Where is Hwange National Park?

Hwange National Park is in north-western Zimbabwe. At around 14 600km², it is the country’s largest national park.

What wildlife can I expect to see around Linkwasha?

Linkwasha is situated on the edge of the productive Ngamo Plains, which teems with life, from large herds of elephant and buffalo to rare antelope like sable and roan, and plenty of predators, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas.

What can I do between game drives at Linkwasha?

If you’re up for more than relaxing in your ensuite tent, spend time in the sunken hide waiting to take the perfect shot of wildlife up close, or cool down in the pool where a herd of elephants may join you for a drink.

How to get to Hwange National Park?

Roughly an hour’s flight with Wilderness Air from Victoria Falls Airport will put you right into the heart of Hwange National Park.

What to pack for safari in Zimbabwe?

Morning and evening game drives can be cold, but the afternoons are often warm, so it’s best to dress in layers. A hat is essential and bring closed shoes if you intend to go on walks. Travellers are urged not to pack or wear any camouflage or military-inspired clothing while travelling in Africa.

Zimbabwe

Linkwasha

Track The Wild

Experience exceptional game viewing at Linkwasha, on the edge of Hwange’s famed Ngamo Plains.

Home Africa Zimbabwe Hwange National Park Linkwasha Camp

Destinations

Have you been on safari in Zimbabwe yet?

Imagine a place where you can observe elephants, a trunk’s distance from your sunken hide. Where you walk the dusty plains, or head out on a game drive in search of wild dogs as they hare after an impala through the teak woodland… or lions as they stalk a buffalo calf at a life-giving (but sometimes life-taking) waterhole. Where, as the day sets, you toast to a spectacular blood-orange sunset, magnified by its own reflection. And where, by night, you search for lesser bushbaby, civets and genets, even an elusive pangolin… or tuck into a Star Bed secured in a tree, where you are blanketed by a sky full of stars as the night's creatures move about below.

Let us craft your journey, talk to a travel designer today

Zimbabwe

Private

Linkwasha is set on the edge of the famed Ngamo Plains, where large herds of plains game are regularly followed by their predators

Exclusive

Access to the equally abundant and adjacent Makalolo Private Wilderness Reserve means exclusive access to 34 000 hectares (84 000 acres) of land

Wildlife

Due to the ecological diversity the Linkwasha Private Wilderness Reserve is a wildlife magnet

Activities

Adventures include intimate encounters with wildlife from the camp's sunken hide which overlooks the camp waterhole – a photographer’s nirvana

Wildlife in Hwange

Wildlife encounters

Hwange serves up some of the best game viewing in Africa, year-round, but it’s especially rewarding during the dry season. Within Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha has private access to 34,000 hectares of productive and diverse landscapes dotted with vleis, lala palms, and pans, attracting some of the densest wildlife concentrations on the continent.

Experiencing the Green Season Safari in Hwange

Elephant

The concession is home to large herds of elephant and various plains game

Lion

A thriving lion population, with at least two established prides, roams the wide-open plains

Zebra

Zebra heards roam the productive Ngamo plains in Hwange National Park

Grey crowned crane

A spectacular, blue-gray crane with a black-and-white face and a crown of golden-yellow plumes

Sable

Sable Antelope is the national animal of Zimbabwe and is sought after for photographers

Social, intelligent and notoriously mischievous – these baboons are often seen in troops

Chacma baboons

Baboons are omnivorous, feeding on lizards, birds and their eggs

Hippopotamus

Spending most of their time in the water it is not often you get to see this great animal on land

Giraffe

Hwange is known for its waterholes where many animals group to refresh

Cheetah

Open plains full of general game breeds a high number of predators like cheetahs

Lilic breasted roller

Maybe the most photographed safari bird the colours on this bird are always breathtaking

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Wilderness Linkwasha highlights

Set in the game-rich south-eastern corner of Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha has traversing rights to the private Makalolo and Linkwasha concessions. Here, impressive African savannah elephant and African buffalo herds move, and plains game, including roan and sable antelope, are regularly found. Flourishing lion populations hunt in the wide-open plains, as do African wild dog and cheetah, providing plenty of hold-your-breath predator-prey encounters. In addition, 14 solar-hybrid pumped pans sustain wildlife in the dry season, creating mind-blowing southern hemisphere winter game-viewing as they congregate around these precious water sources.

In one of the nine elegant tents, matching the neutral tones of the environment with contemporary but timeless décor, relax under the leadwood trees overlooking a waterhole where the wildlife spectacle perpetually amazes and entertains.

Accommodation

Nine luxurious tents offer an eclectic mix of contemporary interiors and Ndebele culture. The walls are painted in a fresh Ndebele pattern, similar to the homes in nearby communities, often decorated in light pinks, yellows, and browns. The emblematic Ndebele pattern also appears in handmade, embroidered cushions and locally sourced baskets, enhancing the furnishings in the bar area.

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Nine tented suites (including one family unit)

Each tented suite in camp overlooks a nearby waterhole and the vast plains beyond

Contemporary interiors with Ndebele cultural elements

Star Bed sleep-out at Scott’s Pan

Cuisine

The food offering is healthy and fresh, and naturally caters to all dietary needs. On traditional menu nights, we serve fire-roasted bread, spicy corn soup, sadza (a staple maize-meal starch), sugar beans, braised meat (including prime Zimbabwean beef with local relish), and, for dessert, Amarula chocolate mousse.

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Seasonality

Wet Season

Dry Season

December to March

April to May

June to November

BEST TIME TO VISIT

December to March

A season of abundance as antelope enter calving season, and predator activity increases. Excellent game viewing on the Ngamo Plains. Summer migrant birds in full breeding plumage. Superb photographic opportunities with rich colours, soft light, and dynamic wildlife scenes.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

April to May

Pleasant, warm days with moderate climate. Transitional season showcasing both green and dry conditions. Rare wildlife and landscape dynamics as the season shifts.

BES TIME TO VISIT

June to November

Limited water leads to large wildlife concentrations around waterholes. Excellent visibility in dry, leafless woodland. Cool and dry, with temperatures gradually rising toward October.

Wet Season

Dry Season

December to March

BEST TIME TO VISIT

December to March

A season of abundance as antelope enter calving season, and predator activity increases. Excellent game viewing on the Ngamo Plains. Summer migrant birds in full breeding plumage. Superb photographic opportunities with rich colours, soft light, and dynamic wildlife scenes.

April to May

BEST TIME TO VISIT

April to May

Pleasant, warm days with moderate climate. Transitional season showcasing both green and dry conditions. Rare wildlife and landscape dynamics as the season shifts.

June to November

BES TIME TO VISIT

June to November

Limited water leads to large wildlife concentrations around waterholes. Excellent visibility in dry, leafless woodland. Cool and dry, with temperatures gradually rising toward October.

THE DETAILS

Wilderness Linkwasha

Sink into a classic, comfortable safari stay at contemporary Wilderness Linkwasha. Relax in one of the camp’s nine spacious tented suites, or spend quiet hours in the sunken hide, while elephants and other animals go about their wild ways thrillingly close, oblivious to your presence. Brave the Star Bed, where a chorus of owls and chilling whoops of hyenas create the soundtrack of your dreams.

Activities

Purpose

Facilities

Area

Wilderness Linkwasha Purpose CITW Educate

Impact across generations

On safari with Wilderness, your curiosity will be piqued. You may wonder why elephants flap their ears, or how migratory birds know where to go. The children from local communities wonder too, and we stimulate that curiosity by teaching them about conservation and sustainable tourism through our non-profit Children in the Wilderness’ initiatives.

Family room

Create lasting memories with your family on safari.

Pool

Cool off between game drives in the swimming pool.

Sleep-out deck

Experience a night under the stars, where the wild things are.

Sunken hide

Hide in plain sight while Hwange’s wildlife gets up close at the waterhole.

Wi-FI

Stay in touch with friends and family back home and share your safari sightings.

Wilderness Linkwasha Zimbabwe Elephants at Waterhole

Discover hidden Hwange

At an expansive 14,651 m² (roughly half the size of Belgium), Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. The Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area in the park is an exceptionally diverse region of teak woodlands, golden savannah, and Kalahari sands. In summer, the Ngamo Plains near camp heave with plains game, followed closely by predators.

Activities

Purpose

Impact across generations

On safari with Wilderness, your curiosity will be piqued. You may wonder why elephants flap their ears, or how migratory birds know where to go. The children from local communities wonder too, and we stimulate that curiosity by teaching them about conservation and sustainable tourism through our non-profit Children in the Wilderness’ initiatives.

Facilities

Family room

Create lasting memories with your family on safari.

Pool

Cool off between game drives in the swimming pool.

Sleep-out deck

Experience a night under the stars, where the wild things are.

Sunken hide

Hide in plain sight while Hwange’s wildlife gets up close at the waterhole.

Wi-FI

Stay in touch with friends and family back home and share your safari sightings.

Area

Discover hidden Hwange

At an expansive 14,651 m² (roughly half the size of Belgium), Hwange is Zimbabwe’s largest national park. The Linkwasha-Makalolo Private Wilderness Area in the park is an exceptionally diverse region of teak woodlands, golden savannah, and Kalahari sands. In summer, the Ngamo Plains near camp heave with plains game, followed closely by predators.

Experiences

Linkwasha experiences

Examine wildlife tracks up-close, and cock an ear for melodious bird calls on a bush walk with one of Linkwasha’s professional guides. Out on game drive, meet wildlife in its pristine habitat or sit quietly in the hide for intimate observations of Hwange’s elephants. Immerse yourself in this wilderness, with an evening at Linkwasha’s romantic Star Bed.

Explore all Experiences

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Hides

Is there anything more thrilling? Observing wildlife just inches away, from the safety of our strategically placed hides.

Hides

Botswana, Zimbabwe

Birding

Birding with a knowledgeable Wilderness guide is spectacular across all our regions, with 930 different species for twitchers to tick.

Birding

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Star Beds

Sleep out under the African night sky with our Star Bed experience. Nothing is quite as thrilling or as romantic on safari.

Star Beds

Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe

Wilderness Experiences Conservation Tree Planting

Conservation experiences

Rewild. Protect. Conserve. Wilderness combines unforgettable wildlife encounters with positive impact experiences.

Conservation Experience

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Local culture

Learn. Share. Enrich. Wilderness offers unforgettable cultural experiences across eight African countries.

Local Culture

Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda

Wilderness Impact

Wilderness has been involved in supporting SAPU since 2012 in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). The Wilderness Impact Fund allocated additional resources to build new accommodation as a base for the team on its private wilderness area. These funds are used to ensure the Scorpions are able to continue their vital work.

Sustainability

Low-impact, high-luxury stays

Community partnerships

Engaging local communities

Children in the Wilderness

Environmental education

Wilderness Trust

Supporting conservation

Community developement

“It all starts with a Children in the Wilderness (CITW) Eco-Club.” That’s how Sue Goatley describes the day-to-day buzz that’s rippling through rural communities bordering Wilderness’ concessions in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. The buzz we are talking about is a project to create small, self-sufficient businesses that have already brought renewed purpose and income to villagers living in these remote areas.

Read how we are changing lives

Rates

Explore camp rates in Hwange

Linkwasha is positioned in one of Hwange National Park’s most wildlife-rich regions. Here, a supremely diverse environment, coupled with year-round water provided at Wilderness-pumped waterholes, means the area heaves with elephant, and antelope and their predators. With access to the Linkwasha-Makololo Private Wilderness Area, our guests have over 34 000 ha of wild Zimbabwe to explore.

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Linkwasha Awards

Camp awards

The hard work of our teams on the ground at Linkwasha and the communities we work alongside have been recognised through numerous awards. And we couldn’t be prouder.

Tripadvisor

Certificate of Excellence 2019

Hotel & Lodge Award 2018

Travel+Leisure Award

GUEST EXPERIENCES

Testimonials from fellow safari-goers

With a perfect 5 star rating from 137 reviews, guests consistently praise Linkwasha's exceptional wildlife viewing, dedicated guides, and luxurious accommodations. Read what fellow travellers have to say about their unforgettable experiences at Wilderness Linkwasha. Read more reviews on TripAdvisor.

The most inspiring experience of a lifetime!

"From the moment we were enthusiastically and musically greeted by the staff until the tearful goodbye--to our guide Edwin--at the airstrip, this was the most inspiring trip of my lifetime! I traveled with a group of women organized by Cazavia Travel Architects based in Los Angeles & Johannesburg. The camp's physical amenities were luxurious and beyond expectation. The food is fresh and delicious! Air conditioning was an added bonus! The camp is located adjacent to a watering hole so throughout the day there is an endless parade of elephants, baboons and more! There is an underground hide/bunker to view the park animals super close."

Ivy S

★★★★★

A fabulous Safari experience

"We stayed at Linkwasha for 3 nights which afforded enough time to thoroughly enjoy this exclusive private concession of the Wilderness Safari group. The bungalows are immaculate and beautifully appointed as is the community area. The staff is very friendly , welcoming and professional. Our guide Ferai has an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything that grows, flies or blooms on the reserve and he is passion is contagious. Our predawn and late afternoon safari drives were full of up close sightings of just about every beast native to Zimbabwe, including literally hundreds of elephants and dozens of lions, hippos, kudos, impalas, baboons, monkeys and more. All interacting in their natural and unpredictable ways."

Charles P | USA

★★★★★

Glorious Linkwasha Camp!

"My husband and I were part of a group of 8 friends who stayed at Linkwasha for three nights. Within minutes of arriving there, a menagerie of animals crossed in front of our rooms - wildebeest, zebras, baboons, etc.! The camp is in a perfect location on a private concession within Hwange National Park. Since it is on a private concession, there are almost no other vehicles to compete with for viewings, walking safaris are offered, and there is more flexibility in general than not being in a private concession. There is a waterhole in front of camp, where many many animals come to drink during the day, and a hide with drinks (and a bed!) where members of our group sat for over 2 hours looking at the animals up close."

Kathy H | USA

★★★★★

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FAQs

General

01

Journal

Linkwasha featured stories

Hwange is the beating heart of Zimbabwe, with a safari legacy that stretches back decades. Enjoy a collection of stories from this wild and wonderful, unforgettable safari destination.

See all stories

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