Hwange National Park in Western Zimbabwe is the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe and the third largest in Africa. With an area of 14,600km², its sheer size means that its scenery, vegetation and game vary hugely, ranging from the semi-desert scrub on the edge of the Kalahari in the south to forests, granite hills and valleys of mopane woodlands in the north.
It is home to the Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – as well as over 400 species of birds, abundant plains game and an array of mammals. As you can see from the photos below, there is an abundance of elephant in the park – around 44,000 – which makes it one of the largest elephant populations in the world.
Hwange is one of the few places in Zimbabwe to see giraffe. All the unusual antelope are resident and spotted quite easily, including greater kudu, gemsbok, sable and roan antelope. The population of wild dogs is one of the largest in Africa.
And the camps themselves are world-class… Discover them below.
Deep inside a private concession, nestled inside the remote northern region of Hwange National Park, hides Nehimba Lodge. By combining luxury living with ultimate elegance and lashings of African charm, this Lodge is designed to create the most exceptional safari experiences.
No two days are the same at Nehimba and game viewing experiences are tailor-made to guest’s preferences, including game drives, walking safaris and night game drives on their private concession in search of nocturnal species of wildlife.
Camelthorn is nestled in the cool woodlands on the southern edge of Ngamo’s famous Plains. This flagship lodge ticks all the boxes for your authentic African safari experience. Here, you will be treated to a truly memorable safari experience, in pure comfort and style.
Less than a kilometre away from the lodge and inside Hwange National Park, they have built an underground hide in front of a beautifully located waterhole – elephants can be photographed from toe level silhouetted against the sky at a distance of 25 feet.
Bomani is situated on a 5000-acre private reserve within the Ngamo Forest Area. The main lodge overlooks Bomani Pan and is comprised of an open dining room, bar area and lounge, built on a spectacular viewing platform.
At Bomani, they do not have rigid schedules instead they like to tailor time around their guests. If you want to be woken with a coffee in bed and after meander to your game drive, that is welcomed. Or maybe you want to skip the drive and visit the local village to gain insight into local life. Whatever you choose, Bomani provides an incredible safari experience.
Jozibanini Camp is situated in the remote south west of Hwange National Park in a wilderness unused for nearly 20 years; only the wildlife and the Parks rangers who look after it frequent this area, once roamed by San people. This is a small, truly exclusive camp in a truly wild place, providing a unique, untamed wilderness experience.
This lodge is breaking new ground in Hwange in terms of the remoteness of the location and the uniqueness of the environment.
Nestled in a stunning location tucked away on an acacia island along the edge of an ancient seasonal flood plain, Somalisa provides guests with breathtaking views of the savannah plains across the famous Kennedy Vlei line. Recently re-built, Somalisa Camp has upgraded its level of accommodation to that of complete comfort and luxury whilst still maintaining its focus on the guiding and hosting of guests to ensure the ultimate guest experience.
Wildlife sightings include elephant, kudu, sable antelope, zebra, wildebeest, gemsbok, the rare and endangered roan antelope, buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, hyena, and many other wildlife species.
Somalisa Acacia has recently undergone a complete rebuild and now comprises of 2 Family Units with inter-leading walkways between the parents and children’s rooms which are both en-suite, as well as 2 standard Sail Tents. Each tent includes gauze sliding doors, a glass wood-burner fireplace for the cold winter nights, and a floor fan for the hot summer days, as well as en-suite bathroom facilities including flush toilets, an indoor and outdoor shower, as well as a copper slipper-style bathtub.
Somalisa Expeditions is set in the heart of Hwange National Park , and is known as the land of the giants for its big elephant herds. As an exact replica of the original Somalisa Camp, Somalisa Expeditions offers one of the most authentic ways to experience this exceptional wildlife haven. Nestled under an incredible grove of Acacias, along with the edge of a seasonal floodplain, and situated in the heart of Zimbabwe’s largest and ‘most loved’ national park. Somalisa Expeditions is an experience of the original, authentic safari experience in this part of the continent.
Khulu Bush Camp is the smaller, more intimate sister lodge to its neighbouring Ivory Lodge. The excellent accessibility does not take away from its unparalleled feeling of seclusion and remoteness in the true African wilderness.
The beauty of this camp is that it combines luxurious and private accommodation with old world hospitality. Khulu overlooks an ancient riverbed, in today’s terms called a ‘vlei’, known to attract a variety of the greatest wildlife and bird life in Hwange National Park, right on your doorstep.
Ivory Lodge, located in the forestry area on the outskirts of Hwange National Park, offers family-friendly safari experiences and is famous for its exhilarating up-close sightings of the Presidential Elephant Herd.
The Lodge comprises of a Main Thatched dining and lounge area overlooking a guest swimming pool and overlooking a watering hole which is frequented by elephants, predators and a number of plains game species. The rooms themselves are elegantly built on stilted wooden platforms offering elevated views of the open floodplain and watering hole in front of camp.
The Hide has set a bar of excellence and luxury for Hwange National Park accommodation and is consistently voted as one of the “Best Safari Lodges” in Zimbabwe. Located in a prime position in the Park, The Hide offers a life-enriching safari experience for its guests, from its fantastic game viewing right on your doorstep, to a variety of daily activities to suit everyone and the warm and welcoming staff, who make you feel like family from the minute you arrive.
Camp Hwange is ideally located in a perfect area, shaded on the one side by a Teak forest, the other side overlooks a large open plain, and close to that are vast areas of Mopane forest which attract a variety of animals and birds, with the diversity of fauna and flora ensuring that safaris are fascinating and captivating.
n the middle of bushes, the camp is on the same level everywhere and will you have a dizzying sensation of uniting with nature.