Antelope Park

Antelope Park sits on three thousand acres of open savannah grassland outside Gweru, in Zimbabwe's Midlands. The reserve holds twenty-four rooms across several accommodation types — thatched Island Lodges for couples, River Lodges with raised deck verandahs over a lake inlet, canvas River Tents furnished with teak made on-site, a Family Lodge at the water's edge, standard rooms, a self-catering complex on a hillside, and six campsites beside the lake and pool.

The reserve is home to the African Lion Environmental Research Trust (ALERT), and most of the lion activities here are part of that rehabilitation programme. You can walk alongside young lions in the bush with experienced handlers, watch adult lions at feeding time, or join a night encounter in an open vehicle as young adult lions move through the dark. A separate stage-two release pride — adult lions and cubs living in a large unfenced area — can be visited for research observation.

Four resident elephants, rescued during a drought in the early 1990s, are available for walks and rides. Game drives cover the wider reserve, where giraffe, zebra, and kudu are among the wildlife. The reserve also lists over one hundred and twenty bird species. Other activities include horse riding, canoeing on the lake, catch-and-release fishing, and bush walks with guides.

The open-sided dining room overlooks the lake. A coffee shop and bar are also on site. The reserve is malaria-free and has a conference centre.