Hwange National Park - Zimbabwe
Location: Situated in the top North Western corner of Zimbabwe, Hwange is our largest National Park.
Size: 14600 square kilometers
Birding seasons: Hwange has two main seasons, one hot and wet season starting in mid November and ending in mid April. This is the season for migratory birds in Hwange ranging from the inter-African migrants like the Southern Carmine Bee-eater to the Palearctic Migrants like the Amur Falcons and the Ruff. The Hwange bird list is said to be about 400 species and this is largely due to these migrants that take advantage of the huge numbers of insects and associated opportunities during our wet season.
The second season in the cold and dry season starting off in about mid April and ending when the rains break in mid November. The famously low temperatures (-14 degrees Celsius!!!) occur for a brief period in May/June and July and then it remains dry but get progressively warmer as the season progresses. Hwange is on the edge of the Kalahari desert and as such we see many desert specialists in this dry period. Coursers, Sand grouse and Nightjars to name just a few.
Facilities: Hwange is blessed with many safari lodges and campsites. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife management Authority have several campsites both in and outside the park (in its 3 main camps) which are basic but comfortable and relatively cheap. On the other end of the scale there are several very up market lodges and for those of you that want to be guided, these all have very knowledgeable guides employed to look after you.
Self driving is very popular and this gives you the freedom to plan your own days although there is a need for a decent map to find your way around.
Birding Specialities: Some of the real Hwange specialities are the Arnot's Chat, Racket-tailed Roller, Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Southern Ground Hornbill, Crimson-breated Shrike, Red-creasted Korhaan, Secretary Bird, Martial Eagle, Kalahari scrub robin, Pearl-spotted Owlet etc.
Rarities: Cape Griffon, Denham's Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Yellow form of the Crimson-breasted shrike
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