As the dry season reaches its peak in late October, Africa’s camp waterholes become essential lifelines. With rains a distant memory, seasonal rivers dwindling and pans shrinking, wildlife converges on the last remaining water sources: elephants arrive in family groups, birds flock in their hundreds, predators stake out their hunting grounds, and the bush immediately around comes alive.
Some safari camps are perfectly positioned to make the most of this seasonal drama, with armchairs, hides, viewpoints and photographic setups that bring the action right to you. It was a tough choice, but these are our ten favourite camp waterholes for unforgettable dry-season wildlife experiences. Request a cold drink and get your cameras ready….
Mwamba Bushcamp – South Luangwa, Zambia
Just a few minutes’ walk from camp, Mwamba’s famous Last Waterhole offers intimate, close-range wildlife viewing, particularly at dawn and dusk. Rustic, peaceful and brilliantly sited, this is a classic South Luangwa experience just a stone’s throw from your room. From September, when all other water in the area has dried up, it’s action-packed with elephants, buffalo, Cookson’s wildebeest and lions frequently visiting alongside a host of antelope and flurries of emerald-green Lillian’s lovebirds. You might just want to spend your whole afternoon hanging out and watching who ventures along.
Larsens Tented Camp – Samburu, Kenya
Larsens’ waterhole, framed by photogenic palms and backed by distant mountain views, affords a quintessential Samburu scene. The best vantage point is the camp’s subterranean, air-conditioned photographic hide, from where you can enjoy eye-level views of elephants so close you can hear them slurping, watch impala herds tentatively file in, and perhaps catch sight of a striped hyena – one of Africa’s rarer carnivores but Larsens’ regular. Beisa oryx and other Samburu specials often visit by day, while leopards can be seen pausing for a nocturnal drink.
The hide is thoughtfully designed for photographers, with swivel chairs, beanbags and glass windows that open for unobstructed shots. An adjoining bunk room even streams live footage from the waterhole, so you can wait in comfort, or even stay overnight, ready to dash in when the action starts.
Musekese Camp – Kafue National Park, Zambia
While Musekese Camp itself overlooks a permanent lagoon aptly nicknamed ‘Eden’ for its array of visiting wildlife, it’s the new Kamasot Hide that steals the show in the dry season. A first for Kafue National Park, this sunken container hide sits beside a productive waterhole on the Kamasot Plains, an area known for sightings of rarities like roan and sable antelope. Designed with photographers in mind, the hide is fully equipped with solar electricity, charging stations, Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, and even a toilet, allowing guests to settle in for long viewing sessions. With patience, you might spot sable, bushpig, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, honey badgers, leopards, or even wild dogs.
Andersson’s at Ongava – Ongava Private Reserve, Namibia
This contemporary, eco-luxe camp sits in a private concession adjoining Etosha National Park, with both rooms and a superb sunken hide overlooking a busy waterhole. From the cool, shaded interior, guests can watch lions, rhinos and plains game approach to drink, often just metres away. The hide’s one-way glass allows close encounters without disturbance, and its comfortable setup makes it ideal for lingering through the heat of the day or returning after dark, when nocturnal visitors like black rhino frequently appear. It’s an elegant and intimate way to experience Ongava’s extraordinary wildlife from the comfort of camp.
Satao Camp – Tsavo East, Kenya
Set beside one of Tsavo’s busiest natural waterholes, Satao Camp is famous for its superb in-camp game viewing. From the shade of your veranda or the camp’s open-sided lounge, you can watch large herds of elephants which, if you’re lucky, will include Tsavo’s magnificent big tuskers, coming to drink, often joined by zebra, giraffe and plentiful plains game. Lions and cheetahs are occasional visitors too. With so much activity right in front of camp, it’s not unusual for guests to see as much wildlife here as on a game drive.
Meno a Kwena – Boteti River, Botswana
Perched high above the Boteti River, Meno a Kwena commands one of Botswana’s most impressive in-camp, dry-season scenes. Between June and October, when the Kalahari pans stand dry, the Boteti becomes a vital lifeline for the thousands of zebra and wildebeest who make up Africa’s second-largest land migration. Elephants, giraffes, and predators follow, creating a spectacle that plays out directly below camp. From the cool of the plunge pool or the shaded deck, you can simply sit back and watch the wildlife drama unfold.
Elephant Pan Camp – Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana
Set in a prime position between Moremi, Chobe and the Khwai Community Reserve, this intimate tented camp offers front-row access to wildlife drawn to its namesake pan. Just a short drive away, a cleverly camouflaged, eye-level hide, converted from a shipping container, provides close-up, ground-level views of elephants, lions, and antelope as they come to drink. Designed for photographers, it’s an outstanding spot for capturing reflections and interactions at one of the reserve’s most productive dry-season waterholes.
8. Safarihoek Lodge – Etosha Heights Private Reserve, Namibia
Overlooking a large waterhole on Etosha Heights Private Reserve, Safarihoek Lodge delivers exceptional viewing from its spacious, double-storey hide. The upper level provides sweeping views across the surrounding landscape, often accompanied by a wonderful barbequed lunch, while the ground floor puts you water-level with slurping elephant trunks, wonderful rhino sightings, and a constant array of passing antelope, zebras and warthogs. Thoughtfully equipped with charging points, seating, toilets and even a day bed, it’s great for everyone from photographers to young families. After dark, it’s floodlit for spotting nocturnal visitors from jackals and owls.
Ol Donyo Lodge – Chyulu Hills, Kenya
Between Amboseli and Tsavo national parks, Ol Donyo’s two magical photographic hides at the front of camp overlook a busy waterhole framed by acacias and volcanic hills. Here, elephants, including some of Africa’s largest tuskers, come to drink within metres of the hide, joined by giraffe, zebra, and predators drawn to the herds. Built in partnership with the local Maasai community, this is both a spectacular viewing point and a meaningful example of how conservation and community coexist.
Kanga Camp – Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe
Dubbed ‘the birthplace of the armchair safari’, Kanga Camp is set beside one of the only permanent waterholes in this remote part of Mana Pools. In the late dry season, the waterhole becomes a magnet for life – elephants, kudu, and baboons by day, with lions, hyenas and leopards appearing as night falls. Many guests here forgo dry-season game drives altogether, choosing instead to relax on cushioned sofas on the shaded deck and watch the endless parade of wildlife that gathers within sight of camp.
If you’re considering your own journey, our specialists are here to help design a tailor-made safari that fits your style and travel time perfectly.
