Activities at The Hide Safari Camp

The Hide Safari Camp is fortunate to have the best of both worlds. While located within the Hwange National Park, it is also surrounded by a private concession which allows us to offer activities not otherwise permitted. Hwange is a vast playground worth exploring so you don’t have to worry about being bored. Early morning walks are there for the thrill of encountering wildlife on its own terms and exploring the little surprises of the bush.

The rest of the day can be spent further afield on game drives in search of predators and prey alike. We like to do things properly so sundowners are an important part of the experience.  Enjoy the natural beauty with a cold drink in hand. The guides at The Hide are very much part of the family and have been with us for many years. They have undergone some of the most rigorous training in Africa and their passion for and knowledge of the bush is often what makes a safaris so special. Click here to find out more about our guides.

There is no typical day at The Hide as it really depends on you how much or little you would like to do. Meal-times are normally a good chance to catch up with everyone and plan the rest of the day or the following morning. As a general rule, we go out-and-about at the same time as the animals - usually mornings and late afternoons or evenings. However, the scope and scale of Hwange’s wildlife is such that there is generally always something to see. We don’t limit the number of activities you can do, so if you can’t sit still, you could do an early morning walk followed by a morning drive after breakfast. In the afternoon you could head out again, stopping off for a sundowner and a night-drive back to camp.

If you are really looking for value, you could venture out after dinner to see if you can find anything out on the prowl. The waterhole at The Hide is particularly special, being the only source of permanent water for a good-sized area. So even if you don’t feel like venturing out, you will still be able to enjoy the daily visitors to the camp which often include elephant, giraffe, zebra, impala, waterbuck and kudu. Lion come in from time to time and wild dog have even made kills in full view of the camp.

Activities on offer at The Hide Safari Camp include:

Game Viewing

In order to explore the full range of wildlife habitats in Hwange, we have a fleet of specially designed safari vehicles. In the expert hands of our guides, you’ll find yourself heading out through the acacia-fringed grassy vleis and through the teak forests in search of Hwange’s great elephant and buffalo herds or parking up at one of the well-visited waterholes to see what comes in. Game drives are the best way to see the variety of wildlife and scenery of the park and they almost always yield unexpected sightings. Often, sitting quietly and watching an impala ram guard his harem against marauding bachelors can be just as fascinating as coming across a pride of lion lazing under the broad canopy of acacia.

Hwange is home to one of the largest populations of African wild dog left in Africa and its a good place to see leopard and rhino among the many other mammal species. Africa has some of the most curious and interesting creatures which receive comparatively little exposure. bat-eared foxes, genets, caracal and a host of other "specials" are often the highlight of a game drive.

The park has a notable bird population with over 400 species recorded to date; the variety is truly astonishing. Morning, afternoon and evening/night drives will normally head out for 2-3 hours through a variety of eco-systems and habitats. We like to stop for coffee or tea and biscuits in a lovely spot and see what might happen past. In the late afternoon, we’ll find a place to pull out the coolboxes and watch the sun set with due reverence - every one is different.

Zimbabwe Bush Weddings

Wedding days are special and the choice of location is one of the key decisions to make it so.  If theres one thing we know how to do, it is how to create the most stunning wedding in the most memorable setting.  The natural beauty of the bush, the uniquely African light, the impromptu arrival of elephant or graceful kudu in the background and the warm hospitality of Zimbabwe...what more could you want?  We can even organise a wedding night in our secret hideaway at the Doves Nest and what could be more romantic?

African Cuisine

Returning to the camp after a morning walk to a spread of fresh fruit, pastries and a farmhouse breakfast is more than a perk..it’s a necessity. We like to think that sitting down to freshly brewed coffee to relate the morning’s sightings and plans for the rest of the day is all part of the safari experience.

We enjoy variety and so you may find meals are something of a moveable feast. Sometimes we’ll enjoy dinner altogether around a giant teak table, where many new friends have been made, and tall tales told. There may be an alfresco breakfast overlooking the waterhole, or tea and cake served upstairs in the A-frame over looking the pan. Sundowners out in the bush and drinks around the camp-fire are both safari traditions that we uphold.  For special occasions, we enjoy making a fuss so please be sure to let us know.

When you need some me-time, there are plenty of quiet spaces to occupy in the company of a good book. We don’t believe that a safari should be entirely about frenetic activity so we have many areas where you can truly unwind, and a plunge pool in which to cool off in the heat of the day.

Bush walks

There is nothing quite like being on foot to put you in your rightful place in the natural world. Somehow your senses are heightened when on foot and you see, hear and smell things that you would miss in a vehicle. Walking is also the best way to appreciate the small magic of the bush - the way termites build their colonies, how dung beetles work, the finer points of the toothbrush tree.

Encountering big game on foot is the ultimate thrill, safe in the knowledge that there is a trained, armed guide on hand to look out for you. Walking gives you a completely different experience of wildlife and the bush and its just nice sometimes to get out there and stretch your legs in a place that is so uncontrived, beautiful, wild and vast.

The Waterhole Hideaways

"Hides" are very much part of safari tradition, although they have fallen by the wayside in many places, where it seems that frenetic activity is the order of the day. However, we think that Hides are one of the best ways to get exceptionally close to animals. Essentially, the concept is to disguise a little safe room as a termite mound or other piece of the natural landscape and slip inside via the back door. Normally positioned at a waterhole, the Hide allows you to sit quietly and observe without being observed. Needless to say, the photographic opportunities at this range are unequalled. Of course, there is always the risk that you may miss dinner for the herds of elephant that surround you but it is worth it.
Hwange & Surroundings

Hwange & Surroundings

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. Formally occupied by the San bushmen, the Nhanzwa, it became the royal hunting ground for Matabele king, Mzilikazi...

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Accommodation at The Hide Safari Camp

Accommodation

The Hide Safari Camp offers luxury tented suites uniquely styled along classic lines with a contemporary twist, all are spacious, with ensuite and bathed in natural light....

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The Hide Safari Camp Reviews


INTERACT

"So many impressions, so many wonderful experiences, it will take some time to fully appreciate the whole trip. We were so privileged to be able to make such a journey...."

- Samantha & Mieke


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