Hwange National Park

Wildlife

Hwange is synonymous with elephants. The most recent survey cited in Zimbabwe’s national elephant management plan estimates more than 42,000 in the park, and in the dry season it is not unusual to watch several family herds arrive at a single pan, the youngest calves hurrying to keep up. Buffalo herds can be equally impressive.

The predator line-up is excellent. Lion are found throughout and are closely tied to the waterholes; Hwange is also known for one of Africa’s more significant populations of African wild dog, also called painted dog, with research and conservation work based in nearby Dete. Leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and side-striped jackal complete the cast, and the park was the long-time home of Cecil, the lion whose death in 2015 drew worldwide attention to the region’s big cats.

Hwange is one of the best parks in the region for rarer antelope. Sable and roan both occur here, along with greater kudu, eland, waterbuck and, on the Kalahari sands towards Botswana, small numbers of gemsbok. More than 100 mammal species and over 400 bird species have been recorded, from kori bustard and southern ground hornbill to raptors such as the martial eagle. Hwange is not a Big Five park in practice, as rhino are not seen, but for elephants, wild dog and classic Kalahari scenery it is hard to beat.

Key wildlife

• Elephant
• Buffalo
• Lion
• Leopard
• Cheetah
• African wild dog
• Spotted hyena
• Sable antelope
• Roan antelope
• Greater kudu
• Eland
• Gemsbok
• Giraffe
• Zebra

Best Time to Visit

Short answer: Jul–Oct. Also good: May–Jun.

Peak Good Quieter

The dry season from July to October is Hwange’s peak time. The bush thins, surface water disappears and wildlife concentrates on the pumped pans, making sightings reliable and often dramatic. September and October are the hottest and driest months, and the elephant gatherings at this time can be extraordinary.

May and June are a good choice for cooler days and still-excellent game viewing as the landscape dries out. Nights can be cold at this time of year, so pack warm layers for early drives.

The rains usually arrive in November and last until March or April. The park turns green, animals disperse widely and game viewing becomes more of a search, but it is a beautiful time for birding, with migrant species arriving, and many antelope give birth early in the season. Rates are often lower, and you will share the park with far fewer visitors.

Getting There

The main gateway is Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), which has regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and other regional hubs. From there, Main Camp is about 195 km by road; allow three to four hours while roadworks on the A8 continue, or break the journey with a night at Victoria Falls.

The park also has its own airport, Hwange National Park Airport (HWN) near Dete, but scheduled services have been unreliable, so it is best treated as an occasional option rather than a plan. Most guests staying at the private camps in the south-east fly by light aircraft from Victoria Falls directly to their camp’s airstrip, a flight of under an hour that replaces a long, sandy drive. Your camp will usually arrange this as part of your stay.

The main entrances are Mpofu Gate near Dete for Main Camp, Mbala Gate for Sinamatella and Nantwich Gate for Robins. Hwange combines naturally with Victoria Falls and with Botswana’s Chobe National Park, a short drive from Victoria Falls via Kasane, and with Mana Pools on the Zambezi for a wider Zimbabwe safari.

Fees & Access

Entrance fees

ZimParks conservation fees for international visitors are US$12 per person per day if you stay inside the park and US$24 per day for day visitors. SADC nationals pay US$10 (staying) or US$18 (day visit). Children aged 6–12 receive a 50% discount. Rates include VAT, and vehicle entry is charged separately.

Private concessions charge their own conservation levies, which are usually included in your camp rate.

Gate hours

6:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Health

Malaria risk: Moderate. Ask a travel clinic about antimalarials before you go.

Fees and gate times change. Check the latest rates with the park authority before you travel.

Things to Do

Game drives in open vehicles are the main activity, with private concessions offering exclusive traversing and, in some areas, night drives that bring the chance of seeing nocturnal species such as honey badger, porcupine and civet.

Guided walks are a Zimbabwean speciality. The country’s professional guides undergo some of the most rigorous training in Africa, and a morning on foot with one of them, reading tracks and approaching game carefully, is often the highlight of a stay.

Hides and platforms let you sit quietly at the water’s edge. Raised wooden platforms at pans such as Guvalala and Makwa, and the sunken hides at several private camps, put you at eye level with drinking elephants.

Painted dog conservation. A visit to the painted dog conservation centre in Dete is an excellent way to learn about Africa’s most endangered large carnivore and the work being done to protect it.

History and culture. The Bumbusi National Monument in the north holds stone-walled ruins, and the park is dotted with archaeological sites spanning the Stone and Iron Ages.

We do not yet list a Hwange itinerary, but it pairs beautifully with Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Okavango Delta. Browse our safaris for ideas, including our Chobe safari from Victoria Falls, or plan your safari with us.