Hwange National Park

In the 1800s the area nowadays known as Hwange National Park was the hunting place for the Ndebele kingdoms. European colonizers realized that the area's richness in wildlife was of great importance and they were very careful not to over-hunt it. In 1928 the area was declared a National Park as Wankie Game Reserve.

Waterholes were created and the wildlife populations started to grow rapidly. By the 1970s Hwange was home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa. Because of this density, it is very likely you will see baboon, elephant, giraffe, impala, monkey, lion and zebra.

Strangely, even though it is easy accessible and full of wildlife, you won't see many other vehicles when driving through it. The best time to visit is during the dry season, when animals congregate around the water holes and are easier seen. There are three camps in the park, but most visitors stay at the Main Camp. The other camps are Sinamatella and Robins.

Hwange National Park measures 14,600 km² (5,700 sq mi). It is in the west of Zimbabwe, straddling the border with Botswana.

For those without their own transportation, guided tours through the park can be arranged. You can get a tour by vehicle, but there are also interesting walking tours. The town of Dete is the nearest town to the entrance of the park. It sits on the road between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Hwange National Park is 460 km southwest from Harare.

Hotels in Hwange National Park

Images

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