New Hwange National Park entrance - Mpofu Gate

Sep 24, 2026

For years, visitors heading into Hwange National Park through Main Camp have known the original entrance. Now, Mpofu Gate has been redeveloped, giving this important entry point a completely new look and a more substantial welcome to the park.

Mpofu Gate is the main entrance serving Hwange Main Camp and is one of the park’s principal entry points. The new development forms part of a wider partnership between the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), with the aim of improving tourism infrastructure, visitor experience and conservation support in Hwange.

The new entrance, or the "one-stop access pavilion" as described by the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA), streamlines tourist entry, enhances security with smart technology surveillance, and boosts regional tourism within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. The development includes tourism offices, visitor and exhibition spaces and staff facilities. The project was also designed to create a place where visitors can learn more about Hwange and the surrounding area as they begin their journey into the park.

And for us at Gwango, there is another reason we are particularly interested in this development. Mpofu Gate is just about 500 metres from Gwango. That means that for guests staying with us, one of Hwange’s main entry points is practically on our doorstep. You can have breakfast at Gwango, get ready for your day and be at the park entrance within minutes. From there, Hwange opens up into thousands of square kilometres of teak woodland, grassland, pans and wildlife habitat.

The new gate also brings a more clearly defined entrance into the park. Visitors now have a dedicated main access point where entry can be managed before they continue into Hwange. For a park as large as Hwange, having well developed and clearly managed entry infrastructure is an important part of the visitor experience.

For visitors arriving from Victoria Falls or travelling through Hwange on a longer Zimbabwe itinerary, the new Mpofu Gate is also a useful landmark to know. Main Camp is one of the principal access points into the park, and ZimParks provides information on access, park activities and entry arrangements.

We are pleased to see investment in infrastructure that supports both tourism and conservation in Hwange. A new entrance may seem like a small part of a much bigger park, but it is the first point of contact for many visitors. It sets the scene for what comes next...the road, the bush, the wildlife and everything else that makes Hwange what it is. And for those staying at Gwango, you really couldn't be any closer to the action.

If you would like information on current park entry fees, self drive routes from Victoria Falls, what to expect when entering through Mpofu Gate, or booking a safari with us, contact reservations@gwango.com and the Gwango team will be more than happy to assist.

Come and see what is waiting on the other side of the gate.