Where to find best value for Elephant Hunt

I love to hunt Elephant. I would hunt every year except for the cost - which can be staggering. But very year most operators have extra elephant on quota that they in part paid for. Has anone figured out how to tap into that fact and negotiate a reasonable (all things being relative) elephant hunt? In 2009 I was able to find a 12-day 'package' hunt for elephat and cap buffalo for $24,500 that included trophy fees. A great hunt I shoud add. Does anone know where to find similair deals - most likely in Zimbabwe or the Caprivi?

How much do you think an elephant hunt is acually worth? For example, I canot afford $56,000 to hunt with Jeff Rann, an do not understand what the extra $20,000 or so over similair hus gets you (othing against Mr. Rann - I lie his TV Show and apparent hunting style.

Thoughts?

Hi Cleathorn

Well Zim immediately jumps to mind I am sure that there are a lot of good Zim outfits that will offer you a great quality hunt.

I understand the point you are trying to make here with regards to how much is the hunt really worth and I would have to say it depends on the quality of trophy and area you are after.

Should you wish to hunt with the top guy well then it is going to cost you simple as that but that certainly does not mean there is only one outfit out there. Personally I feel that competition in the hunting industry is a good thing and if one part of the industry is alive and well it is competition, prices are about as good as they will ever get so the best thing to do world be to look for a reputable outfit and have a good chat with the Outfitter I am sure whoever it is he will do his best to work something out for you.

I would also keep in mind that you do get what you pay for but an experienced hunter as yourself defiantly knows that already.

I hope this help and good luck!

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Originally Posted by Cleathorn

I love to hunt Elephant. I would hunt every year except for the cost - which can be staggering. But very year most operators have extra elephant on quota that they in part paid for. Has anone figured out how to tap into that fact and negotiate a reasonable (all things being relative) elephant hunt? In 2009 I was able to find a 12-day 'package' hunt for elephat and cap buffalo for $24,500 that included trophy fees. A great hunt I shoud add. Does anone know where to find similair deals - most likely in Zimbabwe or the Caprivi?

How much do you think an elephant hunt is acually worth? For example, I canot afford $56,000 to hunt with Jeff Rann, an do not understand what the extra $20,000 or so over similair hus gets you (othing against Mr. Rann - I lie his TV Show and apparent hunting style.

Thoughts?

Dear Cleathorn

The best value for Elephant Hunt is still Zimbabwe however the trophy fees are also rising. Botswana Elephant is becoming expensive, outfitters also paying high prices for the tag/trophy.

In Zimbabwe depending on the area you can still get away with between $26 000 and $31 000.

To get back to your question on $56 000 vs say $30 000, it is like the difference between a Toyota and Mercedes Benz, you pay for the brand... same features (Elephant in Zim is maybe 50 pounds and in Botswana myabe at a squeeze 55-60 pounds) One of the well known outfitters, no names no pack drill, said you have unlimited funds and unlimited time I can find you 100 pounders.... perhaps here lies the difference.

As far as I know not a lot of guys in Botswana and Mozamboque will not book a Elephant Hunt for less than 21 days (here is where I think there money lies).

We can do an Elephant Hunt in 12 - 14 Days (longer is better) but you wont get a better than 50 pounder in that timeframe.

Regards
theov

Non Trophy or Tusk-less Ele hunts are a great option if you enjoy the hunt more than the trophy.
This hunt can cost way less than hunting trophy Bulls.

Originally Posted by classicsafari

Non Trophy or Tusk-less Ele hunts are a great option if you enjoy the hunt more than the trophy.
This hunt can cost way less than hunting trophy Bulls.

That is absolutely true.

As always - AfricaHunting is a great forum for these topics. Thanks for the comments and PM's.

I have hunted Zim and really like it. I hunt with a Black PH and think he is great. His area has TREMENDOUS elephant but the downside is hat you do not see the sheer numbers. He takes some of the biggest ivory very year but you do not see that many on he hunt. Non of this 20 bulls a day to look over. But, I did put near 70 lbs in my scope. Another minute or 2 for some daylight and it would have been game over. I did tae an elephant but it had vey small ivory.

We were on a bull following a herd when the reversed direction. We did not realize it until we were within 15 yards of the herd. A teenage bull got very ran and made a real charge. I held my ground and a dramatic brain shot ended he affair.

Now I would like to get into an area where I can wal up on a bunch of bulls and opic he one that is right for me. I now where to go for BIG ivory, I would like to find one of those late season hunts in an area with lots of ivory just for the experience.

I will let you know if I see nothing and if you come across a late season opportunity, please keep me in mind.

P.S. I read my post and the spelling was terrible. What I was trying to say that I have nothing againt Jeff Rann, I would actually like to hunt with him, or Ivan Carter, I just cannot afford them. It would be cool to hunt with guys who hunt that style and have been around so many elephants.

Keep the good info coming.

Take care,

Check out Ndumo Safaris with Karl Stumpfe in Namibia.

Originally Posted by classicsafari

Check out Ndumo Safaris with Karl Stumpfe in Namibia.

+1 on that the same big expensive elephants that walk in Botswana walk around the Caprivi as well at much cheaper rates. And I have seen it for myself.

I have hunted elephant in the Matetsi area of Zimbabwe and have seen the same thing. Elephant crossing into Botswana are suddenly worth almost twice as much (trophy fees last year were about $13,000 in Matetsi and about $25,000 in Bots). You can without a doubt get bigger ivory in some parts of Botswana than in Zimbabwe, but 50 lbs is doable in Zim and that's respectable anywhere.

As for a great elephant PH, Darren Ellerman has hunted elephant forever in Zim, he loves it, and he's excellent at it. Plus he's a nice guy without some of the ego sometimes found on the more famous.

Thanks Adam and Frederik for the reccommendation.

We indeed have some of the best elephant hunting available today, right here in the Caprivi and Kavango areas in Northern Namibia. If you want to see upwards of 200 elephants on your hunt, speak to me. As an aside, 4 bulls out of 8 trophies that I hunted in this particular region that Frederik has been to, went over 55 lbs, 3 going over 60 lbs.

The difference in prices can be attributed to some countries charging higher concession fees and trophy fees (and I will bet you that Namibia government/ communal concessions have propably the highest concession/ trophy fees, as well as the best officials looking after the wildlife of most southern African countries...)
The other difference are higher profit margins by some outfits.

I am currently sold out for 2011 on elephant, but accept bookings for 2012 now, and may have some specials later in the year, so I will keep you posted.

As an aside, 4 bulls out of 8 trophies that I hunted in this particular region that Frederik has been to, went over 55 lbs, 3 going over 60 lbs.

Above should read.... for the 2010 season.

Hello Cleathorn,

I sympathise with your obsession and understand, as I am afflicted as you are ( a man with rich ideas, living in a poor man body, I'm talking about me that is).

For most of us and Elephant hunt involves a serious amount of coin, no two ways about it.

I am not going to tell you who to hunt with, but what I will tell you is that after having spent considerable time in his company discussing his hunting oportunities,results, sucess rates, areas and service etc there is no doubt in my mind that my next Ele hunt will be with Karl of Ndumo (thats if the waiting list isn't too long !).

Best of luck with your research, Cleathorn, please let us know how you got on.

Good hunting to all,
Paul.

We had two hunts this past fall for elephant in the Matetsi area of Zimbabwe.
These allowed a hunter to take elephant and buffalo with a minimum of ten days and allowed plains game as well. The elephant portion of this safari was just over fifteen thousand including elephant trophy fee.
They happened to be left over quota from a cancelled hunt.

These deals typically come up at the end of the season but you can't count on it.

The best advice is to watch forums like this, send e-mails to booking agents and outfitters regarding your desire to take advantage of these deals if they arise.

Finally, be prepared to go at a moments notice when it becomes available. Have your passport current, rifles ready, and bags packed.

The price of a good deal is you have to be prepared to take advantage of it.

Results from a last minute 10 day hunt in Matetsi

We are offering really good rates in our Concession in East Caprivi; last season 2010 we had three tags ; we hunted a bull of 70 pounds, another of 60 pounds, and a smaller one of 40 pounds.

We still have one tag available for 2011, and we combine elephant hunt, with buffalo, hippo and croc. Elephant are very good quality in the area, even the density is not very high. Hipos and crocs are excepcionally good in the Kwando River.

If you are interested, in hunting in Caprivi Strip , we acan organize something interesting for you.
Contact us, Spitskop Safaris.

TIM416,

Ill take the next matetesi buffalo elephant deal for $15k you stumble across.

chemarq/ Jose, I know all the outfitters in the Eastern Caprivi personally, but do not know you. What concession do you hunt?

Originally Posted by Karl Stumpfe

chemarq/ Jose, I know all the outfitters in the Eastern Caprivi personally, but do not know you. What concession do you hunt?

Hi Karl, sure you don´t heard of us previously. Our company is south african. We are hunting Mashi Conservancy from this season, in partnership with a namibian company.

This is the first season we have been hunting there, and the results have been really positive. We have a lot of illusion in the area, and we have seen really good elephants.

Jose