Hwange, Unspoiled Wilderness

Hwange, Zimbabwe’s largest National Park, is 14 600 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness. To travel through this pre-lapsarian paradise today is to see what much of Africa must have looked like at the dawn of time. Affectionately referred to by many as a ‘wildlife wonderland’ Hwange National Park is home to 107 species of animals and over 400 species of birds.

It supports a large number of rhino, antelope, buffalo, zebra and giraffe, some of which are a veritable feast for the big cats and scavengers who roam the area in a ceaseless search for prey. It is also one of the world’s largest elephant sanctuaries – elephant can be seen in herds of one hundred or more, following the ancient migration routes from one waterhole to the next.

In the nineteenth century, the area was used by both Mzilikazi and Lobengula as their royal hunting site, until the arrival of the fort settlers and hunters killed off a large potion of the wildlife and almost destroyed the land.

In the first half of the twentieth century, however efforts – which have proven very successful – were made to revive the land and its animals and to ensure that Hwange, with its limited rainfall, can support the wildlife. A network of well-maintained roads (roughly 500km in all) allows visitors to travel deep into this natural world and experience Africa to the full.

There can be few experiences on earth that come close to being as gratifying as spending a quiet afternoon at one of Hwange’s viewing platforms watching the endless comings of the park’s wild and timid residents.To walk in the African bush, tracking game and learning about the ecosystem, with an experienced and armed guide, is unforgettable. This is the way to get really close to nature and feel the pulse of this magical land. With the acquisition of Touch the Wild by IBL and RTG,

Tourism Services Zimbabwe can bring this magical wilderness to your clients through Touch the Wild’s network of upmarket lodges on the fringes of the National Park and also on their private estate.

Apart from the abundant wildlife, Hwange is also famous for its hardwood trees such as the Teak, African Mahogany and Mukwa, which are used in the manufacture of furniture and for the delicate carvings for which the people of the area are renowned. At present, the Department of National Parks is allocating hardwood quotas to the indigenous people of the area to sustain themselves through carpentry and carving.