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CLASSIC DANGEROUS GAME SAFARIS
ELEPHANT
Regardless of the weight and conformation of tusks, elephant hunting epitomizes classic safari hunting, making it one of the truest forms of fair chase hunting. You kill an elephant with your feet.
The definition of “trophy quality” can vary widely from hunter to hunter when it comes to elephant hunting. For many, a bull of 35-50 pounds is considered respectable today. And it is, especially when considering the varying conditions found in elephant hunting countries. However, there are "pockets" of elephant territory with the potential to exceed this weight range. Big ivory still roams.
Unless we learn otherwise from you, we assume that an above-average trophy is desired. Consequently, every elephant hunt that we recommend is designed as a trophy hunt with a reasonable probability of beating today’s average. We will put you in big tusker territory, but your odds of taking such a bull will require sufficient time, seemingly endless walking, and the patience to pass up lesser bulls.
Botswana is well known for its trophy-class elephant potential. Magnificent bulls are harvested annually. Herds in the northern part of the country exceed what the environment can support. A selective hunter under the guidance of PHs specializing in elephant hunting there could find a bull in the 60 to 90-pound class. Body sizes of Botswana bulls are also the largest in Africa, and they are importable into USA.
The Luangwa Valley of Zambia is another good destination. With a dedicated effort, the Luangwa Valley can produce 50-60 pounders.
Zimbabwe has produced some really good bulls over the last few years. It maintains a solid place on the map of elephant options. And Zim PHs are among the best elephant hunters in Africa.
The Ruaha Valley of Tanzania has the largest population of elephants in the country, and exceptional ivory is taken annually. This is also a great region for multi-species safaris in search of other dangerous game including buffalo, lion, and leopard and several species of plains game.
LION
Exclusive blocks in the Ruaha Valley of Tanzania, the Niassa Game Reserve in Mozambique, and the Luangwa Valley of Zambia are historical producers of importable trophy-class lions. Our safari operators in each of these three regions are expert cat hunters, and the hunting is real.
Our classic lion safaris are the polar opposite of canned lion hunting featuring lions with coiffured manes on game ranches in South Africa. Be careful not to fall for the line, “you will be hunting your lion the classic way – on foot”. Almost all lion hunts in South Africa are not real lion hunts.
There are exceptions in South Africa, however. A few private hunting blocks and national game reserves have free-roaming lion populations and periodically offer a hunting permit as part of their game management strategy. We are highly selective in recommending lion hunts here. So, don’t rule out South Africa altogether if you really want to hunt lion.
LEOPARD
The most successful leopard hunts continue to take place in our areas in Tanzania, the Niassa Reserve in Mozambique, northern Botswana, and along the banks of the Luangwa River of Zambia. Zimbabwe can be very productive thanks to a good number of PHs who have perfected their cat hunting skills.
Because most hunters also desire to hunt a complement of other game on leopard safaris, the other species of interest will factor into our recommendation of where to hunt leopard.
RHINO
Credit private game ranchers motivated by the potential commercial value of rhino hunting with saving the rhino. They enabled rhino hunting today. But only large hunting areas in South Africa with free-roaming rhino produce classic safari hunting experiences. Taking a rhino that is a “known quantity” on small, “postage stamp-sized” game ranches of a few thousand acres is not hunting in the purest sense of its meaning. So, we ensure hunters experience realistic hunting when pursuing this noble species. When you take a rhino on one of our special safaris, you will be proud to say that you hunted for it. Pricing is typically structured according to horn size.
CAPE BUFFALO
Multiple areas in Tanzania, Niassa in Mozambique, the Luangwa Valley of Zambia, and northern Botswana hold impressive populations of buffalo. A remote classic safari in any of these destinations will be rewarding. The Kilombero Valley of Tanzania in particular holds Africa’s highest population of Cape Buffalo. But there are plenty of buff in each of the regions mentioned – more than enough to predict 100% opportunity.
There are also locations in South Africa where buffalo hunting meets the attributes of classic and fair chase. What’s important to note is that many South African game ranches have been adding buffalo to their stock and selling attractively priced hunts because breeding stock hasn't yet commanded high prices at auctions. Consequently, buffalo safari prices in South Africa are appealing compared to the cost of classic buffalo hunting in remote countries. However, the discerning eye will recognize that many of the buffalo being taken in South Africa are immature bulls. South Africa is still an option, but we will advise specifically where to hunt them classically.
If Pantheon Hunters ever suggests South Africa for hunting buffalo, it will be because we have access to large, challenging areas with genetically superior, natural buffalo that range freely. Their home range along the border of Kruger National Park (e.g. Timbavati) or in selected areas of Limpopo Province, and the Kalahari have big buffalo and proper buffalo hunting. Hunting buffalo in South Africa in such areas could make a lot of sense with plains game on the priority list. We’ll make sure you’ll have a proper hunting experience in the tradition of a proper safari in South Africa.
CROCODILE
For the lengthiest and girthiest crocodiles, we choose tributaries of the Kilombero River in Tanzania and the Lugenda River in the Niassa Reserve and Cahora Bassa regions of Mozambique.
The Luangwa River in Zambia has very good crocs. The Zambezi River in Zimbabwe along with Lake Kariba can produce 12-13 footers on average and greater length for the patient and more focused hunter.
HIPPO
The Luangwa River in Zambia and the Niassa and Cahora Bassa Lake regions of Mozambique, and our multiple prime areas in Tanzania hold significant numbers of hippo. Big bulls among herds are carefully selected from the water’s edge or by stalking on land for solitary bulls very early or late in the day. Stalking them on land can certainly be a high-voltage dangerous game hunt.
