Cost to Hunt Elephant

[thoma018]

Please pardon my lack of knowledge on the subject but I would appreciate clarification and opinion on why I can find a "tusked" 10 day ele hunt for 75k and yet another for 22k ?
I've never been to Africa and only know what I read (here mostly). Some day I would like to go there and experience safari, plains and dangerous game--I do find all the options to hunt so many different species in so many different places under so many different circumstances quite confusing. Please comment on this also if willing but primarily why/how could there be so much difference in an ele hunt ? One is advertised here on the forum and one on the worldwide web and has a 3 letter organization name (I don't think I'm suppose to mention/name "outside vendors")
Thanks, will read with interest.

 

[samson7x]

I'm new to African hunting but have learned quite a bit from researching. What you've seen could be explained by exportable vs non exportable and some countries are simply more expensive to hunt than others due to management system in place, quota, etc. For example, a Botswana 80lbs bull will be much more expensive than a management non exportable Moz bull.

 

[dogcat1]

Depends on if the tusks are exportable or not. Non exportable is considerably cheaper.

Further, prime concessions require higher costs. In hunting, as in life, you normally get what you pay for.

 

[wesheltonj]

Not an elephant hunters, but my two cents. (1) exportable v non-exportable (2) country (3) location within said country (4) own use (non-exportable) (5) profit.

 

[mark-hunter]

Please pardon my lack of knowledge on the subject but I would appreciate clarification and opinion on why I can find a "tusked" 10 day ele hunt for 75k and yet another for 22k ?

You can get: exportable or non exportable elephant.
Once you get non-exportable, you can make replica tusks in plastic, and ship them home.
But non exportable ele drops the price.

Then it is exportability per country.
As per Cites convention, to Europe you can export only from Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. In general, where legally huntable, in Cites - non exportable countries prices will be cheaper.

Finally it is the size of tusks.
30 pound tusk is one thing, and 80 pound tusk is another. 80 pound you will pay.
Most likely, Botswana will be most expensive with biggest ivory in average.

Then you have premium areas and premium outfitters (consider like 5 star venues), and less good areas with less known outfitters.
5 star restaurant is not same as 3 star restaurant.

 

[RLD]

Then you have premium areas and premium outfitters (consider like 5 star venues), and less good areas with less known outfitters.
5 star restaurant is not same as 3 star restaurant.

I think you and I should start a business going to these places and rating them like the Michelin star system. Then we could get paid to go hunting...

 

[mark-hunter]

I think you and I should start a business going to these places and rating them like the Michelin star system. Then we could get paid to go hunting...

Absolutely!
We just need sponsor!

(add to this, testing fine guns, to expand the service offers!)

 

[mark-hunter]

-I do find all the options to hunt so many different species in so many different places under so many different circumstances quite confusing.

Farm hunting, fenced.
Farm hunting, unfenced.
Hunting in safari areas, wilderness.

 

[uplander01]

All good info here so far. I am looking into the same thing and the few guys I've talked to don't really have any interest in working with my parameters. For example. I don't care where the hunt is because I don't want to pay for any ivory or ship anything back, I would like to shoot an old at the end of his life tuskless bull or at least one that is old at the end of his life and perhaps all broken off and no rich guys want to shoot it because of the lack of ivory. I'm willing to walk 15-20 miles a day if I have too. When I say all this to the few guys I've talked to it feels like I'm trying to charter a spaceship and coordinate a Mars landing. Evidently there are enough people that have the money to really go on a elephant hunt and spend a fortune,....if I was a PH I'd prefer working with those guys too.

 

[375Fox]

The simple answer would be expected trophy size then the country, the outfitter, the area, and exportable status will factor into the pricing. I’ll compare options in Zimbabwe. The highest priced hunts will come from areas proven to produce big bulls and also from outfitters with recognizable names that have earned their reputations. Hunts in areas that are more wild that have limited villages and people that still have good buffalo and PG can also charge more. The lowest cost hunts will occur in areas that produce average or less than average tusks and elephants are practically the only animals left and possibly move through seasonally. Expect to see a lot of farms, livestock, and people on these lowest priced hunts. You might also find pricing exceptions at end of season or after an unsuccessful hunter.

 

[dchum]

All good info here so far. I am looking into the same thing and the few guys I've talked to don't really have any interest in working with my parameters. For example. I don't care where the hunt is because I don't want to pay for any ivory or ship anything back, I would like to shoot an old at the end of his life tuskless bull or at least one that is old at the end of his life and perhaps all broken off and no rich guys want to shoot it because of the lack of ivory. I'm willing to walk 15-20 miles a day if I have too. When I say all this to the few guys I've talked to it feels like I'm trying to charter a spaceship and coordinate a Mars landing. Evidently there are enough people that have the money to really go on a elephant hunt and spend a fortune,....if I was a PH I'd prefer working with those guys too.

Just got hunt a tuskless cow in zim? Can be had for cheaper than buffalo. Tuskless bull hunting is not really a thing. That is a very rare animal.

Not sure who you have spoken too that brushed you off? But there is lots of non exportable elephant hunts for old Tuskless cows and non trophy bulls. Offered on this very website

“No rich guy wants to shoot it”. Perhaps change your attitude and thought process on that. Not really sure what you’re getting at.

 

[375Fox]

All good info here so far. I am looking into the same thing and the few guys I've talked to don't really have any interest in working with my parameters. For example. I don't care where the hunt is because I don't want to pay for any ivory or ship anything back, I would like to shoot an old at the end of his life tuskless bull or at least one that is old at the end of his life and perhaps all broken off and no rich guys want to shoot it because of the lack of ivory. I'm willing to walk 15-20 miles a day if I have too. When I say all this to the few guys I've talked to it feels like I'm trying to charter a spaceship and coordinate a Mars landing. Evidently there are enough people that have the money to really go on an elephant hunt and spend a fortune,....if I was a PH I'd prefer working with those guys too.

There are 12 day bull hunts offered on this site for $18500? How much lower do you think the hunts should be? Most areas don’t get a trophy and a non-trophy quota. They get a bull quota. Selling a non-trophy at a discount on a limited quota doesn’t make sense for a business in decent area. The areas that get true non-trophy quota are often very good areas that have good bull genetics, so still not cheapest hunt. “Non-trophy” hunts are also conducted on trophy quota in areas unlikely to produce old or big bulls but have a high population. Areas adjacent Kruger get sized restricted bulls that are a good value at moment. I agree with @dchum you need to get a different attitude. If you want to hunt an elephant bull there are options, but if you already decided it’s only for “rich guys” then there will probably not be an opportunity for you.

 

[mark-hunter]

All good info here so far. I am looking into the same thing and the few guys I've talked to don't really have any interest in working with my parameters. For example. I don't care where the hunt is because I don't want to pay for any ivory or ship anything back, I would like to shoot an old at the end of his life tuskless bull or at least one that is old at the end of his life and perhaps all broken off and no rich guys want to shoot it because of the lack of ivory. I'm willing to walk 15-20 miles a day if I have too. When I say all this to the few guys I've talked to it feels like I'm trying to charter a spaceship and coordinate a Mars landing. Evidently there are enough people that have the money to really go on a elephant hunt and spend a fortune,....if I was a PH I'd prefer working with those guys too.

Mars landing?
I dont know anybody in my wider circle even having an idea to hunt elephant.
Average hunter in my small country, does not even think about it.
Elephant?
Same like hunting on Mars.
So do not get influenced by those uninterested.

Just book the hunt, and go.

Tuskless bull you will hardly find, but tuskless cow is regular Zimbabwe offer. And the cheapest elephant hunt available.
It is also the most dangerous hunt of all DG hunts, as per consensus on this forum.

Thread 'Let's settle this! Africa's most dangerous?'

Oct 13, 2025

What are Africa's most dangerous in your opinion and experience? I had only 10 options for the poll, so I had to limit the number of choices, but with more options I might include other options as well (female with young, night situations, provoked or non-provoked, mating season etc). So feel free to add comments reflecting on those situations as well.

• mark-hunter
• Replies: 89
• Forum: Hunting Africa

• 

 

[Tanks]

Tuskless bull you will hardly find, but tuskless cow is regular Zimbabwe offer. And the cheapest elephant hunt available.
It is also the most dangerous hunt of all DG hunts, as per consensus on this forum.

Yeah, trophy fee for a tuskless can be anything from $5K - $7K. Not to mention it is more of a challenge. If you don't care about the tusks, then that's the way to go.

 

[deewayne2003]

Yeah, trophy fee for a tuskless can be anything from $5K - $7K. Not to mention it is more of a challenge. If you don't care about the tusks, then that's the way to go.

Good advice - first African animal ever was a tuskless and it was a life changing experience.

As far as the $20-$75K price range; there are lots of variables and options…..

Same reason you can buy a Ford F150 for $50K-$100K

 

[Russ16]

Yeah, trophy fee for a tuskless can be anything from $5K - $7K. Not to mention it is more of a challenge. If you don't care about the tusks, then that's the way to go.

Not just the tusks though right? I don't think you can bring back any part of a tuskless elephant. I'd really like to have a gun case and other items made from the hide of one I shoot.

 

[Tanks]

Not just the tusks though right? I don't think you can bring back any part of a tuskless elephant. I'd really like to have a gun case and other items made from the hide of one I shoot.

Not true. You can bring back the skins, feet etc.. Just depends on the area you are hunting. Most outfitters also DO NOT charge you extra to get the skins.

 

[Hunt anything]

Go to the deals and offers category on this sight, just a quick glance produced a Zimbabwe bull elephant for less than $25,000 all in. Day rates, trophy fee and permits.
Probably more if you look deeper.

 

[Russ16]

Not true. You can bring back the skins, feet etc.. Just depends on the area you are hunting. Most outfitters also DO NOT charge you extra to get the skins.

Thank you. That's helpful. The one outfitter I spoke with said nothing was exportable. My mistake for not understanding.

 

[sgt_zim]

There are 12 day bull hunts offered on this site for $18500? How much lower do you think the hunts should be? Most areas don’t get a trophy and a non-trophy quota. They get a bull quota. Selling a non-trophy at a discount on a limited quota doesn’t make sense for a business in decent area. The areas that get true non-trophy quota are often very good areas that have good bull genetics, so still not cheapest hunt. “Non-trophy” hunts are also conducted on trophy quota in areas unlikely to produce old or big bulls but have a high population. Areas adjacent Kruger get sized restricted bulls that are a good value at moment. I agree with @dchum you need to get a different attitude. If you want to hunt an elephant bull there are options, but if you already decided it’s only for “rich guys” then there will probably not be an opportunity for you.

Has the ZA government finally changed its stance on this, or are you talking SW Moz? Last I checked with my Limpopo PH a few months back, Timbavati and surrounding areas was still no ele hunting, not even for tuskless (which is pretty stupid if you ask me, especially given the ele population around there).