CHEWORE LODGE AND CAMPSITE CLOSES AHEAD OF RELOCATION TO NEW MANA POOLS SITE

Chewore Lodge and Campsite has announced its closure as the operation begins relocating to a new site within the Mana Pools Wilderness, one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated and biologically rich conservation areas. The move marks a significant new chapter for the camp, which is trading its former base for a fresh setting within a region renowned for its untouched beauty and exceptional wildlife.

Chewore Lodge and Campsite was founded and run for years by Terry William Kelly and his family, whose hospitality became a hallmark of the property and earned them a loyal following among regular guests and fishing enthusiasts drawn to the confluence of the Chewore and Zambezi Rivers. Their family-run approach helped shape the camp’s reputation as an intimate, deeply personal safari destination, and it is that same ethos the family is now carrying forward into the new Mana Pools chapter.

According to the announcement, the team is only a month into the transition, meaning many details of the new camp are still being finalised, including its eventual name. What has been confirmed, however, is the overall vision: a small, upmarket, and meticulously maintained camp built around secluded, private sites. Some of these sites are planned to offer direct river frontage, while others will be tucked away within surrounding forest, giving guests a choice between open water views and a more enclosed, intimate bush setting.

Mana Pools, where the new camp will be located, forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated along the Zambezi River in northern Zimbabwe. The wider Mana Pools complex, which includes the Chewore, Sapi, Dande, Hurungwe, and Charara safari areas alongside Zimbabwe’s Lower Zambezi frontage, is widely regarded as one of the last true wilderness areas left in the world. The region is especially known for its walking and canoe safaris, along with dense concentrations of elephant, buffalo, lion, and other iconic African wildlife that gather along the riverbanks, particularly during the dry season.

By shifting operations into this landscape, the relocated camp aims to offer guests an experience rooted in seclusion, comfort, and close proximity to nature, while still maintaining the high standards of upkeep and privacy that upmarket travellers increasingly seek out in remote safari destinations.

While construction and planning continue behind the scenes, the operators are inviting prospective guests to be part of the journey from the outset. Travellers interested in visiting once the new camp opens have been encouraged to join a provisional booking list for the 2027 season by submitting their email address, ensuring they are contacted directly as soon as reservations become available.

The announcement frames the move not simply as a relocation, but as the beginning of a new and distinctive offering within Zimbabwe’s safari circuit under Terry William Kelly and his family’s continued stewardship — one that promises secluded riverfront and forest sites in a part of the country already celebrated among conservationists and travellers alike for its wild, unspoiled character. Further updates, including the new camp’s name and opening details, are expected to follow as plans continue to take shape.