Hwange

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General Information

Hwange, sometimes still pronounced Wankie, was named after an early Ndebele chief. Nestled inbetween mountains of mine tailings, beneath tall thermal-power-plant chimneys, Hwange owes its existence to coal. The main tourist interest revolves around seven German Henschel steam locomotives, which serve the colliery.

Hwange is a stopover town along the road between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and is the gateway to the Hwange National Park.

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's largest game park 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.

The national park is home to over 100 mammal species, including lion, leopard and rhino, and is known for its large population of elephant. This game park is very accessible and all the safari camps here offer day and night game drives and most also offer walking safaris. The highest numbers of animals are spotted in the dry season (August to October) when the wildlife congregates around the shrunken water holes.

Accommodation in Hwange

Hwange offers a few select accommodation options. Hwange National Park has a large selection of lodges and camps to choose from. Please view our accommodation directory for more information on all the places to stay in the area. There are many accommodation options within the Hwange National Park.

Activities in Hwange

The main focus in this area is the Hwange National Park – It is the largest and most wildlife-packed park in Zimbabwe. It has over 350 species of birds and over 100 types of animals, which includes the largest number of elephants in the world. The park can be seen in vehicles or there are Ranger guided safaris.

Game viewing and hiking are two of the most popular activities in this area.