Reviews of The Hide
Wildlife sightings and reviews
37 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited The Hide and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
100% success
33% success
33% success
50% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
91% success
91% success
80% success
67% success
56% success
14% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
"Good"
The rooms were good, the staff excellent, the food was not much better than average, and the guide was good but, again, not exceptional.
Overall a very nice stay, but I would not return." See all these reviews: 7n in Zimbabwe; 6n in Zambia
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Cheetah
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Sable antelope
1 sighting
Wild dog
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"The Hide review "
We chose it for the hides and were not disappointed- amazingly close to elephants and game at the waterhole. We were extremely fortunate to see wild dogs bring down a kudu in the vlei directly in front of camp during breakfast one day. An amazing experience, and the opportunity to see all the other animals and birds that came to clean up the carcass (vultures, spotted hyena etc).
We also hugely enjoyed the night drives, the only lodge on this trip that offered them.
Many thanks to Nicholas our terrific guide, Nick, Lindsay and Kim." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
Buffalo
1 sighting
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
1 sighting
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
4 sightings
Roan antelope
4 sightings
Sable antelope
4 sightings
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Wild dogs at The Hide"
We had an excellent guide (Sean Hind). One morning in the middle of breakfast (my birthday in fact) a pack of dogs appeared on the opposite side of the water hole and Sean said "let's jump in the vehicle and go after them". So we were off and followed them for a while before returning to finish our breakfast. I like that sort of spontaneity and flexibility which is missing in many camps.
The Hide goes on our list of places to return to again." See all these reviews: 13n in Namibia; 8n in Zimbabwe; 1n in Botswana
"The Hide: Excellent Camp"
"The Hide review"
Very knowledgeable guide, Daffy (sorry for the spelling !). Greatly helped improve our bird recognition.
We were lucky enough to see lions, cheetahs and sable here, all great sightings.
We had a very relaxing and enjoyable stay here. Everyone made sure we were very well looked after.
The actual hide by the waterhole is a real bonus.
Slight drawback from the train noise at night, but it didn't really bother us." See all these reviews: 9n in Zimbabwe
"The Hide review"
Tents - very nicely furnished with very delightful outside shower
Staff very efficient and welcoming in most cases
Food was really good with some great inventive combinations
Our guide was very good but not convinced the ability was consistent." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
"The Hide review"
"Just right at the end of our trip"
It is very comfortable, the food is excellent and the location overlooking the waterhole very good. The staff are very welcoming and Leanne in particular went out of her way to ensure that our stay was a great experience. A special mention to Jo who bravely dealt with the scorpion that crawled into Annes trouser pocket!!! I would also commend the Lodge for arranging for the Leopard to visit the waterhole on our first evening there!
The pace is a little slower than the other two lodges which suited us as by this time on the trip we were beginning to feel the early mornings and long days. The guiding is of a good standard, however this is a less intense experience than other Lodges we visited and it would be disappointing if this was the only Lodge experienced in this amazing National Park." See all these reviews: 10n in Zimbabwe
"Deserves its high reputation"
One night the security guard knocked on our door to tell us to come out and get a glimpse of three honey badgers that were drinking from a water bowl next-door. We thought that was extremely thoughtful of him and seeing those honey badgers was a highlight.
We liked our guide, Fortune, who, among other things, got us the best cheetah sighting we have had in five trips to Africa." See all these reviews: 8n in Zimbabwe
"High marks for The Hide"
The Hide is an extremely well managed camp, one of the best in our experience. Meals are high quality with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables: we especially liked the fact that one evening the main course was traditional Zambian fare. The bar is well-stocked. The rooms are comfortable and the communal areas a delight, looking out onto a waterhole which attracts a wide range of animals. The highlight is the hide itself which puts one (underground) just feet away from elephants coming to drink.
There is a three activities per day rhythm to the camp (unusual in our experience), with a morning post-breakfast drive, an afternoon drive or walk and a post-dinner night drive on The Hide's concession. We found this balance to be very appealing.
Our guide, Ngozi, was excellent, personable and with a nice (again unusual) touch of stopping the vehicle and getting out of his seat to turn to his passengers when he had something important/lengthy to say about what we were seeing. He also was able to balance nicely the different interests among his passengers.
We were lucky enough to have good lion sightings on our first two days (including Jericho, former comrade-in-arms of the more well-known Cecil); super elephant and buffalo; serval, black-backed jackal, lesser genet and a whole host of herbivores. Best of all, perhaps, an aardvark. We also logged 84 bird species even though we diluted our usual birding focus for this trip: these included Secretary Bird, Kori Bustard, Ground-Hornbill, Ostrich with chicks, Pearl-spotted Owlet and a range of smaller raptors.
We can thoroughly recommend the Hide to first-time and experienced safari-goers alike." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe
Holiday styles & special interests in Zimbabwe
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Zimbabwe.
Other lodges in Hwange National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Camp Hwange
Overlooking a waterhole in a remote part of Hwange National Park, Camp Hwange offers great guiding in a pristine wilderness at reasonable prices.
Somalisa Camp
Somalisa is a luxurious, yet remote, safari camp in Hwange National Park, offering walking safaris and game drives.
Hwange Bush Camp
Hwange Bush Camp is a small seasonal camp offering comfortable tents, great food, and superb guiding, and is often used by exclusive groups.
Little Makalolo Camp
Tucked away in Hwange National Park overlooking a waterhole, Little Makalolo Camp combines top guiding with excellent wildlife watching.
Somalisa Expeditions
A simple but stylish camp, Somalisa Expeditions sits in the heart of Hwange National Park, offering walking safaris and game drives.
Davison's Camp
Within the Linkwasha Concession, Davison's Camp offers superb value for money, morning walking safaris and spot-lit drives after dark.
Nehimba Lodge
Nehimba is a comfortable, good-value camp in a remote area of Hwange National Park, teeming with wildlife.
Bomani Tented Lodge
Bomani is a down-to-earth lodge with a range of activities in a remote region of western Zimbabwe, adjacent to Hwange National Park.
Khulu Bush Camp
Just outside Hwange National Park, Khulu Bush Camp features a waterhole popular with wildlife, especially elephants and offers excellent value for money.
Verney's Camp
Verney's Camp is one of the newest offerings in Hwange, located in the wildlife rich, open landscape in the south-eastern section of the park.
Jozibanini Camp
Remote and rugged, Jozibanini is one of the most remote camps in Zimabwe's largest National Park. Stay here for a real wilderness experience.
Ivory Lodge
Just outside Hwange National Park, the small Ivory Lodge is a great place to see large herds of elephant as well as smaller plains game.
Sable Valley Lodge
Set on the 12km Dete Vlei, the recently upgraded and family-friendly Sable Valley sits in a private reserve within easy reach of Hwange National Park.
Linkwasha Camp
In its own private concession within Hwange National Park, Linkwasha offers excellent wildlife sightings and luxurious surroundings.
Somalisa Acacia
Somalisa Acacia is a family-friendly, yet remote and luxurious safari camp in Hwange National Park.
Camelthorn
Camelthorn is a stylish lodge with a range of activities in a remote region of western Zimbabwe, adjacent to Hwange National Park.
Deteema Springs Camp
Nestled deep in Hwange National Parks rugged northern sector, Deteema Springs Camp promises visitors an authentic bush camp experience.
Daka Camp
One of the most remote camps in Hwange National Park, Daka Camp, like the smaller Daka Expeditions, sits almost on the border with Botswana.
Tum Tum
The Tum Tum Treehouses are due to open in late 2025. Details on this exciting development are still scarce, so watch this space.
Camp Chitubu
Nestled in the rugged north of Hwange National Park, the unpretentious yet comfortable Camp Chitubu has a strong focus on excellent guiding.
Khulu's Retreat
Just outside Hwange National Park, Khulu's Retreat is an exclusive private villa and is a great place to spoil yourself on a safari in Zimbabwe.
