Hwange has Africa's Big Five and plenty of them! There are thousands of elephants and buffalo.

Lions are commonly seen, but the elusive leopard and rhino are always a bonus to see. This park has such variety that one hundred different species have been recorded.

Dry season game-viewing is assisted by the shallow pans threaded throughout the park. The natural salt-licks provide elephants with favourite mud holes for wallowing and sixty man-made waterholes give much needed water during the hot parched winter months when everything else dries up.

Several waterholes have raised wooden hides in which you can spend many hours observing animals and the interactions between them.

400 species of birds are found here making it a bird watchers paradise, particularly in the wet season.

The largest is the ground dwelling Kori Bustard who will only take to the air if absolutely necessary. Abundant food marks the start of the mating season and crowned cranes prance in a comical dance and red bishops sport their startling scarlet breeding plumage. There are plenty more with long wispy tails, iridescent colours and loud squawking calls.

Several of Hwange's safari lodges occupy a private concession and unlike the public park, night drives are allowed. One memorable after-dark sight is the Springhare, who hops around like a miniature kangaroo.