Help Choosing the location for my first Cape buffalo hunt

Good day Mr @DaBill
We are situated in the lowveld of South Africa and we offer top quality Cape Buffalo hunts. Our hunting areas is big and we will be able to offer what youre looking for.
I will be sending you a DM.

Kind regards
Derian & Johlene
 
I'd go to Zimbabwe and hunt with CMS, @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS or Mokore safaris

Expect to pay around $19,000. Add flights, tips and extras and it's $23,000 or thereabouts

Anytime from late May to early Oct is good
 
For a truly wild experience with both Buffalo and plains game, I would look at Nyakasanga in Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley, or the Upper Luangwa River valley in Zambia. One of my best buffalo hunts was in Dande, but plains game is pretty limited there.
 
I'd go to Zimbabwe and hunt with CMS, @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS or Mokore safaris

Expect to pay around $19,000. Add flights, tips and extras and it's $23,000 or thereabouts

Anytime from late May to early Oct is good
Well said. My first hunt and I wanted all the above of what the original poster wants. Truly wild area and tracking. I knew I wanted the Zambezi valley or thick Jess.

But it really ended up being a coin flip between mokore and CMS back then. I knew I couldn't go wrong with either. Dalton and York have entered that space for consideration aswell now.

Also. After my first day, I quickly realized too, I enjoyed tracking dagga boys immensely over following herds.
 
This is great information. I see a pattern starting to form and I hope more people start to weigh in on this thread. Seems like it would be important to all of us! Ive also heard from a number of outfitters/PH's which is much appreciated. I could only imagine how tough it would be to navigate this type of trip and experience without the community here on AH. As more people join in if you would elaborate a little more about your experience with outfitters/ph's etc and the area you hunted in it would be most helpful. Approximate prices also helps. Thanks to all of you!
 
Nyakasanga in Zimbabwe is about tops, with CMS. There is nothing that comes close to the Zambezi Valley.
 
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A lot will also depend on the size you want. Rowland Ward Record Book or a just a buffalo? I too am looking, but I am only interested in Record Book size which limits locations.

Save and BVC in Zimbabwe both have fences, but you will never see them.

I'd go to Zimbabwe and hunt with CMS, @DALTON & YORK SAFARIS or Mokore safaris

Expect to pay around $19,000. Add flights, tips and extras and it's $23,000 or thereabouts

Anytime from late May to early Oct is good
For few thousand more, you could get a hunt in Western Tanzania. Easy flight into Dar, scheduled flight to the west and a drive from there. The Selous has costly charters involved.

Mozambique would also be a good area, but there you don’t want to drive anywhere and could run up your overall cost.
 
Here’s what’s important to me:

  • Large, continuous property (not multiple small properties added together to appear bigger)
  • Free-range preferred, or if fenced then no internal fencing
  • Fair-chase hunting on foot with self-sustaining herds
  • Scenic and wild-feeling environment
  • Comfortable but authentic accommodations
  • Mild weather for hunting
  • Experienced PH with a strong reputation and track record on Cape buffalo
I’m open to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, or other Southern African countries if they offer a better overall experience.

Could those of you with experience please share your thoughts on:

  1. Best countries/regions for this style of hunt
  2. Outfitters or concessions that match these criteria
  3. Typical pricing ranges for a Cape buffalo hunt that meets these requirements
  4. Best time of year for weather and scenery
I’d really appreciate hearing from those who have hunted in similar conditions. Recommendations backed by first-hand experience are especially valuable.

We all (I mean most of us) count our buffalo in single-digit numbers. I personally hunted only one. So, our experience is limited. I wish I had hunted buffalo in all countries, multiple times, but financially and time-wise for me, this is impossible. So, my advice, will be limited. I hunted in Caprivi, northeastern tip of Namibia, and I am more than happy with the experience. But what is great for me does not mean it will be great for you. And with one buffalo, I am hardly an expert.
But, passing this route searching for buffalo for me, I can give some different guidelines that may help.

I think that you should answer this question first.
In what type of terrain do you want to hunt buffalo?
Longer shot at flood plains, or Savannah, or bush? This is a different hunt!

When you determine that, then focus your research in that direction, and shorten the list to several reputable outfitters. On YT - There are many hunts on buffalo in the bush, and many hunts on buffalo on the flood plains of the Zambezi delta in Mozambique, or Caprivi.
So compare them, and then decide your preference.

Pricing South Africa.
Buffalo cow, South Africa - you can get for 4.000 USD, buffalo bull 10-15.000 USD.
In South Africa, sometimes they charge by inch of horn, up to 36 inches, you can get for less than 10.000 USD

Other countries:
No fence, communal land or govt concession, consider 15.000 USD to 20.000 USD, for buffalo bull. Could be more. Day rates for DG hunts in such areas go high, while trophy fees are reasonably low. So, the total price will depend on how many days you book. And in my opinion, the minimum days to book is as per the recommendation of the outfitter. You can book more. But if you shoot your buffalo first day, what will you do for next 9 days? Have extra money for some plains game of opportunity

Trophy exportability:
If the export of trophies is important, then those above are rough pricing guidelines.
If experience is priority (not a trophy on the wall), then non-exportable, own-use buffalo can be found much cheaper in wild areas. Sometimes up to 50% less. But those offers do not come regularly; they pop up from time to time in irregular intervals.
 
Hi everyone,

I’m starting to plan my first African safari, and my main focus will be Cape buffalo. If time and budget allow, I’d also like to take some plains game. While South Africa seems the most convenient from a travel and logistics standpoint, I want the full, traditional experience — fair chase in a truly wild setting.

Here’s what’s important to me:

  • Large, continuous property (not multiple small properties added together to appear bigger)
  • Free-range preferred, or if fenced then no internal fencing
  • Fair-chase hunting on foot with self-sustaining herds
  • Scenic and wild-feeling environment
  • Comfortable but authentic accommodations
  • Mild weather for hunting
  • Experienced PH with a strong reputation and track record on Cape buffalo
I’m open to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, or other Southern African countries if they offer a better overall experience.

Could those of you with experience please share your thoughts on:

  1. Best countries/regions for this style of hunt
  2. Outfitters or concessions that match these criteria
  3. Typical pricing ranges for a Cape buffalo hunt that meets these requirements
  4. Best time of year for weather and scenery
I’d really appreciate hearing from those who have hunted in similar conditions. Recommendations backed by first-hand experience are especially valuable.

Thanks in advance for your help — I’m looking forward to learning from your insights.
Zimbabwe is great but it sounds to me like you’re the type of guy who will end up hunting Tanzania, Zambia or Botswana someday anyway so why not start with one of those? Nathan @BULLET SAFARIS responded and he would be a great one. I’ve hunted with him and had a great trip. He and his PHs hunt hard, which is what I like.

If something doesn’t work out with Nathan, I can suggest other great operators and places. I saw some giant buffalo in Botswana on my elephant hunt and in Zambia and Mozambique as well. The Niassa Reserve in Mozambique has great buffalo but the recent unrest there would need to end before I would consider going back there right now. Good luck in your search.
 
Following post - interested in topic and responses. Just retired last Friday and have a new double 450/400 N.E. with the itch for future first African Safari targeting Cape Buffalo.
Congratulations on your retirement (y)
 
Congratulations on your retirement (y)
Thanks @Slideshow - retirement not suken in yet but looking forward to new journey in life. At some point in the next 2 years want to go on simliar trip as described by @DaBill thus following thread. Thanks AH community and great information for all following post. Wondering what terrian and area is best to be up close range since want to use a 450/400 N.E. double open sights. Will also bring a scoped 375H&H rifle but really want to use the double.
 

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