Wildlife encounters on safari are the highlight of most trips to Africa, and Hwange National Park offers some of the best sightings and guides in Africa. Hwange has an extraordinary abundance of wildlife including over 400 species of birds and over 100 mammal species. It is known for having possibly the largest population of elephants than any other reserve or park in Africa with an estimated 44,000 elephants reported in 2015. This number of elephants in one reserve is unfortunately unsustainable due to the elephants’ destructive nature and requirement for large amounts of water and food, particularly in a park with no natural water source, however, the lodges and communities within Hwange are working their hardest to keep the pumped waterholes full, and it makes for some absolutely spectacular sightings when multiple herds move quickly down to a waterhole for a drink, swim and splash around!
Hwange National Park is the largest park in Zimbabwe at approximately 15,000 square kilometres and is located in the west of the country, bordering Botswana, along the road that leads from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo. Due to human settlement, the wildlife’s natural migration to water has been cut off, and therefore, Hwange is known for its concentration of wildlife around the pans and waterholes due to there being no natural water source in the park, making for amazing sightings of large congregations of different animals. Hides and lookout decks have been built throughout the park to make the most of these waterhole sightings and are often incorporated into safari activities.
Although Hwange is a national park it does have some private lodges on private concessions of land within the park, meaning that they can do off-road driving as well as night drives as they do not have to adhere to the national park rules. Many lodges also specialise in walking safaris as well as game drives, and some offer visits to local schools and communities and other slightly more unusual experiences such as involvement in pump runs to keep the waterholes full.
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our expert Kirsty is dedicated to all things Zimbabwe and is here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Zimbabwe is a country which has had its fair share of political and economic issues in recent years that have overshadowed the country’s beauty and wildlife draw. But today the government is stable and the overinflated Zimbabwean dollar has been replaced by the US dollar – the consequences of this are that there is no better time to book a trip to Zimbabwe for those looking for a superb African holiday with some of the best guides and safari sightings that Southern Africa has to offer. A testament to this is the abundance of high quality guides that have stayed in the country and the amount of filming taking place for wildlife documentaries, including the BBC who have multiple projects in Zimbabwe (The Hunt, 2015 and an epic series due in 2017 called Dynasty which is set to rival the BBC Earth series, both of which had filming crews at some of our favourite lodges for extended periods of time).
Zimbabwe continues to experience significant growth and development of existing and new hotels and lodges, which is a very positive sign for the tourism industry as well as for the country as a whole. Combining this with national parks teeming with wildlife and natural beauty, as well as warm and friendly people, and comfortable and contemporary properties, makes Zimbabwe a superb tourist destination. It is a breathtakingly stunning country with dramatic landscapes and vast wilderness that has so much more to offer than one initially realises. Zimbabwe is most famous for one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls). It also has a further four UNESCO World Heritage sites listed: Mana Pools National Park, Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Khami Ruins National Monument and Matobo Hills. All of these sites are possible to visit on a trip to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe lies south of the equator and therefore has opposite seasons to the UK, making it a perfect winter sun destination for those needing an escape from the long, grey days. However, Zimbabwe has a year-round warm climate, making it a good destination at any time of year. Generally, days are bright and sunny, and nights are clear and cool, depending on the time of year. Temperatures and rainfall are directly influenced by altitude. The highveld and eastern highlands are cooler, and the lowveld and the Zambezi Valley hotter, with summer temperatures often soaring well over 35 degrees Celsius.
UK passport holders require a visa to enter Zimbabwe. This is purchased on arrival in the country at immigration by cash payment (at the moment the amount is USD50 per person).
If you are travelling via South Africa with children you will be required to present an unabridged birth certificate for each child, and possibly sworn affidavits permitting them to travel from parents not travelling. Please ask us for more details.
The guides in Zimbabwe are some of the best in Africa. Their experience in walking safaris and canoeing safaris is unparalleled. Some of the most famous names in African guiding are based in Zimbabwe and are well known on sites such as YouTube for the up-close and relaxed encounters that you can experience with big game, particularly on foot.
The infrastructure in Zimbabwe is better than some of its neighbouring countries. There is a domestic flight network with Air Zimbabwe, but the routings do not cover all areas of the country, so although most internal travel is by air, some sections can be pricey as it will be by light aircraft. Distances are vast and therefore road transfers are limited to certain areas, but these can be very lengthy drives and therefore have to be planned carefully into the itinerary, and may be worth the extra spend to fly in. Self-driving is possible but is not something we recommend for most trips due to the time constraints and logistics.
As we’re not medical experts, we feel it is essential you contact your GP regarding vaccinations and the like for travel to Zimbabwe. What follows are some suggestions, but they must be verified by a medical professional. In addition to such vaccinations as you’d routinely have for living in the UK, further boosters are recommended for Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Diptheria.
Malaria exists in Zimbabwe. Please consult your GP for advice on what malarial precautions to take.
We also like these guys, but again you must talk to your GP first: The Travel Doctor, an interactive website providing specialist health information for travellers plus customised lists of travel medicines, vaccines and malaria tablets for holiday makers, global adventure travellers and expeditions.
The Zimbabwean dollar has been phased out since 2009 due to hyperinflation, and is no longer accepted at all in Zimbabwe. Therefore, although a variety of strong currencies are accepted in Zimbabwe, the most widely accepted and best to use is the US Dollar (US$).
If you’re spending time on safari, there are some things you should pack in addition to your usual holiday luggage. These are our suggestions:
We believe travel should be a force for good. That means exploring with open eyes, treading lightly, and respecting the people and places that make the world so special. Our code of conduct isn’t about rules, it’s simply a guide to help you travel thoughtfully, ethically, and with care. Because every small choice makes a big difference.
If you choose to trust us with your holiday, we’ll send you a “Travel Facts” document when confirming your booking. This includes useful facts and travel advice, such as restaurant recommendations, reading tips, basic language information, cultural traditions, climate information, brief historical overviews, and more. We feel that this offers a useful insight and can help you interact with local residents in a more sensitive, well-informed manner. Please do try to take the time to read this information before your visit, it’s worth the time!
A number of the countries in which we operate holidays are religious societies with a widely observed set of customs. Always respect these norms, particularly when visiting religious buildings.
To the best of our knowledge, all hotels, lodges, and camps within our portfolio operate stringent measures to minimise water usage. All of our destinations have issues with water supplies to a certain extent, so feel free to raise any possible wastage should you encounter it during your stay, either with the accommodation or with us upon your return.
Please ask permission before taking photographs of people, and respect their wishes if they are not happy to be photographed. We find that friendly requests and a smile are usually met with a ‘yes!’
Strive, where possible, to make your own contribution to environmental practices as you travel. This might include minimising your electricity usage, not smoking in protected areas, avoiding coral while snorkelling, and safely disposing of all litter (recycling where possible).
Where possible, try to purchase from local suppliers. This includes shopping for souvenirs, dining out at restaurants, and booking additional excursions during your free time. In areas where haggling is an accepted part of daily life, don’t be offended if you’re unable to obtain what you perceive as a fair price for an item.
We emphasise to local suppliers that our clients should never be taken on unsolicited shopping trips, but if this does happen, try to retain your sense of humour, provide a firm refusal to participate and do let us know about it on your return. We pass on all feedback from every trip undertaken with us to our relevant local suppliers, who all share our commitment to travelling with sensitivity.
Please don’t remove any indigenous items from their natural habitat and attempt to bring them home as a souvenir. This particularly applies to everything from coral, shells, plants and food in the natural world, to cultural artefacts and antiques.
If you’re unsure about anything relating to the above, please feel free to chat to us. We’ve travelled extensively in the country and will be more than happy to offer our considered advice.
We offer tailor-made holidays to suit a wide range of tastes. Our expert Kirsty is dedicated to all things Zimbabwe and is here to help you plan your perfect trip.
Speak to one of our travel specialists today.
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