What PH to book an elephant hunt with?

[Wildwillalaska]

Partly why I hope to hunt a few more before new restrictions are a realistic possibility.

 

[mark-hunter]

@mitch4570
Having hunted only one elephant till now (on budget) I cannot suggest much.
Except to bring your attention to non exportable options.

Attached are pics of my ivory and replicas I made. Ivory was 30 pounds + 35 pounds.
it is hard to tell the difference between the replica and true ivory.

If you pick to hunt non exportable elephant, replica tusks are option.

My ele was exportable, but nevertheless, I made replica tusks, just in case ivory gets lost in bureaucracy.

 

[R eight]

I'm 70 but have been walking up to 5 miles with a 12lb rod. I need to hunt an elephant before it's to late. For those of you who have hunted elephant. Who did you book with? How was the terrain, how was the hunt in general? An area that is more flat walking would be better for me.
Thank in advance.

I did an elephant hunt, about 6 weeks ago, in the South African Open Zone with Valie of That’s Africa Safaris.

You sound as if you’re more than fit enough for a hunt there. Heaps of elephants. It was a fantastic hunt and the price was reasonable.

This is the hunt report.

Thread 'SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa "Open Zone" Bull Elephant Hunt - May 2026'

May 30, 2026

Usually my overseas hunts are planned well in advance. Often in excess of 12 months. But, not this one. This hunt came about rather suddenly. As a matter of fact everything fell into place around the same time that everything was rapidly unravelling in the straight of Hormuz.

I’d seen a hunt advertised on the "Africa Hunting” forum. The hunt was for a non-exportable bull elephant in South Africa. That got my attention….a bull elephant had long been number 1 on my bucket list. The more I read, the better this offer sounded. Hunting was to take place in the “open zone” of South Africa for...

• R eight
• Replies: 49
• Forum: Hunting reports Africa

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They are active on this website. I can recommend Valie.

https://www.thatsafricasafaris.com/

 

[Foxi]

I Don't think you can currenty export trophies from Mozambique to U.S.

not in USA and not into Europe.
But I wouldn’t care at all.
I hunt for the sake of hunting, not primarily for trophies.
If money is no object, assume that a large elephant will cost you over USD 1,000 per pound (as a rough estimate) and all the outfitters here will be lining up to take you on.
But if you have to work for your money—as I unfortunately do—then I’d go to Mozambique.
Elephants are plentiful there and can’t be exported (Mozambique doesn’t provide data on this), and it’s cheaper(could be) than some other countries
Today’s replicas are crafted so precisely and are heavy (you can check this at any hunting trade show) that only a professional can tell the difference.
Once they’re hanging on the wall, even the replicas are hard to distinguish.
A pair of 40-pound replicas costs about 600–1,000 USD, and you won’t run into any CITES issues.
Check out the Mozambique outfitters and professional hunters and ask for their advice.
AH member@ Valie Enslin from That’s Africa Safaris
is one of them and practically at home there.He is a very experienced man and
20 elephants he shoots with clients each year certainly won’t be enough.

you see the difference ?

 

[AZDAVE]

Did a hunt in Namibia , it was up just south of the Caprivi North of Khaudum park. on the Botswana border with Drikus Swanepoel owner of Ekuja Safaris. The terrain is flat sandy soil. We went in October so the temps were right at to just over a 100 degrees. Had a great safari. We hunt a non trophy non exportable. For the trophy bulls we saw bulls from the upper 40's to upper 70's lbs. His clients the year before took one in the upper 80's to mid 50's. So you just never know what you will see. this area also had some very large eland and roan.

 

[KDF]

I'm 70 but have been walking up to 5 miles with a 12lb rod. I need to hunt an elephant before it's to late. For those of you who have hunted elephant. Who did you book with? How was the terrain, how was the hunt in general? An area that is more flat walking would be better for me.
Thank in advance.

My view is that working with a PH that you can trust is really the key. A good, experienced PH/outfitter will listen to your requirements and goals and then give you honest feedback about what you can realistically expect during the hunt. I think the PH and his trackers have as much impact on how physically demanding the hunt is as the hunting area itself.

This is how I would rank the factors that go into my decision process:

1. Choosing the right outfitter/PH
2. Price relative to the quality of ivory and the hunting opportunity
3. Hunting area and elephant density
4. Tracking vs. Spot and Stalk

A good PH can often tailor the hunt to the client. If you tell him up front that you're comfortable walking several miles a day but would prefer to avoid steep mountains or endless sand, he can usually plan accordingly. Sometimes that means spending more time locating fresh tracks by vehicle before setting out on a track. Sometimes it means passing on one track in favor of another that offers a better chance of a shorter approach. An experienced PH wants you to be successful, not exhausted.

I hunted elephant with Buzz Charlton, and while I specifically wanted a situation where we would work hard to get a decent elephant, Buzz and his team could have accommodated a different set of objectives.

You're already doing one of the best things you can by walking with a weighted rod. If you can comfortably handle 5 miles carrying 12 pounds, you're probably in better shape than many elephant hunters. The adrenaline of being on fresh elephant tracks also has a way of making you forget you're tired.

Good luck. Elephant is unlike any other hunt I've ever experienced, and if it's something you've always wanted to do, go for it!

Please feel free to DM me if you want to talk - Always happy to talk about hunting.

 

[Longfeather1]

Sorry... I couldn't resist.....

 

[TEX84]

@kpoynter what are the units to avoid in Botswana? Are all of the bulls in Botswana similarly sized from a body-size perspective?

I hear there are some small bodied bulls shot in Zimbabwe? Anyone know exactly where that is?

 

[375Fox]

I hear there are some small bodied bulls shot in Zimbabwe? Anyone know exactly where that is?

Zambezi Valley elephant (both cows and bulls) are smaller bodied on average than elsewhere. However, there are some areas that are shooting younger bulls than they should be. They use the same excuse.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

@kpoynter what are the units to avoid in Botswana? Are all of the bulls in Botswana similarly sized from a body-size perspective?

I hear there are some small bodied bulls shot in Zimbabwe? Anyone know exactly where that is?

It’s not so much about avoiding areas but avoiding them at the wrong time of the year. Some of the marginal areas in Botswana have produced some giant bulls as they get overlooked. One of the hundred pounders a few years ago was killed in a very marginal area. In 2023 the largest bull of the year for Botswana was also killed in an area that many would consider marginal. I hunted with the PH shortly after and they weren’t expecting a bull of that caliber.

Elephants are migratory, they follow the crops and the water. The biggest bodies elephants are typically in Western Zim and float back and forth over the border into Botswana. Girth means more to ivory weight than length but big bodied bulls will have larger heads which “typically” means more ivory inside the head. It’s all subjective and that’s part of the allure of elephant hunting. You might get a bull with 12-15” of Ivory in the head and another might have 28-32”. Might get a long nerve or no nerve. Thick and broken often means a short or small nerve.

Botswana is unique in that a big bull can wander almost anywhere, there are areas that typically hold more big bulls during certain times of the year but it’s because of water. Follow the rivers and you’ll follow the elephants, even as they cross into Zim or Zambia on the east, or Namibia and Angola on the western edge

 

[bwanamrm]

I'm 70 but have been walking up to 5 miles with a 12lb rod. I need to hunt an elephant before it's to late. For those of you who have hunted elephant. Who did you book with? How was the terrain, how was the hunt in general? An area that is more flat walking would be better for me.
Thank in advance.

I've been fortunate to hunt a couple of elephant with Buzz, an elephant with Chifuti in Chewore North and with Martin Pieters in the Omay. They were all great hunts but physical. Be prepared for long days and long treks. Zim, as others have mentioned is probably the biggest bang for your buck...

But,

A couple of others have mentioned the Caprivi Strip with Ndumo Safaris and Karl Stumpfe... that would be my recommendation. Hunted with him a couple of years ago and had a great hunt. I think you could get a good elephant bull, all-in at your price point.

Botswana is an option if you find a cancellation hunt but most safaris start at $60 to $70K however if you truly want a shot at a big boy, it's your best bet...

 

[Goose Cracker]

Disclaimer: I have never hunted elephant, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I'd suggest you at least speak to the folks at Classic African Hunting. A buddy and I recently (May 2026) returned from a buff hunt in CAH's Matetsi 2 unit. Matetsi 2 borders Botswana and the Kazuma forest, where CAH also hunts. Kazuma also borders Botswana.

While we were there, an ele hunter in Kazuma shot two large bulls with PH Guav Johnson. Not sure what they weighed, but you can check them out on Instagram. I'd guess 60+; they might go 70. We saw a 50+ bull in Matetsi 2, and I think a subsequent CAH hunter killed him. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with Guav Johnson or Darren Ellerman. I think @Scott CWO has hunted ele with Darren. Very different personalities between Guav and Darren, so speak to them!

We saw ele every day we were in Matetsi 2. Stopped counting at 100 one afternoon. Lots of cows and calves, and the cows could be aggressive. We saw so many eles. Matetsi 2 has some topography, so it may not fit your criteria. But I think Kazuma would.

Kazuma and Matetsi 2 are very easy to get to, about 90 mins drive from Vic Falls airport. No charter or long drive necessary. I think this would fit your budget as well.

I can't speak to the camp at Kazuma, but Matetsi 2 was very comfortable, and the food was really good. I think I only counted 3 mosquitoes the whole time we were there. No tsetses either.

 

[Bill Thom]

Last year I went with Marius Goosen to Ndumo Safaris on the Caprivi Strip in Namibia. I shot a decent bull elephant with nice tusks. Terrain was flat. It was pretty cold at night. I was 72 at the time.

interesting......I am looking at Caprivi in Namibia. Would you hunt caprivi again? and How big was the ivory

 

[kpoynter]

interesting......I am looking at Caprivi in Namibia. Would you hunt caprivi again? and How big was the ivory

I have…two years ago…
I likely will never hunt it again. I enjoyed my hunt. But…there are a lot of humans and infrastructure (the new highways…which on one hand are great but it changed things)
Karl and Ndumo Safaris are top notch… Omuejeve etc etc
BUT…. I don’t think the value is there on elephant. I would Only hunt with Karl 100% for Elephant there (trophy Bull)
But the cost vs trophy quality IMO isnt quite there relative to Western Zim, Botswana, or other places

 

[kpoynter]

BTW… why some of you guys keep recommending Shit like Moz because you don’t have or don’t want to spend the money elsewhere is honestly confusing to me.
The Guy doesn’t want this… I might do it… you guys did and are going to do it… great
But this is flat not what he asked for and he clarified he isn’t
He is also 70 and doesn’t want to be a mountain goat anymore either.
We have to listen to what people want and ask…. Not project our preferences outside that.
I am not telling him to hunt Maswa or Enduimet for 200k….but… I damn sure might lol
That’s not what Mitch asked from the group

 

[kpoynter]

Disclaimer: I have never hunted elephant, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I'd suggest you at least speak to the folks at Classic African Hunting. A buddy and I recently (May 2026) returned from a buff hunt in CAH's Matetsi 2 unit. Matetsi 2 borders Botswana and the Kazuma forest, where CAH also hunts. Kazuma also borders Botswana.

While we were there, an ele hunter in Kazuma shot two large bulls with PH Guav Johnson. Not sure what they weighed, but you can check them out on Instagram. I'd guess 60+; they might go 70. We saw a 50+ bull in Matetsi 2, and I think a subsequent CAH hunter killed him. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with Guav Johnson or Darren Ellerman. I think @Scott CWO has hunted ele with Darren. Very different personalities between Guav and Darren, so speak to them!

We saw ele every day we were in Matetsi 2. Stopped counting at 100 one afternoon. Lots of cows and calves, and the cows could be aggressive. We saw so many eles. Matetsi 2 has some topography, so it may not fit your criteria. But I think Kazuma would.

Kazuma and Matetsi 2 are very easy to get to, about 90 mins drive from Vic Falls airport. No charter or long drive necessary. I think this would fit your budget as well.

I can't speak to the camp at Kazuma, but Matetsi 2 was very comfortable, and the food was really good. I think I only counted 3 mosquitoes the whole time we were there. No tsetses either.

This is one of the areas we have recommended to him earlier yes.
It fits his criteria very well.
It’s good terrain… it’s a 60k hunt… it’s 50+ if not 60+ on Ivory quality with big bodied Bulls

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

BTW… why some of you guys keep recommending Shit like Moz because you don’t have or don’t want to spend the money elsewhere is honestly confusing to me.
The Guy doesn’t want this… I might do it… you guys did and are going to do it… great
But this is flat not what he asked for and he clarified he isn’t
He is also 70 and doesn’t want to be a mountain goat anymore either.
We have to listen to what people want and ask…. Not project our preferences outside that.
I am not telling him to hunt Maswa or Enduimet for 200k….but… I damn sure might lol
That’s not what Mitch asked from the group

Can’t like this enough ….

The other option is a border area like Sengwa where the hunter is hoping for a big bull to come out of Kruger. Conversely a border area along the Moz border that’s known to hold big bulls. All those saying Moz are hunting the other side, hoping for one of those bulls to stumble across the border but are too cheap to spend an extra 10-15K to hunt an exportable one. The OP should know in many instances this hunt can be a little more physically demanding than Western Zim due to the terrain.

I’d suggest the OP not try and holdout for a potential deal unless he’s don’t a lot of research to figure out the correct times to hunt that area. Not all end of the year deals or cancellations are a great bargain since many times it’s not prime time to hunt. This is demonstrated by @kpoynter comment about Mataingwe in the early season

 

[Cme1983]

Did a hunt in Namibia , it was up just south of the Caprivi North of Khaudum park. on the Botswana border with Drikus Swanepoel owner of Ekuja Safaris. The terrain is flat sandy soil. We went in October so the temps were right at to just over a 100 degrees. Had a great safari. We hunt a non trophy non exportable. For the trophy bulls we saw bulls from the upper 40's to upper 70's lbs. His clients the year before took one in the upper 80's to mid 50's. So you just never know what you will see. this area also had some very large eland and roan.

As you know Drikus turned that area back over because the community had some unrealistic demands

 

[Cme1983]

Disclaimer: I have never hunted elephant, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I'd suggest you at least speak to the folks at Classic African Hunting. A buddy and I recently (May 2026) returned from a buff hunt in CAH's Matetsi 2 unit. Matetsi 2 borders Botswana and the Kazuma forest, where CAH also hunts. Kazuma also borders Botswana.

While we were there, an ele hunter in Kazuma shot two large bulls with PH Guav Johnson. Not sure what they weighed, but you can check them out on Instagram. I'd guess 60+; they might go 70. We saw a 50+ bull in Matetsi 2, and I think a subsequent CAH hunter killed him. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with Guav Johnson or Darren Ellerman. I think @Scott CWO has hunted ele with Darren. Very different personalities between Guav and Darren, so speak to them!

We saw ele every day we were in Matetsi 2. Stopped counting at 100 one afternoon. Lots of cows and calves, and the cows could be aggressive. We saw so many eles. Matetsi 2 has some topography, so it may not fit your criteria. But I think Kazuma would.

Kazuma and Matetsi 2 are very easy to get to, about 90 mins drive from Vic Falls airport. No charter or long drive necessary. I think this would fit your budget as well.

I can't speak to the camp at Kazuma, but Matetsi 2 was very comfortable, and the food was really good. I think I only counted 3 mosquitoes the whole time we were there. No tsetses either.

Kazuma camp is nice, thatched roof sleeping quarters. Tons of variety of game there. Pretty sure Guav has most of that quota now. Definitely a place you want to hunt late season so elephants cross from Bots and drink at the bore holes. As an additional perk there is a large variety of additional animals in Kazuma; eland, giraffe, sable, kudu, buff etc etc

 

[Cme1983]

BTW… why some of you guys keep recommending Shit like Moz because you don’t have or don’t want to spend the money elsewhere is honestly confusing to me.
The Guy doesn’t want this… I might do it… you guys did and are going to do it… great
But this is flat not what he asked for and he clarified he isn’t
He is also 70 and doesn’t want to be a mountain goat anymore either.
We have to listen to what people want and ask…. Not project our preferences outside that.
I am not telling him to hunt Maswa or Enduimet for 200k….but… I damn sure might lol
That’s not what Mitch asked from the group

Haha look at you getting testy in your old age . Reading is obviously hard!!!

It would be nice if people would stop giving people advice based on what “great deals” they got and offered advice based on the specific needs of the hunter.

When we were in camp the brothers were saying Shangani with CMS is a really good area. I believe that’s a 45k hunt. The area is primarily a bull area and the brothers said 50+ is reasonable.