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Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park, it is about 14.000 square kilometres in size. Within its varied ecosystems it is a home to over one hundred species of mammals and four hundred bird species. In the dry season, the huge elephant herds and many other mammal species can be found at the artificial water points, where ground water is pumped into troughs and pans.
The bare facts and figures do nothing to describe the incredible experience of following a guide through the bush, on the fresh spoor of a bull elephant or a pride of lions. The sun burns down on your shoulders, the bleached grass is dazzlingly bright to look at, you listen carefully to every sound, watch every movement, fret when you step on a crackly twig or brush against a bush. You feel the wind in your face, smells seem to be especially intense … and then, the unique experience of seeing what you have spent such a long time searching for! A huge grey silhouette in the shade of a tree or the casual flicking of the black tuft of hair at the end of a lion’s tail.
There are, of course, other more conventional ways to watch animals in Hwange, for example game drives in 4x4 vehicles allow you to cover greater distances and enable good wildlife sightings. It is very relaxing, to sit in one of the viewing platforms at the water points and watch the animals come to drink. None of these game viewing options are exclusive of the others and we find the most interesting is a combination of them all.
We have incorporated a visit to Hwange National Park into our guided tour "The Elephant Route". The details of the tour are available here:
The Elephant Route
Please find an introduction to our work in Zimbabwe here:
Introduction
Some general tips and information can be found here:
General tips and info
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