Tanzania vs Zambia vs Mozambique

[Huntforever]

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread dicussing the differences between Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. I would prefer to avoid the cost differences but more about the experience of the hunt, terrain, animals and trophy size. Just a fun thread on how the countries safari’s differ.

 

[cajunchefray]

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread dicussing the differences between Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique. I would prefer to avoid the cost differences but more about the experience of the hunt, terrain, animals and trophy size. Just a fun thread on how the countries safari’s differ.

Following with much interest.

 

[uplander01]

Very interested as well,….could have maybe included Botswana as well

 

[318AE]

Tanzania is a big place. The game and terrain vary quite a bit. I’ve only hunted the delta in Mozambique, but it looks very different than Niassa up north or the area on the far side of the Kruger (I’ve flown the length of the country). The country determines the license structure, minimum caliber laws etc, but that’s about it.

 

[wesheltonj]

I have not hunted Mozambique so I can't comment on that country. I have hunted Zambia and Tanzania.

Zambia has three type of hunts. (1) GMA - an open government concession, some are good and other are crap. (2) Private Conservancies - those are private land that may be fenced or unfenced. and (3) Private Ranch. I hunted a private Ranch - Takari the advantage was I was the only one there hunting.

Tanzania you have GCA's which the government bids out to operators. The down side is you share it with 1000's of people, cattle, sheep, goats and dogs plus cheap Chinese motorcycle everywhere (Maasai land). The Selous is more remote and less populated (at least for now). Western Tanzania is reasonably priced, does not require a charter and has lots of PG and DG and allegedly really big Buffalo.

 

[Doug3006]

I’ve only been to Zambia, but I’m trying mightily to get to either Tanzania or Mozambique next time. So….grain of salt time.

Cost is the obvious difference. Tanzania $$$$ - $$$$$. Zambia $$$-$$$$, Mozambique $$-$$$.

Tanzania has a number of unique biomes, including the Masai areas and the Selous. It’s one of the original African safari destinations and the industry is well established. It offers a number of species hunted nowhere else, especially in the case of the Masai areas. In-country travel is often prohibitively time consuming or prohibitively expensive. The Masai areas can be an exception to this. It’s easy to fly into Arusha and drive a few hours to camp. Reaching the Selous, Kilombero or Moyowasi really requires a bush flight, and in Tanzania, such flights are high priced. Pop used to tell me that sometimes stuff is expensive because it’s worth it. I believe this applies to Tanzania. Maybe some day……

Zambia is a close second in terms of cost. It doesn’t have as many rarities as Tanzania, but it has large, truly wild areas with unique biomes and awesome trophy quality. Big leopards and 40-something-inch Sable are there. The safari industry is on the smaller side, but reputable outfitters are easy to find. I have a very soft spot for the country since it was my first truly wild-Africa safari. I want to go back.

Mozambique is the new kid on the block, relatively speaking. It also has a variety of biomes from the Delta area, to Niassa to the midlands. In-country travel is not as expensive as the other two countries and operators often drive to their areas. Again, not as many unique species as Tanzania, but it has wild areas, and plenty of species. Now and then you hear concerning stories about missing trophy shipments, Visa complications and most concerning, terrorist activity in the north. However, pick a responsible outfit and follow their recommendations. I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt the Delta or southern regions. Niassa however needs to settle down before I’d hunt there.

There are several highly qualified operators who are also AH members. So fellows, keep me honest!

 

[Doug3006]

I should have mentioned….our own Jerome has provided us some useful information on all three countries. Find these in the Hunting Info by Country section on the home page.

 

[Scott CWO]

While not an expert, I have hunted three areas in Moz, three areas in Zambia, two areas in TZ and have another trip booked for two areas in TZ in 2027 for my son and a friend.

All are diverse. In northern Moz in the Niassa Reserve, you can hunt essentially the same animals as the the Selous in TZ for less money but now the terrorism there in northern Moz has caused problems. Many safaris there have been cancelled. In eastern Moz, the delta is very good, although the buffalo genetics there are a bit smaller. I have hunted the Niassa Reserve, the areas around Lake Cahora Bassa and Coutada 9. I enjoyed the Niassa and C9 the most. I've never hunted the delta but it is known to be great as well with indigenous nyala and suni available.

Zambia is wonderful and contains unique indigenous plains game species there that are hard or impossible to get elsewhere - puku, sitatunga, three different lechwe, yellow-backed duiker, etc... In addition, Zambia has awesome big maned lions, large leopards and huge sable.

Tanzania is also known for unique indigenous plains game species such as sitatunga, lesser kudu, gerenuk, Grant's gazelle, Robert's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle, Coke's hartebeest, and great cat and buffalo hunting.

I love the different plains game species and that is what has led me to these countries more than once.

As for costs, the areas with the big dark maned lions bordering Kafue National Park (Kasonso Busanga, Lunga Busanga, etc..) in Zambia are surpassing the most expensive lion safari areas in Tanzania. I learned today that Fico Vidale is fully booked for 2026 & 2027 at $200k for a lion safari. Ouch!

 

[Russ16]

Following with interest.

I’m curious if the conversation should be about countries or areas within them. It seems there is great difference between the areas.

I’m very curious about Zambia.

And very curious about elephant in all three including importation differences.

 

[Scott CWO]

Following with interest.

I’m curious if the conversation should be about countries or areas within them. It seems there is great difference between the areas.

I’m very curious about Zambia.

And very curious about elephant in all three including importation differences.

Generally, Elephants are easier to import from Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. However, some imports are now being approved for Tanzania, finally. Zambia is spotty but possible. I have not heard of elephants coming in from Moz yet but the Niassa Reserve has been approved for lion. I don't pretend to know all the details so it will be interesting to hear other info.

 

[375Fox]

I have not yet hunted Mozambique, but I have hunted Tanzania and Zambia. I’m booked to return to Zambia. Each country has a lot of concessions and a lot of land available. Some concessions are great and some marginal, you need to do your research wherever you go. All 3 countries would provide an amazing hunting experience.

The biggest draw to Tanzania for me is the massai species and multiple buffalo. Multiple buffalo in Tanzania on the same hunt is standard unlike other countries. However, I find the licensing structure the most limiting. There are several classes of licenses that permit certain species and not others. A standard 10 day license will allow two buffalo but only limited PG, so you have to be willing to make a trade off for the experience unless you are willing to upgrade hunt at a significant cost, but you can also upgrade to I think 4 buffalo in addition to premium PG.

The biggest draw for Zambia to me is the swamp species. Kafue lechwe, black lechwe, sitatunga, red lechwe. It also has some of best roan and sable in Africa both trophy quality and numbers. I like that areas are issued quota and the operator can offer it to clients at their discretion instead of the more strict licensing requirements of Mozambique or Tanzania. In NW Zambia, yellow back duiker and harnessed bushbuck is a really interesting opportunity. Zambia was probably the best hunt I’ve ever had. Huge GMA in the northern Kafue. Really exceptional PG quality then we saw lions, elephants, buffalo, hippo, croc, and others. Very wild area with no villages (hopefully still is).

I’d really like to see Mozambique to see the areas. Not having been to Mozambique I’m told it’s like going back in time compared to other African countries and the better areas are huge success stories. However, I find pre-buying individual species licenses and the costs to get trophies home from Mozambique causing me to look elsewhere. I’d prefer more clear cut costs. The biggest draws to Mozambique for me would be the huge crocs on cohorrra Bassa and hunting swamp buffalo in the delta along with nyala in their native habitat. It’s unfortunate roan is not on quota in Mozambique. Mozambique probably offers the most opportunity for hunters due to the number of South African and Zimbabwe PHs offering hunts there.

 

[Slickshooter]

I can only comment on the Selous in Tanzania.
The Selous hunting blocks I was in had no human traffic, no photo tourist vehicles, no agriculture, no domestic animals, no permanent structures, no planes flying overhead, literally nothing but the camp staff and wild game populations. In my 12 days there I was the only hunter in almost 750,000 acres of pristine African wilderness specifically set aside for world-class hunting.

 

[Huntforever]

I have not hunted Mozambique so I can't comment on that country. I have hunted Zambia and Tanzania.

Zambia has three type of hunts. (1) GMA - an open government concession, some are good and other are crap. (2) Private Conservancies - those are private land that may be fenced or unfenced. and (3) Private Ranch. I hunted a private Ranch - Takari the advantage was I was the only one there hunting.

Tanzania you have GCA's which the government bids out to operators. The down side is you share it with 1000's of people, cattle, sheep, goats and dogs plus cheap Chinese motorcycle everywhere (Maasai land). The Selous is more remote and less populated (at least for now). Western Tanzania is reasonably priced, does not require a charter and has lots of PG and DG and allegedly really big Buffalo.

I hunted Zambia last year and it was close to a GCA. An outfitter bids on the concession and works with the tribal chief and government. That’s my understanding. It was a great area.

Where would be the best area for plains game at the best price?

 

[Acopperdawg]

I can only comment on the Selous in Tanzania.
The Selous hunting blocks I was in had no human traffic, no photo tourist vehicles, no agriculture, no domestic animals, no permanent structures, no planes flying overhead, literally nothing but the camp staff and wild game populations. In my 12 days there I was the only hunter in almost 750,000 acres of pristine African wilderness specifically set aside for world-class hunting.

This is the exact same experience I had. The only plane we ever heard during the hunt was coming in to pick up two of our PHs that were leaving early.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I’ve hunted in all three locations and love them all. But Tanzania ranks as my favorite hunting location in all of Africa.

Amongst hunting spots in Tanzania, the Southern Sealous can never be matched if you’re looking for the truly ”Wild Africa” experience. Aside from copious amounts of game, much of the hunting areas can only be traversed if you cut a path through the foliage with a machete.

I highly recommend every aspiring Safari hunting to at least try for a hunt in the Southern Sealous someday. You’ll thank me. It’s not cheap, but worth every penny.

Ugalla Game Reserve and Fort Ikorongo also rank as my favorite Tanzanian hunting spots. But the Southern Sealous is on a completely different level.

 

[mark-hunter]

Great thread. Following.

 

[Surgeon1]

Zimbabwe, The Caprivi, and Uganda have been fantastic. I'm headed back to Uganda in February and just now working on possible trip to Tanzania Massi in June which was a move up from 2027 plans.
Niassa is a place I really want to hunt but they need to settle down a bit, in Uganda's Karamoja we had
well-armed military with us every day because of the two tribal factions of cattle rustlers and the unrest
in very close by South Sudan, it is the safest I've felt anywhere in Africa.
Really want to do C9 in Moz and give Zambia a try, lots of opportunity but time is not always on my side!
So, I'm following with Great Enthusiasm!

 

[ddog]

I have not hunted Mozambique so I can't comment on that country. I have hunted Zambia and Tanzania.

Zambia has three type of hunts. (1) GMA - an open government concession, some are good and other are crap. (2) Private Conservancies - those are private land that may be fenced or unfenced. and (3) Private Ranch. I hunted a private Ranch - Takari the advantage was I was the only one there hunting.

Tanzania you have GCA's which the government bids out to operators. The down side is you share it with 1000's of people, cattle, sheep, goats and dogs plus cheap Chinese motorcycle everywhere (Maasai land). The Selous is more remote and less populated (at least for now). Western Tanzania is reasonably priced, does not require a charter and has lots of PG and DG and allegedly really big Buffalo.

I have hunted extensively in Tanzania- note that many areas in western Tanzania are very remote and do require an expensive charter. Also, not all blocks in western Tanzania are game control areas- many are Game Reserves where people do not live or develop because of tsetses- its important to understand the difference between Open Areas, Game Control Areas and Game Reserves country wide.

Western Tanzania is an expensive place to operate safaris- logistics determine that fact. The blocks in Masailand can be good to great for buffalo and generally produce better trophies than other regions but are weather and season dependent.

Serengeti blocks i. e. Maswa North, Kimale and Mbono and Makao are all excellent.

The Selous Game Reserve and surrounding blocks to the south are very wild and full of Buffalo- great hunting there even though the buffalo are generally smaller that the trophies from the north and west but if one is diligent buff over 40" can be found.

 

[wesheltonj]

I’ve hunted in all three locations and love them all. But Tanzania ranks as my favorite hunting location in all of Africa.

Amongst hunting spots in Tanzania, the Southern Sealous can never be matched if you’re looking for the truly ”Wild Africa” experience. Aside from copious amounts of game, much of the hunting areas can only be traversed if you cut a path through the foliage with a machete.

I highly recommend every aspiring Safari hunting to at least try for a hunt in the Southern Sealous someday. You’ll thank me. It’s not cheap, but worth every penny.

Ugalla Game Reserve and Fort Ikorongo also rank as my favorite Tanzanian hunting spots. But the Southern Sealous is on a completely different level.

The outfitter from my Tanzania hunt also hunts Uyumba WMA which is next to Ugalla. He’s offering me an every good deal on a hunt. Multiple buffalo and a Topi.

I really want to hunt a country that I have not hunted. I’ve look at Uganda, but can’t find anyone with Cape buffalo. Everyone has Nile and one outfitter has told me no more Topi are available for hunting.

Also looking a Zimbabwe, but not sure I can score a large enough buffalo to make Rowland Ward.

Zero interest in Mozambique until they solve their violent crime problems.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

Following.