Overview–zimbabwe

Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is the largest and most popular park in Zimbabwe. Easily visited from Victoria Falls, it offers excellent general wildlife viewing, including all the Big Five (although rhinos are very scarce). Hwange is most famous for its elephants, which are present in impressive numbers throughout the year, but frequently gather around waterholes in their hundreds during the Dry season.

Best Time to Visit

From July to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season, is the prime time for wildlife viewing in Hwange National Park. The many waterholes become gathering places for animals, while the thinning vegetation makes them easier to spot. Keen birders, however, might enjoy the summer months from November to March when migratory birds are present.

April to October –Dry Season – Winter

Wildlife is easier to spot
The sky is blue and it hardly ever rains
Malaria risk is at a minimum
The heat is less oppressive (except in October)
The Main Camp area can become crowded
It is dusty and dry
Early morning game drives in open vehicles are cold

November to March –Wet Season – Summer

The scenery is green and fresh
There are few visitors and rates might be lower
Baby animals are plentiful
Migratory birds arrive and this is the best time for birding
Some roads become challenging or even impassable
Wildlife viewing is better in the Dry season
It is very hot, especially in the afternoons
Some camps and lodges close from January to March

Scenery

Hwange is not scenic in a conventional sense, but the immersive wilderness atmosphere of this vast park more than compensates. It stands on the eastern edge of the vast Kalahari sands and scrublands. Habitats include teak forest, thornveld, and mopane woodland. There is little natural water in Hwange and animals are dependent on artificial waterholes, especially during the Dry season (April to October).

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Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: July to October (Middle and end of the Dry season)

High Season

From: June to October (Hwange’s main area can become busy)

Size

From: 14,650km² / 5,656mi

Wildlife & Animals

Hwange National Park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. A highlight of visiting at the end of the Dry season, which runs from April to October, is watching the big herds gather around the waterholes. Carnivore lovers won’t be disappointed. Lion, spotted hyena, and black-backed jackals are all quite common, and with some luck, you might also see African wild dogs, cheetahs or leopards.

Wildlife Highlights

Hwange is a great all-round wildlife destination. In addition to large herds of buffalo and elephants, plentiful lions, and mixed groups of zebra and wildebeest, it is one of the best places in Zimbabwe to see cheetahs and giraffes. Unusual antelope include greater kudu, gemsbok, sable, and roan antelope. Spotted hyenas are often seen at dawn and dusk, and the population of wild dogs is one of the largest in Africa. Hwange specials sometimes seen on night drives are brown hyena, bat-eared fox, and springhare.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

From July to October, during the middle and end of the Dry season, is the best time for wildlife viewing in the park. During these months, vegetation is thinner and animals gather around predictable water sources. At this time it’s quite common to see a large variety of wildlife drinking at the artificially pumped waterholes, and there is always a chance you’ll witness a kill.

General Wheather

Hwange National Park experiences a warm climate. The warmest months are October to March, while May to August are the coolest. The Dry season (April to October) brings fine weather. Afternoon showers are common in the Wet season (November to March). Winter corresponds to the Dry season and summer to the Wet Season.

Dry Season –April to October – Winter

April – This is the beginning of the Dry season and rain generally becomes less frequent as the month progresses. The nights are cool. Prepare for early morning game drives in open vehicles to be cold.
May, June, July & August – These are the coldest months of winter. It is a very dry time. Daytime temperatures are around 26°C/79°F, but it gets cold at night with average temperatures around 9°C/48°F.
September & October – The first rains usually arrive in late October. This settles the dust and brings new vegetation. Daytime temperatures are over 33°C/91°F. October is the hottest month, and temperatures frequently peak above 40°C/104°F.

Wet Season –November to March – Summer

November – This month brings a start to the rainy season, although it is rare for rain to fall every day. It is hot, and daytime temperatures average around 32°C/90°F.
December, January & February – The wettest months bring rain most afternoons. Daytime temperatures average 32°C/90°F, while nights and early mornings average 15°C/59°F.
March – Temperatures average between 33°C/91°F and 14°C/57°F, and the Wet season slowly comes to an end.

Prons

Top wildlife viewing with all of the Big Five present
A wide variety of animals
Night drives and walking safaris are available at many camps
Close to the popular Victoria Falls
Accommodation options for all budgets
Excellent self-drive and self-catering facilities

Cons

Roads that were previously tarred, and in good condition, have mostly disintegrated

How To Get There

Hwange National Park is very accessible. Main Camp can be reached on a tar road, 200km/124mi south of Victoria Falls. The drive takes up to 3 hours*. To reach some of the other camps deeper in the park, a 4WD vehicle might be necessary, especially during the wet months from November to March. Some of the lodges have airstrips for charter flights.

You will probably arrive in Zimbabwe through Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), near the town of Victoria Falls. Usually, you will be picked up from the airport or hotel by your tour operator, who will organize onward travel throughout the country as part of your tour package.

There are no scheduled flights to Hwange.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA), and what tickets would cost.