Little Makalolo Camp
Highlights
- Six tented suites on the Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area, south-eastern Hwange National Park
- A waterhole directly in front of camp, busy with elephant and buffalo in the dry season
- A log-pile hide at eye level with the waterhole, for close-up viewing and photography
- Night drives with a spotlight to look for nocturnal species
- The Madison Pan Star Bed, a sleep-out platform above a nearby waterhole (weather-dependent)
- Twice-daily game drives on a private concession, with no self-drive traffic
- Excellent mammal diversity, including sable, roan, wild dog, lion and cheetah
Information
- Lodge type: Tented safari camp (Wilderness)
- Location: Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area, south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 6 tented suites, including 1 family suite
- Recommended stay: 3–7 nights
- Malaria risk: Yes. Hwange National Park is a malaria area, and prophylaxis is recommended. The risk is highest in the November–April rains.
- Getting there: About 3–4 hours by road from Victoria Falls, or a light-aircraft flight to Makalolo airstrip followed by a short 4x4 drive to camp
An Intimate Safari Camp Experience...
Little Makalolo Camp is a six-tent Wilderness safari camp in south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest park and one of the finest elephant destinations in Africa. The camp sits on the private Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area, a concession shared only with its sister camps Linkwasha and Davison's, so game drives run without the self-drive traffic of the public areas.
A waterhole lies directly in front of the main deck, and it does much of the work for you. In the dry winter months from June to October, when water elsewhere has disappeared, breeding herds of elephant and large herds of buffalo arrive throughout the day. You can watch them from a lunch table, or from the log-pile hide just metres from where they drink.
With only six tents, Little Makalolo Camp suits couples, families and small groups of friends who want a private, unhurried Hwange safari with first-class Wilderness guiding.
Part of our selection of the best Hwange Lodges portfolio.
Rooms and Suites
Little Makalolo Camp has six tented suites, one of them a family suite. Each has a timber frame, canvas walls, a spacious bedroom, a large en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, and a private viewing deck facing the bush.
- 100% solar power throughout the camp
- Charging points and fans in every suite
- Tea and coffee station
- In-room safe
- Daily laundry service
Cuisine and Wine
Little Makalolo Camp serves Wilderness's all-inclusive safari cuisine: fresh, seasonal dishes made by the camp kitchen team, with local wines and drinks included. Meals move around the camp. You might have breakfast on the deck as elephants drink below, lunch in the shade, and dinner around the fire under a very dark Hwange sky. Special dietary requirements are catered for with advance notice.
Facilities
Little Makalolo Camp's main guest area is built under canvas on raised wooden decking that looks straight onto the camp waterhole. It includes:
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- A lounge with a small safari library
- A swimming pool overlooking the waterhole
- An outdoor fire pit for evening drinks and stories
- A log-pile hide at the waterhole's edge
- Wi-Fi in the main area
Activities
Little Makalolo Camp's activities are twice-daily game drives, evening drives with a spotlight, and time in the log-pile hide, all on a private concession in south-eastern Hwange National Park. The area mixes teak woodland, open grassland and Kalahari sand, and it supports an unusually wide range of mammals:
- Predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog and spotted hyena
- Big game: elephant, often in breeding herds of several hundred in the dry season, and Cape buffalo
- Rare antelope: sable and roan, both specialities of this corner of Hwange
- Plains game: giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, reedbuck and impala
- Smaller species: honey badger, bat-eared fox and other nocturnal animals picked up on night drives
Hwange has recorded more than 400 bird species. The best birding is in the green season from November to March, when the migrants arrive.
Other experiences at Little Makalolo Camp include:
- A night on the Madison Pan Star Bed, a raised sleep-out platform over a waterhole (weather-dependent)
- Guided walks with a professional guide
- Sundowners at a pan on afternoon drives
- Conservation visits with the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit
A private safari vehicle can be booked for the length of your stay. We recommend it for families and keen photographers.
Child Friendly
Little Makalolo Camp welcomes families with children aged 8 and older. There is one dedicated family suite, and meal times and activities can be adapted for younger guests. Booking a private vehicle lets you set the pace of game drives around the children. Hwange National Park is a malaria area, so discuss prophylaxis for children with your doctor well before you travel.
Little Makalolo Camp: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Little Makalolo Camp?
Little Makalolo Camp is in south-eastern Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, on the Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area. This private concession is shared only with the Wilderness camps Linkwasha and Davison's, so game drives avoid the self-drive traffic of Hwange's public areas. The camp overlooks its own waterhole, which draws elephant and buffalo throughout the dry season.
Is Little Makalolo Camp in a malaria area?
Yes. Little Makalolo Camp is in Hwange National Park, which is a malaria area of Zimbabwe. Antimalarial prophylaxis is recommended for all guests, including children. The risk is highest during the November–April rainy season. Use insect repellent at dusk, wear long sleeves in the evenings, and speak to a travel clinic before departure.
How do you get to Little Makalolo Camp?
Little Makalolo Camp is reached from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe's main safari gateway. The road transfer takes about three to four hours. The quicker option is a light-aircraft flight to Makalolo airstrip, followed by a short 4x4 transfer to camp. Uyaphi arranges all flights and transfers as part of a tailor-made Zimbabwe itinerary.
What is the best time to visit Little Makalolo Camp?
Little Makalolo Camp is best for big game in the dry season from June to October. With water scarce, elephant and buffalo gather in large numbers at the waterhole in front of camp. The green season from November to March brings migrant birds, newborn animals, lush scenery and quieter camps, and it is the best period for birding in Hwange National Park.
Can children stay at Little Makalolo Camp?
Little Makalolo Camp welcomes children aged 8 and older and has one dedicated family suite. Families are advised to book a private safari vehicle so drives can be paced around younger guests. Hwange National Park is a malaria area, so parents should consult a doctor about suitable prophylaxis for children before travelling.
What wildlife can you see at Little Makalolo Camp?
Little Makalolo Camp offers some of Zimbabwe's most varied game viewing. Regular sightings include elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, spotted hyena, and the rare sable and roan antelope. Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and waterbuck are common. Night drives look for nocturnal species, and Hwange National Park has recorded more than 400 bird species.
In Conclusion
Little Makalolo Camp is one of the best small camps in Hwange National Park. It combines six tents, a private concession and a waterhole that brings elephant to the front of camp in the dry season. It is the Hwange stay we recommend to guests who want intimacy, excellent Wilderness guiding and wildlife viewing that doesn't depend on a long drive.
Why choose it: Sable and roan, wild dog and big dry-season elephant herds on a concession closed to self-drive traffic, plus the log-pile hide, which puts you at eye level with the animals.
How to do it: Pair three or four nights at Little Makalolo Camp with Victoria Falls. Add Mana Pools or Botswana's Okavango Delta for a complete southern African circuit, connected by light-aircraft flights.
When to go: June to October for the waterhole spectacle, or November to March for birds, newborn animals and green-season value. With only six tents, peak dry-season dates fill early, so book 9–12 months ahead.
Uyaphi has been planning tailor-made African safaris from Cape Town since 1999. In 27 years we've learned which camps deliver on their promise and how to sequence them so every transfer and night is used well. Tell us when you'd like to travel and what you want to see, and we'll build your Hwange safari around you, with no booking fees and no card surcharges.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Little Makalolo Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Twice daily scheduled camp activities
- Park fees
- Laundry
- All local drinks
- Premium imported brands and champagne
- All flights
- Visas
- Transfers, unless stated
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
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