Welcome to Farmhouse

Owners Barney & Kyle O’Hara join their Management team Andre & Kerry and their Staff in Welcoming you to our beautiful Farmhouse Lodge!

Farmhouse boasts a large property – roughly 1,000 acres – and guests can drive, walk or cycle to explore the property and view our game. The property has many walking and hiking trails, which are well marked, and a map can be provided. Resident game include giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, warthog, amongst many others which are often spotted.

Many activities are available to enjoy at Farmhouse, or guests may choose to simply relax by the pool in the garden. Guests can book a cave walk, bush walk or game drive on the property or any other activity on the sheet included, with management. Farmhouse can also book tours into Matopos National Park or guests may book their own.

The Farmhouse restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Meals are set and are based on dietary requirements.  If guests wish to self-cater please bring the utensils required as no cooking utensils are provided. We provide a braai facility to use as your cooking source.

Providing you with a "home away from home" we look forward to hositng you!

Activities at the Farmhouse All activities should be arranged with management the night before.

Activities that you can do unguided, on your own, in your own time.

Mbazvi Climb:

Your own unaccompanied activity where you can climb the rocky outcrop behind the Farmhouse Lodge. A spectacular view of the National Park awaits you at the top!  The trail starts behind Lodge 4, please let management know when you go, so we know where our guests are at all times.  Kindly be considerate of lodge 4 guests if you go early morning.

Children’s Scavenger Hunt:                                                          (Suitable for ages up to 16yrs)

We have some sheets of paper with questions and tasks on it, to get the children involved in the outdoors.  This will need the assistance of their parents as it will get them moving around the property.  It’s a fun way to get the children out and about, learning about the bush around them in the process.   Should the sheets get filled out correctly, there may be a small reward for the children.

Geocaching:

Fun for the whole family!  We have one geocache on top of the Mabazvi outcrop behind the lodge.  See if you can find this one, and it may lead you to the next one.  Please always insure you hide the boxes in the same place and in the same manner you found it.  Rain and wild animals are detrimental to the contents and locations of the caches.

Mountain Bike Trails:                                                                                    

Enjoy a tour of the Farmhouse reserve at your own pace.  A choice of on-road or off-road trails. Request the trail maps at reception and enjoy!

Bush Walks/Cave Paintings:                                                                                      

Led by one of our guides, follow the wildlife trails for an informative walk through the Matopos bush. Visit the Bushman cave paintings, grain bins or Iron Age smelter.  This can take between 1 & 2 Hours, a great hike after breakfast.

Game Drive on Property:                                                                                             

A drive on the property to view beautiful rock formations and the local plains game including zebra, wildebeest and giraffe.  This can be arranged around dinner time for the following day.   There may be times where our vehicle is unavailable for this activity so please be flexible on the times for this.  Ideally this could be done at 10am or 2pm.

Ride on the Animal feeding truck

One of the most fun filled activities we can offer at Farmhouse!  Hop on the yellow or blue truck and drive around with us while we put food out at particular feeding spots we have on the property.   A task we started in harsh drought times.  Donations are welcome for this activity as the feed does cost a lot.  Please leave your Donations with Management.

Other Guided hikes that can take place on our property.                            

This depends on the number of guests and activities already planned, and the season.

Or if you’re feeling adventurous enough, you could go on your own free of charge, just be sure to get a trail map from reception so you know where you’re going.

Whovi View Hike                                                                    Balancing Rock Hike

Sunset Boulevard Hike                                                        Bird Watching Hike

Mushroom hunts                                                                    Insect search

Guided Bush Walk

Tours into Rhodes Matopos National Park with Black Rhino Safaris

Full Day

(more than 4 persons $110 per person, smaller groups are allowed, please enquire at reception for per person cost, includes Park entry fees/Museums and Monuments)

Visit the game park section of Matopos National Park as well as the impressive cave paintings, which display centuries old rock art depicting life of Bushmen of that time.  Accompanied by a professional guide, you can enjoy remarkable scenery of these granite hills and wooded valleys rich in wildlife and cultural history. Included in your tour is a picnic lunch surrounded by the magnificence of the Matobo landscape.   Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided in the afternoon.

Half Day

(more than 4 persons $75 per person, smaller groups are allowed, please enquire at reception for per person cost, includes Park entry fees only)

You may choose to take a walk with the beautiful wild rhinos where a professional guide will follow their spoor and may allow you the opportunity to approach them on foot.  Alternatively, you may wish to visit the historical “World’s View”, the resting place of Cecil John Rhodes and the site of the Shangani Memorial. This tour also includes visits to the Bushmen cave paintings.

Tours may also include a cultural tour of the Matobo Communal land with a visit to the local village for insight into their way of life.  The professional guides will do their best to accommodate your own interests for each tour, so be sure to ask them if there are specific sites you are interested in seeing.

Customized trip

Black Rhino Safaris also offers the possibility of custom making a trip to suit your particular choices.  We can arrange this with them making your tour perfect for each person.  The price for this will be dependent on the activity chosen.

Prices for tours will vary depending on the number of people participating in the tour. Enquire at reception for a price list as well as departure times.

We hope you enjoy your stay with us.