Victoria Falls 3-day Safari: Hwange Game Drives & Elephant Tracking

Three days of game drives, moonlight elephant tracking, and a cultural village visit

A 3-day guided safari tour from Victoria Falls to Hwange National Park, staying at Gwango Resort with two nights included. The itinerary covers a welcome game drive and nighttime elephant tracking on arrival, a full day in the park viewing over 100 mammal species and the Big Five, and a final early-morning drive followed by a cultural tour in BaNambya before returning to Victoria Falls.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and evening activities in Hwange

• Pickup from Victoria Falls hotel
• Transfer to Hwange National Park
• Check in at Gwango Heritage Resort
• Welcome game drive in Gwango Estate
• Dinner at the resort
• Elephant tracking by moonlight at 20h30

Day 2: Full day game drive in Hwange

• Breakfast at the lodge
• Visit Painted Dog Sanctuary
• Jeep safari in Hwange National Park
• Lunch at camping site inside park
• Continue game drive until evening
• Dinner and overnight at Gwango Resort

Day 3: Morning safari and cultural tour

• Early morning game drive at 05h45
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Check out and depart lodge around 11h00
• BaNambya cultural tour
• Transfer to Victoria Falls Airport

The experience

You get picked up from your Victoria Falls hotel and driven to Gwango Resort in Hwange, where the safari starts the same evening with a welcome game drive through the Gwango Estate. At 20h30 you head out for elephant tracking by moonlight: the park's signature experience, drawing visitors for the massive elephant population concentrated around the waterholes during the dry season. Breakfast and dinner are at the lodge each night.

Day two is the full safari: after breakfast you pass through the Painted Dog Sanctuary to learn about the species, then spend the day on a Jeep drive through Hwange itself. The park holds over 100 mammal species, the world's largest elephant population, and all of the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino) plus hippo and crocodile. Over 400 bird species also live here. Lunch is served at a camping site inside the park, and you return to the lodge in the evening.

On the final morning you do a wrap-up game drive starting at 05h45, running three hours to catch anything missed on previous drives. After breakfast you leave around 11h00, passing through BaNambya for a cultural tour to learn about local African traditions. The transfer back to Victoria Falls Airport takes you there by around 18h00.

What’s included

• Pickup from your Victoria Falls hotel.
• two nights at Gwango Resort.
• a welcome game drive and moonlight elephant tracking on day one.
• a full-day game drive through Hwange National Park on day two with lunch at a camping site inside the park.
• an early-morning wrap-up drive and BaNambya cultural tour on day three.
• transfer to Victoria Falls Airport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 69

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Victoria Falls Serious Fun Tours and Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in Victoria Falls without a rental car: pickup from your hotel and drop-off at the airport bracket the whole safari, so you travel as a guided group and skip arranging your own transport to the park. The 3-day length fits between a quick afternoon excursion and a longer expedition, giving you two full nights at the lodge and three separate game drives to see the elephants and Big Five.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on the game drives in Hwange?

Hwange holds over 100 mammal species, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino) plus hippo and crocodile. The park is most famous for its massive elephant population, which concentrates around the waterholes during the dry season. Over 400 bird species also live in the park, so birdwatchers see plenty throughout the drives.

How does the moonlight elephant tracking work on the first night?

After dinner on arrival day, you head out at 20h30 on a dedicated tracking drive to find elephants moving around the park at night. This is when the animals are most active, and the dry season brings them to waterholes, making sightings likely.

What happens on the last day before I leave?

You start with an early-morning game drive at 05h45 lasting about three hours to spot any wildlife you missed. After breakfast at the lodge, you leave around 11h00 and stop in BaNambya for a cultural tour where you learn about local traditions and African culture before being transferred to Victoria Falls Airport, arriving around 18h00.

Is the Painted Dog Sanctuary a separate stop, or part of the main game drive?

On day two, you drive through the Painted Dog Sanctuary on the way to Hwange National Park. You get information about these species before continuing into the park for the full-day Jeep safari.

Where do I stay, and what meals are included?

You stay at Gwango Resort for two nights. Lunch is included each day. Breakfast and dinner are served at the lodge. The resort is your base for all three days.