Hunting Zimbabwe Matetsi Safari Area
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I have visited parts of the Matetsi Safari Area however have not hunted there, I think we have all heard good things about it and particularly more so for Buffalo. The Matetsi Safari Area is big and comprised of many hunting concessions operated by various hunting outfitters and professional hunters, the hunting can be much different from one concession to another, so selecting the right outfitter in your chosen hunting area for your quarry is important. Once you have selected a couple of outfitters, contacting many recent references is the most important thing you can do. Some concessions and areas in Zimbabwe have had their game resources poorly managed over the years and trophy Buffalo severely depleted.
Here are some general info about Matetsi Safari Area
Probably Zimbabwe’s oldest and best known hunting safari area, bordering Botswana the Matetsi Safari Area is situated north west of Zimbabwe about an hour drive south east of Victoria Falls. Matetsi is a collection of state owned safari areas divided into seven units, six of which are used for hunting. It is known to be an excellent area for Lion as well as Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Sable, Waterbuck and other plains game.
The game rich Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest national game reserve totaling some 14,650 square kilometers (5,600 square miles), together with Matetsi Safari Area, Kazuma National Park, Zambezi National Park and Pandamasui Forest Area all combine form one of Africa’s largest unspoiled wilderness areas over 20,000 square kilometers (7,700 square miles) in extent.
Zimbabwe Hunting Area - Matetsi Safari Area
Hwange National Park
Named after a local Nhanzwa chief, Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14,650 square kilometers (5,600 square miles). It is located in the north west corner of the country. It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior king Mzilikazi in the early 19th Century and was set aside as a National Park in 1929. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The Elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park’s Elephant population is one of the largest in the world.
Kazuma National Park
Situated in the north west corner of Zimbabwe between Kazungula and Hwange National Park and south-west of Victoria Falls, the Kazuma Pan National Park is 31,300 hectares (77,344 acres) in extent. The Park which is an extension of the Matetsi Safari Area was developed to be a refuge for the animals during the hunting season.
Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Park
Victoria Falls and Zambezi National Parks are situated on the western tip of Zimbabwe. The Falls, known by the local Kololo tribe as Mosi oa Tunya - The Smoke that Thunders, is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls on earth. Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park cover an area of 56,000 hectares (138,379 acres). The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Leopard and White Rhinoceros. In addition, herds of Sable Antelope, Eland, Zebra, Giraffe, Kudu, Waterbuck and Impala as well as many of the smaller species of game can be viewed. The Zambezi River is home to a large variety of fish and is famous for its bream and fighting tiger fish.
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