Festive Season in Hwange
Hwange is different during the Christmas holidays. December is the peak of Zimbabwe’s green season - hot, rainy afternoons give way to lush landscapes and sky-high birdlife. Evenings cool off and the bush thickens; tourists can still spot Hwange’s famous elephants, big cats and plains game on morning drives or night safaris. With fewer crowds and the green scenery, it’s a great time for birdwatching because migratory species arrive with the rains. Many camps offer guided walks, hideouts by waterholes and special festive activities so guests can embrace the wild Christmas spirit in comfort and adventure.
Festive Lodges and Packages
Special holiday events are on offer at Hwange area camps and lodges. Gwango Heritage Resort, just a stone's throw away from Hwange National Park is hosting a "Season of Giving" gathering with food hampers for locals, a Secret Santa on Christmas Eve, a festive 3-course Christmas Eve dinner, and a Christmas Day buffet. African Sun Hotels similarly promotes Christmas specials at its Hwange Safari Lodge - for instance, 30% off for stays between Dec 21st - Jan 5th (from $75 per person B&B) and a stay-3-pay-2 deal earlier in December. Robins Camp which is situated deeper in the Park is also offering a special Book Two Nights Camping and Get One Night Free promotion. Tour operators and safari companies often bundle multi-day Hwange packages during Christmas and New Year, with game drives and holiday add-ons. In short, expect a warm festive atmosphere: many venues decorate in local style, play Zimbabwean music and treat guests to special dinners or bush breakfasts.
Christmas Traditions in Hwange Communities
Local communities in Hwange celebrate Christmas with joyous fellowship and familiar customs. Many families start the day with early church services, where children in new "Sunday best" sing carols. Afterwards people visit relatives and neighbours, partying from house to house with good food and music. Homes and even village streets fill with music - often the latest Zimbabwean hits or the beloved mbira-based songs of Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi - broadcast from stereos or sung aloud.
Feasting is central. Traditional Christmas lunch usually features roast chicken with rice, plus other local staples (often maize meal sadza, vegetables, grilled meats). Some families exchange handcrafted gifts or carvings - Zimbabweans value arts and crafts, so pottery, beaded ornaments or little sculptures make common presents. Children play outdoor games (such as Nhodo, Tsoro or hopscotch Tsoro yenhodo) while parents cook and prepare the feast. Other colourful touches include blowing whistles, dancing impromptu in the yard, and sometimes neighborhood carols by candlelight.
New Year’s Festivities
When New Year’s Eve arrives, Hwange and Zimbabweans nationwide welcome the next year with reunions and celebration. Many people travel from towns to rural family homes so everyone can greet the new year together, which is believed to bring luck and blessings. Festivities often include fireworks and countdown parties (especially in larger towns, though Hwange town may be quiet compared to bigger cities). For example, the famous Victoria Falls Carnival (nearby) is a multi-day festival of music, dancing and fireworks that draws crowds from the region.
This year, Gobelo Mtoa Restaurant in Hwange is hosting a New Year’s Eve Bash that will be spectacular with a 4-course dinner, a live DJ, a confetti countdown, a celebratory champagne toast and a pre-party for kids.
At home, families might stay up late eating, singing and dancing around a bonfire or TV. It’s common to don brand-new outfits on New Year’s Day. It’s a symbol of a fresh start. Churches in Zimbabwe also hold special all-night services on Dec 31st where worshippers pray and sing until midnight to usher in the year with blessings. By New Year’s morning, people often gather again for communal meals or braais.
The first day of January in Hwange feels like one big family get-together. Children receive gifts of new clothes or sweets, friends laugh over shared snacks and fireworks crackle under the southern sky. Many Zimbabweans (children especially) look forward to this more than the mere countdown. It’s a warm, hopeful time - reflecting and celebrating together - before life returns to its everyday rhythms.