Little Makalolo Camp

distinctive Camp | Hwange Nat'l Park, Zimbabwe

(5.00)
| Read Reviews | Write a Review

Little Makalolo Camp overlooks a vibrant waterhole in the one of the best wildlife- viewing areas of immense Hwange National Park in northwest Zimbabwe. A 45-minute flight from Victoria Falls, the camp’s location is exceptionally secluded. Offering just a few intimate tents for a select small group of guests, Little Makalolo provides an exclusive safari experience, with reliable wildlife viewing year-round.

Photo of Don Martinson

Our Expert Says

Little Makalolo is in the middle of nowhere—a good thing if you want an authentic African experience. The drive from airfield to the campsite was filled with wildlife viewing—from elephants and hippos to many bird species, whetting our appetite for more to come. After a friendly greeting, we settled into our very comfortable tents—I loved the solar-powered, heated water in the bathroom! The early morning wildlife drives (after a great camp breakfast) along the vast plains were superb, with sightings of lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, impala and predator birds! Finally, as is the case on all my safaris, my favorite time is reliving the day with a cold drink around a crackling fire and looking forward to a repeat performance the next day.

– Don Martinson


Photo: The Camp

The Camp

Location: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Number of Tents: 6

Little Makalolo features down-to-earth yet luxurious, elegant tents with dreamy beds, crisp linens and very large en suite bathrooms that feature twin copper wash basins with hot and cold water, robes, and both indoor and outdoor showers. This eco-conscious camp generates electricity via solar power to ensure a lighter environmental footprint. The central living areas include a dining room, lounge, plunge pool and open fire area for convivial evening storytelling. There is a log pile “tree house” hide overlooking the waterhole where guests can enjoy close-up wildlife viewing during the siesta hours. As the food must be flown in from a great distance, it is hard to imagine how the chef can create such varied and excellent meals, but remarkably, he does! From the moment your guide meets you at the airstrip, you’ll find that the camp’s warm and accommodating staff will take care of every detail to make your safari adventure an incomparable one.

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Photo: Facilities & Amenities

Facilities & Amenities

  • En suite bathroom with indoor/outdoor showers
  • Family Accommodation: 1 family tent with 2 bedrooms sharing the same bathroom and entrance
  • Shampoo, soap, lotion and insect repellent
  • Room fan
  • 220v charging outlets in main area
  • Central safe box for valuables
  • Central plunge pool
  • Sleep-out platform
  • Wi-Fi in room
  • Laundry included
  • Local drinks included (house alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks)
  • Credit cards not accepted
  • No air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone or cellular coverage

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Photo: Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Wildlife Viewing & Activities

Located on the border with Botswana, Hwange National Park harbors one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, and some of the highest mammal diversity for any national park. Its great herds of Cape buffalo and elephant (nearly 30,000) are a spectacle. Hwange also has many predators including lion, leopard, cheetah wild dog, hyena, African wildcat, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, serval, honey badger, civet and caracal. A great variety of antelope are on display, and summer brings large herds migrating onto the grasslands. The area’s many waterholes attract wildlife in huge concentrations, especially during winter, when a non-stop parade of animals comes to quench their thirst. White rhino are another special sight, with several having recently been translocated into the park. Little Makalolo offers fantastic opportunities to see many of the 400 bird species identified in the park. Wildlife viewing centers on nature drives in open 4x4s and exciting walking safaris with a knowledgeable and armed guide.

Hwange National Park experiences large herds of elephant and buffalo, especially in the dry season from May to November. The below chart helps to illustrate major wildlife sightings often experienced in the area. Other typical sightings may include jackals, caracal and a number of other mammals, birds and reptiles. Exact sightings will depend on seasonality and wildlife movements.

Country Park/Reserve
Buffalo
Cheetah
Eland
Elephant
Giraffe
Greater Kudu
Hippo
Hyena
Leopard
Lion
Sable Antelope
White Rhino
Wildebeest
Zebra
Zimbabwe Hwange Nat'l Park

Usually viewed
Frequently viewed
Occasionally viewed
Sporadically viewed
Rarely to never viewed

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Climate

Month Max Min Rainfall
January 91° F 68° F 5.43 in
32° C 20° C 138 mm
February 86° F 68° F 4.76 in
30° C 20° C 121 mm
March 84° F 64° F 2.48 in
28° C 17° C 63 mm
April 88° F 61° F 1.06 in
31° C 16° C 27 mm
May 81° F 52° F 0.12 in
27° C 11° C 3 mm
June 77° F 48° F 0.04 in
25° C 8° C 1 mm
July 77° F 45° F 0.0 in
25° C 7° C 0 mm
August 84° F 48° F 0.0 in
28° C 8° C 0 mm
September 91° F 57° F 0.12 in
32° C 13° C 3 mm
October 93° F 64° F 0.83 in
33° C 17° C 21 mm
November 90° F 54° F 2.4 in
32° C 12° C 61 mm
December 91° F 68° F 5.24 in
32° C 20° C 133 mm

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Photo: Conservation

Conservation

As a concessionaire of a large area within the southeast sector of Hwange National Park, the camp’s operator, working with Wilderness Wildlife Trust, has taken responsibility for many aspects of the management of this quarter-million-acre region. During the dry season, water sources become scarce, and Hwange has some 57 boreholes to pump water from deep underground to sustain wildlife. Little Makalolo’s owners have helped drill, supply and maintain 18 of the boreholes. The camp is also involved with the park in jointly combating poaching along the park's southern boundary, where a large variety of mammal species fall victim to snaring. Partnering with Wilderness Wildlife Trust, Little Makalolo helps provide funding and logistical support in the form of transport, fuel and rations to the anti-poaching units of the national park. Staff also assist with research on endangered white rhino, lion and wild dog, both in terms of logistical support and monitoring conducted while on wildlife drives.

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Reviews for Little Makalolo Camp

(5.00)

Review Little Makalolo Camp
Month of travel: September
"Little Makolo is a delightful camp with a friendly staff, excellent service and a wide selection of food. I highly recommend visiting the area and staying at Little Makolo"
- C. Saltonstall
Month of travel: April
"What an incredible location!! Hwange National Park is a true gem in the safari circuit and preserves an incredibly diverse ecosystem for the wildlife of the region. The camp was tastefully designed and the staff excited to share their home with us. The birding was some of the best on our trip but the wildlife was incredible. Seeing the animals is, of course, wonderful but actually having the opportunity to sit and observe behavior was truly a highlight for me - nervous lions, territorial wildebeest, rutting impala, amorous secretary birds, & curious cape buffalo. This place would be an easy choice when planning my next visit to Zimbabwe."
- S. Nicolas
Month of travel: April
"Makalolo Camp had some of Zimbabwe's best game viewing. Camp staff were very friendly and knowledgable. Excellent elephant viewing through out the area."
- B. Tillman
Month of travel: February
"My favorite camp, while the most down to earth of them all. I could sit in the woodpile hide all day and watch elephants drink literally right next to me at eye level - and have no idea that I was there!"
- D. Homenick
Month of travel: June
"Little Makalolo was charming. The numbers of elephant and buffalo were just breathtaking. It gets quite cold at night, but that just added to the adventure of sitting around a campfire. The staff were so gracious, the food was simple but very good, and the animals were the most important part!!"
- A. Medhurst

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