Great Escapes
Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge

Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge

Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

  • Rural
  • Wildlife
  • Luxury
  • Nature
  • Family friendly
££££pp / nightVisit website

Cliff-edge safari lodge pioneering community conservation in Gonarezhou

Perched on the rim of a dramatic gorge overlooking the Save River, Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge sits on the edge of Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe's second-largest wildlife reserve. The lodge was established through the vision of conservationist Clive Stockil and the local Shangaan people of Mahenye, giving birth to the pioneering CAMPFIRE programme that proved local communities could protect wildlife when given direct ownership and tourism benefits.

Stay in timber and thatch suites with private balconies framing panoramic river views where elephants, hippos and crocodiles gather. Guided game drives, walking safaris and visits to the iconic red Chilojo Cliffs reveal a vast, unfenced wilderness, while village tours show how lodge revenues have built Mahenye's schools, clinic, clean water boreholes and grinding mills.

Sustainability

Climate & conservation

  • Birthplace of CAMPFIRE, Zimbabwe's first CAMPFIRE community wildlife programme began here, and the model has since been copied across Africa
  • Jamanda Conservancy, the Mahenye community has set aside communal land as a wildlife area to support coexistence with Gonarezhou's wildlife, with guidance from Chilo Gorge
  • Park partnership, the lodge works with the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust on wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching

Community & culture

  • Built for Mahenye, the lodge was founded to give the Shangaan community of Mahenye income from photographic tourism after Gonarezhou became a national park in 1975
  • Local staff, 95 per cent of staff come from the local community
  • Women farmers, the lodge supports Mahenye's women-run nutritional vegetable gardens
  • Village tours, guests can visit Mahenye village on a cultural tour

Commercial

  • Lease and income share, the community receives lease fees and a percentage of lodge income
  • Community levy, 100 per cent of a guest levy goes to local programmes, including improvements to Mahenye's primary and secondary schools and bursaries for students
  • Charitable trust, the Mahenye Charitable Trust directs guest donations to projects chosen with village elders

Sustainable Development Goals

  • Life on Land (SDG 15)
  • Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
  • Quality Education (SDG 4)

In brief

Price bracket
££££
Type of property
Safari lodge
Activities
Safari, Wildlife watching, Hiking, Cultural visit
Setting
Rural

Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe

££££pp / night Visit website

Guide price · £ <£100 · ££ £100–300 · £££ £300–800 · ££££ £800+ pp / night