A Magical golden sun rise from Big Cave Camp lodge after the rains, with birdlife singing in song to celebrate the new day...

Guided activity tours on Big Cave Camp's property promises breathtaking scenery among the fauna and flora in the Matopos. We ensure your stay with us to be a memorable one for many a story to be told around the camp fires for years to come.

African safaris aren’t generally the first idea that jumps to mind when planning a family holiday, and we think that’s a shame.
After all, a safari provides a wild playground for bonding, exploring and creating lifelong family memories. And isn’t that what going away as a family is all about? Set atop an enormous granite rock in Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe, Big Cave Camp provides just such a playground for the perfect family safari.
As the story goes, Big Cave Camp was originally created as a recreational facility for the Waddy family back in the 1980’s, before later being converted into a lodge. Having lived in Zimbabwe for four generations, The Waddy’s are from ‘pioneering stock’ and are a family of avid bush lovers. As a result, Big Cave Camp has been designed with family in mind.

Family Accommodation at Big Cave Camp
Big Cave Camp offers a selection of accommodation options. Ranging from large family rooms to twin chalets, families can choose the option best suited to their needs. Made from granite, each of the thatched A-frame cottages has its own en-suite and private balcony and exudes a sense of authentic Africa.

Activities at Big Cave Camp
With its incredible granite kopjes and rugged wilderness, Matobo Hills provides the perfect place for families to explore, hike and learn about the many species flora and fauna that call this unique area home. There are also numerous rock art galleries that can be visited from the camp, which provides a fascinating insight into the ancient world of Khoisan people. Guided game drives and nature walks will allow you to get up close to wildlife and explore the spectacular natural scenery, while back at the lodge, the pool provides the ideal spot to sit back and relax while the kids splash about.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – the value of tourism cannot be underrated when it comes to community development and upliftment.

Giving back is a huge part of the ethos at Big Cave, and the camp has been involved with the local community since the 1990′s. Since its early days, clients that visited Big Cave were encouraged to donate funds, which were then invested into various community projects. One of the camp’s biggest focus areas over the years has been the Whitewaters Secondary School in Matobo, and the pupils that attend the school.

With 60% of the 460 school children being orphans, the school is in constant need of support. While some of the children are being cared for by grandparents, relatives neighbours or orphanages; the reality is that many of the children have no-one and it’s not uncommon to hear about their child-headed households.

Big Cave shares a little more about these children:
“In order to afford basic necessities like food and toiletries, children as young as 13 work in the fields at the end of the school day and some children do not attend school because they have to work to bring in money. Attending school has its own challenges. It is rare to find a pen, pencil or piece of paper in class because they are unaffordable. Children struggle with concentration because one meal a day is not enough for a growing and active child. Children can walk up to 20km each to get to school. School fees are the last of their priorities: only 15% can afford to do their ‘O’ levels and 5% can afford to do their ‘A’ levels.”

Clearly, the situation is far from ideal. However, in an effort to try and help as many of these children as possible, Big Cave is calling upon people to sponsor these children and help give them the childhood that they deserve. The project has been particularly successful over the past year, with sponsors covering the school fees and uniforms for 12 children (7 of which were paid for by T&G Wood), and Julia Phippen donated 4 bicycles which are helping children transport themselves to and from the school.

Get to know some of the children attending Whitewaters School and find out how you can help here. As little as $150 could pay for a child to attend school for an entire year. That’s a pretty worthy cause if you ask us.

A little more about Big Cave Camp
Nestled in amongst the boulders on top of a large granite whaleback, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Big Cave Camp’s thatch buildings were just a part of the rocky landscape.  Blending seamlessly with the environment, the camp’s sophisticated African architecture incorporates the colossal boulders into its design, and boasts exceptional views across the famous Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe.