How to Get to Hwange National Park

Hwange is the ideal location to combine a world class safari with a visit to Victoria Falls.

Hwange National Park is located in the southwest of Zimbabwe, far from the capital of Harare, and over 200kms from the second largest city of Bulawayo, as well as the hub of Victoria Falls. The advantage is that it is real wilderness, and it is not saturated with tourists like you might find in the popular areas of Chobe National Park.

Access to Hwange National Park is it's biggest drawback, it was dead easy in the olds days when Air Zimbabwe used to fly this route into Hwange Airport. Now, only MackAir fly into Hwange from Victoria Falls. Otherwise, transport is limited to private air charters, road transfers from Victoria Falls, or self drive.

Flying Into Hwange

Private air charters - These are costly but obviously have the advantage of being quicker and can be useful if you have an extended itinerary that might include Kariba or the lower Zambezi valley. For the more remote camps in Hwange like Little Makalolo, Davison's, Linkwasha, Bomani, Camelthorn and Somalisa flying is almost essential as trekking in by road just takes too long and is almost as costly.

Fly into the nearest airstrip - this is the fastest and most convenient way into Hwange National Park - Photo by Safari Logistics

MackAir Flight: MackAir have partnered with Central Air Transport Services (CATS) and are running daily flights between Victoia Falls and Hwange. They also run flights between the north-western section of Hwange National Park and the east and southern parts.

The Longer Scenic Route

Rail transfer (Bomani and Camelthorn Lodges ONLY) - A road transfer to Impofu Siding (near the Main Camp)  and then take a rail transfer from there to Ngamo Siding aboard the Elephant Express is now possible. After the 2 hour safari, a 15 to 20 minute ride in a game vehicle will take guests to Bomani Tented Lodge or Camelthorn Lodge.

The Elephant Express and wildlife in the foreground

How to Get to Hwange By Road

Road Transfers - These can easily be arranged but are not scheduled and therefore are tailored to your requirements. They are normally in air-conditioned minibuses. If you are travelling alone or as a couple they work out quite expensive as the transfers are quoted at a minimum of 4 people. These transfers can drop you at the Mbala boom from where Camp Hwange or Nehimba will collect you. Or they can drop you at Hwange Safari Lodge, Hwange Main Camp or Halfway House from where the camps in the south of the park will collect you.

Self Drive - If you have your own vehicle, the lodges are happy for you to drive in on your own, however most of them are only accessible with a 4x4 and once there further game drives have to be in the lodge vehicles, with the exception of lodges like Miombo, Hwange Safari Lodge, Ivory Lodge and the national park camps. The national park camps and most of the road network within the park is accessible with a 2 wheel drive vehicle except in the height of the rainy season. The park is accessible through three entrances; Main camp, Sinamatella and Nantwich.

Self-drivers coming through Botswana may favour Pandamatenga for the border entry - this is in the western end of Hwange National Park, and is one of the less used border posts. Crossing this border is usually an easy 20 minutes, and it is not busy at all. The drive from there, however, is 113kms to Sinamatella Camp on rough road. We certainly do not recommend this route during the rainy season (see Best Time To Visit Hwange for more on the weather and climate) as the road is muddy and the drive will end up taking hours.

We love Hwange and having spent so much time there feel well qualified enough to give good advice on the various camps, how they differ and what they offer. If you need any help with booking some Hwange accommodation or organising an itinerary please don't hesitate to contact us for assistance - that's what we do! And you don't have to worry about how to get to Hwange. We can package together safaris which include Hwange, Vic Falls, Botswana, Kariba and the lower Zambezi - So just click on the enquiry button below.

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Last update: 2 November 2022

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