It is one of the most accessible game reserves in Namibia and Southern Africa. It is Namibia’s prime wildlife location offering excellent game viewing. There is abundant wildlife that congregates around the numerous waterholes, which are floodlit at night, offering almost guaranteed game sightings.

Etosha means the ‘great white area‘ which refers to the dried salt pan in the middle of the park. The Etosha pan is the park’s most distinctive feature, it is even visible from space! It is believed to have been formed over 100 million years ago and is 130 km’s long and up to 50 km’s wide in certain places, meaning the pan covers almost a quarter of the park!

The park is malaria free and accessible by all vehicles, the rest camps at the park provide a variety of accommodation, restaurants, viewing points and decks, shops, petrol stations, luxurious camps in remote areas. The best places to see wildlife is at the waterholes scattered throughout the park, especially during the dry winters as most species rely on these permanent water sources. The larger waterholes see treks of zebra and springbok with a mix of Oryx and elephants. If you lucky you can spot rhino, elephant and lion drinking from the same waterhole!

Etosha is home to four of the Big 5, one of the best reasons to visit the park is to for the black rhino, the waterholes are some of the best places to see this precious animal. Elephants and lions are common but the elusive leopard hides in the densely vegetated areas. Other rare and endangered species include the black-faced impala and the fleet footed cheetah. Other large mammals include lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, giraffe, hyena, sprinkbok, zebra, kudu, gemsbok and eland. The smaller species include jackal, bat-eared fox, warthog, honey badger, squirrels and more. The park is also home to 114 species of mammals.

The summers are ideal for birding in Etosha which is home to 340 bird species, about a third of which are migratory. One of the best birding spots is Fisher’s Pan, where you can see flamingos and storks wading through the shallow water. The bird life is made up of a mix from flamingos to the colourful lilac-breasted roller and eagles soaring high above. The vultures that visit the park include the lapped-faced, white-backed and hooded vultures.

Why visit Etosha National Park? Etosha offers amazing biodiversity, great wildlife and birdlife viewing, easy road or air access, black rhinos, amazing Wild Sanctuary and floodlit waterholes.

With so much on offer at the Etosha National Park it is easy to see why it is a popular destination to visit! Please contact us if you would like more information or sample packages showing how this destination can be incorporated into a package.

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Mankwe Gametrackers will take guests on a journey above the pristine wilderness, sometimes drifting above the mountain tops, skimming over the trees or gliding over the water. This is undoubtedly the finest way of viewing the Pilanesberg National Park.

Guests will be collected at their hotel and taken through the park to rendezvous with the balloon crew. The flight is approximately an hour’s duration and on landing, sparkling wine is served. A leisurely game drive is taken afterwards through the park to the game lodge where breakfast is served, after which guests are returned to their hotel. Flights take place early in the morning and guests will need to allow for approximately 5 hours for the full experience, which includes the following:

– Early morning collection from hotel by safari vehicle

– Launch of the balloon from the centre of the park

– 45 minutes to an hour, drifting serenely over the park

– A sparkling wine celebration on landing, a time-honoured ballooning tradition

– A full English breakfast at a Private Game Lodge

– A first flight certificate and souvenir balloon pin

– Return transport to your hotel

Bookings are essential. Rates are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact us if you would like some more information on a hot air balloon safari or some sample packages showing how this experience can be incorporated into a package.

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Leopard – leopards are the shyest of the big cats, preferring their own company and hanging out in bush during the day and only emerging in the late afternoon to hunt for dinner. Leopards  mostly hunt at night although they will seize any opportunity for a kill. The illusive leopard is found throughout the Kruger National Park and if you are lucky you will spot one, they prefer dense riverine forest – especially along the Sabie River – and rocky outcrops.

Cheetah – cheetah’s are lean and wily, built for speed and can run at speeds over 110 km/h. Cheetahs use their speed for hunting, catching their prey off-guard and then running at it, full-speed. They usually eat quickly because they cannot guard carcass against scavengers. The Central Kruger is the favorite spot for the fast cheetah with sightings in and around Lower Sabie and the Crocodile River.

Caracal – caracal’s are highly secretive and difficult to observe. They are territorial and live mainly alone or in pairs. The caracal is a carnivore that typically preys upon small mammals, birds and rodents. Caracal’s have a variety of habitats but this secretive creature prefers the open savanna where there are rocky outcrops.

How to behave when you meet a cat in Kruger:

Be very quite, human noise will disturb the cats.

In most reserves, animals have become habituated to the vehicles used – and their shape. So do not stand up or move your arms and legs out of the vehicle, as this will frighten the animals and may result in them retreating or attacking.

Never try to interfere with the animals you encounter. This includes trying to change their behavior or position for a good photo shot and feeding them.

Please contact us if you would like some more information on visiting the Kruger National Park or some sample packages showing how this destination can be incorporated into a package.

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The Hwange National Park situated in West Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe’s biggest and most diverse national park. The elephant stronghold of Hwange is a game-rich area roughly the size of the Bahamas. Guests can explore a variety of landscapes, from desert sands and sparse woodland to grasslands and rocky outcrops. The grasslands and mopane woods are home to large herds of elephants, lions and African wild dogs. Vast herds of elephant and buffalo, gemsbok and clans of brown hyena can be found in this pristine slice of wilderness, which also boasts one of the largest surviving populations of African wild dog.

This vast game park was established in 1930 and covers and area of 14 651 km², it is 18 times the size of New York City, and has an estimated 50,000 elephants, many of which are in breeding herds as large as 300 that pad from waterhole to waterhole. There are also more than 100 different kinds of mammals living in the National Park and an estimated 500 bird species living in the scrubland. This level of biodiversity is matched only by the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Kruger National Park in South Africa.

The camps themselves are world-class, with glamorous bush camps dotted around the park.

Here are some top picks of where to stay:

Imvelo Safari Lodges or experiences, choose from:

Bomani Tented Lodge – Situated on a 5000 acre private reserve within the Ngamo Forest Area, this lodge is an exciting safari destination – in a remote and exclusive area. Enjoy great game viewing all year round. The main lodge overlooks Bomani Pan and is comprised of an open dining room, bar area and lounge, built on a spectacular viewing platform.

Camelthorn Lodge – This flagship lodge ticks all the boxes for your authentic African safari experience. Situated in one of Hwange’s last remaining well-protected and un-spoilt acacia woodlands, on the edge of the South Eastern corner of Hwange National Park. Be treated to a truly memorable safari experience, in pure comfort and style. Enjoy al fresco dining under the ancient Camelthorn tree, savour your morning coffee in front of a roaring fire, track herds of elephant by foot, and enjoy close up photography from inside Camelthorn’s look-up blind.

Jozibanini – Situated in the remote south west of Hwange National Park in a wilderness unused for nearly 20 years, this is a small, truly exclusive camp in a wild place, providing a unique, untamed wilderness experience. Imvelo is breaking new ground in Hwange in terms of the remoteness of the location and the uniqueness of the environment.

Nehimba Lodge – Is situated deep inside a private concession, nestled inside the remote northern region of Hwange National Park. This lodge combines luxury living with ultimate elegance and lashings of African charm and is designed to create the most exceptional safari experiences. No two days are the same at Nehimba and game viewing experiences are tailor-made to guest’s preferences, including game drives, walking safaris and night game drives on private concession in search of nocturnal species of wildlife. This wild and unspoilt bush paradise will guarantee you leave with memories to last a lifetime!

Imvelo’s Victoria Falls to Hwange overnight sleeper train service – The Stimela Star. This private overnight sleeper train is hooked up to the regular Victoria Falls to Bulawayo passenger train. Enjoy comfort and plenty of old fashioned style overnight from Vic Falls and awake rested and relaxed ready for your adventure in Hwange National Park. On the Star you’ll enjoy refreshments and dinner, and then entertainment provided by the guides in the lounge car where you can enjoy coffee or an after dinner drink, before retiring to your private sleeping cabin, where you’ll be rocked to sleep in away that is unique only to train travel.

Join a unique way to transfer to Imvelo’s southern properties in Hwange – The Elepahnt Express railcar. This unque railcar is ingeniously designed and built to re-invent safari transfers to and between Imvelo’s camps in Hwange National Park. The Elephant Express makes daily return trips as necessary between Ngamo Siding, near Bomani and Camelthorn, and Dete Railway Station near Hwange Main Camp.

The best Zimbabwe has to offer – Elephant’s Eye, Hwange offers an unforgettable experience with the African wilderness. The camp comprises of 8 tented chalets. Every chalet has a double or twin beds surrounded by mosquito netting, an en-suite bathroom with a bath and basin, a glam outside shower and wrap-around veranda. The Elephant’s Eye, Hwange lodge can host a maximum of 16 people at any given time and all meals and most drinks are included.

Activities at Elephant’s Eye include game viewing, a fully operational spa, guided educational walks, bird watching, night game drives with trained field guides; swimming or enjoying sundowners while relaxing near the pool. Elephant’s Eye has a waterhole which offers unlimited opportunities to view at photograph game at close range.

Located in a prime position – The Hide, Hwange offers a life-enriching safari experience for its guests, from its fantastic game viewing right on your doorstep, to a variety of daily activities to suit everyone and the warm and welcoming staff, who make you feel like family from the minute you arrive. Guests are accommodated in beautifully-furnished deluxe tents, all boasting en-suite bathrooms and private verandas overlooking the busy waterhole.

Adventures include day and night game drives, guided bush walks and exceptional game viewing in the seclusion of the camp’s unique underground hides. For those who are a little more adventurous, The Dove’s Nest Treehouse is available at no extra charge. Located a few minutes away from camp, this rustic gem sleep out has the perfect vantage point from which to view wildlife safely and quietly.
After an exhilarating day of game viewing, guests can retreat to the cool refuge of the camp’s swimming pool and can enjoy delectable meals savoured al fresco or in the elegant dining room.

A small intimate lodge – Ivory Lodge, Hwange features luxurious tree houses and Presidential Elephant Suites set on elevated platforms amongst the indigenous flora of Hwange Game Park. Deep in the mystical teak forests of Hwange is this unobtrusive camp, bathed in the tales of pioneering hunters and explorers such as Fredrick Courtney Selous. Lumbering giants drift around your stilted platforms, their tusks glinting in salute to the sanctuary of shade offered up by these massive trees.This is Ivory Lodge – place of elephants. It is here that great herds of elephants are found – sometimes over 100 strong, often finding refuge from the scorching heat at Ivory’s water hole.

Silently, elegantly, the lodge stands over the waterhole…. watch by flood light under a star spangled African night sky – the elephants in their play-fighting….their display of instinctive rituals, their caressing and murmurings…all which speak of years gone by.

With so much to see and do in Hwange National Park and luxurious accommodation on offer, it is easy to see why this is a must-experience destination! Please contact us if you would like some more information on this unforgettable wildlife experience or some sample packages showing how this destination can be incorporated into a package.

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