About
Lake Chivero Recreational Park is the ZimParks area around the lake off the Harare–Bulawayo road near Norton. It works as a day of game viewing and fishing close to the capital, or a quiet night at one of the lodges and camps along the shore.
One visitor who self-drove saw giraffe, rhino and antelope, and says a car with decent clearance is enough, no off-roader needed. Their route in: take the spillway turn-off from the Bulawayo road, then turn right at the junction. Others describe the lake as good for fishing and dotted with places to stay; one recommends Bhello Pamvura for groups and families wanting peace. A local who has been coming since childhood still enjoys it. Monkeys live around the camps, so keep car windows shut.
The lake's condition is the recurring worry. A reviewer who joined a clean-up in October 2025 describes sewage, abandoned nets, plastic and a strong smell of dead fish along parts of the shore. If you plan to stay at the Belgravia apartments, one guest was first shown a unit with old food and someone's belongings in it, suggests viewing before you book, and notes a separate entry fee on top of the main gate. Rated 4.0 from over 880 Google reviews.
Good to know
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance