Hwange National Park: Introduction
Hwange National Park is located in the far west of Zimbabwe on the border of Botswana and is the largest park and protected area in the country at approximately 14 500 km² in size. The Park supports enormous species diversity and provides an authentic safari experience with an abundance of wildlife and fantastic birdlife.
Hwange National Park is situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The area is dry and water is scarce during the winter months, so there are a number of pumped waterholes to sustain the wildlife.
The wet summer months provide afternoon thunderstorms and the park is turned into a lush green haven. A variety of plains game, including blue wildebeest and zebra migrate here and give birth to their young during this time of year. Hwange is an important element to wildlife conservation in Southern Africa, as well as neighbouring countries like Botswana and Zambia.
Locate the Hwange National Park
How to get there & Best time to visit
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. There are no scheduled flights to Hwange.
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.
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.