Educate me on Zimbabwe

[bigger is better]

Tread starter is from USA = probably no problem. But in Europe air companies is given the task to avoid weapons be brought from Europe to Zimbabwe. So if you travel with weapons you cant have connected flight from Europe to Zimbabwe. And at the airport in Europe you can be served an innocent question about where you gona hunt, you cant tell anything about Zimbabwe.

The EU have a ban on Firearms to Zimbabwe but its only military type arms.No restrictions on hunting arms!

 

[375Fox]

The EU have a ban on Firearms to Zimbabwe but its only military type arms.No restrictions on hunting arms!

Where are you from? The airlines seem to very much disagree. You can ask any European. They cannot take their rifles directly to Zimbabwe or have it on their itinerary. I’m glad there’s no issue from US.

 

[bigger is better]

Where are you from? The airlines seem to very much disagree. You can ask any European. They cannot take their rifles directly to Zimbabwe or have it on their itinerary. I’m glad there’s no issue from US.

Live in Europe and myself and several friends have imported Hunting Firearms into Zimbabwe.
Yes there are several airlines that will not handle Firearms but several will.
On arrival in Zim.you will need to fill out a form in dupilicate (FR 20) this will enable you to obtain a Temporary Import Permit.You will then be granted a Licence for your firearm.To get the permit you will need your Passport and proof of ownership of the firearm eg. your National permit/licence.
There is no charge for the permit.

 

[375Fox]

Live in Europe and myself and several friends have imported Hunting Firearms into Zimbabwe.
Yes there are several airlines that will not handle Firearms but several will.
On arrival in Zim.you will need to fill out a form in dupilicate (FR 20) this will enable you to obtain a Temporary Import Permit.You will then be granted a Licence for your firearm.To get the permit you will need your Passport and proof of ownership of the firearm eg. your National permit/licence.
There is no charge for the permit.

And you flew directly into Zimbabwe from Europe with rifles? It doesn’t affect me in the US, but what you are saying isn’t the information other members have said or outfitters dealing with European clients trying to bring their rifles.

 

[Russ16]

I did this same research last year. My interest was primarily Buffalo and I wanted a real wild area. What I settled on for my desired experience and budget is Dande with CMS. I’ll be there in August and will write a report.

If you’re going to SCI email Buzz ahead of time and let him know what you’re interested in. Then get there as soon as the show opens one morning. His booth gets very busy.

Dalton and York have a great reputation and I’m considering them for an elephant in 2028. Right now CMS is still in the lead but I’m tempted to try to see another area besides Dande.

As others have said plains game aren’t as plentiful in Dande and Buzz is up front about that. As he says it isn’t a “whack and stack” but you will find a few animals and have a good chance at them with some real hunting. Which is what I’m interested in.

I’ve heard great things about Mokore as well as Dave Langerman. If I decide to do leopard instead of elephant in 2028 I’ll be going with one of them in Mozambique, probably Dave. I spent a lot of time with him at DSC and he was great.

 

[mark-hunter]

The EU have a ban on Firearms to Zimbabwe but its only military type arms.No restrictions on hunting arms!

There was a recent case when German hunters have been detained in Frankfurt, trying to board the plane with hunting rifle for safari in Zim.

If any European on the forum travelled to ZIm in last year, please share your experience.

BTW I rented the rifle last year in Zim, to avoid hassle travelling with firearms there.

I made quick search and this is AI.
The European Union maintains an active arms embargo on Zimbabwe, which has been in place since February 2002 and was most recently renewed in February 2025, to remain in force until at least February 20, 2026. This embargo prohibits the sale, supply, or transfer of arms and related material, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and equipment.

Key details regarding the EU firearm restrictions to Zimbabwe:
Scope of the Ban: The restrictions specifically target equipment that could be used for "internal repression".

Impact on Hunters: The embargo, along with related restrictions by the UK and Canada, significantly impacts hunters travelling from Europe to Zimbabwe.

Airline Restrictions: Many European and British airlines will refuse to carry firearms on direct flights to Zimbabwe.

Transit Prohibitions: Countries like The Netherlands will not issue transit permits for firearms being transported from the EU to Zimbabwe.

Alternative Routing: To bring hunting firearms, it is necessary to arrange separate tickets, with a stop in a non-EU country (such as Johannesburg, South Africa) and clear firearms there first.

Current Status: In February 2025, the EU delisted the last remaining entity, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), from its targeted sanctions list but maintained the overall arms embargo.

Recommendation: Anyone planning to transport firearms from the EU to Zimbabwe should check with their airline and consult the EU Sanctions Map before travelling to ensure compliance.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus
Austria

Defence-related products - firearms

www.bmwet.gv.at

In order to avoid problems with customs when exporting, hunters and sport shooters are kindly advised to obtain information on the current legal situation in due time before the planned (even temporary) transport of weapons to embargoed countries, especially to Russia and to Zimbabwe.

 

[bigger is better]

And you flew directly into Zimbabwe from Europe with rifles? It doesn’t affect me in the US, but what you are saying isn’t the information other members have said or outfitters dealing with European clients trying to bring their rifles.

Like many in Europe I used to believe that as well.Then I looked at the 2002 E.U. prohibition and clearly refers to "military arms and equipment".Have a look at AH site regarding hunting regulations in African states.Its there in black and white!

 

[mark-hunter]

Have a look at AH site regarding hunting regulations in African states

Old and obsolete. 2008.
Things change.

What we need is a European hunter who travelled directly from EU to Zim with rifle last year to share his experience here.

 

[rookhawk]

I’ve got an itch to hunt Zimbabwe. I’m sure there are a lot of members here with lots of experience in that country. I see plenty of YouTube videos with various outfitters hunting in some of the more renowned locations like the nuanetsi , nakasanga, the Omay, the dande, and matetsi. My question is less about outfitters and more about the locations. I’d like to hear about the good and the bad. The difficulties of reaching the remote areas and the types and quality of game. Let’s hear about your experiences.

The coolest place in Zimbabwe would be past the escarpment in the Zambezi valley. This is hallow ground from the era of Selous and other great white hunters. The downside is that it is 5 days in/out to get there, a full day in a truck, and absolutely not conducive a brief 7-10 day safari. The other downside is that the elephant are on the small size and there are certain species that don't exist in the valley. (e.g. Giraffe)

Western Zim from Matopas to Tuli up north to Matetsi and the Hwange corridor is excellent for huge elephant and good kudu.

In the East/Southeast you're getting close to Kruger and not far from Ghonarazhou which is excellent.

For buffalo, its pretty hard to top the Save conservancy.

Basically, every place in Zim is special for some form of hunting other than the Eastern Highlands. I've had the pleasure to hunt all the regions and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Nhoro]

I’ve got an itch to hunt Zimbabwe. I’m sure there are a lot of members here with lots of experience in that country. I see plenty of YouTube videos with various outfitters hunting in some of the more renowned locations like the nuanetsi , nakasanga, the Omay, the dande, and matetsi. My question is less about outfitters and more about the locations. I’d like to hear about the good and the bad. The difficulties of reaching the remote areas and the types and quality of game. Let’s hear about your experiences.

I live in Zim and have camped and hunted all over the country. I have filmed for wildlife documentaries and filmed hunting. Nuanetsi is amazing-huge numbers of plainsgame,leopard and buffalo. Some unusual zim animals like Nyala are common. I also saw bushpig and honey badgers during the day so wild and game is not used to people. Same for Bubye conservancy which is just across the road. I take my family to hunt in Save Valley. Still a fair number of animals and plenty of elephant. From Harare airport, these areas are 5-7 hrs by road. The Zambezi Valley is roughly 6- 8 hrs by road, nyakasanga about 6 and Chwore Dande about 8- 10 maybe. Roads are bead now after the rains. Great plainsgmae at NYakasanga and elephant and buffalo across all THE Valley. Hwange area is best accessed via Victoria falls Airport and hunting areas are 3hrs from the airport. Okay is about 6 hrs road + 2 hrs by boat. If you gave me a better idea on what animals you want, I could advise you on areas and operators. For example hippo and cross, you would want to be on Lake Kariba or Zambezi River. Nyala would be nuanetsi or Save Valley. Buffalo in most places.

 

[Russ16]

The coolest place in Zimbabwe would be past the escarpment in the Zambezi valley. This is hallow ground from the era of Selous and other great white hunters. The downside is that it is 5 days in/out to get there, a full day in a truck, and absolutely not conducive a brief 7-10 day safari. The other downside is that the elephant are on the small size and there are certain species that don't exist in the valley. (e.g. Giraffe)

Western Zim from Matopas to Tuli up north to Matetsi and the Hwange corridor is excellent for huge elephant and good kudu.

In the East/Southeast you're getting close to Kruger and not far from Ghonarazhou which is excellent.

For buffalo, its pretty hard to top the Save conservancy.

Basically, every place in Zim is special for some form of hunting other than the Eastern Highlands. I've had the pleasure to hunt all the regions and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Who holds the concession on the area you’re referencing and what’s it called? I would assume an air charter could cut tha travel time some.

Sounds intriguing!

 

[SRvet]

The EU have a ban on Firearms to Zimbabwe but its only military type arms.No restrictions on hunting arms!

This is not the case. Import of all firearms is illegal regardless of route of travel.

 

[Lancaster]

I hunted Dande in 2024 loved it. I think most of those Zambezi valley areas are hard hunting, how I like it. I was told Nyakasanga has more open areas and more plains game.
For tuskless allow at least 10 days if Dande. It was a 6 hour drive from Harare (which we flew into) which was fine.

As others have mentioned there are lots of hunting areas accessible via a 2-8 hour drive or short charter flight from Vic Falls airport.

 

[Lancaster]

I appreciate and enjoyed reading all your responses. It’s great for a novice like me to have found a forum with so much experience and knowledge.
I’ll be at SCI in a few weeks. I’m planning to talk to Guav Johnson, CMS, and Roger Whittall. Any other recommendations? Maybe Dave Langerman?

For tuskless I think Zambezi valley is a given so key is CMS and @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS

 

[Lancaster]

There was a recent case when German hunters have been detained in Frankfurt, trying to board the plane with hunting rifle for safari in Zim.

If any European on the forum travelled to ZIm in last year, please share your experience.

BTW I rented the rifle last year in Zim, to avoid hassle travelling with firearms there.

I made quick search and this is AI.
The European Union maintains an active arms embargo on Zimbabwe, which has been in place since February 2002 and was most recently renewed in February 2025, to remain in force until at least February 20, 2026. This embargo prohibits the sale, supply, or transfer of arms and related material, including weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and equipment.

Key details regarding the EU firearm restrictions to Zimbabwe:
Scope of the Ban: The restrictions specifically target equipment that could be used for "internal repression".

Impact on Hunters: The embargo, along with related restrictions by the UK and Canada, significantly impacts hunters travelling from Europe to Zimbabwe.

Airline Restrictions: Many European and British airlines will refuse to carry firearms on direct flights to Zimbabwe.

Transit Prohibitions: Countries like The Netherlands will not issue transit permits for firearms being transported from the EU to Zimbabwe.

Alternative Routing: To bring hunting firearms, it is necessary to arrange separate tickets, with a stop in a non-EU country (such as Johannesburg, South Africa) and clear firearms there first.

Current Status: In February 2025, the EU delisted the last remaining entity, the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), from its targeted sanctions list but maintained the overall arms embargo.

Recommendation: Anyone planning to transport firearms from the EU to Zimbabwe should check with their airline and consult the EU Sanctions Map before travelling to ensure compliance.
Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus
Austria

Defence-related products - firearms

www.bmwet.gv.at

In order to avoid problems with customs when exporting, hunters and sport shooters are kindly advised to obtain information on the current legal situation in due time before the planned (even temporary) transport of weapons to embargoed countries, especially to Russia and to Zimbabwe.

That's probably the same Germans (2023) who our outfitter told us got a 40,000 Euro fine and lost their gun licences. When @SRvet and I looked into it there was no way round it. We were told some used to risk going via Jo'burg and claim that was their final destination but it wasn't worth the risk esp with electronic gates coming in

Even though the UK have left the EU they have kept this embargo in place

 

[mark-hunter]

We were told some used to risk going via Jo'burg and claim that was their final destination but it wasn't worth the risk esp with electronic gates coming in

I decided the same, and went with rental rifle.

 

[Tanner Lee]

I have a few basic questions about ZIM.

What are the average day rates? Plains Game? Dangerous Game?

Are there any company’s that provide the same kind of firearms import support like in South Africa?

 

[Russ16]

I have a few basic questions about ZIM.

What are the average day rates? Plains Game? Dangerous Game?

Are there any company’s that provide the same kind of firearms import support like in South Africa?

My research shows a wide variety of daily rates. And they can change depending on the species including some of the rarer plans game. It is best to talk to each outfitter about what their total package cost will be.

 

[375Fox]

I have a few basic questions about ZIM.

What are the average day rates? Plains Game? Dangerous Game?

Are there any company’s that provide the same kind of firearms import support like in South Africa?

Probably $1000-$1500 standard day rates built around a buffalo hunt. There aren’t many plains game hunts in Zimbabwe. The quota of buffalo in a concession area will typically exceed that of kudu or zebra, so hunts are built around DG with PG taken as opportunity and quota allows. There are hunts built around sable in some areas but still +/- $1000/day. I’ve seen some PG hunting available in opportunities in Save and southern Zimbabwe, but the country is primarily a dangerous game hunting destination for elephant, leopard, buffalo.

 

[375Fox]

I have a few basic questions about ZIM.

What are the average day rates? Plains Game? Dangerous Game?

Are there any company’s that provide the same kind of firearms import support like in South Africa?

The firearm permit is issued on arrival in Zimbabwe. There’s no cost but you need to be patient. Hopefully your outfitter arranged for a helper behind security for you.