VISITS ARE STRICTLY BY BOOKING

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Booking, contact details & fees
3. Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit for sale
4. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
5. Arrival & experience with the staff members
6. Accommodation & fees
7. Meals & fees
8. Activities & fees
9. Swimming
10. Game drive
11. Game viewing from the boat
12. Conclusion

NB: Romelda is the name of the establishment while Romelda Lakeside Retreat is the name of their luxury accommodation. They also offer other types of accommodation options which include Romelda Midwaters (their self catering lodges) and Romelda Camping (their campsite with different camping facilities).

Introduction

It was four months prior to our trip to celebrate my husband and my 10th year anniversary and I was scrolling through google maps trying to find a third place for us to visit. The first two were already decided on and these were Lion & Elephant Motel in Bubye (a stopover place along Harare/Beitbridge road), and then Nottingham Estate in Beitbridge (our first holiday destination for this trip). The plan now was to find a cosy place in Masvingo, preferably by Lake Mutirikwi so that we could enjoy our anniversary gift, the boat.

I sat there with my phone for hours, zooming in & out the destinations that Google Maps was pulling up. I was finding some places but none of them truly spoke to my heart until Romelda Lakeside Retreat popped up. I had to take a double look because I could not believe  what I was seeing.  “Is this not a scam?” my mind immediately became suspicious. Its beauty based on the pictures just looked out of place. I hadn’t seen anything even remotely close to that anywhere around the lakeside. So I did more research on it, asking people who frequented Masvingo if anyone knew about it and indeed there were people who vouched for its existence.

I felt so lucky to have found this magical-looking place so I reached out immediately to make our booking. 

Contact us on +263784887595 for your Practical Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits for $35 each.

Booking, contact details & fees

The contact number for Romelda +263774982756 was plastered all over their social media platforms and website just as we like it so it was quite easy to find. 

I sent a WhatsApp message on the 12th of August close to 10am and 24 hours later I hadn’t got a response. I freaked out a little but since it was the Heroes & Defence forces long weekend, I concluded that they must be quite busy and decided to cut them some slack until the end of day.

Half past four pm came with still nothing and at this point I was now worried that they may have closed. Their last post on Facebook was dated January 2023. I was panicking. I sent another message which I was anxiously waiting for a response to and thank heavens it came. It was a quick and sincere apologetic response in which they expressed that they had been busy due to the holidays. The conclusion was that they were going to get back to me regarding the availability of our dates “ASAP”. 

I felt some sense of relief but also anxious about whether or not the dates we wanted would be available. We had already got confirmation for our other bookings at Lion & Elephant Motel, Nottingham Estate and the arrival of our boat from South Africa so a change in dates was not an option.  

Twenty-four hours went by and now it was almost forty-eight hours with no feedback. It felt like everything was falling apart right before my eyes. I thought the delay was definitely because our preferred dates were not available so I asked my husband to reach out to them as I was no longer in any mental state to converse in case it was bad news coming. He messaged them and finally we got a response. Our dates were available! Phew! What a relief! 

We immediately received the proforma invoice which we processed, sent the proof of payment and finally I could relax knowing that all our three accommodation choices had been paid for. It was now just a matter of waiting for the travel dates.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

The travel date came and I was mostly excited but also a little worried. I was hoping that the check-in would go a bit smoother than the booking process had gone. Days leading up to us travelling, I had reached out asking about the weather and I had got a timely response (overall positive experience) so there was a huge possibility that the booking hiccup was not the norm but the exception. 

Romelda is located on the shore of Lake Mutirikwi in Masvingo Zimbabwe, about 302 km from Harare. The drive from Harare to Masvingo is now a breeze as the road is all good tar (except for a couple of kms in Fairfields). From Harare you take A4/Simon Mazorodze road (also known as the Masvingo/Beitbridge road). To get to Romelda Lakeside Retreat once in Masvingo CBD, you exit the CBD via A9/ Rekai Tangwena street also known as the Mutare road. You drive for about 27 km and then turn right and drive another 6.5 km. Romelda Lakeside Retreat will be on your right. Alternatively, you can use Google Maps and it will take you straight to the destination. 

We were coming from Nottingham Estate though, where we had spent a couple of nights so the drive was not as relaxed. The road is still being repaired therefore we had to take several detours and drive through horrible potholes.

If you are coming from Harare, a small vehicle is perfectly fine. However, if you are coming from Beitbridge, a small vehicle is a huge risk unless driven with extreme caution.

Arrival & experience with the staff members

As I saw the Romelda sign and felt the car turning towards the gate, my heart started pumping a little faster, hands sweating a bit. “This is it”. I crossed my fingers tightly hoping I would not regret my choice for our 10th year anniversary celebration destination. 

I sat tight looking around at the orchard in the premises then I heard a voice greeting and welcoming us. The gates were opened and we were directed to the reception. As we drove there my mind was mostly silent and nerves settled probably because the first engagement so far had gone great. Only my sight was the most active sense. The banana plantations reminded me of my maternal grandma and her homestead in Chimanimani, memories that brought a huge smile to my face. 

At this point everything inside me was just calm until we drove around the last corner and the back of the retreat was now in our full view… “What!”… The beauty of the garden took me by complete surprise. The healthy lush lawn in this dry season and the raised flowers looked perfectly picturesque, all complemented by the view of the lake in the background. Of course I was filled with excitement and relief. This place looked even better than it did in pictures. Imagine I’m feeling this way while only looking at the back. 

Tabonga (our host & guide) and Shepherd (our housekeeper) came to greet us with beaming smiles which again felt genuine. I knew I was at home. Tabonga ushered us into the restaurant section to fill in some forms but I just left all that to my husband and zoomed off to where the splash pool was on the wooden deck. I could not resist the mesmerising view of the lake and some stunning mountains in the distance that were staring right at me.

It didn’t take long before Tabonga offered us the best ice tea ever as a welcome beverage. To show you how great it tasted, it was all I wanted to drink during the entirety of our stay there whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner time. This kind and warm gesture definitely did not go unnoticed.

As if that was not enough, just as we were about to leave with Shepherd to go to our tent, Tabonga then announced that they had upgraded our tent from the standard tent with two single beds to the luxury tent with a double bed. It was not just the beds that were different though (as you will soon learn). It was more! I was ecstatic & grateful to them for their generosity. I could not wait to get to the tent now.

A few moments later, Shepherd escorted us to the tent, kindly helping us with the luggage. He was just exceptional with the way he attended to our tent and to us during all the three nights we were there. 

We got to meet more of the staff members there as well, as our boat had a couple of minor problems and they all went out of their way to help us. Just a phenomenal team they have there and I believe it speaks volumes on how great the leadership must be.

Accommodation & fees

Romelda offers several accommodation options to cater to different people’s needs. 

Firstly, there is Romelda Camping which offers a) Basic Camping which is $10 per person and b) Glamping with a tent and bed provided for $50 for 2 people. Beds can be added on request at $10 for each bed added.

Secondly, there is the Romelda Midwaters. This one comprises self catering lodges and additional chalets for bigger groups. A lodge that takes a maximum of 4 people is $120 per night and a minimum of two nights can be booked for. The said lodge together with one chalet that takes an additional two people is $160 per night while the same lodge plus two chalets which take an additional 4 people is $220. The entire Romelda Midwaters section can be booked too for $300 per night and it takes a maximum of 12 people. There is a well maintained pool there as well and ensuite bathrooms. 

Finally, they have the Romelda Lakeside Retreat which is where we stayed.

It is their more luxurious tented accommodation. The tents have ensuite bathrooms, an open wardrobe,a  private deck with lake view, a tea & coffee station, a solar fan and USB charging ports. There are options though namely the Standard Tents which have two single beds and then the Luxury Tents which have double beds and an outdoor shower & a bathtub each. The luxury tent is where we were upgraded to :).

When staying at Romelda Lakeside Retreat you also have a shared splash pool, a fire pit with moon deck and an outdoor deck with poolside seating area at the restaurant plus a covered bar and lounge area. You also have access to Wi-Fi, secure parking area and slipway (boat launching) facilities. 

Bear in mind when we got ushered to our tent, I had no idea of any of the extras that came with being in the deluxe tent. As we were touring it, I was just in a continuous state of being blown away.

The first thing of course that can not be ignored is the gorgeous view of the lake and the tents blending in so perfectly with their natural surroundings. 

I walked up onto the deck and indeed what laid in front of me was absolutely dreamy and whispered comfort and perfection. The double bed was well made with beautiful bright colours to contrast with the earthy colours of the tent. Off-white curtains were also draped all round the walls of the tent to brighten it. There was an open cabinet behind the bed which also served as a headboard. Great thinking! 

The top of this cabinet had a spacious usable space with a fan and a solar light. At first I was doubting how bright it was going to be but when night time came I even forgot I had second guessed this light at some point. I loved how its angles were adjustable as well, so it could either face towards the bed or behind the bed where the tea/coffee station was. 

Right at the end of the tent was the flap door into the bathroom. The bright colours of the walls and roof really helped to make the bathroom light and snug to use. There were also lights which worked both on solar and electricity. 

Facing the door was a white basin sitting on a multipurpose fixed black granite table. The table held the hand towels as well as the roll of tissue paper on the other side. Just above the sink was a  wooden framed mirror which added an earthy touch in the room.

Next to the table was a white toilet and next to it a capacious shower cubicle. The showers I had there were among the best I’ve ever had. Their use of gas for heating ensured that we always had reliable and unlimited hot water. We were also provided with good quality shower gel and shampoo.

After checking out the bathroom I went back into the tented section but now facing outwards. The view from the bed was just so heavenly. To imagine this was going to be the view I woke up to every single morning for the next three mornings was too surreal. 

I walked out onto the deck where there were beautiful faux reed chairs and a small table. I quickly did a comfort test on one of the chairs and I knew right away that many hours were going to be spent there. I stood on the  deck just soaking in the breeze and the view of the lake when I turned my head to my right and I saw an outdoor shower and a white sunken bathtub. I wanted to shout out in delight. I had totally forgotten that we had been upgraded to this luxury type of experience. I yelled for my husband to come quickly and check this out. It really looked amazing!

What a beautiful home away from home we had. I was in awe of everything and super impressed.

Meals & fees

We booked the dinner, bed & breakfast option excluding lunch, (please refer to the accommodation section above for fees). This is because we did not know if our adventures during the day would allow us to get back to the lodge in time for lunch. Our meals did however start with lunch on the day we arrived. 

Chef Mike made us some sandwiches (which we had ordered as we wanted something light). The sandwiches came with the best french fries ever and a salad of mixed vegetables and fruits. I believe the sandwiches had ham, cheese and tomato and they were absolutely tasty. When a chef turns an ordinary meal into something super yummy, you know you got a great one. The lunch was $15 each.

For the first dinner, we had bacon wrapped chicken breast, caramelised onions, some greens and creamed rice. I may not know the correct terms but this meal really hit all the right spots. I was impressed with the thought that went into it too. We wrapped up the meal with a scrumptious chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. 

Second dinner was a delectable sweet and sour pork dish accompanied with egg fried rice and some greens. It was so full of flavour and texture. For dessert we had what I believe to be compôte wrapped with crêpe suzette and some vanilla ice cream. Just mind blowingly tasty. I was truly impressed by this chef’s skills and the well thought out meals. 

The third and final dinner was nothing short of palate magic. He made us beef stew and mashed potatoes but also the creative Chef Mike’s way. The plate was colourful with some greens and carrots. I have no idea what the name of the dessert was (though the Chef told us) but I know that I tasted chocolate, a bit of mint and other things that I do not know but super delicious. It had a crunch and at the same time a creamy texture. A masterpiece this meal was. 

All our breakfasts started with assorted fruits and yoghurt. Cereal was an option too but I’m just not keen. We also asked for the same breakfast every single morning as we are boring like that when it comes to food but of course Chef Mike took it as a challenge. He made sure to put a spin to all three breakfasts so that we would not have an identical meal every single morning.

So the first breakfast comprised sausages, tomatoes and cubed baked potatoes. We asked to have our eggs poached and Chef Mike expertly did them. We had this with toasted bread, butter, jam and tea.

The potatoes for the second breakfast were quite pleasing to the eye. They were like strips wrapped around together into a ball then deep fried. Super crunchy and super tasty. I loved it.

For the third breakfast, Chef Mike did something with the sausages which I’ll let the pictures explain and we also had french fries. Another surprise that morning were the mouth-watering cupcakes which they ended up packing for us as it was our checkout day.  

All in all the meals were outstanding. Chef Mike is quite an exceptionally gifted chef. We thoroughly enjoyed every single bite of every delightful meal he prepared for us.

Activities & fees

Romelda offers quite a number of engaging activities. Some are adventurous and thrilling, while others are for maximum relaxation in Mother Nature’s peaceful embrace. The activities include:

1. Sunset/River cruise – $30 per adult & $18 per child
2. Lake cruise – $50 per adult & $35 per child
3. Dam wall visit as an add on to the Lake cruise – $15 per adult & 10 per child
4. Fishing boat hire with a maximum capacity of 3 people – $15 half day & $30 full day
5. Canoeing is free however if an escort is needed then there will be a charge
6. Game drive for a minimum of 3 people – $40 per adult & $25 per child
7. Rhino tracking for a minimum of 3 people – $40 per adult & $30 per child.
8. Private Game Drive with picnic and tea for a maximum of 3 people – $60 per adult & $35 per child.

Please note that the fees above exclude Zimparks fees which are attached below.

The activities that we participated in are below. One of the main reasons we chose a place with a big lake was to also enjoy our anniversary boat, so we got to do a lot of that.

Swimming

The moment I saw the splash pool and the views that came with it, dipping myself in this pool was all I wanted to do. As soon as we finished having lunch on the day of our arrival, I came right back to the pool. What a great feeling it was, being submerged in the clear Romelda splash pool water after hours of driving in the September heat. We were the only guests staying in the Romelda Lakeside Retreat section at the time so that meant that we had all the facilities to ourselves. I will forever choose travelling during the offseason for that reason. I relaxed in the splash pool for hours before retreating to our tent where we sat by the deck enjoying the relaxing view and Mother Nature’s sounds.

Game drive

The next day I knew it was going to be a Game drive day in Mutirikwi Recreational Park.

I have visited the park thrice now and have already published a review article about it which you can find here. The beauty about nature and wildlife though is that you can visit a park several times and your experience will be different each time. I would say this time was the best I’ve ever experienced Mutirikwi Recreational Park.

We opted for self drive as we always do since I’m an Ecologist and my husband an expert in the same field so we have a decent understanding of wildlife behaviour. It’s also a great challenge and bonding session for us so whenever possible we will choose self drive for game viewing.

The month was perfect for a game drive. It was September right in the peak of the dry season when trees have shed their leaves so the bush is much more open thus easier to see through. It is also dry enough that a few water sources are left for the animals, in this case it is likely to only be the lake. 

The issue was our timing. We overslept and went to Masvingo CBD first so we only got to the park around 9 am when it’s much hotter and animals are moving around less. My only hope was therefore to see the white rhinos though I knew it would be much harder because of how well camouflaged they are (especially when everything surrounding them is dry).

We drove into the gates, paid our entry fees and asked in general where the animals usually hang around. Just like humans, mammals are also creatures of habit. They will tend to settle in one general area because of availability of food, water, safety and sometimes for territorial reasons. We headed towards the direction the lady at the gate had directed us and the game drive began.

The breeze coming through the open windows and the bush smells were so relaxing. I wanted to close my eyes and just let my senses of feeling and smell take the lead but that would be counterproductive for someone who is on a mission to find game. So I tried to balance all the sensations and kept my eyes open.

It wasn’t long before we started seeing rhino dung along the road we were on. Of course it wasn’t a given that we would see the rhinos but at least there was hope. We were in the right direction. 

We drove a little further and came to a junction. We had to decide which way to take based on what the animal species there would likely be doing. We chose the road headed to the lake because at this time of the day, if any animals were up and about, they would either be at the lake drinking, headed to the lake to drink or coming back from the lake after drinking. 

All the way to the lake our eyes were almost bulging out trying not to miss anything. The atmosphere in the car was tense (a beautiful, focused kind of tense). At this point I stopped feeling the breeze and smelling the bush. All the concentration was on what the eyes were seeing. 

We got to the lakeshore and looked around.

Nothing…

There was absolutely not a single mammal that we could see. There were only birds which were great but not what we had taken that path for. We sat in that mild disappointment trying to figure out why we were not seeing a single mammalian species and of course it made sense. The road we had taken was the most frequented by visitors so of course the animals would have likely chosen to stay away from it (especially at certain times of the day) to avoid being disturbed.

We got closer to the lake and looked out further along the lake and there they were. A blurry herd of wildebeest and zebras. I felt hope and excitement build up again. We quickly got back into the vehicle and tried to find another road further out that turned towards the lake.

As if our steps were being directed by mother nature herself, while driving on this new road we saw a whole tower of giraffes seemingly waiting for us in all their graceful glory. It started off just being one but soon enough it was two, then three then all of a sudden there was a giraffe everywhere we turned. We knew we had to take the immediate right turn towards the lake again because these giraffes looked young and surely other much older ones would have been somewhere nearby. So we turned immediately and of course we were correct. 

More giraffes were there cheerfully browsing. They even noticed our vehicle but were not at all fazed. They correctly determined that we did not pose any threat to them and it was their calm demeanour around the vehicle that gave us the confidence to step out for some pics with them. They seemed overpowered by curiosity seeing us standing “not so tall” lol. They must have felt sorry for us so they happily took part in our photoshoot.

About thirty minutes later, we left and continued heading in the direction that we had seen the large herd of zebras and wildebeest but we unfortunately did not find any road that turned back to the lake. It was a failed mission but not entirely since it was because of them that we encountered the giraffes. So we drove back to where we had come from to focus on the rhinos again. 

As we were driving we saw one rectangular patch which seemed to have the highest concentration of fresh rhino dung. We decided to drive around this patch a number of times and as we were about to give up, I saw this huge rocky-looking “structure” in one corner of the patch. I immediately tapped my husband while simultaneously and excitedly whispering “Stop! Rhino!”. 

The sense of relief and thrill I felt at that point was out of this world. It really is fulfilling to manage to do something that in many ways is out of your control.  

We had to reverse and I think the vehicle passing the rhinos the first time caused them to wake up in a haste and cross to the other side of the road. By the time we fully got back to where they were, they had fully tucked their ginormous bodies in the bush on the opposite side. 

We could still see them through the dry branches and from their body language it was quite clear that they wanted to cross back to the side they were originally lying. 

Something was stopping them though…

Yeah, it was our vehicle. They must have felt like it was too close so we reversed, leaving much more space for them. Just some minutes later, the one that seemed to be the leader started moving towards the road and one by one they all followed.

For the best game drive and intimacy with nature experiences, it is important to try and understand what the animals are trying to communicate at any given time so that they can trust you around them. Our vehicle was not even that far but when they started crossing they were in no hurry whatsoever. They even decided to walk along the road giving us the clearest view of their majestic beauty. We even drove closer (leaving a decent distance though) and because they had concluded that we meant no harm to them, they allowed us. Patience until you’ve won the animal’s trust is the best way to go. 

I was in awe seeing this magnificent crash of rhinos. I sat there enjoying every second of that experience until they eventually moved completely out of sight. It was a great endorphins-filled day.

Game viewing from the boat

The next day we decided to dedicate it to boating and game viewing from the boat. We were using our boat for the first time and so without knowing how well it performed, the presence of hippos in the lake kept me on the edge of my seat. 

As the boat took off, I felt this calming breeze all over my body. The mountainous views  were nothing short of phenomenal. We headed straight towards the lakeshore on the national park’s side and immediately as we got closer, there were these two adorable bucks browsing. They seemed to be a bit curious about us so they stopped browsing to figure out what we were all about. It didn’t take long though before they established that we were just admiring them so they continued with what they were doing. 

Some minutes later, we got distracted by the cormorants which were chilling by the rocks in the lake. They had such beautiful silhouettes from where we were looking at them from. We got closer to them and while there we saw some figures that looked like rhinos from a distance. We decided to get closer to investigate and it was rhinos indeed – a mother and her young one. Oh! How adorable they looked grazing on the soft grass by the shoreline.

We chilled with the rhinos for a while before continuing with our exploration. It was such a beautiful day to be boating. The sky was blue which made the water blue too and the cool breeze while boating countered the September heat. The animals seemed to love this timing too as they were out in their numbers all lined up by the lakeshore.  Just as we left the rhinos, it did not take long for us to come across that herd of zebras and wildebeest that we had missed the previous day during the game drive. It was really a fulfilling moment seeing them so up close. Giraffes were not far from this herd either. They looked just as gracious as they always do. 

At this point I thought we had seen it all, so we were now just boating to get to a spot where we could anchor the boat and have some refreshments when suddenly we saw a species we were in denial that we were seeing.

At first we were sure it was cattle. Then we got closer but still from a distance and these animals started looking like wildebeest. We got closer again and in a shocked state I excitedly shouted, “buffalo! It’s buffalo! Oh My God! It’s definitely buffalo!”. It was indeed buffalo. 

I have been to this park three times now and I just never heard anyone mentioning buffalo hence the scepticism in concluding that they were buffaloes when we first saw them.

They were even a huge herd with another one right around the corner. I was over the moon. We immediately decided to head towards the second herd of buffaloes to anchor the boat there and relax while watching this big five species graze and interact. Little did we know we had another surprise awaiting us.

We finished the curve and tucked in a corner, were three rhinos which were also grazing there. Absolutely Wild! We now had not one, but two of the big five species that we could sit and enjoy observing during our break. I loved every minute of this. 

Now if you think that was the end of the amazing surprises, you will be mistaken.

We left this spot headed back to Romelda Lakeside Retreat when out of nowhere a mother hippo and her two young ones popped up on an island. The nature fairy was definitely with us on this day. The calves really stole my heart. When their mother spotted us and decided to go back into the water, these calves seemed to not have a clue on what had just happened but they knew not to defy mummy’s lead so they adorably followed behind their mother one behind the other. I felt a bit bad that we had disturbed their browsing and relaxation time but I’m selfishly so glad that we saw them. They really made my day and made the boating experience qualify as the best I’ve had in a really long time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Romelda Lakeside Retreat is definitely among the best places I have ever been to for a holiday. When it comes to accommodation and hospitality, they are undoubtedly in the top two. I loved the cosiness of the tent, its practicality and how it was being taken care of every single day. I loved the view of the lake that I woke up to every single morning and the outside tub and shower. The meals were exceptionally good with so much thought being put into them. Our host was also on top of things, cheerfully assisting us with everything. The activities were so many and with a lot of flexibility in how one can partake in them. I would not change a single thing from my experience there. It was definitely a 10/10 minus absolutely nothing.

I hope you visit soon and if you do, I know for sure you will love it there but still please share your experience with me here or on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature.

VISITS ARE STRICTLY BY BOOKING

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Booking, contact details & fees
3. Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit for sale
4. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
5. Arrival & experience with the staff members
6. Accommodation & fees
7. Meals & fees
8. Activities
9. Fly camp elephant experience
10. Conclusion

Introduction

I have received a number of recommendations of places to visit but usually it is from people who have not yet visited the places and just want my review in order for them to decide whether they want to visit or not. This time around though, it was from people who strongly recommended this destination because they had been there and believed that I would love it there too which of course worried me.

It has been my observation over the years that the more popularity a place gains, the more people it forces its limited resources to take which results in overcrowding and heavy noise pollution.

I was therefore quite sceptical about visiting Nottingham Estate because of how popular it seemed to be in my DMs. The pictures I had seen of this estate though were really enticing, however, the main question was whether or not I would be able to get the peace and quiet that I’m always seeking when I’m on holiday.

Well, September 2024 was the time to find out. We had just bought a boat from South Africa to celebrate my husband’s and my 10th year anniversary so Nottingham Estate being so close to Beitbridge (the town where the official border post between Zimbabwe and South Africa is) we planned to spend a couple of nights at the estate to celebrate before collecting the boat and heading to Romelda Lakeside Retreat for three more nights. 

Booking, contact details & fees

The contact number for Nottingham Estate is +263719797299 and it was quite easy to find as they have a great social media and internet presence. 

I sent a WhatsApp message and got a timely response from Angela who was so helpful throughout the process, communicating efficiently and making sure that I had all the information I needed for a great stay. 

We proceeded to make the payment for our accommodation and it was now just a matter of time before our travel dates came.

Contact us on +263784887595 for your Practical Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits for $35 each.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

Finally, the travel date came and boy was I excited. All the years of hearing about Nottingham Estate and now we were about to experience it. Such a great feeling.

From Harare we took a night break at Lion & Elephant Motel in Bubye so that we would be fresh for the last leg of our trip to Nottingham Estate (you can find details on the drive from Harare to Lion & Elephant Motel in Bubye here). 

Nottingham Estate is located in Beitbridge district (just 53 km from Beitbridge’s CBD) in Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe (which is about 625 km from Harare). If starting the journey from Harare, you take A4/Simon Mazorodze road also known as Masvingo/Beitbridge road. This highway (from Harare to Masvingo) is now a good tar road and so during the planning we decided to cover 80% of the total distance on this road before taking a break at Bubye. 

The next morning we did the last 122 km to Nottingham Estate. The road is still in the process of being fixed so there are many detours to take. Some parts of the road are yet to be graded so they consist of horrible potholes. Other parts are newly laid tar while others are dirt roads. The road from the highway turn off to Nottingham Estate is all dirt road which is in decent condition as far as being graded. 

I would say a vehicle with high ground clearance is better for this trip just to be on the safe side than a small vehicle. We did pass several small cars though on the same road so it really depends on your relationship with your car and your way of driving I guess. I certainly would not recommend a small vehicle during the rainy season though.

Arrival & experience with the staff members

Our arrival was quite a memorable experience that left a well engraved memory in me.

We drove in and immediately noticed a team which was already waiting for us. We had passed through Kuduland so they must have been told that we were just some minutes away.

As we stepped out of the vehicle, we were handed the best and perfectly cool freshly squeezed orange juice ever, which was definitely needed after several hours of being on the road in the September heat.

We couldn’t help but express our excitement from the kind and thoughtful gesture they had shown us and while in that bubble I also felt a very warm and genuine welcome from all three of them. Emphasis being on genuine because usually the hospitality industry in general seems to push this robotic, heavily rehearsed & scripted type of welcome which I actually find to be off-putting. Anyway, their welcome and the whole ambience made me feel very much at home. 

Accommodation & fees

Nottingham Estate has two different sites where one can choose to be accommodated, namely Kuduland Lodge and Nottingham Fishing Retreat. Kuduland lodge has chalets priced at $70 per person (sharing) per night for dinner, bed & breakfast and $80 for an individual travelling solo. The self catering option is $40 per person (sharing) per night and $50 for a solo traveller. The rates include WiFi, ice for drinks and laundry services on request. Children under the age of twelve pay half the price and those under three are not charged.

Nottingham Fishing Retreat has chalets which are $90 per person (sharing) per night for dinner, bed & breakfast and $100 for a solo traveller. Full board (dinner, bed, breakfast & lunch) is $100 per person (sharing) per night and $110 for a solo traveller. Children under the age of twelve pay half the price and those under three are not charged. Self catering chalets are $155 per night per chalet. Each chalet sleeps four people and a maximum of five people. The rates for all the accommodation options at Nottingham Fishing Retreat include WiFi, ice for drinks and laundry services on request. 

PS: Please kindly note that sometimes rates in the tourism industry fluctuate seasonally so only use the above figures as guidelines and always contact Nottingham Estate directly for up to date fees when planning to visit.

We had chosen the Nottingham Fishing Retreat (dinner, bed & breakfast) option and after filling in some forms we were escorted to our chalet. As we got down the few steps leading to chalet number seven, I was totally blown away by the view that laid in front of me. The realisation that this is what I would wake up to every single morning for the next two mornings felt so surreal. 

The months of saving up & planning for this exact experience were staring directly in my face. I could feel my body just completely relaxing from the sounds of birds, hippos play-fighting in the dam and the feel of the beautiful cosy breeze wafting towards me off the lake. 

I snapped out of this gaze when I heard a gentle voice saying “this is your chalet” as he opened the white lace curtain partially covering the entry point.

“Wow!” is all my brain managed to formulate in that moment. I was in awe at how sleek and gorgeous the bedroom looked. The bed was made in such an artful way. There were whites, reds and greys on the bed which made an absolutely stunning combination. The bed was also just as comfortable and cosy to sleep on as it was aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Before I could even turn around to tour this chalet in a systematic manner, I felt the temperature cooling down to a more comfortable level and I turned immediately to see what the cause of that was and spotted an air conditioner. I haven’t seen many safari destinations that provide an aircon in the chalets regardless of how much you pay. At best, you get a fan so this was really brilliant and thoughtful of Nottingham Estate. Mind you, the chalets at Kuduland which are priced cheaper also have aircons. 

I smiled from this sight, felt really proud of my choice and continued looking around this beautiful chalet. To my left while standing by the main entry were two single beds also neatly made and to my right side a huge mirror mounted on the wall and a dressing/work table.

Next to the single beds was a fridge and next to the fridge a tea station. Everything in this chalet was well thought out hey. There was a big built-in wardrobe tucked out of the way in the wall right at the end of that wing. The wing led into the bathroom.

The bathroom was another “wow” moment for me. Such a huge spacious bathroom it was, with a separate bathtub and walled shower cubicle. The showers and baths I took were consistently hot and comfy as they use gas for heating the water (a much more reliable source than solar). 

I walked around the chalet again and it was indeed a beautiful, all-encompassing cosy home away from home.

Meals & fees

I sometimes dread half or full board packages as I have found that some places unfortunately do not put any thought to the menu. I was quite chuffed to see that this was not at all the case at Nottingham Estate. All the meals we had were well thought out, appetising and really scrumptious. 

Starting with lunch (as we arrived around 1pm) we opted for sandwiches to keep it light. They made us the yummiest tomato & cheese sandwiches ever plus cucumbers. Our second lunch the next day was sandwiches too just as we ordered and it was again obvious that they had taken their precious time to make them.

You can now imagine if they went that hard on basic sandwiches, how hard were they going to go on dinner. You wouldn’t be wrong to think that they went really hard because they did. 

Our first dinner was some delectable mouth watering pork chops, rice and veggies. The chef did not disappoint in turning this seemingly simple meal into a finger-licking, rich-flavoured meal. Dessert was I believe chocolate brownie drenched in custard with a slice of orange and its zest. Just delicious!

The next dinner was served under the stars, with elephants, eland, kudu, warthogs and many other animal species in the vicinity… Wild Right?! It was definitely an experience to remember, (I will share more about that below when I talk about our experience at the Fly Camp where the famous Nottingham citrus fruit feeding elephants activity is held). 

The two breakfasts we had were nothing short of awesome. The first one was continental comprising grapefruit and yoghurt, tea/coffee, cereal and flapjacks. The next one was full English comprising eggs, tomato, bacon, sausage, toast and rooibos tea.

All meals are served with freshly squeezed orange juice which tastes super delicious.

Activities

Nottingham Estate offers quite a number of intriguing activities which include:

1. Elephant experience at the fly camp (offered only from May to September) – $10 per person
2. Boat cruise – $20 per person
3. Bush drive – $20 per person
4. Boat hire for fishing – $30 half day/ $60 full day.
5. Swimming – free

After experiencing a bit of burn out running Empowered Travel ZW (my product & service based company which offers a) Travel First Aid Training plus Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits & other First Aid Kits, b) Vehicle Maintenance Training plus tools like auto air compressors, electric jack, impact wrench, tow straps, among others and c) Self Defence Training to travellers/road users so that you are well equipped should anything go wrong during your trips), I really just wanted as much time I could get as possible to sit, relax while doing absolutely nothing. I therefore opted to just sit by the water, swim and go to the fly camp for the elephant experience.

Swimming

Soon after settling in and having lunch on the day of our arrival, I went straight to the swimming pool. One benefit of travelling off season is that you get to enjoy shared facilities such as swimming pools all to yourself. You’re so few (if not the only ones) at these destinations such that the experience is just wholesome. 

Both Kuduland Lodge and Nottingham Fishing Retreat (NFR) have swimming pools. The one at NFR is right by the dining area. I love how one of the pillars supporting the roof of the dining room is right in the pool. It adds character to it. Being an introvert however, I would definitely not be comfortable swimming while people are dining or chilling around that area. Most pools at resorts and hotels are located around that same area though, but that’s why off season travel is the best for me (among other reasons) because you would be so few that you can get a lot of alone time at these facilities.

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Fly camp elephant experience

The elephant experience is one of the activities that makes Nottingham Estate a popular destination among nature lovers. It was an awe-inspiring experience, seeing and learning about how all this came about and essentially it was as a way to live harmoniously with wildlife.

Nottingham Estate’s primary business is citrus fruit farming. That area being dry sometimes and surrounded by wildlife, it didn’t take long before all the animals were interested in the yummy fruits they were growing. So instead of resorting to mass killing of these animals like most do (which never ends well for either party might I add), they decided to share the rejects and pulp with the animals by offloading them at the place now known endearingly as Fly Camp. 

While there are other animals that will still try to get to their plantations, most have figured out that from May to September when the fruits are in season and are being harvested, their share can be found in this Fly Camp gorge every single day. As a result, many animal species including elephants can now be viewed by all of us as they feed. 

What more set up would one need for some intimacy with nature?

I certainly was not going to miss out on this opportunity. So on our second day at the estate, we met Ossie (the camp and lodge manager and guide). He was such a pleasure to have as a host and he was also the one who drove us to the fly camp. I don’t know how he does it but somehow he manages to take care of everyone’s needs even when it’s a whole group of different people at the same time. He also went above and beyond for us during the drive and the entirety of the experience.

He is knowledgeable about not only the projects that they are running at the estate but also the general Beitbridge area so he managed to satisfy our curiosity with his ability to answer all of our questions. He even made sure that we saw a hyena on our way back and if you have ever been or when you visit you will understand why this is such a big deal.

So the drive to the fly camp was an experience on its own. We came across many animal species including impalas, giraffes, elands, zebras, among others. There were also several bird species like large Korhans which could be observed in pairs.

When we arrived at the fly camp, I was a bit caught off guard with the views of the gorges. I hadn’t realised how phenomenal they actually are in person. Now add the golden African sunset in the mix. It was super magical. I was in awe the entire time. I didn’t even know where to look surrounded by that much beauty.

After briefly losing my mind at the sight of the landscape, I walked towards the edge where everyone else was already standing and what a beautiful sight awaited me. Some  elephants were already there enjoying some leftover oranges from the previous day. 

The tractors and trailers with the oranges for the day came and the elephants knew exactly what was going on. They visibly could not wait to get their giant trunks in there to get the best of the lot and enjoy. Even in that anticipatory state though, they were extremely well behaved and it was impressive to watch these giants not flex their muscles. Only one big baboon jumped in the trailer where the oranges were but all the other animals remained patient for the oranges to be offloaded.

When all was in order, the gentlemen who came with the tractors offloaded the oranges and let me just say that their courage is to steal. Elephants are huge animals but in person (especially that close) there is no word that can describe just how enormous they truly are. It can be quite nerve wracking being that close to them and all they want is the one thing you can’t give them just yet.

Hundreds and hundreds, the oranges rolled out of the trailer as the gentlemen drove the tractors around in circles. Behind them we could see warthogs, baboons and elephants getting all hyped up digging right in for the best orange they could latch onto. The baboons seemed to be carrying as much as they could, going back up the cliffs with them (presumably to stock up) and coming back down for more. Warthogs seemed to just eat what they could and so did the elephants. 

The thrill I was feeling experiencing all this for the first time was out of this world. Eventually I calmed down a little though and settled when Ossie came to tell us about the snacks on the table that they had prepared for us. The snacks looked quite appetising and I enjoyed every bite as I got lost in the magical moments that only Africa can offer.

Unfortunately, time goes by so fast when you’re having one of your best wild experiences ever. So before I knew it, the sun had completely gone down. More animals had come which included elands, kudus and more female elephants with their adorable calves. It was also dinner time.

Dining under the stars

One thing I observed about Nottingham Estate is that if they decide to offer an experience they do not take shortcuts. They will go all out with it and that’s exactly what they did here. Instead of rushing people back to the lodges to have dinner there and possibly cut back on the time to watch the animals, they made it possible for dinner to be served right at the fly camp.

The dining area was set so beautifully and we had a chef who made the food right there. Just as per their standard, the dinner was expertly made. It was some delicious goat stew, rice and sadza. There were veggies too and I suspect there may have been a couple of other things that I didn’t add to my plate. Dessert was a dainty granadilla fruit with coconut. I absolutely loved my meal. 

After dinner we went back to view the animals again that were still feasting under the floodlights and some minutes later we were all ready to call it a night so we headed to the truck.

When we got to the truck, we saw blankets on our seats. Such a thoughtful gesture to leave these freshly washed blankets for us. It’s really all these seemingly “small” things that the Nottingham Estate team does that really make the experiences they offer memorable and I love it. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, Nottingham Estate is definitely worth all the hype they get if they don’t actually deserve more. They are one place I can say with absolute conviction that they are 100% perfect as a destination. You know I can be quite critical sometimes as I know that you use my reviews to make your own travel decisions so I tend to nitpick a lot. With Nottingham Estate, I tried but I could not find anything that could even be remotely mentioned as something that needs improvement. All the staff members were amazing. The meals were well thought out and expertly prepared. The activities I engaged in were top notch and the accommodation was everything one needs and more. To top this off, their fees (compared to what others charge in the industry) are more than fair. 

It would actually be my wish for all destinations to visit Nottingham Estate and just get inspiration on especially the way they pay attention to every tiny detail. 

I hope you visit soon. I know you will enjoy your stay there. When you do please share your thoughts with me here or on Linkedin, Facebook or Instagram. Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature.

Team Nottingham Estate, you’re absolutely killing. Keep it up!

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Booking & contact details & fees
3. Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits for sale
4. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
5. Arrival & experience with the staff members
6. Accommodation & fees
7. Meals & fees
8. Activities
9. Conclusion

Introduction

In September 2014, my husband and I met and we have been inseparable since. Being September 2024 now, it’s wild to imagine that it’s been 10 years already. We of course decided to celebrate this big 10 the best way we know how and that is to spend some quality time together while having some much needed intimacy with nature. We also decided to buy ourselves a boat from South Africa so we planned quite an elaborate trip around collecting it from Beitbridge.

The trip outline was as follows: We would leave Harare around 6am and get to Lion & Elephant Motel in Bubye around midday and spend the night there. This would allow us to break the driving distance so that we are always fresh and alert when on the roads. The next morning we would wake up and head straight to Nottingham Estate which would be our first holiday destination. We would spend three days and two nights there, only leaving on the third day to go and collect the boat before heading to Romelda Lakeside Retreat in Masvingo (our second holiday destination for this trip) where we would spend four days and three nights.

Now that we have the plan for the trip all laid out, let’s see if it all went according to the plan and what I think of the destinations we visited, starting with the Lion & Elephant Motel.

Booking, contact details & fees

The contact number for Lion & Elephant Motel is +263773284637. It was quite easy to find as they are active on Facebook. I sent a WhatsApp message to the number and Keith was on the other end of the chat. He communicated in a timely manner and made sure that the booking process went smoothly. He told me that we did not have to pay anything in advance but we always prefer to, in order to avoid driving around with more cash than necessary. Swipe machines and bank transfers are also not the most reliable as most destinations are in remote areas with poor network coverage. So we paid for the accommodation in full.

Contact us on +263784887595 for your Practical Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits for $35 each.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

The travel date came and I was super thrilled. Lion & Elephant Motel is located on the banks of the Bubye River in Masvingo province, just before Matebeleland South Province. It is about 503 kms from Harare and about 122 kms from Nottingham Estate.

From Harare you take the Masvingo/Beitbridge road (A4 / Simon Mazorodze road). The road is newly laid tar all the way to Masvingo except some few kilometers in Fairfields which have horrible potholes. From Masvingo to Lion & Elephant Motel there are some parts with good tar but several others where you have to take detours as the road is still being upgraded. We passed quite a number of small cars on these roads so I imagine it is possible to use a small vehicle from Masvingo to Lion & Elephant Motel. A lot of patience & caution would be required though to navigate the parts with the horrendous potholes and the several dirt roads. 

I would not recommend driving a small car on these roads during the rainy season in their current state. 

Arrival & experience with the staff members

We  arrived at Lion & Elephant Motel around midday and we received a warm welcome from everyone we interacted with. One lady took us to our chalet but the ladies who were cleaning were not done yet, which was understandable since we had arrived two hours early.  

We decided to go and have lunch while they finished working on the chalet.

Accommodation & fees

Our chalet was ready by the time we finished lunch so we headed straight there. The chalets all look warm and inviting from the outside with their freshly painted green walls and thatched roofs. Our chalet was number 33 and it was $65 per night (two people occupancy). 

As I opened the door, I saw some stunning reed baskets beautifully decorated on the wall to my left. There was a half length mirror in the corner, a tea station with everything one needs to make tea and a four corner socket. There was also a camping-like chair on one side and a wooden bench on the other side.  This was quite a good start to the chalet tour. I liked how they made this section look arty but also functional.  

I left that corner and while glancing around the room, the bed caught my attention. It was covered quite elegantly in white linen and a green throw blanket which matched the brightly coloured pillows to give the bed some character. I sat on the bed to give it a quick comfort test and it was quite good. 

On each lower corner of the bed were some large, thick, blue folded towels with hand soaps on top. Two bedside lights were also mounted on the wall which gave that section of the chalet a really cosy feeling. 

I continued exploring and my steps led me to one of the biggest bathrooms I had seen in a chalet thus far. At the far right was the white toilet with a wooden seat. In the middle facing the door was the white basin, a lot of usable space around the basin and a mirror mounted on the wall between two large windows. At the far left was the spacious walled shower cubicle which perfectly kept water on that side instead of flooding the entire room. The bathing water was nice and hot as they use gas for heating. 

All in all, I was really happy with how our home for the night looked. It covered all the basics and offered a lot of comfort.

Meals & fees

Lion & Elephant Motel offers meals and their menu with prices is displayed on their WhatsApp catalogue which makes it easier to plan. The menu is not extensive though so if you’re a foodie you may not find it to be versatile enough. However, being just a stopover place, most travellers will find it to be quite sufficient.

For breakfast we had the full English option  (toast, bacon, sausage, eggs, beans and some rooibos tea) which was $10 per person. Continental breakfast is also an option (cereal, yoghurt, fruit, toast) and is $5 per person. 

During lunch we had their $5 beef burgers, $3 french fries and a soft drink which might have been $1 but I don’t really remember. The other option was toasted sandwiches with ham, cheese & tomato, chicken mayo or bacon & egg for $4. 

Dinner was either rump steak $20, pork chop $15, chicken schnitzel $15, fish fillet in batter $10 or beef stew $8. The above are served with either chips, rice or sadza and some vegetables. On our first night we had chicken schnitzel & rice and the second night we had sadza & beef stew.

All the meals were freshly made and tasty. I enjoyed.

Activities

Lion & Elephant Motel is a stop over point with their main objective being to give travellers a safe and comfortable place to take a break while travelling. It therefore does not have dedicated activities. What I enjoyed quite a lot though was to have a dip in their well maintained large pool. I felt fresh and relaxed, especially after several hours of being on the road. I also enjoyed taking a stroll on the sandy Bubye riverbed early in the mornings and late afternoons.

Swimming is free as a resident but you will be charged a small fee to use it if you are just stopping by to catch a few hours break.

Conclusion

Lion & Elephant Motel is definitely a perfect stopping point when you are travelling in the Southern region of Zimbabwe. The well maintained accommodation and freshly cooked meals are every long distance traveller’s dream. I also love how they maintain their garden so well which gives such perfect relaxing spots. The motel is in addition surrounded by a lot of natural vegetation with the Bubye dry riverbed being an eye catcher. The swimming pool is definitely the icing on the cake.

I hope you enjoy your stay there when you are next travelling in that region. If you do visit please share with me your thoughts here or on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. 

Remember to always have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

Here is a list of destinations close to Harare for day visits. This list is in no particular order and it is going to be continuously updated as I review more destinations.

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Gosho Park
2. Dana B Savanna
3. The Village Place Resort
4. Lion Park
5. Haka Game Park
6. Trelawney Game Park
7. Mazvikadei Dam
8. Chivero Recreational Park
9. Chinhoyi Caves
10. Hideaway Lodge Lake Manyame/Darwendale

Contact Empowered Travel on +263784887595 for your Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit.

1. Gosho Park

Gosho park is located 84 km from Harare CBD, just 4 km outside of Marondera CBD. Entry fees are $5 per adult, $5 per vehicle and $3 per child. Activities include game drive with your own vehicle, braaing, nature walk, mountain biking, bird watching, among others. The park has plains game and some of the unique ones are blesbok and sables. They do have giraffes, eland, zebra, wildebeest, impala, kudu and many others as well. The stunning views and remarkable rock paintings in this park do not go unnoticed. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/gosho-game-park-zimbabwe-review/

2. Dana B Savanna Camp

Dana B Savanna Camp is located about 40 km from Harare CBD in Melfort and it is accessed via the Harare/Mutare road. Entry fees are $10 per adult and $5 per child. Activities include game drive with your own vehicle, canoeing, fishing, nature walk, spa treatments, among others. Camping and braaing are also available on a pre-booking basis. The park has plains game and some of the unique ones are Tsessebes and blesbok. The other animals include giraffe, kudu, eland, zebra, wildebeest, impala and many others. The beautiful river in this park makes for a captivating and relaxing environment. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/dana-b-savanna-camp-zimbabwe-all-you-need-to-know/

3. The Village Place Resort

The village place resort is located about 57 km from Harare CBD along the Mutoko road. Entrance fees are $5 per adult and $2.50 per child. Activities are charged separately and they include game drive with the host’s vehicle, swimming, riverside picnicking, bird watching, mountain hiking and bonfire night. A playing ground for children is an added thoughtful feature there. The park has 3 mammalian species  which include zebra, wildebeest and impala. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/the-village-place-resort-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it-near-harare-mashonaland-east-zimbabwe/

4. Lion Park

Lion park is located about 35 km from Harare CBD in Melfort. It is accessed via the Harare/Bulawayo (Samora Machel) road. Entry fees are $10 per adult and $5 per child. Activities include game drive with your own vehicle, nature walk, braaing, picnicking and camping. The park has several species including one of the big five, the lion species as well as many plains game. Some of the unique plains game are nyalas (both male and female), bush pigs and warthogs. The other animals include zebras, eland, kudu, wildebeest, giraffe, impala, ostrich and many others. The park also has some exotic and some indigenous animal species in enclosures such as Alaskana Malamutes, Galapagos tortoises, ostriches, hyenas among others. The remarkable rocks and rock paintings dotted in the park definitely elevates this destination. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/lion-park-harare-zimbabwe-all-you-need-to-know/.

5. Haka Game Park

Haka Game Park is located just 13 km from Harare CBD in Msasa. Entry fees include $10 per adult and $5 per child. Activities include game drive with your own vehicle, canoeing, fishing, nature walk, bird watching, braaing, picnicking and horse riding. The park has plains game which include tsessebes, giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, bushpigs, warthogs and many others. The park also has ostriches which are in enclosures and a dam which makes the environment even more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Vivid rock paintings are also seen on some rocks in this park. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/haka-game-park-review/

6. Trelawney Game Park

Trelawney Game Park is located about 116 km from Harare CBD in Kutama village, Zvimba district. Entry fee is $5. Activities are charged separately and they include game drive with your own vehicle, canoeing, fishing, nature walk, horse riding, camping, braaing, and bird watching. The park has plains game which include giraffe, kudu, zebra, wildebeest, impala and others. The park is undoubtedly a home to mesmerising sunsets.  For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link: https://www.eminentlyeve.com/trelawney-game-reserve-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-it-near-harare-mashonaland-west-zimbabwe/

7. Mazvikadei Dam

Mazvikadei Dam is surrounded by a number of cottages, chalets, a campsite and a hotel. It is located about 113 km from Harare CBD near Banket in Zvimba district. The most popular activities at the dam are boating, canoeing and fishing. Touring the dam wall is also quite an experience. Other activities include picnicking, swimming and bird watching. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link: https://www.eminentlyeve.com/mazvikadei-dam-marina-campsite-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it-mashonaland-west-zimbabwe/

8. Chivero

Chivero Recreational Park is located about 40 km from Harare CBD along the Bulawayo road. Entry fee is $5 per adult. Activities are game drive with your own vehicle, canoeing, boating, fishing, guided nature walk, camping, braaing, bird watching, among others. The park has one of the big five animals and the most fascinating one in my opinion, the White Rhino. There are several plains game such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala and others. The huge dam makes the recreational park a great idyllic place to unwind and relax at. Water has that effect on us . For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link: https://www.eminentlyeve.com/lake-chivero-recreational-park-all-you-need-to-know/

9. Chinhoyi Caves

Chinhoyi Caves are located about 125 km from Harare CBD along the Kariba road. Entry fee is $5 for locals and $10 for internationals. Activities are lion enclosure visit, camping, picnicking, swimming, scuba diving and cave exploration. Chinhoyi Caves are the caves known to date to have the most extensive cave systems in Zimbabwe. The star of the show is of course the striking blue water at the Sleeping Pool Cave. The history of the Chinhoyi caves is also quite compelling and makes the exploration of the caves intriguing. There is accommodation on site which is $70 per couple BnB. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link: https://www.eminentlyeve.com/chinhoyi-caves-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it-mashonaland-west-zimbabwe/

10. Hideaway Lodge

Hideaway Lodge is located about 47 km from Harare CBD on the banks of Lake Manyame/Darwendale. The most popular activities there are boating/ canoeing and fishing. It is a perfect place to launch your boat from and enjoy all that the lake has to offer. Launching a boat is $5. Other activies include swimming, braaing, wedding hosting, bird watching, among others. Hideaway Lodge is a perfect destination for rebooting and relaxing away from the city. It is an aesthetically pleasing location to unwind at and also bond with loved ones. For directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information check out the detailed review on this link: https://www.eminentlyeve.com/hideaway-lodge-lake-manyame-darwendale-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it-mashonaland-west-zimbabwe/

I hope you find a perfect destination for you on this list and when you do visit, please share your experience with me here or on Linkedin, Facebook or Instagram.

Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

VISITS ARE STRICTLY BY BOOKING

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Booking & contact details
3. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
4. Arrival & experience with staff members
5. Accommodation & fees
6. Meals & fees
7. Activities & fees at Hideaway Lodge, Darwendale
8. Conclusion

Introduction

In March 2024 I launched Empowered Travel – a product & service based company for everyday road users who believe in self reliance and preparedness. It offers Vehicle Maintenance Training & tools, Advanced Travel Trauma First Aid Training & Travel First Aid Kits as well as Self Defence Training plus security travel accessories such as vehicle GPS trackers. 

This step came with more time restraints than I had anticipated and so for two months straight, I never got a chance to visit any nature home. As you can imagine, it started to take a toll on me and so I made the decision to just get away for at least one night & leave everything set as best as I could. 

I had had my eyes on this place called Hideaway lodge for quite some time now and so I figured it was time to finally go and check it out.

I was a bit concerned about other people’s negative and harsh reviews about it but as I do with other destinations, I gave it the benefit of the doubt and went on to make the booking.

Booking & contact details

The contact number for Hideaway Lodge, Darwendale/ Lake Manyame is +263777057426. I contacted them and Kelly was on the other end of the line. She was super helpful throughout the booking process and so the booking went smoothly. As you may already know, we try by all means to avoid travelling during weekends or public holidays so getting our preferred dates was quite easy despite the relatively short notice.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use 

Hideaway Lodge is situated on Lake Manyame/Darwendale shore, along Gwebi River  in Zvimba District, Mashonaland West. It is located 47 km from Harare CBD and can be followed using Google Maps. There is a part of the route though where Google Maps gets a bit confused, (insisting that you take a certain non-existent road), however, if you ignore that part it will soon readjust to the correct directions.

For your reference, the correct directions are as follows: From Harare you take the Bulawayo road (A2/ Samora Machel). Drive for about 20 km past the Snake park turn and turn right (leaving the highway) onto a dirt road called Porta Road. This turn off/road has no sign posts, however, it is the one just before the Zimparks Chivero Recreational Park turn off (which is on your left on the highway).

Drive for about 11 km and you will come to a concrete low level bridge. Take your first left turn from that bridge and drive for about 1 km. You will get to where the road  curves and in front of you are farm gates. Keep right following the curve. This is also where Google Maps will be instructing you to turn left. Ignore that and keep going straight. Go around the crops (You are now on the Aberdeen farm where Hideaway Lodge is situated). 

Continue following that road as it curves left and shortly you will arrive at the farm’s gates which have the Hideaway sign post. If you have a booking, you will be allowed entry. Once inside the gates, drive straight heading towards the lake. To your right are farm houses. Do not turn right into the Private Entry.  Carry on until you reach the end of that road and follow the sign post directing you to your right. Hideaway lodge is right in front of you.

The first half of the trip to Hideaway Lodge, Darwendale is on a good tarred highway and the second half is on a decent dirt road. A small vehicle can therefore manage if driven with caution during the dry season.

Arrival & experience with staff members

We arrived way earlier than we had said we would and so I was deeply appreciative of them accommodating us right at that moment despite their hands being full with the school children they were also hosting. The gentleman at the gate was courteous and a great communicator. After getting the green light from the management team to let us in, he directed us to the swimming pool area where we would sit and wait to be escorted to our lodge when it was ready for us.

The swimming pool area is just so immaculate but more about that later. 

Before I could even sit, another gentleman came to inform us that our chalet was ready. I was quite impressed by how fast that was considering how early we were. He directed us to the chalet where we met a number of ladies who were such amazing hosts to us throughout our stay. Whenever we needed anything, they took initiative quite quickly and made sure that we were sorted out to the best of their ability. The communication was fantastic too.

Overall, all the staff members were excellent.

Accommodation & fees

The accommodation options at Hideaway Lodge, Darwendale/ Lake Manyame are self catering and non self catering chalets.  We opted for the option to be fully catered for. We were however put in one of the self catering chalets which was awesome because now I get to share with you what the self-catering chalets look like. Weekend rates are $40 per adult while weekdays are $30 per adult regardless of the option you choose. 

Due to the negative reviews I had read prior to our visit, I was so nervous to open the chalet for the first time. I took a breath and turned that door handle open…

The first thing that grabbed my eyes was the beautiful kitchen setup running along the entire wall on the left side. There was a 4 plate gas stove with pots, a counter top with plates, cups, mugs, water & wine glasses and other cutlery. There was also a microwave right in the middle and a fancy bowl shaped sink at the far end. 

Upon fully walking in, I saw two coffee-brown couches which looked inviting, a coffee table in the middle of the room, a mini fridge against the wall and a double bed on one end of the room. The double bed already had a mosquito net covering it which I was quite happy to see because most places I’ve been to do not seem to prioritise them. The excitement was short lived though when I saw that it had a number of tears all over it. Luckily, our trip was in winter so there weren’t any mosquitoes when night time came.

At first, I doubted how comfortable the bed was going to be because of the vintage style bed frame and bedding covering it. I just assumed the bed was old too. However, when I later laid on it I realised it was actually a new lux mattress which was extremely comfortable. I loved my sleep. It was one of the most snug sleeps I have had on holiday. There is also a small single bed in the room which is probably for a child if you travel with one.

On the other wall is the door which leads into the bathroom. The entire chalet has a thatched roof but it is more conspicuous in the bathroom because of how much lower it sits. Thatch on roofs is one feature I love a lot on accommodation at nature themed destinations. It acts as a subtle but artful reminder of the natural beauty that surrounds me. The bathroom was neat with some modern touches to it. I loved it. 

Contact us on +263784887595 for your Practical Travel/Motorist First Aid Kits for $35 each.

Meals & fees

Hideaway Lodge offers meals but strictly prearranged. Dinner and breakfast are $20 per person while lunch is $5 per person. I am not really fussy when it comes to food, neither is my husband so I didn’t ask what we were going to have. Kelly had told us though that lunch was either going to be burgers or toasted sandwiches. They ended up serving us beef burgers and french fries which were pretty decent. 

For dinner, we tried to guess what we were going to have but we were both wrong. We thought that it was either going to be rice with fried chicken, beef or fish but it actually ended up being chicken schnitzel, baked potatoes, baked  butternut, a sauce to go with and some greens.  I was pleasantly surprised with that. 

Good thing I decided to go with our own drinks though because I had a feeling that they might not have them. They never offered us any so I assume they do not have. You might want to go with your own too or ask before visiting if they serve any.

The next morning we were served an English breakfast. There were eggs, bacon, baked beans, cherry tomatoes, bread, butter and jam. The beverage options were tea and “coffee”. I’m not a hundred percent sure but I think the tea was Tanganda and the “coffee” was Ricoffy. 

All in all I enjoyed all my meals and I was quite surprised by how much we paid towards the meals. I thought the meals were going to be more costly and extremely basic but it seems some thought and effort went into it and I appreciate that.

Activities & fees at Hideaway Lodge, Darwendale

The activities at Hideaway Lodge are:

1. Canoeing/boating & fishing

Hideaway is on Lake Manyame shore therefore the most popular activities there are boating/ canoeing and fishing. It is a perfect place to launch your boat from and enjoy all that the lake has to offer. Launching a boat is $5. If you wish to hire a boat it’s $60. Due to our visit being in winter we decided to skip on any boating as it was a bit chilly by the lake. We did spend many hours sitting on a bench perfectly situated on the banks of the lake though, just soaking in the view and the aquatic wildlife we were seeing.

There was a lot of birdlife which included White-faced Whistling Ducks, Jacanas, Moorhen, Sacred Ibis, Heron and Blacksmith Lapwing. The environment was so calming and relaxing. Typing about it even makes me miss it so much.

2. Swimming – free

My equally favourite thing to do at Hideaway Lodge was sitting by the pool just sunbathing. It’s the remarkable feeling you get when the African winter sun hits your freezing bare skin that kept on drawing me there. The perfectly manicured garden around the pool area and the view of the lake even made the experience more enjoyable. I loved every bit of it.

3. Braaing – free

Every self catering chalet at Hideaway Lodge has a gazebo and a braaing area overlooking the lake. We are not big on braaing but I imagine it is many people’s favourite activity to do so you will definitely enjoy it there. Do contact them to find out whether they sell firewood or charcoal or if you need to bring your own.

4. Wedding hosting

Hideaway Lodge has one of the most beautiful wedding venues you can ever find in and around Harare. They have the garden and the view of the lake which are perfect for an outdoor wedding. They also have an open plan hall which perfectly incorporates the garden in case you need a mix of indoor and outdoor garden.

5. Palm tree dates

This one is probably just my own favourite but I had to throw it in there because I was thrilled to see the date palm trees dotted around the yard. When I was in primary school I was totally obsessed with these fruits because we had the tree on the school premises. We were not really allowed to get to it because we damaged the lawn around it but like little monkeys we would find ways to sneak in and get one or two. I never came across this tree bearing fruits again until at Hideaway Lodge. It brought back so many great childhood memories .

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hideaway Lodge Darwendale/Lake Manyame is a perfect destination for rebooting and relaxing away from the city. It is an aesthetically pleasing location to unwind at and also bond with loved ones. The fees are fair and the fact that they offer both self catering and non self catering options is a big plus. I would definitely love to visit again.

If or when you visit, please share your experience with me here or on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn :)… Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

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NB: It is strongly advised to read all the reviews on this site in their entirety to ensure that the destinations really suit all your needs & preferences.

VISITS ARE STRICTLY BY BOOKING & Marina Campsite is strictly a NO NOISE zone. 

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

1. Introduction
2. Booking & contact details
3. Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use
4. Arrival & experience with staff members
5. Accommodation & fees
6. Restaurant & meals (Mazvikadei Resort Hotel)
7. Activities & fees at Mazvikadei Dam
8. Illegal charging of entry fees to visit the Mazvikadei Dam Wall by Masvika Leisure
9. Conclusion

Introduction

Do you sometimes wake up with a strong urge to change your environment, even if it’s just for a day or two and hide somewhere far away from the city? Well, this is me many times and particularly this one day when I decided to contact the Mazvikadei Marina Campsite to book for a two night camping experience for the next day.  The good thing is that we hate travelling during the weekend or on public holidays so we actually got the two days we wanted.

Booking & contact details

The contact  details for the Mazvikadei Marina Campsite are golddusttownship@gmail.com or billatgolddust@gmail.com. The booking process went so  smoothly and Bill was quite helpful with sharing all the information we needed for a successful and comfortable trip.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use 

Mazvikadei Marina Campsite is STRICTLY for campers only, not day visitors. It is also established in a gated community  where entry is strictly by booking for security reasons, therefore without a booking you will not be allowed entry.

Mazvikadei Marina Campsite is situated on the banks of the Mazvikadei Dam which was built on Mukwadzi River, near Banket in Zvimba district, Mashonaland West. It is located 113 km from Harare CBD.

The drive to Mazvikadei Marina Campsite Dam was quite a breeze. If you wish to use Google Maps you can search for “Mazvikadei Marina” and you will be taken to the correct destination. If you search for “Mazvikadei Dam” you will end up at the Dam wall which is some 17 km from the campsite. The campsite is in a gated community so once you have arrived  you can ask the personnel manning the gate for the Marina Campsite. 

If you cannot use Google Maps, the directions are as follows: From Harare you take the Kariba/ Chinhoyi Road (A1/Lomagundi) until you get to the Westgate Shopping Centre roundabout. At the roundabout you continue straight  on A1 and drive for about 85.1 km to get to the Mutorashanga turn off. Turn right onto Mutorashanga road and drive another 1.3 km.  You will get to a left turn off with a Masvika sign post. Take that left turn and drive an additional 11.8 km where you turn right. After driving about 4.4 km you will see a boom gate to your left and you will have arrived at your destination.

Arrival & experience with staff members

Upon arrival, my jaw literally dropped. I don’t know what exactly I was expecting but the beauty that laid right in front of my eyes left me stunned. We were greeted by the camp attendant who was quite warm and welcoming and he settled us in. I honestly don’t know why I kept on postponing a visit to this Dam. I guess it’s because I didn’t know about Marina Campsite (since I had only learnt about it the previous week) but as it turned out, it is exactly what I needed and more.

Accommodation & fees

The accommodation option at Mazvikadei Marina Campsite is camping which is $10 per adult and $5 per child. I’m tempted to say it is the best campsite I’ve been to. The close proximity to the remarkable calm dam sealed the deal for me. The entire time we were pitching the tent, I was just in awe. I could not get my eyes off of that view.

The campsite has a modern ablution block with hot bathing water powered by solar which makes for a perfect camping experience. The campsite also has taps and braai stands conveniently installed and built at every campsite. The beautiful lush lawn and trees that provide ample shade make for a cosy and perfect environment to pitch the tent. 

If you have your own boat, there is also a well made & well maintained slipway to launch and recover your boat which is $5. An additional $5 per person is also charged by Zimparks and is paid directly to them.

Firewood is not sold at the campsite so you will have to bring your own should you wish to braai or cook on fire. They do however, sell charcoal if you need it. The Campsite is run on solar for lights but there are no plug points at the individual sites. If you need to charge anything they can help you with that at the main office which is just a few metres from the campsite. 

The Mazvikadei Marina Campsite is under Golddust Township which is a Residential Township (gated community) so once your booking has been confirmed you will be booked at the Main gate for permission to enter on your day of visit.

Restaurant & meals (Mazvikadei Resort Hotel)

In the same gated community as Mazvikadei Marina Campsite, there is Mazvikadei Resort Hotel which has a restaurant so we decided to have lunch there on the day that we arrived. We were welcomed so warmly by the caretaker who directed us to the restaurant where we met the supervisor. The supervisor gave us a brief tour of the grand restaurant which overlooks the Mazvikadei dam. It is quite impressive how they have managed to create such a breathtaking place and merge it so seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

After the tour, we were ushered to our seats in the full view of the dam. We placed our order and just enjoyed the views while we waited. I was truly astonished. I had never heard of this place before, which is wild considering how close to Harare it is. They also offer different accommodation options, however, I can not comment on the state of the accommodation since I did not see what it looks like. If you wish to stay there overnight please do further research. The WhatsApp contact number for Mazvikadei Resort Hotel is +263782300967, for calls is +263774256738 and the email address is resortmazvikadei@gmail.com.

Some minutes later our drinks came, followed by plates filled to the brim with quarter chicken, chips and salad. I had wandered to the plants nearby but the aroma of the food drew me back to my seat quite quickly. The best part is that the taste of the first bite and each subsequent bite precisely matched the perfection of the views and the warm energy we had received so far from all the staff members we had interacted with. I would for sure visit again without a doubt. The meal we had was around $32 for the two of us including drinks.

Activities & fees at Mazvikadei Dam

1. Swimming at Mazvikadei Resort Hotel

When we finished having our lunch at the resort we asked if we could take a swim and you will be pleased to know that even if you are not a resident visitor there they will allow you for $10 per person. We were the only ones there at the time as our visit was during the week so we had the pool all to ourselves.

2. Canoeing/boating & fishing

The fees for canoeing and boating depend on whether you have your own canoe or boat. If you have your own then you only pay $5 for slipway usage and another $5 per person to Zimparks for the use of the dam. We hired a canoe through Marina Campsite and we paid $20. Marina Campsite does not hire out boats or canoes, however, where possible they can facilitate for you to get one. Please also note that you have to bring your own life jacket. It is a fineable offence by Zimparks to be in the dam without a life jacket.

The next day we were invited for a boat ride by other campers who had their own boat and it was quite a good time. This was also greatly appreciated since our canoeing experience on the previous day had not quite gone according to plan lol. We had had a boat rush to us just some minutes into canoeing, to warn us that they had encountered one aggressive crocodile in the same area we were canoeing. We therefore paddled as fast as our arms could permit until we got to the safety of the shore. We did not waste any time because earlier that day we had seen one crocodile which seemed to behave in an unusual manner. So when we got this warning it made total sense and we wasted no time in the water.

It was later alleged that the aggressive crocodile was an escapee from the nearby crocodile farm. This of course is not the norm. The dam does have crocodiles but they wouldn’t attack a canoe. The escapees are different though as they are reared by humans so there is familiarity and their hunting skills in the wild are not as perfected as their counterparts which makes them turn to humans for food as we are easier prey.

NB: Crocodile farm visit used to be a popular activity at Mazvikadei however the farm is NO LONGER open to the public.

3. Mazvikadei Dam wall visit

Just before our visit, I came across some pics that were quite compelling of the Mazvikadei Dam Wall so of course we had to visit. The distance from the Marina Campsite to the dam wall is 17 km. You can follow google maps directions to get to the dam wall with ease. 

At the dam wall was a very knowledgeable gentleman who toured with us and shared so many fascinating facts about it. I will not preempt anything but I can assure you that you do want to pass through if you are already at the dam.

Illegal charging of entry fees to visit the Dam Wall by Masvika Leisure

At the time of our visit, the road to the Dam Wall was blocked by a gate and in the vicinity were sign posts of Masvika Leisure. I don’t know if this has been changed yet since ZINWA said they were going to get the gate removed or repositioned. The short of the story is that upon our arrival we honked and someone from Masvika Leisure approached us. He told us that to visit the dam wall we had to pay $10 for the two of us and so we paid as we were under the assumption that it was Masvika Leisure which had the sole responsibility of the dam.

It was only after we were already at the dam wall that our host told us not to pay if anyone from Masvika Leisure asked us to pay anything because they are not supposed to charge dam wall visitors anything. When we drove back out to leave, the gate was no longer being manned so we messaged them later to refund us our money that they had illegally taken. The good thing is that we were vlogging as usual for Youtube so we have the whole interaction on video. We also contacted ZINWA (the organisation that is actually responsible for the Dam) and they did a site visit which they came back to us later confirming that Masvika Leisure indeed has no business charging people who are visiting the dam wall.

We actually do not mind paying to see the dam wall if the money is going to the correct organisation responsible for maintaining the dam wall but not when it is being illegally collected by some other people who are just trying to abuse the system.

I’m not sure if the gate has been removed yet or not but if you visit and you find that it hasn’t been removed then they should open it for you without making you pay anything. If they try to cause you any problems, record them and also contact ZINWA Mazvikadei representative on +263773140780.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Mazvikadei Dam is definitely an awesome nature haven to visit. The birdlife is spectacular and so are the views. For those who enjoy fishing, boating and/canoeing, this is a perfect place for that. Its close proximity to Harare makes it an even perfect destination for those impromptu nature trips that we sometimes crave for, whether for a day visit or overnight. The Marina Campsite was nothing short of pure awesomeness, starting from the friendly and helpful hosts to the well maintained, comfortable and functional campsites. Mazvikadei Resort Hotel is also a nice treat especially if you want to camp but do not feel like cooking. Overall, Mazvikadei Dam is a definite must visit.

I hope you visit some day and when you do, please share your experience with me here or on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn :)… Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

Introduction

Booking & contact details

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

Arrival & experience with staff members

Accommodation, WiFi & fees

Restaurant, meals & fees

Activities at Chinhoyi Caves

The history, geology & wildlife of the Chinhoyi Caves

How & why the Chinhoyi Caves Sleeping Pool water is striking blue.

Conclusion

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Contact Empowered Travel on +263784887595 for your Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit.

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Introduction

Since my university days, we had plans to visit this sacred place with my classmates but the plan never materialised. I then thought maybe it’s better to visit on my way to or back from Kariba but again when I visited Kariba for the first time this did not happen. Fast forward to our Kariba visit in October, we finally made it a point that we would visit this famously unique place that we had heard so many intriguing facts about. 

Booking & contact details

The booking process went smoothly. Chinhoyi Caves Motel contact number is +263719732034. I got a prompt response to my initial message of enquiry which was then followed by the quotation with their bank details. After depositing the funds, our booking was confirmed so now it was just a matter of waiting for our travel date. 

Contact Empowered Travel on +263784887595 for your Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit.

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use 

The travel date fast approached. We had just had one of the best 10 days ever in Mana Pools National Park and Kariba and now it was time to say our goodbyes to Kariba. At this point Kariba had fully rejuvenated me and Chinhoyi caves was going to be a perfect slow step back into the busy city life again. So we started our journey from Kariba to Chinhoyi at around 10am. For a detailed description of the Harare-Kariba road please check this article where I went in depth. 

Chinhoyi Caves are located 125 km from Harare CBD. To get to them you exit Harare using A1 also known as the Kariba road. The road has chipped edges, potholes and heavy trucks coming to and from Zambia which slow down the drive so you want to factor that in when planning your time of departure. If the plan is to only visit the Chinhoyi caves then a small vehicle can manage if driven with caution. Since we were coming from Kariba we drove 237 km and the drive was quite a breeze. We started the journey early enough so we were in no hurry.

Arrival & experience with staff members

Upon our arrival, we went straight to the reception on the motel side. We were greeted with warmth by the lady there and all the other staff members we met were quite courteous too. We did our check-in and were escorted to our lodge for the night. 

Accommodation, WiFi & fees

At the time of our visit, the accommodation and breakfast plus WiFi were $70 per couple per night. Please kindly note that fees in the tourism industry are always fluctuating depending on the season. Our visit was in October which is an off peak season so it would be relatively cheaper. Do contact them on +263719732034 for the up to date fees at your preferred time of visit.

The first thing that caught my eyes as we were being escorted to our lodge was the stunning gray paint on the exterior of our lodge. The paint looked new which suggested that the lodge had just been renovated. 

In my history of travelling, this was also the first time the vehicle actually had its own shaded spot to be parked in and quite close to our lodge. It was literally an extension of our lodge so it was just perfect.

We opened the door feeling a bit nervous, hoping that we would not be disappointed considering how everything else so far had raised our hopes high. The first thing I saw was the fancy gypsum looking ceiling with fitted lights. Not exactly what you would expect from Zimparks but hey, they have been upping their game lately.

To the right was the dining corner with a new looking faux double leather couch & a high quality timber coffee table. There was also a mini fridge and a Tv mounted on the wall. Another beautiful surprise was the aircon also mounted on the wall which came in quite handy as our trip was in October, at the peak of the hot season.

Behind the couch was a beautifully made Queen size bed with white linen and some orange throws for a pop of colour. Whoever is responsible for the revamp of Zimparks is really putting in some effort and it’s much appreciated. The bed even looked brand new and it was quite comfortable. On both sides of the bed were sockets and bedside tables. The tables have stunning shelves made out of reeds & a steel frame plus a spacious wooden top.

To the left, from the main entry is a good sized floor to ceiling wardrobe with mirrored doors. I have a feeling this is a popular decorative feature in this lodge among ladies. I totally loved it. Right next to it is a perfectly tucked coffee corner which can also be used as a work desk. It is similar to the bedside tables but it is bigger. 

The bathroom is located directly opposite the main entry. It is modernly and beautifully tiled with faux wooden tiles on the wall and white tiles on the floor. The white basin is sitting on a wooden cupboard which adds storage space. The shower cubicle is capacious which allows for two people to shower comfortably. I really appreciated that the shower nozzle worked perfectly because it’s hardly the case in most places.

Considering that this destination is situated by the side of a busy highway with trucks moving non stop, it was quite impressive that when the door was closed we did not hear a single sound of a truck. The noise proofing of this lodge is par excellence.

The lodge is overall a huge improvement especially by Zimparks standards. The quality of the renovation work & materials used may not be the best in the industry but that did not take away from how the lodge had everything we needed which all worked perfectly (except for the WiFi) and was 100% homely and  comfortable.

Restaurant, meals & fees

From my observation, Chinhoyi Caves Motel does not offer self catering as an option so all meals are catered for by them. After being on holiday for almost two weeks straight, starting from Mana Pools, then Kariba, this kind of service is exactly what we needed.

Breakfast was an English one and consisted of eggs, beans, sausages, bacon, tomato, lettuce, toasted bread and tea/coffee of your choice. Cereals were on offer too. For dinner we had roasted chicken, chips and vegetable salad. I forgot to take any pic but it was a decent meal just as the breakfast was.

Activities at Chinhoyi Caves

Activities are priced per person & they include:

1. Cave exploration – $5 locals, $10 internationals

2. Lion enclosure visit

3. Scuba diving 

4. Camping

5. Picnic

6. Swimming

The history, geology & wildlife of the Chinhoyi Caves

Description: Chinhoyi caves are the caves known to date to have the most intricate and extensive cave systems in Zimbabwe. The two accessible ones to the public are the  Sleeping Pool Cave and the Dark Cave. The Bat and Blind Caves have been discovered too by scuba divers who explored them via the sleeping pool. It is believed that more caves probably exist as no one has ever managed to follow all the channels due to safety reasons. In the Sleeping Pool Cave is where the famous pool with cobalt blue water is found. This pool is also known as the Chirorodziva which means “Pool of the fallen”.

The Sleeping pool has gained Chinhoyi caves much of its popularity because of its distinct, spectacular colour and also its temperature that never changes. It is always in the range of 22°C to 24°C all year round regardless of how hot or cold the ambient temperature is. Its fascinating history also cemented its fate as a crowd puller and interest grabber.

How & why the Chinhoyi Caves Sleeping Pool water is striking blue.

So the Chinhoyi caves are made out of two types of sedimentary rock called limestone and dolomite. Limestone’s main chemical structure is Calcium Carbonate while that of dolomite is Calcium Magnesium Carbonate.

Unlike the blue seas and lakes that are blue due to reflection of the sky, the cobalt blue colour in the Chinhoyi caves sleeping pool is due to the limestone being dissolved by water and forming tiny crystals. It is these tiny crystals (also known as Calcite) that when exposed to sunlight they scatter the light, giving them the cobalt blue colour.

The sleeping pool is exposed to so much sunlight because of the roof directly on top of the pool which collapsed leaving a giant hole also known as the Wonder Hole. 

The Wonder Hole walls are about 45 meters high from the sleeping pool surface to the hole. The collapsing of the roof was no accident but an expected progression of these types of caves which are even termed the “dying caves” by geologists. This is because of the limestone which they are made out of which dissolves when mixed with water. The sink holes and other depressions around these caves also support the “dying” phenomenon. However, the process to have such elaborate structures as those of the Chinhoyi caves to all fully collapse is a very slow one.

History: Chinhoyi Caves are also special due to their rich history and cultural significance. Around the 1830s, there were severe political conflicts that included the Mfecane and Great Trek in South Africa that resulted in the Nguni tribe leaving that area and migrating northwards towards Zimbabwe. As it happened then, the group that would be migrating would attack any group that they came across so that they could take food and any other resources they needed. This time they came across a Shona tribe that was living in the Chinhoyi area. This Shona tribe was ambushed and in trying to flee, they were headed towards the sleeping pool where they all perished. It is then that the pool was named Chirorodziva meaning (the pool of the fallen). 

Later on the inhabitants of the Chinhoyi caves faced another dark period when one Nyamakwere (an outlaw and bully) tormented everyone in the villages and threw those he had even the slightest disagreements with (or just didn’t like) into this pool. Many people lost their lives at his hands. This only was put to an end by Chinhoyi who was a headman at the time and decided to fight this Nyamakwere guy and defeated him. The villagers were so relieved and so grateful to him that they decided to make him their chief. Chief Chinhoyi’s leadership was so memorable and deeply appreciated that the town and the caves were named after him. During his reign, the caves were used as a refuge for women & children when tribal wars started and also to store grains. Visitors used to see the Chief’s grain bins in certain parts of the Dark Cave but that area is no longer accessible.

Wildlife: The Chinhoyi Caves area is rich in plant vegetation like Msasa and Mnondo. There are also some Mukwa trees as well as Figs. Bird species that utilise this Ramsar site include Arnot’s Chat, Angola Rock Thrush, Mocking Chat, Large Striped Pipit, woodpecker species and many others. Bats are also quite prominent there. They even got one cave named after them. The cobalt blue water is inhabited by fish like bass, bottle fish, bream, and catfish. Due to the rise in the number of mosquitoes there, Goldfish were introduced too to try and keep the mosquitoes at bay.  Rock hyraxes’ presence is undisputed with their droppings scattered everywhere in the caves. Bushpigs also live in the surrounding vegetation.

It is unfortunate that this beauty is under threat from agricultural projects and residential land expansion in the vicinity which are causing a detrimental increase in borehole sinking which is affecting groundwater quantity and quality. Mining of dolomite nearby is also posing a threat to the caves and the other protected surrounding areas. The Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority is the one responsible for monitoring all these threats so that measures are taken to make sure the Chinhoyi Caves continue to exist.

Conclusion

I questioned myself why it took me so long to visit this natural masterpiece because it definitely matches the hype it gets. When you have the knowledge of its history and geological aspects, the experience of exploring these caves is certainly different. Do carry something to repel mosquitoes though because they can cause quite a lot of discomfort especially when the visit is in summer. The accommodation and meals were also great.

When you visit, please do share your experience with me here or on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn :)… Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

There is no doubt that travelling is fun, exciting and much needed every so often. Nowadays though due to social media, we come across so many posts on enticing places to visit and just based on the pictures everything looks heavenly. However, we hardly ever see posts of people who travelled and things went wrong.

Unfortunately though, many times things do not go as planned. The frequency is also increased by the fact that we never talk as much about these things so we never learn from each others ordeals. I hope that this article & future articles to come on this subject will help us avoid or at least be fully prepared in the event of such.

The issues to watch out for when travelling fall in the following three broad categories:

1. Injuries, illnesses & accidents

I know that there are many people who have never fallen sick for as far back as they can remember. People who have never been involved in a road accident ever and on both counts this will remain the case for many of these people. The only issue though is that you never know which side of the coin your fate lies until right at the end of your life.

Accidents happen to even the most careful people on the road. In the words of the Managing Director of the Traffic Society Council of Zimbabwe, “a road accident happens every 15 minutes in Zimbabwe & about 5 people die while 38 get injured every day” (a number that is on the rise each year). He goes on to explain that most road accident deaths can be avoided if appropriate medical assistance is rendered as soon as possible. 

Medical experts say that the first hour (which they refer to as the Golden Hour) is the most crucial. Unfortunately though, the reality on the ground is that most road users do not travel with first aid kits and are also clueless when it comes to rendering first aid in most if not all situations. My recommendation therefore is for you and any of your travel buddies to sign up for first aid training (especially one specific to road accidents) and to always travel with first aid kits. 

A feeling of preparedness is always better than a feeling of regret. Empowered Travel can provide you with the preparedness that you need with both the training and first aid kits. You can find the details on this link Advanced Travel Trauma First Aid Training & Motorist First Aid Kit or contact +263784887595

2. Safety & security

There has been an increase in smash & grab, highway robberies and other forms of crimes towards individuals in Zimbabwe. There are over 9’000 reported cases of robbery each year, over 10 recorded murders each week, over 20 reported rape cases every single day (and the list goes on…). 

To view such statistics as distant issues and not imagine ourselves ever as potential victims is of course a normal response of our brain, otherwise we would never step foot out of our homes due to fear. However, no amount of affirmations will guarantee our safety or at least give us a fair survival chance should we find ourselves in such dark situations.  

Certain safety skills such as situational awareness and other forms of avoidance mechanisms plus being able to physically defend one’s self and/or dependants as much as possible need to be acquired.

Empowered travel (+263784887595) offers Self Defence Training for both men & women which you can find here. A GPS vehicle tracker such as the one offered by Empowered Travel can also come in handy in kidnapping and vehicle theft cases. Nothing is ever guaranteed in life, however, it is always better to give yourself and your loved ones a fair chance to survive as many life challenges as possible. You will have peace of mind knowing that you did everything you possibly could have done for your child, partner or other loved ones.

3. Vehicle breakdown

There are very high chances that if you are always servicing your vehicle at the right time and using a good mechanic, breakdowns are not going to be a common occurrence of yours. However, if you do not have basic understanding of your vehicle, even the best mechanics sometimes take shortcuts and you end up with minor and sometimes even major vehicle breakdowns. A good understanding of one’s vehicle is indisputably needed by anyone who is ever behind the driver’s wheel. 

Many have found themselves stuck in the middle of nowhere and with no network connection to try and get help, leaving themselves vulnerable to all sorts of things. Fear and panic kicks in and what causes these sensations in most situations in life is the complete lack of knowledge on certain crucial subjects and also being caught unprepared. 

I don’t know how much I can emphasize the importance of every vehicle driver (whether male or female) to have deep knowledge and appreciation of this machine. It is crucial. Which is why Empowered Travel (+263784887595) offers Vehicle Maintenance Training and User Friendly Tools that anyone can comfortably use in times of emergency. These can be found here.

I hope this has been useful and that it will make your trips much safer and more comfortable. 

Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature.

Click on the subheadings below to jump to their contents:

Introduction

Booking & contact details

Directions, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

Arrival & experience with the staff members

Accommodation & fees

Activities & fees

Game drive experience

Conclusion

.

Introduction

Kariba is one unique town in Zimbabwe as there are animals like elephants which move around freely. During our stay in Kariba at Warthog Safari Camp, we would commonly see animals like zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, hippos and elephants as it is situated on the game corridor. Despite the awesome experience with these animals we still wanted to visit Lake Kariba Recreational Park to explore further, so we did. 

You can find a detailed review of Kariba, with information such as accommodation fees, activities to do in Kariba, road conditions, among others here.

Booking & contact details

From my understanding, no booking is required to visit Lake Kariba Recreational Park. However, if you have enquiries you can contact Zimparks on +263776134164 / info@zimparks.org.zw 

Contact Empowered Travel on +263784887595 for your Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit, $35.

Directions to Lake Kariba Recreational Park, road conditions & best type of vehicle to use

We decided to start our trip early on the day of our visit so that we could get to the park by 6am. Kariba is such a hot area and our visit being in October (the peak of the hot season in Zimbabwe) we had to start and finish the game drive as early as possible when it would still be cooler. This timing would also allow us to see the animals while they are grazing and drinking water. Animals behave in the same way we do in many ways. So in the peak of the heat they are resting under the shade of trees trying to keep cool. It is therefore not as easy to see them compared to when they are in the open grassland feeding. 

Lake Kariba Recreational Park is located about 20 km from Kariba CBD. You drive as if you’re going back to Harare and you will find a sign post directing you to the park. You will find additional signs which will lead you right to the park’s gates. It does not look like the specific entry to the park is marked on Google Maps though so you will just have to rely on the sign posts.

Arrival & experience with the staff members

As we had planned, we managed to arrive between 6am and 6:30am. Excited to start our tour in the park, we were met by some of the most unwelcoming Zimparks personnel ever. This literally shocked me because we’ve been to several Zimparks destinations and never have we ever experienced such. Zimparks’ interaction with visitors has always been excellent. So straight away we knew something was wrong with these specific people.

There was no acknowledgement from them about our presence so we had to awkwardly ask if they were operating or not. One man responded, “yes” & we asked for the entry fees. Unbeknown to him, I already knew the fees as Zimparks shares their rates for all their parks on their website for each year in a pdf document. 

At the time of publishing this article, the rates for 2024 are not yet out however, below is the link for the 2023 ones (they are less likely to be any differences for most of the places except maybe for Victoria Falls) https://www.zimparks.org.zw/parks-rates.html 

The man went on to say that the entry fee was $10 per adult and another $10 for the car. We exclaimed in shock but quickly thought he must think that we are foreigners. So we clarified that we are locals and he said yes that was the fee. The next logical step we could think of was  to  ask him to see the rate sheet he was using and the receipt book where other people had paid that amount and that is when he said that he did not have either. Someone else was going to bring it. 

In even more confusion we just went like “What?! So how were you planning on giving us the receipt after we had paid you the $30 which is actually supposed to be $15?”.  There was silence from him… So we told him it was okay, we were going to wait for the person with the receipt book to come.

We waited until 7am for the person to come. While we were waiting we of course talked to the area manager, Mr Sibanda who is amazing. He clarified that the total fees we were supposed to pay was indeed $15 and not $30. He apologised and said that he would attend to that situation.

While I do not wish for the man and the other people who were in the ticket office (when this man was trying to steal from us) to lose their jobs, I think a firm warning is needed because the last thing we need as a country is to have a bad reputation over theft by officials at our national parks. Most people who visit these parks (like ourselves) are not rich. We will be working on quite a tight budget but of course we want to support their efforts in conservation through our visits. The fees are already not cheap for a regular Zimbabwean so for them to double it is just unfair.

I will reiterate though that I’ve been to so many national parks and this has never happened. We have always received the best reception from them and everything was done in a transparent manner. The only reason I’m highlighting this particular encounter we had is so that you know that you can always take steps to ensure that the right thing is done and not to cancel a whole establishment over one or a few bad apples.  

Accommodation & fees

I did see some campsites but I do not think that they are in use. They were also not included on the zimparks rate sheet for all their parks so I do not think that they offer accommodation there. However, there are so many accommodation options in Kariba and you can find a detailed review, including prices of where we stayed on this link.

Activities in Lake Kariba Recreational Park & fees

The main activity in Lake Kariba Recreational Park offered by zimparks is a game drive with one’s own vehicle. There are other activities though such as the sunset cruise, parasailing, speed boat hire, sailing boat cruise, guided game drive, among others which are offered by private service providers. I shared all the details on who to contact and the fees for each activity on the link here.

Game drive experience at Lake Kariba Recreational Park

After finally making the payment at 7am, we got in and our game drive started. It’s such a good thing that no matter what is happening, nature always calms me down. So once we actually passed the boom gate, I started feeling excitement building up in anticipation of what awaited us. The little hiccup prior was already fading away from my mind.

The first animals we saw were these adorable Red-necked francolin birds which were walking on the road. It was beautiful to witness how if you respect animals you get to observe their interactions among each other and their environment. Just so beautiful and soothing to watch.

We drove a little and spotted two zebras play-fighting and stopping to graze. They looked like they had no worries whatsoever. Given that lions are not really completely absent there either, it’s mind blowing to see the plains game chilled, living each moment fully with no fear. Many times we are stuck on “what ifs” and worry about things in the future that we can not even change. So seeing these zebras’ behaviour and attitude reminded me that I need to just relax sometimes and enjoy life as is in that moment.

While watching the zebras we caught a glimpse of what looked like waterbucks from afar. We drove closer to get a better look and it was indeed a healthy herd of waterbucks. There were more zebras too in the vicinity and we stayed there for a good while, while enjoying the two species interacting with each other. 

In the middle of this pleasant relaxed experience, I sensed something from the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see what it was and it was a cute mongoose couple in an upright position staring right at us.

They were watching us this whole time and it just made me wonder which other species were watching us and we would never get to see them. Everything in the bush is so observant and situationally aware. Another skill that we have lost as humans but certainly need to regain in order to keep ourselves safe from mugging, smash & grab and other related crimes when we are travelling.

The mongooses started playing around while still keeping an eye on us. It was surprising though for us to see just these two because mongooses usually move in groups. It wasn’t long though before we saw several other ones nearby so it seems like these two had just left the group for some privacy. At some point they were mating.

We left this side of the park and drove in the opposite direction to explore further. Just as we got to one junction and were discussing which direction to take, we saw this pumped up herd of bachelor impalas. This was actually our first time to see impalas since we got to Kariba. These male impalas were jumping around seemingly practising and probably showing off to each other their best jumps. 

Being able to jump the furthest is quite crucial among antelopes, especially small ones like impalas which are the main target for most big predators. Their ability to survive an attack by even a cheetah (the fastest animal on land) is their ability to jump and do quick sudden turns  during the chase. The longer they can keep up with that the more they drain the predator until it gives up. 

The display and practice by these males is not only to avoid predators though but to also get their own breeding herds. Not every male impala will manage to mate and breed though. It’s only the strongest and fastest in the group that will fight the current sitting male and take over or at least split up his female herd.

We drove around further and continued seeing more and more impalas. Eventually we got to one side of the lake that was so quiet. There was no sign of other humans at all, just animals and the lake. This is because no commercial fishing is allowed here so everything is just so peaceful. We took our snack break there and enjoyed the pure sounds of mother nature through birds and other animals. 

We walked around the periphery of the lake (keeping a safe distance of course) and we saw about four crocodiles. Just as I would get ready to photograph them though they would rush quickly into the water. It’s really impressive how strong their senses are because obviously they would have been watching us for a long time but just as they pick up that we have noticed them and our attention is now on them, only then will they decide to swim away. They rely on camouflage too so if they know that they haven’t been spotted, it serves them better to keep still than to move.

We saw so many aquatic bird species. It was an all round beautiful and calming experience. We left after about 2 hours to 3 hours as the heat was starting to pick up. We left in all smiles as this ended up being a pretty fulfilling morning

Conclusion

If you are in Kariba and especially staying anywhere which is not along the game corridor then you certainly want to visit Lake Kariba Recreational Park. Elephants are amazing for sure however they are not the only animals Kariba has to offer. The first time I visited Kariba we stayed at the Kariba Heights and we only saw elephants and zebras. I left with the impression that those were the only animals there because I did not know that there was a section of the recreational park where you could actually pay an entry fee and explore. So I hope that when you are next in Kariba you do visit. If you want a guided game drive you can check out this link with activities, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or booking.

When you visit, do share your experience with me here or on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn :)… Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature

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|Tips & EcoTravel destinations in
|Founder @empoweredtravelzw which offers Tools & Training in Travel Safety & Security
|10 DESTINATIONS

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KARIBA DAM SHORE WILDLIFE VIEWING

Aerial Hill View point for some Kariba Golden Suns

Headed to the Aerial Hill View point for some Kari

Chilling by the lakeshore with Hippos & w

Load More… Follow on Instagram

This list is in order of the destination that offers the most comfort and pampering. It is going to get continuous.

Contact Empowered Travel on +263784887595 for your Travel/Motorist First Aid Kit, $35.

1. Pamuzinda Safari Lodge

Pamuzinda Safari Lodge has a lot of positive factors going for it. Firstly, it is located quite close to Harare, in Selous. Secondly, they offer you royal treatment and thirdly the general garden and swimming pool area as well as the chalets are aesthetically pleasing. The drive to Pamuzinda Safari Lodge is also quite a breeze. Their “couple’s package” fee is usually around $198. However, the fees fluctuate depending on whether it is in or out of peak season. Do check out this detailed review for directions, distance, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities offered, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings among other information https://www.eminentlyeve.com/pamuzinda-safari-lodge-review/

2. Hippo Pools Wilderness Camp

Hippo pools is my favourite on this list however, its roads are better suited to 4 wheel drive vehicles. It is located in Shamva along the Mazowe river. It has such priceless views and the customer service is par excellence. They have a restaurant, a swimming pool and a number of accommodation options which range from $30 to $140 per couple per night, the latter being the cosiest one. Their prices are also seasonal so do check out the review article where I shared detailed directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities offered, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings, among others https://www.eminentlyeve.com/garura-wildlife-park-x-hippo-pools-zimbabwe-all-you-need-to-know/

3. Bally Vaughan Game Park & Sanctuary, Mwanga Lodge

Mwanga Lodge, Bally Vaughan Game Park & Sanctuary is quite a good option too. It is located pretty close to Harare in the direction of Shamva. The chalets  are clean and overlook a priceless savanna bush with resident zebras and a zonkey roaming in there. They are perfectly tucked away from the main area where daily visits are hosted so it gives perfect privacy. There is a beautiful swimming pool at the restaurant area but also a good distance from the restaurant so awesome for some privacy as well. The only downside compared to the two other destinations above is that the chalets are not as updated so a bit on the old fashioned side. They cost $300 per couple per night. The staff at the lodges & restaurant are very friendly. Before making any decision though, do check out this detailed review with directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities offered, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings, among others https://www.eminentlyeve.com/mwanga-lodge-bally-vaughan-game-park-sanctuary-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it-near-harare-mashonaland-east-zimbabwe/

4. Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area

Mavhuradonha Wilderness Area is quite an interesting one. To me it was the best because my husband and I got to enjoy some undistracted quality time together. This is because there is no network, internet or wifi so it’s just the two of you alone without any distractions from the world. The chalets are cosily tucked in the bush, far away from “civilisation” therefore intimacy with nature is guaranteed. The staff makes this destination so homely with their warmth, kindness and jovial energy. There are waterfalls and dams which are perfectly suited to picnicking. I shared a detailed review with directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities offered, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings, among others on this link https://www.eminentlyeve.com/mavhuradonha-wilderness-area-mvurwi-zimbabwe-review-all-you-need-to-know-about-visiting-it/. So do check it out before making the decision to visit just to make sure it is a type of destination that would suit you. Please also make sure that your partner would enjoy that type of setup too.

5. Chengeta Safari Lodge

Chengeta Safari Lodge is a sister lodge to Pamuzinda Safari Lodge. The two are located close to each other, in Selous, close to Harare. I haven’t spent a night at Chengeta Safari Lodge so I can’t speak to its “overnight visit” state. However, from the day visit experience I had, we had such a great time. The service, activities and food were all perfect. I do hope to spend a night there soon so that I can give you a more accurate review on this destination. For a general idea about this destination you can check out this detailed review with directions, road condition, best type of vehicle to use, activities offered, fees and contact details for enquiries and/or bookings, among others https://www.eminentlyeve.com/chengeta-safari-lodge-review-all-you-need-to-know/

I hope you find a perfect destination for you & your significant other on this list.

Remember to have a little intimacy in your life & as always I’m talking about Intimacy With Nature