Little Makalolo Camp

Little Makalolo Camp offers real privacy, remote from more touristed areas. Situated in a vast private concession area within the park, Little Makololo is sister to the Makololo Plains Camp. The varied ecosystems of the Makololo area, with open plains, teak forests and acacia woodlands, ensure a rich diversity of fauna and flora, with especially good game viewing at the concession’s numerous waterholes and pans during the winter months. In a teak forest overlooking a busy waterhole, Little Makalolo melds the natural style of the traditional bush camp with low-key elegance, indulgent comfort and excellent service.

Six airy safari tents with shaded verandas face the waterhole. Four have twin beds, the honeymoon chalet has a double bed and the sixth, a family tent, has two adjoining rooms. The spacious tents add the thrill of an outdoor shower to the comfort of en-suite bathrooms with hot water. Honeymooners have the additional pleasure of an outdoor bathtub. In the evenings, the throb of electric generators is replaced by the sounds of the African bush, thanks to solar panels.

The living and dining areas, edged by an organically curving deck and shaded by a large false mopane tree, are a short walk from the tents. Coffee and tea are available in the dining area throughout the day. A firepit set in the deck in front of the massive tree betokens starry evenings around the campfire. The plunge pool to one side of the lounge area offers a cooling dip after the heat of the day. A tumble of big old logs at the waterhole is actually a unique hide offering magical close-up views of the numerous elephants, buffaloes and other animals coming down to the water. Lions and leopards are regularly sighted here.

Excellent guides make the two-to-three-hour walking safaris offered by the camp an unforgettable experience. Morning walks and game drives start with an early continental breakfast and end with a welcome and tasty brunch. Another culinary treat is the post-siesta high tea, perfect fuel for an evening game drive where the nocturnal wildlife comes into its own.

For those seeking even more seclusion than the small camp, a night in the Star Bed on a platform overlooking Madison Pan, a short drive away, must be Little Makalolo’s most enchanting offering.

The camp is very involved in community projects in Ngamo Village, just outside the park. Interested guests can visit to see the indirect impact their tourist dollars have on water management, health and education.

Things to do
• Morning game drives followed by brunch
• Evening game drives with sundowners
• Guided nature walks in the concession
• Game viewing & birdwatching from camp hide and others in the park
• Star Bed
• Cultural visits to Ngamo Village