Live from Linkwasha

The waterhole in front of Wilderness Linkwasha sits at the edge of the Ngamo Plains in Hwange National Park - one of the most reliably productive waterholes in Zimbabwe. Elephant herds arrive by the hundreds in the dry season. Lion and wild dog follow the game. Baboons, warthog, and waterbirds fill the hours in between.

What to watch for

Discover wildlife of Hwange
Elephants at a waterhole in Hwange

Elephant

Hwange's elephant population is among the largest in Africa. During the dry season, large breeding herds and bachelor groups converge on waterholes daily.

Lion

Waterholes are a primary hunting site for the lion prides across the Linkwasha concession, especially during the dry season.

Wilderness Davison's Hwange Wild dogs Zimbabwe

African Wild Dog

The Hwange ecosystem supports one of the continent's healthiest wild dog populations, and packs are often seen in the Linkwasha-Makalolo concession.

Wilderness Hwange Wildlife Buffalo

Buffalo

Large buffalo herds move through the Ngamo Plains year-round, and are a common sighting at the waterhole, often in the heat of the day.

Cheetah

The open Ngamo Plains suit cheetah. Look out for them early morning – they tend to drink quickly and move on.

Waterbirds

The waterhole draws consistent birdlife, like African fish eagle, hamerkop, herons, and sacred ibis, and migratory species in summer.

The Ngamo Plains waterhole

The waterhole you're watching is one of 14 solar-hybrid pumped pans Wilderness maintains across the Linkwasha-Makalolo concession. In a landscape where water dictates wildlife movement, these pans are the axis point of the ecosystem – they concentrate game during Hwange's long dry season and sustain predator-prey dynamics that would otherwise disperse across a far wider area.

 

The waterhole in front of the main camp is where guests spend quiet hours in Linkwasha's underground hide – a subterranean vantage point at waterhole level, where elephant trunks reach over your head and lions drink metres from where you're sitting. The live cam is the same view from your screen.

When to watch

As with any safari, wildlife viewings cannot be guaranteed, which is why we have a selection of highlight reels captured throughout the day. However, according to our expert guides in Hwange National Park, afternoons – typically from around 3pm CAT – tend to offer the best viewing opportunities.

May–November (dry season)

Peak waterhole activity. Surface water disappears across Hwange and game concentrates at pumped pans. Elephant herds arrive daily in large numbers. Vegetation is open, visibility is excellent.

December–April (wet season)

Game spreads across the landscape as natural water sources replenish. Waterhole visits become less concentrated but the calving season (January–February) brings a plethora of plains game.

'Sightings around the waterhole can be expected throughout the day and night in the dry season. Afternoons are often rewarding because after a long day of grazing and feeding, animals tend to head to the water to drink.'

Peter Gava, Head Guide for Wilderness in Hwange National Park

Wilderness Hwange Wildlife Zebra

Watch from the source

A tented camp in the background, and a waterhole in the foreground.

The Africam feed brings the waterhole to your screen. Wilderness Linkwasha puts you at it.

 

Nine tented suites overlook the waterhole from camp level. The underground hide takes you below it – face-to-face with wildlife that has no idea you're there. Game drives, walking safaris, and private access to 34,000 hectares of the Linkwasha-Makalolo concession take you beyond the waterhole and into Hwange's wider ecosystem.

Explore Wilderness Linkwasha
The male lion is the king of the Wilderness

Let’s plan your next journey

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When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.