Hwange National Park

The largest National Park, in Zimbabwe, is Hwange National Park. It is named for a Nhanzwa Chief. It was formerly called Wankie Game Reserve.

It makes up about 14,650 square kilometers. In the upper Northwest corner of the country, it sits about 2 hours from Victoria Falls (one of the 7 wonders of the world).

When it became a reserve/national park, The first warden was Ted Davison. At the time he started it was estimated there were less then one thousand elephants in the area. The park is now home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world with about 30,000.

Over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species call the area home. It boasts all 5 of the big species, including African elephant, lion, Cape buffalo, leopard and rhino.

'Timeline'

Early 19th Century Ndebele warrior, King Mzilikazi's royal hunting grounds

1928 Became National Park

2011 9 elephants were killed and many other animals were hit by poachers

2013 Over 100 elephants died after poachers poisoned a watering hole with cyanide

Sources

* Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority: https://zimparks.org/parks/national-parks/hwange/

* Hwange National Park, The Hide: www.thehide.com/hwange-national-park/

* Wikipedia, Hwange National Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwange_National_Park

* The Best of Hwange National Park: www.hwange-national-park.net