Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park is the largest National Park in Zimbabwe, over 14 600 sq.km in extent, and is one of the countries main tourist attractions. The bird list for this huge area is currently over 420 species. There are two main birding areas, the one around Main Camp and the other in the north of the Park around Robins and Sinamatella Rest Camps. Both areas are linked by a network of roads which take visitors through a variety of habitats including many waterholes which attract large numbers of animals as well as birds.

Specials
Bradfield's Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Southern Pied Babbler, Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-faced Waxbill, Meyer's Parrot, Red-billed Spurfowl, Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Racket-tailed Roller, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Miombo Tit, Miombo Rock-Thrush, Southern Hyliota, Arnot's Chat, African Golden Oriole.

Habitats
miombo, mopane and teak woodland, acacia savanna, grassland, waterholes, dams and pans.

Facilities
A good network of gravel roads, hides, guided walking trails, night drives, hutted camps, campsites, safari lodges.

Birding

1. Main Camp Area
This is the heart of the kalahari sand region of the Park and the dominant woodland around the camp site is Zimbabwe Teak Baikiaea plurijura. Time spent walking around the camp site itself can be very rewarding. Crimson-breasted Shrike is a common species here and feeds on the lawns outside the restaurant together with Cape Glossy Starling. The bird bath outside the office attracts many different species including Southern Pied Babbler, Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-faced Waxbill and Meyer's Parrot. Around the camp also look for Magpie Shrike, Groundscraper Thrush, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Red-billed Spurfowl and Lilac-breasted Roller. Bradfield's Hornbill is a species that is restricted to the teak woodland in this part of the country.

The open grassland with scattered thorn trees just outside the gate is a good area for Southern Ground-Hornbill, Grey Crowned Crane and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill and in summer Southern Carmine Bee-eater and Woolly-necked Stork. A stop at Nyamandhlovu Viewing Platform can be well worthwhile. In addition to the many mammals that come down to drink, several species of sandgrouse can be seen here including Double-banded Sandgrouse and Burchell's Sandgrouse. Capped Wheatear is a common winter visitor to this area and Common Ostrich feed in the grassland next to the pan.

The scrubby areas along the roads are home to Red-crested Korhaan, Coqui Francolin, Shaft-tailed Whydah and Black-eared Seedeater. Keep an eye out for Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah, very distinctive in its summer breeding plumage.

Hwange is probably best known for its huge population of raptors, big and small. Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Brown Snake-Eagle and Black-chested Snake-Eagle are all common. In the summer months it is possible to see Steppe Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle throughout the park as well as Amur Falcon, Red-footed Falcon and Eurasian Hobby. Look for African Hobby which sometimes joins the flocks of kestrels and Eurasian Hobby in the Main Camp area particularly during summer when the termite alates emerge.

Red-billed Oxpecker and Yellow-billed Oxpecker can be seen throughout the park feeding on the many mammal species.

Another good birding area is along the main road leading to Main Camp. The section from Hwange Airport towards the park passes through some excellent miombo woodland and this is the best place to look for Racket-tailed Roller. Southern Ground-Hornbill is also seen regularly here. White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Miombo Tit, Miombo Rock-Thrush and Southern Hyliota have also been recorded here.

2. Robins and Sinamatella Camp area
These two camps are located in the northern basalt area of the Park. The predominant woodland type is Mopane and around Robins Camp there are areas of open grassland. There are also three exclusive camps in the Robins area where walks can be arranged with an armed scout.

The dams and pans in this area are good for birding, and Mandavu dam near Sinamatella Camp has produced some interesting records including African Skimmer, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Collared Pratincole, Black-winged Pratincole and Whiskered Tern. Black-bellied Bustard occurs in the open grassland in the Robins area and some of the species which occur in the Mopane woodland include Arnot's Chat, African Golden Oriole, Meves's Starling, Green Wood-Hoopoe and White-crested Helmet-Shrike.

General
Main Camp: The turnoff to main Camp is off the main Bulawayo/Victoria Road at the 264.5km peg. Follow the tar road past the airport and Hwange Safari lodge for 15km until you reach the Park boundary at the railway line. Main camp is a few kilometres from here. A range of accommodation is available in the area ranging from camping and caravan sites as well as self catering chalets at Main Camp to many superb safari lodges dotted around the edge of the Park as well as several hotels. The various safari lodges are all located on private concessions which also offer excellent birding opportunities.

Robins and Sinamatella Camp area: The area is accessible via Main Camp but visitors must leave Main camp by midday in order to reach these camps before dark. Robins can be reached via a gravel road 48km south of Victoria Falls. From here it is approximately 70km to the camp. To reach Sinamatella take the turnoff just south of Hwange town. The camp is 45km down this road which is only tarred for a short distance.

Exclusive Camps: A number of small exclusive camps may be reserved for your private use; Bumbusi Camp, Lukosi Camp, Deka Camp, Nantwich Camp.

Picnic sites: Many of the picnic sites may be reserved for exclusive overnight camping. The sites are an enclosed picnic area and generally have shade, a thatched area, small ablution, and boiling water.

Entry fees into the National Park are currently US$10 per visitor plus an entry fee for vehicles.

Contact details:
National Parks Central Reservations tel+263-4-706077 or 706078, fax+263-4-726089 or 724914. e-mail NationalParks@gta.gov.za
National Parks Bulawayo Office tel+263-9-63646, fax+263-965592.
Hwange National Park tel+263-18-371 or 372, fax tel+263-18-378

Website: http://www.zimparks.com

Updated: Guy Gibbon 2002.
Derek Solomon 1997.
On Safari International
Tel: +263-4-487703
osi@ecoweb.co.zw
www.osi.co.zw