Any visit to Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge and Gonarezhou is as much about the local community as it is about the beauty of the natural landscape and the animals. Visitors can enjoy the riches of Shangaan culture, partake in the wisdom of ages, and witness firsthand the bright promise of a truly sustainable future.

Gonarezhou is Shangaan country, and has been since at least the mid 19th century, when the local tribe arrived from central Africa during the great migrations of the Mfecane. Also known as the MaChangana, or the XiTsonga, they live not only around Gonarezhou, but also across the border in southern Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.

Clive Stockil  (founder of Chilo Gorge) grew up amongst the Shangaan, and, with the community, he has created a unique environment where local cultures, wildlife and responsible tourism are all able to thrive and enrich one another. The local community at Mahenye Village have built a school, clinic, police station and mill from income earned through tourism.

Activities

Whether it’s exhilarating game drives through the park, excursions to the epic Chilojo Cliffs, or a day spent birdwatching, we have a wide range of activities to suit every guest. When the day is done and you’ve enjoyed sundowners on the Save River, filled page after page of your journal around the campfire, or spent a day with the people of Mahenye Village, sleep will come easy. You know when you wake, it will be there waiting for you, all over again.

CHIVILILA FALLS

For those with a penchant for something a bit more active, the 3km walking trail from the lodge to the beautiful Chivilia Falls is a great way to start or end your day. Trekking through a rugged landscape will lead you to a viewpoint overlooking the falls. As the water cascades over age-old rocks, take in the sights and satisfy your thirst with some well deserved refreshments.

CULTURAL VISIT

The intimate working relationship between the lodge and the local Shangaan community makes a visit to Mahenye Village a rewarding and educational experience. The Cultural home, built with funds raised by Chilo, provides insight into Shangaan society. At the annual Mahenye Festival, taking place in September, you get a chance to witness a celebration of Shangaan culture, including traditional dancing, local food and drink, and the time-honoured fish drive in the Save River.

IVORY TRAIL ADVENTURE

At Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge, we pride ourselves on providing our guests with access to a uniquely pristine wilderness and all the authentic experiences that accompany it. The Ivory Trail Adventure provides the truly adventurous traveller with the opportunity to explore rarely visited parts of this special park.

The exact route and campsites will be tailored to take advantage of seasonal hot spots, and to accommodate specific requests. We can also tailor the itinerary to include as much (or as little) walking safaris as our guests would like. The Ivory Trail Adventure is available all year round.

Guests will have a dedicated professional guide and safari vehicle for the duration of their Ivory Trail Adventure. A second support vehicle carries all the equipment and luggage ahead to ensure that lunches and the campsites are set up prior to guests’ arrival. Due to the nature of changing campsites most nights, the equipment and accommodation is that of a fly camping experience.

TENTED CAMP

Overlooking the floodplains of the Runde River, Mahove campsite provides a stunning location for Chilo Gorge Tented Camp. It provides a wonderful location from which to do game walks and is located close by to a number of the best water pans in Gonarezhou. Elephant, buffalo, eland, waterbuck and other plains game often graze just below the campsite, and there is wonderful bird viewing to enjoy throughout the day.

The camp is comprised of 4 large A-frame tents, configured as twin rooms, each with a private en-suite ‘bathroom’. The bathroom consists of a shower and basin with hot and cold running water, and a flush toilet. Meals are enjoyed under the cool shade of a Nyala berry, but there is also a mess tent if the weather is inclement.

Chilo Gorge Tented Camp is open from 1st May to 31st October, and can be hired on a exclusive basis, and combines well with a staying a few nights at the lodge and a few nights under canvas.

Amenities