Location

Hwange National Park

"The elephant stronghold of Zimbabwe"

Why we like it

Zimbabwe’s largest national park at 14,651 km², and the biggest single elephant population in Africa, estimated at 45,000 to 50,000.
An easy extension from Victoria Falls, roughly an hour by road or a short flight.
Over 100 mammal species and around 400 bird species.
One of the largest surviving wild dog populations in Africa, and one of only two places where gemsbok and brown hyena occur.
The pumped waterholes concentrate huge herds in the dry season, which makes the game viewing unusually reliable.
Three distinct areas, Main Camp, Sinamatella and Robins, each with a different feel.
Excellent value compared with equivalent elephant viewing in Botswana or Tanzania.

Hwange is the park we recommend when someone wants big elephant numbers without the crowds of East Africa, and it is the easiest big-game park in Zimbabwe to reach because it sits an hour from Victoria Falls. The catch is that it is not a scenic park. It is flat, dry and covered in teak and mopane, and the drama happens at the waterholes rather than against a backdrop. If you want mountains and lakes, go to Mana Pools or Kariba. If you want to sit at a pan and watch 300 elephants arrive in waves, this is the best place in Africa to do it.

What is Hwange National Park?

Hwange National Park is a 14,651 km² protected area in the northwest corner of Zimbabwe, bordering Botswana. It is the country’s largest national park and one of the largest in Africa. It was founded as Wankie Game Reserve in 1928, proclaimed a national park in 1949, and renamed Hwange after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. The nearest town is Dete, and the park sits just off the main road between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

Why are the waterholes so important in Hwange?

Hwange has no permanent surface water. Every animal in the park depends on boreholes that are pumped to keep the pans full, many of them maintained by the conservation trust Friends of Hwange. This is what makes the game viewing work. In the dry season, when the bush pans are empty, the pumped waterholes become the only water for kilometres, and wildlife has no choice but to come to them. It also means the park can support far more animals than the rainfall alone would allow, which is why the elephant numbers are so high.

When is the best time to visit Hwange?

July to October is the best time to visit Hwange. The bush dries out, the pumped waterholes become the centre of activity and elephant herds gather in numbers you will not see anywhere else. August to October is the peak. May and June are cooler and quieter with good general game viewing. November to April is the wet season, when the landscape turns green, the animals disperse and several camps close.

Period	Conditions	Wildlife	Verdict
May to June	Cool and dry. Cold mornings, 5 to 10°C	Good and improving weekly	Comfortable and uncrowded
July to August	Dry, clear, pleasant days	Herds building at the waterholes	Prime. Book early
September to October	Very hot, 35°C plus	Peak elephant concentrations	Best sightings, hardest heat
November to April	Wet season. Green and humid	Animals disperse, birds arrive	Low rates. Some camps closed

What wildlife will I see in Hwange?

Elephant dominate, with an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 in the park, and herds of several hundred at a single waterhole are routine in the dry season. Buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena are all present. Wild dog are a genuine highlight, and Hwange holds one of the largest surviving populations in Africa. Sable and roan antelope are found in the north, and Hwange and Mana Pools are the only protected areas in Zimbabwe where gemsbok and brown hyena occur, both in small numbers. Over 100 mammal species and around 400 bird species have been recorded.

What are the different areas of Hwange?

The park divides into three main areas, each with its own character. Main Camp is the largest and busiest, at the main entrance, surrounded by pans and pumped waterholes and rich in game. Sinamatella sits on a rocky escarpment in the north, overlooking a riverbed and plains, with a productive waterhole visible from the camp. Robins Camp is in the remote northwest, more wooded, and the quietest of the three. Beyond these, several private concessions operate on the park’s edges, offering exclusive-use areas and walking safaris.

How do you get to Hwange?

Hwange is the easiest of Zimbabwe’s parks to reach. It is about an hour’s drive south of Victoria Falls, with Main Camp roughly 23 km off the Victoria Falls to Bulawayo road. Most travellers drive or transfer in from Victoria Falls, or fly into one of the park’s airstrips on a light aircraft. There are daily flights from Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo to the main camps and concessions. We usually build Hwange as a three to four night stay, paired with Victoria Falls, and often with Mana Pools for travellers who want a second, wilder park.

Is Hwange right for you?

Hwange suits travellers who want serious elephant viewing and are happy with a dry, flat landscape. It is a good first safari park because the game viewing is reliable and the logistics are simple. It is also good value compared with Botswana or Tanzania for the same volume of elephants. It does not suit anyone looking for dramatic scenery, and it is not the place for a walking-focused trip. Mana Pools is better for that.