Designed to be Hwange’s most luxurious safari camp, Linkwasha opened in May 2015 to great acclaim. Set in wide savannah grassland overlooking the Makalolo Pan, Wilderness Safari’s newest camp replaces the old Linkwasha as the flagship camp in their game-rich private concession of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, known for its large herds of elephant and prolific lion population. It’s also close to the Ngamo Plains to give excellent year round game-viewing, with a focus on game drives and walking safaris.
Back at the very comfortable camp there’s a large plunge pool, varied bird-watching and a sleep-out deck for more adventurous guests.
With eight spacious en-suite tents and one large family tent, the camp is intimate and exclusive. Each long tent is orientated to have wide views of wildlife congregating around the waterhole, with open plan bedroom, lounge and ensuite bathroom, and sliding glass doors opening onto a private deck in front of the big mosquito net-canopied bed and the long sofa. The decor is clean and contemporary with natural earth colours and textured fabrics. A ceiling fan strategically placed over the bed keeps a cool breeze circulating in summer months, the additional outdoor shower is a wonderful experience on warm starry nights, and there is a small bar fridge, and tea and coffee facilities in each tent.
Wilderness Safari’s reputation for excellent guiding continues here, with abundant game-viewing, from resident prides of lions to roan and sable antelope, giraffe, zebra, elephant and hippos. The area is also known for its prolific and varied bird life with over 400 species, especially in the green summer months. Wilderness is actively involved in conservation projects and the area has long been a prime centre for predator research, guests benefiting from the wealth of knowledge accumulated over the years.
Understated style and creature comforts prevail at the beautifully furnished main camp with a cosy library and open fire to snuggle in winter, swimming in the pool and dinner under the stars in summer, a pizza oven for casual lunches and dramatic sundowners in the bush. Altogether Wilderness has created an excellent base for superb wildlife viewing in Zimbabwe’s unspoilt Hwange National Park.