Makalolo Plains Camp
75 years ago a vast area of pristine wilderness in what was Southern Rhodesia was set aside as the Hwange National Park. Today that vast region covering 14,500 square kilometers is home to the largest elephant herds in Africa. 30,000 majestic elephant roam free across the savannah plains, mopane and acacia woodland. This is perhaps the best place in Africa for elephant watching, especially late afternoon as they emerge from the woodland in twos and threes, then in larger groups making their way past your vehicle to drink wallow and play in a refreshing waterhole.
Makalolo Plains Camp has been established for 30 years on its own private 31,000 hectare reserve in the remote southern part of Hwange. So long, that it has become part of the scenery and ignored by passing wildlife. Here you can watch buffalo, lion antelope and zebra from your luxury tented room and enjoy top quality safaris by open vehicle and on foot with highly experienced guides who know the reserve and its inhabitants intimately.
The camp is a perfect blend of the comfortable and the adventurous with ten spacious walk in tented rooms set on raised teak decks, each with ensuite bathroom, and furnished bedroom. The decking creates a private veranda at the front where you can relax with a cool drink a good book and a pair of binoculars, just watching the wildlife pass by. Makalolo Plains also has well located hides for birdwatching and for capturing superb wildlife photography.
In the afternoon the lion prides stir themselves and begin their hunting. You can shadow them by open vehicle watching spellbound as they encircle a herd of massive buffalo or nervous antelope before moving in for the kill. Your morning may have begun shortly after dawn with a fascinating three hour slow paced bushwalk with an armed guide taking you down ancient elephant paths, learning tracking skills and becoming totally absorbed by aspects of the African bush that you simply pass by on a game drive. After dark, your guide uses the vehicle’s spotlight to see leopard on the prowl and rare nocturnal creatures such as honeybadger and aardvark moving among the ghostly still shapes of dozing elephant.
During the early part of the year Hwange is green and vibrant following the summer rains, with young giraffe thousands of graceful antelope and abundant plains game. Later, from July to November the unbroken dry weather draws the elephants and buffalo together in ever larger herds around the surviving watering places, surrounded by dry open savannah bush.
A three night stay at Makalolo Plains Camp is an essential part of any Zimbabwe safari, and combines beautifully with a few days by the Zambezi River at Rukomechi Camp, and a time of relaxation at Victoria Falls Hotel. Call Africa Exclusive now to create your perfect luxury safari holiday.
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