Hwange National Park covers 14,650 square kilometres and is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. It lies in the northwest of the country; Hwange District is home to the park, which occupies about 54 percent of the district’s area. Hwange is therefore shaped by its vast national park landscape and the historic sites of Nambya heritage. When looking for accommodation for a trip to Hwange, this distinction is a useful starting point: should the focus be on nature and wildlife viewing, or on history and cultural heritage?

The national park: size and seasonal experiences

Within the wider destination of North Matabeleland, Hwange National Park is known for birdwatching. The best time for this is considered to be from November to April, when migratory birds return from Europe and North Africa. Walking safaris and game drives are also offered in the park. During the dry season, elephants are drawn to the park’s waterholes, where they gather in impressive numbers. This gives you two distinct seasonal focuses: birdwatching from November to April, and elephants at the waterholes during the dry season.

Nambya heritage: three significant ruins

Bumbusi is considered the most famous of three significant ruins that are part of Nambya heritage in Hwange District; the other two are Matowa and Shangano. Matowa is a historic site enclosed by stone walls and is considered the burial place of Nyanga, a founding figure of the pre-colonial Nambya state. This attribution connects Matowa with a specific person and the pre-colonial history of the Nambya state. Bumbusi and Matowa therefore represent different kinds of historical significance: prominence within the group of ruins, and a specific tradition associated with Nyanga.

Shangano is also a historic site enclosed by stone walls in Hwange District. A visit is possible only after spiritual access rituals led by a traditional custodian, who is selected according to the traditions of the Chilanga clan. A visit is not permitted without the custodian’s presence. Confirm arrangements locally.

Art and educational work in Dete

The Iganyana Art Centre is located in Dete, on the edge of Hwange National Park. It has been fully operational since 2004 and houses arts and crafts and materials, as well as training programmes and facilities for art projects for young people and adults. The centre offers an arts- and education-focused way to engage with culture, while Bumbusi, Matowa and Shangano are historic sites of Nambya heritage. For culturally curious travellers, this distinction offers a clear choice between historical associations and arts and crafts, training and project work.

Hwange in the wider context of North Matabeleland

The wider destination of North Matabeleland includes other distinctive landscapes and places. The remote Chizarira National Park covers 2,000 square kilometres; its landscape is characterised by gorges, plateaus and floodplains. Binga is a fishing, boating and cultural centre at the western end of the southern shore of Lake Kariba. Binga Cultural Village and the Batonga Museum give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the culture.

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