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The Save Valley Conservancy and the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve are two large private wildlife areas in Zimbabwe’s south-east lowveld, close to Gonarezhou National Park. Both hold important populations of black and white rhino, and Save Valley is known for African wild dogs. You stay at a private lodge, and guided game drives and walks are part of the stay. The dry season, from about April to September, is the best time to go. Fly into Buffalo Range airport near Chiredzi, take a charter flight from Harare, or drive (the conservancy estimates four to five hours). Written by Bryan Fawcett.
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026 against the Save Valley Conservancy’s own website, the Malilangwe Trust, Singita (which runs the lodges at Malilangwe) and Sango Wildlife. These are private reserves, so rates and access are set by each lodge. Check with your lodge before you travel.

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At a glance

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Save Valley Conservancy

The Save Valley Conservancy (often written Savé) is one of Africa’s largest private game reserves. It lies in the south-east lowveld with the Save River as its eastern boundary, and it forms part of the wider Great Limpopo Transfrontier area shared by Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Former cattle ranches joined together and the conservancy was formally created in 1991. Internal fences came down across 3,442 km², a 350 km double perimeter fence went up, and about 4,000 animals of 14 species were reintroduced, including elephants.

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Wildlife

  • The Big Five: elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino.
  • Rhino: the conservancy says it has one of Africa’s largest populations of black and white rhino.
  • African wild dogs: the conservancy reports 16 packs, though numbers vary from year to year. From May to July packs den and can become used to vehicles, and some lodges specialise in wild dog viewing.
  • Others: cheetah, southern ground hornbill and lappet-faced vulture, among others.
  • Birds: more than 300 species, including many raptors.

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Activities

Each lodge sets its own activities. The conservancy lists game drives in open vehicles, hides at waterholes, game walks, rhino and elephant tracking on foot with licensed guides, night drives, picnics and sundowners on kopjes, and bass and bream fishing on lodge dams. Many lodges can also arrange day or camping trips into Gonarezhou, which the conservancy describes as a short drive away.

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Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Malilangwe is a private reserve on the edge of the greater Gonarezhou ecosystem. It was a cattle ranch called Lone Star until the Malilangwe Trust bought it in 1994 and began restoring its wildlife. The Malilangwe Dam, built in 1963, is the reserve’s largest body of water.

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Wildlife

  • Rhino: 28 black and 15 white rhino were reintroduced in 1998. The Trust says its rhino population has grown about ten-fold since 1994, and Singita says the reserve is now a source of rhino for restocking other reserves.
  • Predators: lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog.
  • Grazers: elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, the endangered Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable, roan and more than 10 antelope species.
  • Birds: more than 330 species, including 60 raptors and 11 owls.
  • Landscape: sandstone hills, basalt plains, mopane and miombo woodland, baobabs and riverine forest. Singita describes 38 habitats and ecological zones.

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Activities

At Singita’s lodges you can take twice-daily game drives, bush walks (minimum age 16), sundowner boat cruises on the dam, fishing, visits to rock art sites, and community visits. The Trust also lists trips to the Kambako Living Museum and pre-arranged day trips to Gonarezhou and Great Zimbabwe.

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Getting there

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By air

  • Buffalo Range airport (Chiredzi) is the main airport for the area. Singita says all flights to Malilangwe land here to clear customs and immigration, and the lodge is about 45 minutes away by road.
  • From Johannesburg: Singita arranges scheduled flights from O.R. Tambo to Buffalo Range, taking about 1 hour 45 minutes, as well as private charters. Scheduled flights run on set days only and need a minimum stay. Check current days with Singita.
  • To Save Valley: the conservancy says light-aircraft charters from Harare take about 40 minutes.

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By road

  • To Save Valley: the conservancy describes a 4 to 5 hour drive. A 4x4 is recommended, because roads inside the conservancy can be rough, especially in the wet season. Lodges can arrange transfers.
  • To Malilangwe: guests normally fly in. Ask Singita about road transfers.
See distances and driving times and getting around Zimbabwe.

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Where to stay

These are private reserves. You stay at a lodge on the reserve, and activities are run by the lodge’s guides. Malilangwe has one operator. Singita runs both lodges on behalf of the Malilangwe Trust, and lodge revenue helps fund the Trust’s conservation and community work.
  • Singita Pamushana Lodge: eight suites with private plunge pools, on a sandstone ridge above the Malilangwe Dam. Children of all ages are welcome.
  • Malilangwe House: Singita’s private villa on the reserve.
Save Valley has a range of properties, from luxury villas to simple bush camps and campsites, each run by its own landowner. One we could confirm on its own website in 2026 is Sango, a 60,000-hectare property in the conservancy, founded in 1993, with three safari camps. The conservancy’s visitor information page lists other lodges, camps and a campsite. Contact the conservancy to check which are taking guests.

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Fees

Save Valley and Malilangwe are private reserves, not ZimParks national parks, so you don’t pay ZimParks conservation fees to stay there. Each lodge sets its own rates, which usually include activities. Ask your lodge what’s included. If you take a day trip into Gonarezhou National Park, ZimParks fees apply: US$30 a day for international visitors in 2026, plus a vehicle fee if you drive. See our 2026 national park fees guide.

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Best time to visit

  • April to September (dry season, peak): the Save Valley Conservancy calls this its peak season. Animals gather at waterholes as the grass dies back and trees lose their leaves, which makes game easier to see.
  • June and July: the coolest months. The conservancy says days usually reach about 24°C (75°F) and nights rarely drop below about 4°C (40°F).
  • May to July: wild dog denning season in Save Valley.
  • August to September: temperatures rise, and midday can be hot.
  • The rains (about November to March): both reserves are open all year. Expect heat, green bush and more migrant birds. Malilangwe’s Trust notes woodland kingfishers arriving in November.
See Zimbabwe weather by month.

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Practical tips

  • Book ahead. Lodges here are small, and scheduled flights to Buffalo Range run on limited days.
  • Ask about malaria. Both reserves are in a malaria area. Get advice from a travel clinic before you go. See health and safety.
  • Don’t swim in rivers or dams. The conservancy warns of bilharzia and crocodiles.
  • Pack layers. Winter mornings on open game drives are cold.
  • Bring cash in US dollars for tips and extras. See currency and money.
  • Combine the lowveld. Pair either reserve with Gonarezhou and Great Zimbabwe on a south-east circuit.

Gonarezhou National Park

The national park next door, with the Chilojo Cliffs.

Great Zimbabwe

The ancient stone city, on the way from Harare.

Conservation in Zimbabwe

How rhino and wild dog are protected.

Luxury travel

Zimbabwe’s top lodges and how to plan a high-end trip.

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Sources

Last modified on October 21, 2026