Hwange Safaris

Choose from our range of Zimbabwe safari and accommodation establishments. Zimbabwe is unique! Where else in the world can a visitor gaze upon hundreds of species of tropical wildlife, thrill to the experience of white water rafting, scale chilly mountain peaks and savour the history of a people that goes back tens of thousands of years? Although a Zimbabwe safari is a bargain, its definitely not a second rate destination. Travel and accommodation options are top quality, and their unique location affords excellent game viewing and adventure amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery in Africa.

Read more about Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Price Guide

Fill in the form below to receive our Zimbabwe price guide or click here for a more specific enquiry:

How to get there

Self drive:
Sun Safaris will arrange car rental and directions for you. The roads leading up to Zimbabwe are tarred.

Road transfer:
Sun Safaris can arrange all private road transfers for our guests.

Light aircraft transfer:
We can arrange light aircraft transfers from Johannesburg.

Suggested Itinerary's

For first-time visitors planning a trip to Southern Africa can be a challenging task. For most it will be a once in a lifetime experience. We highly recommend that you have a look at our suggested itineraries below. There are various itineraries to choose from and they have been designed bearing important factors in mind like, privacy, first-class camps, a combination of activities, adventure, expert guiding as well as your budget. Guests can choose from comfortable to luxury safaris and our experienced and professional consultants will guide and assist you in tailor-making your safari to suit your requirements. We look forward to assisting you in creating your safari!

View all Suggested Itineraries

Linkwasha & Little Linkwasha

Linkwasha is situated in a private area in south~east Hwange National Park. The area includes many diverse habitats including teak forests, palm islands, Kalahari savannah and acacia woodlands. The animal populations are equally diverse and the area attracts over 400 species of birds. The nearby waterholes provide a refreshing oasis for much of the wildlife.

Linkwasha & Little Linkwasha

Makalolo Plains

Makalolo Plains is another of the few private camps situated within Hwange National Park. The Makalolo area is ecologically diverse, including vast, open, palm~fringed plains, grasslands, acacia woodlands, and teak forests. This ensures a varied food "pantry" which feeds great numbers of animals year round.

Makalolo Plains

Little Makalolo Plains

Little Makololo is situated in the heart of Hwange National Park in one of the best game viewing areas in Zimbabwe, overlooking a busy waterhole.
Little Makololo offers an exclusive safari experience in a private and remote area with expert guides who will accompany guests on game activities.  

Little Makalolo Plains

Hwange Game Viewing and Seasons

Introduction

These sub-tropical thorn and sand flats on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, were once home to the nomadic San (bushmen) who lived off the land and feasted on great herds of migrating game. They were displaced by stronger African tribes, who in turn had their day. Chief Hwange of the Rozi tribe was ousted by the Matabele chief Mzilikazi, and his lands taken over as a royal hunting ground. In the nineteenth century the white man came and promptly set about claiming land and shooting the remaining game.

The animals were pushed further and further into the inhospitable western reaches on the Botswana border, to an area set aside for hunting and farming.

Through a twist of fate, the land gained National Park status and Hwange National Park became is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, noted for its massive population of elephants.

It is a place of great contrasts between wet and dry season, with the extremes reminding you of the life-giving properties of water. During the desperately dry months the park can appear very inhospitable to such a large number of animals. The salt-pans are crusted and cracked, the acacia scrub is wilting and the grassy plains are yellow and crunchy. However the animals survive on limited vegetation and the help of man-made waterholes that sustain them until the rains bring forth new growth

Game Viewing

Hwange has Africa's Big Five and plenty of them! There are thousands of elephants and buffalo. Lions are commonly seen, but the elusive leopard and rhino are always a bonus to see. This park has such variety that one hundred different species have been recorded.

Dry season game-viewing is assisted by the shallow pans threaded throughout the park. The natural salt-licks provide elephants with favourite mud holes for wallowing and sixty man-made waterholes give much needed water during the hot parched winter months when everything else dries up. Several waterholes have raised wooden hides in which you can spend many hours observing animals and the interactions between them.

400 species of birds are found here making it a bird watchers paradise, particularly in the wet season. The largest is the ground dwelling Kori Bustard who will only take to the air if absolutely necessary. Abundant food marks the start of the mating season and crowned cranes prance in a comical dance and red bishops sport their startling scarlet breeding plumage. There are plenty more with long wispy tails, iridescent colours and loud squawking calls.

Several of Hwange's safari lodges occupy a private concession and unlike the public park, night drives are allowed. One memorable after-dark sight is the Springhare, who hops around like a miniature kangaroo.

Seasons

Dry Season: July to September is hot during the day but can drop to below freezing on particularly cold winter nights. During these dry months the animals are concentrated around the man-made waterholes, without which they would die.

Rainy Season: Big fluffy clouds release the summer rains and the vegetation bursts into life. The area has a relatively low average rainfall of between 22½-25½ inches (570-650 mm) per annum. Temperatures can reach over 100°F (38°C), while on average they range from 65-83°F (18-28°C). Birdlife is most spectacular at this time.