Reviews of safaris to Hwange National Park

"This was a wonderful trip and delighted we went. We had no concerns at any point about safety. We were greeted with such appreciation from everyone we met and all went out of their way to make our stay as memorable as possible.

I am especially grateful to Megan who pulled the trip together at relatively short notice!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

No, everything was very efficiently organised and happened as we had been informed." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Our first trip to Zimbabwe and we will return to Zimbabwe at some future point." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Overall a fantastic trip staying at four camps in the Okavango Delta and Zimbabwe with an overnight stop at the Victoria Falls hotel.

We had been to the camp in the Delta before and knew what to expect but it was just as good the second time around. It was our first time in Zim, visiting one camp in Hwange and two in Mana Pools, each was very good in its own way and we would certainly go back again.

All the logistics worked pretty seamlessly.

Thanks very much to the Expert Africa team for putting it together for us and rearranging it twice, just a shame we couldn't do it in 2020 when we originally planned." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zimbabwe safari

"We decided to go to Africa a little late in the day, to be honest, which limited our options somewhat. But I called Expert Africa at the recommendation of a friend who had travelled with them and immediately felt that Tom was realistic yet optimistic that we could make a great holiday.

I knew pretty much where we wanted to go but he pieced it all together beautifully and when we got Zimbabwe, everything worked like clockwork. I couldn't fault any of the process, from first conversation, through our holiday and back home.

Zimbabwe was wonderful; varied, fascinating and so full of smiling, enthusiastic locals. There is so much to do here in such contrasting landscapes, it makes for a great holiday, especially with kids who don't want to drive around looking for animals for too many days at a time. Vic Falls is stunning and has ample opportunity to scare and delight,

Matobo is beautiful, especially with the evening sun on the rocks, and Hwange is a great safari destination that feels somehow quite intimate without the hoards of safari vehicles you get in other parks. All in all an amazing holiday!

Thank you!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

You were great! Especially since Tom went off on a trip just as we were tying things up, but others jumped in and sorted the final bits so I felt well supported. And good to talk to Tom on his return too!

Many thanks." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zimbabwe safari

"This was an incredible experience most of all a life learning journey for us.

It taught us yet again that as Human Beings we are not separate to Nature but a part of Nature.

Being in the African Bush is always profound but Hwange and the people that work there, we found magical and eye opening as to how we can get lost in the flotsam and Jetsam of life!

Can’t wait to return to Africa !

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Just that we should have talked more to Expert Africa about the clothes we should have taken" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Claire is a Rock Star. Attention to detail and trip planning was perfect.

Thanks again Claire!" Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Our thanks to Tom and the rest of the team at Expert Africa for helping us to arrange a memorable trip to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari

"This was an excellent combination of camps in Hwange originally booked in 2020 but delayed by Covid. Expert Africa were very good at keeping me informed of restrictions and rebooking the trip. All elements of the trip ran like clockwork with the exception of a lost bag at the airport which Expert Africa and camp staff helped get returned.

The Hide is on the borders of the park and next to the rail line so you will see a reasonable number of other vehicles and occasionally hear the train. Accommodation is at the luxury end with roll top baths overlooking the waterhole, mains electricity and very solid 'tents' while maintaining the feeling of being out in the bush.

As it has its own concession separate night drives are available after dinner and well worth the time but if travelling in winter take plenty of warm clothes and wear the ponchos provided, not glamorous but effective.

Our guide was a Victoria Falls based contractor who exemplified the reputation Zimbabwe has for very high standards. In addition to masses of elephant and general game we saw two lion prides, one several times, sable and buffalo.

Two highlights were walking in a forested area getting close to elephant and a zebra herd, and the close up views of elephants afforded by the hide at the camp, just feet from where they were drinking. One curious young bull even put his trunk up to the viewing space to sniff us out.

We spent a night at The Dove's Nest sleep out treehouse. This was an amazing structure and a great experience even if time there was rather short. Be aware that the stairs, particularly to the sleeping platform, are rather steep.

Camp staff and management were friendly and efficient while the food was good and plentiful. While meals are generally taken together with other guests and staff there is some provision to eat separately if you have a special occasion like the honeymooning couple's first dinner. I also noted careful attention to the dietary requirements of some guests.

This is quite a high end comfortable camp within reasonably easy reach of the Main Camp transfer point. It's not quite as 'bush' as our next camp but a great place to start a safari and I bet the pool is really welcome in the heat of summer.

After 4 nights at The Hide our transfer to Camp Hwange went as planned delivering us in time for a great lunch.

Camp Hwange is also very comfortable while being a bit closer to a traditional tented camp, albeit with thatched roofs and running solar heated water.

Tents and the main area all look out over a waterhole with a moonscape near the bar for closer viewing of visiting game and birds.

The camp was very efficiently run by welcoming camp manager Shane and her staff who all managed to convey a real investment in making your stay as perfect as possible.

The guiding was excellent and we were fortunate to have both qualified guide Moses and trainee Savannah on our vehicle plus an additional tracker on occasion.

Moses was a fount of information and committed to getting good sightings in interesting places including sundowners with the hippo at Masuma Dam. As well as approaching elephant on foot we also encountered a herd of buffalo when Moses had us crawling up an elephant pathway to get within about 15 meters. a truly once on a lifetime experience. Moses took us walking for part of most drives, sometimes for a couple of hours and sometimes a short approach to game.

Even though she was in her first year of training Savannah was a great addition to the team and I'm sure will go on to make a very good guide. She's a wiz at spotting owls at night.

Overall Camp Hwange was everything I wanted from a safari, good food, comfortable accommodation, great staff and plenty to see. There were some drives when game was a bit thin on the ground, its a safari not Whipsnade, but Moses always seemed to find something interesting including African Rock Python, Wild Cat, a Porcupine and several Bat Eared Foxes.

The combination of The Hide and Camp Hwange worked well, thanks to Tom at Expert Africa for the suggestions, as they sit in somewhat different environments while also having access to a variety of different types of vegetation.

My last Expert Africa organised trip was more than a decade ago and it's good to see their high standards have been maintained despite the disruption of the last two years.

This was my fathers first safari shortly after his 80th birthday, he's already started planning for the next one." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari

"Overall it was a wonderful experience.

Claire steered us well in picking Ilala and Davisons...we were welcomed everywhere, particularly after a tough couple of years. We heard from other travellers of their experiences at other areas, and certainly we would like to explore these in due course." Read full review: 7 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zimbabwe safari

"We had an excellent trip, more so after all the postponements due to COVID. Tom did a great job organizing it and amending arrangements over the last two years! He also recommended the trip to Save Valley which turned out to be a real highlight.

We wanted to see the parks in the “green season” and it was a very interesting and different time to visit. As expected we saw far less animals than we would in the dry season. But the engagements were deeper as we spent more time with each sighting and learned more. We also saw far more birds and learned more about the flora.

The three locations complimented each other with differing vegetation and wildlife.

All three guides were different and excellent. And great and entertaining characters - all recommended.

Having travelled just as the COVID restrictions ended, we found it very easy to travel, albeit still a little quiet for tourism but picking up. It was so nice to be back to normal out in the camps. It also meant we had camps nearly to ourselves.

Air travel was fine and we just needed to produce vaccine certs to enter countries. Masks had to be worn on flights to South Africa. Certainly Africa is back for business!" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zimbabwe safari