Travel Guide
Hwange travel guide
Zimbabwe's largest national park with one of Africa's greatest elephant concentrations. Over 100 mammal species roam these diverse landscapes from teak forests to Kalahari sands.
Language
English
Currency
USD
Timezone
CAT (UTC+2)
Best time
Jul-Oct (dry season, best wildlife)
Budget/day
$80-200
When to visit
Jan
19 to 30°C
Feb
18 to 29°C
Mar
17 to 29°C
Apr
14 to 28°C
May
10 to 26°C
Jun
6 to 24°C
Jul
5 to 24°C
Aug
8 to 27°C
Sep
13 to 32°C
Oct
18 to 35°C
Nov
19 to 33°C
Dec
19 to 31°C
Safety
Low RiskStay in vehicle. Follow guide instructions. Elephants can be aggressive.
Women travellers
Exercise standard precautions. Research specific areas before visiting. Use registered transport services. Avoid isolated areas at night.
Culture & etiquette
- + 44,000 elephants in dry season—largest concentration
- + Painted dogs (wild dogs) are highlight
- + Night drives reveal nocturnal predators
- + Support lodges that employ local communities
- - Don't display expensive items
- - Don't share too much with strangers
- - Don't ignore local customs
- - Don't assume everyone speaks English
Food to try
Lodge bush dinners
Hwange's premier wildlife camps turn dinner into theatrical ceremony—tables candlelit under acacia trees, three-course menus of kudu stew, impala pie and bush berry desserts; the sounds of the African bush replace all other entertainment
Boma BBQ
Circular communal firepit dinners at Hwange's safari lodges—open wood fires in a traditional circular boma enclosure, African drumming, communal sadza, game sausage, barbecued beef and relish vegetables; the most social form of bush dining
Sundowner drinks
Hwange's camps serve cocktails and biltong from 4WD vehicles parked beside waterholes as elephants drink at sunset; gin-and-tonic, Castle beer, nuts and Zimbabwean biltong while lion cubs play 50 meters away; genuinely unmatchable
Hidden gems
Details are indicative and may change. Verify visa, safety, and entry requirements before travel.