Sprucing up the Tree Top Villas

Feb 05, 2026

If you have been to Gwango Elephant Lodge you know that it sits at the edge of Hwange National Park and is surrounded by a vast teak forest overlooking some of the area’s most active waterholes. In fact, the waterhole here is arguably Hwange’s most iconic. The exclusive lodge includes only four Forest Chalets and two impressive double story Tree Top Villas which are elevated and positioned to take advantage of the landscape and the frequent wildlife movement. 

Unsurprisingly, the Tree Top Villas at Gwango Elephant Lodge have become a guest favourite, especially for long stay guests who really want to immerse themselves in wild Hwange. They were some of the first guest rooms to be built at Gwango, and they were our most ambitious guest rooms built to date. So, recently we took some time to relook at these beautiful spaces and quickly got to work on several enhancements that we know will make our guests feel even more pampered and at home. It was important to us that we maintain the level of comfort and uniqueness that you can’t miss when you step into your villa.

These updates are part of ongoing maintenance and improvement work, aimed at refreshing the spaces while keeping the character and setting that make the lodge what it is. The work at the Tree Top Villas is being done in phases to reduce disruption. Guests staying at the lodge continue to have access to the Forest Chalets, which remain fully operational. Daily activities, dining and shared spaces are unaffected and game drives and estate activities continue as normal.

Renovations often raise concerns about noise or inconvenience. At the lodge, efforts are being made to keep construction contained and scheduled thoughtfully. The intention is to improve the villas without affecting our guest experiences for guests who come for quiet time and wildlife.

This period also coincides with the green season in Hwange. From December through May, the landscape changes quickly. It first transforms into lush, green forest and birdlife becomes more visible and active across the estate and surrounding areas. It’s nature in full bloom. Then autumn gradually sneaks in, cooling things down and painting the landscape in soft, golden tones. The rains ease during this time and the bush slowly dries out, though it still holds onto its lushness from the wet season…this is prime game viewing time. The environment itself becomes part of the experience. Gwango Elephant Lodge remains open throughout the year, giving guests the option to visit during these changing seasons.

Outside of accommodation, the lodge continues to offer guided activities in and around Hwange National Park, as well as options for guests who prefer to stay close to camp. Time spent near the waterholes, in open lounge areas, or at the Stone House dining space remains central to the stay.

Maintaining buildings in a wildlife area comes with its own set of challenges, but improvement is part of keeping the lodge running well into the future. We are excited to unveil the new features and amenities that are being added to the Tree Top Villas, and we will have everything completed in time for guests arriving in early March. To book or to ask for guidance on what might work best for a particular time of year, enquiries can be sent directly to reservations@gwango.com