Spotlight On Linkwasha – Hwange National Park

This is Wilderness Linkwasha, a contemporary safari camp in a classic Southern African landscape. It sits on the edge of the renowned Ngamo Plains in Hwange, Zimbabwe's largest national park. With a staggering 14,651 km² of diverse habitat (that’s roughly the size of Connecticut) – Kalahari sands seeping into teak woodlands and golden savannah grasslands – 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.

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. 

Wilderness Linkwasha brings your senses alive. Gazing into the vast openness, or reaching for your binoculars, spot the life. There is always something to see, to watch. Even at night, when the unmistakable shapes of elephant – en route to the waterhole – move through camp just a few metres from the fire pit, bringing conversation to a whisper. Dinners at the pool are often interrupted by the splash of trunks plunging into the fresh water, sloshing as they fill before their owners turn and wander off back into the darkness.

Only the elephant’s scent and the sound of them feeding remind us that they are still there, just out of sight. The sounds, especially at night, travel uninterrupted across the open vlei; every rumble seems closer than it might actually be. While the waterhole provides the stage, the cast and its chorus change nightly. It could be an eland’s peculiar clicking step, or the heavy hooves of hundreds of buffalo, bumping and barging, bellowing, and horns clattering, as they too make their way to the waterhole. Sitting around the campfire on a clear, starlit night, the cacophony of sounds stokes the imagination, but a lion's call through the darkness is always the star of the show.

Hwange is home to some of Africa's last great elephant, buffalo, and sable herds, and plays a critical role in a network of Southern African conservation areas known as the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) transboundary landscape, which spans an area of approximately 520,000 km² across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Making up 1.9% of the entire park, Wilderness' private concession offers exceptional year-round game viewing, hosting significant numbers of Hwange's game: 10% of the park's African elephant population, 19% of African buffalo, 16% of roan, 29% of sable, 21% of southern giraffe, and 76% of eland are found here during dry season.

Since no perennial rivers exist in the southern section of the park, wildlife relies on rainwater gathered in natural pans during the November to March rainy season. Since 1935, pumps have extracted water from underground aquifers, ensuring year-round resources. Within the Wilderness concession, 14 boreholes with solar and solar-hybrid pumps provide daily water. From April, the pumps run continuously until November or December (when the summer rains arrive), extracting 70,000 to 100,000 litres daily, providing thousands of animals with life-giving water, and guests with excellent dry season wildlife viewing.

More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the park. The best time for birding is after the migrants start flocking back, usually around the end of August. Once the rains start, the real birding spectacle begins. Food is abundant, and hundreds of raptors swirl through the sky above, including an array of eagles, buzzards, falcons, and kites. It is remarkable to witness a brilliant blue sky filled with raptors, or a verdant carpet of grass dotted with flocks of storks, all punctuated by bursts of iridescent colour from the bee-eaters and rollers.

At Wilderness Linkwasha, the best times of day are early mornings and late afternoons. The waterhole in front of camp is beautifully lit, and any game is swathed in the most flattering light. It's always exciting to see what has been happening during the night, through the evidence left behind; brown and spotted hyena, lion, leopard, porcupine, civet and honey badger tracks reveal their updates like a morning newspaper. Then, as the sun begins to drop, the waterhole becomes increasingly busy. It's also the perfect time to hop into the sunken hide. The sun sets directly in front of camp, so you can enjoy your sundowner without going further afield.

Guests travelling over the winter months should bring good winter gear, including gloves, scarves, beanies, and hats. It's essential to pack warmly and not underestimate how cold the morning and evening drives can be. While there are binoculars in camp and on each vehicle, having your own pair is essential.

While smartphones have good cameras, they may leave you regretting not investing in a conventional camera with good optical zoom capabilities for distant sightings. A sun hat and sun cream are also essential for every guest.

The hide offers a rare, ground-level perspective on every bird or animal that comes to the waterhole. There is nothing more memorable than an elephant drinking within almost-touching distance, or watching young calves splash and play while the rest of the herd keeps a gentle eye on them. The hide is well-appointed, with two day-beds, a mini-bar packed with cold drinks, a tea and coffee station, charging points, camera rests, and fans. Best of all, it is quiet, and so supremely peaceful.

Backpans, a five-minute drive from camp, is the setting for spectacular sunsets – it looks out over a waterhole, and a vast, open area scattered with palm trees that become silhouettes in the setting sun. Scott's Pan has the Star Bed, and is a hive of activity in the dry season. From all directions, elephant herds march to the water, and the platform provides the perfect vantage point to witness the 360-degree scene. Roan and sable antelope, and occasionally oryx, frequent this waterhole. In the rainy season, the Ngamo Plains are very busy with lots of new life, colour, and energy.

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.

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.

Dry season intensity

The waterholes during the dry season (May – November) swarm with game; elephant dominate the pans. There can be lots of aggression between individuals and between species. Predators, lion in particular, opportunistically exploit these situations. At the peak of the dry season in October, the vegetation is exceptionally dry and sparse and the Kalahari sand glints in extreme heat, often exceeding 40°C. The winter months, from May to August, are much cooler, with temperatures ranging from 2°C or 3°C, to 23°C in the middle of the day.

Wet season renewal

The rainy season, from December to April, sees the complete rejuvenation of vegetation across the landscape. The fossilised river systems are often completely waterlogged by February, much to the delight of the waterbirds. While dry months are characterised by hundreds of elephant visiting waterholes daily, the wet season sees game spread out more as surface water and replenished vegetation provide ample resources.

Multitudes of wildebeest, zebra, and impala gather in summer at the renowned Ngamo Plains for calving season. With game across this expansive space, raptors flocking in the sky and storks and egrets patrolling the plains, the scene is phenomenal.

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

Anti-poaching efforts

The Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit (SAPU), which works in partnership with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) and Wilderness in Hwange, provides manpower and resources to remove snares and arrest poachers. Wilderness has been directly supporting SAPU since 2012, taking over all operations in 2015. Since its inception, SAPU has conducted more than 3,342 patrols covering almost 48,823 kilometres and removed more than 2,965 snares. Their operations remove fewer snares each year, demonstrating improvements in local conditions and successful partnerships with neighbouring communities.

Community development

Wilderness' non-profit partner, Children in the Wilderness (CITW), works closely with schools and communities on Hwange's borders, providing classrooms, clinics, libraries, stationery and equipment. CITW is based at Wilderness Linkwasha, where logistical and operational support is provided. Teacher training, community initiatives, Eco-Club conservation lessons, and a nutritional programme providing meals at five schools bordering the park are all part of this programme.

Additionally, and most importantly, Wilderness Linkwasha's staff (more than 90%) are from local communities, with many more benefiting from CITW projects and the Ngamo Livestock Farm.

A breakthrough community initiative – Ngamo Livestock Farm & Vocational Centre

In February 2025, Wilderness officially opened the pioneering Ngamo Livestock Farm & Vocational Centre, just 45 minutes from Wilderness Linkwasha. This first-of-its-kind facility in Matabeleland North Province educates Zimbabwe's next generation of sustainable agricultural leaders and has already welcomed its first 40 students. The centre targets school-leavers aged 17-25, offering them a fully-funded one-year diploma programme, which is HEXCO-certified and accredited by the Ministry of Education.

Visit Ngamo Livestock Farm

Witness this meaningful community-led project combining sustainable agriculture, education, and conservation yourself. During a visit, you can explore student dormitories, classrooms, staff housing, a solar-powered nutritional garden with drip irrigation, cattle breeding kraal, poultry unit, and biogas cooking facilities. There's also a veterinary shop, milling shed, and storage buildings.

Meet the students gaining hands-on knowledge, chat with the farm team, and spend time with the college Principal. Students learn practical and theoretical skills in animal husbandry, conservation agriculture, and sustainable crop production. Additionally, you may participate in hands-on tasks such as preparing organic pesticide, planting seedlings, or harvesting produce.

Importantly, you can see where fresh produce bought by Wilderness camps originates, and how this partnership generates income, supports local livelihoods, and keeps the project running sustainably. The Ngamo Livestock Farm is part of a broader vision to create long-term opportunities for youth and surrounding communities, while reducing pressure on natural resources and encouraging conservation-friendly livelihoods.

Accommodation

• Nine tented suites (including one family unit)
• Star Bed sleep-out at Scott’s Pan
• Each tented suite in camp overlooks a nearby waterhole and the vast plains beyond
• Contemporary interiors with Ndebele cultural elements

Activities and facilities

• Game drives (day only)
• Guided nature walks
• Sunken hide for close-up wildlife viewing
• Cultural excursions to local communities
• Tour of Ngamo Livestock Farm
• Birding opportunities
• Star gazing adventures
• Access to 34,000 hectares of private wilderness area

Access to camp

Airstrip: Linkwasha Airstrip (50-minute flight from Victoria Falls Airport)
Approximately 50–60-minute game drive-vehicle transfer from airstrip.

We have a dedicated team focused on ensuring you have the most outstanding time at Wilderness Linkwasha. The staff come from diverse backgrounds, which we take great pride in. We celebrate Zimbabwean culture at least one night a week (usually Monday), when we offer local cuisine, and many staff dress in traditional attire, sharing cultural stories around the campfire.

From managers to guides, to waiters, chefs, housekeepers, and maintenance staff, we are all committed to providing the best possible encounter. Quiet times are used to refresh staff on annual wine and dining service training, team building workshops, and guide and chef training, often run by external experts to ensure polished service offering life-changing adventures filled with lifelong memories.

Wilderness Linkwasha offers a distinctive safari in one of Africa's most legendary wildlife destinations. Set on the edge of the famous Ngamo Plains with private access to 34,000 hectares of wilderness, you will enjoy close-up wildlife encounters while contributing to meaningful conservation and community development initiatives like Ngamo Livestock Farm. From the underground hide with its front-row seats to elephant interactions, to the Star Bed offering a night under the Zimbabwean sky, every moment connects you deeper to the wild heart of this evocative continent.

Whether you're seeking the concentrated wildlife spectacle of the dry season, or the rich renewal of the wet season, Wilderness Linkwasha delivers remarkable adventures that support both conservation and local communities, ensuring that your safari creates a positive impact for generations to come.