Christmas in Hwange 2025 (1 room remaining)

Christmas Safari in Hwange National Park

December marks the start of the green season in Zimbabwe, offering a lush and vibrant landscape, teeming with life.  Our safari will blend the intimate, remote charm of Bomani Tented Camp in Hwange’s southeastern corner with the rugged, wildlife-rich Nehimba Safari Lodge in the park’s northwestern region.

Bomani Tented Camp is nestled on a private concession near Ngamo Plains, with a front-row seat to Hwange’s vast wilderness. This is an ideal base for exploring the productive plains and waterholes of southeastern Hwange.

Nehimba Safari Lodge is located in a private concession in northern Hwange, offering a unique mix of savannah and mopane woodland, with its iconic waterhole often visited by elephants.

In December, the start of the rains transforms Hwange into a verdant paradise. Grasses and wildflowers emerge, and the trees regain their vibrant green foliage. This period is known as the "emerald season," with a striking contrast to the drier months. Expect warm days (25-30°C/77-86°F) with occasional afternoon or evening thunderstorms, offering dramatic skies and cooling relief. 

While the abundance of water means animals disperse more widely, December still provides rewarding wildlife sightings.  Large herds of elephants remain a highlight, with frequent visits to waterholes. Plains game like zebras, giraffes, impalas and wildebeests are plentiful. Predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs can still be seen, particularly in open areas. Rare species like Sable and Roan Antelope may be spotted. This time of year is excellent for birding enthusiasts, as migratory species arrive, and resident birds are in full breeding plumage: Carmine bee-eaters, lilac-breasted rollers, and African Paradise Flycatchers provide bursts of colour.  Waterbirds like herons, storks, and kingfishers gather around pans and seasonal pools.