Zimbabwe • Hwange • Experiences

Hwange Walking Safaris & Sleep-Outs: Experiencing the Wild on Foot

A Hwange walking safari lets you experience the bush with all your senses: the crunch of sand underfoot, fresh tracks, the smell of wild sage and the thrill of knowing elephants are nearby. Add a night sleeping under the stars on a raised sleep-out deck, and you have two of the most memorable experiences in Southern Africa.

Why walk in Hwange?

From a vehicle, you see the big picture. On foot, you see the details: the story written in tracks, termite mounds, dung, medicinal plants and the small creatures that are easy to miss from a car. Walking slows you down and connects you to the landscape in a way nothing else can.

Zimbabwe's legendary guides

Zimbabwe's professional guides are widely regarded as among the best in Africa. Becoming a fully licensed professional guide in Zimbabwe involves years of training and demanding exams, including skills for leading walks safely among big game. Walking with one is like reading the bush with an expert translator.

What happens on a walking safari?

• Safety briefing: your guide explains how to walk, where to stand and what to do if you encounter animals.
• Single file: you walk quietly in a line behind the guide.
• Tracking and stories: you'll stop often to read tracks, look at plants and learn how the ecosystem works.
• Wildlife encounters: you might approach elephants, buffalo or antelope at a safe, respectful distance.
• Coffee in the bush: many walks end with a drink in a beautiful spot.

Sleep-outs under the stars

A sleep-out is a night spent on a raised wooden platform or deck in the bush, with a comfortable bed, mosquito net and nothing between you and the stars. You'll fall asleep to the sounds of the night: lions calling, hyenas whooping and elephants drinking nearby. It is completely safe, and your guide is close by.

Lying under a sky thick with stars, listening to a lion call in the distance, you suddenly understand why people fall in love with Africa.

Waterhole hides

Some Hwange camps have hides near their waterholes, where you sit at ground level as animals come to drink just metres away. Elephants at eye level are an extraordinary sight, and hides are a favourite of photographers.

What to wear and bring

• Neutral colours such as khaki, olive and brown (avoid white and bright colours)
• Comfortable, closed walking shoes
• A hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Warm layers for cold winter mornings and sleep-outs
• Binoculars and a small camera

See our safari outfit guide for more tips.

Is it safe?

Walks are led by highly trained, armed professional guides who put safety first and keep a respectful distance from animals. Listen carefully to the briefing and always follow your guide's instructions. Sleep-out decks are raised and designed with safety in mind, and you'll have a guide nearby throughout the night.

Where can you do these activities?

Walking safaris, sleep-outs and hides depend on the camp, the concession and the season. Ask us when you book so we can choose a camp that offers the experiences you want. Compare the options in where to stay in Hwange.