Hunting in Southern Africa
A destination guide to Zimbabwe, its neighbours and the wider region — with practical context and independent sources.
Zimbabwe: where to start
Zimbabwe offers a mix of safari landscapes, from woodland and river valleys to southern bushveld. The first decision is the specific authorised hunting area, rather than the country alone: a safari area, private property and a national park do not have interchangeable access rights.
SOAZ explains that Zimbabwe safari operators must be registered and licensed, and that foreign hunting clients must be accompanied by a Zimbabwe-licensed professional hunter. The operator coordinates the permits and practical safari services. Ask for the operator’s identity, professional hunter’s credentials and written details of the area before making a commitment.
Use the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe for industry information and operator research, and ZimParks for wildlife authority information. A listing or association membership is a starting point for checking an operator, not a guarantee of a particular trip.
Around Zimbabwe & across Southern Africa
Zimbabwe borders Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. Namibia is also part of the wider regional safari circuit. The notes below distinguish established reference points from destinations that need individual investigation.
South Africa
PHASA represents the professional hunting industry across South Africa. Use it to research outfitters and professional standards. Confirm the province, property, operator credentials and species-specific conditions for the proposed trip.
PHASA ↗Namibia
NAPHA provides a practical legal guide covering registered operators, professional hunters, permits and trophy exports. Its published season is February–November; check the current rules for your exact itinerary before booking.
NAPHA legal guide ↗Zambia
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife lists non-resident hunting licences and permits for Game Management Areas. Ask which area and operator apply to your trip and what is included in the arrangements.
Zambia DNPW services ↗Mozambique
ANAC describes hunting within authorised hunting areas, game farms and other designated sustainable-use areas. Its licensing guidance connects each safari to an area, approved quota and concession operator. Remote-area access and transfers should be agreed in advance.
ANAC hunting information ↗Botswana
Use Botswana’s wildlife authorities for current hunting permissions and the tourism organisation for visitor planning. Firearms entry is controlled; a tourism booking alone does not establish hunting permission. Confirm the relevant area, quota and operator directly.
Botswana visitor information ↗Tanzania — wider regional option
TAWA administers tourist hunting in designated hunting blocks and publishes relevant regulations. Tanzania is included here as part of the broader Southern African regional community, although geographically it is in East Africa.
TAWA hunting tourism ↗Other countries in the wider region
Angola, Malawi, Eswatini and Lesotho are also relevant to the continental Southern African region. Do not assume that a general safari or wildlife attraction means a tourist hunt is available: check the national authority and the exact activity first.
For broader regional coverage, SADC also includes DR Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles and Comoros. These are included for geographic orientation, not as advertised hunting destinations. Consult the SADC member-state directory to identify the countries and their official links.
What a clear safari proposal should explain
- Destination and area: the exact concession or property, who operates it, and access arrangements.
- Scope and cost: dates, duration, accommodation, transfers, daily charges, species-related charges and exclusions in writing.
- Permissions: current hunting permission, any applicable species quota and the professional hunter assigned to the trip.
- Travel: entry requirements, airline and transit arrangements, and any firearms documentation relevant to the route.
- Trophy logistics: preparation, export, veterinary documentation, transport and destination-country import requirements where applicable.
Independent reading
AfricaHunting.com has destination discussions and first-hand accounts. Treat forum experiences as personal reports; use authorities and current operator documentation for decisions about permissions and availability.
Sources & further reading
Independent reference links, not endorsements or claims of partnership. Availability, market conditions and requirements can change.