Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's largest game reserve and a premier destination for families wanting to see the "Big Five." The park is renowned for its massive herds of elephants, which congregate around pumped waterholes during the dry season (August to October), making wildlife viewing incredibly easy and rewarding for impatient children. You don't have to drive for hours to find animals; often, parking near a waterhole at sunset provides a theatrical display of elephants, buffalo, and sable antelope vying for a drink.
A standout experience for families is the Elephant Express, a purpose-built rail car that runs along the park's eastern boundary. It serves as a transfer between camps but doubles as a game drive on rails. This allows kids to stand up, move around, and view wildlife from a safe, elevated platform—a much more relaxing alternative to a bumpy road transfer. Inside the park, the terrain varies from semi-desert scrub in the south to rocky hills in the north near Sinamatella, offering diverse landscapes.
Many lodges in the private concessions surrounding Hwange cater specifically to families, offering "bumble drives" (shortened game drives for younger kids), guided nature walks to identify tracks and bugs, and visits to local communities and schools. The Painted Dog Conservation Centre near the main airport is a must-visit. It provides an educational look at the endangered African wild dog, with an interpretive hall that explains their behavior in a way that resonates with children. While Hwange is in a malaria area, the risk is manageable with prophylactics and long sleeves in the evenings. The dry winter months are cold at night, so warm layers are essential for early morning game drives.
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Activities & Best Times
Hiking, wildlife, outdoor exploration, ecotourism
One of Africa's premier wildlife destinations, offering world-class elephant viewing and authentic wilderness immersion. Peak months (Jun-Sep) align with the dry season for optimal wildlife viewing at waterholes; the wet season (Nov-Mar) makes tracking difficult due to dense vegetation.
Learning experiences, scientific sites, historical education
The Painted Dog Conservation Visitor Centre is described as 'internationally significant' in the notes. A marginal rating understates this. Should be upgraded to 'good' to reflect the quality of educational programming.
Scenic drives, countryside tours, route-based travel
Features celebrated game-viewing routes such as the Ten Mile Drive and scenic tracks between camps. Best visited in the dry winter months (Jun-Sep) when unpaved roads are most reliable; summer rains (Nov-Mar) often result in muddy, impassable conditions.
Urban tourism, museums, historical sites, architecture
Includes significant heritage sites like the Bumbusi National Monument stone ruins. Best visited during the dry, cooler months (May-Sep) for easy access and comfortable walking tours; heavy summer rainfall can restrict access to these remote historic sites.
Attractions (19 total)
Natural Feature / Scenic Site
Hwange National Park
Hwange
Zimbabwe's largest national park offers families the chance to see massive elephant herds and diverse wildlife across vast savannahs.
Visit website →Sinamatella Viewpoint
Sinamatella
Located on a high basalt ridge, this viewpoint offers a spectacular panoramic vista over the vast valley and riverbeds of northern Hwange.
Mandavu Dam
Sinamatella
The largest body of water in the park, this scenic dam offers a peaceful picnic spot with excellent bird, hippo, and crocodile sightings.
Masuma Dam
Sinamatella
A renowned wildlife viewing site featuring a concealed hide where families can quietly observe elephants and other animals at very close range.
Nyamandlovu Pan
Main Camp
A famous raised wooden viewing platform that provides a safe and elevated vantage point for families to watch wildlife congregating at the waterhole.
Zoo / Wildlife Park / Safari Park
Hwange National Park
Hwange
Zimbabwe's largest safari park, world-renowned for its massive elephant population and diverse predator sightings across expansive savannas.
Visit website →Painted Dog Conservation
Hwange
A dedicated visitor and education center where families can learn about endangered African wild dogs and view rehabilitated animals in a naturalized setting.
Visit website →National Park / Nature Reserve
Hwange National Park (Main Camp Sector)
Hwange
Zimbabwe's largest park offers families the chance to see massive elephant herds and diverse wildlife around accessible waterholes.
Visit website →Sinamatella Camp and Plateau
Hwange
Situated on a 50-meter-high escarpment, this area provides spectacular panoramic views over the valley and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
Visit website →Road Trips & Scenic Drives
Main Camp to Sinamatella Scenic Drive
Main Camp
120km all-weather gravel transit route (4-6 hours) connecting the central and northern regions of the park. This scenic corridor traverses teak forests and open vlei lands, with notable stops at Guvalala Platform, Kennedy Pans, and Ngweshla, where wildlife is abundant near solar-powered boreholes.
Visit website →Sinamatella to Robins Camp Route
Sinamatella
60km rugged gravel and dirt track (3-4 hours, 4WD recommended) through the hilly, basalt-dominated northern sector of the park. The route offers dramatic vistas from the Sinamatella plateau and passes the massive Mandavu Dam and the Lukosi River, providing a distinct landscape compared to the southern plains.
Visit website →The Ten Mile Drive
Main Camp
16km paved and high-quality gravel loop (1-2 hours) circling the area around the park's primary entrance. Known for its accessibility to standard rental cars, the route passes the iconic Nyamandhlovu Pan and several smaller waterholes, offering some of the park's most reliable elephant and plains game viewing.
Visit website →Hiking & Cycling Routes
Chamabonda Vlei Trail
Victoria Falls
25km moderate to challenging trail (one way), 4 to 6 hours duration by bike, 30m elevation gain. A sandy wilderness track in Zambezi National Park used for mountain biking and hiking through prime wildlife territory. Bike rental: Victoria Falls Cycling (victoriafallscycling.com)
Visit website →The Zambezi Trail Walk
Victoria Falls
37km challenging multi-day trek, 4 days duration, variable elevation gain. This wilderness trek follows the upper Zambezi River through teak forests and vlei systems. Equipment and guides: The Victorian Safari Company (thevictoriansafari.co)
Visit website →Farm Park / Petting Zoo / Rural Experience
Hwange Cultural Village
Dete
A community-led rural experience showcasing traditional Ndebele architecture, crafts, and heritage through guided tours of replica homesteads and cultural performances.
Castle / Palace / Historic Site
Robins' Tower
Hwange
A historic stone observatory and landmark built in the 1930s by Herbert Robins, the man who donated the land to create the park.
Visit website →Bumbusi National Monument
Hwange
An 18th-century archaeological site featuring ancient stone walls and ruins of a Rozvi Empire settlement built on sandstone ridges.
Visit website →Science Museum / Natural History Museum / Discovery Centre
Painted Dog Conservation Visitor Centre
Dete
An award-winning interpretive center and discovery facility where families can learn about the biology and conservation of the endangered African Wild Dog.
Visit website →Adventure Park / Outdoor Activity Center
Zambezi National Park
Victoria Falls
A vast outdoor activity center offering self-drive safaris, guided game drives, and river-based activities along the banks of the Upper Zambezi.
