On the northwest side of Zimbabwe at the edge of the Kalahari desert bordering Botswana, within a short flight or reasonable drive of Victoria Falls is Hwange National Park - offering some of the best game viewing in Africa.
Hwange National Park is one of Africa’s great classic safari destinations, a vast wilderness of teak forests, open savannah and pumped waterholes renowned for enormous elephant herds and wide, crowd‑free horizons.
This flagship reserve in Zimbabwe is ideal for refined travellers seeking a high‑quality, low‑density safari that links seamlessly with Victoria Falls, Mana Pools, Mozambique’s beaches and neighbouring Botswana.
Covering around 15,000 square kilometres, Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, with habitats ranging from Kalahari sandveld and mopane woodland to open grasslands and seasonal pans. This diversity supports one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife, including an estimated 40,000–50,000 elephants, large herds of buffalo and an impressive variety of plains game and predators.
The park is famous for its productive man‑made waterholes, which draw game from kilometres around in the dry season, creating spectacular late‑afternoon scenes as elephant families, sable, roan and zebra file in to drink. With no large towns close by and relatively few camps for its size, Hwange retains an authentic, uncrowded atmosphere that appeals strongly to seasoned safari‑goers and first‑timers alike.
Hwange is a year‑round destination, but wildlife viewing is at its most dramatic during the dry winter months from about June to October, when surface water is scarce and animals congregate in large numbers around the pumped waterholes. July to October is particularly rewarding for elephant and predator sightings, with clear skies, cooler mornings and crisp golden light over the open plains.
The green season, roughly November to March, brings summer storms, greener landscapes, fewer vehicles and excellent birding, with more than 400–500 species recorded in the park. While game is more dispersed in these months, photographic opportunities are beautiful and rates at many camps can be more attractive.
Hwange is known for an outstanding mix of species: alongside its famed elephant herds, you can expect lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and one of Africa’s stronger populations of endangered African wild dog. Rare antelope such as sable and roan occur in good numbers, and plains game from giraffe to wildebeest and zebra are commonly seen on game drives.
Most camps offer twice‑daily game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, including the option of night drives on private concessions, which can reveal nocturnal species and exciting predator behaviour. Hwange is also one of Zimbabwe’s leading walking‑safari destinations, with highly qualified guides leading bush walks that focus on tracking, behaviour, smaller creatures and the ecology behind the big‑game viewing.
In some areas, photographic hides overlooking productive waterholes let you watch elephants and other wildlife at eye level, often for hours at a time. Cultural visits and community projects on the park’s fringes round out the experience for guests interested in conservation, people and place.
Hwange offers a compact collection of classic bushcamps and high‑end lodges, many in private concessions or prime wildlife areas, with guest numbers typically capped at a handful of tented suites. This keeps the experience intimate and flexible, with a strong emphasis on guiding, waterhole positioning and relaxed, informal hospitality.
In the more accessible eastern and central reaches of Hwange you’ll find comfortable tented camps and small lodges that offer excellent value while still delivering serious game viewing. Places like Camp Hwange and Davison's Camp are known for their high‑quality guiding, productive waterholes and combination of game drives, walks and hide time.
These classic properties typically feature spacious canvas or thatched rooms with en‑suite facilities, fire‑lit dining and friendly, down‑to‑earth hosting – ideal for guests who prioritise immersion in nature and quality guiding over ultra‑contemporary design. Many operate on a fully inclusive basis, covering meals, drinks and activities, which makes budgeting simpler for a longer Zimbabwe itinerary.
In Hwange’s south‑eastern Linkwasha and Makalolo concessions, high‑end camps such as Wilderness Linkwasha, Little Makalolo and Somalisa Camp combine refined tented suites with some of the most productive game viewing in the park. Think contemporary, light‑filled rooms, private decks overlooking busy pans, excellent cuisine and some of Zimbabwe’s finest guides on hand to interpret the wildlife around you.
These luxury camps offer a broad activity portfolio – day and night drives, walking safaris and time in well‑positioned hides – alongside thoughtful touches like sleep‑out platforms, wine cellars and highly personalised service. Many are actively involved in conservation initiatives and community partnerships in and around the park, so your stay directly supports long‑term wildlife protection and local livelihoods.
One of Hwange’s great advantages is how easy it is to reach from Victoria Falls. Most travellers either fly by light aircraft from Victoria Falls Airport to one of several airstrips serving different concessions, or travel by road in around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on the area and lodge.
Some camps are accessed via a combination of road and the nostalgic “Elephant Express” safari railcar, turning your transfer into part of the adventure as you trundle through Hwange’s landscapes spotting wildlife from the tracks. For more remote corners of the park, scheduled or charter flights provide quick, scenic access and maximise time in camp.
Hwange also connects neatly by air or overland with other key Zimbabwe regions such as Mana Pools and Lake Kariba, as well as with Botswana’s Chobe and Okavango Delta, making it a natural building block in a broader southern Africa safari.
Hwange and Victoria Falls are a classic combination: a few days soaking up the drama of the Falls and Zambezi activities, followed by three to six nights in Hwange’s quieter, game‑rich wilderness. It also pairs beautifully with Mana Pools for travellers who want to contrast Hwange’s wide, open plains and pumped pans with the Zambezi floodplains, canoeing and walking safaris further north.
From Hwange, it’s straightforward to add Botswana’s Chobe and Okavango Delta or a Mozambique beach finale, creating a multi‑country journey that balances big‑game viewing with river and lagoon experiences and time on the Indian Ocean. With coordinated light‑aircraft flights, road transfers and meet‑and‑assist services throughout, we design Hwange safaris that feel adventurous on the ground but seamless in their logistics.
Immerse yourself in a luxury safari experience with our 14-day Botswana and Zimbabwe highlights experience, including the majestic Victoria Falls. This luxury adventure takes you into Botswana's famed Okavango Delta and onto Zimbabwe's most prominent national parks, where you'll witness breathtaking wildlife in their pristine habitats.
Stay in three exclusive camps that blend comfort with sustainability, providing authentic safari and adventure experiences, and Safari Guru's top-choice guest house in Victoria Falls.
Our 14-day / 13-night luxury safaris is considered mid-range in price and includes all local safari flying and transfers.
Somalisa Camp is an exceptional camp in a prime central/west location in Hwange National Park. Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest (almost the size of Belgium) and most popular park. It is known for its prolific elephant population, offering guests an authentic view of diverse savannah safari in Africa. Hwange is a land of contrasts, from dense teak and acacia forest to vast open savannah.
Located in a private concession under the shade of an Acacia grove overlooking the edge of an ancient seasonal floodplain. It was the first camp by this operator and one of the park’s first lodges; as such, it has a fantastic, ‘pride of place’ location. In 2015 the original quite rustic bush camp, was completely rebuilt, changing its style to a luxurious yet comfortable safari-chic camp – which fits with its magnificent position.
Overlooking the perfect vista, the fresh, open and airy design of Linkwasha Camp Zimbabwe is complemented by an eclectic mix of contemporary interiors and Ndebele culture, with the original spirit and essence of safari.
Linkwasha Camp Zimbabwe is situated in a private concession in the south-eastern corner, which is considered one of the best locations in Hwange National Park — found near the famed Ngamo Plains, where wildlife and fantastic birdlife gather in numbers during summer.
The viewing from the camp itself can make some days hard to leave for safari activities, as Linkwasha; and its sunken hide overlooks a pan that is a magnet for game seeking to quench its thirst in the midday heat.
The private concession of Little Makalolo Camp (and Linkwasha) in south-eastern Hwange National Park Zimbabwe, are built upon a solid foundation of purpose, as they support local community in order to protect the wildlife and help the people in surrounding villages.
Little Makalolo Camp lies in the heart of one of the best game viewing areas in Hwange National Park and is a mere 45-minute flight from Victoria Falls in a light aircraft.
Located beside a vibrant waterhole in the private area of the national park, Little Makalolo allows guest a window view of some of the finest wildlife Africa has to offer. The solar-driven pumps replenish the waterhole daily, attracting masses of Africa's behemoths for your viewing pleasure from the log-pile hide.
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