Zimbabwe - Safari Costs

We work with several of the best hunting operations in Zimbabwe.  Our safari outfitters in Zimbabwe include Bvekenya Safaris, Zambezi Hunters, Georgia Safaris, Western Safaris, Roger Whittall Safaris, Lions Den Safaris, Chapungu Safaris and Jumbo Safaris.

Bvekenya Safaris
Bvekenya Safaris has been privately owned and operated by Peter Barnard since 1994 and is based in Zimbabwe.  Bvekenya Safaris operates in several areas around Zimbabwe, specializing in custom tailoring safaris in the best concessions for the game the clients are wishing to hunt.  This policy has enabled Peter Barnard’s clients to take some of the best trophies produced in Africa in recent years.  Peter won the Best Buffalo in Zimbabwe award in 2003, and the Best Antelope in Zimbabwe in 2001. 

Chewore Safari Area- Bvekenya Safaris has been operating in both the Chewore North and Chewore South areas for over the past 10 years.  The Chewore area has the Zambezi River as a boundary in the North, and the Zambezi Valley Escarpment in the South.  Sapi Safari area to its West and Dande Safari area to it East.  The area is over 2 million acres in size, and offer the discerning hunter a wide range of game ranging from elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, hippo and plains game. 

Save Valley Conservancy- The Save Valley Conservancy is located in South East Zimbabwe, a five hour drive from Harare.  Hunting takes place on 200,000 acres of the 850,000 acre reserve.  Terrain varies from thick riverine vegetation to open woodland, interspersed with rocky out-crops.  The area boasts excellent buffalo, leopard and plains game.  This region has one of the most amazing animal populations and specie variety available in all Zimbabwe. 

Gonarezhou Communal Land- Bvekenya Safaris offers excellent elephant hunts adjacent to the famous Gonarezhou National Park in southeast Zimbabwe.  These bulls will average 50+ pounds of ivory per side.  The best time to hunt this area is January through April.  Hippo, croc, leopard and a few plains game may also be hunted in this area.

Bvekenya uses only the very best in hunting vehicles and equipment.  All of the vehicles are new and fully rigged out to make sure your hunt is a comfortable as possible.  Our professional hunters are seasoned men with many years of experience behind them and all thrive on success.  All camps offer a high level of comfort in the bush without losing the atmosphere of a classic African safari.  Each lodge/camp will have an en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water and a flush toilet.  The beds are comfortable with overhead mosquito netting.  Chefs will provide you with world class catering. 

• Plainsgame - $500 day for 7 days                          
• Sable/Plainsgame - $900 day for 10 days                        
• Croc/Hippo/Plainsgame - $900 day for 7 days                          
• Buffalo/Plainsgame - $950 day for 10 days                        
• Buffalo/Sable/Plainsgame - $1000 day for 12 days                      
• Buffalo/Leopard/Plainsgame - $1100 day for 15 days                      
• Buffalo/Lioness/Plainsgame - $950 day 15 days      
• Buffalo/Lion/Hippo/Plainsgame - $1500 day for 18 days          
• Elephant Bull/Buffalo/Plainsgame - $1250 day for 15 days                        
• Elephant Bull/Plainsgame - $1000 day for 14 days                        
• Lion/Buffalo/Leopard/Elephant/Hippo/Plainsgame - $1800/day for 24 days
• Tuskless Elephant Only - $750 day for 7 days
• Tuskless Elephant/Hippo/Plaingame - $ 850 day for 10 days
• Buffalo/Leopard/Tuskless/Plainsgame - $1100 day for 18 days
• Leopard/Plainsgame - $750 day for 14 days
• Leopard/Lioness/Plainsgame - $1000 day for 15 days
• Elephant Bull/Tuskless/Plainsgame - $900 day for 15 days
• Lion/Leopard/Buffalo/Hippo/Plainsgame - $1700 day for 21 days
• Elephant/Buffalo/Leopard/Plainsgame - $1600 day for 21 days
• Lion/Leopard - $1250 day for 18 days
• Buffalo/Tuskless  - $900 day for 14 days

Zambezi Hunters
Zambezi Hunters offers some of the finest big game and plainsgame hunting available in Africa today.  Established in 1967, Zambezi Hutners is one of the oldest existing hunting operations in Africa with a tradition and reputation second to non.  Their wildlife concessions encompass large areas of both private and communal land in the game rich region of the southeast lowveld of Zimbabwe.  They have a number of safari camps from which to choose, offering large, diverse hunting quotas for both biga game and plains game hunting. 

PH Jonathan Hulmemembarked upon his career in hunting when he joined Ian Piercy’s Zambezi Hunters as a learner hunter in 1986. This was the starting point of what was to become a brilliant career. From that time until the present day, Jonathan has been hunting big game continuously. He has hunted over 150 elephant, over 200 buffalo, 102 leopards, 27 lion and thousands of plainsgame.

The dedication and determination which drives Jonathan as a professional is evidenced by his attainment of the best hunter of the proficiency exam in 1992 and by the excellent quality of trophies he continues to deliver year after year

PH Zayne Van Der Merwe Zayne began his hunting carreer when in school he culled buffalo and other plainsgame commercially in Kenya during the holidays until he was 18 years old. After school he did a farming diploma for 1.5 years while still hunting whenever he had a chance.

At the age of 20 he started a full time apprenticeship for his professional hunters license with Ingwe Safaris in Zimbabwe. Here Zayne was under the tuition of Andy Schultz who won the best hunter award in Zimbabwe in 1996. Zayne was with Ingwe Safaris for 2 seasons gaining more experience with dangerous game including elephant and lion.  He then went up to Tanzania and obtained his licence in 1999. While in Tanzania Zayne hunted with Wegert Windrose, Safari Trackers and Kiboko Hunting in Masailand and the Selous doing only dangerous game hunts for 2 seasons before returning to Zimbabwe to finish his Zimbabwean licence in 2003 under the tuition of Barrie Duckworth and Pete Fick of Mokore Safaris.  Zayne got his full licence and achieved the best hunter at Rifa award for that year and is currently employed full time by Zambezi Hunters.

• Safari Options and Days Required - Price only available on request
• Lion, Buffalo, Leopard and Plains Game - 21 days
• Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Plains Game - 21 days
• Elephant and Plains Game - 15 days
• Buffalo, Leopard, Sable and Plains Game - 18 days
• Buffalo, Leopard and Plains Game - 15 days
• Buffalo, Sable and Plains Game - 12 days
• Buffalo and Plains Game - 10 days
• Leopard, Sable and Plains Game - 14 days
• Leopard and Plains Game - 14 days
• Plains Game - 7 to 10 days

Daily rates include:

• The services of a fully licensed professional hunter together with the use of a modern 4 wheel drive vehicle and a team of trackers and skinners. 
• All hunting permits, licenses and concession fees
• Skinning, field preparation and salting of skins and trophies
• Full accommodation, meals, local beverages and laundry

Not included in the daily rate:

• Hotel charges before and after the booked safari dates
• Government Levy
• CITES tags for elephant, leopard and crocodile
• Transfer day—if option taken to facilitate movement between areas
• Gratuities
• Medical Air Rescue Service (includes evacuation and primary treatment)
• Extra vehicle, driver and tracker for checking baits should it be requested by the client
• Dip and Pack of trophies per hunter

Georgia Safaris
Professional Hunter John Hunt has a reputation for producing big leopard.  There are only a handful of real cat hunters in Africa, and even more rare is the individuals who focus on one specific specie of cat.  To date, there have only been two people we have encountered in all of Africa that focused solely on big trophy leopard- and John Hunt of Georgia Safaris is first on our list. 

Georgia Ranch is a large property situated in the heart of the Matabeleland bush about 80 miles south of Bulawayo.  The leopard, considered to be the most elusive of Africa's dangerous game, are abundant on Georgia Ranch.  The terrain is rugged with numerous kopjies (rock hills) and consisting of mopane, acacia and thick bush with very little open country.  Most hunting is done on foot.  In addition to Georgia, John Hunt has access to other ranches in the Lowveld making the total safari area available in excess of 300,000 acres.

The accommodations on Georgia are private cottages and A-frame chalets with all the amenities
- bath or shower with hot and cold water and flush toilet, or bush camps in the area.

Safari Rates

• Plains game- 7 days at $400 per day
• Leopard- 10 to 14 days at $600 per day
• Buffalo- 10 to 12 days at $850 per day  

Trophy Fees

Chapungu Safaris
Zimbabwe offers some of the best Big Game hunting in Africa, and Chapungu Safaris have an excellent hunting concession in the Charara Safari Area. The area offers four of the Big Five species - elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard plus various plains game species including the majestic sable. The Sanyati area offers elephant too, a great area for hunting your 'first' elephant.

Ruwanzi area is specifically plains game hunting area and whatever species are not available in the Charara Safari area can be taken here.

Chapungu Safaris in Zimbabwe was established by fully qualified professional hunter, Ray Townsend in 1990, and has recently joined forces with professional hunter Jacques Hartzenberg in South Africa, offering hunting in 3 provinces, KZN-Natal, Northern Cape and Eastern Province, where you can now complete your Big Five hunt with the White Rhino.

"Chapungu" takes its name from the local African language, meaning "Bateleur" Eagle, which has the best eyesight and is first on the kill.

Chapungu Safaris started operating in Zimbabwe with Professional Hunter Ray Townsend and his wife Pat. Chapungu has grown over the years and Ray has built up an excellent reputation, along with a great client base, as well as huge experience in hunting big game species as well as plains game species. Working with Ray, Jeremiah Musunuri has grown with Chapungu Safaris Zimbabwe from the first day. Jere plays an important role in Chapungu Safaris and he manages the camps, and keeps the wheels turning smoothly!

The concept of broadening the wildlife arena for our clients was an exciting one, and we saw it as an important step for the future of the industry. Due to a service history of excellence, Chapungu Safaris Africa is renowned for attracting clients from the top end of the market. Repeat business and word of mouth has become our most effective marketing tool, and we welcome many of our clients back on a yearly basis with a genuine feeling of friendship.

Hunting as a form of tourism contributes enormously to the economy of both Zimbabwe and South Africa. We create jobs, contribute to the CAMPFIRE project making locals aware of the value of the animals, and bring foreign currency into the region.

In Zimbabwe Chapungu is still operating without any problems in the Charara South Concession Area, 300,000ha with no fences! The area is situated in the Kariba Eastern Basin and stretches to the Nyaodza River Mouth.

Roger Whittall Safaris
Roger Whittall Safaris is a third generation Zimbabwean hunting family - one of the oldest names in the safari business. This family and its reputation needs little to no introduction to most African Hunters. For those of you considering a safari to Africa for dangerous game and/or plains game or an excellent opportunity to combine both, Roger and his family, who own RW Safaris is the only company to contact.

Rogers father, Jimmy Whittall, was born in Turkey to English parents who had moved there in the 1700s. Jimmy's father hunted with the renowned Frederick Courtney Selous and the family still have his 6.5 mm Manlicher rifle that he used for hunting African elephants and meat for the pot. Jimmy married a cousin of the British Royal family and decided to settle in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe in 1928. They called their ranch Humani after a local range of hills. Jimmy developed the land into a cattle ranch and hunted for sport.

Roger, is equally famous for starting Roger Whittall Safaris and his fabled home, Humani, which is now part of the world's biggest wildlife conservation area, the Save Valley Conservancy. It measures 1 million square acres and is home to the big five with the largest population of black rhino in Africa. The area shelters over 100 of these rare mammals.

In these august footsteps comes Guy, Roger's son now fully established as an internationally renowned hunter, farmer and cricketer. After playing cricket for his country, Guy Whittall retired in 2003 to return to the business he loves. Guy hopes that by helping his father run a successful hunting company it will insure the business will be around for at least 3 more generations to come!

RW Safaris believe in fair chase and are committed to ethical hunting. It is also one of the only hunting operations that incorporates dangerous game as well as plainsgame, where you can leave with up to 25 different species.

When you choose Roger Whittall Safaris for your African adventure, you will enjoy untamed Africa but not be expected to endure discomfort in the process.  All RWS camps are supremely comfortable and situated in natural beauty spots where guests can enjoy both the view and the ambiance. We have years of experience behind us, which help us to find the best campsites with the shadiest trees and the most beautiful outlook. Here comfortable campsites with either tents or thatched bandas, all with three-quarter beds, private facilities with hot and cold water, generated power and mosquito nets have been built.Satellite phones are available at a small additional charge.

Generated electricity means that all our camps have big cold rooms, which keep our food fresh. We specialise in delicious home cooking, with the breakfast of your choice: anything from freshly baked croissants to the full English meal with muesli and fruit on the side. Our dinners are always three courses and we are particularly famous for our game cooking: delectable casseroles of bushpig or guineafowl, sizzling impala steaks cooked over an open fire. Our desserts alone have encouraged repeat business - and, if we are advised in advance, we cater for all tastes and dietary requirements.

Clients wishing to extend their holiday are cordially invited to stay in Roger Whittall's historic family homestead and explore the Save Valley Conservancy, which is now the largest wildlife area in the world. There are photographic opportunities, the chance to walk with experts in the bush and encounter wild animals on equal terms, areas of outstanding natural beauty to visit, superb golf courses, good curio shopping, places like the Hippo Foundation to visit and the chance to meet and understand rural Zimbabweans whose lives have changed little this millennium.

Humani, the family ranch that has been home to the Whittalls for three generations, is unique: a reminder of the past yet as up to date and modern as tomorrow. Our guests so enjoy meeting Zimbabweans and experiencing the gentler side of safaris that they frequently stay on for non-hunting safaris with the family. Roger Whittall, is a founder member of the Save Valley Conservancy and is one of the leading practical conservationists in Zimbabwe.
Needless to say, guests stay in the lap of luxury and are waited on hand and foot. It is the ultimate unwind and relaxation.

Safari Options

• Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Plains Game Safari- 24 days at $2000 per day
• Lion, Cape Buffalo and Plains Game Safari- 21 days at $1500 per day
• Elephant, Cape Buffalo and Plains Game Safari- 16 days at $1250 per day
• Elephant and Plains Game Safari- 10 days at $1000 per day
• Buffalo, Leopard, Sable and Plains Game Safari- 15 days at $1000 per day
• Buffalo, Leopard and Plains Game Safari- 14 days at $900 per day
• Buffalo and Plains Game Safari- 10 to 14 days at $700 per day
• Leopard, Plains Game Safari- 14 days at $750 per day
• Sable, Plains Game Safari- 10 days at $550 per day
• Plains Game Safari- 7 days minimum at $400 per day

Animals Available and Trophy Fees

Special Species

The following are by special arrangement and are available only in certain areas and in combination with certain hunts.

Price Includes:

• All the services of the professional hunter and his staff
• All camp facilities and services
• Full accommodation, food and beverages
• Special diets/ allergies/dislikes
• Field preparation of trophies
• Transport while on safari
• Carriage of trophies to shipper or local
• taxidermist

Price does not include:Excluded In the Safari

• Travel to and from Zimbabwe
• Visa and exit fees
• Transport from Harare airport to camp although this will be organised on your behalf and in line with your wishes.
• Insurance, although we carry local medical insurance
• Gratuities (the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters Association says that 10% tipping is the norm)
• Zimbabwean tax on daily and trophy fees, currently 2% of the total but subject to change
• Extra days, food and lodging in Harare outside your safari

Entering & Exiting

Zimbabwe
Most guest from foreign countries will have to pay a visa fee of US$30 on entering Zimbabwe and an airport tax, payable on departure, of US$20. Please bring these in US dollars.

Camps
Camps are situated to take advantage of the best views and shade. They are comfortable, well equipped and offer tasty bush cooking. You stay in your own tent or chalet, which is attractively furnished with a full size bed and mattress and en suite facilities. Please let us know in advance of any dietary requirements or preferences. 

Firearms & Ammunition
We meet you on arrival in Zimbabwe and facilitate the importation of your firearms. You will be issued with a temporary import permit after a customs' official has checked them. For all safaris, it is recommended a combination of solid and soft-nose bullets. Please bring about 100 rounds of shotgun ammunition, No. 6 and 8 gauges, if you wish to shoot game birds.

Bow Hunting has been available in Humani since 1994. Waterhole hunting from tree stands and pit blinds combined with some of the best stalking bush in Africa offers the serious bow hunter excellent opportunities. Unlike "game farm", bow hunting ranches in other places, Humani has the "Old Africa" feel that draws bow hunters to their primal roots.

C.I.T.E.S. Requirements
Please obtain a permit for all animals you wish to hunt which appear on the C.I.T.E.S. appendices 1, 2 and 3 lists as applicable in your country. Copies need to accompany the hunter and trophy shipments

Health Requirements
It is not necessary to have any inoculations for entry into Zimbabwe but strongly recommend all guests take an anti-malaria prophylactics. It is important to take the right medication: please check with your doctor and with us. Please consult your doctor or travel medical clinic for all current medical requirements.

We strongly recommend that you take out medical insurance that includes relocation to the destination of your choice and that you bring any prescription drugs or OTC requirements with you. 

Payment
All our prices are listed in US dollars and, by Zimbabwean law, all bills and fees have to be paid for in foreign currency. We require a 50% deposit, refundable up to three months before the safari, to secure your booking. The balance is to be paid on completion, together with trophy fees, in US dollars, foreign currency travellers cheques or recognised international credit cards. Trophy fees are paid at the end of the safari for all animals killed or wounded. Prices are current but subject to revision.

Liability & Indemnity
While the RW Safaris team are experienced and careful, hunting is a potentially hazardous activity. It is essential that you follow all lawful directions and advice from us at all times.

Roger Whittall Safaris, team and agents accept no responsibility for illness, accident or loss whatsoever or for any expenses arising from such. Travel and medical insurance are recommended.