Tanzania vs Zambia vs Mozambique

[375Fox]

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.

I discussed upgrade options for my Uganda hunt next year a few weeks ago. They still had topi available as an upgrade. I chose to take lesser kudu option.

 

[wesheltonj]

I discussed upgrade options for my Uganda hunt next year a few weeks ago. They still had topi available as an upgrade. I chose to take lesser kudu option.

I spoke with Christian Weth and he said no Topi available. He said their numbers had dropped and were no longer available.

 

[375Fox]

I spoke with Christian Weth and he said no Topi available. He said their numbers had dropped and were no longer available.

I believe he took most of his topi in the southern part of country near Lake Mburo through another outfitter. Possibly quotas have changed in that area.

 

[Green Chile]

I discussed upgrade options for my Uganda hunt next year a few weeks ago. They still had topi available as an upgrade. I chose to take lesser kudu option.

Jealous of your lesser kudu option!

 

[DLSJR]

I’ve only hunted Tanzania and Zambia, and am finally hunting Mozambique next year.

Tanzania is really fabulous, and I have only hunted 3 areas there; Maswa North (far NW, on western side of Serengeti NP); Mlele in western Tanzania and Madaba, right in the heart of the Selous. Each was unique and very enjoyable to hunt (despite raining every single day when at Maswa). My favorite was Madaba in the Selous. It’s very wild and has a wonderful amount and variety of game. I’m planning to take my son back in September of 2028 and it’ll be an epic safari. Probably no leopard next time,but 4-5 buffalo to share with my son, as well as dry land hippo, croc and PG. I’d love to also hunt someday in Masailand, Rungwa and Moyowasi, but it’s unlikely beyond Masailand. Even if you can only do a single 10-day buffalo hunt, go to Tanzania at least once if you can.

Zambia - I’ve only hunted in the Kafue region, on a couple different places. It’s pretty wonderful country with excellent quality game, especially the best sable in all of Africa. The Luangwa Valley is someplace I really want to hunt as it’s prime dangerous game country. I’m told it is much like the Selous both in terms of game and the ‘feel’ of the area. I’m hoping to at least make a short visit to the Luangwa next year on the back-end of a hunt at Tondwa I was supposed to do this year but had to postpone. Tondwa is reputed to be a beautiful area with some of Africa’s finest Sitatunga hunting but fairly limited on other game. I think Zambia is a country most would really enjoy and there are some excellent PH’s operating in Zambia.

Mozambique - I can’t offer anything about Moz, other than I’m really looking to hunting there next year. We are hunting two areas, Coutada’s 9 & 14, over a 2-week period. Coutada 14 has a huge buffalo population with an annual quota of more than 100 buffalo. Coutada 9 is reputed to be on the short list of finest plains game areas anywhere in Africa and while the buffalo population is relatively small, the quality is excellent.

I wish I’d started hunting Tanzania long before I did. It’s always been expensive, relatively speaking, but the days of $800/day rates and $2,000 lion trophy fees sound awfully good now.

@wesheltonj you might want to take a bit deeper look at Zimbabwe for big buffalo. There are blocks where very nice buffalo are shot with some regularity. In May, my buddy shot a 42”x 16” boss Buffalo on the Savé. There are more big buffalo shot in Zim than you might realize.

 

[Huntforever]

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!

I’m heading to C9 on Oct 8th for 14 days of hunting. I will be hunting plains game with my bow. I can’t wait !!

 

[Huntforever]

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.

Which part of Tanzania would you recommend for plains game hunting at a more affordable rate then other areas of Tanzania?

 

[Huntforever]

I’ve only hunted Tanzania and Zambia, and am finally hunting Mozambique next year.

Tanzania is really fabulous, and I have only hunted 3 areas there; Maswa North (far NW, on western side of Serengeti NP); Mlele in western Tanzania and Madaba, right in the heart of the Selous. Each was unique and very enjoyable to hunt (despite raining every single day when at Maswa). My favorite was Madaba in the Selous. It’s very wild and has a wonderful amount and variety of game. I’m planning to take my son back in September of 2028 and it’ll be an epic safari. Probably no leopard next time,but 4-5 buffalo to share with my son, as well as dry land hippo, croc and PG. I’d love to also hunt someday in Masailand, Rungwa and Moyowasi, but it’s unlikely beyond Masailand. Even if you can only do a single 10-day buffalo hunt, go to Tanzania at least once if you can.

Zambia - I’ve only hunted in the Kafue region, on a couple different places. It’s pretty wonderful country with excellent quality game, especially the best sable in all of Africa. The Luangwa Valley is someplace I really want to hunt as it’s prime dangerous game country. I’m told it is much like the Selous both in terms of game and the ‘feel’ of the area. I’m hoping to at least make a short visit to the Luangwa next year on the back-end of a hunt at Tondwa I was supposed to do this year but had to postpone. Tondwa is reputed to be a beautiful area with some of Africa’s finest Sitatunga hunting but fairly limited on other game. I think Zambia is a country most would really enjoy and there are some excellent PH’s operating in Zambia.

Mozambique - I can’t offer anything about Moz, other than I’m really looking to hunting there next year. We are hunting two areas, Coutada’s 9 & 14, over a 2-week period. Coutada 14 has a huge buffalo population with an annual quota of more than 100 buffalo. Coutada 9 is reputed to be on the short list of finest plains game areas anywhere in Africa and while the buffalo population is relatively small, the quality is excellent.

I wish I’d started hunting Tanzania long before I did. It’s always been expensive, relatively speaking, but the days of $800/day rates and $2,000 lion trophy fees sound awfully good now.

@wesheltonj you might want to take a bit deeper look at Zimbabwe for big buffalo. There are blocks where very nice buffalo are shot with some regularity. In May, my buddy shot a 42”x 16” boss Buffalo on the Savé. There are more big buffalo shot in Zim than you might realize.

I hunted the northern Luangwa River last year for leopard and hippo. It was my 1st trip outside of SA and absolutely amazing!! I don’t have much to compare it too but it was a hunt of a lifetime!!

 

[375Fox]

Which part of Tanzania would you recommend for plains game hunting at a more affordable rate then other areas of Tanzania?

I think you’ll find outside of Massailand a PG only hunt in Tanzania would be an unusual request. Uganda would be a more affordable option for some East African species. There is no inexpensive hunting in Tanzania. Tanzania can become a good value however when you start adding multiple DG into the same safari. A 10 day license is very limited on the PG you are permitted but you can still take 2 buffalo.

 

[DLSJR]

Which part of Tanzania would you recommend for plains game hunting at a more affordable rate then other areas of Tanzania?

If you’re looking for a relatively lower cost plains game hunt in Tanzania, I suggest you contact @Spear Safaris and talk with Ernest Dyason. He takes clients to some of Kilombero North’s areas and he can get fairly creative. He’s also a damn good PH and fun to be with. Just be advised, it’s still Tanzania so lower cost is more than say Zimbabwe. Another option would be Mubarek Atik of Eshkesh Safaris. He’s another Tanzanian PH whom I’ve spent time with and think well of.

 

[mark-hunter]

I think you’ll find outside of Massailand a PG only hunt in Tanzania would be an unusual request. Uganda would be a more affordable option for some East African species. There is no inexpensive hunting in Tanzania. Tanzania can become a good value however when you start adding multiple DG into the same safari. A 10 day license is very limited on the PG you are permitted but you can still take 2 buffalo.

What PG east african species does Uganda offer? And what is realistic price for PG package to be expected for PG? Day rates in average for PG in Uganda?

 

[Brandon.Gleason]

Fantastic thread. I'm heading to Zambia in a few weeks for my first hunt there. Looking at options for 2027 at the SCI convention in Feb and contemplating Tanzania vs Uganda. I'm trying to hit different countries.

 

[rafter3]

If you’re looking for a relatively lower cost plains game hunt in Tanzania, I suggest you contact @Spear Safaris and talk with Ernest Dyason. He takes clients to some of Kilombero North’s areas and he can get fairly creative. He’s also a damn good PH and fun to be with. Just be advised, it’s still Tanzania so lower cost is more than say Zimbabwe. Another option would be Mubarek Atik of Eshkesh Safaris. He’s another Tanzanian PH whom I’ve spent time with and think well of.

I second the recommendation of Ernest Dyason of Spear Safaris, I hunted with him in Killombero Valley area of Tanzania and had an amazing hunt!!

 

[wesheltonj]

Which part of Tanzania would you recommend for plains game hunting at a more affordable rate then other areas of Tanzania?

You can hunt Masai land reasonably affordable as long as you do to want to shoot the three premium animals. Just get a 7 day hunt, you will get a Grant’s, Thomson’s, White Bearded Wildebeest, Zebra and a couple of others. The price jumps outrageous for Lesser Kudu, Generuk, and Fringed Eared Oryx.

 

[Huntforever]

Does anyone know the breakdown of Tanzania lic the cost and what animals are on each license?

7 day ?
10 day ?
14 day ?
21 day?

 

[wesheltonj]

Does anyone know the breakdown of Tanzania lic the cost and what animals are on each license?

7 day ?
10 day ?
14 day ?
21 day?

I don't know the license cost for each. But it's a 5k upgrade for the 21 day license. However, one outfitter quoted me a 10k fee increase for the premium license. The premium license includes: Lessor Kudu, Gerenuk and Fringed Eared Oryx, plus 4 buffalo, plus the "full bag" with some species in multiples.

Also the trophy fee varies by outfitter. And they're some wild price swings on some animals.

Looking at the outfitters list that I used on a 7 day regular license Masailand you can take 2 Buffalo, Bushpig, Grant's, Impala, Thomson's, W B Wildebeest, Warthog and Zebra. Buffalo is a tuff hunt in Masai land (mountain hunt).

 

[375Fox]

Does anyone know the breakdown of Tanzania lic the cost and what animals are on each license?

7 day ?
10 day ?
14 day ?
21 day?

I don’t know the license fees, but unless there is extra quota or end of season every outfitter will charge significantly higher daily rates for the premium species. Tanzania is a different market than other African countries. Most 10 day hunts will start in the $25000 range with a limited license and go up from there depending on license, area, and outfitter.

 

[DLSJR]

I don’t know the license fees, but unless there is extra quota or end of season every outfitter will charge significantly higher daily rates for the premium species. Tanzania is a different market than other African countries. Most 10 day hunts will start in the $25000 range with a limited license and go up from there depending on license, area, and outfitter.
View attachment 717530

If you get beyond Masailand, I believe the best value is a 16-day hunt with 21-day license. That combination allows 3-buffalo, hippo, crocodile, LEOPARD and nearly all plains game. This is what I did in the Selous in 2023 when I took my son. He came as a ‘companion hunter’ and we shared my quota. That’s a lot less expensive than getting him his own separate quota. That’s what we will most likely do in 2028 when I take my son back to Madaba for another hunt with Alan Vincent.