Hwange Bush Camp

18°41’45.3"S 26°3’22.5"E

97% (33 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

Hwange Bush Camp: Our full report

The successor to Hwange Mobile Camp, the semi-permanent Hwange Bush Camp, is tucked away in the remote northern ...

... region of Hwange National Park. It’s a more rugged environment than the Kalahari sandveld that dominates the rest of the park, with some great wildlife, and the hilly terrain makes for interesting walking safaris led by top Zimbabwean professional guides.

Although Hwange Bush Camp represents a change in style from its predecessor (which ceased operation at the end of 2016), the main area, the lineage and feel remain. The camp is still run by the same great team, and although more static, it's only semi-permanent: at the end of each season (November) it is broken down, to be reassembled the following May.

Each of the seven walk-in tents has twin beds and is simply furnished, but does have a standing fan to help moderate the temperature in the hot months (October, November and March). Through a zip at the back there is an en-suite bathroom with a basin, bucket shower (filled on request) and flush toilet, as well as hanging space and luggage rack.

The camp's lounge and dining area match the modest decor of the tents, and are decorated with old-world, colonial furnishings to give a rustic but comfortable style.

This said, the focus at Hwange Bush Camp is not the physical camp but the safari experience: the sense of being truly isolated in the African bush, matched by excellent guiding on game drives and walking safaris. Headed up by top Zimbabwean professional guides David Carson and Spike Williamson, the guiding team has an incredible depth of knowledge and the team's passion facilitates a strong emphasis on the overall safari experience rather than on ticking off specific species.

The timing of activities is flexible, depending on the group, though the afternoon usually finishes after a sundowner, as park rules don't allow for night drives in this area. The walking here can be as energetic as you wish, too – ideal if you want to get some real exercise, but the pace can also be relaxed.

For those looking for the mobile style camping experience it is also possible to arrange a few nights fly camping in this area of the park although travellers will need to spend their first and last night at Hwange Bush Camp.

We've had some spectacular wildlife encounters with the guiding team here over the years. On our last visit, in May 2023, we were lucky enough to track and find a leopard lurking in a gully, and on a previous stay we spent a morning tracking elephant on foot before trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to find a pack of wild dog whose tracks we had seen earlier from the vehicle. Approaching elephant, lion and wild dog on foot (on separate occasions) remain highlights for our team.

Our view

Hwange Bush Camp is a relatively simple, rustic camp, reminiscent of traditional safari camps, focused on delivering a fantastic safari experience. This style won't suit everyone, and if luxury is more of a priority for you then it may be worth looking at some alternative camps. However, if you are after top guiding in a truly isolated location of Hwange National Park, and don't mind forgoing a few luxuries, then Hwange Bush Camp is a great choice.

Tom Morris

Country manager: Zimbabwe

Geographics

Location: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Ideal length of stay: We'd recommend a minimum of three nights at Hwange Bush Camp. Ideally, if time allows, we'd suggest combining this with 2–4 nights in one of the more permanent camps in the Kalahari areas of southern/eastern Hwange.
Directions: Hwange Bush Camp is about a three-hour drive from Victoria Falls airport, or about 3½ hours from Main Camp in Hwange. As roads in this area are not great, you’ll generally fly to Hwange from Victoria Falls (around 30 minutes) and then transfer by vehicle from there to camp.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: During our stay in May 2023, along with previous visits, we found the food both here to be of a very high standard. We generally think of if it as equivalent to that served at a good-quality safari camp – an impressive feat when you learn that everything is cooked over an open fire!

Before heading out on your morning game drive you’ll be offered tea and coffee, plus whilst out on your game drive you’ll stop for a small snack and a further hot drink of your choice.

On returning from your game drive breakfast is served, where you’ll have a choice of cereals, hot porridge and toast, all usually laid out around the campfire or in the dining area, depending on the time of the year.

Lunch is then served around 12:00/12:30. We enjoyed a tasty spaghetti bolognese served with garlic bread and an avocado / green salad, followed by fresh fruit salad and a selection of cheeses and biscuits.

For dinner, we started with leek soup accompanied by freshly baked bread and poppy seed rolls. This was followed by roast lamb, with roast potato wedges, cauliflower cheese and roasted courgette / zucchini. Dessert was a delicious banoffee pie.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: No
Drinks included: Soft drinks and wines, spirits and beers are included in the price. High-end liqueurs, champagne, imported wines (except most South African wines) and spirits are not. The water from the taps in the tents is filtered and safe to drink. Bottled water is also readily available.

Special interests

Photography holidays: Hwange Bush Camp focuses on excellent guiding and walking, both of which make a wonderful camp for photographers. Exploring on foot allows without the noise of an engine allows guests to see the little things they might miss from a vehicle.; See ideas for Photography holidays in Zimbabwe
Walking safaris: Walking safaris in Zimbabwe are exemplified by Hwange Bush Camp. Tracking big animals such as elephant, lion and occasionally black rhino on foot would be typical of a morning's activity – and you’ll also be introduced to the smaller creatures of Hwange National Park.; See ideas for Walking safaris in Zimbabwe
Wildlife safaris: With a scattering of loop roads, plenty of wildlife, top guiding and few visitors, Hwange Bush Camp has much to offer on a wildlife safari in Zimbabwe, both from a 4WD vehicle and on foot.; See ideas for Wildlife safaris in Zimbabwe

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are accepted on a case-by-case basis with no strict age limit.
Property’s age restrictions: Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to walk from Hwange Bush Camp.
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: None
Generally recommended for children: We'd only recommend a simple camp like this, in an area of dangerous wildlife, for older children (12+) who are mature for their age, part of a larger family group, and have had experience of previous African safaris.
Notes: Dangerous wildlife can wander through the camp at any time, so children will need to be supervised by their parents at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Hwange Bush Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Hwange Bush Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

96% success

Lion

96% success

Zebra

96% success

Hippo

78% success

Roan antelope

77% success

Buffalo

70% success

Spotted Hyena

43% success

Cheetah

41% success

Sable antelope

35% success

Leopard

23% success

Wild dog

17% success

Eland

14% success

Wildebeest

10% success

Oryx

5% success

Aardvark

5% success

Brown Hyena

5% success

Black Rhino

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Communications

Communications: There's a radio in the vehicle for emergencies, but otherwise you can expect to be out of communication at Hwange Bush Camp.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: Each room has a bucket shower and flush toilet.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: The guides are trained in first aid; the nearest doctor would be in Hwange town, Bulawayo or Victoria Falls – many hours' drive away.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: The camp hands and your guide are in the camp with you.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers placed around the camp.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Fly-camping
Guided walking safari

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: A limited laundry service is available, though for cultural reasons this does not include underwear, which you would need to wash yourself.
Money: There is a small safe in each tent.
Accepted payment on location: Everything is paid for in advance so no money is required on site.