Hwange! There's nowhere else quite like Zimbabwe's largest and most famous national park! For a start, it's the size of Belgium, covering just over 14,600 square kilometres in the north-west of this beautiful Southern African nation. That's a small slice of Europe located in a corner of an African country! 

Hwange is also stunningly diverse in terms of topography, its different biomes and the wild fauna and flora that calls it home. From desert sands and rolling savannah grasslands to dense riparian woodlands and dramatic rocky outcrops, this is a veritable African Eden filled with an abundance of life.

An estimate 50,000 elephants call Hwange home, along with huge herds of buffalo and excellent concentrations of lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as painted wolves (African wild dogs) and hyena. The game viewing is outstanding, with more than 100 mammal species found here year-round. Over 500 bird species have been recorded here as well, making Hwange a prime spot for birders. 

Hwange is named after a legendary local chieftain of the Nhanzwa people and used to be a renowned royal hunting ground for the Ndebele warrior king Mzilikazi. It became a national park in 1949 and today is one of the most successful conservation areas in Africa.

Like the rest of Southern Africa, the dry season between July and October each year is the best time for game viewing. This is when Hwange is filled will animals, especially huge herds of elelpahts, which descend on waterholes throughout the day to drink. The waterholes become ambush spots for predators so the action is ongoing.

For the best birding, the rainy summer season from December to March is the best as this is when Hwange is filled with summer migrant species, most of which come here to breed. The rain brings dense vegetation and lots of water and turns the park into a lush, verdant wonderland.

What makes Hwange stand out is the lack of people! The park never gets crowded, even in peak season, which adds an air of exclusivity and remoteness to its beautiful wilderness areas. It also means you won't be fighting for space at sightings and you will have the chance to completely immerse yourself in your surroundings, far from the madding crowds!

You can explore Hwange in a variety of different ways... Walking safaris are popular here, and horse safaris are also available allowing you to discover the magic of the park and its wildlife from the saddle. Game drives are also a given, of course. There are a variety of hides available for up-close wildlife photography and birding as well. 

Hwange is also conveniently close to Victoria Falls, making it ideal to combine with a few days in Africa's adventure capital! It also works well in a multi-country itinerary with neighbouring Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

Want to go?

If you'd like to chat to us about putting together a special safari that features Hwange for you and your family, please get in touch and let's chat about putting together the trip of a lifetime for you!