Herd of zembra running through the dry plains

Luxury Safaris in Hwange National Park made for you

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Immerse yourself in the wonders of Hwange National Park with a private journey designed just for you

Zimbabwe's largest national park and wildlife haven

Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, accounting for an area of 14,651km sq, it was formerly occupied by the San bushmen, the Nhanzwa, and latterly the royal hunting ground for Mzilikazi, the Matabele king. It wasn’t until 1928 that the park became recognized as a wildlife conservation area and a popular destination for those seeking out incredible safari and wildlife experiences.

Home to over 100 mammals and 400 different bird species, the park protects a wide range of different endangered species, elephants in excess of 20,000, and what is thought to be one of the largest populations of African wild dog left in the world. It is also common to see large prides of lion and buffalo and you have a good chance of seeing leopard, rhino, cheetah and mischievous spotted hyena.

There is a lack of permanent surface water in the park, therefore animals heavily rely on a number of waterholes, some of which have been known to dry up in drought years. The landscape is characterized by dense forest teak in the north and the Kalahari sandveld in the south. Wildlife roams the open grassy plains lined with acacia trees alongside mopane woodland and islands of ilala palms.

From our experts

Experiences picked by our Zimbabwe safari specialists

  • Explore the endless plains preview image
  • Track big cats, rhino and hyena preview image
  • See teak forest meet Kalahari sandveld preview image

Explore the endless plains

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Head out on game drives across the vast grassy plains, watching for giraffes, elephants buffalo and other wildlife gathering around the park’s vital waterholes.

Track big cats, rhino and hyena

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Set out with expert guides in search of lion, leopard, rhino and spotted hyena, while keeping watch for cheetah and African wild dog along the way.

See teak forest meet Kalahari sandveld

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Travel between dense teak forest in the north and Kalahari sandveld in the south, passing acacia-dotted plains, mopane woodland and ilala palms.

Luxury Hwange National Park safari lodges

There are many incredible places to stay in Hwange National Park. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

Hwange National Park

The Hide Safari Camp
The Hide Safari Camp was set up in 1992 by the Preston family out of their passion for nature and the beauty of Hwangwe National Park. The area, now a private concession on the park’s eastern edge, was once the royal hunting ground of Ndebele kings and is famous for its abundant and diverse wildlife. Today, this camp has established and partnered with foundations to protect the wildlife and benefit the local community. The Hide’s main camp has ten tents, two of which are slightly larger than the others. Each tent is mosquito-proof and has an en-suite bathroom, a fan for your comfort in summer and extra warm blankets and hot water bottles for the cool winter months. There’s also Tom’s Little Hide, a secluded three-bedroom cottage with awesome views of the waterhole that’s best suited for up to six adults and four children. For an unforgettable night, The Dove’s Nest Treehouse is a sleep-out experience for those who are a little more adventurous. The hub of the camp is the ‘A-frame’ which houses the dining room, a downstairs sun lounge and a large comfortable lounge area upstairs. There’s also a plunge pool near the main lounge and dining room, and a tunnel leading to a wine cellar and hide. During a stay here you can expect to see herds of elephants, buffalo, lion, leopard and African wild dog, as well as some of the four hundred bird species, which you can spot on game drives and walking safaris. There’s a waterhole just metres away from the tents, which attracts a wide variety of wildlife and can be viewed from your personal veranda or the hide. Other activities include visits to community projects and conservation initiatives.  
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Why book with Jacada?

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Safari expertise

Our experts bring decades of first-hand expertise. They’ve lived and travelled across Africa and are regularly on the ground reviewing the most exclusive camps and experiences. You’ll also have the support of a personal concierge, based in region.

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Unforgettable guides

We handpick the most knowledgeable guides, who bring each destination to life with care and passion. They’re chosen for their ability to provide unrivalled insight into the region’s wildlife and landscapes as well as a genuine, memorable experience.

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Positive impact

By travelling with us, you directly support a range of initiatives spanning wildlife conservation to community engagement. Our luxury trips are designed to prioritise experiences that are positive for you and the places you visit.

Ready to plan your adventure?

Whatever you want from your Hwange National Park tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

Where to go

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Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Wild, remote and beautiful with rolling hills of Mopane forest, sandstone hills, winding creeks and Baobab trees. Search for the big five and also uncover the fascinating human history of the San people

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Mana Pools National Game Park

The ‘pools’ in Mana Pools refer to four lakes that lie in-land from the Zambezi, attracting massive amounts of wildlife, including large elephant herds. You can safari here on foot, in jeeps and even by boat

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Matobo Hills National Park

With no lions or elephants, Matobo is a great place to hike or horse ride. Breathtaking, unusual landscapes peppered with granite boulders and a fascinating human history

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Victoria Falls

Zimbabwe's southern bank of the Zambezi is renowned for its high water volume, the most intense and dramatic waterfall views can be found here. There’s many activities to enjoy from exhilarating micro-light flights to peaceful sunset cruises

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When to visit Hwange

In the hot summer rains from December to March the bush lands become lush and the wildlife disperses. Between June and October, the winter months see the bush rapidly dry and thinner on the ground, all but a few waterholes remain, and the wildlife is concentrated and far easier to spot.

Dry Season

June–October

Wet Season

December–March

When Is the Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe?

When Is the Best Time to Visit Zimbabwe?

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Plan your trip to Hwange National Park

Whatever you want from your adventure in Hwange National Park, our team of safari experts are ready to help.

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Don't take our word for it

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Your trip, your story

We craft trips deeply personal, delightfully surprising and entirely one of a kind. Every Jacada journey begins in conversation with a travel designer, a specialist in their destination of expertise. Behind each journey is a wealth of insight, gathered over years of on-the-ground exploration.

Once you’re booked, you’ll meet your concierge. Based in the region you’re visiting, they’ll take care of all the details so your mind is at rest. They make the trip truly special – and truly yours.