Bumi Hills Safari Lodge
Lodge suites and a villa, fully inclusive · Private concession west of the Ume River · African Bush Camps
Mid-range
Outside the gate
Safari company
Reopened by African Bush Camps in January 2018 after a renovation, on a private concession west of the Ume River that borders the park. It is not inside Matusadona; guests reach the park across the Ume. Suites have air-conditioning, with an infinity pool and spa. Night drives, stargazing and visits to the Mola community are offered on the concession.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Night drives on its own concession, which the park itself doesn't allow
- Baobab Villa has a private guide and exclusive-use vehicle
- Marketed as ideal for families with children of all ages
- Its own houseboat, Lady Jacqueline, for cruises
Cons
- Not inside Matusadona; guests cross the Ume to reach the park
- High season (Sept-Oct) rate reaches $1,390 to $1,490 pppn
- No self-drive route published; fly in via its private airstrip
- No minimum age found despite the family marketing
What's here
- Swimming pool
- Air conditioning
- Spa or massage
Arranged from the lodge:
- Game drives
- Boat trips
- Guided walks
- Night drives
- Fishing
- Community visits
Read from Bumi Hills Safari Lodge's own website in July 2026. Anything not listed we could not confirm, which is not the same as it being absent.
What the park charges on top
The rate above buys you a bed. Matusadona National Park charges its own entry fee for every day you are inside. Here is what that adds up to.
- Park entryThe trust's conservation levy for an international adult.
- $30per person, per day
- VehicleForeign-registered car or 4x4, per day.
- $5per vehicle, per day
Three nights means three days inside, so two adults sharing one vehicle pay $195 in park fees before anyone pays for a bed.
The ZimParks 2026 gazette gives $24 for an international adult, not $30. We use the trust's levy because that is what operators pass on in 2026. Confirm with reservations.matusadona@africanparks.org.
The full fee schedule for Matusadona National ParkRates at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge
From $630 pppn. $630 per person sharing in December 2026, $850 in November 2026 and $1,390 in September and October 2026. For 2027: $680 January to March, $910 April, May, October and November, $1,490 June to September. Fully Inclusive Plus: accommodation, meals, select drinks and activities. Figures from the Siyabona agent price list.
All inclusive. The rate covers meals, drinks, activities and the transfers named below. Park fees are charged separately.
Every figure on this page is in US dollars.
Indicative rates read in September 2026 from each property's own website or rate sheet, and where noted from an agent or the VisitKariba directory. Watch the basis: lodges quote per person per night, houseboats per boat per night, and several Kariba town places per room or per unit. Park fees are extra almost everywhere, at $30 per international adult per day on the trust's levy, and houseboats add their own park and lake charges.
Questions about Bumi Hills Safari Lodge
Is Bumi Hills Safari Lodge good for families?
Yes, African Bush Camps markets it as ideal for families with children of all ages. The private Baobab Villa, with two suites, a living room and its own guide and vehicle, is pitched as a family retreat, though we found no specific published minimum age, so confirm details for younger children when you book.
What does the rate at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge include?
Its Fully Inclusive Plus rate covers accommodation, meals, select drinks and activities. Agent pricing from Siyabona runs from $630 a person sharing in December 2026 up to $1,390 in September and October 2026, with 2027 rates from $680 to $1,490 depending on season.
Is Bumi Hills Safari Lodge inside Matusadona National Park?
No. It sits on a private concession west of the Ume River that borders the park, so guests cross the Ume to reach Matusadona itself. The concession does allow night drives, which the park does not offer, and from 1 September 2026 adds a drive, a walk and a conservation experience inside the park.
How do you get to Bumi Hills Safari Lodge?
Fly into its own private airstrip, 1,200 metres, with no self-drive route published. The lodge, reopened by African Bush Camps in January 2018 after a renovation, also runs its own houseboat, Lady Jacqueline, for cruises along the shore.