Bordering Botswana and just south of the Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve. Covering some 14 000km2, Hwange has an incredibly high concentration of game and is particularly well known for its healthy elephant population of over 30 000, which firmly entrenches it as one of Africa’s last great elephant sanctuaries.
Home to all of the Big Five, Hwange plays host to over 100 species of mammal and guests regularly sight white rhino, buffalo, wild dog, hyena, gemsbok, sable, roan antelope and a host of other nocturnal species. Hwange National Park is a birdwatcher’s haven, with 400 species recorded. The extensive road network, and proliferation of man-made waterholes, means that game viewing is superb and rates amongst the very best in Africa.
Running from July to October, the Dry Season is the best time to visit Hwange National Park as the animals base themselves around the waterholes and spend long periods at them playing and quenching their thirst. This makes for excellent photo opportunities! There is nothing better than watching a playful herd of elephant frolicking in some mud – one of the true joys of Africa. The summer rains bring life to the park and it’s during those times (December to March) that bird watching is at its most prolific.
Visitors to the park are able to interact with it in a number of ways and can choose between walking safaris, game drives and the popular horseback safaris – all accompanied by expertly trained trackers and rangers. There are several great accommodation options in the park, and the lodges are seldom fully booked. Chat to our Zimbabwean travel experts about putting together the perfect Hwange National Park safari today.