Elephant Hunts

Elephant Hunts in Africa

Hunting Elephants in Africa one of the great adventures of African big game hunting.  Elephants are the largest land mammal on earth, and for those  taking  elephant hunting safaris, it is the pinnacle of a big game hunter’s career.  Man has been taking an elephant hunt in Africa since the beginning of time.  Hunted first for its meat, then for its ivory, and now for the sport and challenge that it offers, an elephant hunt has always attracted those that sought the challenge of stalking and taking down the largest land mammal on earth.  Elephant populations have been greatly reduced in Africa due to rampant poaching for its valuable ivory and by reduction in habitat and resulting conflict with humans brought on the expanding population in Africa.

An elephant hunt today is limited to only a handful of countries in modern day Africa.  Rampant poaching for its valuable ivory and man’s encroachment into its traditional habitat have caused many countries to stop the hunting of elephants.  Restrictions on the importation of ivory by western countries and Europe have further curtailed elephant hunts in Africa.  But elephant hunt provides needed financial resources to many African countries and most experts agree that sport hunting of elephants is necessary to bring value to the African elephant and to help ensure its long term survival.

Traditional methods for an elephant hunt involves cutting fresh tracks either at a waterhole or crossing a road and then setting out on foot following the tracks and hoping to catch up with the elephants and be able to get a good look at its ivory.  Elephants travel large distances in a day’s time, so a hunter should be prepared to walk long distances under hot, dry conditions.

Most countries in Africa have what is known as the African savanna elephant.  A second species of African elephant, the forest elephant, is found in the equatorial forest belt of West Central Africa.  Trophy hunting for forest elephant is only allowed in Cameroon at the present time.  The largest elephant trophies are currently found adjacent to national parks, and every year or two an elephant hunt in Africa produces a 100# elephant.