Reviews of Camp Hwange

"Camp Hwange is our Africa home away from home.

The guiding here is superb and after 4 trips here we will always return. The perfect camp? We think so!" See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe

"Camp Hwange is a superbly put together property in a great location. It has the feel of a traditional tented camp but with just that little bit of extra comfort like solar hot showers and solid polished floors. Views to the waterhole from every tent and a monoscope in the bar for a closeup meant great game spotting oportunities even from your bed.

The staff were very well trained, attentive and efficient. Everything worked like clockwork under the guidance of superb camp manager Shane.

The guiding was exceptional and we really enjoyed the emphasis on opportunities to go walking every day. Our guide Moses was a fount of knowledge in whom we had complete confidence while crawling up to a herd of Buffalo and approaching mature bull Elephants. We were also lucky enough to be accompanied most days by a spotter as well as trainee guide Savannah who's already great knowledge was a tribute to her and the training sh'e had in her first year.

We had some excellent unusual sightings including an African Rock Python, a Porcupine, several Bat Eared Foxes and two sightings of African Wild Cat - all firsts for me on my eighth sub-saharan safari.

Early mornings and nights were cold, especially on the vehicles so if you are going in May or colder months take plenty of warm clothes. The ponchos provided on the vehicles were a vital piece of equipment.

It's along five hours or so drive back to Victoria Falls from the camp so I'd suggest spending the night before your flight home in the Falls.

We could only have enjoyed our stay at Camp Hwange more if we'd seen Wild Dog and Leopard, but that just gives us a good reason to return, not that we'd need one." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe

"Although we have been to Zimbabwe previously this was our first trip at this time of year. We knew it would be cold but were unprepared for just how cold. We had taken a jacket and sweater as recommended but needed a much thicker jacket, hat, gloves and scarf as it was extremely cold in the morning. The camp was first class. Shane and her team made us most welcome, our accommodation was comfortable and the food appetising. The guiding with Washington and Moses was some of the very best we have had in Africa. Walking safaris were a first for us and tracking a bull elephant at close quarters was an experience that will live with us forever. The game was thinner on the ground which was to be expected at this time of year but we did have some memorable sightings including 8 hyena feasting on a rather smelly elephant carcass." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 5n in Zimbabwe

"This was our second visit to Camp Hwange and it was great to have Washington greet us again at the airstrip.

Again the team did a great job of ensuring a fabulous visit, in a very friendly and efficient manner. With “work to do” each day we had great engagement with the animals we watched and schedules became flexible during the day as we reacted to what we found.

We especially enjoyed seeing and worrying about the lone lion cub and finally seeing it reunite with its parents.

Walking with Dave and Washington was excellent and their enthusiasm and excitement really makes the experience.

Private guiding in Hwange
Dave’s energy and enthusiasm is infectious. Being out in the bush with him is hugely informative and fun. He was totally focused on giving us the best experience and searching for tracks to find certain wildlife.

Schedules went out of the window as we happily followed what we found, and learned much more about the animals’ activities, environment and social interaction.

It was also great to see how good a manager, trainer and mentor Dave is to his team.

We also had some great walking at Camp Hwange - always meaningful tracking for certain animals and feeling totally safe. We had some great experiences with some elephants on a couple of walks.

Would very much recommend time with Dave and Washington" See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe

"We loved this camp and the wonderful team working there ( Moses, Savanna et al)
We were lucky to have it to ourselves for some of our time

We experienced freak weather that washed out a couple of drives but gave us incredible thunder and lightening in the bush as compensation.

The strange weather and the long grasses combined so that our sightings were very limited ( no predators other than hyaena on last day ) but nevertheless we loved the place as the green landscape was wonderful and Moses was such an insightful guide

We would like to return but at a different time of year.

Private guiding at Camp Hwange: Excellent

Moses is a legend and deserves to be. Having a tracker and also a trainee guide on board with us meant that we saw all that was feasible.

The walks were exciting and we got close to an elephant even if the buffalo eluded us.

We had a 7 year old with us and really appreciated that the team assessed her on her own terms rather than apply a crude age limit. As a result, we were able to walk as a family and felt very safe and privileged doing so." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe; 5n in Botswana

"Another permanent camp, so perhaps more plush but less charming than the small, temporary camps. It was the largest of the five camps we visited. Very pleasant with excellent food and friendly and helpful staff.

Moses and Robert were our guides, and we had a wonderful time with them. learned so much about local culture, as well as the flora and fauna--and we laughed a whole lot. We also did some walking safaris with the most amazing tracker whose name I'm embarrassed to have forgotten.

We heard the leopards mating, very close by, and he tried to lead us to them on foot, but they ended up enjoying their afterglow out of sight of us. Our Land Cruisers at other camps were entirely roof-less. Here they had the typical canvas roof. That was great for the scorching sun, but ultimately I prefer the roof-less variant." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia; 10n in Zimbabwe

"Overall this was probably the worst of the four camps that we were in.

They did have us on real long game drives but saw few animals. Our guide was into birds and pointed out quite a few.

They had no wifi for the quests but staff did have wifi so once in our tent I could not communicate with my daughter" See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Botswana

"This is our third time at camp Hwange. As usual the staff, accommodation, food and facilities where excellent. The guides where excellent especially Washington. The learner guides where very knowledgeable and looked after us very well making sure we had drinks, asking what we had seen and waking us up every morning.

Camp Hwange is the best camp if you want a really African safari. The guiding in exceptional and the best in Africa. Nothing is to much trouble and the food is fantastic. One of the best things about is camp is it is small and has it own concession, so you are able to do night drives which is a treat to see nocturnal animals, we saw porcupines for the first time!!!! It is situated in the quieter park of the park so you don't see many other vehicles.

This is the first time we have been in November and there had been some rain and it was a lot greener than when we have been in September. It was lovely to see some flower coming out and learning about the flora and not just the animals." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe

"This is the best safari lodge I have ever stayed at. The camp is run by Kim and Savannah who ensure everything runs smoothly. The food is always excellent and the vehicles are always stocked with coolboxes with snacks and drinks. You always had the feeling that behind the smiles and friendly chat behind the scenes a lot of hard work was going on to make sure everything was just right - they are very professional. The waterhole opposite the camp is very active and we spent a fantastic evening in the log hide there watching elephants at very close quarters, as we sipped a gin and tonic. The rooms are just right - quite simple but have everything you need. The wifi was down while we were there which didn't bother us at all. There is a plug in the room suitable for charging most devices. Meals in the camp were of a very high standard.

We were guided at both our camps by Alan, a ZimPro freelancer. It should be noted that the camp only has 2 resident guides, Adam and Moses, so when the camp is full as it was when we were there, freelance guides are brought in who are very good but you can't rely on being with a particular resident guide who you may have read about working there. The camp has a policy of keeping guests with the same guide throughout there stay and as we were travelling to the sister camp - Hwange Bush Camp - Alan was brought in to guide us for the full 8 days. They also have a policy that a guest must be guided by a ZimPro guide, even on vehicle activities although they have a group of learner guides working towards the highest qualification. This meant it was just the two of us with Alan and his tracker Ernest for 7 of our 8 days. On the day we were joined by other guests it was an elderly American couple who were quite frail. I was braced for a frustrating day at having to cater to their pace and style of safari which could not have been more different from our own but was impressed that the camp had immediately realised this and sent a learner guide with us, assuring us that we would drive for a short distance, then we would go for a walk with Alan while the learner guide continued in the vehicle with the American couple before meeting us later. When one of the Americans then suggested he would like to walk with us it was gently suggested to him that we would be covering several miles on difficult ground in the heat and perhaps he would find the vehicle more enjoyable. It was well handled by the camp staff as he was totally unsuited to the kind of walks offered by the camp!

I don't want to give the impression that the walks were very demanding - they weren't - but they were several hours long and after about 10am the temperature rockets upwards. When you pick up the tracks of something you want to follow it takes as long as it takes (we tracked Rhino for about 4 hours, after picking up the tracks 2 hours into our walk). This was fantastic for us and what we were there for but isn't for everybody. When you consider that tracking and approaching big 5 on foot is what the camp specialises in it was surprising that some guests arrived at the camp not knowing this and not being suited to or wanting that type of safari. We thought the balance between vehicle and walking activities was just right. We started the day in the vehicle, then got out to walk for a few hours, then returned to the vehicle to slowly drive back to camp. In the afternoon we did vehicle activities, apart from hopping out to quickly try and approach elephant and buffalo as we came across them on a couple of occasions.

With Alan we had excellent vehicle activities but also spent a lot of time walking. We walked up on several elephant and a buffalo, both intentionally and also when tracking something else and 'coming across' elephant as we walking. We tracked rhino, leopard and lion but unfortunately didn't catch up with them (we saw numerous lion from the vehicle). Just being out and trying to track the animal, and watching the guide and tracker as they interpret the tracks and sign, was a great experience although would of course have been better if it ended with a great sighting on foot. It gives us something to go back for.

At both camps I was very impressed by the 'learner' guides. They rotate between the camps. Despite the title of 'learner' I found them all to be very knowledgeable and experienced and had a lot to contribute. They are all qualified vehicle guides - they just can't lead walks by themselves. One of them joined our activities when they could to add another set of eyes. At the end of the day they were happy to sit around the camp fire and swap stories and were always leaping up to refill an empty glass.

There is a good sense of fun and adventure at the camp. One evening, less than five minutes before dinner as we sat around the camp fire with a glass of wine in hand, one of the guides came running over to say there were male lions just behind the camp. Everyone put there drinks down to pile into 2 of the vehicles and dash out to go and see them. After finding them and having a quick 10 minute sighting of males moving into a new territory we then returned to camp to pick up our drinks and have some late dinner. That kind of spontaneity was fun and contributed to the positive atmosphere at the camp.

If you want the pure safari and as much time out and about either in vehicle or on foot as possible with highly qualified guides then this is the place for you. We loved it." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe

"Camp Hwange is stunning. Simple in design it makes the most of a stunning location next to a waterhole in a large private concession. The camp retains a bush camp feel but the tents are comfortable and well equipped and the central area is beautiful and friendly.

Thanks to our excellent guide Washington we had the best few days of safari drives we have had on the continent. We saw so much and saw it so beautifully. We have never had a guide so gifted at placing us in the right spot at the right time to see events unfold. From lion kills, leopard and cheetah sightings, fantastic views of roan and sable, a thousand or more buffalo approaching water with dust filling the air, elephants drinking and bathing at sunset, secretary birds hunting for snakes, aardwolves, servals, African wildcats and so much more...this was the best few days on safari we have had anywhere.

Thank you Washington." See all these reviews: 12n in Zimbabwe