Reviews of Hwange Bush Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
26 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Hwange Bush Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

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"Hwange Bush Camp review"
A magical place - possibly my favourite camp in the whole park (and in Hwange I have been to a LOT over the years).
As something of an aside, for such a relatively rustic camp, the food was quite exceptional." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Elephant
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Hippo
Multiple sightings

Leopard
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Hwange Bush Camp review"
- best walking safaris ever
- excellent tracking led to great sightings
- David Carson is one-of-a-kind, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about nature/wildlife
- great food
- Sean was also very competent and a pleasure to spend time with
- the whole team went the extra mile
- map on the wall was very helpful" See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Cheetah
Multiple sightings

Elephant
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Hippo
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Roan antelope
Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena
1 sighting

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Hwange Bush Camp - Intimate and Wonderful!"
The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and really made us feel special. Our guides were exceptional. Had so many close encounters with elephants, giraffes, lions and kudu.
We saw so many different animals, and many animals we hadn’t even heard of before. Our guides were fantastic spotters of waterbuck, impala, reedbuck, warthogs, duiker, steenbok, baboons, jackals and genet!
Also, many different African birds, especially the bataleur." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
2 sightings

Cheetah
3 sightings

Elephant
10 sightings

Giraffe
6 sightings

Hippo
3 sightings

Leopard
1 sighting

Lion
4 sightings

Roan antelope
4 sightings

Sable antelope
2 sightings

Spotted Hyena
1 sighting

Zebra
7 sightings
"Hwange Bush Camp review"
Lead by Dave the whole team were great to be around and nothing was too much trouble for them.
Dave is a truly world class guide and made us laugh from start to finish.
Such a great guy and taught us so much.
The comfort for a bush camp was great.
We were not prepared for how cold it was and that was due to our lack of planning." See all these reviews: 12n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
Multiple sightings

Elephant
Multiple sightings

Giraffe
Multiple sightings

Hippo
Multiple sightings

Lion
Multiple sightings

Oryx
Multiple sightings

Roan antelope
Multiple sightings

Wild dog
Multiple sightings

Wildebeest
Multiple sightings

Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Very comfortable tented camp"
The resident guide is Spike who we chatted to around camp but were guided by Alan who had come with us from Camp Hwange.
We did a lot of walking and focussed mainly on tracking lion which was the last thing on my list that I really wanted to do - approaching lion on foot. We were unsuccessful in finding them but we enjoyed tracking them and walking. We heard lions from camp on a couple of occasions during the night. The concentration of wildlife is less in this area of the park and what we did see was more nervous of the vehicle.
The main area of the camp is similar to that at Camp Hwange and very nice. Sitting around the fire with a glass of wine in the evenings is a great way to end the day." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
2 sightings

Elephant
10 sightings

Giraffe
3 sightings

Hippo
3 sightings

Roan antelope
2 sightings

Sable antelope
6 sightings

Spotted Hyena
2 sightings

Zebra
5 sightings
"Out in the bush experience at Hwange Bush Cam"
The location is excellent - away from anywhere, with no light pollution and a clear view of the stars and Milky Way. There are no barriers between you and the bush and the wildlife; it was interesting lying in our tent listening to lions roaring during the night and elephants grazing right outside.
The tents were very comfortable, with luxury beds and flushing toilets. The showers are 'bucket showers' but can be provided as cold, tepid or warm; however, they are very effective and we got two showers out of a cold bucket which was perfectly comfortable given the daytime temperatures. As the camp is about 1000 metres up, the nights were cooler but a hot water bottle waited for you in bed, so we were never cold.
The staff were excellent, friendly and informative, and the food (all cooked over an open wood fire) amazing. Our guide Andrew Dalziel is a well known Zimbabwe guide and led us on daily, walking safaris. we learnt much about anything from lichens to lions.
I highly recommend the Hwange Bush Camp to anyone who wants to experience camping in the bush but with comfortable beds and flushing toilets - however, not for those who do not have an interest in all aspects of safari and who cannot stray from a luxury hotel or the internet." See all these reviews: 11n in Zimbabwe

Brown Hyena
2 sightings

Buffalo
2 sightings

Eland
1 sighting

Elephant
8 sightings

Giraffe
8 sightings

Hippo
6 sightings

Lion
4 sightings

Roan antelope
2 sightings

Sable antelope
2 sightings

Zebra
6 sightings
"Hwange Bush Camp review"
"Beautiful and highly professionally"
But how to find these guides? The answer for us was to ask Expert Africa, as several times before. Their recommendation to also go Fly Camping with the team from Hwange Bush Camp turned out to be a brilliant and exciting experience. We have written a separate review about the Fly Camping which was just amazing, especially when we tracked down a pride of lions together with our very professional guides and we came very close without the lions seeing us.
After the Fly Camping we had a last night at the main camp again together with the whole Hwange Bush Camp Team which is very service minded, nice and attentive. And easy going!" See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe

Elephant
3 sightings

Giraffe
2 sightings

Lion
1 sighting
"Brilliant time at Hwange bush camp"
It was good to have the same guide throughout our stay, who also happened to be the owner, Dave. To be guided by someone who is so passionate about the bush and the wildlife was a real bonus. Not only did we do the walks, but Dave’s willingness to stop a drive, hop off the vehicle, to follow tracks and/or get a better view of wildlife on foot was a new experience for us.
Although we are keen on photography, we are not that ‘professional’, so Dave’s ability (where possible) to position the vehicle to get the best of the light on the wildlife was a great help to us.
A bush camp doesn’t mean that you can’t be comfortable! The tents were spacious, and well furnished – much more than we were expecting from a bush camp. The familiar bucket showers were always welcome at the end of the day." See all these reviews: 21n in Zimbabwe

Buffalo
8 sightings

Cheetah
1 sighting

Elephant
10 sightings

Giraffe
10 sightings

Hippo
3 sightings

Lion
7 sightings

Roan antelope
9 sightings

Sable antelope
1 sighting

Zebra
10 sightings
"Hwange Bush Camp review"
We were told that it was not necessary to put "valuables" in the camp safe but as all our bags were visited by mice (although the bags were not on the floor and we carried no food - this has never happened to us before), we would not have been amused if the mice had chewed through $ and passports rather than ear plugs and tissues. We would recommend zipping all bags closed and putting money in the safe.
Although our guide was very good and we had some good sightings, it often seemed that they were struggling to think of things to do with us, due to a lack of local knowledge. As is obvious from the species list we did not see much variety of animals. It was often necessary to drive quite a long way to see anything, whereas I feel the point of a bush camp is to feel isolated but self contained. (There were even suggestions that we might drive to Camp Hwange for viewings, which seemed to defeat the object of being at the Bush Camp).Next year the location of the Bush Camp will change, which may correct some of the shortcomings." See all these reviews: 15n in Zimbabwe; 2n in Kenya

Elephant
10 sightings

Lion
10 sightings

Zebra
10 sightings
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