Hwange National Park

[100ponder]

Any-one been to Hwange in the last 12 months ?

What was it like ?

I am thinking about going August September - any comments on that time of year ?

We plan to camp - any comments about that ? Campsite condition etc.

Gerrie.

[Amoli]

Not me 100Ponder - although .....

I daydream of the day...

[pooky]

Hi 100ponder
we weren't in Hwange, only Gonarezhou, Mana, Kariba and Vic Falls in April.
Friends of ours were at Hwange in January. They stayed in a lodge but did say that the Park
was great. Main camp seems to have the better campsite, old but clean and neat. They did say that
if you can get a campsite at one of the water holes that is the best. You have the site to yourself but
I think you need to be self sufficient.August Sept is a good time. Warm enough and dry so the waterholes wilbe in use.

Enjoy. Lucky you!!

[100ponder]

Hi Pooky,

Thanks for the response - very useful info to us.

I understand from other websites that the tall grass and dense foliage in the bush during the rainy season is not the best similar to Kruger and its good to see you concur our target months.

What was your experience with fuel availability in the rural towns like Hwange ?

Did your friends mention any-thing about fuel availability in Hwange ? - the Zim Parks document on their website page for Hwange states both fuel available and fuel not available.

Or did you carry extra fuel ?

Thanks,

Gerrie.

[pooky]

Hi Gerrie

We never had any problems with fuel anywhere. If there was a fuel station
it had fuel - maybe we were lucky

Our friends said the same thing, although they did fill up often
just to make sure they weren't ever caught short and they did have
an extra 29l can just in case. We carried 2 cans with 40l and the
only time we used it was when we took that long never ending
road from Kariba passed Binga to Vic Falls. Took us 18 hrs
There were no filling stations until we hit the Bulawayo/Vic Falls road.
We topped up along that road. That route wasn't planned until we met
a guy at Mana who said the road wasn't too bad, our fault was taking the
short cut from Kariba to the Karoi/Binga road. Beautiful scenery but a lot
of 4x4 driving and very slow. We were travelling with a Defender with
Echo 3 trailer and a Discovery with Echo 5 trailer.

I am busy with my Travel Tale under African Wild Travel Tales - Zimbabwe parks.
You may want to read it - although we are still in the eastern part of Zim

If there is anything else I can help with please feel free to ask. Diesel prices
averaged USD 1.38 The highest was USD 1.41 down to USD 1.27 but mostly
around USD 1.38

Helen

[100ponder]

Thanks Helen,

That is very reassuring to know that fuel is so freely available because the negative Zim picture in the media made us unsure.

Have a good weekend,

Gerrie.

[Amoli]

100 Ponder - did you make this trip?

Thank you Ispeak... and yes, this brought tears to my eyes.

I am planning a trip up to Hwange next year with my kids and will certainly check out Nehimba.

It's time.

I'm planning a trip for end April/end August next year - nothing fancy because I will be travelling in my 1x4 plus 1- a week camp at Main camp with a day or so to Vic Falls.

Anybody interested in a group trip?

[Flutterby]

Mmm Amoli....you are tempting me!!

[pooky]

OOH lucky Amoli Enjoy.

We were there middle April/beginning of May and there was still
a lot of water around so game was scarce in Mana and Gonarezhou,
so maybe August would be a better bet for you - better sightings.

Vic Falls was also so full it was difficult to see all of it, but nevertheless
it was awesome

Zim seems to be having floods at the moment, certainly in the
Karoi/ Chinhoyi area and also Bulawayo. Looks like there is a
lot of road damage, but maybe that wont affect Hwange area.

Are you going through Plumtree? No meat is allowed through the
border, although the Bots side didn't seem to mind chicken.
We phoned the border post direct to find out what we could bring in.

Looking forward to this TT Amoli

[Polentswa]

Hi Pooky,

Thanks for the response - very useful info to us.

I understand from other websites that the tall grass and dense foliage in the bush during the rainy season is not the best similar to Kruger and its good to see you concur our target months.

What was your experience with fuel availability in the rural towns like Hwange ?

Did your friends mention any-thing about fuel availability in Hwange ? - the Zim Parks document on their website page for Hwange states both fuel available and fuel not available.

Or did you carry extra fuel ?

Thanks,

Gerrie.

There is no Fuel IN the Hwange National Park..You take enough or go outside to refuel