If it was the world of football, Hwange National Park and Chobe National Park would be likened to Real Madrid FC and Barcelona FC as they possess almost the same quality, influence and charisma. Both national parks are imbued with pristine wildlife and nature, exotic views and exceptional game drives. Chobe National Park is a true wildlife paradise and one of the best national parks in Southern Africa. Aptly and fondly known as ‘The Land of The Giants’, it is home to Africa’s largest elephant population and is inundated with rich ecosystems, diverse landscapes and an almost unparalleled abundance of wildlife and birdlife all centred around the stunning Chobe River, and in close proximity to a number of Southern Africa’s other safari must-sees. On the other hand Hwange National Park is the largest Park in Zimbabwe occupying roughly 14 650 square kilometres. It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th Century and was set aside as a National Park in 1929. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. The Park has three distinctive Camps and administrative offices at Robins, Sinamatella and the largest one at Main Camp Chobe National Park is 1,5 hours from Victoria falls (optional day trip) ,Hwange is over 2 hours. Hwange has higher park fees and fewer lodging options compared to Chobe. Chobe has more elephants and safari by boat option. Hwange gets far fewer visitors than Chobe thus, you only see a handful of vehicles and less tourists. However Hwange National Park has a wilderness vibe that is absolutely incredible. At times visitors will hear the lions and hyenas at night and see quite a number of elephants trumping through the camp both at night and during the day. Seasonality would play a huge factor on choosing between Hwange or Chobe. In June through October, visitors should favour Hwange over Chobe. Hwange does have a sense of remoteness that is really enjoyable. First timers into Hwange during winter are often surprised by the brisk conditions. Second, the majority of the water holes in Hwange are pumped during this time. It doesn’t affect the quality of the game viewing however, but some people are put off by this notion when they learn of it. With this said, Hwange offers stunning game viewing and some of the biggest elephant herds in Africa. Hwange is a mega destination! Furthermore, this does not come to discredit Botswana guiding, but the guiding in Zimbabwe is said to be consistently exceptional. Guides in Botswana are also very good, but Zimbabwe tends to produce some epic guides. In Hwange, visitors are encouraged to take a look at Somalisa Camp which was just refurbished. If Somalisa is out of a visitor's price range, perhaps they can consider Somalisa Expeditions (Somalisa’s old tents positioned in a new site). Somalisa Expeditions drives good value. Nehimba by Imvelo is also another really interesting product in the remote and beautiful Sinamatella sector of the park. This area is exceptionally remote. Then there is always the Camp Hwange which is an exceptional “bush camp”. Location Chobe National Park sits in close proximity to the borders with Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, making it a popular and easy day trip destination for visitors from Victoria Falls as well as for those on tours throughout the wider region of southern Africa. It is approximately 1,5hrs drive west away from Victoria Falls. It is probably Botswana’s second most popular safari destination after the Okavango Delta and covers an area of 11,700 square kilometres. To get there one can take a transfer bus from a hotel in Livingstone, Zambia or Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Going from Zambia means getting on a boat to cross the Zambezi river. The frequency and variety of good game sightings here is phenomenal and what makes a visit to Chobe so attractive. In contrast Hwange National Park is located in the far west of Zimbabwe on the border of Botswana and is the largest park and protected area in the country at approximately 14 500 km2 in size. It is situated on the eastern edge of the Kalahari Desert. The area is dry and water is scarce during the winter months, so there are a number of pumped waterholes to sustain the wildlife. Hwange National Park used to be known as Wankie Game Reserve, named after a local chief. Today it is Zimbabwe's biggest park and protected area and receives a lot of conservational help from the government and safari operators. This park is included in the 5 nation Kavango-Zambezi Trans frontier Area (KAZA), which focuses on opening old animal migration routes in the largest conservation area in Africa. Wildlife and Nature Chobe National Park is extremely lush for an African reserve, because of the many waterways. The Chobe River flows through the park and quenches the thirst of many animals and birds during the dry season. At certain lodges/camps one can see over the Chobe River onto the Namibian side. It certainly takes away from the feeling of remoteness. Further, Chobe is also much more impacted in terms of volume as safari here is much more commercialized. However, the game viewing in this area is exceptional, again with very high density of elephants. Chobe is surely the best place in Africa to see elephants, particularly in the water. Individual herds sometimes number in the hundreds and there are an estimated 120,000 elephants in total in the park. There are equally large herds of buffalo to be found. In fact, both can often be seen outside the park boundaries wandering around the outskirts of Kasane itself, unperturbed by traffic or people. Driving the loops that hug the river’s edge, visitors may see up to 15 different species of animals on any one game drive, including waterbuck, lechwe, puku, giraffe, kudu, roan and sable, impala, warthog, bushbuck, monkeys and baboons, along with the accompanying predators lion, leopard, hyena and jackal, and this is the only part of Botswana where they can be seen. The river has an unbelievable abundance of hippos and crocodiles and an almost inconceivable wealth of birdlife, including a number of particularly rare species that are highly sought after by top wildlife photographers. This is just a small glimpse of what Chobe has to offer. Quite similarly, Hwange National Park supports enormous species diversity and provides an authentic safari experience with an abundance of wildlife and fantastic birdlife. Hwange is known to host one of Africa's largest populations of elephants, especially in the 1980s. It is widely known for its diversity of species, including over 100 mammal species of which a number are endangered and 400 bird species. There are a variety of camps and lodges in this special park, ranging from affordable to luxurious, catering for all sorts of clientele. This is a must-see destination in Zimbabwe and fits perfectly into a Vic Falls and Botswana safari. The wet summer months provide afternoon thunderstorms and the park is turned into a lush green haven. A variety of plains game, including blue wildebeest and zebra migrate here and give birth to their young during this time of year. Hwange is an important element to wildlife conservation in Southern Africa, as well as neighbouring countries like Botswana and Zambia. Accommodation and Amenities For reaching Chobe National Park, travelling from Zimbabwe means a land crossing at the Zimbabwe/Botswana border in Kazungula. Both routes lead to Kasane town where there are numerous hotels and lodges. There is only one lodge in Chobe National Park itself. There are various accommodation options the bulk of travellers come into Chobe for a 2,5-3hr game drive in the morning , followed by lunch at one of the hotels and then a 2,5-3hr boat cruise in the afternoon before heading back across the border again. Cape Buffaloes also often frequent the river for an afternoon drink. It’s a great experience and always my favourite part of a Chobe stay. There are some nice lodges in/around the Kasane area which is very accessible such as Muchenje, Ngoma, Chobe Game Lodge (neat features like electric safari vehicles, boats and female guides), Chilwero etc. The more remote camps in the Savute area or Linyanti will require a flight from BBK, but will get visitors a much more remote and exclusive safari experience. In terms of logistics, most people drive from Vic Falls to Kasane/Chobe which takes roughly 2 hours. Driving to Hwange, depending upon where in the park you are going, will take at least double the time to Chobe. However, there are scheduled flights into Hwange which greatly reduces travel time down to roughly 1 hour. The highly recommend one is the flying route if possible. There are also flights between Vic Falls (VFA) and Kasane (BBK) in Botswana. In contrast, Hwange National Park also has quite a number of accommodation options at the Hwange Main Camp. The main camp is situated at the main entrance to the Park. There are numerous pans and pumped waterholes around Main Camp and the area is rich in game. The Hwange main camp has facilities including self-catering lodges, cottages and chalets, a camping and caravan site, bar and restaurant, grocery store, curio shop and petrol station. Lodges and Cottages Lodges in Hwange National Park are units with one or two bedrooms, bathroom, fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator and stove, lounge and veranda. Cooking utensils, cutlery and crockery are provided. The cottages available are units with 1 or 2 bedrooms, bathroom and veranda. Cooking facilities are communal, with electric hot plates provided. The cottages have a centrally located thatched, open dining area with refrigerators available for communal use. Normally no cutlery or crockery is provided. Chalets The chalets available at units with 1 or 2 bedrooms and a veranda. Cooking facilities are available on wood or charcoal braais. Electric refrigerator and sink are provided in each unit. Ablution and toilet facilities are provided in communal blocks. Visitors should note that tent and camping equipment are not available for hire. Conference Facilities Conference facilities can be made available at Main Camp. Visitors who intend to hold a conference or an organized gathering requiring such facilities will need to contact the Central Reservation Office at Hwange National Park reception for more details Other Attractions A trip to Chobe is not complete without a boat trip on the beautiful river itself. This allows visitors to see most of the park’s interesting wildlife and birdlife from a different perspective. Aside from the allure for birders, being on the river is the best place for budding photographers to take spectacular images of the vast herds of elephants on the river’s lush green banks and islands or even crossing the river. Chobe and the other highlights of the region can also be enjoyed through exclusive fly-in safaris, while other safari offerings also incorporate scenic flights as well as mokoro canoe excursions on the Delta, and even white water rafting trips on the mighty Zambezi. Whether arriving by air or road, the first glimpse of the river, deep and dazzling in the sandy terrain is always breath-taking. It appears as a swathe of brilliant, peacock blue ribbon, winding its way through the tiny town of Kasane, and ensuing wilderness. Taking a river cruise is great as visitors will experience the park, and the animals, from another vantage point. Here visitors will get up close and personal with hippo, crocodile and a mind-boggling array of water birds. Over 460 bird species have been recorded in the park, making it one of Africa’s premier venues for bird Safaris. Common species to be seen include the Sacred ibis, Egyptian Geese, the ubiquitous cormorants and darters, Spur-winged Geese, pel’s Fishing Owl, carmine Bee-eaters, most members of the kingfisher family, all the rollers, the unmistakable Fish Eagle, the Martial Eagle, and many members of the stork family. The Chobe River rises in the northern Angolan highlands, travels enormous distances before it reaches Botswana at Ngoma. Like the Okavango and Zambezi rivers, the Chobe’s course is affected by fault lines that are extensions of the Great Rift Valley. These three mighty rivers carry more water than all other rivers in Southern Africa. The Ngwezumba pans lie approximately 70 km south of the Chobe River and comprise a large complex of clay pans, surrounded by mophane woodlands and grassland plains. During the rainy season, the pans fill with water, then attracting wildlife that moves away from the permanent water sources of the Linyanti and Chobe Rivers. Truly at the interior of the park, Savuté boasts most of the Chobe species, except for water-loving antelope. It is best known for its predators particularly lion, cheetah and hyena, of which there are large resident populations. As the same note, Hwange National Park is blessed with exceptional picnic sites. Camping is permissible in Hwange National Park at Shumba, Kapula, Mandavu Dam, Masuma, Ngweshla, Jambile, Kennedy 1, Guvalala, and Detema Picnic Sites. Each site consists of an enclosed picnic area usually with shady trees or thatch cover and a small ablution block with running water. Groups of up to 10 people may camp overnight at these areas but the sites are also open to all visitors during daytime. Other activities part from game viewing in Hwange National Park include wilderness trails, fishing and doing walks in Sinamatella and Robin sites with the park. Parting Word If it’s a visitor's first trip to Africa and there is a healthy budget set, then combining Chobe National Park visit and Hwange National Park visit will be absolutely incredible. We definitely recommend a Chobe River cruise and visiting the exquisite wilderness of Hwange National Park. Both national parks are superb as they are rich with superb wilderness vibe, wealth of wildlife and other unique attractions.