Hwange Bush Camp

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
Hwange is the largest of Zimbabwe’s wildlife areas. Situated in the south-western corner of the country at an average altitude of around 3,000ft, it covers an area of about 1.5 million hectares, along the border with Botswana.

The Park covers the transition zone between the Kalahari sands and the moist savannah woodland. The poor soil and harsh climate have not stunted or limited the variety of habitat: over 230 trees and shrubs and 138 grass species make up some of the more than 1,000 flora species found here. This diversity allows for more than 50 mammal species to co-exist.

Lacking permanent rivers, Hwange is managed with numerous man-made waterholes which are pumped to provide water for most of the animal species and which form the magnate around which most game-viewing takes place (many of the waterholes have hides). The park has a very sizeable and healthy elephant population (it is not uncommon to see over 150 at a time around the waterholes during the dry season), and other larger mammals to be seen include giraffe, impala, zebra, wildebeest, tsessebe, kudu, duiker, roan antelope, waterbuck, eland, gemsbok (along the drier western border), reedbuck, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hippo. Unfortunately, rhino are now seldom seen.

The area is also excellent for bird life, most represented by bush country species: babblers, starlings, bustards, ostrich, cranes, hornbills, francolins, guineafowl, shrikes, etc, although raptors are plentiful and storks, geese and ibis can be seen at the waterholes.

Game-viewing is excellent with good general game, big herds of buffalo and several different lion prides present year round. Leopard, cheetah and wild dog can also be seen. Night drives offer the chance to see nocturnal species such as genet, serval, honey badger, aardwolf and aardvark. However Hwange is perhaps best known for its huge elephant populations, and from June through to early November huge numbers can be seen visiting the various waterholes throughout the park.

Activities
Activities focus on a mixture of excellent walking safaris and game drives, with walking safaris sometimes incorporated into game drives if interesting tracks are discovered. Fly-camping is also available and is best done for a couple of nights in conjunction with a stay at Bush Camp, though longer fly-camps could be arranged. The fly-camp is simple but comfortable with 3x3m dome tents set up with twin stretcher beds, en suite short drop toilet and bucket showers, with activities focusing on walking although a vehicle is also available and walks generally start with a drive. An integral part of all activities is the super guiding provided.

Seasons
Hwange Bush Camp is open between April and November, though game viewing is best from July through to October.