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Hwange, Zimbabwe

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest national park, with one of the biggest elephant populations in the world.The park has become somewhat infamous over the past few years for poaching. It’s here where more than 100 elephants were poisoned with cyanide in 2013, and where the world-famous lion Cecil was shot dead by an American dentist. The country’s parks board and Hwange’s own personnel have been working hard to restore the park, however, and things are looking up these days. Animal numbers are growing, Hwange’s network of roads is being kept in a very good condition, and the camps are being upgraded one-by-one. Hwange has more than 100 animal species and over 400 types of birds, with healthy populations of the rare wild dog and sable, as well as lions, cheetahs and leopards. It’s easy to keep yourself and your family entertained for the whole day on the park’s extensive road network between watering holes, picnic spots and game-viewing lookout points as you tick off the animals on your list. The park also has numerous accommodation options, including camping, self-catering units and cottages. There’s also a bar, restaurant, filling station and a small supermarket. But be warned, Hwange is so huge that some of the camps are 120 km from one another. Don’t think you can pitch your tent at Sinamatella and pop into main camp quickly for a beer when you’re done! Hwange lies about an hour’s drive south of the Victoria Falls and it’s easy to include both in your itinerary.