Hwange – Zimbabwe’s Premier National Park

Introduction

Regarded as one of the finest parks in Africa, Hwange is renowned for its incredible abundance and diversity of wildlife in one of Africa’s largest unfenced wilderness areas. Situated in North-West Zimbabwe, the area was home to the San Bushmen 10,000 years ago, a royal hunting ground of the Ndebele warrior chief Mzilikazi during the early 19^th century and later proclaimed a National Park in 1929. Over 1.4 million hectares of sandy soils support extensive semi-desert scrub and salt pans on the edge of the Kalahari in the south, along with forests, granite hills and mopane woodlands in the northern valleys. With more than 100 species of trees and shrubs, the area is ideal to support an abundance of species in this pristine wilderness.

All the Big 5 can been seen at Hwange, however the park is most famous for one of the world’s largest populations of elephant, as numbers can reach 75,000 in the dry season. With over 180 species, Hwange is home to the greatest diversity of mammals in any National Park. Baboon, jackal and warthog are often spotted as are springhares hopping around like kangaroos on night drives in the private concessions (off-road and night drives are not permitted within the National Park). The park has 8 large carnivores including lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, one of the largest packs of wild dog in Africa and reasonable numbers of brown hyena. Vast herds of buffalo are located in the North-west, whilst the South-East regions are most ecologically diverse, with relatively strong numbers of white rhino in addition to the elusive gemsbok and rare roan and sable antelope. During the summer, wildebeest, eland and giraffe are abundant on the open grasslands whilst the waterholes become a magnet for elephants to drink during the winter months. Hides and platforms overlooking the 60 man-made waterholes, shallow pans and reservoirs are perfect spots to view accumulations of the parks’ spectacular wildlife.

With over 400 bird species, including 50 types of raptor, Hwange is a birdwatchers heaven. Rare species range from Dickinson’s kestrels and Arnott’s Chat to crimson-breasted shrike and scaly feathered finches. Unusually high populations of Kori Bustards reside, along with vibrant crowned cranes which prance around in comical dances at the start of the mating season during the rains.

When To Visit

Hwange is a year-round game park but the dry months generally offer the best wildlife viewing.

April and May: At the onset of drier conditions causes vegetation to dry out and game species including herds of antelope, elephant and buffalo congregate around permanent water sources and waterholes in May, where temperatures are around 25°C and nights can fall below freezing. At altitudes of around 1,000m, winter evenings are chilly. Predator viewing is good.

June to October: The increasingly dry climate results in rising densities of game accumulating around waterholes. Elephant populations are particularly high and predator viewing is good. In October there are higher chances of seeing oryx. The months of August to late October are considered to be the best game viewing months. September and October are the hottest summer months, and the greatest densities of animals are located by waterholes. The saltpans are cracked and the vegetation yellow and dull.

November to March: The rainy season. In November, afternoon thunderstorms and temperatures reaching 38°C are common. The first rains attract migrant bird species which are most visible at this time. The rains transform the plains into luscious green expanses, with broad-leafed woodlands in a profusion of green in addition to well fed animals roaming the floodplains. There are excellent wildebeest, zebra and waterbuck concentrations along with rare species of eland, sable and roan. Predator viewing is good. Birdlife is most spectacular at this time as the start of the mating season brings comical dances by crowned cranes and red bishops in scarlet breeding plumage

Temperature & Rainfall

Climate Chart – Hwange