Country Nuance

[Wiley64]

Looking at my plans over the next couple of years, one more trip booked to RSA in 2027 to take care of some native species and then plan on going to a more remote destination. It’s really challenging to understand the differences between countries, and then it gets more complex when you start trying to evaluate best areas/concessions for specific species. I doubt I will ever go back and not hunt some kind of dg on my follow ups, especially buffalo. Can someone talk me through the biggest relevant differences in hunting zim, moz, Namibia & Botswana? I understand Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia can be quite costly but would like to hear your perspectives on all the options out there for folks who have done some or all of these hunts.

 

[Wiley64]

FYI yes I have read the safari info by countries sections, some of those threads are pretty dated

 

[dchum]

To help some experienced people give you sound advice, maybe give some info on what you will be looking for and what are your biggest wants.

That can help them break it down that way for you.

 

[Wiley64]

To help some experienced people give you sound advice, maybe give some info on what you will be looking for and what are your biggest wants.

That can help them break it down that way for you.

Good call! Buffalo and leopard!

 

[375Fox]

It would be a long list. I’ll try my best. I’ve hunted South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Uganda. Namibia and Zimbabwe have been my favorite countries to hunt.
Zimbabwe is about the method. It’s a tracking hunt. Most areas of country aren’t game rich and have a lot of predators. It creates a different mindset. Your PH and trackers expect a hunt that would be considered difficult in other countries. This makes them some of best to me. Camps are simple. You work for your trophies and leave with a modest bag usually.
Namibia is mainly a PG destination to me. The amount of space and size of ranches in country is really nice to see. You can combine a couple areas in a trip. There’s some DG in the NW (and massive desolate concessions) but most DG is in Caprivi. The Caprivi is really unique but it’s not the hard hunting like Zimbabwe. The community concessions have some good hunting but are on the small side compared to other countries. The park areas are the biggest and best concessions there.
Zambia can be expensive, but it’s not out of range compared to best areas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Zambia has a lot of safaris areas and really exceptional DG hunting, but a lot more PG than your usual Zimbabwe hunt. Also some really unique PG like the lechwes, puku, sitatunga, big sable, good roan.
Tanzania is pricey, but 10 day hunts come with 2 buffalo standard. Comparing one buffalo hunts in other countries it’s expensive. Compare a two buffalo hunt to other countries it becomes more economical. Selous is much cheaper than western Tanzania or massailand.
Cameroon is very different than Southern Africa. Some unique PG and savanna buffalo. It’s much more of an adventure.
Uganda can be expensive, but it depends again. Northern karamoja has a lot of buffalo and a spot and stalk hunt where you can look over a lot of bulls. Comparing a 2 buffalo hunt again it becomes more economical. Southern karamoja is a tracking hunt like elsewhere for buffalo and more PG than I’ve ever seen before.
I’d like to hunt Mozambique. The quality of areas and PG are really a draw. My only hesitation is getting trophies home. Most other countries have a fixed price (relatively inexpensive) dip and pack and direct export. You’ll pay to export your trophies from Mozambique to South Africa then pay full South African dip and pack costs before exporting again. It adds up in comparison to other countries.
Just to add this in for full comparison. I’ve had some fun hunts in South Africa. I enjoy hunting Eastern cape best but I think South Africa is primarily a PG destination or starter DG destination. The hunting is generally easy and it creates a different atmosphere (complacent in some cases). I’d compare it to taking an elk on a ranch in Texas hill country vs taking one in mountains in Wyoming.

 

[Doug3006]

I’ll talk about the 3 countries I’ve hunted DG in.

Zimbabwe: Probably the best value in DG hunting. There are numerous safari areas in the Zambezi Valley and most of them have excellent numbers of buffalo, leopard, elephant and lion. When you are hunting the Valley, you’re hunting real, wild Africa. The 2 gigantic hunting areas in Southern Zimbabwe are Save and Bubye. While both are fenced, at 750,000 and 850,000 respectively, that doesn’t matter. Both have plenty of buffalo and leopard. The professionalism of licensed Zimbabwe PHs can’t be overstated.

Zambia: While it is definitely pricey, Zambia has enormous concessions with excellent buffalo and maybe the best leopard hunting in Africa. Most of the hunting areas are remote and wild. That’s part of the reason they’re expensive. Plus, there are relatively few safari outfitters. If you want a leopard, you’ll pay more to hunt one in Zambia. But your odds are likely better there than anywhere else.

Namibia: Buffalo hunting in Namibia is limited to the Zambezi region (Caprivi) and the Waterberg National Park. Both options are expensive. Waterberg especially so. But, the cost of getting there is relatively low…no bush planes needed….so you should price all cost elements to compare with other options. Leopards occur in most areas. Ranch hunts in central Namibia are priced right and some outfitters have excellent track records. I took the leopard in my avatar in the Erongo region.

 

[Wiley64]

It would be a long list. I’ll try my best. I’ve hunted South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Uganda. Namibia and Zimbabwe have been my favorite countries to hunt.
Zimbabwe is about the method. It’s a tracking hunt. Most areas of country aren’t game rich and have a lot of predators. It creates a different mindset. Your PH and trackers expect a hunt that would be considered difficult in other countries. This makes them some of best to me. Camps are simple. You work for your trophies and leave with a modest bag usually.
Namibia is mainly a PG destination to me. The amount of space and size of ranches in country is really nice to see. You can combine a couple areas in a trip. There’s some DG in the NW (and massive desolate concessions) but most DG is in Caprivi. The Caprivi is really unique but it’s not the hard hunting like Zimbabwe. The community concessions have some good hunting but are on the small side compared to other countries. The park areas are the biggest and best concessions there.
Zambia can be expensive, but it’s not out of range compared to best areas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Zambia has a lot of safaris areas and really exceptional DG hunting, but a lot more PG than your usual Zimbabwe hunt. Also some really unique PG like the lechwes, puku, sitatunga, big sable, good roan.
Tanzania is pricey, but 10 day hunts come with 2 buffalo standard. Comparing one buffalo hunts in other countries it’s expensive. Compare a two buffalo hunt to other countries it becomes more economical. Selous is much cheaper than western Tanzania or massailand.
Cameroon is very different than Southern Africa. Some unique PG and savanna buffalo. It’s much more of an adventure.
Uganda can be expensive, but it depends again. Northern karamoja has a lot of buffalo and a spot and stalk hunt where you can look over a lot of bulls. Comparing a 2 buffalo hunt again it becomes more economical. Southern karamoja is a tracking hunt like elsewhere for buffalo and more PG than I’ve ever seen before.
I’d like to hunt Mozambique. The quality of areas and PG are really a draw. My only hesitation is getting trophies home. Most other countries have a fixed price (relatively inexpensive) dip and pack and direct export. You’ll pay to export your trophies from Mozambique to South Africa then pay full South African dip and pack costs before exporting again. It adds up in comparison to other countries.
Just to add this in for full comparison. I’ve had some fun hunts in South Africa. I enjoy hunting Eastern cape best but I think South Africa is primarily a PG destination or starter DG destination. The hunting is generally easy and it creates a different atmosphere (complacent in some cases). I’d compare it to taking an elk on a ranch in Texas hill country vs taking one in mountains in Wyoming.

This is super helpful- thank you

 

[Wiley64]

I’ll talk about the 3 countries I’ve hunted DG in.

Zimbabwe: Probably the best value in DG hunting. There are numerous safari areas in the Zambezi Valley and most of them have excellent numbers of buffalo, leopard, elephant and lion. When you are hunting the Valley, you’re hunting real, wild Africa. The 2 gigantic hunting areas in Southern Zimbabwe are Save and Bubye. While both are fenced, at 750,000 and 850,000 respectively, that doesn’t matter. Both have plenty of buffalo and leopard. The professionalism of licensed Zimbabwe PHs can’t be overstated.

Zambia: While it is definitely pricey, Zambia has enormous concessions with excellent buffalo and maybe the best leopard hunting in Africa. Most of the hunting areas are remote and wild. That’s part of the reason they’re expensive. Plus, there are relatively few safari outfitters. If you want a leopard, you’ll pay more to hunt one in Zambia. But your odds are likely better there than anywhere else.

Namibia: Buffalo hunting in Namibia is limited to the Zambezi region (Caprivi) and the Waterberg National Park. Both options are expensive. Waterberg especially so. But, the cost of getting there is relatively low…no bush planes needed….so you should price all cost elements to compare with other options. Leopards occur in most areas. Ranch hunts in central Namibia are priced right and some outfitters have excellent track records. I took the leopard in my avatar in the Erongo region.

Really want to see Zim! I’m a big hunting video geek and all those hunts look incredible

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I’ve hunted Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, and all the provinces in South Africa. I’ve never hunted Botswana but fished the Okavango Delta for several days.

Zim: Until recently (they added this 15.5% tax to the invoice total) was hands down the best value in DG hunting but is now inline with some of the surrounding countries. It’s a tougher hunt with much lower game densities, especially PG numbers. You’re going to track/earn it, and need to be prepared to not be super picky. Pricing is based on if you’re hunting Communal Land, Private Land, or Safaris Areas and within each type there’s a bit of a hierarchy with different prices. Personally, I’ve hunted Matetsi, Mataingwe, and Matopos. The Zambezi Valley is for sure on my list. It’s still probably the best value proposition for Elephant and Buffalo. Some areas of the country are known for giant Leopard but they’re tough to kill. Decide if you want a daylight only leopard or you’re okay with one at night.

Zambia: more expensive than Zim, but game is more plentiful and success rates on the cats are a bit higher. Hunting here also offer some unique PG species and often allows you to be a little more picky. The Luangwa Valley is a great area to consider for Buff and Leopard. Other areas of the country offer some spectacular hunting for select PG species.

Namibia: I rank Namibia above South Africa but in terms of wild areas it’s my least favorite, and I think it’s a little pricey for what you get. The major perk to Namibia is the chance of being offered an exportable PAC animal at a fraction of the price.

Mozambique: My experience is this is the most expensive of the options but it’s also the most game rich of them all (Coutada 11). I personally feel it justifies the costs. Without experiencing some other parts of Mozambique, I’ve got a hard time comment definitively, but if a Leopard was on my list Niassa has some of the highest success rates on the continent. My buffalo hunt was in the swamp here and was 100% an experience to remember. It’s also been my most difficult buffalo hunt yet.

I’ve never hunted Tanzania or Uganda, but both are on my list and more for PG than the DG. With Buffalo being on the license, I’ll hunt them but it’s not the focus of why I’d go there and hunt. Additionally I’m looking very hard at Cameroon/CAR but again it’s for PG (Lord Derby) more than DG.

I’ll 100% be back in Zim chasing elephants again, and back on Mozambique. Would love to hunt Zambia again but if/when I do it, PG will be the focus with maybe an opportunity buffalo.

 

[Wiley64]

I’ve hunted Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, and all the provinces in South Africa. I’ve never hunted Botswana but fished the Okavango Delta for several days.

Zim: Until recently (they added this 15.5% tax to the invoice total) was hands down the best value in DG hunting but is now inline with some of the surrounding countries. It’s a tougher hunt with much lower game densities, especially PG numbers. You’re going to track/earn it, and need to be prepared to not be super picky. Pricing is based on if you’re hunting Communal Land, Private Land, or Safaris Areas and within each type there’s a bit of a hierarchy with different prices. Personally, I’ve hunted Matetsi, Mataingwe, and Matopos. The Zambezi Valley is for sure on my list. It’s still probably the best value proposition for Elephant and Buffalo. Some areas of the country are known for giant Leopard but they’re tough to kill. Decide if you want a daylight only leopard or you’re okay with one at night.

Zambia: more expensive than Zim, but game is more plentiful and success rates on the cats are a bit higher. Hunting here also offer some unique PG species and often allows you to be a little more picky. The Luangwa Valley is a great area to consider for Buff and Leopard. Other areas of the country offer some spectacular hunting for select PG species.

Namibia: I rank Namibia above South Africa but in terms of wild areas it’s my least favorite, and I think it’s a little pricey for what you get. The major perk to Namibia is the chance of being offered an exportable PAC animal at a fraction of the price.

Mozambique: My experience is this is the most expensive of the options but it’s also the most game rich of them all (Coutada 11). I personally feel it justifies the costs. Without experiencing some other parts of Mozambique, I’ve got a hard time comment definitively, but if a Leopard was on my list Niassa has some of the highest success rates on the continent. My buffalo hunt was in the swamp here and was 100% an experience to remember. It’s also been my most difficult buffalo hunt yet.

I’ve never hunted Tanzania or Uganda, but both are on my list and more for PG than the DG. With Buffalo being on the license, I’ll hunt them but it’s not the focus of why I’d go there and hunt. Additionally I’m looking very hard at Cameroon/CAR but again it’s for PG (Lord Derby) more than DG.

I’ll 100% be back in Zim chasing elephants again, and back on Mozambique. Would love to hunt Zambia again but if/when I do it, PG will be the focus with maybe an opportunity buffalo.

The coutada 11 swamp buffalo hunt is one I am very interested in!