Matobo Hills Lodge with hills stretching into the horizon
Experiences

The hills,
up close.

Walk with rhino. Read the rock. Stand where kings are buried.

Signature Experiences

Signature Matobo Experiences

Included with the Matobo Experience and All-Inclusive packages. Guests on B&B, DB&B, or Full Board can add any activity as a day tour — half-day from $90, full-day from $165.

Guests tracking white rhino on foot in the Matobo Hills Your Signature Experience
Signature · Included in Experience & All-Inclusive
Must-Do

Rhino Tracking on Foot

Guided walking safari through the Intensive Protection Zone with an armed ranger. With a Guide-led walk, this is one of the safest and most reliable places in Africa to track white rhino on foot. Morning departures after breakfast — the bush is alive, and you’ll have the granite hills to yourself.

2–3 hours | Morning departure | Ages 6+ | Guide-led walk
Ask Us About Rhino Tracking
Guide showing San rock paintings in Matobo Hills cave Cultural Heritage
Cultural

Bushman Cave Art Tours Experience & All-Inclusive

Explore over 3,000 documented San rock art sites — the highest concentration per square kilometre on the continent. Paintings date back up to 40,000 years, with guides who know hidden galleries unmarked on any map.

2–4 hours | Moderate walking | All ages
Learn More →
Scenic drive through the granite landscapes of the Matobo Hills Wildlife
Wildlife

Scenic Drives Experience & All-Inclusive

Morning and afternoon drives through the spectacular granite landscapes of the Matobo Hills. Marvel at iconic balancing rock formations and dramatic vistas. White rhino are frequently spotted, alongside sable, kudu, eland, zebra, and giraffe.

3 hours | Open vehicle | All ages
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Panoramic view from World's View summit in the Matobo Hills Scenic
Scenic

World’s View & Rhodes’ Grave Experience & All-Inclusive

Visit the iconic World’s View summit and Cecil Rhodes’ burial site atop the Matobo Hills. Panoramic views stretch across the granite landscape in every direction.

1.5–2 hours | Easy–moderate | Rhodes Grave entry $10
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Raptor perched on granite in the Matobo Hills Birding
Birding

Raptor & Birding Walks Experience & All-Inclusive

The Matobo Hills host the world’s greatest density of Verreaux’s eagles, plus Cape eagle-owls, peregrine falcons, and over 300 species. Guided walks focus on cliff-nesting raptors.

2–3 hours | 300+ species | All ages
Learn More →
Starlit bush dinner under the night sky at Matobo Hills Lodge Special Experience
On Request

Starlit Mountain Dinner

For a truly unforgettable experience, dine under the stars on the mountain overlooking the Maleme Valley. A multi-course dinner served by candlelight with panoramic views of the Matobo Hills at night. Available on request.

Evening | Weather permitting | Advance booking required
Send an Enquiry →
Ndebele village cultural tour interaction near Matobo Hills Lodge Community
Community

Village Cultural Tour Experience & All-Inclusive

Immersive visit to a local Ndebele village. Experience traditional customs, crafts, and daily life. Share a meal and understand why these hills are sacred — a genuine connection with communities your lodge has partnered with for decades.

Half day | Community-led | Family-friendly
Learn More →

Matobo National Park Entry Fees

Set by Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Included in Matobo Experience and All-Inclusive packages.

Park Entrance
International adult $18
International child (6–12) $9
SADC adult $14
SADC child (6–12) $7
Zimbabwean adult $4
Rhodes Grave
International adult $10
International child (6–12) $5
Zimbabwean adult $4
Rhino Conservation Walk
International / SADC $24
Zimbabwean resident $15

All fees payable in USD or ZWG equivalent. Children under 6 enter free. Vehicle entrance fees apply separately.

Request Availability

Let’s plan your experience.

Selected experience: General enquiry

Tell us your dates and which experiences you’re drawn to. We’ll come back personally within one business day with availability, pricing, and a suggested day-by-day.

We reply within one business day. Your details are used only to plan your stay and are never shared.

All activities are subject to availability and weather conditions. Day visitors welcome — .

Not staying overnight? Visit us for the day.

Half-Day Tour $90 /adult Children $65
Full-Day Tour $165 /adult Children $120

Includes guide, park fees, and refreshments. Full-day includes lunch. Min 2 guests. · Transfers from Bulawayo from $55 (shared) or $75 (private). Airport transfers from $85/$110.

Enquire About a Day Tour Arrange Transfer
2026 Rates

Choose Your Experience

From bed & breakfast to fully inclusive safari — all rates per person per night, sharing. Inclusive of VAT & 2% tourism levy.

B&B
Bed & Breakfast
$154
per person per night

The essentials — comfortable lodge stay with a hearty morning start.

  • En-suite thatched chalet
  • Full cooked breakfast
  • Wi-Fi & pool access
  • Self-guided nature walks
Send an Enquiry
DB&B
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
$184
per person per night

Add a three-course dinner under the stars to your stay.

  • En-suite thatched chalet
  • Full cooked breakfast
  • Three-course dinner
  • Wi-Fi & pool access
  • Self-guided nature walks
Send an Enquiry
Full Board
All Meals
$209
per person per night

All meals taken care of — focus entirely on the wilderness.

  • En-suite thatched chalet
  • All meals included
  • Teas, coffees & seasonal fruits
  • Wi-Fi & pool access
  • Self-guided nature walks
Send an Enquiry
Most Popular
Experience
Matobo Experience
$335
per person per night

Full board plus a guided Matobo tour — the complete lodge experience.

  • Full board + guided tour
  • Choose: rhino tracking, Bushman caves, village tour, or Rhodes' Grave
  • National Park entry fees included
  • Sundowner drinks
Send an Enquiry
Ultimate
All-Inclusive
$395
per person per night

Every activity, every meal, every moment — all included.

  • Full board + all activities
  • Rhino tracking, caves, village tour & Rhodes' Grave
  • Park fees & local drinks
  • Dedicated guide throughout
Send an Enquiry
Children 4–11 at 50% Under 4 free

STO/trade rates available on request. 15% single-occupancy supplement applies during high season. Groups of 8+ receive 10% accommodation discount. All-Inclusive and Matobo Experience packages include two half-day tours or one full-day tour.

Need a custom quote?
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Close enough to hear them breathe.

White rhino, tracked on foot through ancient granite. No vehicles. No barriers. Just you, a guide who grew up in these hills, and a long, careful silence.

Led by lodge guides · Half day, dawn or late afternoon · April to October.  Photograph, lodge archive.

Reflections

What our guests carry home.

Unedited reflections from this season’s guestbook — the mornings, the silences, the conversations with guides that stayed long after the granite.

The highlight of our stay was walking with rhino. It’s one of those rare experiences that genuinely changes how you see wildlife.

Sarah M. London, United Kingdom

What sets this place apart is the connection you feel to the land. The Matobo Hills are breathtaking — it feels authentic, not staged.

Claire D. Sydney, Australia

Walking instead of driving changes everything. Tracking rhino on foot was thrilling, humbling, and unforgettable.

Michael R. Toronto, Canada

This is not a typical safari lodge experience — it’s something far more personal and authentic.

Johan L. Oslo, Norway

The guides here are on another level. Their ability to track animals, read the landscape, and share stories made every outing fascinating.

Thomas B. Munich, Germany

The landscape is extraordinary — ancient granite hills stretching as far as you can see. The sunset views alone are worth the trip.

Peter & Anne Amsterdam, Netherlands

Visiting ancient rock art sites and learning about the history of the area added a completely different dimension to the trip.

Sophie M. Paris, France

Small groups, knowledgeable guides, and activities that never felt rushed. The rhino tracking was the most memorable part of our entire Africa trip.

Rachel & Tom Manchester, United Kingdom

This is a place for people who want more than just ticking off animals. The experiences here are thoughtful, authentic, and deeply memorable.

Daniel K. Berlin, Germany
Read every reflection
Matobo Hills Lodge — When to Visit (Editorial)

When to Visit

The Matobo Hills in twelve chapters. A reference for travellers who care when they come, not only that they do.

Matobo Hills Lodge — Request the Folio (Editorial)

The 2026 folio.

Rates, activities, transfers, and park fees — the one page we send to travellers planning a stay.

One page Sent instantly No follow‑up

Kept on your phone. The single page our travellers refer to when planning dates, transfers, and itineraries.

Request the folio.

Tell us where to send it.

Your email stays with us. We send the folio — and nothing else.

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Your folio will arrive in your inbox within the minute.
If you do not see it, a quiet check of spam.

— Plan a visit —

Begin your itinerary.

Share a few details and we will reply within a few hours, by email or WhatsApp, whichever you prefer.

Please choose a date.
Please let us know your name.
Please enter a valid email address.

A personal reply within a few hours. No obligation.

The enquiry is with us.

Thank you — a member of the lodge will reply within a few hours, by email or WhatsApp. If anything is urgent, please feel free to call.

WhatsApp +263 77 587 6661 Email

Good to know.

A few quiet pages to help you plan — rates, logistics, and the practical things travellers tend to ask.

  1. Our guided activities are priced per person, with preferential rates for private bookings and for children travelling with parents.

    Half‑day guided activity
    Per person (min. 2)
    US$90
    Private
    US$135
    Children 6–11
    US$65
    Full‑day guided activity
    Per person (min. 2)
    US$165
    Private
    US$210
    Children 6–11
    US$120

    Rates include your guide, the vehicle, refreshments on half‑day and lunch on full‑day. Park fees are separate — see below.

  2. Park entry is set by Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife and paid directly, per person, on the days you enter Matobo National Park. We gather it at the gate for you.

    Daily park entry
    International
    US$42
    SADC residents
    US$38
    Zimbabwean
    US$19

    Included only on park days — most stays enter the park once or twice.

  3. Yes — and happily. Children from six years join full guided activities at a children’s rate. For younger children we arrange shorter explorations, bush picnics, and rock scrambling suitable to their age.

    Good to know

    Children 6–11 travel at half the adult rate on guided activities, and at 50% of the accommodation rate when sharing a chalet with parents.

  4. Most walks sit between two and four kilometres, over rock and sand on gentle terrain. Pace is set by the group, not the guide — we walk to see, not to cover distance. If you’re comfortable on an uneven path and can manage a short scramble, you will be fine. Anything more ambitious is by request.

  5. Yes. Day visitors are welcome on guided activities, subject to availability. We ask for at least 24 hours’ notice so we can confirm a guide, a vehicle, and — for rhino days — the park permit.

  6. Less than you think. The essentials:

    • Closed walking shoes with grip — granite is smooth.
    • A sun hat and sunscreen.
    • A light layer for early mornings in the dry season.
    • A refillable water bottle — we refill at the lodge.
    • Binoculars, if you travel with a pair.

    Neutral earth tones — olive, khaki, stone — work best on foot in the bush.

  7. All activities are led by licensed professional guides with many years of experience tracking rhino on foot in Matobo. Before each walk we set out the ground rules — how to stand, when to move, when to be still. A first‑aid kit and vehicle radio travel with us everywhere.

  8. Matobo is a low‑risk malaria area, particularly in the cool, dry months (May–October). We recommend a brief conversation with your doctor before travel and a good insect repellent in your bag.

  9. There isn’t a bad season. The dry season (May–October) is cooler and clearer, with better wildlife visibility for rhino tracking. The green season (November–April) brings dramatic skies, nesting raptors, and the hills in colour — a photographer’s and birder’s stretch.

  10. Plans change — we try to meet that kindly. Where we can, we rebook before we refund.

    Cancellation
    30–60 days before arrival
    20% of total
    Less than 30 days before arrival
    50% of total
    Less than 14 days
    100% of total

  11. We are 50 km south of Bulawayo — a quiet 45 to 60‑minute drive on good tar road. We’re happy to collect.

    Transfers (one way)
    Bulawayo ↔ Lodge · Private
    US$75
    Bulawayo ↔ Lodge · Sharing
    US$55
    Airport (BUQ) ↔ Lodge · Private
    US$110
    Airport (BUQ) ↔ Lodge · Sharing
    US$85