matnikstym

<b><font color="red">CR*P!!</font></b> Just when I thought I had it <b>ALL</b> figured out something else jumps in the pot! We now have an option for a full day trip to Hwange or Chobe. The Chobe trip is 1/2 boat, 1/2 drive and the Hwange is all drive in raised viewing vehicle. The prices are similar but need to pay for Zim visa but at this point, the budget is so shot, money is no object! We did all the &quot;Amazing Race&quot; type andrenalin inducing activities in New Zealand in March, so that is of no interest and think we will scrap the elephant back safari due to time constraints. Stanley Safari Lodge said to make all activity bookings there when we arrive, but the other websites say book in advance. So would you choose Hwange or Chobe?
<b>Thanks,</b>
Dennis

thit_cho

I haven't been to Hwange, so I can't compare the two parks, but Chobe is an AMAZING park, with a lot of wildlife, and the river cruises are unique. I visited in August, and saw hundreds of elephant and thousand of buffalo from the boat, plus very large groups of hippo and crocs, and saw lion, wild dog, sable plus regular stuff on the drive. Its a great park -- I think the second best of the parks I have visited in Africa after Masai Mara/Serengeti in terms of volume of wildlife.

Haven't been to Hwange, but its on my list.

Michael

bwanamitch

Dennis,

Hwange is worth a stay of several days, but I can't say this about Kasane and the Chobe River front. So I would recommend to go to Chobe, and put Hwange on the destination list of your next trip.

<b><font color="#008080">M</font><font color="#545728">i</font><font color="#804000">t</font><font color="#a04000">c</font><font color="#804000">h</font></b>

bwanamitch

Funny, how different our opinions are...

thit_cho

Hwange, I understand, and I haven't been but this is based on research, is supposedly similar in wildlife and landscape to Kruger or South Luangwa, and the Chobe landscape, along the river is similar, but the boat cruise, while crowded with several other boats, is very worthwhile, in my opinion.

We watched a small crocodile subdue and eat a puff adder along the riverbank, but that was more &quot;being in the right place at the right time&quot; than being on the river, but we saw enormous groups of animals and its a much different perspective, especially being on the water with hippos all around and elephant swimming just by the boat.

Also, the drives into the park away from the river can be rewarding, and we saw several lion, one lone wild dog, and large groups of sable, giraffe, puku, all sorts of birds.

Chobe is on my list of places to return to and its closer, I think, to Vic Falls than Chobe (not counting border crossing, which will add time). And the drive is through Zambezi NP and we saw lots of elephant on the drive through that park.

cooncat

Dennis - I am so sorry to latch onto your thread yet again, but since it is a similar topic: What is there to do in Zambia in the Victoria Falls area? I'm not a bungee jumper or a river rafter. Are there any wildlife parks around-again, on the Zambian side? Thanks!

beept

I just returned from 4 nights in Hwange at Makalolo Plains. The park is amazing! Animal sightings in huge numbers everywhere! I would definetly go when you can spend more time there- a day won't due it justice. Hopefully I will get a trip report done soon.

bwanamitch

Sharon,

There is Mosi-oa-Tunya NP around the Falls, but it hasn't spectacular wildlife. Main non-adrenaline activities are canoeing and river cruises on the Upper Zambezi.

Mitch

matnikstym

Hi Sharon-from what I gather the park that Mitch mentioned is small and the animals are limited though they do have 1 rhino. They have 4 hour-1/2 day trips there. Also there is a trip to an 800 year old village, the Livingstone Museum, shopping in Livingstone, elephant back safari, lion encounter, horse back riding, party boats(<font color="blue">UGH!) </font>, morning and evening river cruises and of course the falls (but when I'm there they will probably only be a trickle on the Zam side) Our plans now are: arrive Livingstone 12:00, get settled in and go to the falls, next day: trip to Chobe, following morning go into town and fly out 1:35. (btw <b>ONLY </b> 35 days from today!!!

atravelynn

Having visited and enjoyed both Chobe and Hwange, I'd opt for Chobe for a one day trip. I also wonder how much of the 1-day Hwange trip is travel and how much is actually game drive.

Actually this is a delightful dilemma on how to spend a day.

matnikstym

yes atravellyn, much more delightful than mow the lawn or go to the beach?

Dennis

matnikstym

for those interested...the tour company that was operating the Hwange tour no longer does that. In an e-mail from them he said the 200km drive and the bag lunch made it unpopular so they dropped it. Our day trip to Chobe is booked!
Dennis

cooncat

Thanks for the update, Dennis!

retiredatlast

Was in Vic Falls 3 weeks ago. The Zambian falls ARE a trickle. Very dry. I was also in Hwange--where were the huge numbers of animals? We didn't see that many in Hwange or Chobe, except for huge numbers of elephants everywhere. Don't get me wrong--we enjoyed ourselves but we sometimes drove for a long time without seeing anything.

beept

retiredatlast,
I am not sure where you were in Hwange, but Makalolo is right in the center of the park. We never had to drive far at all to see a new sighting. Besides lots of Elephant, we saw Buffalo( a heard of nearly 1000 right in front of camp one night!), many Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Hartebeest, Roan, Sable, Hyena, Lion, Kudu,Ostich,Warthog, Baboon,Waterbuck, Eland,etc. Also a cheetah,and African Wildcat. I missed the 1 Rhino sighting, but the other group in camp saw one.
Last weekend in Victoria Falls the Zambian side was all dried up.

Renee

treasuresofafrica

If you only have one day in Hwange, save it for another time, you will need at least three or four days, preferably more, to really enjoy your game drives. Take night drives, if possible on either side of the river. We spent four days at a safari camp just outside of the park 6 years ago. Animals were everywhere, large groups of elephants, wilderbeasts, zebra, giraffe, lion and lots more. But I understand since Zimbabwe is having so many problems, that the game parks are suffering badly. Of course Hwange is large, so it may recover eventually. If you get to Victoria Falls, plan to fly over the falls, not just check it out from the shore. You won't be sorry - it's spectacular!! And have afternoon tea or drinks on the veranda of the Victoria Falls hotel (even if you don't stay there).

matnikstym

the reason for my time at Victoria Falls was to see the falls, now you are saying they are dried up? (we are staying on the Zambian side) Can you cross to the Zim side easily? I will never fly in a helicopter again after a horrible Kauai flight!
Thanks,
Dennis

Gardyloo

We were also there around 3 weeks ago and I can't agree on the &quot;trickle&quot; thing. Maybe not the wall of water that you'd get in wetter times, but not exactly dried up.

You can see pictures (and read words if you're inclined) at my blog/website, http://home.comcast.net/~gardyloo2

beept

It is fairly easy to cross to the Zim side of the falls. You will see a much better display from there at this time of year.