Zimbabwe’s wilderness areas are still quite untamed and thus very exciting to hunt. Zimbabwe is open for all big game hunting, so there is no reason not to book a big game hunt in Zimbabwe that is fast becoming Africa’s number 1 hunting destination. Most Zimbabwean concessions are open areas with no fences, all concessions are directly adjoined to National Parks that serve as feeder areas to the hunting concessions. Here are our three reasons to go hunting to this natural paradise.
Why Zimbabwe
1. True wilderness hunting
Zimbabwe features true wilderness hunting in some of Africa’s last great wild areas
2. An affordable Big Five hunt
Zimbabwe is one of the most affordable countries to hunt Big Five species such as buffalo
3. Proud safari tradition
Zimbabwe has a proud safari tradition and is home to some of Africa’s best-trained and most qualified professional hunters
About hunting in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, situated in the heart of southern Africa, is one of the continent’s most storied safari destinations. The country contains a wide variety of terrain and habitat, from the Zambezi Valley in the north to the game-rich Lowveld in the south. Zimbabwe’s lengthy list of huntable game includes baboon, jackal, buffalo, klipspringer, kudu, bushbuck, bushpig, leopard, caracal, lion, civet cat, crocodile, nyala, duiker, eland, sable, elephant, genet cat, steenbok, giraffe, grysbok, warthog, hippo, waterbuck, wildebeest, hyena, and zebra. The Zambezi Valley in particular is a major draw for big-game hunters, known for huge herds of elephants and one of the highest concentrations of Cape buffalo in Africa, as well as good populations of lions and leopards. The islands and marshes along the Zambezi also offer the opportunity to hunt hippos and crocodiles. A number of large, privately owned conservancies, including the Save and the Bubye Valley conservancies, also provide excellent hunting opportunities for plains game and dangerous game. Many of these conservancies started out as traditional farms and later banded together to create large, unbroken tracts of wildlife habitat.
What you need to know
Visas
If you are traveling to Zimbabwe to hunt, you may obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport. You can expect to pay $30 US for a 30-day/single-entry visa or $60 US for a 60-day/multiple entry visa.
Health
Malaria is present in many of Zimbabwe’s hunting areas, and malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended for all hunters.
Hunting
Most hunts in Zimbabwe are safari style, with hunters covering ground in a vehicle, and then, when an animal or fresh tracks are spotted, completing a stalk or tracking job on foot. Some safaris require extensive walking; others require very little, so it’s a good idea to ask the professional hunter.
Dark green or brown clothing is best, as are boots with soft soles for quiet stalking. Bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunblock, good optics, and a jacket for cool mornings and evenings. Most professionals recommend rifles in the .300-caliber family for plains game and .375 and up for dangerous game, but the most important thing is to bring a rifle you are familiar with and can shoot well. Due to thick brush (called jess), shots in many areas can be fairly close-range.
Tips
Tips are appreciated at most safari camps in Zimbabwe; in addition to the professional hunter, trackers, driver, and skinners, there are usually staff members at camp who handle cooking and cleaning and other chores and help to make a hunter’s stay pleasant. The professional hunter or outfitter can advise how much is appropriate to tip each staff member.
Tag your skulls and skins
Typically, animals are skinned at the safari headquarters and all skins are cleaned and salted, skulls and horns are cleaned and buried in salt, then the skins are folded and stored in a skinning shed. Before leaving camp, it’s a good idea to ensure your skulls and skins are properly tagged with your name and contact information.
Taxidermy
Once the hunter departs, or at the end of the season, trophies will be taken to a taxidermist for professional cleaning and dipping, which is required for export. The taxidermist then contacts the hunter for instructions regarding preparation and shipment and to arrange payment for these services. A shipping agent then handles the permits and shipping to the hunter’s home country.
Always check the latests regulations
It’s very important that hunters check the latest regulations in order to make arrangements in advance if they are hunting species that require CITES permits or other special export or import permits from the hunter’s home country. Many export and import requirements, especially for Big Five species, have undergone dramatic changes in the past couple of years.
Zimbabwe is similar to South Africa in that both countries provide some of the very best hunting available in Africa. Nowhere else will you encounter the sheer numbers of game that are present in Zimbabwe. So don’t miss your chance, go to BookYourHunt, choose your outfitter, enjoy the pristine beauty of nature, silence, fresh air, mirror lakes and rushing waterfalls. And if there are any questions you still have – we are always there to answer them!
Sincerely yours,
BookYourHunt Team!
