Where are the best places to track Eland?

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Canadaboy

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I’m interested in doing an Eland hunt. I’d like it to be a traditional tracking style hunt. I would appreciate some input on where the best places are to do this. If it was in an area with good bushbuck hunting that would be a bonus !

I should also mention that although I’m sure I’d love it, I’m not looking for a Lord Derby Eland at the moment.

Thanks!
 
Cameroon, Botswana, Namibia were my favorite
 
I did mine in Botswana with NKWE safaris out of Ghanzi Botswana (I have a hunt report on the hunt on AH). I think there are several places / outfitters along the Namibia and Botswana border that specialize in these tracking hunts. Check out NKWE, Tholo and Bokomoso in Botswana. Another I’ve looked at booking with is Duiker Safaris in Namibia that does eland tracking hunts. I’m sure there are several Namibian outfitters on AH that can do them.

One thing to note, the terrain in Botswana and Namibia for eland tracking is not really bushbuck country though.
 
Tholo Safaris in Botswana with Bushmen trackers
Above MontanaPat said Nkwe which is basically across the road
There are other places but I did it to see the bushmen trackers and have done it twice.
CMS in Zim will track eland
Mokore safaris in Coutada 9 and Neil Duckworth and their trackers for sure
Elbow are a couple of my Botswana Bulls taken at Tholo
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Another option to consider would be the Niassa Reserve in Northern Mozambique. The number 1 Livingston Eland comes from this area. I took a nice bull here that may be considered average for the area. Since you suggested tracking you will probably want to add buffalo as well.
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Niassa game reserve with Kambako Safaris is where you will track eland and buffalo. Every morning was go to a springs check for tracks pick the best one. Outstanding bushbuck also. Most expensive. Botswana with Nkwe safaris Jaco or Namibia with Pieter Delport Eintracht Jagd. Much cheaper. No bushbuck.
 

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I’ve taken 9 eland bulls in 5 countries. They are top animal in Africa to me. Hunting them free range in Namibia is where I’d recommend. I haven’t hunted Mozambique, but the numbers and quality there seem very impressive.

Something to consider with a tracking hunt. You’ll want free range or a fenced area with only reasonable game densities. A real tracking hunt on a typical game farm is difficult because there are too many tracks and too many other animals to bump into. Makes it difficult to stay on a track for miles and get a shot.
 
I have done tracking hunts for eland in Botswana and Namibia. If I were booking today I would likely book with Bokamoso in Botswana.
 
As usual this forum is full of helpful people. Thanks for the suggestions! I had been considering Mozambique or Namibia. I hadn’t really looked at Botswana but I will now.

I now have a few specific outfitters in Botswana and Mozambique to look at. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for free range areas in Namibia ?
 
Zimbabwe has 2 eland subspecies, HUGE specimens and you'll also find big bushbuck along the river systems in the same general hunting areas. Son and I both got "giant" blue bulls and big bushbucks on different hunts/locales in Zim. All were walking/stalking/tracking hunts. The big bushbuck was collected stalking through a huge fruit plantation (on a Sunday when no workers were present) by myself, when the crew were setting up leopard baits for another hunter still in-camp. This was my first (trophy) animal collected in Zim 20 yrs ago, by myself. I did shoot some impala as camp meat prior.
 

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I have had two incredible Eland hunts on foot tracking. Zimbabwe and Mozambique, both free range in huge areas. It's a great hunt, one of my favorites. Both hunts Makore Safaris, one with Gary in Zim, the other with Doug from Moz.
 
Namibia. Free range. Tracked a mile but average was over 10 miles for our group probably.
 
They can really mill about and cover a lot of ground, lots of walking, super fun, and don't be afraid to use a large rifle. One of my big bulls took a 416 rigby 350gr Barnes solid, took a few ribs and the offside shoulder bone and did not exit. They are big, tough critters. Poke a big enough hole through both lungs though and they drown as fast as anything else. Be sure to use a good bullet. One might ask why I had a solid up the pipe,....was stalking a grysbok, it took off, realized the incoming Eland spooked it and immediately switched over to an Eland hunt, didn't want to risk making noise with rifle action,....3 hours later, had a big bull on the ground. Eland are very aware of what is going on in their surroundings.
 
Canadaboy said:
As usual this forum is full of helpful people. Thanks for the suggestions! I had been considering Mozambique or Namibia. I hadn’t really looked at Botswana but I will now.

I now have a few specific outfitters in Botswana and Mozambique to look at. Does anyone have any specific recommendations for free range areas in Namibia ?
Click to expand...

The Otavi area. As mentioned above, Jamy would be a great place to start.
 
Took mine in the NW corner of the Niassa Reserve, Moz. Incredible wilderness area called Lipilichi. I believe you can still hunt there. The wildest place I've been and an amazing area to track Eland. Good luck
 
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