booking can be finalized.
The Rufunsa Game Management Area forms part of Zambia's legendary Lower Zambezi ecosystem and covers more than 800,000 acres of unfenced wilderness. For hunters considering Hunting in Zambia, it represents exactly the type of country that has earned the nation its reputation for traditional dangerous game safaris.
Rufunsa's combination of extensive mopane woodland, thick Jesse bush, seasonal drainage lines, and river systems creates ideal leopard habitat. More importantly, it supports the healthy prey populations that mature toms depend upon throughout the year. Puku, bushbuck, warthog, baboon, bushpig, impala, and numerous other species provide a natural food source, allowing leopards to establish and defend large territories across the concession.
Unlike heavily hunted areas where leopard become increasingly wary of disturbance, Rufunsa has benefited from relatively low hunting pressure in recent years. Mature toms are able to reach impressive age and size, while experienced Professional Hunters can build long-term knowledge of individual territories, travel routes, and productive bait locations. That continuity is one of the reasons the concession has developed such a strong reputation among serious leopard hunters.
The area is equally well known for its healthy Cape buffalo population, making it possible to combine Cape Buffalo Hunts with a leopard safari without compromising either hunt. Few concessions offer the same combination of scale, wilderness, and dangerous game diversity, making Rufunsa one of Zambia's premier destinations for hunters looking to experience the country at its very best.
Unlike buffalo, elephant, or plains game safaris, a successful leopard hunt rarely begins on the hunter's first morning in camp. In many respects, it starts weeks beforehand.
Long before your arrival in Rufunsa, the are already identifying productive bait locations, monitoring trail cameras, studying fresh spoor, and learning the movements of mature toms that occupy the concession. Every photograph, every track, and every visit to a bait site helps build a picture of which leopard may eventually provide a legitimate hunting opportunity.
By the time you arrive, much of the groundwork has already been completed. The first days of the safari focus on refining that plan, refreshing baits, interpreting new trail camera images, and responding to the latest leopard activity rather than simply hoping one appears.
A successful leopard safari is rarely built on luck. More often, it is the result of careful preparation carried out long before the hunter ever climbs into the blind.
Every leopard hunter remembers the hours spent sitting in the blind, but very few remember them because anything happened; most remember them because nothing did.
As daylight fades, conversations become whispers before disappearing altogether. The rifle is checked one final time. Shooting sticks are positioned exactly where they need to be. Every movement becomes deliberate because there may not be another opportunity to adjust once a leopard arrives. Then the waiting begins.
Sometimes a baboon barks in the distance. A hyena circles beneath the bait before wandering away. An owl calls overhead. More often than not, nothing breaks the silence except the sounds of the African bush settling into the night. Then, without warning, everything changes.
A mature tom rarely announces his arrival. He simply appears, moving with a confidence that comes from years of surviving in one of Africa's most competitive environments. There is no rushing the shot. Your Professional Hunter is not watching the leopard nearly as much as he is watching you, your breathing, your rifle position, the available light, and whether the angle is exactly right.
Those final seconds are why leopard hunting occupies such a special place in African hunting. Days of preparation, countless decisions, and hours of waiting all come down to one carefully executed shot. Get it right, and you've taken one of Africa's greatest trophies. Get it wrong, and the opportunity may disappear into the darkness as quietly as it arrived.
That combination of preparation, patience, and precision is what has made Leopard Hunts one of the most respected dangerous game safaris in Africa. Whether this is your first spotted cat or another chapter in a lifetime of African hunting, few pursuits demand more from both hunter and Professional Hunter alike.
While Rufunsa is respected for its healthy population of free-range Cape buffalo. The concession forms part of the greater Lower Zambezi ecosystem, where mature dagga boys still roam vast tracts of mopane woodland and thick Jesse bush, offering the kind of traditional buffalo hunting that has become increasingly difficult to find elsewhere in Africa.
Adding a buffalo to this safari transforms an already exceptional hunt into a true Big Five adventure. One day may be spent quietly checking bait sites and studying trail camera photographs, while the next begins by following the fresh spoor of an old dagga boy through wild country, gradually closing the distance until the final stalk unfolds on foot.
For hunters wanting to experience both pursuits during the same safari, few concessions offer the opportunity as naturally as Rufunsa. Learn more about Buffalo Hunting in Zambia and explore our complete collection of Cape Buffalo Hunts to see why the Cape buffalo remains one of Africa's most respected dangerous game animals.
While the primary focus of this safari is pursuing a mature leopard, Rufunsa's exceptional game diversity also creates opportunities to add some of Zambia's finest Plains Game Hunts during suitable periods of the safari. Between checking baits, monitoring trail cameras, and waiting for leopard movement to develop, hunters may have the chance to pursue a selection of outstanding plains game species without detracting from the leopard hunt.
Popular additions include Kudu (US$3,000), Black Lechwe (US$7,000), Kafue Lechwe (US$4,500), Eland (US$500), Roan Antelope (US$7,700), Sable (US$7,500), Tsessebe (US$2,250), Warthog (US$850), and Defassa Waterbuck (US$2,500), one of Africa's most sought-after waterbuck subspecies. Hunters interested in this impressive spiral-horned antelope can also learn more about Defassa Waterbuck Hunts and why Zambia remains one of the premier destinations for the species.
With healthy game populations Rufunsa offers the flexibility to build a safari around your own hunting goals, whether that means focusing exclusively on leopard or returning home with a truly diverse collection of classic Zambian trophies.
Your safari begins with an international flight into Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka. From there, the Rufunsa concession is approximately three to five hours by road, with return road transfers available as part of your travel arrangements. Hunters looking to maximise their time in the field can also arrange a private charter flight, reducing travel time to approximately forty minutes.
The hunting camp occupies a peaceful setting overlooking the Zambezi River and features three comfortable permanent chalets with en-suite bathrooms and modern amenities. A central dining and entertainment area provides the perfect place to relax after each day's hunt, while the camp chef prepares hearty home-cooked meals, including traditional Zambian braais and fresh game when available. Wi-Fi is available in camp, allowing hunters to stay in touch with family or business when required.
The Zambia hunting season runs from May through December, with hunters favouring the cooler, drier months between May and August. These conditions generally make tracking easier and improve access throughout the concession, although excellent leopard hunting opportunities exist throughout the legal hunting season.
International hunters should ensure their passports, firearm documentation, and visa requirements are in order before travelling. Zambia is a malaria area, so appropriate prophylaxis is recommended after consulting your physician. Depending on your country of origin or recent travel history, a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may also be required, making it worthwhile to confirm current entry requirements before departure.
Leopard hunting has never been measured simply by the size of the trophy. It is measured by the preparation behind the scenes, the quality of the hunting concession, the discipline to wait for the right opportunity, and the confidence that comes from hunting alongside an experienced Professional Hunter.
If your goal is to pursue a mature leopard in one of Zambia's premier hunting areas while retaining the opportunity to add Cape buffalo and outstanding plains game, Rufunsa offers one of Africa's most complete dangerous game safaris. It is a hunt built for sportsmen who appreciate wild country, careful planning, and the satisfaction of earning every opportunity.
Whether this becomes your first leopard safari or another chapter in a lifetime of African hunting, we invite you to explore our complete collection of Hunting Trips across Africa to compare destinations, species, and professionally guided safaris.
Before making your final booking, it is also worth understanding exactly what is included in different safari packages and how costs vary between destinations. Our guide to African Hunting Safari Prices explains the factors that influence safari pricing, helping you plan your next African hunting adventure with confidence.
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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