Zimbabwe travel guide

Hwange

Hwange is Zimbabwe's biggest national park and its best-known elephant country. It runs along the Botswana border in the country's north-west, a mix of teak woodland, open grassland and Kalahari sand, and it has almost no permanent natural water — which is the single fact that shapes a visit. Game concentrates around pumped waterholes, and in the dry months the animals come to you. Sitting at a hide in the late afternoon while several hundred elephant work their way in is the experience people travel for. It pairs naturally with Victoria Falls, a couple of hours up the road, and most itineraries treat the two as one trip.

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Best time to visit

August to October is the classic window: the bush is thin, the pans are the only water for miles and the game viewing is as good as it gets anywhere in the region. It is also hot and dusty by October. The cooler dry months from May to July are comfortable and still very good. The rains from November to March scatter the animals, thicken the bush and make some tracks hard going, but the birding is excellent and the park is quiet and green.

Getting there from Harare

Hwange is a long way from Harare and far closer to Victoria Falls, which is how most visitors reach it — flying to the Falls and driving down, or building it into a Falls package. By road from Harare the route runs through Bulawayo. The main camps sit off the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road, and the park's internal roads are dirt: in the dry season a normal car copes on the main circuits, but a high-clearance vehicle is the sensible choice and is essential after rain. Car hire companies in the directory can advise on which vehicles are allowed in the park.

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From the directory

Where to stay in Hwange

From the directory

Things to do in Hwange

Hwange highlights

  • Waterhole hides in the dry season, the best elephant viewing in the country
  • Main Camp and the pans on the eastern side of the park
  • Sinamatella, on an escarpment with long views over the bush
  • Robins Camp in the north, quieter and further from the main road
  • Night skies with no light pollution for a hundred kilometres
  • Combining the park with Victoria Falls in one trip

Hwange questions

How many nights do I need in Hwange?

Two nights is the minimum that is worth the travel. Three lets you settle into the rhythm of early drives and long afternoons at a waterhole, and gives you a second chance at whatever you missed.

Can I self-drive in the park?

Yes, self-drive is allowed on the park roads. Take more fuel and water than you expect to need, stick to the tracks, and be back at camp before the gates close.

Is Hwange only about elephant?

They are what it is known for, but the park holds lion, buffalo, giraffe, sable and painted dog, and the birding is very good. Predator sightings take patience.

Can I do Hwange from Victoria Falls?

Easily — it is the usual pairing, and the drive is a couple of hours. Some operators sell day trips, though a day is a long way to go for a short drive; a night or two is far better.

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Other destinations

Harare Victoria Falls Kariba Nyanga Mutare & Bvumba Great Zimbabwe & Masvingo Bulawayo & Matobo