HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

Here are some facts of Hwange, that some people might find quite interesting.



A recent study (Wetenhall 1991) found that:
1. The number of tourist doubled between 1986 and 1990
2. Tourist revenues attributed to the park have increased from ZW$3.1million in 1987 to ZW$17 million in 1991.
3. The park management budget has declined from ZW$815 thousand to ZW $688 thousand over the same period.


TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS PASSING THROUGH EACH OF THE 3 TOURIST CAMPS FROM 1980 – 1987 SINAMATELA

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 TOTAL
MAIN CAMP 11132 25592 26334 20757 24867 40785 45762 41730 95682
3481 659 5134 3880 3759 9272 8694 6748 10979
ROBINS 818 914 1407 688 1394 1615 1668 1932 10436
TOTAL 15431 27165 32875 25325 30020 51072 56124 50410 117097

TOURIST REVENUE
JANUARY TO DECEMBER 1987
MAIN CAMP 302 829.53
SINAMATELLA 81 002.80
ROBINS 13 929.15

397 761.48
(Bet they can't brag about this figure anymore!!)


HISTORY OF DAM BUILDING
1936 Masuma, Mtoa 1¤ & 2¤
1938 Deteema
1951 Nantwich, Robins, Tshingahobi
1953 Mandavu, Masuma 2¤
1955 Tshompani, Gomo and Limpande
1958 Inyantue (Masuma 2 broke and was never repaired)
1965 Leasha (borehole sunk)
1971 Salt Pans
¤ = collapsed

DRILLING DATES
1969 BAOBAB 1957 LINKWASHA 1963 SECHECHE
1965 BASHA 1957 MANDUNDAMELLA 1936 SHAPI
1963 BEAVER 1970 MAHOBOTI 1936 SHUMBA
1970 BUMBUZI 1957 MAKALOLO 1 1959 SIDINA
1969 BUMBUMUTSA 1963 MAKONA 1973 SINANGA



CULLING FIGURES FOR WANKIE NATIONAL PARK

1971 1304
1972 972
1973 -
1974 698
1975 432
1976 552
1977 650
TOTAL 4608


NUMBERS OF CARNIVORES SHOT 1928 - 1933
YEAR LION LEOPARD CHEETAH HYAENA WILD DOG
1928/9 18 4 15 10
1930 5 5 9 2
1931 13 3 1 11 4
1932 3 1 1 1 14
1933 0 2 17
1934 7
1935 7
1936 2
TOTAL 55 13 2 38 47

(Nothing from 1936 to when we left in 1982!!)

RECORDS OF RHINO INTRODUCED TO WANKIE NATIONAL PARK
BLACK WHITE
1962 8
1963 40
1966/67 35
1980 5
1983 2
1984 21
1985 31
1986 34 5
TOTAL 134 47

Airstrips at : Main Camp, Cement, Robins, Sanyati, Sinamatella, Shapi, Josivanini, Shumba, Tshbema, Dandari, Umtishibi, Njekwa, Libuti.



Sorry this may bore some folk, but for the others who lived or worked in or around Hwange National Park I think they will find it quite interesting. Unfortunately, most of those rhino that were introduced have been poached by now, alot of the boreholes that were put in are not in operation any more and certainly most of the airstrips are no longer usable.

s at