There are few places left these days where a hunter has a chance at a big elephant. The Gonarezhou National Park border in Zimbabwe is one of those places. The operator is a very experienced elephant hunter and has taken several bulls in the 50 – 80lb range and some in the 90lb range as well. He is one of the few living PHs in Africa whose client has taken a 100lb bull in recent years in his concession.
Hunting the park boundary and other well-known locations, the outfitter targets bulls in the 50lb range. The best times to go are early season when the elephants are attracted to the crops and marula flowers and then again in the late dry season when the elephants are drinking water in the river which forms a boundary between the park and the hunting concession. Some parts of his concession fall within the communal land areas where hunting at night is also allowed. While different to a traditional tracking elephant hunt, hunting elephant at night can be very challenging and also dangerous.
Some portions of the hunting areas also border South Africa’s well known Kruger Park. This area is also known for producing huge elephant. Hunters looking for a chance at big ivory must very seriously consider this hunt. We have hunted the area personally and clients of ours have shot elephant in the 65 to 82lb range.
Aside from elephant this area is also well known for exceptional buffalo. Amongst some of the best trophies in all of Africa in fact! A client of ours probably holds the record for the largest buffalo taken in this area, a staggering mature 50.5″ bull! While such a size buffalo can never be expected hunters looking for buffalo beating the magical 40″ mark will be rewarded with some effort and luck. To put it in perspective there are few areas in Zimbabwe where one can expect 40″+ buffalo with any regularity.
Aside from elephant and buffalo a good variety of plains game species is available. Waterbuck and Nyala are exceptional in this area.
We can arrange a hunt to suit your specific needs or you can select from one the hunts below.
Hunt Cost:
12 Days Elephant Hunt @ $1700/ Day – $20,400
10 Days Buffalo Hunt @ $1000/Day – $10,000
10 Days {2 x 1} Buffalo Package Hunt – $25,000 (incl. trophy fees)
7 Days {1 x 1} Buffalo Package Hunt – $13,500 (incl. trophy fees)
Plains Game Only – $650/day
Observer Rate – $250/day
Other Costs:
2% Govt Levy on daily rates
4% Govt Levy on trophy fees
$15 / Day Zimra {VAT}
Transfer by road to camp from Harare – $800
Charter flight is also available – $POR
Trophy preparation and documentation – $500
Elephant Trophy Fees:
| 69lbs and below | $ 17,000 |
| 70lbs to 90lbs | $ 20,000 |
| 91lbs to 99lbs | $ 25,000 |
| 100lbs and above | $ 30,000 |
Other Trophy Fees:
| Buffalo | $ 5,000 | Impala | $ 450 |
| Bushbuck | $ 1,000 | Jackal | $ 200 |
| Bushpig | $ 400 | Klipspringer | $ 700 |
| Crocodile | $ 5,000 | Kudu | $ 2,300 |
| Duiker | $ 300 | Leopard | $ 5,000 |
| Eland | $ 2,000 | Nyala | $ 3,500 |
| Giraffe | $ 2,000 | Steenbok | $ 500 |
| Grysbok | $ 300 | Warthog | $ 400 |
| Hippo | $ 5,000 | Waterbuck | $ 2,500 |
| Hyena | $ 900 | Wildebeest | $ 1,000 |
| Impala Bait | $ 250 | Zebra | $ 1,100 |
