Camp Hwange
Highlights
- Eight chalets, every one facing the camp waterhole
- Morning and afternoon game drives in the concession and the national park
- Night drives, run exclusively in the private concession
- Guided walking safaris with licensed professional guides
- Lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog and Cape buffalo on the Sinamatella circuit
- After-dinner drinks around the open firepit
- Round-the-clock wildlife traffic at the waterhole
- Superb summer birding, November to April
Information
- Lodge type: Safari bush camp
- Location: Private concession, Sinamatella area, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 8 thatched safari chalets
- Recommended stay: 3–5 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes — Hwange National Park is a malaria area; prophylaxis is recommended year-round, with the highest risk in the November–April rains
- Getting there: 175 km from Victoria Falls, about 3 hours by road, or around 45 minutes by chartered light aircraft
A Classic Safari Camp Located In The Hwange National Park's Famed Sinamatella Private Concession
Camp Hwange is an eight-chalet safari bush camp in a private concession in the Sinamatella area of northern Hwange National Park, about 175 km and three hours by road from Victoria Falls, or around 45 minutes by light aircraft.
Hwange is Zimbabwe's largest national park, roughly 14,600 km² of Kalahari sand, teak and mopane woodland. The Sinamatella area in the park's north is some of its most rewarding game country, and one of the finest wildlife regions in Southern Africa. Lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog and Cape buffalo all work the area, and the birding is outstanding in the summer months.
With only eight chalets, Camp Hwange stays small, quiet and personal. Game drives run morning and afternoon, night drives go out in the private concession, and guided walks put you on foot with a licensed professional guide. Three to five nights gives you the time to do all of it properly.
Friendly staff, excellent guiding and a waterhole that never seems to stop drawing animals make Camp Hwange one of the most satisfying classic safari camps in Zimbabwe.
Part of our selection of the best Hwange Lodges portfolio.
Rooms and Suites
Camp Hwange has eight thatched safari chalets, and every one of them looks straight out over the camp waterhole.
Each chalet has a large, airy bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower, and a private verandah. The verandah is the best seat in the house: camera in hand, cold drink beside you, and elephants shuffling down to drink a stone's throw away.
All chalets have electronic safes and 220V electricity via an inverter, with a universal bank of adaptors for charging cameras and phones.
Cuisine and Wine
Camp Hwange includes all meals and drinks in the rate, served from an ever-changing menu built on the freshest local ingredients.
- Hearty breakfasts before the morning drive
- Light lunches in the heat of the day
- Generous dinners indoors or out under the stars
Vegetarians and guests with food allergies are well catered for, and advance notice is appreciated. The wine list is excellent, with crisp whites, robust reds and plenty in between to match the evening's menu.
Facilities
Camp Hwange's thatched main guest area holds a lounge, a small library, indoor dining rooms and a bar, with an open firepit for after-dinner drinks.
The main area overlooks the waterhole, so the wildlife viewing carries on through the day and well into the night. A limited WiFi signal is available here only.
Camp Hwange is about the Hwange wilderness: nothing more, nothing less. If you are looking for a true classic safari camp, this is it.
Activities
Camp Hwange runs morning and afternoon game drives, night drives and guided walking safaris across its private concession and Hwange National Park.
- Game drives: morning and afternoon, in the private concession and the national park
- Night drives: exclusively within the private concession, for the nocturnal species most visitors never see
- Walking safaris: with licensed professional guides, and highly recommended for getting close to Africa's wildlife, big and small
Sightings in the Sinamatella area can include lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog and Cape buffalo, along with many species of plains game. Game viewing peaks in the dry season, from July to October, when animals concentrate at the waterholes. Birding is at its richest from November to April, when the summer migrants arrive.
Child Friendly
Camp Hwange welcomes children aged eight and over, and they must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Please note that there are no babysitting or child-minding services at the camp.
Camp Hwange Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Camp Hwange?
Camp Hwange is a safari bush camp in a private concession in the Sinamatella area of northern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest national park at roughly 14,600 km². The camp lies about 175 km by road from Victoria Falls. Its eight thatched chalets all face a waterhole that draws elephant, buffalo and plains game throughout the day and night.
How do you get to Camp Hwange from Victoria Falls?
Camp Hwange is reached from Victoria Falls, the nearest gateway, by road or by air. A road transfer or self-drive covers about 175 km and takes roughly three hours. A chartered light aircraft cuts the journey to around 45 minutes. Transfers are not included in the Camp Hwange rate, so they are booked separately as part of your safari itinerary.
Is Camp Hwange in a malaria area?
Camp Hwange is in a malaria area. Hwange National Park carries a malaria risk all year, highest during the November to April rains and lower in the dry winter months. Take antimalarial prophylaxis as advised by your doctor or travel clinic, and use insect repellent and long sleeves from dusk. Children need specific medical advice on antimalarial dosing.
What activities are included at Camp Hwange?
Camp Hwange includes morning and afternoon game drives, night drives and guided walking safaris with licensed professional guides in its rate. Game drives cover the camp's private Sinamatella concession and Hwange National Park, while night drives run only inside the private concession. Sightings can include lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog and Cape buffalo, with birding at its best from November to April.
Can children stay at Camp Hwange?
Camp Hwange welcomes children aged eight and over, and they must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. The camp has no babysitting or child-minding service. Walking safaris may carry a higher minimum age, so check this when booking. Families hoping to bring a younger child should confirm arrangements with the camp through their safari specialist first.
When is the best time to visit Camp Hwange?
Camp Hwange offers its best game viewing in the dry season, from July to October, when surface water dries up and wildlife concentrates at the camp waterhole and the park's pans. The green season, from November to April, brings lush bush, newborn animals and the summer migrant birds, though heavy rain can make some Hwange roads slower going.
In Conclusion
Camp Hwange is everything a classic safari camp should be: eight thatched chalets, a waterhole that never stops drawing animals, and guides who can take you from the game-drive vehicle onto foot tracks in the same morning. The Sinamatella area gives you lion, leopard, elephant, wild dog and buffalo, and you get it without the crowds of larger lodges.
Plan three to five nights, and come between July and October if big game at the waterhole is the priority. Come November to April for green bush, newborn animals and superb birding. Camp Hwange pairs beautifully with a few nights at Victoria Falls, just three hours away by road or 45 minutes by light aircraft, and it slots easily into a wider Zimbabwe or Botswana itinerary.
Uyaphi.com has been building tailor-made African safaris since 1999, and 27 years in Africa travel means we know how to get the routing, transfers and timing right. Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you most want to see, and we'll build your Camp Hwange safari around you.
Rates from US$ 590.00 Per person per night
Camp Hwange Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- All meals
- All beverages
- Game drives, game walks and night drives
- Laundry
- Medical evacuation
- VAT
- All frights
- Visas
- Park fees
- All transfers to and from camp
- Items of a personal nature
- Travel insurance
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