While most visitors to Mana Pools head for the famous Zambezi floodplains, those in the know make a beeline inland to the Chitake River system – and it's here you'll find this raw, unfiltered gem. Perched on a bluff 50 metres above the dry riverbed, Mhara occupies a private concession that was untouched for centuries before the camp opened in 2022. The wildlife action is nothing short of extraordinary: lion prides patrol the sands below, enormous buffalo herds kick up dust clouds as they thunder to the springs, and elephants dig for water mere metres from your tent. It's walking safari country at its finest, with the legendary Chitake Gorge on your doorstep and guides who grew up in this wilderness. Come here for proper bush immersion – the kind that leaves fresh lion tracks outside your tent each morning.
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The six tented suites are generously spaced along the bluff, each positioned for views down to the Chitake riverbed – and privacy from your neighbours. Large gauze windows mean you can watch the morning unfold from your pillow, and handcrafted wooden doors add a pleasing rustic touch. Inside, expect comfortable twin beds beneath billowing mosquito nets, an en-suite bathroom, and a private veranda with tea and coffee facilities for those pre-dawn wake-ups. Solar-powered fans keep things comfortable, and charging points mean you won't miss a shot. It's simple, well-judged comfort – no frills, but nothing lacking either.
The floor-level hide where you can sit at eye level with elephants drinking just metres away.
Each morning, check the sandy paths for fresh tracks left by nighttime visitors – lions and elephants regularly wander through camp after dark.
This is remote, proper wilderness – no quick afternoon pop-ins here. You'll need to fly in by charter (around 80 minutes from Harare) or commit to a six-hour drive. But that remoteness is precisely the point.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Hideaways Mhara River Camp can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Zimbabwe trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Zimbabwe trips featuring Hideaways Mhara River Camp or get advice and suggestions from one of our Zimbabwe specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Hideaways Mhara River Camp start from around $540, or US$540, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A glossy Garden of Eden, famous for canoe trips and boating as well as drives and walking safaris.
