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Hwange National Park: Planning for Your Safari

Published

3 years ago

February 19, 2023

VicFallsLive

BY BEN WILLIAMS

If you’re planning a trip to Hwange National Park, here are a few

Hwange National Park is located in Zimbabwe and covers an area of 7,800 sq km.

Hwange National Park is located in Zimbabwe and covers an area of 7,800 sq km. It’s the largest national park in Zimbabwe, as well as one of the largest game reserves in Africa.

Hwange lies within Matabeleland North, in the south-western part of Zimbabwe (a landlocked country). The park gets its name from the Shona word for “large ironwood tree”. Hwange has many different landscapes including grasslands and woodlands that support a wide range of animal species including lions and elephants.

The park is home to an incredible variety of wildlife and has some of the finest game viewing safari lodges in the world.

Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe, covering an area of 7,800 square kilometres. It’s home to an incredible variety of wildlife and has some of the finest game viewing safari lodges in the world.

The park was established in 1928 as a hunting ground for white hunters and their clients, but today it welcomes visitors from around the globe who come here to experience what many consider one of Africa’s most exciting safaris!

The climate is hot and dry, with temperatures on average between 20-30 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

The climate is hot and dry, with temperatures on average between 20-30 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The weather can be unpredictable at times, but it’s generally sunny during the day and cool at night. There are no seasons in Zimbabwe: summer lasts from December to February while winter runs from June to September.

There are two main areas within Hwange National Park – The North part is for more adventurous travellers who want to explore wilderness areas.

Hwange National Park offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit different travellers. The north part is for more adventurous travelers who want to explore wilderness areas, while the south part offers luxury accommodation at one of the many five star lodges within the park.The South part is for those who would like to relax in luxury at one of the many five star lodges within the park.

The south part of Hwange National Park, which is where you will find your luxurious five star lodges, is the most beautiful area of Hwange. You can go on game drives and walking safaris from these luxury spots.

The north part of Hwange National Park has some wonderful campsites but they don’t have the same level of luxury as those found in the south. However if you are planning on camping then this might be better for you than staying at one of the many five star lodges within Hwange National ParkIf you’re planning a trip to Hwange National Park, here are a few things that you’ll need to know before you go…

Know your itinerary.

Check the weather before you go, and pack for all seasons so that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.

Know what to bring and what to leave behind by reading our Hwange National Park packing list here: [link].

Familiarize yourself with park rules and regulations; this will help keep you safe while in the wilderness!

There are lots of things to know when going on safari!

In this section, we’ll cover some of the basics.What to pack: You should bring plenty of water and sunscreen, as well as a hat and sunglasses (and maybe even bug spray). Don’t forget your camera!

How to buy tickets: You can purchase them online from the official Hwange National Park website, but it’s better if you do it in person at one of their offices in Harare or Bulawayo. There are also other companies that sell tour packages for Hwange National Park; these may be cheaper than buying everything separately yourself.

What to expect on safari: You’ll see lots of animals–elephants! lions! zebras! giraffes!–but since they’re wild creatures with minds of their own, don’t expect them all the time or in certain places at any given time (or even at any time). Also remember that many animals have babies right now so there might be young ones accompanying adults who aren’t usually seen together during prime viewing hours like morning or evening when light conditions are best suited for photography purposes; however this does mean there’s even more excitement packed into those precious few minutes each day when everyone comes together just right!

We hope that this article has helped you to plan for your next trip to Hwange National Park. We know how exciting it can be, but also how overwhelming! There are so many things to consider when planning a safari – from where you’re going and what kind of accommodation suits your budget, right through to packing for the adventure ahead. But don’t worry – we’ve got plenty more articles here on our blog all about planning an African adventure!-The London Economic

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Hwange lion DNA helps convict poachers for first time

Published

7 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY BBC

Lion DNA has been used to successfully prosecute poachers for the first time in the world, it has emerged.

Wildlife crime experts have only just revealed how they were able to identify the individual animal from body parts found in a suspect’s village, as they matched a profile on Zimbabwe’s lion database.

A blood sample had previously been taken from the male lion, which was being tracked by authorities in Hwange National Park – using a radio collar.

Two poachers were convicted for the 2024 incident and sent to prison in what is thought to be the first prosecution of its kind.

The details of the convictions and the role the DNA database played have been previously unknown.

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Traffic, which works to combat the illegal trade in wildlife, has shared the detail with us.

In May 2024, authorities in Hwange National Park became suspicious after a radio collar worn by a male lion stopped working.

Investigators and police traced its last known position and found a snare with lion fur attached to it.

After collecting forensic evidence they questioned two men in a nearby village and discovered three sacks of meat, 16 lion claws and four teeth. These body parts would later be tested against the database, with the DNA from all matching the profile of that missing lion.

But possessing lion parts is not necessarily a crime in Zimbabwe.

Having them can be explained away as old, traditional ornaments or as coming from an animal that died of natural causes.

This has been an obstacle to prosecutions in the past.

But thanks to a breakthrough in DNA profiling, that’s now changed.

The lab generated a DNA profile from the recovered body parts and compared this to the profile previously generated from a blood sample of the lion with the radio collar.

The two profiles matched and scientists were able to identify the specific missing animal.

Over the last eight years the Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust (VFWT) has received about £250,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery in the UK to build up the DNA database of lions in Zimbabwe.

The scientist at the trust, who made the discovery, asked to remain anonymous for his own safety, but said:

“Before we had access to this technology, we were only able to do species identification, but sometimes that’s not enough.

“We can essentially match those claws or those products to the lion of interest that we are looking for.”

Within 10 days of the killing, the DNA evidence was presented in court.

Two men pleaded guilty and were given 24 month prison sentences.

The hearing was told the value of the lion was about $20,000.

Richard Scobey, Traffic’s executive director, said “countries now have the forensic capability to bring, solid science-based evidence to court” and that it will have global impact.

This is understood to be the first time that DNA from an individual lion has been identified and used to prosecute poachers.

Professor Rob Ogden has been closely involved in setting up the project and is co- founder of the organisation Trace, which promotes the use of forensic science in wildlife law enforcement.

He says the prosecution gives “a message of hope” and shows what can be done using a combination of training, research and development and forensic casework.

Recent figures suggest an increase in the number of lions being killed for their body parts which are then sold both as cultural objects in Africa and for traditional Chinese medicine.

It is thought the rise may be down to organised crime gangs also involved in the illegal trade in Rhino horn and ivory trafficking.

In Mozambique between 2010 and 2023, 426 lions were killed as a result of contact with humans with a quarter linked to deliberate poaching.

A measure of the scale of the trade is also the number of seizures by the authorities in recent years.

That includes 17 lion skulls found in Lusaka in 2021, reportedly en-route from South Africa, and a 2023 seizure in Maputo of more than 300kg of lion body parts.

Which is why this breakthrough on DNA identification is seen as sending an important message to would-be poachers.

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Nominations open for 2026 Tusk Conservation Awards

Published

3 days ago

February 20, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Nominations have opened for the 14th edition of the Tusk Conservation Awards, offering global recognition and £225,000 (about UGX 1.1 billion) in grant funding to Africa’s leading conservationists.

The awards, held in partnership with Ninety One, celebrate African-led solutions protecting wildlife, landscapes and livelihoods. Three winners will be selected from hundreds of nominations across the continent and honoured at a ceremony expected to be held in London later this year.

This year’s prize money will be distributed across three categories: £100,000 (UGX 480 million) for the Prince William Award, £75,000 (UGX 360 million) for the Tusk Award, and £50,000 (UGX 240 million) for the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award.

Speaking at last year’s awards, Tusk’s Royal Patron, Prince William, said communities and local conservation leaders often provide the most practical solutions to sustaining biodiversity and natural landscapes.

“It is so often communities and local conservation leaders who provide the practical solutions to how we can best sustain our precious natural landscapes and vital biodiversity,” he said. “Identifying and supporting locally-led conservation has always been at the heart of Tusk’s ethos.”

Since their launch in 2013, the awards have recognised 61 winners and finalists from 23 African countries. Past recipients have used grant funding to expand ranger patrols, secure wildlife corridors, equip community conservancies and create sustainable livelihoods linked to conservation.

Examples of supported initiatives include protecting gorillas in eastern Congo, conserving turtles in Sierra Leone, restoring forests in Madagascar and dismantling poaching syndicates in Zimbabwe. Organisers say the funding is designed to be catalytic, enabling winners to scale their impact and attract long-term investment.

Nick Bubb, Chief Executive Officer of TUSK, said the awards highlight the courage and commitment of individuals working in challenging and often dangerous conditions.

“We encourage anyone who knows an individual or ranger team who has made a significant impact on wildlife conservation to nominate them for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their achievements recognised on a global stage,” Bubb said.

In a significant development this year, the Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award has been expanded to recognise ranger teams alongside individual rangers, reflecting what organisers describe as the collaborative nature of modern conservation efforts.

The expanded category aligns with Tusk’s broader ranger programmes, including the Wildlife Ranger Challenge and the Ranger Welfare and Standards Initiative, which supports more than 6,200 rangers with training, equipment and insurance.

Nominations are open to conservation leaders across Africa and do not require nominees to be existing Tusk partners. However, individuals cannot nominate themselves and must be put forward confidentially by someone familiar with their work.

Nominations will close on the 26th of April and must be submitted online.

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Government launches nationwide dog vaccination drive amid surge in rabies cases

Published

5 days ago

February 18, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Government has launched an urgent nationwide dog vaccination campaign following a surge in rabies cases across Zimbabwe.

In a statement posted over the weekend, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development said the country is experiencing a significant rise in rabies infections, largely linked to domestic dogs and wild jackals.

Permanent Secretary Prof. Obert Jiri confirmed that 650,000 doses of rabies vaccine have been secured from Botswana — exceeding the country’s usual annual requirement — to contain the escalating threat.

The Ministry said the campaign will be rolled out in the coming weeks across all provinces, targeting hotspots near national parks and conservancies, as well as urban areas that have recorded increasing cases.

Prof. Jiri stressed the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention following dog bites, warning that rabies is fatal in humans once symptoms appear.

He appealed to dog owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated, saying collective action remains the primary defence against the deadly disease and is critical in preventing further fatalities.