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Guide to finding the best accommodation in Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is one of the best national parks in Zimbabwe and probably in Southern Africa and with this, there has always been the need for accommodation within the park.

Today, we have put together his guide to find the best lodges in Hwange National Park whether you are a local, a visitor from a neighbouring country or on a safari of a lifetime travelling from the other side of the world.

Below you will find lodges that are tried and tested and offer their guests an experience that will not be forgotten in a very long time.

5 of the best Safari Lodges in Hwange

* Please note, the lodges mention below are in no particular order. We advise doing your research before booking one of the lodges mentioned on ZimNinja.

The Hide

the hide hwange national park

If luxury and high-class safaris are on your list then The Hide is your place to enjoy your African adventure.

The Hide is located in one of the best locations in Hwange National Park. Its hides are well built and a pleasure to sit under as the game stroll by.

A range of activities to fill your day and welcoming staff to make you feel at home are part of the experience.

The Hide and what to expect

The main area has both an upstairs and downstairs lounge. Near the main lodge and dining area lies a small plunge pool for the heat of summer. 

Meals are served in the main area with refreshments served upstairs and breakfast under the acacia trees. 

You can look forward to game drives, bush walks and spending most of the day in a hide watching the birds or the animals passing by.

The Rooms

Deluxe tents, indoor and outdoor baths and showers accompany each room. Fans for the heat of summer and blankets for the crisp winters are available seasonally. The veranda is an area for you to watch the game strolling by. 

Main Area

The main lodge looks out over a waterhole with diverse wildlife. There are 3600 views and a great moment to sip your cocktail in luxury. There are upstairs and downstairs decks with a lounge area for you to sit back and relax as the animals walk by. 

The Hide ReviewSafaris

The main attractions are the hides which are seclude areas from which you sit and watch the animals stroll by unaware that you are there. It is a special moment to catch the animals in their natural behaviour and environment. 

Safari Guides

The guides are rigorously trained to ensure you get the best experience and feel the passion of the Savannah in every activity. The activities are based around you and meals catered accordingly. 

7 fun facts about The Hide

  • Spending a night in the Dove’s Nest in the trees is a welcome treat for many – especially couples.
  • Enjoy the early morning as the mist rises over the watering hole and the animals approaching to drink as the birds rise up in song.
  • Watch the animals up close from an underground hide beside the waterhole. 
  • The daily activities are centred on you and your needs and meals are served accordingly. 
  • Rooms have Teak furnishing in the traditional culture but also in unique ways so no two rooms look the same. 
  • The various rooms and lodges provide unique views of the area surrounding the waterhole and the animals that pass through the area. 
  • Bird watchers will find a wide variety of birds to watch and name and reference books are on hand. 

Useful Information and Contact Details

Price per night

Rack Rate: US$350 per person per night.

Elephants Eye

Elephants Eye Hwange National Park

Elephant’s Eye in Hwange National Park is where guests immerse themselves in a world where elephants roam free.

The African Savannah is home to the elephant and travellers get to observe them in the undisturbed paradise around them.

Elephant’s Eye is situated on a private concession and prides itself on conservation.

Elephant’s Eye and what to expect

Gourmet meals are served at different locations around the lodge to showcase the natural beauty of Africa.

Activities from sunrise to sunset with pack your day with adventure and excitement. 

The many forms of safari mean that any guest’s needs are accommodated and seeing the extensive birdlife and wildlife is guaranteed.

Delicious meals and drinks are a welcome part of the experience and are designed to help you get the most out of your day.

The rooms

There are 8 comfortable raised tented chalets each made with reclaimed and sustainable materials. The rooms host private showers and views of the watering holes. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms with double basins and outside showers perfect for the heat of summer. Crisp linen and netting give the illusion of luxury and comfort. 

Main area

The Boma is the main area and incorporates lounge areas with fireplaces for cool winter nights and lanterns to cast soft light on your scrumptious dinners. The open area allows the summer air to pass through and bring the smells of the bush with it. The Boma serves dinners with pre-dinner drinks available from the bar.

Safaris

Experienced and passionate guides take you on game drives, guided safari walks, horse-back safaris and community cultural experiences to share their passion and energy for conservation and wildlife. Returning back from safaris to a crisp sundowner or warm cuppa depending on the season.

Safari guides

The guides embody the warm reception that puts Southern Africa on the map. Their roles include opening up this African bush to you and ensuring you leave feeling connected to the world. Their passion and enjoyment of their work is clearly seen in every activity. 

8 fun facts about Elephants Eye

  • The swimming pool and eco-spa invite all guests to relax and indulge themselves.
  • Romantic sundowners at majestic viewpoints are the highlights for couples.
  • Some choose to sleep under the stars in seclusion beside a waterhole.
  • Being plastic-free, recycling and using solar power are just some of the ways Elephant’s Eye incorporates its green policy.
  • Conservation and community engagement are at the heart of Elephant Eye’s vision.
  • The main lodge has Wi-Fi facilities and there is a safe for valuables. 
  • The communal Boma is a great place to spend the evening with guests sharing your adventures. 
  • The Presidential Herd is known to pass by this area and is a great sight to see.

Useful Information and Contact Details

Price per night

Rack Rate: US$350 per person per night.

Khulu Bush Camp

Khulu Bush Camp Hwange

Khulu Bush Camp is the smaller, more intimate, sister lodge to neighbouring Ivory Lodge.

Khulu is named after Cecil Wilde, a director of the Amalinda Safari Collection.

The name Khulu comes from the staff and the community’s name for Cecil and it means grandfather.

Khulu Bush Camp and what to expect

Old world hospitality is combined with the luxury of private accommodation.

Khulu overlooks a ‘vlei’ or ancient riverbed which is known to attract a variety of wildlife and birdlife right to your doorstep.

If you are lucky to be in camp with Khulu himself, you will be treated to evenings around the fire listening to the strummings of old tunes and yarns of days gone by.

Walking safaris to see and approach large and small herds and the creatures of the National Park are a must in this area.

The rooms

All rooms boast a magnificent view of an active waterhole set in the ancient riverbed. Rooms include his and her basins, indoors and outdoors showers and king-size or twin beds depending on your needs as a guest.

Main area

The main area serves many of the meals as you look out over the vlei and enjoy a sundowner. The meals are delicious and add another experience to an already captivating day. Lounging you can immerse yourself in talk or sit in solitude and recall events of your day.

Safaris

Early morning game drives while the mist rises to offer great sights and sounds as well as the evening calls as you drive through sunset. The noise and stirrings of the bush bring excitement to every guest on walks.

Safari guides

The guides and Khulu himself are on hand to share their knowledge and training during your stay to ensure you have the best experience and leave feeling renewed and excited to share about your visit.

6 fun facts about Khulu Bush Camp

  • The rooms include basic amenities as well as a Nespresso machine to start your day with a morning cuppa.
  • The rooms lead to an outside deck where you can sit, relax and take in the views.
  • The Dete cultural tour is a wonderful to highlight for many guests.
  • Through the Mother Africa Trust and the sponsorship of the Dete Old Age Home, visits to a local school and clinic to immerse guests in the local culture are an unprecedented experience.
  • Pan sits are secluded hides in which guests sit for the day with a waiter on call as the animals pass by – not knowing you are observing them.
  • The management, staff and Khulu himself are on hand to help you enjoy your stay from beginning to end. 

Useful Information and Contact Details

Price per night

Rack Rate: US$487 per person per night.

Little Makalolo Camp

Little Makalolo Camp hwange

Hwange National Park is the home of Little Makalolo Camp. It is located in one of the best game viewing areas of the Park.

It overlooks a vibrant waterhole with the abundant game but also offers privacy for guests who enjoy small, intimate camps.

The camp uses traditional tents and this includes a family one. They are spacious and en-suite including indoor and outdoor showers.

Little Makalolo Camp and what to expect

Solar power is used for tent lights and to heat water. This allows the camp to conserve its environmental footprint. 

The raised pool, the bar and the breakfast room offer stunning views of the frequently used waterhole in front of the camp.

The abundance of wildlife and birdlife offers plenty to see and do around the camp.

The tents are tastefully decorated to provide a touch of luxury to your stay.

The rooms

Each tent houses two beds and is tastefully decorated with an African theme. The bathrooms have flushing toilets and indoor and outdoor showers. The bathrooms are en-suite, including in the family tent.

Main area

The main area is linked to each tent by the teak walkways. A false mopane tree, located in the middle of the camp, shades the dining room and lounge area. There is an open fire deck for those starlight nights by the fireside during the cooler winter months.

Safaris

Game drives, night game drives, guided walks and well-concealed hides offer a lot of ways to see and engage with the local wildlife. The birdlife is extensive and guests can try their hand at birdwatching.

Safari guides

Passionate and knowledgeable guides enrich and enhance your stay in this unique and beautiful place. The additional staff adds to this with their behaviour showing why African safaris are some of the best holiday trips to take. 

7 fun facts about Little Makalolo Camp

  • The Camp is located in Hwange National Park.
  • It is in a private concession in the Linkwasha and Makalolo areas.
  • The solar pumps are helping to reduce the carbon footprint as they pump out around 70 000 litres of water per pump per 24 hours to keep up the elephants alone during the dry season.
  • The Camp works with the anti-poaching unit to protect 56 000 hectares of African Savannah.
  • Depending on their movement, guests can visit and learn more about the daily tasks of the anti-poaching unit. 
  • The guests can pursue some literary about the flora and fauna in the main area by the lounge.
  • The meals are well catered for and the taste is flavoursome adding a new feeling to the experience and an appreciation for the chef.

Useful Information and Contact Details

Price per night

Rack Rate: US$530 per person per night.

Somalisa Camp

Somalisa Camp Hwange

In the contrasts of Hwange National Park sits a camp with all the trappings of luxury and tranquillity. The tented camp lies beside an old flood plain and on an acacia island.

Elephants grazing nearby and a cacophony of lion roars in the distance remind you of the heartland of the bush in which you reside.

Being in a tented camp brings you closer to the bush and allows you to feel the African heart beating in a steady rhythm.

 When you come you may feel like an outsider encroaching on the land but when you leave you will feel part of the family.

Somalisa Camp and what to expect

You can expect to sip your sundowner in the company of the elephants and a multitude of birdlife.

You can enjoy the contemporary African décor in your surroundings and marvel at the comfort in which you spend your holiday.

Game drives, walks and cultural visits will enthral you from sunrise to sunset and keep you chatting with your fellow guests as you dine over an exquisite meal. 

The rooms

The 7 Sail tents each come with en-suite bathroom facilities and gauze sliding doors. A fan overhead wards off the heat of summer while a wood-burner fireplace keeps the winter chill at bay. There are indoor and outdoor showers, copper slipper-style bathtubs as well. 

Main area

The main deck area is split into two levels and overlooks the natural waterholes and the “Elephants Pool”. A small splash pool sits in front of the deck for the guests. A separate dining and lounge area extends off the deck area. 

Safaris

Bushwalks and game drives into the bush to see a variety of wildlife species are favourites as well as cultural trips to immerse you in the local culture. The birdlife is extensive and you are guaranteed to see some amazing colours and hear calls you have never heard before.

Safari guides

The guides exude passion and knowledge as they regale guests with stories and the wisdom of the African bush.  They envelop you in the community of Somalisa and its wildlife so you become part of the fabric. You will have photographs as well as stories to accompany them to look back on.

7 fun facts about Somalisa Camp

  • Wildlife sightings include the rare and endangered roan antelope.
  • There are non-smoking rooms as well as smoking rooms.
  • Breakfast is included in your stay and is a great way to start any day.
  • A laundry services takes care of your needs and allows you to focus on your activities for the day.
  • The bar/lounge area is the perfect place to cap off your day and share your experiences.
  • The wildlife and birdlife means you will take many photographs to try and capture it all.
  • The tents become a veil to the African bush and you are a part of the Savannah during your stay.

Useful Information and Contact Details

Price per night

Rack Rate: US$520 per person per night.