Classic Luxury

Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge

Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge is perched high above the Save River in the south eastern corner of Zimbabwe. This recently refurbished lodge offers a fantastic range of activities and incredible game viewing in Gonarezhou National Park.

Gonarezhou National Park, Southern Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge
  • Soak in the knowledge imparted by the expert guiding team

  • Explore the rocky sandstone cliffs by foot

  • Stop on a sandbank in the Save River for a sundowner

  • Cool off in the outdoor pool during the heat of the day


As with much of Zimbabwe over the past fifteen years Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge suffered from a drop in tourism and a lack of investment. This gem of a lodge reopened in 2012 after a team of Zimbabwean and international investors recognised the extraordinary potential of the area and the lodge itself. A complete refurbishment was led by original Chilo founding father and head guide Clive Stockil, a real pioneer of Zimbabwean conservation. In 2013 Clive won the Tusk Trust lifetime achievement award for conservation.

The lodge itself is perched high on a rocky outcrop above the Save River on the north eastern boundary of Gonarezhou National Park in south eastern Zimbabwe. The views from the lodge are spectacular, the Save River draws animals in to drink, it is not uncommon to see elephant and buffalo below the lodge, and the river itself is home to large populations of crocodile and hippo.

The style of the lodge is that of a large two level building, it is of timber and stone construction and the large thatch roof keeps the internal areas cool during the heat of the day. At the front of the lodge is a large outdoor pool, the patio in this area is a great location for dinner under the stars.

There are ten chalet rooms each with a lovely private balcony where you can sit and take in the views of the river. There are also two luxury rooms with an interleading balcony, ideal for families.

Chilo Gorge offers a fantastic range of activities and is a brilliant base from which to explore the vast wilderness of Gonarezhou National Park.

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Top tip:

Get out on foot with your guide, explore the tracks in the sand of the river bed.

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Location

Gonarezhou National Park, Southern Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Chilo Gorge is located on the Save River along the north eastern border of Gonarezhou National Park in south eastern Zimbabwe.

By road, Chilo Gorge is a 6 hour minibus transfer from Harare Airport. To avoid this long journey, we recommend either chartering a plane into the private Mahenye Airstrip, or taking advantage of the Federal Air scheduled flights from Johannesburg to Buffalo Range, 1-hour from the lodge, which operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is possible to charter a plane to fly to Mahenye from any location in Zimbabwe or beyond.


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