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Zimbabwe • Hwange National Park • 2026 Fly-In Safaris

Hwange Safaris

Zimbabwe’s largest national park and one of Africa’s great elephant sanctuaries. Fly in from Victoria Falls to Wilderness camps in Hwange’s private Linkwasha Concession, where the Ngamo Plains, quiet pans and very few vehicles make every sighting feel like your own.

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  • 14,651 km²Zimbabwe’s largest park
  • Under an hourBy light aircraft from Victoria Falls
  • 400+ bird speciesAnd over 100 mammals
Plan your Hwange safariTell us the basics. We arrange the camps, flights and pace.
Best forElephant lovers, couples, families & Victoria Falls travellers
Typical style3–6 nights • fly in from Victoria Falls
2026 Wilderness campsFrom US$586 pp/night sharing • fully inclusive
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Why Hwange

A wilderness built on Kalahari sand, and a story of water.

Hwange lies in western Zimbabwe, a short flight south of Victoria Falls and along the Botswana border. At 14,651 square kilometres it is the country’s largest national park, a mosaic of Kalahari sand, teak and mopane woodland, open grassland and shallow pans.

It began in 1928 as the Wankie Game Reserve, under its first warden, Ted Davison, and became a national park in 1961. With no permanent river, Hwange depends on its pans, and on water pumped from underground in the dry season. As the bush dries, that water becomes a magnet: elephants arrive in herds, buffalo in hundreds, and predators follow. Few places in Africa give you such close, unhurried time with so many elephants.

Today Hwange is still something of a secret compared with its neighbours. Most visitors stop at Victoria Falls and fly on to Botswana. Those who come here find classic, uncrowded Africa, a short flight from the Falls.

Sundowners with elephants in view at Wilderness Linkwasha, Hwange

Elephant country

One of Africa’s largest elephant populations. In the dry season, herds gather at the pans in numbers few parks can match.

Predators

Lion, leopard, spotted hyena and cheetah, plus the endangered painted dog, the subject of long-term conservation work around Hwange.

Rare antelope

Hwange is one of the best places in southern Africa for sable and roan antelope, along with eland, kudu, buffalo and giraffe.

A private concession

Wilderness’s camps sit in the Linkwasha Concession, with exclusive traversing for their guests. No crowds at the sighting.

Hides and star beds

Watch elephants from ground-level hides by day, then sleep out on a raised star bed above a waterhole.

Easy from Victoria Falls

A light-aircraft flight of under an hour turns the Falls and Hwange into one effortless journey.

Hwange at a glance

What to know before you go

LocationWestern Zimbabwe, south of Victoria Falls, bordering Botswana
Size14,651 km²; Zimbabwe’s largest national park
HistoryWankie Game Reserve from 1928; national park since 1961
LandscapeKalahari sand, teak and mopane woodland, grassland plains and pans
Famous forElephants, buffalo herds, lion, painted dogs, sable and roan antelope
Where we stayThe private Linkwasha Concession in south-eastern Hwange, with Wilderness camps
GatewayVictoria Falls International Airport, then a light-aircraft flight to the Linkwasha airstrip
Best timeJune to October for peak wildlife at the pans; November to April for green landscapes and value
The Linkwasha Concession

Hwange’s private corner, and why it matters

Hwange is big, and the experience depends on where you stay. We send our guests to the Linkwasha Concession in the south-east of the park, a private area set aside for a small number of Wilderness camps.

Here the woodland opens onto the Ngamo Plains, some of Hwange’s best grassland, where zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and sable graze, and lion and cheetah hunt. Pans with permanent water draw wildlife all year. Only guests of Linkwasha, Little Makalolo and Davison’s explore it, with expert Wilderness guides, so sightings are rarely shared.

Because it is a concession rather than the public part of the park, the camps can offer guided walks and evening spotlight drives as well as day drives.

Wilderness guide with guests on a game drive in the Linkwasha Concession, Hwange
Hwange wildlife

Who you will meet in Hwange

More than 100 mammal species and over 400 birds live in Hwange. These are the encounters our guests talk about long after they get home.

The icon

Elephants

Breeding herds and old bulls arrive at the pans through the dry season, drinking, bathing and dusting just metres from the hides.

The hunters

Lion & leopard

Lion prides patrol the Ngamo Plains and follow the buffalo herds. Leopard keep to the teak woodland, best found with a patient guide.

The rare ones

Painted dogs, sable & roan

Endangered painted dogs range through the park, and Hwange is one of the best places in the region for sable and roan antelope.

The herds

Buffalo & plains game

Big buffalo herds, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, kudu and eland, with cheetah hunting on the open grassland.

Lions drinking at a waterhole in Hwange National Park
Lions at the water
Leopard in Hwange National Park
Leopard in the woodland
Safari vehicle beside a herd of elephants in Hwange
Elephants up close
Couple watching a buffalo herd in Hwange
Buffalo herds
Lion pride resting in Hwange National Park
A Hwange pride
How to explore Hwange

Ways to experience the park

Every day follows the rhythm of the bush: out at first light, a long lazy middle of the day, and back out as the heat fades. Activities vary by camp and season.

ActivityWhat it involvesWhere
Game drivesMorning and afternoon drives in open vehicles across the Ngamo Plains and woodlandAll camps
Spotlight drivesThe return drive after sundowners, with a spotlight for nocturnal species and hunting predatorsAll camps
Guided walksOn foot with a professional guide, reading tracks, birds and the smaller details of the bushAll camps
HidesGround-level views of elephants drinking, metres awayLinkwasha (sunken hide), Little Makalolo (log-pile hide)
Star bedsA night on a raised platform above a waterhole, under the starsScott’s Pan (Linkwasha), Madison Pan (Little Makalolo)
Conservation & communityVisits to anti-poaching work and nearby communitiesOn request, especially from Davison’s

Star beds and some visits are optional extras with limited availability. We confirm the programme for your dates before booking.

A night to remember

Sleep under the Hwange stars

For one night, trade your tent for a raised platform above a waterhole, with nothing between you and the African sky.

Linkwasha’s star bed at Scott’s Pan and Little Makalolo’s at Madison Pan are made up with comfortable bedding under the open sky. After dinner you climb up, listen to elephants drinking below and lions calling across the plain, and wake to coffee as the sun rises over the pan. It is the moment many of our guests call the highlight of their safari.

Star beds are optional, weather dependent and have limited availability, so we request them when we book your camp.

Star bed sleep-out overlooking elephants at a Hwange waterhole
Wilderness camps in Hwange

Where to stay in Hwange

Three Wilderness camps share the private Linkwasha Concession. All are fully inclusive and reached by light aircraft from Victoria Falls. 2026 rates per person per night sharing.

Elephants passing a tent balcony at Wilderness Linkwasha, HwangeFlagship
Linkwasha Concession • Ngamo Plains

Wilderness Linkwasha

The flagship of Hwange. Eight elegant tents (one a family tent) open onto the Ngamo Plains and a pan with permanent water. A plunge pool, a sunken hide at the waterhole and a star bed at Scott’s Pan for a night under the sky.

  • Day & spotlight drives, walks
  • Sunken hide at the waterhole
  • Scott’s Pan Star Bed
Jan–Feb fromUS$803
Jun–Oct fromUS$1,820
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Tented suite at Wilderness Little Makalolo, HwangeIntimate
Linkwasha Concession • teak woodland

Wilderness Little Makalolo

Six tented suites in a quiet corner of eastern Hwange, facing a busy waterhole that draws extraordinary numbers of elephants. Small, personal and perfect for couples who want a private-feeling camp.

  • Day & spotlight drives, walks
  • Log-pile hide at the waterhole
  • Madison Pan Star Bed
Jan–Feb fromUS$715
Jun–Oct fromUS$1,432
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Elephant beside a tent at Wilderness Davison's, HwangeClassic tented
Linkwasha Concession • false mopane woodland

Wilderness Davison's

Named for Hwange’s first warden, Ted Davison. Nine tents and a two-bedroom family tent overlook a productive waterhole, with a pool where elephants often drink a few metres away. Classic, warm and excellent value.

  • Day & spotlight drives, walks
  • Family tent (ages 6+)
  • Anti-poaching & community visits
Jan–Feb fromUS$586
Jun–Oct fromUS$1,012
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2026 Wilderness rates

Hwange camp rates by season

US$ per person per night sharing, fully inclusive. Single supplement in brackets.

Camp6 Jan–28 FebMarchApr–MayJun–Oct1 Nov–19 Dec20 Dec–5 Jan 2027
Wilderness LinkwashaUS$803 (241)US$827 (248)US$984 (295)US$1,820 (546)US$867 (260)US$1,063 (319)
Wilderness Little MakaloloUS$715 (215)US$737 (221)US$872 (262)US$1,432 (430)US$796 (239)US$891 (267)
Wilderness Davison’sUS$586 (176)US$603 (181)US$724 (217)US$1,012 (304)US$615 (185)US$730 (219)

Included: accommodation, all meals, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, laundry and local drinks. Excludes premium imported brands and champagne, and flights. Rates are subject to change and confirmed at the time of booking.

Signature Hwange journeys

Three ways to experience Hwange

Each is a starting point. We change the camps, nights and order, and add Victoria Falls before or after, to suit your dates.

3 nights

Hwange Classic

For a first taste of Zimbabwe’s elephant country, or a seamless add-on after Victoria Falls.

  • Wilderness Davison's 3 nights
Jan–Feb camp nights from, pp sharingUS$1,758Jun–Oct from US$3,036
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4 nights

Hwange in Style

For couples who want two waterholes, two hides and two star beds in Hwange’s private concession.

  • Wilderness Little Makalolo 2 nights
  • Wilderness Linkwasha 2 nights
Jan–Feb camp nights from, pp sharingUS$3,036Jun–Oct from US$6,504
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6 nights • Premier

Hwange & Mana Pools

For the great Zimbabwe safari: the plains of Hwange, then the Zambezi floodplains of Mana Pools.

  • Wilderness Linkwasha (Hwange) 3 nights
  • Wilderness Ruckomechi (Mana Pools) 3 nights
Apr–May camp nights from, pp sharingUS$6,150Jun–Oct from US$9,984
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Wilderness fully inclusive camp nights only, per person sharing. Mana Pools camps are seasonal, open roughly April to mid-November, so Hwange & Mana Pools is priced from April–May. Flights and Victoria Falls nights are quoted separately.

The Hwange experience

A day in Hwange

Dawn

Coffee by the fire, then out onto the Ngamo Plains as lions finish the night’s hunt.

Midday

Lunch on the deck while elephants drink at the waterhole, or an hour in the hide at their feet.

Afternoon

A walk with your guide, then the drive out to a pan as the light turns gold.

After dark

Sundowners on the plains, a spotlight drive home, and dinner under a sky full of stars.

When to travel

Hwange through the year

June to October is peak season, when the pans are the only water and wildlife gathers around them. The green season brings value, newborns and birds.

Nov – Mar

Green season

Rains transform the plains. Newborn animals, migrant birds, dramatic skies and the lowest rates. Herds spread out as water is everywhere.

Apr – May

Shoulder

Rains end, the bush is still green and wildlife starts returning to the pans. Pleasant weather and good value.

Jun – Aug

Cool and dry

Crisp mornings, warm days and thinning bush. Elephants and buffalo build up at the waterholes.

Sep – Oct

Peak concentrations

Hot and very dry. The most dramatic elephant gatherings and predator action at the pans.

During the rains (typically November to April), some airstrips can be temporarily closed and flights use the nearest alternative. We always recommend comprehensive travel insurance.

Getting there

Fly in from Victoria Falls

We fly our guests into Hwange. A light-aircraft flight with Mack Air from Victoria Falls International Airport takes under an hour and lands at the Linkwasha airstrip, which serves Linkwasha, Little Makalolo and Davison’s. Your guide meets you there, and the game drive to camp begins at once.

Flying saves a long, tiring road journey on sand and gravel tracks, gives you a beautiful aerial view of the park, and adds time in the bush. It is the most comfortable way to travel, and the way we recommend.

  • Lounge Mack Air’s private lounge at Victoria Falls Airport, with coffee, water and free WiFi
  • 30 min Check in at least 30 minutes before departure
  • 20 kg Total luggage per person, including 5 kg hand luggage, in a soft bag (max 30 × 42 × 70 cm)
  • Daylight All flights fly in daylight, with up to three stops on shared seat-in-plane routes

Photographers can book an extra seat for up to 30 kg more equipment. Guests over 115 kg should tell us when booking, as an extra seat may be needed. Children aged 2–11 need their own seat. Private charters are available.

Light aircraft on the airstrip in Hwange National Park
Extend your journey

Hwange pairs beautifully with…

Victoria Falls

The classic pairing. Spend two or three nights at the Falls for the guided tour, a helicopter flight and a Zambezi sunset cruise, then fly to Hwange. Victoria Falls tours.

Mana Pools

Zimbabwe’s Zambezi floodplain, famous for walking safaris, canoeing and catch-and-release fishing. Wilderness Ruckomechi and Little Ruckomechi from US$1,066, Chikwenya from US$1,172 pp/night (Apr–May), open roughly April to mid-November.

Botswana

Continue from Victoria Falls via Kasane to the elephant country of the Linyanti or the waterways of the Okavango Delta. See our Victoria Falls & Okavango journeys.

Your camp rate

What fully inclusive covers

Included

  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Twice-daily scheduled camp activities
  • Park and conservation fees
  • Laundry
  • Local drinks

Quoted separately

  • Light-aircraft flights and airstrip fees
  • Victoria Falls accommodation and activities
  • International flights and travel insurance (required)
  • Premium imported drinks and champagne
  • Star beds, optional extras and gratuities
Questions

Hwange Safari FAQs

Hwange National Park is in western Zimbabwe, south of Victoria Falls and along the border with Botswana. It is the largest national park in Zimbabwe, covering about 14,651 square kilometres.

We fly our guests from Victoria Falls International Airport to the Linkwasha airstrip with Mack Air, a light-aircraft flight of under an hour. The camp guide meets you at the airstrip. Flying is faster and far more comfortable than the long road journey.

Hwange is known for one of the largest elephant populations in Africa, big buffalo herds, lion, leopard, cheetah and painted dogs, rare sable and roan antelope, and more than 400 bird species.

June to October is the best time for wildlife, when water is scarce and animals gather at the pans. September and October are the hottest months and the most dramatic for elephants. November to April is the green season, with lower rates, newborn animals and excellent birding.

Wilderness Linkwasha, Wilderness Little Makalolo and Wilderness Davison's are in the private Linkwasha Concession in south-eastern Hwange. Linkwasha is the flagship, Little Makalolo is small and intimate, and Davison's is a classic tented camp with a family tent.

In 2026, Wilderness Davison's starts from US$586, Little Makalolo from US$715 and Linkwasha from US$803 per person per night sharing in January and February. In peak season (June to October) rates are US$1,012, US$1,432 and US$1,820 respectively. Rates are fully inclusive; flights are extra.

Three nights is a good minimum, and four lets you split your stay between two camps. Hwange combines well with two or three nights at Victoria Falls, and with Mana Pools or Botswana for a longer journey.

Mack Air allows 20 kg per person in total, including 5 kg of hand luggage, in a soft-sided bag no larger than 30 x 42 x 70 cm. An extra seat can be booked for up to 30 kg of additional luggage or camera equipment.
Your Hwange story

Tell us what this journey means to you.

A honeymoon after the Falls, a family adventure, or the elephant safari you have dreamed of for years. Share your dates and who is travelling, and we will plan the camps, flights and pace that make it yours.

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