What PH to book an elephant hunt with?

It really comes down to your budget. There are some deals to be had (we’re getting to that point in the year) if you can travel quick and on short notice, but the general rule of thumb is about $1000/pound.

You can kill a 60lber in an area that typically produces 40lbers and you can shoot a 40lber in an area known to produce 60-70lbers.

1) Whats your budget?
2) When can you leave?
3) What are your trophy expectations?
4) Does Importable Ivory matter?

If you don’t care about importable ivory Mozambique, an own-use bull in Namibia, or a Non-Trophy in Zim will be great bargains.

If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, I think Zimbabwe is hard to overlook. You’ll pay for the areas known to produce big bulls, but you’ll have a chance at killing something much larger. For instance PH I’ve done two elephant hunts with and 2 leopard hunts with just offered me a trophy exportable bull (30-40lb avg area) - 10 days all-in for $22,000 + other DG/PG on trophy fee. Western Zim is a good bit flatter than the Valley, but that’s not always the case. Western Zim typically brings a little higher of a price tag with it for similar quality ivory. It’s not just the size of the ivory but the physicality of the hunt that impacts price. No different than elk out west and this is shown best with Botswana.

If you’re looking for an above average chance at big ivory it’s hard to overlook Botswana. Flatter, often more spot & stalk and driving around glassing bulls than tracking them. You’ll pay a higher price to hunt Botswana due to it being less physical and chances of big ivory. You don’t get a discount for a bull that doesn’t weigh a lot. That $1000/lb could turn into more like $1500 or $2000/lb since it’s based on what the area produces on avg.

Tanzania is the most expensive, but there are some areas known for producing truly exceptional bulls. Their ivory is often long and slender, but very pretty.

Namibia and Zambia also both offer some good options. Zambia doesn’t really get mentioned a lot for big bulls but there are still some areas known to hold them. It’s pricey than Zim but not as much at Botswana. Zambia allows for Bowhunting of elephants, and is a great destination if you want to add in the cats.

Adam Stevens said:

You've laid out your request fairly well, but I think budget is the next thing.

You obviously want the ivory as per the Moz comment, Zim is generally the best value, so it all depends on your price point for this hunt.

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By the time of the hunt I could probably swing 70,000. That would have to be the hunt, all tips, airfare, tip pack and ship.

You can look up my report from Botswana. I also have friends who have hunted some other good areas in Botswana. A friend and I also hunted Tanzania in another report.

Slight hijack, but what is the process for receiving exportably ivory?? Do you need to work through a taxidermist and/or specialized freight company?
When I shot my Mozambique bull (45#), after detailed pictures and measurements, we had to surrender the ivory to the local “officials”. God only knows where it goes from there. Having replicas made by Kanati.

Tholo Safaris in Botswana and Steve Van Der Merwe as the PH. No outfit better.

HH

Fixfire said:

Slight hijack, but what is the process for receiving exportably ivory?? Do you need to work through a taxidermist and/or specialized freight company?
When I shot my Mozambique bull (45#), after detailed pictures and measurements, we had to surrender the ivory to the local “officials”. God only knows where it goes from there. Having replicas made by Kanati.

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The country needs to first be approved for export via your home country and CITES. For most of us that’s the US. Unfortunately Moz isn’t approved so your SOL other than legal challenges.

If the country is approved, you hunt with an outfitter with a proven track record of his clients ivory being approved for import, shoot the bull, it goes to the taxidermist who works with that countries Parks (or whatever they call their game dept) to complete paperwork on their side documenting and serializing it. Your outfitter submits all the info your country requires via the operators enhancement. You can submit or employ a permit specialist like Conservation Force to submit on your behalf. Your home country’s game dept ( USFWS for those in the US) then makes a ruling based on the info they’ve been provided, whether or not the hunting of that specific elephant contributed to the conservation of the elephant species, that area, and the local population. The operators enhancement includes info on poaching, anti poaching, community funding, jobs created, dollars back into the community, a break down of the cost and where the dollars go, gps coordinates, game counts and surveys from biologists they work with as well as parks, mortality rates, collaring/research, etc. The more info the better.

mitch4570 said:

By the time of the hunt I could probably swing 70,000. That would have to be the hunt, all tips, airfare, tip pack and ship.

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If $70k (by the time of the hunt?) is your budget including tips, airfare, dip & pack, and shipping Botswana is going to be a stretch unless you find a short notice deal but not sure what your timeline looks like.

Given those constraints, I’d suggest looking at Zimbabwe or Namibia if you want to bring the ivory home.

Figure the following expenses, before tips …
Travel - $3-4k (airfare, hotel, gun permits, etc)
D&P - $3-4k (could be more it really depends on what you do)
Shipping - $6k (ivory is heavy you’ll pay actual weight not volumetric weight)
Customs Broker - $1000-1500
USFWS Permit - $1000-2500


This puts your actual hunt Day Rates + Trophy Fees + Tips budget around $50-55k.
Do you intend on hunting anything else while there? Will you pass on a 40” buff, or a 60” Kudu?

My suggestion Zimbabwe - look in an area known to produce 40lb ivory. You’re talking $30-50k cost depending upon area, time of year and physicality.

Although I am not American, my process to ship the ivory was identical, as what @Mtn_Infantry is telling.

The fan fact:
Cites import papers were for free in my case, issued by my goverment. No charge.

But everything else costs dearly.
Shipping and dip and pack for plains game hunted after the ivory, will amount to about 50% of net costs of safari. (speaking for Zimbabwe, not Botswana)

If you want to take a trophy home, look for spot and stalk exportable elephant hunts, not the country. Just let the PH know in advance of any physical challenges and they will accommodate you.

I hunted 3 Elephants with Karl Stumpfe of Ndumo in Caprivi area of Namibia last year. 2 of those elephants were mine and the 3rd was my good friends, which I participated with after taking mine. First bull was ~40 lbs in March, second was 60lbs and my friends was 38 lbs, those were late October. I highly recommend Karl and Ndumo.

kpoynter said:

I thought about telling him this, but I was hesitant to mention based on his criteria
I think he should stay away fro the Zambezi Valley in general.
Buzz may walk him to death lol (not really Mitch as Buzz hunts with several repeat clients of your age)
So Mitch knows,,, an Elephant hunt in say Dande is a 40k hunt for a 40 pound tusker.
Maitingwe or Kazuma in the West are flat and easy but 60k hunts for Bulls out of the Hwange or Botswana
Having done two hunts in the “Valley” I would simply not recommend this as a preferred option but CMS Safaris are an absolute premier outfitter for Elephant. I’ve hunted their areas twice myself including last year.

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I wouldn’t recommend Dande either based on what he’s looking for, but they have quota in multiple areas of country. I don’t know the pricing for Shangani but I believe it would fit the physical requirements and wouldn’t come at the Botswana price point. It would be worth a discussion to see if they have areas that fit his needs and budget. They are the top outfitter I’ve hunted with and most easy to communicate with.

sureshot375 said:

You should look at the South Africa hunts in the greater Kruger.

The elephant are grossly overpopulated. The terrain is such that they can be spotted and stalked without many miles of tracking. In places like Zimbabwe the areas with the best terrain are parks or farms or something else. The rough areas are left for the hunting which can make for a wonderful yet demanding

It has its issues in that the areas you can and can’t hunt can be a bit complex. There will be a size restriction. In my case I was limited to 30lbs. Permits for larger bulls are offered. We saw many bigger bulls, but the hunts are structured towards very specific conservation goals.

It is also probably the best place in the world to hunt dagga boy buffalo.

I was able to import my bull, but that situation is constantly changing.

There are also areas in Botswana where elephant hunting is not dependent on tracking.

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I think it’s been several years since any export quota was issued from South Africa unfortunately. It’d be a great hunt for him, but even if export quota was issued it may get pulled before hunt or export ever took place unfortunately.

Thank you all for the info. I quess the next thing to do is reach out to some outfitters.

Too many unknowns
1. what is your budget?
2. how important is size of tusks?
3. Exportable or not
Answer these three questions and we can help you

70,000
Looking at photos 50 lb tusks.
I want to export some trophies

mitch4570 said:

70,000
Looking at photos 50 lb tusks.
I want to export some trophies

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70k and 50 pounds opens up many options for you… really it opens up 99% of options basically.
Western Zim will get you 50#+ with a target of hopefully 60# for 60k
Botswana will have numerous areas that fit the bill here for you from 50-60k or so.
The Caprivi Strip as noted above is next door to Botswana (same elephants) but as I stated earlier I think you will get better value in Botswana. Those Caprivi hunts…50# is “big” not the “benchmark” (I’ve hunted it) and also as noted October is a great time (and April I believe there too)

Also… try to not do an early season hunt…. It’s too damn thick and you will see fewer elephants. Hunting Elephants is a numbers game.. you will want to see many bulls and you will find your 50#+ bull.

mitch4570 said:

I'm 70 but have been walking up to 5 miles with a 12lb rod. I need to hunt an elephant before it's to late. For those of you who have hunted elephant. Who did you book with? How was the terrain, how was the hunt in general? An area that is more flat walking would be better for me.
Thank in advance.

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Fixfire said:

Slight hijack, but what is the process for receiving exportably ivory?? Do you need to work through a taxidermist and/or specialized freight company?
When I shot my Mozambique bull (45#), after detailed pictures and measurements, we had to surrender the ivory to the local “officials”. God only knows where it goes from there. Having replicas made by Kanati.

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It’s all about does a country keep adequate records that are required by US, age, anti poaching, etc. Unfirtunately where I will be hunting my next two elephants in Moz Conservation Force told me they will not be able to export to US any time soon

Rare Breed said:

It’s all about does a country keep adequate records that are required by US, age, anti poaching, etc. Unfirtunately where I will be hunting my next two elephants in Moz Conservation Force told me they will not be able to export to US any time soon

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You can hunt Moz as i will do in 27 and 28 first with @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS and second with @thatsafrica. You will pay anout $23,000 non exportable yet potentially take a 70 pounder. You have to make choices. If you have $70,000 as you say there is not question go to Botswana with a chance for a fully exportable 70+ pound animal. no brainer!!!

Rare Breed said:

You can hunt Moz as i will do in 27 and 28 first with @TSALA HUNTING SAFARIS and second with @thatsafrica. You will pay anout $23,000 non exportable yet potentially take a 70 pounder. You have to make choices. If you have $70,000 as you say there is not question go to Botswana with a chance for a fully exportable 70+ pound animal. no brainer!!!

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Y’all need to remember he said $70k budget for a door to door hunt of an exportable bull.
He accounting for flights + before/after hunt costs, Tips, D&P, Taxidermy, Shipping, Customs, etc

And South Africa is supposedly issuing export permits this year for upwards of 150 permits…at least based upon what o read several weeks back. No idea of the process in RSA or exact impact on previous pricing structure, but at least it sounded like an additional option.

Unlike other species, elephant prices have seemed to level or even go down to a degree last few years. I keep saying we are entering the next golden age of elephant hunting…which should continue until there is a change in the party at the helm of the country, which could impact importation yet again.