Big Cave Camp
Highlights
- Rhino tracking on foot in Matobo National Park
- Within the Matobo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Ancient San rock art on the camp's doorstep
- A natural rock swimming pool and sundeck
- Mountain biking, guided walks and superb birding
- Low malaria risk and family-friendly
Information
- Lodge type: Safari Camp
- Location: Private wilderness area bordering Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe
- Lodge size: 8 suites (up to 21 guests)
- Recommended stay: 2–3 nights
- Malaria risk: Low, but not malaria-free – Matobo carries a seasonal risk in the wet months, so take precautions and consult a travel clinic
- Getting there: 46 km from Bulawayo, under an hour by road; scheduled flights land at Bulawayo's JM Nkomo International Airport, roughly an hour's transfer from camp
An Intimate Safari Camp With Views Across The Matobo National Park, Big Cave Is Perfect For Budget Conscious Travellers
Big Cave Camp is an eight-suite safari camp built on top of an enormous granite whaleback in Zimbabwe's Matobo Hills, 46 km from Bulawayo. Big Cave Camp lies in a private wilderness area bordering Matobo National Park, inside the Matobo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the view from its rocks – balancing boulders, domed kopjes and wooded valleys rolling away into the park – is one of the most spectacular in Zimbabwe.
Big Cave Camp was built around the granite rather than in spite of it. A huge rock and living trees rise straight through the roof of the bar and dining room, and ancient San paintings decorate the boulders around camp. From here, rhino tracking, Rhodes' Grave, World's View and some of the richest rock art galleries in southern Africa are all within easy reach.
Big Cave Camp pairs wildlife and cultural activities with outstanding value, making it one of the best-value stays in the Matobo Hills for travellers who want the setting without the luxury-lodge price tag.
Rooms and Suites
Big Cave Camp has eight A-frame suites built of granite under thatch, sleeping up to 21 guests. The stone and thatch keep each suite cool in summer and snug in winter, and every one has a private balcony looking out across the valley towards Matobo National Park.
- 6x twin suites (king bed, convertible to two singles)
- 1x honeymoon suite
- 1x family suite (king bed plus a double bunk)
Big Cave Camp suites each include an en-suite bathroom with rainfall shower, ceiling fans, mosquito nets, a hairdryer, a tea and coffee station and charging points.
Cuisine and Wine
Big Cave Camp serves three meals a day prepared from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guests dine in the rock-and-thatch dining room, out on the deck under the stars, or in the cave-style boma, where pre-dinner drinks around the fire become the evening ritual. The kitchen happily caters for children and families.
Facilities
Big Cave Camp's central guest area is woven into the granite boulders themselves, with views across the Matobo Hills from almost every seat.
- The Leopard's Lair lounge and bar
- A library with a fireplace for cool winter evenings
- A natural rock swimming pool with sun loungers and sundeck
- The cave-style boma
- Indoor and outdoor dining areas
- Wi-Fi, laundry service, an activity desk and secure parking
Activities
Big Cave Camp offers rhino tracking on foot, game drives and rock art tours, led by qualified guides who know the history, wildlife and culture of the Matobo Hills intimately. Matobo National Park is one of Zimbabwe's finest places to see both black and white rhino.
- Rhino tracking in Matobo National Park
- Game drives and guided walks
- San rock art tours
- Rhodes' Grave and World's View at Malindidzimu
- Mountain biking through the granite country
- Birdwatching, including the black eagles that hunt the hills
- Visits to local Ndebele villages
Park fees for activities inside Matobo National Park are not included in the rates.
Child Friendly
Big Cave Camp welcomes children, with a dedicated family suite, flexible meals and activities suited to younger guests, all in a safe and relaxed family environment. It is one of the easiest family stops on a Zimbabwe safari.
Big Cave Camp Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Big Cave Camp?
Big Cave Camp is in Zimbabwe's Matobo Hills, 46 km from Bulawayo, in a private wilderness area bordering Matobo National Park. Big Cave Camp lies inside the Matobo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site and sits on top of a granite whaleback with views across the park. It is under an hour's drive from Bulawayo on a tarred road, making it an easy first or last stop on a Zimbabwe safari.
Is Big Cave Camp malaria-free?
No. Big Cave Camp in the Matobo Hills is low risk for malaria, but not malaria-free. The Matobo area carries a seasonal risk, highest in the wet months from roughly November to May. Travellers to Big Cave Camp should use insect repellent, cover up after dark, sleep under the mosquito nets provided in every suite, and ask a travel clinic whether antimalarial medication is advisable for their dates.
How do you get to Big Cave Camp?
Big Cave Camp is reached by road from Bulawayo, 46 km away and under an hour's drive. International and regional travellers fly into Bulawayo's JM Nkomo International Airport, then take a road transfer of roughly an hour to Big Cave Camp. Self-drive guests follow the Matopos Road out of Bulawayo onto the Kezi Road. Transfers can also be arranged from Bulawayo's train station and from Hwange.
Can you track rhino from Big Cave Camp?
Yes. Big Cave Camp offers guided rhino tracking in neighbouring Matobo National Park, one of Zimbabwe's finest places to see both black and white rhino. Tracking is done on foot with qualified guides, giving guests a far more intimate encounter than a vehicle sighting. Park fees for activities inside Matobo National Park are charged separately from the Big Cave Camp rates.
Is Big Cave Camp suitable for families with children?
Yes. Big Cave Camp welcomes children and has a dedicated family suite with a king bed and a double bunk. The kitchen caters for younger guests, and activities such as rock art visits, village tours and gentle walks suit families well. The low malaria risk in the Matobo Hills and the short transfer from Bulawayo make Big Cave Camp one of the easier family stops in Zimbabwe.
How many nights should you stay at Big Cave Camp?
Two to three nights at Big Cave Camp is ideal. Two nights covers rhino tracking in Matobo National Park plus a rock art and Rhodes' Grave excursion; three nights adds mountain biking, village visits and time to enjoy the rock pool and views. Big Cave Camp combines naturally with Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls on a longer Zimbabwe safari itinerary.
In Conclusion
Big Cave Camp is the right choice for travellers who want the Matobo Hills to be the experience rather than a stopover. Track rhino on foot in the morning, stand before San paintings thousands of years old in the afternoon, and watch the sun sink over the granite from your own balcony in the evening, all at a price that leaves room in the budget for the rest of your safari. Big Cave Camp is small enough that the staff know your name by the second evening, and it slots naturally into a Zimbabwe itinerary: two or three nights here, less than an hour from Bulawayo, pair beautifully with Hwange's elephant herds and the thunder of Victoria Falls. The dry months from May to October bring cooler walking weather and thinner bush for tracking, while the green season turns the hills lush and dramatic.
Uyaphi.com has been arranging tailor-made African safaris since 1999, and 27 years of planning Zimbabwe journeys means we know exactly how to fit Big Cave Camp into the trip you have in mind: the right number of nights, the right transfers and the right lodges either side. Big Cave Camp is one of the best-value Matobo Lodges we recommend. Tell us your dates and your dream, and we'll build the rest of the journey around it.
Rates form part of a safari itinerary
Big Cave Camp Rates
Per person per night sharing
Rates are in US Dollar
*Rates may vary according to season
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Local drinks
- Activities
- All Flights
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- Imported drinks
- Gratuities
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