Africa’s Finest, David Bristow and Colin Bell’s photographic publication, summarises the continent’s best sustainable safari camps, and when they write about Hwange, they write about Little Makalolo Camp. This luxury tented camp achieves the perfect balance of elegance and comfort. It is set in the heart of Hwange, overlooking a waterhole, which, in a park devoid of natural waterholes, makes this one particularly popular among the animals. Lions, leopards, wild dogs, buffalo and elephants, to mention only a few, are frequent visitors. Game drives and nature walks in the Makalolo concession open the opportunity to experience one of the world’s last remaining true wildernesses; one that is ecologically diverse, raw, and remote.
Part of the beauty of this area of purest Africa is that it has everything a natural paradise could desire, from the Kalahari sands to the silvery, sweet grasses, salt pans, and the heart-shaped mopane leaves that nourish even after they have fallen from their parent branches. One crucial element of life that this region lacks is water, and in a country riddled with drought, Hwange can not provide to its populace the liquid of life. The lack of water has had devastating effects on the wildlife over many years, as has the unstoppable crime of poaching; however, this is where Makalolo earns its green colours as a conservation-orientated safari camp. Consistently pumping the man-made waterholes throughout the arid winter seasons has quenched the thirst of Hwange’s famous herds of elephant and water-dependent buffalo.
The poverty-stricken villages that surround the edges of the park are home to many hungry children and families desperate to feed them. This is the unfortunate reality in many African countries, and is also why it is imperative that when we visit a country to admire its natural beauty, we do our part to sustain it. Here, Makalolo has committed to feeding the children that would otherwise attend school with empty stomachs, and it hosts environmental education courses for these children through Wilderness Safaris’ Children in the Wilderness programme. Makalolo management works in collaboration with Zimbabwe’s wildlife authorities to reinforce the boundaries of the National Park and provide food and transport to the patrol teams, thereby reducing the incidents of poaching.
Little Makalolo Camp conserves water by using low-flow showers and dual flush toilets. Water is heated using solar power and demand taps reduce waste. These conservative measures by no means diminish the comfort and convenience of guests at the camp, setting a prime example for how eco-friendly safari holidays can be thoroughly enjoyed by those who prefer luxury. Bamboo, wood and concrete make up the structure of the camp, which is open and spacious, letting in all the elements of nature one is there to appreciate. Canvas walls surround the beautifully appointed bedrooms, keeping in tune with the ‘tented’ experience; a plunge pool and a veranda overlook the waterhole, adding to the remarkable ambience of the camp. The lounge is laid with richly coloured rugs and is adorned with large, leather sofas, inviting guests to cosy up and relax.
An experience at Little Makalolo will teach you about the essential elements of sustainability and community upliftment, while allowing you to visit one of the last true wildlife retreats in Southern Africa. It is well-deserving of its 2013 TripAdisor Certificate of Excellence.
Contact us to arrange your visit.
