Hwange National Park Overview
Founded in 1928, Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is the largest park in Zimbabwe covering an estimated 14,650 square kilometers and located in the northwest corner of the country about two hours south of the mighty Victoria Falls and along the border of Botswana. Hwange National Park also has one of the highest concentrations and diversity of species in Southern Africa with an estimated 108 wildlife species and over 400 bird species, and today retains the world’s second largest elephant population in the world. All of Zimbabwe’s specially protected species are to be found in Hwange and it is the only protected area where gemsbok and brown hyena occur in reasonable numbers although rarely seen.
Hwange National Park is situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The area is dry and water is scarce during the winter months, so there are a number of pumped / solar water-holes which sustain water points for the wildlife throughout the year.
Most of the park is underlain by Kalahari Sands. In the north-west there are basalt lava flows of the Batoka Formation, stretching from south of Bumbusi to the Botswana border and in the north-central area, and smaller areas of the north-west, there are granite rocky outcrops dappled across the landscape with intermittent vlei-lines and woodland forests in-between.
The Kalahari woodland is dominated by Zambezi Teak, Sand Camwood (Baphia) and Kalahari bauhinia. Seasonal wetlands form grasslands in this area and across the park. The north and northwest of the park being dominated by Mopane woodland.
The north and northwest of the park are drained by the Deka and Lukosi rivers and their tributaries, and the far south of the park is drained by the Gwabadzabuya River, a tributary of the Nata River. There are no rivers in the rest of the park, although there are fossil drainage channels in the main camp and Linkwasha areas, which form seasonal wetlands. In these areas without rivers, grassy pan depressions and pans have formed. Some of these pans, such as many of the pans in the Shumba area, fill with rainwater, while others, such as Ngweshla, Shakwanki and Nehimba, are fed by natural groundwater seeps.
Hwange does contain a number of archeological, historical and cultural sites including the Bumbusi National Monument (northern edge of the park), comprising of ruins and rock carvings, and the ruins at Mtoa and rock carvings at Deteema in the central and central-eastern sections of the park.
The park is currently listed for inclusion in the 5 nation Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which aims to focus on maintaining and re-establishing old migration routes to ensure the long term protection of one of the largest conservation areas in Africa.
When To Travel
December to April is generally the wet season in Hwange and is an excellent time of year for birding safaris, particularly when migratory birds are present. April through to August is the winter months where days are warm but nights and early mornings can be exceptionally cold reaching minus figures in certain months. July through to October / November is the dry season, a prime time for wildlife viewing when wildlife generally congregate around the waterholes and thinning vegetation makes it easier to see.
April
April usually sees the end of the Wet Season with rains becoming less and temperatures fairly cool in the evening and early mornings. Vegetation is still lush and green with a number of young still running around.
May to August
The coldest months in Hwange with daytime temperatures around 26°C, and average night temperatures of around 7°C. The increased dust of the dry season provides for some incredible sunsets and sun rises and the vegetation starts to thin out as the winter months pass by. Early morning and late afternoon activities can get cold so it is advisable to bring warm clothing.
September to November
The dry weather continues but is broken up by the first rains in late October / early November. This settles the dust bringing with it new sprouts of vegetation. Daytime temperatures are in the region of 32°C, with October reaching peak temperatures over 40°C. Large herds of elephant tend to dominate the waterholes during this time of year.
December to March
The wettest months bring rain most days, but these are usually storms lasting for a few hours generally in the afternoon, and rarely lasting the whole day. Daytime temperatures average 29°C, whilst night-time temperatures and early mornings average 18°C. Photographically this is a fantastic time of year to travel with clean air, and dark skies contrasting with the lush vegetation. There are fewer tourists making for a more exclusive experience and baby animals are plentiful. A variety of plains game, including blue wildebeest and zebra migrate here and give birth to their young during this time of year. Some camps have closures during the wet season.
Getting There
Access to the Park is relatively easy by road from both Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Harare. Luxury tented camps and lodges do offer scheduled charter flights into a variety of bush airstrips across the park. Occasionally some roads become impassable during the wetter months and only experienced 4 x 4 drivers are advised to travel into the deeper areas of the park during both the rainy and dry seasons (particularly in areas with deep sand).
Species
Wildlife
Famous for its large herds of elephants, Hwange National Park offers some of the best encounters of this keystone species in the world. Add to this their healthy population of lions and other predators, and you have a haven for some of Africa’s most iconic species. The population of the Cape wild dogs to be found in Hwange is thought to be of one of the larger surviving groups in Africa today. Critical conservation research takes place across Hwange on Lions, Leopards and Painted Dogs, as well as a few other species, all conducted by registered organisations in collaboration with Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
Birdlife
The park’s Bradfield Hornbill protected population is probably the highest in the world, and the yellow-billed oxpecker probably the highest population in the subregion. Hwange National Park is an important area for many of the raptor species including the Bateleur, Tawny and Martial Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Southern Park Chanting-goshawk, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcan, and a large variety of Vulture species. Some of the real specialities in Hwange include the Arnot’s Chat, Racket-tailed Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Southern Ground Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Red-crested Korhaan, Secretary Bird, Kalahari scrub Robin, Pearl-Spotted Owlet to name a few.
Founded in 1928, Hwange National Park (formerly Wankie Game Reserve) is the largest park in Zimbabwe covering an estimated 14,650 square kilometers and located in the northwest corner of the country about two hours south of the mighty Victoria Falls and along the border of Botswana. Hwange National Park also has one of the highest concentrations and diversity of species in Southern Africa with an estimated 108 wildlife species and over 400 bird species, and today retains the world’s second largest elephant population in the world. All of Zimbabwe’s specially protected species are to be found in Hwange and it is the only protected area where gemsbok and brown hyena occur in reasonable numbers although rarely seen.
Hwange National Park is situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The area is dry and water is scarce during the winter months, so there are a number of pumped / solar water-holes which sustain water points for the wildlife throughout the year.
Most of the park is underlain by Kalahari Sands. In the north-west there are basalt lava flows of the Batoka Formation, stretching from south of Bumbusi to the Botswana border and in the north-central area, and smaller areas of the north-west, there are granite rocky outcrops dappled across the landscape with intermittent vlei-lines and woodland forests in-between.
The Kalahari woodland is dominated by Zambezi Teak, Sand Camwood (Baphia) and Kalahari bauhinia. Seasonal wetlands form grasslands in this area and across the park. The north and northwest of the park being dominated by Mopane woodland.
The north and northwest of the park are drained by the Deka and Lukosi rivers and their tributaries, and the far south of the park is drained by the Gwabadzabuya River, a tributary of the Nata River. There are no rivers in the rest of the park, although there are fossil drainage channels in the main camp and Linkwasha areas, which form seasonal wetlands. In these areas without rivers, grassy pan depressions and pans have formed. Some of these pans, such as many of the pans in the Shumba area, fill with rainwater, while others, such as Ngweshla, Shakwanki and Nehimba, are fed by natural groundwater seeps.
Hwange does contain a number of archeological, historical and cultural sites including the Bumbusi National Monument (northern edge of the park), comprising of ruins and rock carvings, and the ruins at Mtoa and rock carvings at Deteema in the central and central-eastern sections of the park.
The park is currently listed for inclusion in the 5 nation Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which aims to focus on maintaining and re-establishing old migration routes to ensure the long term protection of one of the largest conservation areas in Africa.
December to April is generally the wet season in Hwange and is an excellent time of year for birding safaris, particularly when migratory birds are present. April through to August is the winter months where days are warm but nights and early mornings can be exceptionally cold reaching minus figures in certain months. July through to October / November is the dry season, a prime time for wildlife viewing when wildlife generally congregate around the waterholes and thinning vegetation makes it easier to see.
April
April usually sees the end of the Wet Season with rains becoming less and temperatures fairly cool in the evening and early mornings. Vegetation is still lush and green with a number of young still running around.
May to August
The coldest months in Hwange with daytime temperatures around 26°C, and average night temperatures of around 7°C. The increased dust of the dry season provides for some incredible sunsets and sun rises and the vegetation starts to thin out as the winter months pass by. Early morning and late afternoon activities can get cold so it is advisable to bring warm clothing.
September to November
The dry weather continues but is broken up by the first rains in late October / early November. This settles the dust bringing with it new sprouts of vegetation. Daytime temperatures are in the region of 32°C, with October reaching peak temperatures over 40°C. Large herds of elephant tend to dominate the waterholes during this time of year.
December to March
The wettest months bring rain most days, but these are usually storms lasting for a few hours generally in the afternoon, and rarely lasting the whole day. Daytime temperatures average 29°C, whilst night-time temperatures and early mornings average 18°C. Photographically this is a fantastic time of year to travel with clean air, and dark skies contrasting with the lush vegetation. There are fewer tourists making for a more exclusive experience and baby animals are plentiful. A variety of plains game, including blue wildebeest and zebra migrate here and give birth to their young during this time of year. Some camps have closures during the wet season.
Access to the Park is relatively easy by road from both Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Harare. Luxury tented camps and lodges do offer scheduled charter flights into a variety of bush airstrips across the park. Occasionally some roads become impassable during the wetter months and only experienced 4 x 4 drivers are advised to travel into the deeper areas of the park during both the rainy and dry seasons (particularly in areas with deep sand).
Wildlife
Famous for its large herds of elephants, Hwange National Park offers some of the best encounters of this keystone species in the world. Add to this their healthy population of lions and other predators, and you have a haven for some of Africa’s most iconic species. The population of the Cape wild dogs to be found in Hwange is thought to be of one of the larger surviving groups in Africa today. Critical conservation research takes place across Hwange on Lions, Leopards and Painted Dogs, as well as a few other species, all conducted by registered organisations in collaboration with Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
Birdlife
The park’s Bradfield Hornbill protected population is probably the highest in the world, and the yellow-billed oxpecker probably the highest population in the subregion. Hwange National Park is an important area for many of the raptor species including the Bateleur, Tawny and Martial Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Southern Park Chanting-goshawk, Dickinson’s Kestrel, Red-necked Falcan, and a large variety of Vulture species. Some of the real specialities in Hwange include the Arnot’s Chat, Racket-tailed Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Southern Ground Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Red-crested Korhaan, Secretary Bird, Kalahari scrub Robin, Pearl-Spotted Owlet to name a few.
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