“Hwange National park
was our best/most fantastic 2 days (Hide Safari
Camp, we recommend to every one). Thanks for advising
this park. I travelled from The Netherlands via
Middle East to Cape Town by road (overland car)
and we saw all the parks in East Africa. But Hwange
and the Hide Safari Camp was the best (Real Life
Park). And my parents were very surprised and
will come back!
~Jordan, Netherlands - November 2005~
Camp Calling…
Wow have we had rain! We've received
over 600mm since November and it's still coming
- unbelievable and just what we needed after such
a dry spell in the Park last year. The Park and
Hide concession are looking absolutely amazing
with huge pans everywhere, attracting large numbers
of birds – often one imagines you’re
driving through the Okavango Delta!
The Elephants have dispersed
far and wide but we did some walks on a few older
bulls that were awesome (as above!) and also saw
Lion, Cheetah, Rhino and the usual
plethora of antelope and smaller species. The
“Green Season” is a superb time in
the Park with the Impala, Zebra
and Wildebeest calves cavorting around
in the lush open areas, and that wholesome feeling
of rebirth and seeing all animals in such peak
condition. The rarer animals like Bat-Eared
Fox, Dwarf & Banded Mongoose, Black-backed
& Side-striped Jackals and Honey
badgers were also often seen out and about.
There’s a misconception
that because the animals disperse far and wide
in the “green Season” that game viewing
is poor – in fact you still see most of
them, just not in the dry season volumes around
the pans. One party of clients recently left a
day early because in two days they saw The Big
Five and Cheetah and Wild Dog!
The walking experience
has been enhanced by Andy “Lobengula”
Trivella (pics above and below). Additionally
there’s been tonnes of laughs with many
clients opting for the afternoon forays to Trumbles
Pan as below!
As you’d imagine the birdlife
is exquisite in this season with Saddle-billed
Storks, White Storks, Crowned Cranes,
Black Egrets, Carmine Bee-eaters,
Tawny and Steppe Eagles; Egyptian
geese and White-faced Ducks –
to name just some of the most colourful.
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Lobengula” hits Trumbles Pan! |
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Crowned Cranes & Egyptian Geese |
In Addition!
Welcome to Lauren Gouma who has joined
us in the capacity of Hostess in camp!
Our fabulous new brochures
are finally out – please shout if you need
some!
Look out for our new Plunge Pool about
to be installed in February – we haven’t
needed one these past 2 months because we had
Trumbles Pan as above!
The Friends of Hwange Trust
has now officially been formed to focus on maintaining
10 key waterholes in Hwange NP and if all goes
well with fund raising to assist with more –
trustees include Angus Preston, Hide Director,
Paul Turner of Ernst & Young, and Beck Edwards,
Hide Marketing & Finance. The Trust is not
permitted to solicit funds publicly. If anyone
would like to know more about FOH please email
beck@thehide.co.zw
National Parks have increased
their entry fees per person for Zim Residents
w.e.f. 1st January 2006 to Z$322,000 per day;
and TEP holders, embassy staff and resident permit
holders Z$ 552,000. Private vehicle fees for self-drive
into the Park are Z$115,000 per day. Overseas
Residents still pay US$15 per person per day and
SADC/Regional Residents 75% of Overseas or R80.
Until next time and thank you
for all your support!
Barry & Bridget, Lorraine, Beck &
staff
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