The ultimate luxury safari getaway at Wilderness Linkwasha

Our girl Hannah Tan-Gillies checked into the most luxurious camp in Hwange, Wilderness Linkwasha where glamorous glamping tents meet five-star service – and of course plenty of wild animals.

At 34,000 hectares, Hwange National Park is one of the biggest national parks in Zimbabwe (and we’re told that it’s as big as the entire state of Massachusetts!). Here, you will find endless grasslands filled with some of the most incredible animals of the bush.

Wilderness Linkwasha is one of the more upscale camps Wilderness has to offer and boasts incredible luxury surroundings, five-star service and fabulous (air-conditioned) glamping tents that would rival even the bougiest five-star hotels. Wilderness Linkwasha sits at the heart of Hwange National Park, giving guests easy access to the African Big Five and a host of other animals.

Wilderness Linkwasha’s sprawling main camp is painted in chic greys, neutrals with plenty of vibrant Ndebele patterns that give the camp a distinctive Zimbabwean aesthetic. There is a small pool surrounded by Balinese day beds, and two stylish indoor dining areas, but dinner is best enjoyed under the stars. Guests can help themselves to anything they want at the bar, be that a glass of rose or even old-fashioned.

The tents are superb. Spacious, elegantly designed, air-conditioned and with incredible views of the bush, there is nothing quite like them throughout the whole of Hwange. Here, you will find a large king-sized four-poster bed, a lush sofa, and every other luxury amenity you could ever need or want.

Interestingly, Wilderness Linkwasha has a ‘hide’ right by the watering hole, which means that guests can get up close and personal to the animals having a drink. We were lucky enough to be able to see a family of elephants coming for a drink and a splash to cool off.

Days at the bush start at 5am with a guide knocking at your tent to get you ready for breakfast. A continental breakfast is served around a fire, and by 6am you’re off on your first game drive of the day. At 3pm Wilderness Linkwasha does a delightful high tea before guests prepare for their evening game drive.

In Hwange, you’ll be able to see the safari ‘Big Five’ which are elephants, lions, buffalos, wildebeest and hippos. Lucky for us – all Big Five were in abundance during our drives. We also saw plenty of kudus, impalas, zebras, and even an African wild cat in the main game drive area called the ‘golf course’ which offers plenty of visibility for animals far and wide.

Both Wilderness Little Makalolo and Wilderness Linkwasha have teamed up with the Scorpion Anti-Poaching unit to keep Hwange’s precious wildlife safe, in line with Wilderness commitment to environmental conservation and protection.

During our drives we saw plenty of elephants, two cheetah brothers (two of only 18 in the whole of Hwange), a leopard who had hidden his kill up a tree, and a whole pride of lions, just a few meters from the truck – safari truly is a magical experience and there is no better way to do it than with Wilderness.