At 14,600 sq. km, Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe's biggest game reserve, and holds vast herds of elephant, buffalo and zebra, as well as large numbers of giraffe. Sited between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, the park borders the Kalihari desert, and its arid scrubland makes for ideal game viewing. Man-made waterholes were introduced due to the park's lack of water, and there are guaranteed to be great numbers of wildlife all year round, including the world's largest population of elephants, with more than 30,000 living on the reserve.
Habitats range from salt plains and desert scrub to woodland and granite outcrops, there are ancient fossil dunes held together by vegetation, and huge areas of acacia scrub and grassland which hold a high concentration of game.
Once home to the nomadic San people, who subsisted here, stronger tribes soon took over the land; chief Hwange of the Rozi tribe, who gives the park its name, was ousted by the Matabele tribe, who were in turn driven out by the white man. The whites claimed land and shot every animal in sight, driving the wildlife back to the inhospitable Western reaches, and eventually this area gained National Park status, named after the Rozi chieftain, Hwange.
As well as a massive concentration of animals, the Park holds 400 species of bird, and there are lots of specialist hides from which to view waterholes undisturbed. Visitors can regularly see the Big Five here, and walking, driving and horseback safaris are all on offer, as well as top class accommodation.
Set off on the adventure of a lifetime through Africa’s wide and varied landscape! Get up close to big game, take a trip to Kruger National Park and help to preserve the continent’s most iconic wildlife. Zimbabwe - Namibia - South Africa.
On an epic journey across Thailand, China, Malaysia, Africa and Australia, the ultimate wildlife experience gives you the chance to see some of the world’s rarest and most incredible animals and contribute to their preservation. Zimbabwe - Thailand - China - Malaysia - Australia - USA.
A fantastic opportunity to work on a pioneering lion breeding and rehabilitation programme supported by some of the world’s leading ecologists. Walk and work alongside lion cubs and take part in research activities, facilitating the lions’ safe release back into the wild.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Zimbabwe is a well-established country for voluntary work in conservation, especially for working with wildlife in Africa. At this project, volunteers actively participate in lion conservation practices, working closely with the lions and wildlife re-introduction programmes.
As seen on ITV’s incredible Lion Country series, meet the stars of the show yourself!
Live and work on a safari ranch, helping with efforts to protect black rhino, elephants, buffalo and more. Assist with anti-poaching measures, look after rhino, help with training elephants and get a feel for the real Africa.
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups have many Career Break Voluntary Projects in Africa for grown up gappers. Because Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of ideas and options for grown up gap years, it has the widest range of volunteering programmes in Africa. These include animal/wildlife conservation, teaching English in Africa, community volunteering in Africa and Voluntary work with children in Africa.
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