African Overland Tours

It’s all about the wildlife at Hwange National Park in northwestern Zimbabwe Hwange National Park is the country’s oldest and largest national park. At about 15,000 sq km (5,800 sq mi), it's roughly the same size as Wales, and shaped a bit like India. The park protects large areas of savannah (grasslands), Kalahari sandveld (semi-arid grasslands), mopane woodland, and teak forest. There are various rivers in the north of the park, as well as pans (salt flats) that flood seasonally. Hwange is fenceless, allowing its wildlife to roam beyond its borders. This is important, as ecologically speaking it forms part of a far larger ecosystem that includes the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls. The varied habitats and open borders of Hwange make it possible for a wide variety of wildlife and birds to thrive here. Let’s get to know them …

Bush elephants

Hwange is synonymous with elephants. In fact, the park is home to one of the largest wild African bush elephant populations on the continent. Population estimates vary, but the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) believes there are around 45,000 of these majestic creatures roaming the park. This makes Hwange one of the very best spots in Africa for spotting elephants.

Lions

Hwange has a healthy African lion population that numbers in the hundreds. That said, its population is under threat from trophy hunting in neighbouring areas (remember the open borders?). Important lion conservation and monitoring projects are underway to turn this story around. You can read more about these efforts in Africa Geographic. You’ll also learn there how the lions of Hwange are known for preying on elephants. This isn’t usual practice for lions, as the act obviously comes with enormous risks. But Hwange is one of those unusual places where the male lions are known to form coalitions to hunt elephants.

Painted dogs

Hwange’s name is also synonymous with painted dogs, also called African wild dogs, African spotted dogs, painted wolves, and Cape hunting dogs. I like the name painted dogs, as the splotches on their pelts put me in mind of someone having had a haphazard go at them with a paintbrush. The painted dog is highly endangered and found in relatively few African reserves. But Hwange is one of its true strongholds, offering one of your best chances of sighting this special creature. And one of the many delightful things about painted dogs is their highly social nature, so if you find one, you’re likely to find many!

Icons of the African bush

Hwange is a great park to visit for a classic African safari, as it has all the crowd favourites. I’m talking here of animals like leopards, cheetahs, hippos, Cape buffaloes, and Nile crocodiles. It also has white rhinos, southern giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, black-backed and side-striped jackals, spotted and brown hyenas, and common warthogs. You might think that Hwange is therefore a Big Five reserve, since I’ve mentioned it has lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. But the park’s rhinos are white rhinos, and it’s black rhinos that officially make up the Big Five. While white rhinos are bigger than black rhinos, the latter are more aggressive. And the term Big Five isn’t about size – it’s about the animals that colonial hunters deemed the most dangerous to hunt.

Sable antelopes

Telling all of Africa’s many antelope species apart can be challenging, even for Africans like me. But once you’ve clocked a sable, you won’t ever forget or confuse it with any other antelope. The sable’s dark colouring alone is uniquely memorable. Add to that its huge size, the striking contrast provided by its white belly and side-face stripes, and the butchest of necks, and you have a species made to be remembered. Sable antelopes are shy and tend to hang out by the treeline. In the dry season, however, you can often find them at the park’s watering holes.

Roan antelopes

Roans are beautiful antelopes. Of course, you can say that's my opinion, but I’ll counter it as fact. Their strong face markings are a striking counterpoint to the ombré reddish browns that cover the rest of their bodies. Their great stature, the grand backward sweep of their horns, and their large, thin ears lend them a stately and endearing air all at the same time. Look for them in the northern and northwestern portions of Hwange National Park. They like the savannah and open woodlands, and often congregate around watering holes.

The other antelopes

About a fifth of Hwange’s over 100 mammal species are antelopes. I’ve mentioned the stately roan and sable, but there are many other wonderful species to find. These range from large specimens like the greater kudus down to dwarf antelopes like the steenbok. Some of the park’s other fan-favourite antelopes are topis (tsessebes), oryxes (gemsboks), waterbucks, blue wildebeests, impalas, bushbucks, and bush duikers. The best time of year for finding much of the wildlife in Hwange, including many of its antelopes, is the dry season. This runs from roughly July to October. At this time of year, the dry conditions force thirsty animals to seek out the dwindling watering holes.

The smaller guys

I’ve focused so far on the large and most iconic species of African bush safari. But the truth is that sometimes it’s the smaller and lesser-known species that actually make for the most exciting wildlife finds. At least that has been my experience. Perhaps this is because they’re easier to miss, so you’re super chuffed when you don’t! The scavengers and insectivores you can find inside Hwange National Park include bat-eared foxes, aardwolves, rusty-spotted genets, Chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, and Selous and white-tailed mongooses. Munching residents include South African galagos (bushbabies), bush pigs, savannah and spring hares, and Smith’s bush squirrels. The park is also home to honey badgers, one of Africa’s most endangered wild species.

The ostriches

You likely know that the ostrich is by far the world’s largest bird, and it’s flightless. The subspecies found in Hwange is the southern ostrich, also known as the South African, black-necked, or Cape ostrich. Ostriches tend to live between 30 and 40 years in the wild. But all of their main predators can be found in Hwange (lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and painted dogs), so they don’t have an easy time! Given their need to monitor their surroundings, they tend to be found in open spaces.

The other birds

Hwange hosts about 400 bird species during the migratory season (November to March), making it a wonderful destination for birders. The dry season is also a great birdspotting time, as the birds, like the animals, must seek out water. It’s hard to know which birds to mention, given their multitudes. And the ones you find most exciting could well be different from those I esteem most. For instance, rollers aren’t the rarest of species, but I’m obsessed with these beautiful little birds. Hwange hosts lilac-breasted, purple, racket-tailed, and broad-billed rollers. When it comes to eagles, visitors to Hwange frequently sight African fish, Bateleur, and martial eagles. Other birds of prey include lappet-faced vultures, southern pale chanting goshawks, and Dickinson’s kestrels. You also stand a good chance of spotting kori bustards, secretary birds, and southern ground and Bradfield hornbills. Commonly spotted waterbirds include great white and pink-backed pelicans and saddle-billed, woolly-necked, and marabou storks. And finally, on the smaller side, keep your eyes peeled for Burchell’s and yellow-throated sandgrouses, Meyer’s parrots, carmine bee-eaters, crimson-breasted shrikes, and Arnot’s chats.

Plan your visit to Hwange National Park

If you’d like to visit Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, consider an overlanding safari with African Overland Tours. This is the sort of park that’s best visited with a local driver and guide, as they know the best routes and spots for sighting the park’s various denizens.  

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