Hunting The African Elephants of Mateke Hills.
Zimbabwe. One of the last remaining homes of the African Elephant. The largest land mammal on earth.
I’ve chosen this as the hunting destination for my last three safaris. And for good reason. Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard, Lion and a few other dangerous game species call this place home. Their numbers are plentiful and you always seem to be within spittin’ distance of something that can stomp or claw you into oblivion. A nice place to hunt indeed!
My focus today, however, will be on a non trophy, bull elephant hunt I embarked on recently.
I have often dreamed of shooting a big bull elephant. After having taken a tuskless cow elephant in 2022, I was ready to step up to a bull this time. So I left for Zimbabwe on April 18, 2025. Headed to Mateke Hills. This area is known for having quite a few elephant within its borders, so when I learned of this hunt, I was very excited to go. So, Dalton and York Safaris made a plan, and the hunt was booked.
The first day, like many of the other days, was started at 5:30 AM. In the truck at 6:30, and down the road we go. A very rough and rocky road, that would prove to offer about all a good set of springs, shocks and tires could handle. But when in Zim, you come to expect to be shaken around a bit. This was that and then some!
Rough and wet terrain leads to flat tires and getting stuck in the mud! A wench was a well needed accessory!
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Our hunt that day was fruitless. Although we spotted several sets of semi fresh tracks, we didn’t come across anything that offered much hope of finding an elephant on the other end of them. We also sent out game scouts to some other areas to search for fresh sign, and perhaps clue us in on something worth following, but nothing was uncovered on that particular day.
We had heard news of some possible PAC (problem animal control) elephant activity in a nearby village, so we were hoping to get word of the exact location soon, but until then we were at a stalemate. Monday came to a close.
Drinks around the campfire and an early bedtime for me! Always such a beautiful sunset in Africa!
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Wednesday, through the following 8 days of hunting were much the same. Up early, many miles of travel, semi fresh, to smoking hot tracks were followed. Sometimes for miles, through some of the thickest vegetation I’ve ever hunted in, for any animal. We were within shooting distance of elephants several times over these last 8 days, but sometimes close just isn’t close enough! For the wind is a fickle thing. Especially between the hills, or mountains of Mateke. One minute your friend, the next your foe. Never to be relied upon in any situation. Once it shifts, the unmistakable sound of trees being broken and limbs being snapped can be heard for what seems like forever. You have been busted my friend. Your hopes for following them over these mountains, and across the rugged terrain is
narrow at best. Somewhere between slim and none! Oh you may follow them. But catching up to them is quite another matter. For once they decide to leave, they don’t stop for miles. A steady push forward in a straight line. No mountain, trees, or river will stop them. Not until they are satisfied that the threat is well within their past.
The brush was green and thick. The scenery from the hilltop was breathtaking!
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And so it went. Frustrating day after frustrating day. At times we would receive “news” of elephant sightings in near or far away villages and farms, only to arrive to a set of two day old tracks leading to a destination unknown. As it seems, the wind isn’t the only thing that can’t be relied upon in Mateke!
But as they say, TIA! This Is Africa!
Although the days were long and frustrating at times, they were still enjoyable. Many laughs and jokes kept the mood light. And, watermelon, sugar cane and biltong kept our taste buds satisfied. At camp, drinks were cold and well stocked. Food was delicious, and the tents were comfortable.
A hot shower was delivered via a hot water bag hanging in the restroom of your quarters, so we were definitely not “roughing it”. Just a high end form of camping, so to speak.
A view of my accommodation for the hunt.
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Then there came Tuesday. The yet unmentioned second day of our hunt. The day that changed everything. The day, I would take my first bull elephant.
Early that morning we received word of a bull elephant doing quite a bit of damage to a farm about an hour down the road. Our resident “appy” PH, Gavin, had received these calls many times in the past, only to be disappointed by old sign and no elephant within miles. But today would be different.
For today, we found our bull. Standing just inside the trees next to a nice patch of sugar cane. As we approached, the wind was in our favor on that day, and we were able to get within approximately 40 yards of the bull, before he noticed us, and turned to face us. His huge face staring us down and testing the wind for the dreaded scent that often had caused him worry in the past.
I was armed that day with a Blaser R8 in 458 Winchester Magnum. Using CEB, 450 grain flat nosed solids, at 2250 feet per second. An adequate load. However, due to the dense foliage that we had hunted in the day before, I was convinced that a scope would be a hindrance, rather than a help. In this case, I was wrong. As many of you older than 50 can attest to, my eyes just aren’t what they used to be. So the use of iron sights, to me, is a very limited range affair. Even on something the size of an elephant’s brain!
I lined the sights up on his huge forehead, and tried to envision where the brain was located at that particular angle. Squeeze…..BANG! The bull stumbled, took a step and then fell. Stunned, but not dead! As he gained his feet, I worked the bolt of the R8 and sent another solid into his rear end as he was departing. Then another. Then another. Followed by the roar of my PH, Chap’s 500 Nitro Express double rifle. Still, the bull retreated as the thick bush closed in behind him.
As we reloaded our rifles and discussed what just took place, there was nothing left to do but get on the blood trail and push forward. We had business to tend to. Dangerous business.
Blood was splattered fairly heavily over the green vegetation below, as we walked for what must’ve been 400 yards at a steady clip. Then Sadza, our head tracker, looked up and saw the bull standing just ahead. Waiting for us. Waiting to kill or be killed. I hoped for the latter.
As the bull turned to face us for the second time of the day, I again settled the shallow V iron sights on his forehead and squeezed. BANG! The 450gr solid struck his head with enough force to knock him down for yet a second time. Down, but not thoroughly out, he struggled to regain his feet. I had missed the brain by a fraction, yet again! Several more shots to the body, into his vitals, made sure that this time he stayed down for keeps.
Approaching the downed bull. Notice the thick vegetation behind him.
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To say I was overwhelmed at that point is an understatement. Part relief that we had finished what we started, relatively quickly. And part exhilaration at what we had just done. I had finally taken what was for me, the pinnacle of big game. A bull elephant.
Learner PH, Gavin Bailey and I with the bull.
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Another one with PH, Chap Esterhuizen and myself.
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A better view of the tusks and the Blaser R8 that took the bull.
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By this time, it was late in the afternoon. We took a few photos while the guys cleared a road into the area for the truck to enter. We would return the next day for more pictures and the butchering process. We estimated that over 200 people showed up to take place in the very chaotic skinning, butchering process. If you’ve never seen what true hunger looks like, this is it. They cut frantically at the carcass with knives and machetes, like it would be their last meal of the year. And in this case, it could very well be the last meat they see for the foreseeable future.
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Life is tough for the bush people of Zimbabwe.
So, in the words of our head tracker, Sadza, until next time……Live Well.
