Hwange National Park is famous for harboring the Big Five African mammals including black and white rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards. The park offers unique African safari activities including walking safaris.
Geology
Established in 1929, the protected area covers 14,650 sq. km in North West Zimbabwe bordering Botswana and the Kalahari Desert. This explains why the park is underlain by sandy soils, carbonate, granite rocks, and basalt lava flows. The topography is low-lying in the west and central areas of the park at 950 m. Rising gently with undulating ridges and hills to the north and east at 1,133 meters above sea level. Non-perennial rivers that don’t flow continuously for the whole year including Deka, Lukosi, Sinamatella, drain the north and North West. Gwayi River drains the south. The rivers and their tributaries shrink into a series of shallow swamps, water pools and calcrete pans that hold water during the dry season from between June and October. This helps to sustain the park’s over 50,000 African bush elephant population. Natural underground springs as well as a large man-made water dams at Mandavu provide water for wildlife throughout.
Vegetation
Thus, the north and northwest areas of Hwange national park are characterized by Mopane woodland and mixed Terminalia shrub vegetation. Mopane tree also known as butterfly tree (colophospermum mopane) is the dominant tree species whose leaves and bark contain medicinal properties. The tree also provides habitat for mopane caterpillars that are eaten by local people. The caterpillars produce protective coverings that are harvested and turned into silk. Among other common tree and shrub species include sand camwood (Baphia massaiensis) and the Kalahari bauhinia (bauhinia petersiana). The low-lying central and west parts of the park contain a mosaic of dry deciduous Baikiaea woodland with terminalia scrub. The eastern part of the park contains Brachystegia commonly known as Miombo woodland and some perennial open savanna grasslands and swamps along the riverbeds.
Fauna
Due to a wide range of habitats, Hwange national park is rich in biodiversity including over 105 mammal and 410 bird species. The park is famous for harboring the Big 5 mammals which include with a growing population of black and white rhinos, and fewer leopards, over 500 lions, 50,000 African elephants, and many Cape buffaloes. In addition to lions and leopards, other predators include African painted dogs, cheetahs, bat-eared foxes, brown hyenas, and spotted hyenas.
Best time to visit Hwange national park
Wildlife viewing is most fruitful during the dry season from June to October. Given that vegetation becoming sparse, visibility improves significantly. This makes it easier to spot wildlife from a distance. Roads within the park are also more accessible as they dry out, allowing for smoother and more extensive game drives.
As the dry season progresses, water sources become scarce outside of natural waterholes and dams. Wildlife from across the park is drawn to these specific locations, making sightings of elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and antelopes more predictable. Getting a tour guide who is familiar with the park’s game tracks increases your chances.
Activities
Walking safaris
Hwange offers authentic walking safaris all year round. An alternative form of wildlife viewing activity that provides a more intimate and up-close experience with the Hwange wilderness. Led by knowledgeable guides, bush walks allow you to appreciate the smaller details of the ecosystem, learn about tracks and signs, and encounter wildlife on foot.
Game drives
Game drives are the best way to explore Hwange national park and observe its abundant wildlife. You can embark on early morning, afternoon, or full-day game drives. Accompanied by experienced guides who help track animals such as elephants, lions, giraffes. Ensure reach some of the waterholes where wildlife viewing is excellent. For instance, Nyamandhlovu Pan is one of the largest waterholes in north Hwange. It attracts large herds of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and various antelope species. The viewing area is equipped with hides or platforms for observing wildlife up close. Makwa Pan in the south is a great spot for bird watching.
Night drives offer a unique opportunity to see nocturnal wild animals that are rarely spotted during the day. With the aid of spotlights, you might encounter leopards, brown hyenas, and other creatures as they become active after dark.
Hwange community craft center
Located near the entrance of Hwange National Park, the Main Camp area offers a community craft centre where visitors can find traditional crafts and artifacts made by local artisans. Visitors can support community livelihoods through responsible tourism.
Weather and climate
There’s a relatively dry and warmer climate almost all year-round with average rainfall of 650 mm per annum. The highest temperatures can reach up to 33 degrees Celsius.
How to get there
Hwange national park is 200 km (3-hour drive) on tarmac road south of Victoria Falls and can also be reached by air through the Victoria Falls International Airport. Several airlines operate at Victorial falls airport including Kenya Airways which offers connecting flights to Uganda and Rwanda for gorilla safaris.