Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park sits at the ragged edge of the Kalahari Sands and although the area was once home to nomadic families of san people, it was considered by other groups to be too hot, dry and sandy for permanent habitation.
Hwange National Park was named for an early Ndebele chief.
Hwange National Park originally was thickly populated with wildlife, either although animals spread across the region during the rainy season, they retreated to the perennial waters of the Zambezi valley during the dry. However, as human pressure cut off favourable lands to the east, north and west. Wildlife was driven into areas of poor soil and scarce surface water, such as Hwange, which were considered unsuitable for human habitation.
The best time to visit
Is during September and October (dry season period) when animals congregate around the water hotels (most of which are artificially filled with petrol powered pumps) when the rains come and rivers are flowing, successful wildlife viewing requires more diligence because the animals spread out across the park’s 14,650 sq km for a bit of trunk and antler room.
Wildlife
Hwange National Park may be Zimbabwe’s most accessible and wildlife packed park, and in 1928 it gained national park status and became a wildlife viewing stop off for tourists en route to Victoria Falls . Settlers created 60 artificial water holes fed by underground water, and by the 1970’s the region had one of Africa’s densest wildlife concentrations.This includes elephants, kudu, lion, sable , baboons.
Access
Air
Air Zimbabwe has daily services to and from the following; Harare (via Kariba); Bulawayo (via Kariba and Harare, no Bulawayo to Hwange service on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday); Kariba, Victoria falls; no Johannesburg to Hwange service on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. UTC meets incoming flights and provides transfers to Hwange safari lodge.
Bus
The Hwange special Express bus from Bulawayo or Victoria falls stops at safari crossroads, which lies on 11.5 km hitch to Hwange safari lodge 5 km from the Dete turn off.
Train
In either direction, the train between Bulawayo and Victoria falls passes Dete in the small hours of the morning. The village of Dete has the rail terminal for Hwange National Park, Unfortunately, trains between Bulawayo and Victoria falls in both, directions arrive at a red eye hour of the morning and you’re still faced with 12 km walk or hitch to the park entrance and another 7 km to Hwange National Park main camp.
Accommodation
Main camp contains most park services, range head quarters, pub, restaurant, shop, petrol station, a campground, cottages and lodges. The shop is open from 8 to 10 am, noon to 2 pm, and 4 to 7 pm. Behind it, a small museum displays aspects of Hwange’s natural history Zimbabwe is most popular camp, main camp gets more crowded every year and during South African school holidays, it may resemble a small city. Advance booking may not offer any guarantees but it’s still wise.
•   Ngwethla Loop. Entire ngwethla loop drive requires a study vehicle, but ngwethla is accessible to any car. This is available for overnight camping and you will see great concentrations of animals.
•   Sinamatella camp. The nicest of Hwange’s three large camps, services include a range office, museum, curio shop, small kiosk selling food and general items, petrol pumps, and a restaurant and pub.
•   Robins Nantwich camps, near the park’s north - west corner, lie in prime lion cheetah and hyena country. The camp ground at Robins has been described as rough and is subject to nocturnal invasion by lion and hyena.
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