Top 5 experiences you can only get in Hwange

Oct 30, 2025

Hwange National Park is wild in the truest sense. Everywhere you look, you can feel and see that this is the animals’ home, which naturally brings a desire to respect and protect this place. No matter what your plans are, whether that’s staying for a few days or a week or longer, here are some of the experiences that make Hwange truly one of a kind.

Breakfast with elephants
Hwange is known for having one of the largest elephant populations in Africa and seeing these gentle giants in the wild is something quite unforgettable

Now imagine seeing them up close just a few meters away from you. You don’t forget the first time you drink your morning coffee or have your lunch while elephants are drinking water right in front of you. At Gwango Elephant Lodge, lucky guests sometimes get to enjoy their meals as elephants gather around the nearby watering hole. Usually in family groups, you can witness calves learning from their elders while older bulls keep a watchful eye. Watching them interact really gives you a glimpse into their remarkable intelligence and strong social bonds. The experience is both humbling and deeply moving.

Skies that stops you in your tracks
Sunsets in Hwange seem to last longer than anywhere else. Every sunset almost feels like the first one you have ever seen. The colours shift from gold to deep orange to a dusty rose that lingers just a little longer. The light settles over the trees and for a few minutes, even the animals seem to stop.

And when darkness comes, the stars appear in numbers giving you this spectacular, unobstructed views of celestial phenomena. The park's remote desert location minimises light pollution and the modern-day problem that washes out the stars for most people living in or near cities. Photographs never quite capture it. One just has to see it for themselves to understand the feeling.

The bush at night
When the sun sinks below the horizon, Hwange changes its tempo. The air cools, the cicadas hum, the hyena’s whoop in the distance and the night comes alive with sounds that remind you just where you are… a place far from the noise of everyday life.

Sitting by a fire under a vast sky, you can feel the bush speaking around you and it’s easy to lose track of time. The Milky Way stretches endlessly above, unspoiled by lights, and every crackle of the fire just adds to the feeling that this is how the world was meant to sound.

Life shared with the wilderness
Around Hwange, communities have lived alongside wildlife for generations. Local traditions, crafts and stories reflect a deep understanding of the land. Visitors who have taken time to explore this side of Zimbabwe have left with a sense of respect for how people here adapt. What stands out most, is how closely people co-exist with nature. It’s not unusual to hear stories from those who grew up nearby about the animals they have known for years.  

At Gwango, you will definitely feel that same connection and respect for the land. This is not a resort dropped in the middle of the bush. It is actually part of the land. The people who work there know the elephants by name, the shifts of the seasons and they live alongside it all. Animals are seen as neighbours rather than intruders. Even the way the paths and fences are built and the way the meals are prepared and how the guests are welcomed… everything is done with an understanding that this is the animals’ home too. That close connection gives the place the authenticity it’s known for.

Wildlife uncontained
There are very few places left in the world where wild animals live as they were meant to… free and not confined or controlled by humans, allowed to live and move in their natural habitat. Hwange is one of those rare places. It is a wildlife haven with large populations of elephants, one of the biggest in Africa and healthy numbers of endangered wild dogs. The park is also home to the Big Five, over 400 bird species and other unique species like the gemsbok and roan antelope, offering diverse and exciting wildlife encounters.

The animal sightings in Hwange are unpredictable, and that makes it even more special. A drive might lead to a herd of elephants crossing the road or a lion resting in the grass. Other times, the forest seems calm until a sudden movement catches your eye. Here the animals are entirely at home and guided only by nature.

For those who find their way here, these are just a few examples of what awaits. There's so much more waiting to be discovered.

For bookings or more information, contact reservations@gwango.com