Hwange National Park day trip from Victoria Falls: Game drives

Two game drives through Africa's largest national park, tracking wildlife from an open 4x4 van

A full-day game drive tour departing Victoria Falls at 6:30am for Hwange National Park, 380km away, with hotel pickup and return transfer included. You ride in an open 4x4 van for a morning drive, break for lunch at the main camp, then drive again in the afternoon before heading back to Victoria Falls, arriving around 7pm. The guide tracks wildlife across the park's 14,569 square kilometers, though sightings are never guaranteed. Light refreshments, bottled water, coffee and tea are included. Lunch is provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Hwange National Park trip

• Pick up from hotel at 06:15am
• Drive to Hwange National Park
• Arrive Hwange Main Camp at 09:00am
• Morning game drive in open 4x4 van
• Lunch break
• Afternoon game drive
• Depart Hwange at 17:00
• Return to Victoria Falls by 19:00

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Victoria Falls at 6:30am. The drive to Hwange takes roughly three hours, covering 190km through the landscape between the two destinations. You arrive at Hwange Main Camp around 9am and transfer into an open 4x4 van: the vehicle stays open throughout both drives, giving you an unobstructed view and the chance to move with the guide as animals appear. The morning game drive runs until lunch. The guide uses tracking skills to locate wildlife across the park's vast terrain, though what you see depends on where animals are that day.

After lunch at the main camp, you head out again for the afternoon drive, which continues until around 5pm. The return journey to Victoria Falls takes the same route back, arriving by 7pm. The whole day runs roughly 10 to 11 hours from pickup to drop-off. An air-conditioned minivan handles the long drive between Victoria Falls and the park, while the open 4x4 is your vehicle inside Hwange itself.

A live English-speaking guide leads both drives and travels with you throughout the day. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are all refreshments: coffee, tea, bottled water and lunch. The tour requires a minimum of two people per booking. If you're traveling alone or as a couple, a single supplement of $100 applies and is paid directly on the day of travel. Park entrance fees of $20 per person are separate and paid on arrival.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Victoria Falls.
• light refreshments, coffee and tea throughout the day.
• lunch at Hwange Main Camp.
• bottled water.
• an English-speaking guide for both drives.
• return transport by air-conditioned minivan.

Options for this experience

2 options

Full-Day Hwange TripGuide in English · Available from 9 Oct 2027Picnic lunch: air-conditioned van or open 4x4 vehicle. Pickup is included.

Single SupplementGuide in English · 05:30Solo travelers: guests traveling alone pay an extra $150 as a single supplement. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:30

AgesAdult (20 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 19 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Excellence Trails Safaris & Photography

Is this one for you?Choose this full-day trip if you're based in Victoria Falls and want two separate game drives in Hwange's remote areas. The 10-hour round journey works best if your schedule is flexible.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 19 years); Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How far is Hwange National Park from Victoria Falls?

Hwange is 190km from Victoria Falls, making the one-way drive roughly three hours each way. The round-trip distance is about 380km, so you spend most of the morning and evening traveling between the two places.

What animals might I see on the game drives?

Hwange is home to elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras and many other species. The guide uses tracking skills to locate wildlife, but the park covers 14,569 square kilometers and sightings are never guaranteed: what you see depends on where animals are on the day you visit.

Is the van open or enclosed during the game drives?

The game drives use an open 4x4 van, which stays open throughout both the morning and afternoon drives. This gives you an unobstructed view and allows the guide to position the vehicle as animals appear. The minivan that handles the long drive to and from Victoria Falls is air-conditioned and enclosed.

What time do I need to be ready for pickup?

Hotel pickup is at 6:30am, so you should be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby by that time. You'll arrive back in Victoria Falls around 7pm, depending on traffic and the exact time you leave the national park.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, both game drives, lunch, light refreshments, bottled water, coffee and tea are all included. Park entrance fees of $20 per person are paid separately on arrival. Gratuities are not included. If you're booking alone or as a couple, a single supplement of $100 applies and is paid on the day.