Mana Pools – Chewore Lodge and Campsite has permanently closed its doors and is relocating to a new site within the Mana Pools Wilderness, ending a 15-year legal battle with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) over the validity of its lease agreement.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, operators Terry William Kelly and his family confirmed the move, saying the new camp, which does not yet have a name, will feature secluded and private sites, some with river frontage and others tucked into forest.

The closure follows one of Zimbabwe’s most closely watched tourism investment disputes. The legal saga began in March 2025 when the High Court ordered the closure of the lodge and nullified the 25 year lease agreement between Suscaden Investments and ZimParks.

Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled that the lease was invalid from inception, lacking the legally required approval from the responsible minister and exceeding the maximum 20-year lease period permitted under Zimbabwean law.

The court found that the lease bore a signature appearing to be that of former Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, but the Minister denied signing it.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court decision on 12 January 2026, ruling that “no amount of prior conduct can breathe life into an agreement that was void from the outset” – dismissing the fact that ZimParks had accepted rent for more than a decade.

The dispute was further complicated by evidence that Big Five Safari Lodges held a pre-existing lease covering the wider Chewore North Safari Area.

The Kelly family, who reportedly invested millions of dollars developing the property, described the Supreme Court ruling as a “travesty of justice” and vowed to take the fight to the Constitutional Court.

The family endured significant hardship, including being illegally shut down, an encounter with armed rangers at the camp, facing false charges, and Terry Kelly’s brief abduction and detainment.

Following the Supreme Court ruling, the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife opened talks with all stakeholders to reach an amicable resolution. After months of negotiations brokered by government officials, the parties reached a settlement in July 2026. Under the agreement, ZimParks allocated the Kelly family a new prime site in the eastern section of Mana Pools National Park, allowing them to continue their tourism operations.

The Chewore Lodge, located at the confluence of the Chewore and Zambezi rivers within the Chewore North Safari Area, formed part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Mana Pools National Park and the Sapi Safari Area. It earned a strong reputation among international anglers, safari enthusiasts and wildlife photographers.

Construction of the new camp is already underway, with the family inviting former guests to register their interest for 2027 bookings.