Gwango Elephant Lodge

Gwango Elephant Lodge is a luxury lodge set in teak forest on the edge of Hwange, built around active waterholes that draw elephant herds past the guest rooms. TripAdvisor rates it 4/5 from 135 reviews, ranking #17 of 32 specialty lodging in Hwange, with guests praising close-up elephant sightings at the waterhole, knowledgeable guides and well-appointed, recently refurbished rooms.

The lodge has 6 units in total — 2 double-storey King Tree Top Villas, 3 Queen Forest Chalets and 1 Twin Forest Chalet — accommodating up to 12 guests, 2 per unit. Facilities include a splash pool, open lounge areas, a raised outdoor firepit, a braai, private dining at the Stone House, and WiFi in the lounge and dining areas.

The lodge runs a fully inclusive guided approach with up to 2 activities daily and a dedicated guiding team, with game drives extending roughly 3km into Hwange National Park. Wildlife on the concession includes elephant, buffalo, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, waterbuck, impala and sable, with roan, eland, cheetah and leopard seen less frequently, alongside strong birding. The lodge sits about 3km from sister property Gwango Heritage Resort, roughly 2 hours from Victoria Falls and 4 hours from Bulawayo.