— Careers · Matobo Hills

Join our team in the Matobo Hills

This isn't a corporate hotel. There's no head office, no red tape, no death by committee. You'll report directly to the owner, make real decisions, and see the impact of your work every single day. You'll wake up to balancing rocks and black eagles. You'll guide guests to see rhinos on foot and watch the sun set over World's View. It's remote, it's demanding, and for the right person, it's the opportunity of a lifetime.

8Open roles

17Chalets

UNESCOWorld Heritage site

01 Life at Matobo

Why people stay

Working here is different. It's not for everyone — and that's the point. Here's what makes it worth it.

Direct Impact

No middle management. You report to the owner, your ideas get heard, and you'll see the results of your work the same day.

International Guests

You'll work with travellers from around the world — building genuine connections and learning from every interaction.

An Extraordinary Setting

Your daily commute is a walk through a national park. Rhinos, eagles, ancient rock art, and sunsets that never get old.

The bush teaches you things a hotel school never will. You learn to improvise, to solve problems with what you've got, and to see that hospitality isn't about luxury — it's about how you make people feel.

Team Member · Matobo Hills Lodge

A member of the lodge team pouring coffee at breakfast, Matobo Hills Lodge — Breakfast service · Matobo Hills Lodge

02 Current vacancies

Eight roles, all live-in

All positions are live-in at Matobo Hills Lodge, Zimbabwe

We will never ask you to pay

Applying for a job at Matobo Hills Lodge is free, at every stage. We will never ask you — or anyone acting for you — to pay a fee, a deposit or an agent to apply, to sit an assessment, to interview, or to be offered a role. You will never have to pay us anything to get a job here.

We do not use recruitment agents. If someone asks you for money in our name, they do not work for us and it is a scam. Please report it to hr@matoposhillslodge.com.

Now interviewing

Head Chef, Stores Clerk and Food & Beverage Staff. These roles include a short online assessment as part of the application process.

Couples Welcome

Several roles are open to couples. If your partner has relevant hospitality, guiding, or maintenance skills, we can accommodate both of you on-site. Mention this in your cover note and we'll discuss options.

One kitchen, up to thirty-four guests on a full house, and a set menu cooked fresh every night. You would run a section on your own: sauce, grill or larder depending on the service. If you cook well when it is busy and you leave your section clean, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

Run your section through service, from mise en place to the last plate
Cook to the same standard on a quiet Tuesday as on a full house
Hold the recipes and the portion sizes, so the food and the food cost both stay where they should be
Keep food safety tight: temperatures, dating, raw and cooked kept apart
Clean as you go, and hand your section over ready for the next service
Prep to the arrivals sheet rather than to habit, so we are not throwing food away
Step up and run the pass when the head chef is off

What We're Looking For

Experience cooking a section in a professional kitchen
Steady when it is busy, and honest when something has gone wrong
Food safety you can explain in your own words, not just recite
Takes a correction on the pass without arguing, and asks about it after
Respect for the product, and an eye on what ends up in the bin
Comfortable with remote bush living

Everything this lodge runs on comes up the road from Bulawayo, and you would own that. Suppliers, prices, the weekly buying run, and the paperwork that has to stand up when somebody checks it. This is the senior buying role and it sits above the stores.

What You'll Do

Own the supplier list: negotiate the price, hold them to the specification, and keep a second option warm on anything that would stop us
Run the weekly Bulawayo buying run and bring the order back complete
Check every delivery against the order before anything is signed for
Keep the purchase records straight: orders, delivery notes, invoices, credit notes
Compare real unit costs across pack sizes and delivery, not just the price on the quote
Work with the kitchen and housekeeping on what they actually need, and when
Handle the ZIMRA side: VAT input schedules and supplier tax clearance
Report monthly on spend, on savings, and on anything that ran short

What We're Looking For

Experience buying for a business, with supplier relationships you built yourself
Straight with money. You would be holding the lodge's cash an hour from anyone checking it
Numerate. You can compare two quotes with different pack sizes and delivery charges and know which one is cheaper
Organised on paper. Records somebody else could follow without you in the room
A clean Class 4 licence. The Bulawayo run is part of the job
Comfortable with remote bush living

You're the person who makes sure nothing runs out and nothing goes missing. The kitchen, bar, housekeeping, and maintenance all depend on you. If you're the kind of person who notices when something is in the wrong place, this role is for you. This is the stock-keeping role. If it is the buying and supplier side you want, apply for Procurement Officer above.

What You'll Do

Receive, check, and record all deliveries against orders
Manage stock levels across kitchen, bar, housekeeping, and maintenance stores
Issue stock to departments and maintain accurate records
Conduct regular stock counts and flag discrepancies
Coordinate with the kitchen on food orders and with management on procurement
Maintain proper storage — FIFO rotation, temperature monitoring, cleanliness
Track expiry dates and minimise waste

What We're Looking For

Experience in stores, stock control, or inventory management
Honest, trustworthy, and detail-oriented — you'll have access to all lodge supplies
Comfortable with basic paperwork and record-keeping
Basic numeracy — you'll be counting, converting, and reconciling daily
Organised and methodical
Comfortable with remote bush living

You're the person our guests spend the most time with. You're not just carrying plates — you're creating the atmosphere. At a small lodge, the waiter who remembers a guest's favourite drink or notices they need a refill before they ask is the difference between a good stay and an unforgettable one.

What You'll Do

Serve breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and multi-course dinners
Set up and break down the dining room, bar, and bush dinner locations
Take and communicate drink orders, serve wine with confidence
Communicate guest dietary needs clearly to the kitchen
Maintain a clean, well-stocked bar
Assist with guest activities, sundowners, and special events

What We're Looking For

Previous restaurant, hotel, or lodge experience preferred — but attitude matters more than CV
Excellent English communication — you'll be serving international guests daily
Warm, attentive, and genuinely enjoys making people feel welcome
Basic wine and beverage knowledge (or willingness to learn quickly)
Can stay calm and professional when service gets busy
Comfortable with remote bush living

You'll run the kitchen day-to-day — managing your team, controlling costs, and delivering consistently excellent food to international guests in one of the most beautiful settings in southern Africa. Menus are set by the managing director, but there's real scope to bring your creativity to seasonal variations and daily execution.

What You'll Do

Lead the kitchen team and manage all food production
Execute set menus to a high standard, with scope to contribute ideas and seasonal variations
Manage food costs, stock control, and supplier relationships
Handle dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, allergies, halal, kosher) with precision
Train and develop junior kitchen staff
Maintain food safety and hygiene standards
Coordinate with front-of-house to deliver seamless dining experiences

What We're Looking For

Proven experience running a kitchen (head chef, sous chef, or equivalent)
Creative with limited or seasonal ingredients — no Woolworths down the road
Strong on food cost control and stock management
Calm and decisive under pressure during busy service
Genuinely cares about food safety — not just ticking boxes
Comfortable with remote bush living

What You'll Do

Lead walking safaris and rhino tracking experiences
Conduct game drives and bird watching outings
Share knowledge of Matobo's geology, history, and rock art
Ensure guest safety at all times
Create memorable, authentic safari experiences

What We're Looking For

FGASA or ZimParks guiding qualification (preferred but will train the right person)
Passion for wildlife and conservation
Excellent communication skills with international guests
Knowledge of Matobo Hills an advantage
Fit for walking safaris

What You'll Do

Lead and supervise the housekeeping team
Ensure all 17 chalets meet 5-star standards
Manage laundry operations
Control housekeeping supplies and stock
Train and develop housekeeping staff
Coordinate with reception on arrivals and departures

What We're Looking For

Experience supervising a housekeeping team
High standards and attention to detail
Good at training and managing people
Organised and reliable
Hotel or lodge experience preferred

What You'll Do

Manage all lodge maintenance and repairs
Oversee solar power systems, water, and plumbing
Lead and supervise maintenance team
Preventative maintenance scheduling
Manage grounds and facilities upkeep
Coordinate with suppliers and contractors

What We're Looking For

Hands-on experience with plumbing, electrical, and general repairs
Solar power system knowledge an advantage
Problem-solver who can fix things with limited resources
Organised and proactive
Comfortable with remote bush living

03 Before you apply

Common questions

Everything you should know before applying

No — never. Applying is free at every stage: application, assessment, interview and offer. We do not use recruitment agents, and nobody at Matobo Hills Lodge will ever ask you for a fee, a deposit, or money for training, uniforms, transport or paperwork. If someone asks you to pay for a job with us, they do not work for us and it is a scam. Report it to hr@matoposhillslodge.com.

The lodge is inside Matobo National Park, about 40 minutes from the nearest town. You'll live on-site in staff accommodation with lunch provided. There's Wi-Fi (satellite), electricity via solar, and a staff vehicle does town runs regularly. It's beautiful and peaceful — but if you need city life, this isn't the role for you.

If you're applying with a partner who also has relevant skills, we can often accommodate you both. You'd share staff housing and each hold your own role. Mention it in your cover note.

Staff work on a roster system with regular days off each week, plus annual leave per Zimbabwean labour law. The lodge operates year-round, so time off is staggered.

Yes. We welcome international applications, particularly for senior roles. Work permits and visa support will be discussed during the interview process.

The assessments help us understand how you think through real scenarios. They're practical, not academic — a preview of the decisions you'd make on the job. It also shows us you're serious.

04 No role that fits?

Register your interest

We're always looking for talented people. Tell us about yourself and we'll keep you in mind for future opportunities.

Full name * Please enter your name

Email address * Please enter a valid email

Phone number * Please enter your phone number

Position of interest * Please choose a position

Relevant experience (optional)

CV / résumé link (optional)

Upload your CV to Google Drive or Dropbox and paste the sharing link here

Required question

Describe a time you noticed something was wrong at work before anyone told you, and what you did about it. Be specific.

0 / 1,000 characters

Please answer this question

We'll review your details and reach out if a suitable role opens up.

Thank you

Your details are with us. We'll be in touch if a suitable role opens up.

Still deciding? Come and see it first.

The Matobo Hills are easier to understand in person than on a page. Plan a stay, or talk to us about a role.

Email HR WhatsApp us