Chewore Lodge Closes as Owners Relocate to Mana Pools After 15-Year Legal Battle

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

The owners of the iconic Chewore Lodge and Campsite have officially closed the popular Zambezi Valley tourism property and begun relocating to a new site in the Mana Pools Wilderness, bringing to an end a 15-year legal dispute with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).

In a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, former operators Terry William Kelly and his family confirmed the move, describing it as the beginning of a new chapter after years of litigation over the validity of their lease.

"Chewore Lodge and Campsite is now closed, as we are relocating to a new site in Mana Pools Wilderness — one of the most beautiful areas in Zimbabwe," the Kelly family said.

The family revealed that construction of the new camp is already underway, although the facility has yet to be named.

"We're just a month into the move, so the new camp doesn't have a name yet. Our plan is a small, upmarket, well-maintained camp with secluded and private sites some with river frontage, some tucked into forest."

The Kellys also invited former guests to register their interest for 2027 bookings, promising further details once the new camp is ready to receive visitors.

The relocation follows one of Zimbabwe's most closely watched tourism investment disputes.

Chewore Lodge, located at the confluence of the Chewore and Zambezi rivers within the Chewore North Safari Area, has been operated for about 15 years by Kelly's company, Suscaden Investments, which reportedly invested millions of dollars developing the property.

However, in March 2025, the High Court ordered the closure of the lodge after ruling that the company's 25-year lease with ZimParks was invalid from the outset.

Justice Tawanda Chitapi found that the lease lacked the legally required approval from the responsible minister and exceeded the maximum 20-year lease period permitted under Zimbabwean law. Kelly appealed the decision, but in January 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

Writing for the court, Justice Luke Malaba Chiweshe ruled that ministerial approval had not been proven after then Environment Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri denied signing the lease agreement.

"No amount of prior conduct can breathe life into an agreement that was void from the outset," the judgment stated.

The courts also heard that Big Five Safari Lodges held a pre-existing lease covering the wider Chewore North Safari Area, further complicating the dispute.

Following the Supreme Court judgment, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife announced it was working toward an amicable solution that balanced legal compliance with investor protection. Negotiations involving government officials, including former Permanent Secretary Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba, ultimately resulted in a settlement reached in July 2026.

Under the agreement, ZimParks allocated the Kelly family a new tourism site in the eastern section of Mana Pools, allowing them to continue operating within one of Zimbabwe's premier wildlife destinations.

"We have been fortunate to secure a beautiful new location where we can continue our vision and enjoy the next chapter of our lives," Kelly said after the agreement was reached.

Chewore Lodge earned a strong reputation among local and international anglers, safari enthusiasts and wildlife photographers for its intimate setting overlooking the Zambezi River.

The lodge lies within the Mana Pools National Park, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised globally for its exceptional biodiversity, large elephant populations and wilderness tourism.

Tourism analyst Ross Kennedy, president of the Africa Albida Tourism group, has previously said that investment certainty remains critical to attracting long-term capital into Zimbabwe's tourism sector, noting that clear legal frameworks encourage sustainable tourism development.

While the closure marks the end of an era for one of Zimbabwe's best-known fishing and safari camps, the Kelly family says its new Mana Pools venture will preserve the personalised hospitality and wilderness experience that made Chewore Lodge a favourite destination for generations of visitors.

Chewore Lodge closure