safari experts, since 1991
Hwange conservation safari
ZIMBABWE
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Trust us to find you the rarest animals, the most spectacular wildlife events, the remotest landscapes and deeply meaningful cultural encounters!
This safari is all about fantastic wildlife viewing and understanding conservation at the grassroots level. Your safari will include game drives, bush walks, community visits, meeting Hwange's rhinos and learning about an innovative community rhino conservation project, and keeping Hwange's vital waterholes full of water during the dry season when the considerable wildlife populations struggle to find water. You will also enjoy a journey on the quaint 'Elephant Express' railway carriage and a few nights in a remote bush camp deep inside the national park, which few tourists get to enjoy.
Make a difference at ground level with this unique conservation safari
Overview
Length: 8 days / 7 nights
Group Size: Flexible – you tell us how many are in your party
Location: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Departure Dates: May to November
Lodges visited: Camelthorn Lodge + Jozibanini Camp + Nehimba Lodge
Prices include: Full board and lodging + road, rail and air transfers as described + park fees + activities as described
Highlights
Superb wildlife viewing - Hwange is famous for its massive buffalo and elephant herds and large male lions. It also hosts one of Africa's largest wild dog (painted wolf) populations;
Enjoy three special safari camps/lodges, each with its own style and character;
A fun one-of-a-kind railway journey in a refurbished railcar that has been stripped down to allow for excellent wildlife viewing. Munch on delicious lunch and knock back a few gin & tonics as you enjoy the 'game drive';
Meet the white rhinos of the Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary and their protectors, the famous Cobras - a wildlife protection unit. Learn about this incredible community project and what other conservation work is being done;
Join the 'Pump Run' - visit the Hwange waterholes to drop off fuel for the motors as well as rations and supplies for the pump attendants, getting a good insight into the cogs that keep conservation operations turning on the ground;
Meet the locals - a fun and authentic visit to a nearby village to learn about village life in rural Matabeleland. Your visit could include a school visit to appreciate the difference your safari makes for these villagers; and
Direct, measurable conservation benefits because of your safari choice - thank you!
Prices and dates
Lodge visited: Camelthorn Lodge + Jozibanini Camp + Nehimba Lodge
2025 Rates - 8 days / 7 nights
Hwange conservation safari | ||||
Timing | PER PERSON SHARING | SOLO TRAVELLER | ||
May-October | US$ 5,105 | US$ 7,080 | ||
November | US$ 3,775 | US$ 4,545 | ||
Includes:
3 nights at Camelthorn Lodge – full board and lodging
2 nights at Jozibanini Camp – full board and lodging
2 nights at Nehimba Lodge – full board and lodging
Road, rail and air transfers as described
All park fees
Activities as described
24/7 Office support
Excludes:
International flights, unless otherwise stated
Airport departure tax, if applicable
Excess weight charges for luggage
Visa or entry permits
Telephone calls
Travel, cancellation, and medical insurance (recommended for safaris)
Optional safari extensions and unspecified activities
Personal expenses and any charges not specified in the itinerary
Tips and gratuities
What makes this a conservation safari?
This safari includes activities focused on generating measurable conservation benefits for Hwange wildlife and communities living amongst dangerous wildlife on the Hwange borders.
Hwange National Park has no natural permanent surface water for its water-dependent wildlife, so a network of boreholes was established - to keep wildlife within the large, unfenced national park. Without this water, wildlife would roam far and wide and come into conflict with rural communities far beyond the national park boundaries - with disastrous consequences. Maintaining those boreholes is, therefore, a vital conservation activity. By taking part in the 'Pump Run' during your safari, you will help deliver vital supplies to the borehole maintenance crews in the arid eastern portion of Hwange National Park.
Camelthorn Lodge is the only lodge in the Hwange area to be built on community-owned land (Tsholotsho communal area), and is located within the community-owned Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary, which hosts the only rhinos remaining in the Hwange area. Your choice directly funds local communities to bring rhinos back to Hwange. Revenue from your stay also directly pays for community school feeding programs, boreholes for local villages and village clinics - thereby creating a firm association for local people between wildlife, tourism and their basic daily needs.
Jozibanini Tented Camp, deep within the remote and seldom-visited southern regions of Hwange National Park, was formerly an outpost for the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) - to control poaching and provision boreholes. When ZimParks ran out of funding, this tourism camp was established to continue the vital conservation presence. The revenue from your stay at this isolated camp therefore contributes directly to wildlife conservation.
DID YOU KNOW? We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level. YOUR safari choice does make a difference – thank you!
Itinerary
Your journey from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park will start with a two-hour road transfer from Africa's adventure town to the Dete Railway Station, where you will meet up with the 'Elephant Express'. Climb aboard this quaint railway carriage for a delightful three-hour journey along the eastern boundary of Hwange National Park.
The Elephant Express is a unique, ingeniously designed carriage with seating at dining tables for up to 22 passengers, a spacious aisle, and even a loo on board. Refreshments, including a light lunch and cold beverages, are served during the three-hour journey. Sit back, relax, and enjoy great game viewing and a whole load of fun!
You will arrive at Hwange's famous Ngamo Plains in the late afternoon and be met by your guide, who will drive you and your luggage to Camelthorn Lodge. You will have time to freshen up, enjoy fireside drinks under an ancient camelthorn tree and tuck into a delicious meal before retiring to your private villa.
Camelthorn Lodge is nestled into a beautiful forest bordering Hwange National Park. The comfortable stone and thatch lodge has a particularly meaningful story behind it—built for and by the community whose land it calls home. An ancient camelthorn tree, the property’s namesake, is the centrepiece, with the main lodge and eight beautiful villas flowing around it.
Overnight at Camelthorn Lodge
The next three days will be spent enjoying a mix of game drives in the Ngamo Plains and nearby woodlands and conservation activities, including:
Daily morning and late afternoon/evening game drives in Hwange National Park and the adjoining unfenced protected areas. Hwange is famous for its massive buffalo and elephant herds, and large male lions. It also hosts one of Africa's largest wild dog (painted wolf) populations. Game drives can vary from a few hours to half or all-day sojourns with packed lunches;
Sessions in a photo-hide at a nearby waterhole that enjoys a steady flow of wildlife traffic;
Meet the white rhinos of the Ngamo Wildlife Sanctuary and their protectors - the famous Cobras - a wildlife protection unit. Learn about this incredible community project and what other conservation work is being done;
Meet the locals - a fun and authentic visit to a nearby village to learn about village life in rural Matabeleland. Your visit could include a school visit to appreciate the difference your safari makes for these villagers;
Each day will be tailored around your needs and based on what nature decides to show off about on that day. The final moments of every stunning day in Hwange will be enjoying delicious dinner and the company of fellow travellers as you share your stories.
Overnight at Camelthorn Lodge
Today will be about a slow game drive through the remote southern portion of Hwange National Park, stopping along the way to provision various borehole maintenance teams with fuel, spares, food rations and other vital supplies - the so-called 'Pump Run'.
Hwange National Park has no natural permanent surface water for its water-dependent wildlife, so a network of boreholes was established - to keep wildlife within the large, unfenced national park. Without this water, wildlife would roam far and wide and come into conflict with rural communities far beyond the national park boundaries - with disastrous consequences. Maintaining those boreholes is, therefore, a vital conservation activity. By taking part in the 'Pump Run' during your safari, you will help deliver vital supplies to the borehole maintenance crews in the arid eastern portion of Hwange National Park.
You will encounter large numbers of animals at or near the waterholes - from jet-black sable to herds of roan antelope, zebra, buffalo and giraffe.
You will arrive at the extremely remote Jozibanini Camp in the later afternoon to enjoy a sundowner drink overlooking a waterhole that provides water to large herds of elephants.
Jozibanini is a small and exclusive camp tucked within ancient fossil dunes deep in a remote, seldom-visited section of Hwange National Park. The experience here is ideal for the safari purist, and those seeking a wild experience.
This intimate and self-contained camp has five tents on raised decks overlooking the waterhole. Each tent features a private open-air bathroom with running water, and a bucket shower with water comfortably heated by the fire. The Jozi star bed experience offers the option of sleeping under the stars - beds are fitted with wheels so they may be easily moved onto the tent deck.
The nights at Jozibanini may be a bit noisy - with constant elephant traffic and lions calling into the night. If these natural sounds disturb your sleep, bring earplugs!
Overnight at Jozibanini Camp
You will awake in this wilderness to the smell of woodsmoke and coffee brewing on an open fire and gather to snack on toast, cereal and flapjacks while the bushveld wakes up around you. Watch out for lions, leopards and hyenas as you walk from your tent to the fire area - they will certainly have been scouting the camp during the night. You may see flocks of Meyer's parrots drinking from a bird bath near the fire area or elephants taking a shortcut through the camp to get to the waterhole.
Today, you will explore this remote area via game drives. Your guide will discuss options once he has consulted the local bushveld newspaper to find out which lion prides, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs are in the area. There is a sunken photo hide near camp that offers an excellent opportunity to photograph elephants up close as they gather to drink.
The pace at this wilderness camp will be slow and relaxed, as will your evening, as you gather around the fire with drinks in hand to discuss your experiences and listen to the nocturnal wildlife take over from the day shift. After another wonderful meal prepared over the open fire, snuggle into bed and listen to the sound safari of another busy night in wild Africa as sleep claims you ...
Overnight at Jozibanini Camp
After another aromatic awakening in Jozibanini and a scrumptious breakfast, you and your guide may decide to enjoy another early morning game drive or other activity such as another session in the photo hide.
After that, you will say goodbye to this rustic camp and embark on a slow game drive transfer to Nehimba Lodge, in a massive private concession in northern Hwange National Park. You may visit and resupply additional boreholes on an extended 'Pump Run', depending on the resupply schedule.
Depending on how many wildlife-delays you enjoy along the way, you may arrive at Nehimba by mid-afternoon or early evening - in time to freshen up and relax around the fire before dinner.
Nehimba Lodge boasts nine luxurious raised chalets under traditional thatch, unobtrusively positioned around a waterhole. Each chalet has its own en-suite slipper bath and adjoining outside shower.
The rooms are designed to be spacious, airy, intimate, and safe. Each chalet has its own private balcony that allows an un-obscured view of the waterhole and its thirsty visitors.
Overnight at Nehimba Lodge
After an early morning coffee and light breakfast, it's time for your last full day of wildlife action in Hwange National Park.
No two days are the same - all experiences are tailor-made and include game drives, walking safaris, and night game drives on the private concession. Set off to find the famous elephant-hunting lions or just sit back and enjoy an armchair safari as animals arrive to drink at the camp waterhole.
Your last night in Hwange will be a celebration of memories, new friendships and photographs bagged!
Overnight at Nehimba Lodge
After another early morning coffee and light snack you will head out for your last game drive in Hwange. The duration of your game drive will depend on the timing of your flight from a nearby airstrip to Victoria Falls for your onward journey.
Your Hwange conservation safari will leave you in awe of the wildlife sightings, proud of your contribution to conservation at ground level in Africa and planning your next Africa Geographic adventure!
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Hwange conservation safari
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Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Client safari payments remain in a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT until they return from safari - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!