Elephant Hunting: Zimbabwe vs Mozambique

[ChasingHemingway]

My son, Noah (16), and I are starting to plan our next Africa safari. I have hunted SA 6 times and he has been with me on 2 of those trips which included multiple Buffalo and Lion. We are ready to hunt a new country and have started researching Elephant in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Would be interested in the groups thoughts on the differences between these two countries for exportable elephant hunting from price, size of elephant to expect, and any other factors you would use to determine which country you would choose.

All My Best,

Derek

 

[Frederik]

As far as I know Elephant is not exportable from Mozambique to the USA so I suppose that leaves you with Zimbabwe with some top outfitters and some that advertise on the forum.

 

[375Fox]

Is there still quality elephant hunting in Mozambique? It was my understanding the elephant poaching was so severe it effectively ended most elephant hunting occurring there. Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe is very stable and offers some of the best PHs available for an elephant hunt. Trophies are typically modest though 25-40 lbs except for certain areas 50+ lbs. Prices are reasonable for Zimbabwe and nearly all applications from Zimbabwe are currently being approved. You might also consider the Caprivi in Namibia but I feel Zimbabwe generally offers a better elephant hunt because the areas are larger.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

As far as I know Elephant is not exportable from Mozambique to the USA so I suppose that leaves you with Zimbabwe with some top outfitters and some that advertise on the forum.

Thank you. I was unaware of that!!

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Is there still quality elephant hunting in Mozambique? It was my understanding the elephant poaching was so severe it effectively ended most elephant hunting occurring there. Elephant hunting in Zimbabwe is very stable and offers some of the best PHs available for an elephant hunt. Trophies are typically modest though 25-40 lbs except for certain areas 50+ lbs. Prices are reasonable for Zimbabwe and nearly all applications from Zimbabwe are currently being approved. You might also consider the Caprivi in Namibia but I feel Zimbabwe generally offers a better elephant hunt.

Thank you!! Very helpful.

 

[DLSJR]

As has been said previously, you cannot import ivory from Mozambique. Zimbabwe is not difficult. While there are other countries with very good elephant hunting and importable ivory, Zimbabwe provides a great combination of very good hunting with high quality PH’s at a reasonable price point.

 

[Tokoloshe Safaris]

We just finished are 2024 season 8 for 8 on elephant.

Lon

 

[Mbalabala Safaris]

Hi Derek
I have some great area in Zimbabwe for both Non trophy bulls and trophy bulls depending on what you after.
Non trophy bulls we try take older bulls or bulls with broken tusks. It’s the same as shooting a trophy bull but half the price. (Around $18k)
I also have a good area for shooting the 30-45lbs bulls for $35k

Then I f you want an option for the bigger bulls then the price would be around $55-$70k.


Regards.

Lin Stanton
Email me for more information lindonstanton@yahoo.com

 

[ChasingHemingway]

As has been said previously, you cannot import ivory from Mozambique. Zimbabwe is not difficult. While there are other countries with very good elephant hunting and importable ivory, Zimbabwe provides a great combination of very good hunting with high quality PH’s at a reasonable price point.

Curious why the US has Mozambique as nonexportable. Thank you for the info.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

We just finished are 2024 season 8 for 8 on elephant.

Lon

Well done! I will PM you.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Hi Derek
I have some great area in Zimbabwe for both Non trophy bulls and trophy bulls depending on what you after.
Non trophy bulls we try take older bulls or bulls with broken tusks. It’s the same as shooting a trophy bull but half the price. (Around $18k)
I also have a good area for shooting the 30-45lbs bulls for $35k

Then I f you want an option for the bigger bulls then the price would be around $55-$70k.


Regards.

Lin Stanton
Email me for more information lindonstanton@yahoo.com

Lon I will be reaching out to you! Thank you for the information.

 

[375Fox]

When you are evaluating areas I’d look at the age class of bulls taken there, the ivory size, the quantity of PG in area, and success rates. I’d also ask questions about how people area. Some community areas have much larger core areas than others. Dedicated safari areas have no people but are typically more expensive. You can have a good elephant hunt in any of them more just knowing what to expect. There are quite a few elephants offers I’d have no interest in because the bulls are too young or there is no PG in area. Hunting Zimbabwe is very different than South Africa. Choosing a hunt I’d assign priority to choosing the correct area followed closely by the right PH. I’d also only hunt with full time Zimbabwe PHs and outfitters.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

When you are evaluating areas I’d look at the age class of bulls taken there, the ivory size, the quantity of PG in area, and success rates. I’d also ask questions about how people area. Some community areas have much larger core areas than others. Dedicated safari areas have no people but are typically more expensive. You can have a good elephant hunt in any of them more just knowing what to expect. There are quite a few elephants offers I’d have no interest in because the bulls are too young or there is no PG in area. Hunting Zimbabwe is very different than South Africa. Choosing a hunt I’d assign priority to choosing the correct area followed closely by the right PH. I’d also only hunt with full time Zimbabwe PHs and outfitters.

Very helpful and I appreciate your added thought process in selection of area and outfitter. I’ll be reaching out to you for a 1:1!

 

[Hunt anything]

Curious why the US has Mozambique as nonexportable. Thank you for the info.
Mozambique doesn’t have a management plan that suits the USFWS, from what I understand they are getting close to getting approval ( as of a year or so ago) . I haven’t spent anytime there since 2014 and there was still good elephant in pockets around the country. We had to deal with a few problem elephant and there was a few fatalities to some villagers.

 

[rookhawk]

My son, Noah (16), and I are starting to plan our next Africa safari. I have hunted SA 6 times and he has been with me on 2 of those trips which included multiple Buffalo and Lion. We are ready to hunt a new country and have started researching Elephant in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Would be interested in the groups thoughts on the differences between these two countries for exportable elephant hunting from price, size of elephant to expect, and any other factors you would use to determine which country you would choose.

All My Best,

Derek

Your question doesn’t really apply to Moz.

The question as far as trophy elephant are concerned, which is better Zimbabwe or Botswana. Lots of pros and cons on both of those, but those two would be your destination.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Your question doesn’t really apply to Moz.

The question as far as trophy elephant are concerned, which is better Zimbabwe or Botswana. Lots of pros and cons on both of those, but those two would be your destination.

I thought about Botswana but the prices I have been quoted put it a bit out of reach. My initial research was Zim was more affordable for elephant hunting.

 

[rookhawk]

I thought about Botswana but the prices I have been quoted put it a bit out of reach. My initial research was Zim was more affordable for elephant hunting.

In a desire to be even handed, I tried not to show my bias in the response, but I find Zim to be a great value. For trophy exportable elephant in Zim, you can find very good deals on bulls in the 40-60lb range, all-in 14 day hunts in the $23,000-$30,000 price range. Those same bulls in Botswana usually cost a lot more.

In fairness to Botswana, there are far-flung areas of Botswana where you can see 20-50 elephants in a day, and by sheer volume of bulls viewed, you may find a 70 pounder or more in those herds. You could pay as much as $80,000 for such a hunt, but some of them are less than that.

 

[DLSJR]

Hi Derek
I have some great area in Zimbabwe for both Non trophy bulls and trophy bulls depending on what you after.
Non trophy bulls we try take older bulls or bulls with broken tusks. It’s the same as shooting a trophy bull but half the price. (Around $18k)
I also have a good area for shooting the 30-45lbs bulls for $35k

Then I f you want an option for the bigger bulls then the price would be around $55-$70k.


Regards.

Lin Stanton
Email me for more information lindonstanton@yahoo.com

All, since I’ve done a Non-trophy bull hunt I thought I’d chime in about Lin Stanton’s post. While I did not hunt non-trophy elephant with Lin (I did this in 1986 with Roy Vincent on Matetsi 3) the concept is valid.

A non-Trohpy bull elephant can be an excellent hunt! While most non-trophy hunts take a younger, smaller bull; you can focus on an older bull with broken tusks and have every bit as good a hunt as you might get with a 60 lb. Bull. My non-trophy bull hunt was such a hunt. We found a big, old bull that had broken both tusks near the lip. He was transitioning from his 5th to 6th molar, probably in his mid 40’s age-wise. We stalked in close and the bull sensed our presence, turning to face us at about 25 yards. I was set up on the sticks with my Rigby double in 470 NE. The bull presented a classic frontal brain shot, but we had one very big problem…

There was a mopane tree centered between the bull’s eyes and I had no shot! We had quite a stare down that lasted an uncomfortably long time and finally the bull spun to depart. I came off the sticks and brained the bull as he was spinning away from us, my bullet actually entering just behind the right ear and dumping the bull instantly.

I highly recommend a non-trophy bull elephant, especially if you can hunt for a fully mature bull such as Lin offers. On a mature bull, the size of the ivory has nothing to do with the quality of the hunt. It’s a fantastic hunt!

 

[DLSJR]

Curious why the US has Mozambique as nonexportable. Thank you for the info.

Mozambique has not provided the scientific studies to prove that hunting enhances and protects overall elephant populations, which the U.S.F.W.S. requires. Zimbabwe has a large amount of such documentation to provide to Fish & Wildlife and the consultants who handle the majority of imports into the USA can assist you. Conservation Force is the largest, while Safari Specialty Importers is another option. I’m sure there are others too.

 

[rookhawk]

For what its worth, the rough difference for the trophy fees for an elephant paid to campfire or rural district councils is roughly $11,000 non-exportable / non-trophy, versus $13,000 for exportable trophy bull.

For those reasons, I don’t particularly understand going on a $25,000-$40,000 hunt and then saving $2000 to do a non-exportable.